1. Manipur Violence: ‘Responded in calibrated manner’: Army on attack by armed rioters
2. Assam CM apprises PM Modi about flood situation in state over call
3. Scope for joint sales, patrols through maritime cooperation between India and Philippines
4. Tamil Nadu governor unilaterally dismisses jailed Senthil Balaji from state cabinet
5. PM Modi’s ‘Make in India’ had visible effect on Indian economy: Russian President

What Else

6. US Expects More Cooperation With India in South China Sea
7. Want to strike truly ambitious trade deal with India, says UK PM Rishi Sunak
8. India no longer in UN’s children and armed conflict report as situation improves
9. China’s top diplomat says new law to counter foreign ‘bullying’
10. EU seeks to project united approach towards China ahead of high-level Brussels meetings

Manipur Violence: ‘Responded in calibrated manner’: Army on attack by armed rioters

• Armed rioters fired at security forces in Kangpokpi district when the soldiers were on their way to a village after reports of unprovoked firing on Thu morning, army said.
• The spokesperson said the troops responded in a calibrated manner and that there were unconfirmed reports of some casualties among the armed rioters.
• The army said troops were on their way to village Haraothel to prevent escalation of violence after reports that armed rioters had carried out unprovoked firing at 5:30am.
• As per data, at least 3500 weapons were looted by mobs over the past month, and at multiple instances rioters were using these weapons. (here)
• The National Investigation Agency has taken over a probe into an IED blast in Bishnupur on Jun 21, in which 3 people, including 2 minors, were injured. (here)
• Rahul takes chopper to relief camp after convoy stopped, BJP calls him stubborn: After his convoy was stopped from visiting Churachandpur by road, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi headed back to Imphal and reached his destination on a chopper Thu
• Gandhi is on a 2-day visit to violence-hit Manipur, who was stopped before he could visit a relief camp, prompting angry comments from his party (here)
• On the day Gandhi began his visit, the All Manipur Students Union issued a statement saying that the violence in the state was a result of “blunders” by previous govts. (here)

Assam CM apprises PM Modi about flood situation in state over call

• Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thu called on PM Modi at his official residence in New Delhi and apprised him about the prevailing flood situation in the state.
• Sarma briefed Modi on various measures taken by the state govt to provide relief and rehabilitation to those affected, according to an official release. (here)
• [No further detail was in the media]

Scope for joint sales, patrols through maritime cooperation between India and Philippines

• Philippines Secy for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo who is on official visit from Jun 27-30, held bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar on Thu.
• There is a lot of scope for expansion of defense cooperation between Delhi and Manila, especially in maritime security, including joint sales as well as joint patrols, Manalo said
• Manila to consider India’s offer for concessional LoC to meet Philippines’ defense requirements, says Joint statement after India, Philippines foreign ministers meet.
• Philippines Govt to introduce e-visa for Indian Nationals
• Both deliberating on signing an MoU on cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space
• The two call for UNSC reforms in a joint statement and call for adherence to the 2016 Arbitral Award on the SCS in a joint statement
• India to have resident Defense Attaché in Manila.
• The two looked at expanding cooperation in existing domains like the economy, defense, education, people-to-people relations, anti-terrorism measures, and maritime cooperation, and also new areas including cyber security, AI, and space. (here)

Tamil Nadu governor unilaterally dismisses jailed Senthil Balaji from state cabinet

• Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi on Thu dismissed Minister V Senthil Balaji from the Council of Ministers, the Raj Bhavan said.
• In an official release, the Governor House said Senthil Balaji “is facing serious criminal proceedings in a number of cases of corruption, including taking cash for jobs and money laundering.”
• Currently, he is in judicial custody in a criminal case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate. (here)
• Governor has decided to keep the dismissal order in abeyance for the time being and informed Chief Minister M K Stalin about it, PTI reported on Thu.
• He said there were reasonable apprehensions that the continuation of Senthil Balaji in the Council of Ministers would adversely impact the due process of law.
• Reacting to the development, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin said, “The Governor has no powers. We will face this legally.” (here)

PM Modi’s ‘Make in India’ had visible effect on Indian economy: Russian President

• Russian President Vladimir Putin has said PM Modi’s ‘Make in India’ concept has had a “visible effect” on the Indian economy, RT, a Russian state-controlled TV network.
• The President drew India’s example to encourage domestic products and brands in Russia.
• Recently, Russian Envoy Denis Alipov in Delhi has said that the “special Russia-India strategic partnership” has shown strength and is “growing stronger as ever”. (here)

• In 1^st Phone Conversation post aborted coup, Russian NSA Briefs Doval about ‘Latest Events’: After a short-lived mutiny by a private army of mercenaries last week, the Russian NSA N. Patrushev called up Indian NSA to talk to him about the “latest events”.
• The discussion also came after the visit of PM Modi to the US, which both sides have projected as a highly successful trip.
• Till now, only the Russians have issued a readout on the phone conversation.
• The Russian press release says “It added that the two officials have “agreed to continue a confidential dialogue”. (here)

US Expects More Cooperation With India in South China Sea

• The top U.S. diplomat for E Asia, D Kritenbrink, said Wed that he expected a greater U.S.-India partnership over SCS, where China has been at the center of numerous territorial disputes with regional countries.
• The US and India declared themselves “among the closest partners in the world” last week during a state visit to Washington by PM Modi
• The U.S. has seen a “clear and upward trend” of Chinese “coercion” in the disputed waters, he told the CSIS, a Washington think tank.
• Though not a SCS claimant, India has in recent years stepped up security ties in the region, signaling its intent to play a bigger role in efforts to counter China. (here)
• “India is obviously a critical player in the region when it comes to ensuring stability and security in the region, and so we’ll continue to work very closely with India toward that end“, says Pentagon on Thu.

Want to strike truly ambitious trade deal with India, says UK PM Rishi Sunak

• British PM Rishi Sunak on Wed reiterated his commitment to a “truly ambitious” FTA with India as he hosted a special reception to celebrate India Global Forum’s UK-India Week 2023 in the garden of 10 Downing Street here.
• The 43-year-old British Indian leader interacted with business leaders and celebrities, including boxing champion Mary Kom, musicians Shankar Mahadevan and Zakir Hussain, and Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor, as part of what he dubbed as the start of an Indian summer for the UK. (here)
• UK Backs Permanent Seats for India, Japan, Africa at UN Security Council

• The UK on Thu announced its backing for an expanded UNSC, including a permanent spot for Africa, to reflect the current and future state of the world.
• “We want to see permanent African representation and membership extended to India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan,” said Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.
• US President Biden has previously signaled his support for an expanded UNSC with African presence, and giving the African Union a permanent spot in the G20. (here)

India no longer in UN’s children and armed conflict report as situation improves

• UN Chief Antonio Guterres has removed India from the annual report on the impact of armed conflict on children, citing measures taken by the Indian govt to protect better
• India was mentioned in the report of the Secretary-General on Children and armed conflict since 2010 along with other countries of Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Lake Chad basin, Nigeria, Pakistan, and the Philippines for alleged recruitment and use of boys by armed groups in Jammu and Kashmir
• Guterres said in his report last year, he had welcomed the engagement of the Indian govt with his special representative and noted that it might lead to the removal of India as a situation of concern. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

China’s top diplomat says new law to counter foreign ‘bullying’

• China’s top diplomat said Thu a new foreign relations law would help counter “bullying” from abroad after China’s approval it said would boost its powers to counter sanctions
• The US has imposed sanctions on a lengthy list of Chinese companies and individuals, accusing them of complicity in human rights abuses that Beijing has strenuously denied
• The sanctions -mainly those limiting access to critical tech needed for semiconductors – have hit some Chinese firms hard, forcing them to slash jobs and freeze expansion.
• Top legislature passed the Law on FR on Wed, which defines the main principles and positions of Beijing’s international diplomacy and will come into effect on Jul 1. (here)

EU seeks to project united approach towards China ahead of high-level Brussels meetings

• Brussels is eager to project a united EU in its China policies despite some divergent positions, as the 27-nation bloc’s leaders meet in the Belgian capital for a 2-day summit
• EU Council President Charles Michel said discussions on China – expected to be held on Fri– would give an opportunity to “reconfirm” the bloc’s “broad and united stance”.
• EU leaders were expected to assert that “engagements with China will continue on global challenges”, according to a leaked EU draft of conclusions.
• The bloc would “de-risk and diversify where necessary and appropriate, to achieve a balanced, reciprocal and mutually beneficial economic relationship” with Beijing.
• “The European Union does not intend to decouple or to turn inwards,” it added.
• “Its policies are not designed to harm China nor to thwart China’s economic progress and development.” (here)