Business and Economy

Terrorism, Defense, Security and Science & Technology

• Bangladesh charged 7 terrorists it captured a few days ago with sedition for their involvement in a nation-wide bombing spree that killed 30 and injured 100. The charge said “they hatched conspiracy to oust the present democratic government. To this end, they mobilized arms and explosives and attacked courts of law.” This is the first time that treason charges are used in Bangladesh against Islamic terrorists. Those charged include Shayekh Abdur Rahman, Chief of the banned Jamat ul Mujahideen Bangladesh and his deputy Siddiqul Islam Bangla Bhai that is also the chief of a group calling itself Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh. These groups wanted to create a Muslim order in Bangladesh. Terrorism had assumed serious proportions in Bangladesh, as it became a training ground of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for attacks against India. Bangladesh continued to ignore India’s frequent requests for a crackdown till the terrorists invariably turned against local targets.

• Gujarat police shot dead 4 heavily armed terrorists of the Harkat ul Mujahideen as they entered the state to assassinate important Government functionaries and attack places of worship. Receiving an intelligence tip-off, the police raided a housing colony. Ensuing gun-battle left the terrorists dead and 5 police officers injured. The police have recovered 1 kilogram of RDX explosives, Rs. 100,000 to be used for recruitment of local youth, inflammatory CDs, etc

• India acknowledged Hamas victory saying “India respects the will of the Palestinian people as reflected by the outcome of the recently concluded elections.” India’s representative to Palestinian Territories (PT) Ohm Prakash met with Prime Minister elect Ismail Haniyeh and reiterated India’s support for the Palestinian cause. In parallel, India has asked Denmark to postpone its Prime Minister Anders Rasmussen visit to avoid controversy over the Danish cartoons issue. Denmark has readily agreed to this request and Rasmussen will visit India in August.

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• US Says That It Will Not Renegotiate Nuclear Deal 
  US Under Secretary of Political Affairs Nicholas Burns told Congressmen and Senators that US will not renegotiate the deal with India should the Congress tries to change the wording.<More>

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• India-Russia Sign 3 Deals, Keep Nuke Deal Quiet 
  India and Russia signed three important deals that included energy, space, and economic co-operation but were carefully not highlighting the deal for Russia to supply “limited quantity” of uranium for Tharapur.<More>

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• US & Iran Talk Iraq But Fight Over Nuclear Program 
  Even as hard-line US Permanent Representative to the United Nations John Bolton demanded strong action by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) against Iranian nuclear program, the US sought Iran’s help to resolve the situation in Iraq.<More>

• Editorial: Hamas's victory in Palestinian Territories