Newsletter 21 August

Sino-Indian Standoff: No Substantial result Claimed by MEA of 18^th round talk

Deployments of forces increased from either side despite of diplomatic dialogues, ‘seems going simultaneously

Satellite images reveal China is building surface-to-air missile site at Mansarovar Lake

New roads have been built and suspected red tents put up at the site, which stands near the India-Nepal-China tri-junction in the Himalayas.

The Chinese military is reportedly constructing a surface-to-air missile site as well as other infrastructure on the banks of the Mansarovar Lake in the India-Nepal-China tri-junction area near the Lipulekh pass, new satellite images have indicated.
An image shared by an anonymous satellite imagery analyst, who goes by the Twitter handle @detresfa_, is understood to be showing a village where new roads have been built and suspected red tents have been put up for accommodation.
The image also shows a surface-to-air missile (SAM) site on the banks of the Mansarovar, which is considered holy in Hinduism.
Media reports say China has mobilized a battalion strength of People’s Liberation Army soldiers near the Lipulekh pass in Uttarakhand.
A report by news agency ANI in June had said the Indian armed forces have deployed their advanced very quick-reaction SAM defense systems in eastern Ladakh.
The tri-junction area has been mired in controversy since India inaugurated a new road in May, called the ‘Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra Route’, which almost goes up to Lipulekh Pass at the India-China border, 17,000 feet above the sea level.
An angry Nepal responded by issuing a new political map showing the areas of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura — which are the subject of an India-Nepal border dispute — as part of its own territory.
“Geospatial data collected over the last few months points to the construction of a SAM site, along with the possibility of troop accommodation in the nearby area,” the analyst said, adding that this development is around 100 km from the international border.

Satellite photos appear to show Chinese submarine using underground base-CNN

Military watchers across the internet were provided with a rare sight after photos circulated this week that appear to show a Chinese submarine using an underground base on Hainan Island on South China Sea.
The satellite image from American imaging company Planet Labs, first posted on the social media accounts of Radio Free Asia, shows what appears to be a Type 093 nuclear-powered attack submarine entering a tunnel to an underground berth on Yulin Naval Base.
It immediately drew comparisons to what might be seen in a spy movie, with one Twitter user just posting the words “Bond, James Bond” in reaction to the photo. Others made reference to the fictional Nautilus, from Jules Verne’s novel “20,000 Leagues under the Sea.”

India’s New Curbs On Visas, Schools To Stem China Influence: Report

The MEA has been told that visas for Chinese businessmen, academics, industry experts, and advocacy groups will need prior security clearance said senior officials who asked not to be identified, citing rules for speaking to the media. The measures are similar to those that have long been employed with Pakistan, they said. The Foreign Ministry didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

International community should isolate Pakistan to increase cost of engaging in terror activities: India

Noting that Pakistan’s state-sponsored policy of terrorism is evident in inaction against likes of Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar and Ehsanullah Ehsan and in its involvement in various terror attacks including that in Mumbai and on Parliament, India said on Thurs that international community should isolate Pakistan to increase the cost of engaging in terror activities.
In its right to reply statement after Pakistan National Assembly Speaker’s observation at the 5^th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament (5WCSP), India called upon Pakistan to end cross-border terrorism and said its overtures should not be taken as a sign for weakness.
India’s right of reply to statement was tweeted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who led an Indian parliamentary delegation to 5WCSP.

Centre warns of alleged plot by Pakistan to attack right wing leaders

States told to sensitize prominent leaders of the threat, scale up security at airports The Centre has warned of an alleged terror plot by “Pakistan establishments” to murder select leaders of right wing organizations, including the BJP and the RSS, and called for adequate measures to protect them.

Income Tax refunds worth ₹88,652 cr issued to 24.64 lakh Taxpayers

The Union govt. has emphasized on providing tax related services to taxpayers without any hassles during COVID-19 pandemic and to that end has been clearing up pending tax refunds.
The Income Tax department on Fri said it has issued refunds worth ₹88,652 crore to over 24 lakh taxpayers so far this fiscal.
This include personal income tax (PIT) refunds amounting to ₹28,180 crore issued to over 23.05 lakh taxpayers and corporate tax refunds amounting to ₹60,472 cr to over 1.58 lakh taxpayers during this period.
“CBDT has, so far, issued refunds of over ₹88,652 crore to more than 24.64 lakh taxpayers from 1st April, 2020 onwards. Income tax refunds of ₹28,180 crore have been issued in 23,05,726 cases & corporate tax refunds of ₹60,472 crore have been issued in 1,58,280 cases,” the Income Tax department tweeted.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is the apex decision-making body in direct tax matters, administers personal income tax and corporate tax.

Railways defends 'zero fatality' claim after NITI Aayog Questioned data

Amitabh Kant had said in a letter to the Railway Board Chairman that over 2,000 people lost their lives in the Mumbai suburban network every year and that too must be considered while reporting fatalities.

In response, Railway Board Chairman VK Yadav said on Thurs that deaths due to rail accidents were low in the past 2 years. However, deaths due to trespassing and other untoward incidents claimed around 29-30K lives in the past 3 yrs.

Two Arrested By Delhi Police For Allegedly Donating Rs 2 Cr To AAP Through Shell Companies

The shell companies formed on the basis of fabricated documents, Delhi Police’s Economic Offence Wing said on Fri.
The two arrested persons, identified as CA Sudhanshu Bansal and Mukesh Kumar, had also allegedly indulged in forming shell companies by procuring DIN on the basis of fabricated documents and photographs.

Boeing's sub-vendor Rossell India wins coveted Supplier of the Year award

Every year Boeing evaluates the performance of its 12,000 sub-vendors spread across the globe and awards its best 10 suppliers the coveted recognition.

Every year, The Boeing Company, the world’s largest aerospace manufacturer, evaluates the performance of its 12,000 sub-vendors spread across the globe and awards its best 10 suppliers the coveted recognition of Supplier of the Year.

Amongst the winners for 2019 is a Kolkata-headquartered company, Rossell India, which builds electrical harnesses for Boeing at its Bengaluru-based subsidiary Rossell Techsys. Rossell’s award is for being “instrumental in the design, modification or production of a product”, for 2019.

Farooq Abdullah Meets NC Leaders, Plans All-Party Meeting to Discuss J&K Situation

In his first meeting with party leaders since the dilution of Article 370, Abdullah said that the “Gupkar Declaration” is a core issue for all regional parties.

Gupkar Declaration: The representative of the following political parties held an all-party meeting at the Gupkar Residence of Dr Farooq Abdullah, president, JKNC [JnK National Conference], to deliberate upon the prevailing political situation triggered by massive deployment of security forces, the advisories issued, the abandonment of Amarnath Yatra midway, and forced removal of tourists from the Valley. The meeting was attended by all most all parties’ leaders of Valley, held on Aug 4^th 2019.

The parties had resolved they would stand “united and defend identity, autonomy and the special status of the JK against all attacks and onslaughts whatsoever” while describing “any modification, abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A unconstitutional, and process of delimitation or trifurcation of the state an aggression against the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.”
“I’m in constant touch with her (Mehbooba Mufti who is house arrest, since Apr citing the ). I keep on speaking to her,” said Abdullah.
It is a moment of great pride for me to inaugurate the first phase of Jammu Ring Road project today, the foundation stone of which was laid by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018: Manoj Sinha, Lt Governor of JnK.

Prayers being offered at the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar. JnK

CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao has ordered probe by Crime Investigation Department of police into fire accident at Srisailam Power Station

Fire broke out at Left Bank Power House in Srisailam, in Telangana side, late last night. Fire engine from Atmakur Fire Station, Kurnool deployed. Ten people rescued, of which 6 are under treatment at a hospital in Srisailam. Nine people still feared trapped. Two bodies have been found from the incident site where the fire had broken out at Left Bank Power House in Srisailam, in Telangana side: Achampet Police, Telangana.

Neighborhood

Russia feels India can mass produce `Sputnik V' vaccine against COVID-19, looks for partnership

Russia, which became the first country in the world to give regulatory approval to COVID-19 vaccine, has expressed confidence in India’s ability to mass produce `Sputnik V’ and is looking for collaboration.
Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), said on Thurs that India is among countries with “extreme production capacities”.
He said production of the vaccine is an important issue and they were looking for a partnership with Indian firms. He expressed confidence that the partnership will be able to meet the demand for Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19.
“RDIF and the Gamaleya Institute strive for maximum transparency about the details of the vaccine development, which is why we post all information about adenovirus vaccines at sputnikvaccine.com,” he said.

Beijing sends its top diplomat to Singapore and South Korea amid US tensions

Yang Jiechi to visit Singapore on Thurs and South Korea from Fri, as Beijing seeks to strengthen ties with its Asian neighbors amid an intensifying geopolitical rivalry with Washington.
His first trip to Seoul in two years will include talks on international security, Korean peninsula and coronavirus response.
Yang, a leading architect of China’s foreign policy, will visit Busan starting on Fri and will hold talks on Sat with Suh Hoon, the South Korean national security adviser, the Yonhap news agency reported, quoting presidential office spokesman Kang Min-seok.
Yang will meet senior minister Teo Chee Hean and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in Singapore, and will have a call with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Dy PM, Heng Swee Keat.
Lee also said Singapore and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations members did not want to be forced to choose between China and the US.
As relations with Washington worsen, regional experts say Beijing is looking to its Asian neighbors for support.

Some verified sources in Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) told that several members have advised Pakistani Army and PM Imran Khan to give up their obsession with Kashmir and stop fighting with India. Apparently, a section in Pak establishment agrees.

However, after Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed Bin Salman snubbed Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, Islamabad is now colluding with the rival factions within the Saudi royal family.

Pak FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in a message on International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, expressed solidarity with the victims of terrorism and their families.

While discussing his own land, he said, “We have lost more than 70,000 lives and suffered an economic loss of over $120 Billion. Thousands of valiant soldiers and law enforcement officials have laid down their lives in defending the motherland.”

He didn’t forget to mention, since 1990, he added, India’s occupation army has martyred over 100,000 Kashmiris, widowed over 22,000 women, orphaned around 108,000 children and raped more than 11,000 women. “India’s state terrorism has intensified since 5 Aug 2019 military siege of 8 mn Kashmiris in the Valley, with the imprisonment of political leaders; the abduction and torture of 13,000 Kashmiri youth; brutal force against peaceful protestors; collective punishments and extra-judicial killings.”

Nation Amid COVID-19

At 62,282, India records highest single day recoveries in a single day.
With more patients recovering and being discharged from hospitals and home isolation (in case of mild and moderate cases), the total recoveries have crossed the 21.5 lakh mark today (21,58,946). The gap between recovered patients and active COVID-19 cases has increased and reached 14,66,918 today. As a higher number of patient recover, their percentage rate continues to steeply rise along with steady decline in percentage Active Cases.
8,05,985 samples were tested in the last 24 hours for identification of the disease. This has taken the cumulative tests to 3,3,467,237.
The testing lab network in the country is being continuously strengthened which as on today consists of 1504 labs in the country; 978 labs in the government sector and 526 private labs. These include:
- Real-Time RT PCR based testing labs: 772 (Govt: 453 + Private: 319)
- TrueNat based testing labs: 614 (Govt: 491 + Private: 123)
- CBNAAT based testing labs: 118 (Govt: 34 + Private: 84)