India and Russia sign over $5 billion deal for S-400 Air defense missiles India and Russia on Friday sealed a deal of $5.43 billion to purchase S-400 missiles which are expected to be delivered by 2022. The signing agreement happened in Hyderabad after the bilateral talks between PM Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin where they discussed several global and key regional issues which include the US sanctions on Iran oil imports. On Thursday morning Putin arrived in India for a two-day visit to attend the 19th India-Russia bilateral summit. Since August, US has imposed Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and the countries engaged in trade can face similar sanctions but India is exempted from it. _______________ RBI maintains repo rate unchanged at 6.50% The Monetary policy committee of RBI kept the repo rate unchanged at 6.50% as per the bi-monthly monetary policy conducted on October 5. The Repo rate was hiked twice in this year, th...

STORY OF THE DAY Maharashtra Kisan Morcha: Protest ends, railways to run special trains for farmers The 35,000 farmers from all across Maharashtra, ended their protest on Monday as the government agreed to fulfill their demands. Girish Mahajan said they had a positive meeting with the Kisan Sabha leaders. “They had around 12-13 demands out of which we have accepted some and will be giving a written draft on it", he said. The farmers, on their seventh day of protest reached Mumbai, with the intention of surrounding the State Assembly, demanding complete loan waiver from the government. Defending his government, CM Devendra Fadnavis, said “Since the 1st day of the protest, we tried to discuss issues with them (farmers). But they were firm on taking out the protest." The Central Railways also announced special trains being run to take the farmers back to their villages. __________________ Mangalore Court acquits all accused in the 2009 pub attack case Al...

Sridevi’s demise: Mortal remains to be brought back today from Dubai Veteran actress Sridevi is no more. The actress passed away on 24th February at around 11 pm in Dubai following a cardiac arrest. She suffered a cardiac arrest while she was taking a bath on Saturday night, getting ready for a dinner with her husband Boney Kapoor. The 'Mom' actress was in UAE since last week. The late actress was there along with husband Boney Kapoor and younger daughter Khushi Kapoor to attend Mohit Marwah’s wedding with the entire Kapoor family. An autopsy was conducted on late Sunday night and a chartered flight has flown to Dubai to bring her body back to India. Once back, her funeral will be held at Mumbai’s Pawan Hans in Juhu, Ville Parle. ________________________________________ Moving from women development to women-led development: PM Modi in 'Mann ki Baat' Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the country was moving from women develo...

Congress attacks EC over double standards, seeks action against BJP  Hours after the EC ordered to file an FIR against Rahul Gandhi for broadcasting his interview on Wednesday, the congress demanded FIR's against the BJP leaders too. President elect Rahul Gandhi's interview with a news channel was broadcasted in Gujarat, which violates the representation of people's act, 1951, prompting the Election Commission had ordered to file an FIR against him. Following this, the congress demanded a FIR against Narendra Modi, for using the FICCI speech platform and speaking about the congress party. "If FIR against news channels for showing interview of Congress President, why no FIR against PM, FM, Union Minister & BJP President on this ground? Are these not double standards? Let there be accountability," tweeted senior party leader Randeep Surjewala. _________________ Bad loans were UPA government's biggest scam: Modi Speaking at the 90th AG...

Congress entrapped in Blue Whale game, final episode on December 18th : Modi The Congress is “entrapped” in ‘Blue Whale’ challenge and will see the final episode on December 18, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday. He also targeted the Congress President-elect, by saying that he was born with a “golden spoon” and has not seen poverty. He also rejected allegations levelled by Rahul Gandhi that he works only for a few industrialists, and accused him of spreading “falsehood and half-truths” about Gujarat and trying to “fool and insult” the intelligence of the people of the state. They are shouting bluetooth, bluetooth (a low-power wireless connectivity technology), but actually they are entrapped in Blue Whale game and the final episode of the game will be played on December 18,” Modi added. ________________ Bomb Blast in New york, 4 injured A man with a homemade bomb strapped to his body set off an explosion at a New York bus station on Monday, injuring hi...

North Korea fires 'ballistic' missile, Trump says 'will take care of it' North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the first one in two months and it landed close to Japan, confirmed officials. The missile was fired a week after US President Donald Trump put North Korea back on a US list of countries that Washington says support 'terrorism'. Japan’s Kyodo news agency, quoting the defense ministry, said there were no reports of any damage. In the initial assessment, Pentagon spokesman Col. Robert Manning said the missile that was launched from North Korea’s Sain Ni did not pose a threat to the US, its territories or allies too.Maggi fails quality test, fined for 62 lakhs  ___________________ Maggi fails quality test, fined for 62 lakhs  Maggi makers Nestle and 6 of its distributors in Uttar Pradesh are fined a total sum of 62 lakhs in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. Samples of the snack were found sub-standard in Uttar P...

“BJP has shown how to run a party”: Modi at Mahasammelan Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addressed his home state of Gujarat, as a part of the Gujarat Gaurav Mahasammelan mega rally in Gandhinagar. Speaking to an estimated 7 lakhs party workers, the PM lauded party chief Amit Shah for all their win in elections, saying BJP has shown the country how to run a party. He announced ferry services between Dahej Ghogha and also talked about demonetization leading to close down of   2 lakh fake firms and surrender of Rs. 4000 crore . He assured that the problems people are facing due to the GST will be solved soon. Meanwhile, Shah also showed confidence of winning 150 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The last time any party won with majority in Gujarat was congress in 1985, winning by 149 seats. _______________________________________ Aarushi Murder Case: Talwars walk out of jail after 4 years Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, the dentist couple acquitted of murder...

Amarnath Yatri mastermind and Lashkar commander Abu Ismail killed  Lashkar Commander Abu Ismail who is suspected to have planned the attack on Amarnath Yatris killing 8 of them in July 2017 was gunned down by security forces on Thursday in a covert operation in Nowgam district of Srinagar, J&K, media reports said. The operation to eliminate Ismail began around 4:15pm and lasted for only three minutes in which the forces managed to eliminate another terrorist as well, both of whom were holed up inside a house, the police officials involved in the attack added. Ismail's death is a huge success for the security officials and is the seventh Lashkar commander to be eliminated this year. Ismail has reportedly been involved in a number of attacks on police forces and had entered the valley after Burhan Wani's death. _____________________ India, Japan 'Zero-tolerance' for Pak based terror groups Al-Qaida, JeM, LeT Post the inauguration ceremony of India's 1...