All India Radio News Summary: 06 FEBRUARY 2018
- External Affairs Minister pays her first official visit to Saudi Arabia
During the three-day visit, minister will meet with the Saudi leadership to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.
- She will also participate at the inauguration of the prestigious National Heritage and Culture Festival ‘Janadriyah’. India is the guest of honour country at the fest.
- India’s participation in the Festival will be multifaceted. There will be an Indian pavilion which will show the glimpses of traditional and modern India.
- India’s rich socio-cultural heritage, folklore, traditional costumes, perfumes, bridal costumes, artifacts, specimen of calligraphy, food at the Flavours of India will be showcased at the prestigious festival.
- Yoga practitioners will also be displaying their skills and educating the people of its general health benefit.
Saudi Arabia is the fourth largest trading partner for India with bilateral trade exceeding 25 billion dollars in 2016-17. As India’s largest supplier of crude oil, Saudi Arabia accounts for about 20 per cent of total annual imports. About 3.2 million strong and vibrant Indian community forms the largest expatriate group in Saudi Arabia.
- Supreme Court to set up a fresh Constitution Bench to review the Citizenship Act 1955, including the question of Bangladeshi immigrants in Assam
A five-judge bench of the apex court in April last year had said it would deal with 13 questions related to the constitutional validity of section 6A of the Act, which were referred to it for consideration by a two-judge bench in December 2014.
The Section 6A of the Act relates to special provisions for citizenship of people covered by the Assam Accord.
- A bill has been introduced in the US House of Representatives to end non-defence aid to Pakistan
A bill was introduced in the US House of Representatives to end non-defence aid to Pakistan as Islamabad provides military aid and intelligence to terrorists.
The bill seeks that the amount be redirected to infrastructure projects in the US.
The legislation will prohibit the US State Department and the United States Agency for International Development from sending American taxpayer money to Pakistan.
- Exiled former Maldivian President Mohammed Nasheed urged India and the US of intervention to resolve the crisis in the island nation.
Nasheed called upon India to send an envoy backed by military to release judges and political detainees. He also requested US government to stop all financial transactions of Maldives regime leaders going through US banks.
Earlier, United States had said that it is troubled and disappointed with the decision and called on President Yameen, the army, and police to comply with the rule of law and implement the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Britain called on President Yameen to peacefully end the state of emergency, restore all articles of the constitution, and to permit and support the full, free and proper functioning of Parliament.
Former President Abdul Gayoom and two Supreme Court judges including chief Justice were arrested after the declaration of emergency.
