Breakthrough in Naga peace talks as NSCN(IM) and government reach an agreement

The deadlock between the government and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) over a separate Naga flag and constitution has been broken, Scroll.in has learnt. The NSCN (IM), the largest Naga armed group, has agreed to sign a peace accord without a separate Naga constitution and with a “conditional flag” that can only be allowed for non-governmental purposes.

China calls India’s move to convert J&K, Ladakh into Union Territories ‘illegal, invalid’

China on Thursday condemned India’s move to convert the state of Jammu and Kashmir into the two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, Global Times reported. China claimed that India’s move, which officially came into effect on Thursday, challenges its sovereignty and is “illegal and invalid”.

Government ‘concerned’ about WhatsApp spyware, brings up alleged surveillance under Congress

The government on Thursday expressed concern about the security breach by messaging platform WhatsApp in which several prominent Indian journalists, lawyers and activists in the country were targeted for surveillance for a two-week period until May. Union Minister of Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad said the messaging platform has been asked to explain the breach and the measures taken to strengthen the privacy of Indian citizens.

EU MPs’ Kashmir trip was ‘familiarisation visit’, not meant to internationalise matter, says Centre

The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said allowing an unofficial delegation of members of the European Parliament to visit Jammu and Kashmir was not meant to internationalise the matter, and that such delegations need not necessarily come through official channels.

Kulbhushan Jadhav case: ‘Pakistan violated Vienna Convention, remedies are due,’ ICJ chief tells UN

International Court of Justice President Judge Abdulqawi Yusuf told the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday that Pakistan violated its obligations under the Vienna Convention in the case of former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav.

IT ministry asks WhatsApp for response after Indians targeted in spyware attack

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology on Thursday asked WhatsApp to reply to reports about a security breach in which several prominent Indian lawyers, activists and journalists were targeted, News18 reported. The ministry asked the messaging platform to respond by November 4.

Maharashtra: Sanjay Raut denies Shiv Sena has softened stand on demand for power-sharing pact

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday night denied that his party had softened its stand on the demand for sharing power equally with the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Shiv Sena is pushing for an agreement for sharing ministries and the chief minister’s post on a 50:50 basis.

Jammu and Kashmir: European Union urges India and Pakistan to restart dialogue

The European Union has urged India and Pakistan to prevent the escalation of tension over Jammu and Kashmir, and resume bilateral dialogue, PTI reported on Thursday. European Union official Marketa Homolkova, the first secretary of the delegation of the European Union in Geneva, told the United Nations on Tuesday that the two countries should ensure a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir dispute that worsened after India revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status.

WhatsApp spyware was used against Bhima Koregaon accused to plant evidence, claims Nagpur advocate

Nagpur-based advocate Nihalsing Rathod on Thursday told Scroll.in that the incriminatory letters cited as evidence in the Bhima Koregaon case may have been planted by government agencies through a spyware that targeted Indian journalists and human rights activists on WhatsApp. Rathod, who said he had also been targeted, heads the Human Rights Law Network in Nagpur.

‘Artificial wall separating J&K from rest of India has been pulled down,’ PM Modi says in Gujarat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said Article 370 of Constitution had created “an artificial wall” separating Jammu and Kashmir from the rest of India. The constitutional provision gave the erstwhile state, which was split into two Union Territories from Thursday, special status.

Delhi HC asks AIIMS to set up medical board to discuss P Chidambaram’s health today

The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the All India Institute of Medical Sciences to set up a medical board to give an opinion on the health of Congress leader P Chidambaram, who is in Tihar jail in connection with the INX Media case. The former Union finance minister had on Wednesday moved the High Court seeking interim bail in the case on health grounds.

Sensex hits all-time high of 40,344 in early trade, Nifty 50 crosses 11,900

The BSE Sensex, one of India’s benchmark share indices, hit an all-time high of 40,344.99 points in early trade on Thursday. The National Stock Exchange Nifty 50 gained 75.90 points to reach 11,920 at 11.30 am, less than 200 points away from breaching its record high.

SC judges’ press conference was a ‘disturbing event’, says chief justice-designate SA Bobde

Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde, the next chief justice of India, said that the January 2018 press conference of the Supreme Court’s senior-most judges, was a “disturbing event”. Bobde, who will take over the top post of the Indian judiciary after outgoing CJI Ranjan Gogoi retires next month, will serve till April 2021.

Delhi: ‘Run for Unity’ flagged off amidst smoky haze, air quality ‘very poor’

A smoky haze continued to envelop Delhi and nearby cities for the third straight day on Thursday, even as the air quality index showed signs of slight improvement. The Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research, or SAFAR, recorded an overall index of 392 at 10.45 am, which lies in the “very poor” category.

Twitter bans political advertisements, says it is not about free expression but ‘paying for reach’

Social media giant Twitter on Wednesday announced a global ban on political advertising on its platform, saying the reach of such messages “should be earned, not bought”. This came days after its rival Facebook ruled out such a ban.

CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta dies at 83

Veteran Communist Party of India leader Gurudas Dasgupta died in Kolkata on Thursday. He was 83 years old, PTI reported. Dasgupta had lung cancer. Dasgupta, a well-known Left leader, became an MP for the first time after being elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1985. The politician was elected to the 14th Lok Sabha in 2004 from the Panskura seat in West Bengal, and again in 2009 from the Ghatal constituency in the state.

PM Modi closed gateway of terror by revoking J&K special status, says Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said articles 370 and 35A – that were hollowed out on August 5 to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status – were the gateway of terrorism in the country and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for closing it.

Radha Krishna Mathur sworn in as first lieutenant governor of the Union territory of Ladakh

Radha Krishna Mathur was sworn in as the first lieutenant governor of the Union territory of Ladakh on Thursday morning, PTI reported. The oath was administered by Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court Geeta Mittal at an event in Leh.

Israeli spyware used to spy on Indian journalists and activists, confirms WhatsApp

Messaging platform WhatsApp has revealed that Indian journalists and human rights activists were targets of surveillance through the use of Israeli spyware Pegasus. The revelation came after WhatsApp filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Israeli cyber intelligence company NSO Group, which allegedly developed the spyware.

Kudankulam plant cyber attack: DMK chief calls for an inquiry, asks officials to explain breach

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Wednesday demanded a central investigation into a cyber attack at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu last month. The government-run Nuclear Power Corporation of India had admitted earlier in the day to the presence of malware in one of the computers of the plant, but claimed that none of the systems were affected due to the attack.

Chidambaram taunts Centre, says MEPs who visited Kashmir may attend Indian Parliament next

Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday took a dig at the Centre for allowing a team of European Union legislators to visit Jammu and Kashmir. An unofficial delegation of 23 European Union parliamentarians visited the state this week for a two-day trip.

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