[NEWS OF THE DAY]

5 countries, including India, reject Pak’s attempt to list Indian nationals as UN terrorist

Five countries, (the UK, US, France, and Albania) including India, have rejected the Pakistani attempt to list an Indian National as an UN-listed international terrorist. Islamabad had planned to list Gobinda Patnaik Duggivalasa at the UNSC’s 1267 committee, claiming he was involved in terror attacks in the country. Countries that supported the Indian bid are the UK, US, France, and Albania. Three of the counties are permanent members of the UNSC, while Albania is the President of the Council for this month. In 2020 as well the same name was rejected by 5 members of the committee. Pakistan’s attempt to list him again is seen as wasting the time of the UNSC. Indian envoy to UN T.S. Tirumurti had that time termed it as, “Pakistan’s blatant attempt to politicize 1267 special procedure on terrorism by giving it a religious color.” The development comes even as last week, China had put a hold on the UN listing of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba’s 2^nd command Abdul Rehman Makki. While China’s hold lasts for 6-month, Pakistan’s attempt to again list the Indian national has been rejected by all members of the UNSC. (here)

India, Bangladesh keen to boost bilateral ties: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar on Sun expressed confidence in India-Bangladesh ties and said that the countries look forward to cooperating in new domains including cyber security and up-gradation of the railway system. “We now look forward to working with Bangladesh to take our ties to new domains…including cyber security, up-gradation of the railway system,” Jaishankar said during the 7^th India-Bangladesh Joint Consultative Commission meeting in New Delhi on Sun. At the India-Bangladesh JCC meeting, AK Abdul Momen, Foreign Affairs Minister of Bangladesh, said that the relationship between both countries is based on mutual trust. Momen called India the “most important neighbor Jaishankar expresses solidarity with Bangladesh over devastating floods that have ravaged the country during the key meeting in Delhi; assures support for sharing of flood data. Both sides reiterated the importance of the safe, speedy, and sustainable return of the forcibly displaced persons from the Rakhine State to Myanmar, currently being sheltered by Bangladesh. During his visit, Momen will also pay a courtesy call on Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu and other dignitaries, MEA said in the statement. It was agreed that the 8^th round of India-Bangladesh JCC will be held in Bangladesh in 2023. (here)

Australian Defence Minister to visit India to boost security ties

Australian Dy PM and Def Min, Richard Marles will be on a visit to India from Mon (June 20-23) to hold a bilateral meeting with his counterpart Rajnath Singh to strengthen defense and security cooperation between both the countries. His visit marks the first high-level visit from Australia after the newly-elected Govt took office on May 23. “Australia and India are Comprehensive Strategic Partners. I am committed to strengthening Australia’s defense and security cooperation with India,” said Marles. The Minister also noted that India is one of Australia’s closest security partners and the Govt is focused on revitalizing Australia’s historically deep engagement with our partners across the Indo-Pacific. Australia stands ready to work closely with India in support of an open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific. Marles will also meet External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar and engage national security and defense policymakers and personnel. Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2022, Defence’s flagship engagement activity, returns to India this year. Both leaders reviewed the multi-faceted cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including trade and investment, defense manufacturing, renewable energy, green hydrogen, education, science and technology, agricultural research, sports, and people-to-people ties. (here)

Bharat Bandh over Agnipath: Trains canceled, traffic jams across Delhi-NCR

Over 80 trains have been canceled and massive traffic jams are being witnessed across Delhi-NCR on Mon as some organizations have called for a “Bharat Bandh” to mark their protest against the Agnipath recruitment scheme unveiled by the Central government last week. This comes a day after Tri-service chiefs ruled out the withdrawal of the scheme. (here)

• Over 80 trains have been canceled on Mon. According to an official order by the administration, schools in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur will also remain shut today.
• Intake of ‘Agniveers’ to go up to 1.25 lakhs in future: Dept of Military Affairs
• Ministry of Home Affairs banned 35 WhatsApp groups for spreading fake news on the ‘Agnipath’ scheme and ‘Agniveers’, today: Govt sources
• The situation has aggravated with the protest of Indian Youth Congress workers stopping a train, and blocking the railway track in Delhi, against ED questioning Rahul Gandhi and the Centre’s Agnipath recruitment scheme.
• This is not an issue for the youth alone. There is now a question mark on the character of the armed forces. That is a matter of grave concern: senior Congress leader, Salman Khurshid, on protests against
• 4 Coaching centers have been booked for provoking youths for the arsenal. [However, they are only front faces]
• Indian Army issues notification for Agniveer recruitment; to begin from Jul-The 3 services of the military on Sun came out with a broad schedule of enrolment under the ‘Agnipath’ scheme and warned those who indulged in violence will not be inducted
• As per terms and conditions issued by the Indian Army for Agniveers, they would be entitled to honors and awards, as per extant guidelines governing the subject for the Indian Army
• Agniveers can be posted to any regiment/unit & can be further transferred to other regiments/units in the organization interest
• Bihar’s ruling JD(U) on Sun hit out at ‘Y’ category security to 10 BJP leaders in the state, saying, “securing the future of youth is more important than providing security cover to BJP leaders.”​​​ JD(U) said the youth and students protesting against the Agnipath scheme, are the future of this country.

[NATIONAL]

‘Religiophobia should be equally applied for non-Abrahamic religions’: India at UN

There cannot be “double standards” on religiophobia and combating it should not be a “selective exercise” involving only one or two religions but also apply equally to phobias against non-Abrahamic religions, India has said at the UN. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said on Fri that India has been the greatest victim of terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism.

7 terrorists killed in three encounters in Kashmir

The Jammu and Kashmir Police along with the Army have neutralized 7 terrorists, including 2 Pakistani nationals in 3 anti-terror operations in Kupwara, Kulgam, and Pulwama districts in less than 24 hours, officials said on Mon. J&K Police and Indian Army have launched massive intelligence-based operations in Kashmir to neutralize terrorists. 4 terrorists were killed in Kupwara, 2 terrorists were killed in Kulgam, and 1 terrorist was killed in Pulwama in three different encounters in less than 24 hours. There have been a series of encounters between the terrorists and security forces in Kashmir over the last few months in which many terrorists and their commanders have been eliminated. (here)

Cyber security integral to national security, Modi Govt committed to making it robust: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Mon said that cyber security is integral to national security and PM Modi-led govt is committed to making it robust. Addressing a gathering at a national conference on Cyber Safety and National Security, Shah also stressed the need for public awareness, mentioning that it is most important for cyber security. Noting that reporting of cybercrimes increased from 3,377 in 2012 to 50,000 in 2020, the Minister said the govt is committed to creating the most secure cyber atmosphere in India. The Minister said it is the vision of PM Modi that every Indian should empower themselves through technology and the internet. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), in the MHA in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, GoI in the run-up to tomorrow’s conference had also organized functions at 75 places in different States and UTs on Cyber Hygiene, Prevention of Cyber Crimes, Cyber Safety and National Security under the banner “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” from June 8 to 17. (here)

400 chartered accountants, and company secretaries under scanner for flouting norms to incorporate Chinese shell companies

They allegedly played role in incorporating Chinese shell companies in metropolitan cities by flouting norms. The Central govt has recommended disciplinary action against 400 Chartered Accountants and Company Secretaries for their alleged role in incorporating Chinese shell companies in metropolitan cities by flouting norms and rules, The Hindu has reported. The stringent action is among a series of measures taken by the govt against Chinese business entities after the 2020 Galwan incident when 20 soldiers were killed in violent clashes with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Though the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from Chinese companies has come to naught in the past two years due to various regulatory measures initiated by the govt, the trade between the two countries hit a record $125 billion last year. From Apr-Jun 2020, FDI from China (counted from the year 2000) stood at ₹15,422 crores while in the first quarter of 2022 it has come down to ₹12,622 crores, according to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) data. (here)

JP Nadda meets the senior leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam under the ‘Know BJP’ outreach program

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President JP Nadda met with the senior leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Van Nen at the BJP Head Office in the national capital on Mon. This New Delhi meeting is the continuation of the BJP’s outreach program “Know BJP” through which the BJP President is interacting with foreign dignitaries. Under this program, Nadda has so far interacted with Nepal PM Sher Bahadur Deuba, Minister for Foreign Relations of Singapore, and also envoys of 47 countries. On Jun 11, Nadda met the envoys of 13 foreign countries and said that is a need for better communication between the political systems and political parties of different countries to understand the vision of each other. Earlier, Nadda interacted with “Head of Missions” from 13 countries at the party’s central office in the 4^th phase of the campaign. (here)

DRDO lab engineer held for sharing information on India’s missile program with ‘Pakistani spy’

An engineer with the DRDO laboratory — Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) — in Hyderabad was arrested on Fri on charges of leaking sensitive information on India’s missile development program to a suspected Pakistani spy, who posed as a woman working with a UK-based defense journal, the Telangana Police said. The accused, Dukka Mallikarjuna Reddy (29), was working as a contractual Quality Assurance Engineer of the Advance Naval System Program of DRDL at the Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in Balapur. He was apprehended from his home in Meerpet during a joint operation by the Special Operations Team, a statement read. He was charged under Section 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code and various sections of the Official Secrets Act, 1923. The police seized two mobile phones, a sim card, and a laptop from his possession. (here)

Not a record to showcase: No US ambassador to India for 18 months & counting, longest ever

For the past 18 months, the position of US ambassador to India has remained vacant. This is the “longest-ever stretch” where India has not had an ambassador from the US, according to data compiled by the US-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Experts say the absence of an ambassador in New Delhi has not gravely affected diplomatic relations, but add that it is “not the best look”. According to a graph prepared by Richard Rossow, American ambassadors to India have usually taken office within 6-7 months of the departure of their predecessors. This means that the current gap — which continues to widen as the nomination of President Joe Biden’s pick, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, remains stalled in the Senate — is more than double the average. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

At least 2 killed in the attack at Gurudwara in Afghanistan’s Kabul

At least two civilians, including a Sikh man and a Muslim security guard, died after unidentified assailants attacked a Gurudwara in Afghanistan’s Kabul city on Sat. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in a statement denounced the cowardly attack on the gurudwara and said that India is closely monitoring developments in Kabul. The Islamic State Khorasan Province on Sun claimed the responsibility for the attack, saying it was a retaliation for insults against the Prophet Muhammad. Photographs and videos shared by Tolo News showed thick black plumes of smoke billowing out from the area. Xinhua News Agency, citing sources reported that two people had lost their lives in the first blast. Three soldiers, too, reportedly sustained injuries, Xinhua said. According to sources, around 25 to 30 people were present inside the Kabul gurudwara complex for their morning prayers when the attackers entered the premises. Around 10-15 people managed to escape but the gurdwara’s guard, identified as Ahmad, was killed by the assailants. Sources also said that seven or eight people were still believed to be trapped inside. The Sikhs consider the Saroop, a physical copy of the Guru Granth Sahib as a living guru. (here) Following the attack in the capital Kabul city, the Indian govt has granted e-visas to more than 100 Sikhs and Hindus living in Afghanistan on a priority basis, Wion reported. The decision was taken on Sat late at night after the attack on Karte Parwan Gurdwara by the Islamic State terrorist group.

Amid tensions with Taiwan, China successfully tests an anti-ballistic missile interceptor

China carried out a land-based missile interception test that “achieved its expected purpose”, its defense ministry announced late on Sun amid the ongoing military standoff along the disputed land border with India to the northwest of the country and rising tension with Taiwan off its southeastern coast. The test details of the anti-ballistic missile (ABM) including the location where it was carried out remain shrouded in mystery. ABMs are typically meant to provide an umbrella of security against missile attacks in case of war by intercepting incoming ones including intercontinental ballistic missiles. The ministry said that the “ground-based mid-course anti-missile intercept technology” test had been carried out within the country’s territory, the defense ministry said in a brief statement. The test was conducted at night, the statement said. “The test reached its expected goals,” the ministry said, adding: “This test was defensive and not aimed at any country.” China had carried out the test of a similar missile in Feb, 2021. The latest test brings the tally of publicly announced Chinese land-based ABM technical tests to 6. (here)

China tests land-based missile interception system: Report

China has carried out a land-based missile interception test that “achieved its expected purpose”, the Defence Ministry said, describing it as defensive and not aimed at any country. China has been ramping up research into all sorts of missiles, from those that can destroy satellites in space to advanced nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles, as part of an ambitious modernization scheme overseen by President Xi Jinping. Beijing has tested missile interceptors before; the most recent previous public announcement of a test was in Feb 2021, and before that in 2018. State media has said China has conducted anti-missile system tests since at least 2010. The ministry said in a brief statement late on Sun that the “ground-based midcourse anti-missile intercept technology” test had been carried out that night. It provided no other details. China, along with its ally Russia, has repeatedly expressed opposition to the U.S. deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system in South Korea. China argued the equipment’s powerful radar could penetrate its territory. China and Russia have also held simulated anti-missile drills. (here)

Nearly one in four European firms consider shifting out of China

Nearly one in 4 European companies in China are considering shifting their investments out of the country as the ongoing Covid outbreaks and lockdowns dim the outlook for the world’s 2^nd-largest economy, a survey showed. Some 23% of the businesses that responded to the survey are thinking of moving their current or planned investments away from China, according to a report released Mon by the EU Chamber of Commerce in China. The survey was conducted at the end of April when Shanghai was still in shutdown and restrictions in places like Jilin disrupted business activity. The number of European firms reassessing their options in China was the highest proportion in a decade in the survey, and also more than double the 11% recorded in a Feb poll, according to the chamber. Some 372 businesses responded to the April poll, whereas 620 responded to the Feb one. (here)

Experts raise concern over China’s BRI projects in Nepal, say Beijing has geopolitical interests

Experts raised concern over the lack of transparency and viability of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects in Nepal and said that it must be cautious while accepting support as the donor country has its own geopolitical as well as other vested interests. The views were presented by experts from different fields as they spoke at the News Society Nepal (NSN) Dialogue Series ‘BRI (Belt and Road Initiative), International Experience and Nepal’ organized by News Society Nepal. Speaking on the occasion, journalist Bishwas Baral said that there would be problems if the agreements are not transparent. “…Therefore, first of all, such agreements need to be transparent”, said Baral, reported Nepal’s local media outlet Kantipur News. The experts said that a developing country like Nepal must be cautious while accepting international support as the donor countries have their own geopolitical as well as other interests. Diplomatic historian and strategist of Sri Lanka George IH Cooke said that countries can bring in a lot of investment but they have to be clear about what they are going to do from the investment. (here)

China & 3 EU nations still helping finance Putin’s Ukraine war. Finnish study explains how

For the first hundred days after Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb 24, China, Netherlands, Germany, and Italy continued to be the biggest importers of fossil fuels from Russia, thereby acting as the primary financiers for Putin’s war, new findings by a think tank has revealed. While Russia has become India’s “second-biggest” oil source since the start of the war in Ukraine, following its $25 per barrel discount to India and supplies chain disruptions since the war, data collected by the Finnish think tank, the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), also shows that India has been Russia’s eighth largest importer of fossil fuels, at 3.4 billion euros worth of imports since the beginning of the war. Meanwhile, China and Germany rank as Russia’s primary importers of fossil fuels, at 12.6 billion and 12.1 billion euros, respectively, according to the CREA data. Italy and Netherlands come next, with 7.8 billion euros worth of imports each, with Turkey not too far behind at 6.7 billion. (here)

China chalks up success in its push to promote favored candidates on international bodies

This week’s re-election of a Chinese member to a US maritime commission is a success for Beijing’s efforts to get its candidates into positions of international influence even though its efforts are still falling short in other areas. On Wed Tang Yong, who had been serving as one of 21 members of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf since 2017, was re-elected for another five-year term from 2023 to 2028. China has always had a seat on the commission, which rules on claims that have significant economic and political importance, since 1997. However, one legal expert cautioned that it was unlikely to boost the country’s claims over the South China Sea. (here)