2. Blackberry controversy Research in Motion (RIM), the maker of Blackberry has finally surrendered to Indian security agencies’ demand for access to their server. The security agencies already had access to voice data, SMS and general emails sent through Blackberry devices but Blackberry email and messaging services that are highly encrypted were major concerns for the security agencies. With this understanding in place the government has decided to serve notices to Google and Skype also to fall in line.
3. India willing to discuss all issues with Pakistan INDIA has said that the high-decibel rhetoric of the past few days not withstanding, it was ready to discuss all issues with Pakistan External affairs minister SM Krishna, however, made it clear that there will be no third-party intervention on the issue of Kashmir The minister also stressed that as a victim of terror attacks, India is concerned about terrorist activity in the Pakistani territory; “this is a core issue for India”. This move by India comes after Pakistan made several attempts to draw in the United States into the Kashmir issue The external affairs minister was reacting to Pakistani foreign minister’s remarks seeking US intervention in Kashmir and the Pakistani foreign office statement that there could be no result-oriented discussions with India until it stops treating Kashmir as its integral part.
4. Direct tax code The Government deferred the direct tax code(DTC) by yet another year to April 2012 causing yet another disappointment to the taxpayers. Women taxpayers suffered a bolt as the preferential treatment meted out to them earlier is now proposed to be withdrawn. Senior citizens, however, enjoy a higher exemption limit. The bill that replaces the Income Tax Act 1961 seeks an increase in exemption threshold of individuals from Rs.1.6 lakh currently to Rs.2lakh. The corporate taxes will be reduced to a flat 30%.
