NATIONAL NEWS
Modi-Netanyahu signed deal for Pegasus spyware purchase in 2017, amended U.N. vote: New York Times
A new political storm erupted over an investigation by the New York Times that said the Indian government purchased Israeli NSO group’s Pegasus software in July 2017 in order to carry out targeted surveillance on citizens, claiming that high-level visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and even a U.N. vote on a Palestinian organisation was part of a larger backroom deal. The revelations that come just two days before the budget session of Parliament has provided fresh ammunition to the Opposition parties to corner the government on the issue. The Opposition parties attacked the government on Saturday, accusing it of misleading parliament and the Supreme Court on the issue, while the Congress said the alleged use of spyware on Opposition leaders, Supreme Court judges, journalists and activists was an act of treason, and said they would raise the issue in the upcoming budget session as well. Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes a stroll with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu at the Olga Beach near Hadera on Thursday In the report published on January 28, the New York Times said that ties between Mr. modi and Mr. Netanyahu had warmed because of their agreement for the sale of a package of sophisticated weapons and intelligence gear worth roughly $2 billion — with Pegasus and a missile system as the center-pieces.
SBI suspends circular on recruitment of pregnant women
State Bank of India (SBI) has suspended its revised instructions regarding recruitment of pregnant women candidates after criticism by certain section of the media. In view of the public sentiments, SBI has decided to keep the revised instructions regarding recruitment of pregnant women candidates in abeyance and continue with the existing instructions in the matter, SBI said in a statement. SBI said that the revised guidelines were intended to provide clarity on various health parameters where instructions were not clear or were very old. File image. SBI said it has recently reviewed the various ‘Fitness Standards for Recruitment’ in the bank, including norms for Pregnant Women candidates. The revised guidelines were intended to provide clarity on various health parameters where instructions were not clear or were very old. In some sections of the media, the revision in norms in this regard has been interpreted as discriminatory against women, it said. SBI has always been proactive towards the care and empowerment of its women employees who now constitute around 25% of our workforce, it added. During the COVID period, as per Government instructions, pregnant women employees were exempted from attending office and allowed to Work From Home, the bank said.
BSF, Pakistan Rangers revive talk After three years, the border guarding forces of India and Pakistan have revived sector commander-level talks.
The Border Security Force (BSF) and the its counterpart-the Pakistan Rangers have held two meetings in the past six months. The recent one was held on January 5. A senior government official said that both meetings were on the request of Pakistan and that the first one was on July 24, 2021. The talks between the sector commanders were last held in August 2018. After 2017, the Director-General talks between the two forces have not taken place. The sector commander-level talks were led by a Deputy Inspector-General rank officer in the BSF and a Brigadier rank officer of the Pakistan Rangers. After the January 5 meeting, held at the octroi outpost In Jammu, the BSF said in a statement that both sides agreed to conduct such meetings at regular intervals for better understanding and to maintain peace and tranquility on border. It added, BSF also strictly objected to the drone operationss carried out by Pakistan regularly violating the IB [International Boundary]. In 2021, the BSF spotted more than 70 drones along the Pakistan border and two of them were shot down. Dropping of arms and ammunition through unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) is one of the biggest challenges being faced by the BSF along the border. At the meeting, BSF delegation emphasised on the infiltration attempts from the Pakistan side and regular recovery of arms, ammunition and narcotics on the international border. The official said the talks were revived to also ensure accountability. If the senior officers communicate, then it helps in resolving many issues and any wrong can be pointed out, he noted.
No anti-incumbency against Congress, says CM Charanjit Singh Channi Ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, who was among the Congress leaders to revolt against former Chief Minister Captain (retd.) Amarinder Singh, asserts that there is no anti-incumbency against the Congress in Punjab. In an exclusive interview with The Hindu, Mr. Channi said the party has decided to announce a Chief Ministerial candidate for the upcoming elections because the people of Punjab wanted it. Taking credit for taking action against powerful Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia, Mr. Channi says he has launched ‘Mission Clean’ to curb sand, drug, and liquor mafia in the State. He said that after becoming Chief Minister, he had constituted a new Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe sacrilege cases. He said the action was also taken against powerful people including Mr. Majithia, who he alleged had been sheltered by former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh for four and half years. Hitting out at the Opposition, Mr. Channi said these parties were levelling allegations against him on sand mining etc. because they are frustrated and don’t have anything to use against me as I had done such work in just four months which they couldn’t do in decades.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Chance for Philippines to script history, Chinese Taipei too hopeful
A win away from scripting history, Philippines will do all they can in their Women’s Asian Cup quarterfinal match against an equally determined Chinese Taipei, in Pune on Sunday.
China starts favourites against Vietnam
Chasing their first title in 16 years, Shui Qingxia’s China will expect nothing less than victory when they face Vietnam in the Women’s Asian Cup quarter-finals in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.
Japan start favourites in quarterfinals against COVID-hit Thailand
Defending champions Japan will fancy their chances against a COVID-hit Thailand team that has asserted it will be no pushovers when the two sides meet in a quarterfinal match of the Women’s Asian Cup in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.
Rafael Nadal wins Australian Open for record 21st Grand Slam
Rafael Nadal roared back from two sets down to win a titanic five-set duel with Daniil Medvedev and claim a record 21st Grand Slam men’s title in the Australian Open final on Sunday. The Spanish great looked dead and buried as the Russian world number two carved out a two-set lead but Nadal surged home for one of his mightiest comeback wins 2-6, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in 5hr 24min on Rod Laver Arena. Nadal came out on top in the physical war of attrition to move ahead of era rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer on the all-time list of men’s major winners. Djokovic missed his chance to improve on his nine Australian Open wins when he was deported over vaccination issues on the eve of the tournament, while Federer is injured. It was one of the 35-year-old Spanish warrior’s greatest title victories in his 29th Grand Slam final winning his second Australian Open, 13 years after his first in 2009. Nadal also became only the fourth man to win each of the four Grand Slams twice and the third oldest man in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam title, behind Ken Rosewall and Federer.
