Newsletter 22 October

Sino-Indian Standoff: Situation seems ‘Stand-still’ Superficially at least

Centre Warns Twitter's CEO After It Misrepresents India's Map & Shows Leh & J&K In China

Ajay Sawhney, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and IT, has written a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey conveying strong disapproval of the Indian govt, over misrepresentation of the map of India.
Sawhney has pointed out that such an incident brings disrepute to Twitter but and raises questions about its neutrality and fairness.
Secretary IT has categorically stated that Leh is headquartered of the UT of Ladakh and both Ladakh as well as JnK are integral and inalienable parts of India governed by the Constitution of India.
On Sun Twitter showed Leh as part of China and on Mon they showed Leh as part of JnK which is incorrect.
Now, one can easily understand, how quick response came from Govt.

Will Discuss "Threats" Posed By China: Mike Pompeo On India-US Meet

India will host the 3^rd edition of the 2+2 ministerial dialogue with the US on Oct 27, for which US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark T Esper will reach New Delhi on Oct 26-27.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would travel to New Delhi for the third India-US 2+2 Dialogue next week on his second Asia trip in less than a month that would also take him to Maldives, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
Each stop, he said, will include discussions on a “broad range of bilateral topics.”
Discussions will also include how they can cooperate to maintain a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” he said. “I’m sure my meetings will also include discussions on how free nations can work together to thwart threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party,” he said.
During his Asia trip from Oct 25-30, Pompeo will also travel to Colombo to underscore the commitment of the US to a partnership with a strong, sovereign Sri Lanka and to advance their common goals for a free and open Indo-Pacific region, Mr Pompeo’s spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said.

US hits Chinese media with new restrictions, upping tensions

The Trump administration is hitting Chinese media outlets in the U.S. with new restrictions, a move that will further foment tensions in already deteriorating ties between the world’s two largest economies as President Donald Trump seeks to boost his anti-China credentials ahead of Nov’s election.
The measures announced by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wed target Yicai Global, Jiefang Daily, Xinmin Evening News, Social Sciences in China Press, Beijing Review, and Economic Daily by requiring them to register as foreign missions, a step that includes making them identify their employees.
So far this year, the U.S. has designated 15 Chinese media outlets as foreign missions.Before Wed, those included the Xinhua News Agency, China Global Television Network, China Radio International, China Daily Distribution Corporation, Hai Tian Development USA, China Central Television, China News Service, the People’s Daily, and Global Times newspaper.

Stealth corvette INS Kavaratti commissioned into Indian Navy

Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane commissioned the last of four indigenously-built anti-submarine warfare (ASW) stealth corvettes ‘INS Kavaratti’ into the Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam on Thu.
Navy officials said the INS Kavaratti has state-of-the-art weapons and sensor suite capable of “detecting and prosecuting” submarines and has good endurance for long-range deployments.
It’s a top-class warship, even if it’s 4 years late and 250% over budget. The navy needs more anti-submarine capability. But only 4 were sanctioned.
The ship has up to 90% indigenous content and the use of carbon composites for the superstructure is a commendable feat achieved in Indian shipbuilding.
The ship’s weapons and sensors suite is predominantly indigenous and showcases the nation’s growing capability in this niche area.

SANT missile successfully test-fired: Its Lock-On capabilities explained

The Helina missile is part of the DRDO’s ‘Nag’ range and allows helicopters to ‘shoot and scoot’ while remaining within safe distance of enemy tanks.
The new missile is said to have a range of between 15 and 20 km and comes equipped with a nose-mounted active radar seeker
Before the upgrade, the Nag was considered a ‘fire-and forget,’ lock-on-before-launch missile
With the lock-on-after-launch capability, missile operators no longer need to lock on to the target before firing the missile
Successfully test fired the Stand-off Anti-tank (SANT) Missile off the coast of Odisha. The Missile is being developed by the DRDO for the Indian Air Force & will have both Lock-on after Launch and Lock-on before Launch capability.
The DRDO has successfully developed several anti-tank missiles in its ‘Nag’ range. The range of a Nag missile could lie anywhere between 500m and 20km depending on its launch type. These weapons have a top speed of approximately 230 m/s (828 km/hour).
The land version of the DRDO’s Nag missile is the Pros Pina, meant for infantry, and launched via a tracking and launch carrier called NAMICA (Nag Missile Carrier).
The system can be mounted on the light infantry vehicle, BMP-2 capable of carrying up to six missiles. Each NAMICA can deploy 4 missiles in a minute.

Air bubble flights resume between India & Germany

India and Germany have finally reached an equitable agreement on flights to be operated by airlines of both countries under the air bubble agreement. Lufthansa will now operate 10 weekly flights — 4 to and from Delhi and 3 each to and from Mumbai and Bengaluru. Air India will operate 7 flights a week with 5 to and from Delhi and 2 from Bengaluru.

Govt allows all foreign nationals to travel to India except on tourist visa

All OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) and PIO (Person of Indian Origin) card-holders and all other foreign nationals intending to visit India for any purpose, except on a Tourist Visa, are permitted to enter by air or water routes through authorized airports and seaport immigration check posts: Ministry of Home Affair

Under this graded relaxation, Govt to restore with immediate effect all existing visas (except electronic visa, Tourist Visa & Medical Visa). Foreign nationals intending to visit India for medical treatment can apply for a Medical Visa including for medical attendants.

Indian economy at doorstep of recovery, said RBI

The Indian economy is at the “doorstep of revival” and both the govt and the RBI are maintaining an accommodative stance, according to RBI governor Shaktikanta Das. An accommodative stance means being prepared to provide all the funds required to support growth. The statement comes a fortnight after he forecast that economy would break out of contraction in the fourth quarter.

US proposes not to issue business visas for H-1B specialty occupations

The Trump administration on Wed announced a rule that will likely curb US companies’ use of skilled foreign workers which officials said was necessary to protect American jobs amid mass unemployment triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.
The rule will significantly increase the minimum wages companies must pay to workers enrolled in the H-1B visa program.
Kenneth Cuccinelli, acting director of Homeland Security, said in a call with reporters on Wed that the new rule was largely designed to deny visas to third-party contractors who provide workers to US companies.

Chinese spy was tasked to get info on Dalai Lama: Police

Investigations into the Chinese espionage ring busted by the Delhi Police has revealed that the arrested Chinese woman, Qing Shi, had been allegedly tasked to gather a list of names of officials posted in important ministries. Police have found that Shi’s assignment also included obtaining details of doctors treating Dalai Lama, the hospitals he visited and the medicines he took.

Bihar Poll: BJP Promises 19 Lakh Jobs, Free Covid Vaccination In Bihar Manifesto ("Sankalp Patra")

Nitish Kumar will be Chief Minister for the next five years, the BJP stressed.

19 lakh job opportunities
Free Covid vaccination for all in Bihar
3 lakh new teachers’ appointments
Making Bihar an IT hub to generate 1 0 lakh jobs
Making one crore women self-reliant
One lakh jobs in the health sector
Pucca houses for 30 lakh people
free tablets for all students from Class 9

Bihar will vote for a new 243-member assembly on Oct 28, Nov 3 and 7. The results will be declared on Nov 10.

Nitish Kumar mentally and physically tired, can’t handle Bihar: Tejashwi Yadav, chief of RJD, a state based party.

Bihar dy CM Sushil Modi tested Covid +ve

PM Modi virtually joins Durga Puja celebrations in Bengal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday virtually joined the Durga Puja celebrations in West Bengal and also addressed the people extending his greetings to all on the biggest festival celebrated in the eastern state. Invoking Goddess Durga, PM Modi reaffirmed his govt’s irrevocable commitment to women’s empowerment alluding to Druga’s symbolism of shakti (strength).

J-K LG urges people not to forget Pak attack on Muzaffarabad on Oct 22, 1947

Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Thu said that we must not forget how Pakistan attacked the people of Muzaffarabad (PoK) on Oct 22, 1947, while killing thousands.
He also urged people not to forget the sacrifices made by the people of Kashmir in the fight against Pakistan.
Sinha made these remarks while addressing two days ‘National Symposium’ focusing on “Memories of 22 October 1947 (Black Day).
J-K LG urges people not to forget Pak attack on Muzaffarabad on Oct 22, 1947, says ‘remember sacrifices made by Kashmiris‘
Through the ‘operation Gulmarg’, Pak killed our people, burnt our houses and destroyed our culture, he said.

PoK refugees observe Black Day in Jammu

Hundreds of Pak Occupied Kashmir (PoK) refugees gathered at Vikram Chowk in the Jammu city under the banner of SOS International (an organization of PoK displaced persons) to observe Black Day on Thu.
“We are observing Black Day today. Pakistan committed grave atrocities and killed thousands in 1947. Pakistan is giving our land to China for China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
PoK is ours and Pakistan cannot give it to China. India should go to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Pakistan for 1947 killings,” said Rajiv Chuni, President, SOS International while talking to ANI.

Stop harassment of journalists, drop sedition cases against them, global press bodies tell Modi

The International Press Institute and Belgium-based International Federation of Journalists accused the BJP of using pandemic as an excuse to stifle criticism.

In a joint statement, the global media groups asked the prime minister to take immediate steps to ensure that journalists can work “without harassment and fear of reprisal”. Journalistic work, they said, cannot be equated to sedition or undermining security.

Private companies may soon develop sat systems

Just weeks after deciding to open up the space sector, the department of space (DoS) has proposed to enable private Indian firms to not just use existing space assets for communication services, but also develop new systems, launch satellites and sell services abroad under its Spacecom Policy-2020. As per draft, companies will be allowed to set up control centers outside India.

River that ran through Thar desert 1,72,000 years ago found

An international team of researchers has found a “lost” river that ran through the central Thar desert, near Bikaner, 172000 years ago. The river was likely a lifeline for Stone Age populations, helping them thrive while also serving as an important corridor for human migration, according to the oldest directly dated phase of river activity researched in the Thar region.

Trade hit by record 60% surge in freight

Trade, both exports and imports, has been badly impacted over the last few weeks after sea freight charges saw one of the highest ever increases of 60% in recent times. The development came after shipping company’s hiked rates substantially. To make matters worse, exporters are facing a massive shortage of containers due to lower imports over the last few months.

Cyber attack cripples Dr Reddy's global operations

Less than a week after Dr Reddy’s Laboratories got the Indian drug regulator DCGI approval to conduct Phase 2/3 trials of Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V in India, the company has become the target of a cyber-attack.

NEIGHBORHOOD/ WORLD

Move to 'kidnap' Sindh IGP to register FIR against PML-N leaders 'brainchild' of Pak interior minister Ijaz Shah

Defending Pakistan Rangers’ move to “kidnap” Sindh IGP and subsequent arrest of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader Safdar Awan, Pakistan interior minister Brigadier Ijaz Shah has said that no political leader in a democratic system could be allowed to target national institutions in the name of freedom of expression.

Political crisis in Pakistan deepens after police, army dispute

A high-profile kidnapping of a police chief in Pakistan – allegedly by official paramilitary troops (rangers) – has signaled deepening of the political turmoil in a country bracing for further opposition protests aimed at ousting Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The paramilitary troops, known as the, are accused of raiding the house of Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar, the inspector general of police in southern Sindh province.
They kidnapped him and forced him to sign an order to arrest an opposition leader, Safdar Awan, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, a spokesman for Bilawal Bhutto Zardari – whose opposition party rules the state -said on Dunya TV Tue.
While Khan’s pro-military government has not yet addressed the issue, Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa ordered an inquiry.
As per media, the spokesman for the PM was not immediately available for comment.

Former PM of Pakistan (for a year) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi attacks the deep state and asked:

What if Sindh Police would have fired at Rangers in response?
Who would have been held responsible?
Who ordered Rangers to abduct the Sindh IG Police at night?

Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa visited LoC with India to ‘distract attention from embarrassment’ being faced by the Pakistan Army in Sindh. Instead he should go Karachi, his visit to LoC raised question about intent.

COVID-19

Some coronavirus high caseload states such as Maharashtra, Rajasthan and West Bengal have scaled-down testing despite their positivity rates being at alarming levels of 15%, 10% and 9% respectively.
With a spike of 55,838 new Covid-19 cases and 702 deaths in the last 24 hours, India’s Covid-19 count crossed 77-lakh mark and reached 77,06,946 on Thu.
India’s contribution will be critical to fighting Covid-19, especially when it comes to making vaccines for the whole world, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said on Wed.