1. Manipur Violence: 10 militants reportedly killed as fierce gunfights continue in Manipur
2. PM Modi inaugurates Rajkot International Airport in Gujarat
3. ‘Unacceptable’: India lashes out at China for issuing stapled visas to players from Arunachal Pradesh
4. India, Japan emphasizes role of partnership in ensuring free, open, prosperous Indo-Pacific
5. BlackRock joins hands with Jio Financial Services to launch digital-first asset manager

What Else

6. ‘Testimony to normalcy in J-K,’ says LG as Shias take out Muharram procession after 33 years
7. NIA arrests 5^th accused in Maharashtra ISIS module case
8. Pakistan: Senate passes Army Act proposing up to 5 yrs in jail for disclosing sensitive info
9. Pakistan: Gwadar port to be developed as one of the best in the world: PM Shehbaz
10. Sri Lanka: French President Emmanuel Macron to visit Sri Lanka this weekend
11. Ukraine war: US intelligence report says China likely to be supplying tech for Russian military
12. China offers to conduct military drills with Philippines amid tensions

Manipur Violence: 10 militants reportedly killed as fierce gunfights continue in Manipur

[Local media reported 10 militants reportedly killed, but no other media reported, except HT, which claim 4 were injured; Person who recorded video Nabbed, CBI to likely take over case; Bihar BJP Leader Resigns Over Manipur; “Zero tolerance towards any crimes against women”, Centre to SC; while Opposition bloc to send delegation of MPs]

• At least 10 suspected Kuki militants have been reportedly killed and several injured resulting in fierce gunfights that took place between security forces and Kuki militants.
• The gunfights occurred at various places under the jurisdiction of Bishnupur on Thu.
• (sources)- 5 including a district commando, (Nameirakpam) a jawan of the Kumaon regiment, and 3 village volunteers, sustained bullet injuries.
• On seeing the police force, the militants fired several rounds towards the police to which the police retaliated, even firing rounds of bombs towards the militants. (here)
• At least 4 men were injured after 2 armed groups clashed and engaged in a gunfight on Thu in different places. (here)

• Sexual Assault: Person who recorded video Nabbed, CBI to likely take over case: In the Manipur sexual assault case, the person who recorded the heinous video, which shocked the entire nation, has been apprehended by the police.
• The phone has also been seized from the accused and an FIR has been registered.
• (sources)- the Home Ministry is likely to refer the viral video case to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
• Centre will also file an affidavit in Supreme Court requesting the the trial of viral video case to take place outside Manipur, likely in Assam.
• MHA is in touch with both Kuki and Meitei groups are in the advanced stage to restore normalcy in Manipur.
• Manipur has also started signs of normalcy with attendance in schools (82%) and offices (72%) picking up while no casualty has been recorded in the state after Jul 17 (here)
• “Zero tolerance towards any crimes against women”, Centre to SC: The Centre on Thu through its affidavit informed the Court that the approach of the Central govt is of “zero tolerance” and apprised that it has decided to transfer the case to the CBI. (here)
• The Central govt has taken a decision, with the consent of the state govt, to entrust the investigation of the viral video of two women to the CBI, the affidavit stated.

• ‘Defamed India’: Bihar BJP Leader Resigns Over Manipur: BJP leader Vinod Sharma has tendered his resignation alleging that the ongoing violence in Manipur has “defamed India” on a global stage.
• “I have resigned from the BJP with a heavy heart. The situation in Manipur has agitated the whole nation and defamed the image of India in front of the world,” he said.
• The [ruling] JD(U) also criticized the BJP, citing Sharma’s resignation. (here)
• Opposition bloc to send MPs to Manipur, parties hit back at PM Modi: After moving a no-confidence motion against the BJP govt, the I.N.D.I.A. on Thu decided to send a multi-party delegation of MPs to Manipur over the weekend.
• This came on the day, the alliance saw a minor discord over the Congress rushing to give the notice for no-confidence, without the signatures of MPs of other parties
• Many of the parties conveyed their displeasure to the party chief and he admitted it was a mistake, which could have been avoided. (here)
• Rs 363.14 crore released for projects under DoNER, NEC in Manipur: A total fund amount of Rs 363.14 crore has been released to Manipur for the implementation of projects under various schemes of DoNER Ministry and NEC.
• Out of which, Rs 114.99 crore was released in 2020-21; Rs145.24 crore in 2021-22; Rs 65.18 crore in 2022-23; and Rs 37.73 crore released during 2023-24 (up to Jun, 2023).
• The information was given by Union Development of North Eastern Region Minister G Kishan Reddy in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on Thu, as per PIB. (here)
• A group of MPs from the opposition alliance I.N.D.I.A. will visit Manipur on Jul 29 and 30 to assess the situation. (here)

PM Modi inaugurates Rajkot International Airport in Gujarat

• PM Modi on Thu inaugurated the Rajkot International Airport, the Greenfield Airport which has been developed in more than 2500 acres at a cost of more than Rs 1400 crore.
• Union Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia was also present at the event.
• The new airport has an amalgamation of modern technology and sustainable features, a press release issued by the PM Office said.
• The terminal building is GRIHA -4 compliant and is equipped with various features like double insulated roofing system, skylights, LED, Low Heat Gain Glazing, etc (here)
• PM Modi lashed out at the newly created Opposition grouping and said Mahatma Gandhi’s “Quit India” movement against the British was once again needed to create a prosperous country and eradicate corruption, dynastic politics, and appeasement. (here)

‘Unacceptable’: India lashes out at China for issuing stapled visas to players from Arunachal Pradesh

• India on Thu criticized China for issuing “stapled visas” to some sportspersons hailing from Arunachal Pradesh, describing the move as “unacceptable”.
• External affairs ministry spokesperson said that India reserves the right to “suitably respond” to such actions.
• A stapled visa is a visa that is not stamped directly into the passport of the applicant but instead is attached to the passport with a staple.
• China’s move to issue such a visa is due to its long-held stand that Arunachal is part of its territory, a claim that India has rubbished repeatedly.
• (sources) – the visit of a 12-member team of Wushu players to Chengdu to WUG was called off on Wed as 3 players from Arunachal were given stapled visas. (here)
• MEA says, “During the Bali G20 Summit last year, Prime Minister and President Xi Jinping,….exchanged courtesies and spoke of the need to stabilize our bilateral relations“

India, Japan emphasizes role of partnership in ensuring free, open, prosperous Indo-Pacific

• External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar and his Japanese FM Yoshimasa Hayashi on Thu emphasized the role of the India-Japan partnership in ensuring a secure Indo-Pacific.
• Jaishankar and Hayashi held the 15^th India-Japan FMs Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi.
• The meeting provided an opportunity to review the progress made in the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
• The Ministers emphasized the importance of achieving the target of JPY 5 trillion Japanese investment in India in the period 2022-27.
• Hayashi is in India as part of his visit to Southwest Asia and Africa to bolster relations with a group of nations known as the Global South. (here)

BlackRock joins hands with Jio Financial Services to launch digital-first asset manager

• American MN investment company, BlackRock, entered into a joint venture with Jio Financial Services, the division of tycoon Mukesh Ambani’s empire, to launch a digital-1^st asset manager to serve the expanding investor population in India.
• Jio BlackRock will be the name of the joint enterprise.
• BlackRock and Jio Financial Services each intend to spend up to $150 million in the 50-50 venture.
• BlackRock had $9.4 trillion in assets under management at the end of Jun. (here)
• Foxconn to invest $200 million to establish electronic components plant in TN: FII a subsidiary of the Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn, is proposing an investment of up to $200 million to establish an electronic components plant in Tamil Nadu
• The CEO of FII, Brand Cheng, and other corporate representatives met last week with MK Stalin, CM, and other govt leaders to discuss the investment.
• This comes a week after Karnataka announced that FII had agreed to invest $1.07 billion in a new facility. (here)

‘Testimony to normalcy in J-K,’ says LG as Shias take out Muharram procession after 33 years

• The J&K authorities on Thu lifted a 33-year-old ban that prohibited Shia Muslims from taking out processions during the Muharram.
• This was initially imposed in 1989 during the start of armed insurgency in the valley.
• Over 25,000 Shia mourners in Srinagar participated in the procession, following the traditional route of Gurubazar-Lal Chowk-Dalgate.
• The procession commenced around 6 a.m. from Gurubazar and concluded peacefully at Dalgate around 11 a.m., covering a distance of approximately 5 km. (here)

NIA arrests 5^th accused in Maharashtra ISIS module case

• In the ISIS Maharashtra module case, National Investigation Agency on Thu arrested another person for promoting the violent activities of the proscribed terrorist outfit.
• Adnanali Sarkar, 43, was arrested following raids from the Kondhwa area in Maharashtra’s Pune.
• The NIA has seized several incriminating materials, such as electronic gadgets and several documents related to ISIS, during searches at Sarkar’s Kondhwa house.
• The material exposed the accused’s allegiance to ISIS and his role in promoting the outfit’s violent agenda by motivating and recruiting vulnerable youth.
• NIA said the accused had hatched a conspiracy to further ISIS activities, known by different names such as IS, ISIL, ISIS, Daish, ISKP, ISIS Wilayat Khorasan, and ISIS-K.
• As per the agency, this is the 5^th arrest in the case, which the NIA registered on June 28 while 4 others were arrested by the NIA in Mumbai on Jul 3. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Pakistan: Senate passes Army Act proposing up to 5 yrs in jail for disclosing sensitive info

• The Senate on Thu passed a bill to amend the Pakistan Army Act, 1952 which proposes up to 5 years in jail for anyone who discloses sensitive information
• However, if someone does so “after seeking prior approval from an authorized officer, in the manner prescribed” then it shall not be deemed as an “unauthorized disclosure”.
• It also states that such a case will be dealt with according to Section 59 (civil offenses) of the Army Act read with the Official Secrets Act 1923.
• The bill also proposes forbidding any person subject to the Act from engaging in any kind of political activity for 2 years from the date of their “retirement, release, resignation, discharge, removal or dismissal from the service”. (here)

Pakistan: Gwadar port to be developed as one of the best in the world: PM Shehbaz

• PM Shehbaz Sharif on Thu reiterated the govt’s resolve to develop the Gwadar Port as one of the best in the world and promised that the “fruit of development” in Balochistan would be directed towards the people of the province.
• The premier passed these remarks during a visit to Gwadar, where he inaugurated several development projects along with Army Chief Gen Asim Munir.
• Addressing a ceremony at the China-Pakistan Expo Centre, PM Shehbaz said the fate of the people would be changed through the ongoing development. (here) [like Lanka]

Sri Lanka: French President Emmanuel Macron to visit Sri Lanka this weekend

• French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Sri Lanka this weekend, following his return from Papua New Guinea, reported a Lankan news agency reported on Thu.
• It is going to be the 1^st visit by President Macron to Sri Lanka, also his visit will mark the first trip of a French President to countries of Pacific island nations.
• The French President will meet with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe during his brief stay.
• Although, Macron’s visit had not been officially announced.
• The French President will first travel to Vanuatu on July 27 before leaving for Papua New Guinea.
• France is part of the group of countries that announced a common platform for talks among bilateral creditors to coordinate the restructuring of Sri Lanka’s debt. (here)

Ukraine war: US intelligence report says China likely to be supplying tech for Russian military

• China is helping Russia evade sanctions and likely providing Moscow with military and dual-use tech for use in Ukraine, as per an unclassified US intel report released on Thu.
• The assessment by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence was published by the US House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
• China has repeatedly denied sending military equipment to Russia since Moscow’s all-out invasion of Ukraine in Feb 2022.
• “The customs records show PRC state-owned companies shipping navigation equipment, jamming tech, and fighter jet parts to Russian govt-owned companies.”
• It also said China has become “an even more critical partner” of Russia after Moscow invaded Ukraine last year.
• ODNI said China and Russia had increased the share of bilateral trade settled in yuan, and both countries’ financial institutions are expanding their use of domestic payment (here)

China offers to conduct military drills with Philippines amid tensions

• China has offered to hold joint military exercises with the Philippines, media reported on Thu, quoting Manila’s military chief.
• Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Romeo Brawner will study the offer, CNN Philippines and state-run PTV reported.
• There was no immediate comment from Brawner, but military spokesman Medel Aguilar said he did see the video of Brawner’s interview and reiterated the conversation he had with the Chinese diplomat was “informal”.
• China’s embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
• “We try to establish relations with armies, with armed forces around the world. This is one way for us to prevent war,” Brawner said.
• Beijing’s offer comes at a time of heightened tensions between the countries over what Manila describes as China’s “aggressive” activities in the South China Sea.
• China has long-standing territorial disputes in the South China Sea with several countries in the region, including the Philippines. (here)