CIA-backed Afghan paramilitary groups operating with impunity are summarily executing civilians during botched nighttime raids and are responsible for the disappearances of suspects, a rights group has said. Source : https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/report-says-cia-trained-afghan-forces-behind-war-atrocities/article29848363.ece
Read More »Premadasa vows to complete constitutional reform
Sri Lanka’s Presidential hopeful Sajith Premadasa on Thursday promised to complete the constitutional reform process initiated by the current government, if elected to the office. The ruling United National Party’s (UNP) candidate released his election manifesto in the central city of Kandy, a fortnight ahead of Sri Lanka’s presidential election. …
Read More »U.S. House approves rules for Trump’s impeachment
The voting was the first formal test of support for the inquiry The U.S. House of Representatives took a major step in the impeachment effort against U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday when lawmakers approved rules for the next stage of the Democratic-led inquiry into the President’s attempt to have …
Read More »Baghdadi raid video released
The Pentagon released video and photos on Wednesday of the U.S. special forces raid that resulted in the death of Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Among the images released by the Defense Department was grainy black-and-white footage of U.S. troops approaching on foot the high-walled compound in northwestern …
Read More »U.S. slams Russia over S-400 deals
Military Affairs envoy says Moscow is exploiting countries’ security requirements A month after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said he was “reasonably convinced” that he could persuade the U.S. of India’s decision to buy the S-400 Russian missile defence system, the top U.S. diplomat for Political Military Affairs, Clarke Cooper, …
Read More »LGs take charge in J&K, Ladakh
Jammu & Kashmir became the first State of the Indian Union to be reduced to a Union Territory (UT), with former IAS officer Girish Murmu being sworn in as its first Lieutenant Governor (LG) on Thursday. Bifurcated from the former State, Ladakh also became a UT, with former civil servant …
Read More »‘Cauvery Authority nod must for Mekedatu project’
Water Regulation Committee chief says it will be decided on merit at next meet A no-objection certificate from the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) is a prerequisite for the construction of a reservoir across the Cauvery at Mekedatu by Karnataka, said Navin Kumar, Chairman, Cauvery Water Regulation Committee and Chief …
Read More »NSCN-IM taking part in peace talks: Ravi
Naga interlocutor R.N. Ravi said on Thursday that discussions to finalise the Naga accord were continuing and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) [NSCN-IM] had come on board. Mr. Ravi, who is also the Nagaland Governor, told The Hindu , “The accord has not been finalised yet. Matters are …
Read More »Nirbhaya case convicts told to file mercy plea
Notice says they have exhausted all legal remedies; victim’s mother hopes for justice The Tihar jail administration has sent notices to the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape case informing them that they have exhausted all legal remedies and are only left with the provision of applying for mercy before …
Read More »Govt. questions WhatsApp after spyware is used for snooping
Those targeted include journalists, lawyers & Dalit and human rights activists The Centre has sought an explanation from messaging platform WhatsApp after the Facebook-owned company confirmed that some Indian users of its app came under surveillance using an Israeli spyware. Most of those targeted in India were journalists, Dalit and …
Read More »