PM reaches out to Chinese leadership
China blocked India’s demand for action in the United Nations against Pakistan's release of 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind and Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi citing a lack of information to justify the move. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday raised the issue with Beijing at "the highest level", said the Ministry of External Affairs. India claims that Lakhvi’s release by a Pakistani court is in violation of a UN resolution that imposes sanctions on terror groups. On Tuesday, the United Nations Sanctions Committee was supposed to seek a clarification from Pakistan about the release but Chinese representatives blocked the proceedings.
No request on Lalit Modi: ex-Interpol chief
India did not ask Interpol to issue a notice against former Indian Premier League administrator Lalit Modi with regard to alleged foreign exchange violations, a former chief of Interpol said on Monday. Ronald K. Noble, who served as general secretary of the international police agency from 2000 to 2014, told NDTV that he was not aware of Modi’s legal troubles and that Interpol had never received any request from India for assistance in any investigation against the fugitive businessman. But Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that that notice was issued in 2010 and continues to be valid even today.
Government cancels licenses of over 2,000 NGOs
The government announced that it has cancelled licences of 2,406 Non-Governmental Organisations across the country. The list includes entities that run schools and hospitals. The registrations were cancelled due to alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act and will disallow organisations whose licenses have been revoked from receiving foreign funding. Maharashtra topped the list with the cancellation of licences of 964 NGOs followed by Uttar Pradesh with 740 and Karnataka with 614.
Indian UN peacekeepers accused of sexual abuse
A recent United Nations report has revealed that Indian peacekeeping forces were accused of sexual exploitation and abuse in three cases between 2010 and 2013. The allegations bring back memories of a cash-for-sex scandal in the Democratic Republic of Congo involving Indian personnel in 2008, when an investigation found at least 10 soldiers had sex with prostitutes, in violation of the UN code of conduct. The report also contained allegations of soldiers fathering children. "Strictest action is taken against soldiers bringing a bad name to the army on foreign soil," said a senior officer from the Indian army, which contributes the third-largest contingent of soldiers to the peacekeeping forces.
Smart cities mostly in NDA states: Reports
The majority of urban centres to be developed in the Union's Smart City and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation fall under the rule of the Bharatiya Janata Party or their allies. According to reports, 70% of the urban centres chosen for development are located in 12 states, eight of them under the rule of BJP and its allies. The Central government released figures on Tuesday which also revealed that the eight states will get almost half of the proposed Smart City and AMRUT cities.
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China blocked India’s demand for action in the United Nations against Pakistan's release of 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind and Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi citing a lack of information to justify the move. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday raised the issue with Beijing at "the highest level", said the Ministry of External Affairs. India claims that Lakhvi’s release by a Pakistani court is in violation of a UN resolution that imposes sanctions on terror groups. On Tuesday, the United Nations Sanctions Committee was supposed to seek a clarification from Pakistan about the release but Chinese representatives blocked the proceedings.
No request on Lalit Modi: ex-Interpol chief
India did not ask Interpol to issue a notice against former Indian Premier League administrator Lalit Modi with regard to alleged foreign exchange violations, a former chief of Interpol said on Monday. Ronald K. Noble, who served as general secretary of the international police agency from 2000 to 2014, told NDTV that he was not aware of Modi’s legal troubles and that Interpol had never received any request from India for assistance in any investigation against the fugitive businessman. But Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that that notice was issued in 2010 and continues to be valid even today.
Government cancels licenses of over 2,000 NGOs
The government announced that it has cancelled licences of 2,406 Non-Governmental Organisations across the country. The list includes entities that run schools and hospitals. The registrations were cancelled due to alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act and will disallow organisations whose licenses have been revoked from receiving foreign funding. Maharashtra topped the list with the cancellation of licences of 964 NGOs followed by Uttar Pradesh with 740 and Karnataka with 614.
Indian UN peacekeepers accused of sexual abuse
A recent United Nations report has revealed that Indian peacekeeping forces were accused of sexual exploitation and abuse in three cases between 2010 and 2013. The allegations bring back memories of a cash-for-sex scandal in the Democratic Republic of Congo involving Indian personnel in 2008, when an investigation found at least 10 soldiers had sex with prostitutes, in violation of the UN code of conduct. The report also contained allegations of soldiers fathering children. "Strictest action is taken against soldiers bringing a bad name to the army on foreign soil," said a senior officer from the Indian army, which contributes the third-largest contingent of soldiers to the peacekeeping forces.
Smart cities mostly in NDA states: Reports
The majority of urban centres to be developed in the Union's Smart City and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation fall under the rule of the Bharatiya Janata Party or their allies. According to reports, 70% of the urban centres chosen for development are located in 12 states, eight of them under the rule of BJP and its allies. The Central government released figures on Tuesday which also revealed that the eight states will get almost half of the proposed Smart City and AMRUT cities.
