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Not unexpectedly, Indian media analysts have applauded Delhi’s apparent success in consolidating international support against Pakistani terrorism during the recent BRICS summit in Goa. However, going forward from Goa and taking note of other developments in its immediate neighbourhood , short term prospects for India still remain somewhat mixed and more complex than before.

The Pakistani newspapers, Dawn and The Nation, have shown exemplary courage in letting the country and the world know about the differences of opinion, which marked a recent meeting between the civilian and military officials.

NEW DELHI: The central secretariat of the CPI has urged the government to immediately rollback the hike in petrol and diesel prices.

The India-Russia bilateral summit held in Goa on October 15 along with the BRICS summit, signals a significant chapter in the evolving relationship between the two old and tested friends. The slew of agreements signed during the summit indicate that India has kept full trust again in its ally for decades for defence deals. The purchase of S-400 Triumf long rage air defence system from Russia testifies India’s recognition of Russia as a power with high tech capability.

BRICS summit at Goa made a consequential shift from an economic forum to political symposium. Terrorism was the main agenda. Till 7th BRICS summit, economic issues like financial substantiality and infrastructure development were the key issues of the forum.

Getting closer to China and also maintaining its independent voice and choice in international relations are posing to be a growing challenge before India’s external affairs ministry and PMO as China would like to befriend India only on its own terms. That is: India must follow the China camp and support its foreign policies and actions on world platforms. China is pouring money under the guise of various types of aids and project investments across the world, especially in emerging economies, to buy up friends and also expand its economic influence. In the last five years, especially after China displaced Japan as the world’s second largest economy, China’s growing economic and strategic presence in Asia, Africa and South America is leading debates in a number of countries and regions, though not all well informed.

Never before the need for judicial reforms, expeditious and affordable justice delivery was felt so much as now. People continue to be suffering and languishing in the courts for decades even in to the 70th year since the country’s Independence in 1947. The people of India continue being exploited by the cumbersome processes, procedures and expenses of litigation. This is primarily on account of outdated laws, procedures and non-accountability of various organs in the country. At it all, the continuing nexus between the Bench and the Bar is working as a spanner to expeditious and cost effective justice delivery.

PATNA: The Supreme Court had stayed Patna High Court's September 30 judgment quashing the Bihar government's first prohibition law - Bihar Excise (Amendment) Act, 2016.It might be construed as relief to the Nitish and his government, but it would not change the legal position. The Biharis in general extended their moral support to Nitish’s initiative to enforce complete prohibition, it were the draconian legal provisions of the law that the people resented.

Health of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has been causing concern. She has been examined by best of the doctors from AIIMS and a London based medical practitioner. The hospital in which she is admitted in Chennai has not specified the magnitude of the disease, how serious it is and how long it is likely to last. One prays for her speedy recovery.

Should alcohol sales be banned at airports in India? Leading airlines of the country, including IndiGo, Jet Airways, Spicejet and Go Air which together control 80 per cent of the domestic air traffic, have written to the civil aviation ministry to stop sales of alcohol at airports. The reason: incidents of passengers getting tipsy at airports and creating scenes both on the ground and in the sky are on the increase.