Headlines at a Glance – 13th September 2021
India hosts first-ever 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue with Australia in New Delhi
India will host the first-ever 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue with Australia today in New Delhi.
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Peter Dutton from the Australian side will meet with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Speaking at an event at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), an independent global think tank based in Delhi on Friday, Ms Payne said that India and Australia countries have made substantial progress in the first year of the strategic partnership adding that they should reflect on common ground that forms the basis of bilateral cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Ms Payne highlighted that India is on the trajectory of the global manufacturing hub and has become a key market for emerging technologies.
SOURCE: The Hindu
Magistrates cannot extend probe under UAPA at will: SC
The Supreme Court has held that magistrates cannot favour the probe agency to extend the period of investigation in the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) cases at will. Under UAPA, the investigation has to be completed within 90 days. If not, the accused is entitled to default bail. The apex court was dealing with a UAPA case in which the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh allowed the investigating agency’s request to extend the period of investigation in March 2014. However, the accused, Sadique and others, sought bail on finding that the investigating agency had not filed a chargesheet in the first 90 days of the probe. Their bail was refused.
SOURCE: The Hindu
India acknowledges: Taliban hold positions of power, authority
In its first clear and official reference to the Taliban as a state actor, India acknowledged in a joint statement with Australia Sunday that the group holds “positions of power and authority across Afghanistan”. This reference is a step forward for the diplomatic establishment, but falls short of officially recognizing the Taliban administration as the government of Afghanistan. The UN Security Council Resolution 2593 — issued on August 30 under India’s month-long presidency — emphasised that Afghanistan must not allow its soil to be used for terrorism-linked activities. In another unusual move by India, the joint statement outlined reports of violations of human rights.
SOURCE: The Indian Express
Standard duty rates on edible oils slashed
The government reduced the standard rate of duty on both crude and refined palm oil, soybean oil and sunflower oil in order to reduce edible oil prices with effect from Saturday, a statement by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said. The standard rate of duty on crude palm oil, crude soybean oil and crude sunflower oil was reduced to 2.5%, it said. Similarly, the standard rate of duty was reduced to 32.5% for refined palm oil, refined soyabean oil and refined sunflower oil. It added that in the same notification that was issued on Friday, agri-cess for crude palm oil had been increased to 20% from 17.5%.
SOURCE: The Hindu
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