Not neutral , India on the side of peace , says Modi in Ukraine
The war in Ukraine was high on agenda as PM Modi met with Ukrianian President Zelensky in Kyiv on Friday . The Ukrainian President cited India’s oil purchasing from Russia as a big issue .
PM Modi visited Kyiv in a “landmark “ visit . This is the first visit of any Indian PM since Ukraine became Independent in1991 .
The PM reached Kyiv from Poland by a train named “ Rail Force One “ .
The PM gifted the BHISHM Cube of Medical assistance to Ukrainian President Zelensky . He later visited the Martyologist exposition on Children in the National Museum in Kyiv . This was an exhibition on children killed in the Russian attack on Ukraine .
The two leaders held bilateral meetings which ran for more than two and half hours . PM Modi after the meeting said “We ( India ) are not neutral . From the very beginning , we have taken sides . And we have chosen the side of Peace .”
PM Modi said that India is always ready to play an “ active role “ to restore peace in Ukraine .
PM Modi underlined India’s commitment towards respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries .
The two sides signed four agreements on humanitarian assistance by India for high capacity development projects , cooperation in Agriculture and food , cultural cooperation , and an agreement on drug quality and regulation .
S Jaishankar held a press conference with western Media . On a question over Oil purchases from Russia , Mr Jaishankar cited India’s dependence on imported Oil , and for its consumers India looking for cheaper oil .
He also cited that oil from Iran and Venezuela has been banned which could be an option for India .
Mr Zelensky described his meeting with PM Modi “ very good “ and “ historic “ . On top of the issue he said India’s oil purchases from Russia .
“ Because today many possibilities of Russian exports are closed , your country is open ,” . “ If you stop importing oil from Russia Mr Putin will have huge challenges .”
“ We should stop money from strengthening Russian arms .”
Mr Zelensky said while talking to Indian media .
Anil Ambani and 24 others banned by SEBI ; fined ₹624 crore
Security Exchange Board of India ( SEBI ) has barred Reliance ADA chairman Anil Ambani and 24 others from accessing the security market and prohibited them from buying and selling securities for five years over their alleged involvement in diversion of funds from Reliance Home Finance Limited ( RHFL ) .
RHFL is a subsidiary of Reliance Capital Limited ( RCL ) .
Mr Ambani has also been restrained from being associated with the securities market , including as director of key management position ( KMP ) in any listed company for five years . A Penalty of ₹25 crore has been imposed on Anil Ambani . Another 24 have also been imposed penalties worth more than ₹20 crore each .
The total penalty amount works out to be ₹624 crore .
Charges against Anil Ambani :
SEBI found irregularities in functioning of certain key managerial personnels of Reliance Home Finance Limited (RHFL ) .
The company was systematically stripped of its assets on ‘ instructions ‘ from Anil Ambani .
Anil Ambani and others were involved in a fraudulent scheme by disbursing loans , eroding RHFL’s finances .
Blow to Bengal govt as HC tells CBI ex principal for graft
The Calcutta High court on Friday transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation ( CBI ) the probe into allegations of corruption on the former Principal of RG kar medical College .
West Bengal government had formed an SIT to probe the case recently after murder and rape surfaced .
The court asked , why was IT not formed before after allegations surfaced in 2023 .
The court has also consented on request by the CBI to conduct a Polygraph test against the former principal and six others .
Implement School safety guidelines , says Center
Education ministry has told all schools to implement its guidelines to ensure the safety and security of children in schools .
In view of protests over the alleged sexual assault on two four year girls at a school in Badlapur near Mumbai last week .
The education ministry’s “ Guidelines on schools safety and security “ has following provisions
- It fixed accountability to school administration in case of lapses in security and safety of children studying .
- The guidelines cover preventive education , accountability of various stakeholders , reporting procedures , legal provisions , support and safe environment .
‘Not all insults can be ruled as offences under SC / ST law ‘
Space sector contributed ₹20,000 crore to India’s GDP last year
23 August was India’s National Space day , anniversary of landing on the moon.
Novaspace , a European consultancy in collaboration with ISRO released a report on socio economic contribution of ISRO .
Some important points in the report is :
- India’s space sector has directly contributed about 2.4 billion dollar ( ₹20,000 ) crore to India’s GDP over the last decade . It has directly supported 96000 jobs in the public and private sector .
- India’s space force was 2.5 times “ more productive “ than the country’s broader industrial workforce .
ISRO chief S Somnath said that there is no need currently to collaborate with China , on a question of whether ISRO will collaborate with China .
He said that India is working to develop Indigenous technology for its space mission , however if need arrives in future it can collaborate .
This was about ISRO ‘s Chandrayaan 4.mission , which is expected to be before 2030 . Under this mission ISRO will bring soil samples from the Moon .
China recently under Chang’e 6 mission brought Moon’s samples . China invited scientific communities around the world .
World
Taliban codify set of morality laws
The Taliban government’s Morality Ministry has codified many laws regarding morality according to Sharia .
According to it, women have to cover their faces , men have to grow a beard , music should not be played while driving etc .
Penalties are “ advice ,verbal threats and confiscation of property .”
India policy toward Bangladesh completely failed , says BNP chief
Chief of Bangladesh National Party ( BNP ) foreign Affairs cell Amit Khusri Mohammad Chaudhary in an interview with The Hindu said that the India’,s policy towards Bangladesh has completely failed .
He said that India should appreciate recent protest in Bangladesh.
He accused India of favouring Sheikh Hasina by not flagging “ fraudulently “ held Elections .
Even after this January , India was the first country to recognise Sheikh Hasina’s win .
He opened India to come out of a mindset that , without Hasina Bangladesh will be in hands of fundamentalist .
Awami League (AL ) and BNP are two major parties of Bangladesh. Many leaders of the BNP were behind bars in Hasina’s period . They were freed under the post Hasina government , led by Mohammad Yunus .
Egypt Gaza border becomes sticking point in Israel Hamas talks
Narrow stretch of land along Gaza border with Egypt has been the contentious point between Israel Hamas talk . The Gaza Egypt border is called Philadelphia Corridor .
Israel demands full control over this post Israel Hamas war . While Hamas has denied this .
Israel alleges that Hamas smuggled arms and other things from Egypt through tunnels built beneath the corridor .
Known as Philadelphi Corridor , once under Israeli control , when Israel controlled the whole of Gaza is a barbed wire boundary ,. which was built by Israel earlier to prevent smuggling from Egypt .
Hamas has built a number of tunnels beneath the barbed wire to smuggle from Egypt .
27 Indian pilgrims killed as the bus plunges into Nepal river
At least 27 Indian pilgrims all from MHrashtra died when their bus fell into a fast flowing river in central Nepal on Friday . The tourists were on a 10 day trip to Nepal .
The police said the bus from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh was carrying 43 passengers. The bus was on its way from Pokhara to Kathmandu when the bus fell in Marsyangdi river , about 90 km from Kathmandu.
Not taking sides
Narendra Modi’s visit to Ukraine was more of a balancing act than a peace effort
The editorial is about PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine . The editorial views that India has not done enough to stop the conflict , though it could play a big role .
India being a.leader of Global South should understand the problems faced by Developing countries due to this war .
The editorial says that India could participate more emphatically in the Bargerstock peace conference .
