Junior Digest

Kohima, Mar 8 : NDPP leader Neiphiu Rio was today sworn in as Nagaland Chief Minister by Governor P B Acharya at a public function here.

This is Rio’s fourth time as the chief minister of the Northeastern state.

Rio is heading the ‘People’s Democratic Alliance’ government in partnership with the BJP in the state.

BJP’s Y Patton was administered the oath as the Deputy Chief Minister by the governor.

Ten other ministers were also administered the oath of office. The ten included five from the BJP, three from the Nationalist Democratic Progresstive Party (NDPP), an independent and a JD(U) MLA.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Union minister Kiren Rijiju, BJP president Amit Shah and the party general secretary Ram Madhav were present at the swearing-in ceremony.

The outgoing chief minister T R Zeliang was also present at the function.

The chief ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Meghalaya also attended Rio’s swearing-in.

Rio had staked claim to form the government on March 4 with the support of 32 legislators in the 60-member House — 18 MLAs of NDPP, 12 of the BJP, one of the JD(U) and an independent MLA.

New Delhi, March 10 : The International Solar Alliance (ISA) that seeks to accelerate the deployment of solar energy to create a low-carbon world economy and promote co-operation among Sun-rich nations, will be formally launched at its first summit here on Sunday and see the launch of .two new initiatives.

The ISA aims to accelerate the deployment of solar energy in 121 sun-rich countries situated between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

“Looking forward to co-chairing the Founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance with President @EmmanuelMacron on 11th March.
The ISA is a unique effort that brings the world together to harness solar energy and create a cleaner as well as greener future,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet ahead of the summit.

Amaravati Mar 7 : In the backdrop of Union Finance minister Arun Jaitly’s ruling out the possibility of granting Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister held an emergency meeting with senior leaders of the party including ministers, MLA and MPs, and holding teleconference with the MPs.
TDP party sources said that the Chief Minister disappointed with the statement of Arun Jaitly, bluntly denying the granting of the SCS to AP. Mr.Naidu was eliciting the opinions from the senior leaders. He also held teleconference with the MPs who are in New Delhi at present.
Sources said that the senior leaders exerted pressure on Chandrababu Naidu to severe ties with the BJP. Mr.Naidu after Arun Jaitly’s press meet in Delhi, asked all his minister and other senior leaders to come to his chamber in the Secretariat. The Chief Minister office said that he would address a press confers at around 8 pm today. The Chief Minister is likely make a crucial and sensational statement at the press meet, TDP sources said.

Washington, Mar 7:  A US Navy veteran has pleaded guilty to killing an Indian techie in what was called a racially motivated hate crime in Kansas City last year.
Adam Purinton, 52, who had shot Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, in a bar, pleaded guilty in a Kansas court, media reports said.
Purinton was charged with first-degree murder of Kuchibhotla and two counts of attempted first-degree murder in the shooting of his friend Alok Madasani, and a bystander.
Purinton would be sentenced to life in prison on May 4.
Kuchibhotla’s widow Sunayana Dumala in a statement later said, “Today’s guilty verdict will not bring back my Srinu, but it will send a strong message that hate is never acceptable.”
On the fateful day of on February 22, 2017, Kuchibhotla was having drinks at Austin’s Bar and Grill with Madasani, who is also from India, when Purinton approached them on the patio and began interrogating about their immigration status, Will Hurst, an assistant district attorney in Johnson County, said in a statement in court on Tuesday.
When other bar patrons came to the defence of the two men Purinton left, but soon returned with a Taurus 9-millimeter handgun and opened fire. The US Navy veteran had fired at the two Indian men at least eight times at close range, the prosecutor said. Madasani was hit once in the thigh and escaped, but Kuchibhotla was struck several times.
The Navy veteran had yelled “Get out of my country”, before shooting Kuchibhotla.
The murder was the first of a kind of radical hate crime after President Donald Trump assumed office. The news of the crime dominated the headlines all across the globe, raising the issue of safety of migrants residing in US.

New Delhi, Mar : The state level political compulsions seemed to have forced the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) decision to pull out of the NDA government as in fast paced developments two TDP Ministers resigned from the Union Cabinet on Thursday but they continued to repose faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP – led alliance.
“We strongly believe that we will not stop trying… We will continue to try and the 16th Lok Sabha is our deadline”, the outgoing Minister of State for Science and Technology YS Chowdary told reporters minutes after his meeting with the Prime Minister along with his colleague and Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju here.
Commenting on Prime Minister’s reaction on their decision to resign, Mr Chowdary said the meeting was very cordial wherein Mr Modi told them that “I am with the state of Andhra Pradesh and for the people of Andhra Pradesh I will serve”.
He said, “Prime Minister told us it was unfortunate, because of all us have been working well together”.
To a question about TDP’s future course of action, he said, “the way forward is… we have to ensure that whatever the commitments given and mentioned in the AP Reorganisation Act as well as the promises given by the then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on the floor of the Rajya Sabha… we have to pursue. We have been doing that”.
Mr Chowdary, who is the leader of the TDP Parliamentary party further said as TDP members will not be now part of the Ministry, “we will be in a better position” to fight for the state.
Mr Raju was critical of the manner the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation bill was passed during the UPA regime- “with the support of the BJP”, but said, “nobody is asking to take the clock back”.
“What we are requesting (the central government) to honour of the assurance given to the people”, he said. Both the leaders evaded direct reply on whether the protest by TDP members in both houses will continue, but Mr Raju maintained the bill that bifurcated united Andhra Pradesh was also passed amid pandemonium scenes.

Earlier Prime Minister also spoke to TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu over phone, but both the leaders feigned ignorance of what transpired between the two.
Mr Chowdary flayed the Congress-led regime saying “the bill was prepared in most unscientific manner and the manner in which the bill was passed cannot be also called a democratic process”.
He said the TDP has no option but to “reconcile” to the inevitability and the decision to join NDA was with the hope that “there would be an extra hand-holding which partly the centre has given”.
Mr Chowdary said, “it is not fair on my part to say that nothing has been done at all”, and maintained that there were so many areas where lot of work was done.
“But unfortunately major emotional and sentimental issue of Special Category Status is not addressed well in time”, he said adding “at least the special package should have been implemented immediately by putting clear cut deadline and timeline”.
Mr Chowdary said the people of Andhra Pradesh are very emotional and as popularly elected government in the state “we have to go with the sentiment of the people”.
Lauding Prime Minister, the outgoing Civil Aviation Minister Mr Raju said, “Mr Modi has given us a good team in the Civil Aviation Ministry and we could take the Indian aviation sector to the fastest growing in the world”.
“It was a great opportunity that our party gave us by putting us in the government, and leader of the government (Prime Minister) also gave us”, he said adding “that is why the meeting with the Prime Minister was a courtesy call”.
He said TDP will continue as part of NDA, but at the same time, he was critical of both BJP and the Congress saying “the national parties have brought the situation”.
“Andhra Pradesh has been reduced to a residual state”, he said.
Mr Chowdary dismissed a question on assurance from Congress President Rahul Gandhi that if his party come to power in 2019, they will give special category status and said, he is not in a position to answer hypothetical questions.

Hyderabad, Mar 07 : Telangana government has declared a special casual leave to all the women employees in the state on Thursday, on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

Every year, March 8 is observed as International Women’s Day to celebrate the achievements of women in various fields, while calling for gender equality.

It is being celebrated since the early 1900s.

New Delhi, Mar 7 : The Supreme Court, in its interim order, on Wednesday said that Aadhaar card was not a compulsory or mandatory identity proof for taking NEET 2018 examinations, and it also held that any alternative identity proofs like voters identity cards, driving licences could be used in any such kind of all India entrance examinations.
A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra and also comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, passed the interim order after hearing a plea filed by one, Abid Ali Patel, from Gujarat.
Patel had knocked the doors of the apex court against the Gujarat High Court order which had refused to entertain and pass any order on his plea.
Patel, in his plea, claimed that the apex court should intervene and pass a direction and stay the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) order regarding furnishing of the Aadhaar numbers by the aspiring candidates in their NEET (National Eligibility and Entrance Test) examinations.
Earlier, the Attorney General (AG), KK Venugopal, top law officer representing the central government, during the course of the hearing on Wednesday in the Aadhaar case, told the apex court three-judge bench that the Centre has not authorised the CBSE to make Aadhaar card mandatory or compulsory for using it as an identity for the NEET examinations.
The apex court on Wednesday also recorded the submissions made by the central government and passed the interim order.

New Delhi, Mar 7 : Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said Central Government is willing to satisfy every condition set or committed for the bifurcation of the Andhra Pradesh, but within the purview of the Constitution.
Addressing mediapersons on the demands of Andhra Pradesh, Finance minister clarified that the only variation is that after Finance Commission report instead of formally calling it a special category state, we are calling it a special package, which gives same monetary benefits that a special category state gives you.
He elaborated that the special status used to be originally granted to states in the North-East because they have their own resources that were inadequate.
Mr Jaitley said Centre is willing to give revenue to Andhra Pradesh in the ratio of 90:10 (90 per cent by Central Government and 10 per cent by State Government) for centrally sponsored scheme as the states with special category status are getting. Otherwise states are getting the revenue in the ration of 60:40.
He added that Centre stands committed to it. The state has to tell us what manner it wants it in. At no stage has the Centre said that we will not give it.
He accepted that one of the promises was that Andhra Pradesh should be given special status. Provision for revenue deficit in case of Andhra Pradesh as per Finance Commission already made.
Mr Jaitley also accepted that Andhra Pradesh was unwilling and Telangana wanted the division. Andhra was suffering in terms of resources. Therefore some help had to be given to AP. So one of the promises was, AP should be given special category status. At that time, special category state concept did exist. But, according to 14th Finance Commission there is no special category status now to be given.

London, Mar 7: The half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was killed by a chemical attack in Malaysia on the orders of the North Korean Government, the US has concluded, a BBC News report said on Wednesday.
Kim Jong-nam died after a bizarre encounter at Kuala Lumpur airport in 2017, when two women smeared his face with VX nerve agent.
The women, Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong, who say they believed they were carrying out a prank for a TV show, are on trial for murder.
The US said it would impose new sanctions on North Korea in response.
“This public display of contempt for universal norms against chemical weapons use further demonstrates the reckless nature of North Korea and underscores that we cannot afford to tolerate a North Korean WMD program of any kind,” said State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert.
The US has consistently accused North Korea of being behind the attack on Kim Jong-nam.
The new sanctions, which came into force on 5 March, are largely symbolic, joining a vast array of punitive economic measures the US has taken against North Korea.
The announcement comes a day after a high-level South Korean delegation returned from Pyongyang where they had cordial meetings with Mr Kim.
Capitalising on warmer ties after the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, Mr Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in have arranged a landmark meeting for next month.
It would be the first such meeting for more than a decade and the first since Kim Jong-un took power in North Korea in 2011.
US President Donald Trump has said the developments, including North Korea’s suggestion that it might discuss getting rid of its nuclear weapons, “are positive” but might be a “false hope”.
In previous programmes to halt its nuclear ambitions, the North has failed to keep its promises.
Kim Jong-nam was largely estranged from his family and was bypassed for the leadership in favour of his younger half-brother, Kim Jong-un. He spent most of his time overseas in Macau, mainland China and Singapore.
He had spoken out in the past against his family’s dynastic control of North Korea and in a 2012 book was quoted as saying he believed his half-brother lacked leadership qualities.
He died in February 2017, shortly after Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong accosted him as he checked in for a flight at Kuala Lumpur airport.

New Delhi, Mar : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday moved the Supreme Court challenging the acquittal of Rajesh and Nupur Talwar by Allahabad High Court in their daughter Aarushi murder case.
CBI, in its appeal, said, the Allahabad High Court in its judgment had erred on many fronts in the case.
Allahabad High Court had acquitted Talwar couples due to lack of evidence.
It is not clear as to when the sensational murder case would be heard by the Supreme Court. But it is expected that it could be taken up for an hearing within a month.

Washington D.C. [U.S.A.], Mar. 09 : In an unprecedented breakthrough in US-North Korea politics, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has invited US President Donald Trump for a meeting, as stated by a senior US official.

According to the CNN, a South Korean delegation arrived at the White House on Thursday to update officials on their recent talks with Kim at the headquarters of the Worker’s Party of Korea in Pyongyang.

The delegates spoke with Trump and also handed him a letter from Kim, inviting him to meet.

Earlier, Trump teased a “major announcement” on North Korea and the news is nothing short of groundbreaking.

The senior US official said North Korea has offered to suspend their nuclear missile testing alongside their invitation for talks. The official also said there are no plans to suspend the upcoming planned military exercises with South Korea.

According to the White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, the leader of the South Korean delegation and the National Security Office head Chung Eui-yong will make the announcement from the stakeout position outside the West Wing with the rest of the South Korean delegation alongside.

National Security Adviser Lt. General H.R. McMaster will also brief the UN Security Council on Monday regarding the situation in North Korea, according to a senior US official.

Trump has at times indicated his willingness to communicate with the regime’s leader, however, asserting that they must first take necessary steps toward denuclearisation.

“All options are on the table and our posture toward the regime will not change until we see credible moves toward denuclearisation,” a senior administration official told reporters on Tuesday. “What we are looking for is concrete steps toward denuclearisation.”

New Delhi, Mar 8: A major part of the Army’s budget was being utilised in developing infrastructure, schools and hospitals in remote areas of the country, Army chief General Bipin Rawat said, adding that the impression that Indian armed forces were capable of securing the borders gave confidence to foreign investors.

General Rawat, who delivered a lecture on Indian Army in Nation Building’ at the Jindal Global University (JGU), said the Indian Army was a “humane Army” and had been effectively handling terrorist challenges in a professional manner.

He also said the armed forces personnel needed to keep abreast of latest technological developments in order to take on futuristic challenges with the emergence of artificial intelligence.

He said the armed forces in India had not only been addressing conflicts but also contributing to the nation’s growth.

The Indian armed forces not only secure the borders but also provides a cushioning internationally for investors and creating a favourable ambience for investments like FDI.

With this impression that the Indian armed forces are capable of securing the borders, gives confidence to international investors. I can assure you that whatever budget is provided to armed forces, a good part of it is also utilised in developing infrastructure, roads, schools and hospitals in remotest areas of the country, General Rawat said.

The Army chief said that there was a proposal to send some of the officers to universities to exchange ideas and get opportunities for the retired army personnel.

“We have over 1,000 officers aged between 45-55 years who retire every year as they do not get empanelled for promotion. They are experienced, talented and have the practical knowledge. But they do not have the stamp of a degree.

“50,000 of our soldiers also face similar situation and face difficulties in their second career after leaving the armed forces. That is what we are looking at,” the general said.

New Delhi, Mar 10 : As “leaders of two strong democracies with vital interests” in the Indian Ocean Region, French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday laid emphasis on the multi-dimensional India-France strategic partnership and said both sides will play key role in ensuring peace, security and stability in the region.
In a Joint Strategic Vision of India-France Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region, both the countries in effect tried to deal with the challenges thrown by China’s increasing presence in the Indian Ocean Region and sought to widen the scope of ties aiming to establish an open, inclusive and transparent cooperation architecture.

“France and India have shared concerns with regard to the emerging challenges in the Indian Ocean Region that include: maritime traffic security in the face of the threats of terrorism and piracy, especially in the Horn of Africa; respect of international law by all States” – especially with regard freedom of navigation and overflight,” the Joint Strategic Vision said.
The India-France partnership will also help fight organized crime, trafficking, including in weapons of mass destruction, smuggling and illegal fishing; combating climate change and its consequences on security, particularly in terms of natural disasters; protection of the environment and natural resources, including tackling oil spills; and aid to victims of disasters.
“To harness the opportunities and to meet the challenges together, the two leaders have agreed on an action oriented Joint Strategic Vision for Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region,” the statement said.
The visiting President Macron, who spoke about right chemistry in bilateral relations with India, and Prime Minister Modi expressed satisfaction at the working of the bilateral Maritime Dialogue instituted in 2015.
“They also agreed on the need to establish an open, inclusive and transparent cooperation architecture, with the aim of delivering to all associated with the region, peace, security and prosperity,” the statement said.
Both sides also decided that both countries will strengthen the coordination in existing international and regional bodies to carry out this objective.
“India welcomes the prospect of France’s enhanced participation at the Indian Ocean Rim Association (lORA). France congratulates India on its leadership at lORA and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS). France also supports India’s entry in the Indian Ocean Commission (lOC) as an Observer, and encourages its growing involvement in European Union projects for the Indian Ocean, the statement said.
They recall the necessity of the international community fully gauging the consequences of compromised maritime security and adopting effective solutions, such as the adaptation of anti piracy measures in the Horn of Africa, the statement said.
In order to widen and deepen strategic naval cooperation, India and France will be open to inviting strategic partner countries in the region to participate in Indo-French exercises, the statement said.

Noida, UP, Mar 10: India has huge potential to become the leader in solar energy sector, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said on Saturday.
However, the Indian electrical equipment industry, which provided direct employment to 5 lakh people, was facing stiff competition from imports and was seeking creation of a level playing field for the domestic industry, he admitted and expressed confidence that the power sector would rise to the occasion and ensure quality of international standards.
Mr Naidu was addressing the inaugural session of ELECRAMA 2018, organised by the Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturing Association, in Noida, UP on Saturday. Union Minister for Commerce & Industry Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
The Vice President also said global warming and climate change were affecting every aspect of life and any new policy had to factor in the urgent need to protect the environment and ensure sustainable development. ‘With India ranking second in Renewable Energy Attractive Index 2017, this sector is bound to play a major role in the years ahead. Energy storage technologies are needed not only to create more resilient infrastructure but also to bring down costs,’ he added.
Referring to the various initiatives taken by the government that had improved India’s rank in World Bank’s Ease of Getting Electricity Index from 99 to 26, he pointed out that by December 2017-end, only 1,370 villages remained to be electrified of the last 18,452 un-electrified villages.
Apart from providing direct employment to 5 lakh people, the industry provided indirect employment to 10 lakh others and more than 50 lakh across the entire value chain. The Indian electrical equipment industry consisted of generation, transmission, distribution and allied equipment, an official release here said.

New Delhi, Mar 9 : The Supreme Court’s five-judge Constitution bench on Saturday upheld passive euthanasia with guidelines and procedures.
A five-judge Constitution bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice (CJI) Dipak Misra, passed the order.
The other four judges of the Court include Justices Arjan Kumar Sikri, Ashok Bhushan, DY Chandrachud and AM Khanwilkar.
The top court of the country said that there should be guidelines for drafting ‘living wills’ and authenticating them.
The ‘living will’ is a concept, where a man or woman decides in much advance, whether he/she wants to be kept on life support or vegetative condition, in case of a terminal illness.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO Common Cause, which had filed the PIL, had earlier submitted to the apex court that since a patient under coma or vegetative conditions couldn’t express his/her wish, so he should be given the right to die.
The top court said that living will be permitted, but with the permission from family members of the person, who sought passive euthanasia and also a team of expert doctors, who opine that the person couldn’t come out or the chance of his or her revival is impossible.

New Delhi, Mar 7 : The Union Government on Wednesday informed in the Lok Sabha that the railways have directed  all zonal railways/production Units to launch a special drive between 1-15 March, 2018 for identification and preservation of Railway heritage assets like buildings, bridges, rolling stocks, documents, photographs, artefacts, equipment, clocks, benches.

The railways has made a specific provision in the budget outlay for 2018-19 for revival of steam locomotives including restoration and procurement of spares.

New Delhi, Mar 10: Lauding the recipients of the ‘Nari Shakti Puraskar’ , Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said their contribution serves as inspiration for the society.
The Prime Minister, who met and interacted with the recipients, said the awardees have devoted their lives, on a mission to serve others.
He said their contribution extends far beyond those who benefited from their efforts, and serves as inspiration for the society.
During the interaction, where Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi, was present, the PM mentioned that the nation is celebrating the 150th anniversary of Sister Nivedita, who was an embodiment of selfless service.
The Prime Minister spoke of “Seva Paramo Dharma” as being an integral part of the culture.
He said that efforts to serve society have been a part of the Indian ethos, and are reflected in initiatives such as Dharamshalas, Gaushalas, and even education initiatives that were visible across the country.