QBullet: India, Korea Ink 11 Deals; WhatsApp Unveils Forwarded Tag
Here are the top stories of the day.
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1. Supreme Court Refuses to Expand Scope of Challenge to Section 377
A Constitution bench of the Supreme Court said on Tuesday that it will only decide on the validity of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalises same-sex acts, even as confusion prevailed over the government’s stance on the issue.
The five-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, hearing a batch of petitions challenging the British-era provision, said it will not decide on questions such as inheritance and the civil rights of people in same-sex relationships.
“The question here is whether section 377 is ultra vires or not. Let us get out of this maze. We cannot now give an advance ruling on questions like inheritance to (same sex) live-in partners, whether they can marry, etc. Those are individual issues we cannot pre-judge now,” Misra said.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
2. To Tackle Fake News, Whatsapp Launches Feature to Highlight Forwarded Messages
WhatsApp, late on Tuesday, 10 July, announced the launch of a new feature globally that will highlight when a message has been forwarded versus composed by the sender.
The move follows the ongoing debate in various parts of the world, including India, on tackling spread of fake information on the platform owned by social media network Facebook.
“Starting today, WhatsApp will indicate which messages you receive have been forwarded to you. This extra context will help make one-on-one and group chats easier to follow,” WhatsApp said in a blog.
(Source: The Hindu)
3. Spike in Militant Recruitment After End of Valley Ceasefire: J&K Data
There has been a spike in the recruitment of local youths by militant groups in Kashmir following the end of the Ramzan ceasefire. According to data compiled by J&K’s Multi-Agency Centre (MAC), the month of June saw 27 youths from the Valley – mainly from the districts of Shopian, Pulwama, Anantnag and Kulgam in South Kashmir – joining militancy.
“The increase in the number of local youths picking the gun last month came after 16 June, which was Eid, when the ceasefire ended and the security forces decided to undertake operations,” said a Srinagar-based security official.
(Source: The Indian Express)
4. Indian Intelligence Infiltrated Is Ring to Track, Arrest Afghan Suicide Bomber Sent to Hit Delhi
In an audacious counter-intelligence operation, unprecedented in its scale and scope, Indian security agencies infiltrated an Islamic State ring to thwart a bid by an IS Afghan suicide bomber to strike New Delhi.
The operation included the Indian “plant” supplying the IS operative with explosives – without triggers – and even arranging for his accommodation in the capital.
The arrest by Indian agencies happened in New Delhi around September 2017 but it’s only now that top diplomatic and intelligence sources have confirmed details to The Indian Express.
(Source: The Indian Express)
5. Rescue From Thai Cave: Indian Firm Experts Pitch in With Tech Support
Experts from a Pune-headquartered firm gave technical support in the operations to rescue a football team trapped inside a cave system in Thailand, the company said on Tuesday, 10 July.
After the Indian Embassy recommended to the Thai authorities that they could use Kirlosker Brothers' Limited's (KBL) expertise in "dewatering", the company sent teams from its offices in India, Thailand and the United Kingdom to the site, it said.
Its experts were on site at the cave in Tham Luang since 5 July and offered "technical know-how and advice on dewatering and pumps involved in the rescue operation," said a KBL release.
(Source: The Times of India)
6. FIITJEE-IIT Metro Station Name Will Stay – But With Disclaimer, Says Delhi HC
The Delhi High Court Tuesday allowed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to let the name of the Metro station outside Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi remain ‘FIITJEE-IIT’ — but with a disclaimer that the private coaching institute is in no manner connected to IIT.
“Where the brand name FIITJEE-IIT is there, a disclaimer should be put,” Justice Vibhu Bakhru said, directing that the disclaimer should clearly indicate that FIITJEE is not connected with the IIT or any of its centres in any manner.
(Source: The Indian Express)
7. Suicide Attack Kills Six, Including Election Candidate Haroon Bilour in Pakistan
A suicide bombing at an election rally killed at least six people, including a prominent local politician, and injured 36 others in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, 10 July, police said.
The attack targeted a campaign event organised in the city of Peshawar by the Awami National Party, which has been targeted by Islamist militants in the past over its vocal opposition to extremist groups like the Taliban.
The bombing came hours after the Pakistan military spokesman said there were security threats ahead of national elections scheduled for 25 July.
(Source: The Hindu)
8. India a Stakeholder in the Korean Peace Process, Says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India is a stakeholder in the peace process in the Korean peninsula after his talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in during which the two sides decided to step up their security and defence ties and work for capacity building in Afghanistan. They signed 11 pacts to expand business ties and more than double bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030.
Modi made an oblique reference to North Korea’s linkages with Pakistan and hinted that this is a reason why India is a stakeholder in the peace process.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
9. India Will Lose 'Special Privileges' If It Buys Crude From Saudi Arabia, US: Iranian Diplomat
Iran will end “special privileges” for India if New Delhi tried to replace Iranian crude with supplies from Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the United States, said a senior Iranian diplomat in New Delhi on 10 July.
Speaking at an event organised by the All India Minorities Front at the Parliament annexe, Massoud Rezvanian Rahaghi said that Iran had tried to help India whenever possible on strategic issues like energy and connectivity, but argued that India’s investment promises in the port of Chabahar have not been delivered.
(Source: The Hindu)
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