Delhi Govt, Bureaucrats Move to Resolve Stand-Off; Court Raps CM
The stand-off between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal appeared to be headed for a resolution after eight days of heightened political drama in the national Capital with deputy CM Manish Sisodia calling for a meeting between “all stakeholders” to end the impasse.
Sisodia, who was holed up in the L-G’s office in a sit-in protest since last Monday (11 June) along with Kejriwal, PWD minister Satyendar Jain and labour minister Gopal Rai, had to be rushed to hospital on Monday, 18 June, due to a rise in toxin levels in his blood after six days of being on hunger strike. Jain, who had also been on a hunger strike, was taken to hospital on Sunday (17 June) night.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
India, China, Pakistan Trilateral Cooperation Can Help Maintain Peace, Says Beijing Envoy; MEA Dismisses Suggestion
Chinese ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui suggested Monday, 18 June, that China, India and Pakistan have a trilateral meet on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meetings. He also said India and China cannot afford another Doklam, referring to the standoff last year between troops of the two countries at the trijunction with Bhutan.
Later, responding to the remarks on India-Pakistan relations, Raveesh Kumar, official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said: “We have seen reports on comments made by the Chinese ambassador in this matter. We have not received any such suggestion from the Chinese government. We consider the statement as the personal opinion of the ambassador. Matters related to India-Pakistan relations are purely bilateral in nature and have no scope for involvement of any third country.”
(Source: The Indian Express)
We Told Interpol, Wrote to Six Major Countries: CBI on Nirav Modi’s Travels
With questions being asked in India on how absconding jeweller Nirav Modi, wanted in the Punjab National Bank fraud case, had managed to travel multiple times after the government revoked his passport in February, the CBI Monday, 18 June, said it had not only informed Interpol about the revocation of the passport, but had written to six major countries and reminded them on “almost weekly basis” to be on the lookout for him.
The CBI said it had written to the United States, United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Singapore and United Arab Emirates. The agency said information about Modi’s passport was even updated by Interpol in its central database.
(Source: The Indian Express)
Sandeep Bakhshi Named ICICI Bank COO; Kochhar on Leave
ICICI Bank on Monday, 18 June, appointed Sandeep Bakhshi, who heads the bank’s life insurance arm, as a wholetime director and chief operating officer. Bhakshi will head the operations of the bank while chief executive Chanda Kochhar goes on leave till an enquiry into alleged conflict of interest in sanctioning loans is completed, the bank said in a statement.
Bakhshi, who has been appointed for 5 years, was the managing director and CEO of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Co. All executive directors on the board of ICICI Bank and the executive management will report to him, the bank said.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
Acid Leak in Sterlite Plant Creates Tension in Thoothukudi, Govt Calls It ‘Minor’
The Thoothukudi district administration and Sterlite Copper both allayed fears of a major acid leak at the latter’s controversial copper factory in Thoothukudi and also denied there was an accompanying gas leak after rumours of both swept through the coastal Tamil Nadu city on Sunday, 17 June, night.
Some reports suggested that close to 50,000 litres of sulphuric acid had leaked although the district administration and the company said it was only a “minor leak”. Hindustan Times could not independently ascertain the quantum of the leak.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
Two Militants, Civilian Killed After Truce in J&K Called off
A Kashmiri man was killed and another was injured in violent protests in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Monday, 18 June, even as security forces gunned down two militants and resumed cordon-and-search-operations (Caso) across the Valley a day after the Centre called off a month-long unilateral suspension of operations in the face of rising violence.
The army said young men hurled rocks and stones at its patrolling troopers, who opened fire. “One of the injured succumbed to injuries. The other received injuries on his shoulder and is stable,” said Abdul Majeed Mehrab, medical superintendent of the District Hospital in Anantnag town.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
Delhi's Air Quality Improves to 'Moderate' Level
Delhi's air quality for the first time recorded a "moderate" level on Monday, 18 June, after remaining in the "severe" category for nearly a week, according to monitoring agencies.
The presence of moisture in the air is the main reason for the improvement in the air quality, the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research Institute (SAFAR) of the central government said.
(Source: PTI)
Pakistan Has More Nuclear Warheads, India Credible Deterrence
Pakistan may continue to remain slightly ahead of India in terms of the number of nuclear warheads, with China having double the quantity, but the Indian defence establishment believes its deterrence capability is "robust", designed to ensure "survivability" for retaliatory strikes and firmly on track for further modernisation.
Pakistan now has 140-150 nuclear warheads compared to India's 130-140, with China hovering around 280, as per the latest assessment of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), released on Monday, 18 June.
(Source: The Times of India)
Late Header From Harry Kane Gives England 2-1 Win Over Tunisia
Twice wrestled to the ground during the match, England captain Harry Kane finally evaded the Tunisian defense just as time was running out. Kane found an open area of space at the far post and used his head to meet Harry Maguire’s flick-on, scoring the winning goal Monday, 18 June, in a 2-1 victory at the World Cup.
It was relief for Kane and Gareth Southgate, who leapt into the air in delight as his World Cup debut as a coach got off to a winning start.
(Source: AP)
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