1. Trump Airs Tariff Demand Ahead of Talks With Modi
A day ahead of his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the margins of the Group of 20 (G20) Summit in Japan, US President Donald Trump sent a tough message to India on Thursday, describing retaliatory tariff hikes imposed on American products by New Delhi as “unacceptable” and demanding their withdrawal.
Trump’s demand, made in a tweet before his arrival in Osaka for the G20 meeting, came just a day after forward-looking discussions between secretary of state Mike Pompeo and India’s top leadership that had seemingly set the stage for both sides to work through differences on key issues such as trade and Indian arms purchases from Russia.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
2. Bombay High Court Clears Maratha Quota With Cuts, Total up to 65%
The Bombay High Court Thursday upheld the Maharashtra government’s decision to provide reservation to the Maratha community under the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, 2018.
However, the court ruled that the 16 per cent quota granted by the state is not “justifiable” and reduced it to 12 per cent in education and 13 per cent in government jobs, as recommended by the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (MSBCC).
(Source: The Indian Express)
3. Amit Shah Calls for Zero Tolerance of Terror
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday chaired the meeting of the Unified Headquarters, an umbrella organisation of security agencies, and called for zero tolerance of terror.
“There should be zero tolerance towards terrorism and terrorists. There should be continued strict action against terror funding. The rule of law should be enforced,” Mr. Shah told the agencies.
(Source: The Hindu)
4. Haryana Congress Leader Shot Dead Near Faridabad Gym
Haryana Congress leader Vikas Chaudhary was shot dead by unidentified men outside a gym he used to frequent in Faridabad’s Sector 9 on Thursday morning. Chaudhary, 41, suffered at least 10 gunshot wounds in the chest, arm and neck, and was rushed to Sarvodaya Hospital in Sector 8, where he was declared dead on arrival.
Haryana police said personal enmity could be the reason behind the murder. Navdeep Singh Virk, Haryana’s additional director general of police (law and order), alleged on Twitter that the murder appeared to be connected to Chaudhary’s criminal background.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
5. Eleven Killed in Jammu and Kashmir as Bus Falls Into Gorge
At least 11 students of a private computer training institute were killed when the minibus they were travelling in fell into a gorge at Peer Ki Gali in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district on Thursday. Officials said the vehicle was carrying students for a picnic from Poonch to Dhobijan.
Shopian deputy commissioner Owais Ahmad said the 11 included nine women. “The bodies have been sent to Poonch while those injured have been hospitalised,” he said. Ahmad said the vehicle fell into the gorge near a curve, which is wide enough. “The road condition is also good. It appears the driver was over speeding as the vehicle went over a parapet,” he said.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
6. Aditya Pancholi Booked on Rape Charges
Actor Aditya Pancholi was on Thursday booked for rape after a complaint was registered with the Versova police by a Bollywood actor.
According to the Versova police, the actor recorded her statement on Thursday afternoon.
“We have registered an offence of rape, wrongful restraint, assault and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code,” Mumbai Police spokesperson DCP Manjunath Singe said.
(Source: The Hindu)
7. Swiss Accounts of Nirav Modi Frozen
Four Swiss bank accounts of diamantaire Nirav Modi, the main accused in the USD 2-billion PNB fraud case, and his sister have been “frozen” by authorities in Switzerland as part of the criminal money laundering probe being conducted against them in India, official sources said.
They said the accounts, at present, have deposits totalling ~ 283.16 crore and they have been frozen on the request of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after it informed Swiss authorities that the money kept in them are “proceeds of crime” of a bank fraud perpetrated by the duo.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
8. DU’s First Cut-Off List Out: Hindu Highest With 99%
Delhi University (DU) colleges on Thursday announced the first cut-off list for admissions for its undergraduate courses.
The highest cut-off this year has been announced by Hindu College for BA (hons) in Political Science at 99%. Last year, the highest cut-off was for BA (programme) course at Lady Shri Ram College at 98.75%. This year too, the cut-off for BA programme course at LSR was the same.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
9. 2019 Cricket World Cup | Kohli, Shami Star as India Hands Windies a Thorough Drubbing
Bollywood numbers were a recurrent chorus and vocal chords found fresh life through unbridled enthusiasm as a packed Old Trafford heaved with a vast majority of Indian fans. There was much to cheer for the boisterous audience while Virat Kohli’s men extended their unbeaten run in this World Cup.
After scoring 268 for seven against the West Indies here on Thursday, India bowled out the opposition for 143 in 34.2 overs and registered a 125-run victory.
(Source: The Hindu)
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