China leases an entire Pacific island for 75 years

Under a secretive deal signed last month with a provincial government in the South Pacific nation “Solomon Islands” , a Beijing-based company with close ties to the Chinese Communist Party has secured exclusive development rights for the entire island of over 1,000 people and its surroundings.

U.S. House passes Hong Kong Rights Act

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a Bill sought by pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong that aims to defend civil rights in the semi-autonomous territory, prompting an angry response from China.

President Kovind to attend Akihito’s coronation

President Ram Nath Kovind will join Britain’s Prince Charles, Chinese Vice-President Wang Qishan and leaders of several Asian countries in attending the enthronement ceremony of Japan’s new Emperor Akihito on October 22. Mr. Kovind, who leaves on Thursday for a four-day state visit to the Philippines, will travel to Tokyo on October 21.

‘Xi mooted trilateral ties with India, Pak.’

Within days of the second India-China “informal summit”, Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi has said that Chinese President Xi Jinping had shared with PM Narendra Modi his vision for trilateral cooperation among Beijing, New Delhi and Islamabad.

Agra jail denies RTI request on J&K detainees

The Agra Central Prison has refused to provide information about detainees from Jammu and Kashmir who have been shifted there. It has denied a Right to Information (RTI) request on the grounds that it is “third-party” information that may endanger someone or identify informers.

Govt. officials violate RTI Act with impunity, says CIC

Chief Information Commissioner Sudhir Bhargava has accused government officials of violating the Right to Information Act with impunity, taking advantage of court orders that they cannot be penalised except in cases of mala fide intent.

Lobby targeting judiciary via sponsored articles: SC judge

Justice Arun Mishra of the Supreme Court stood his grounds and said “sponsored” articles and critical social media posts had steeled his resolve to not buckle under and recuse himself as lead judge of a Constitution Bench reviewing his own past judgment.

SC reserves Ayodhya verdict after 40-day marathon hearing

The Constitution Bench, led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, on Wednesday reserved its judgment, after a marathon 40-day hearing, on the cross-appeals filed by the Hindu and Muslim sides challenging the three-way partition of the disputed 2.77 acres of Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land among Ram Lalla, the Nirmohi Akhara and the Sunni Waqf Board in September 2010.