Newsletter 9 October

Sino-Indian Standoff: Despite uneasy calm, fears of a Spark at LAC remains a concern

India’s Next Generation Missile Boats will make Chinese Aircraft Obsolete

Indian Navy plans to induct six new next generation Missile Boats/Vessels under make in India program.
The missile vessel primary mission indicated as surface warfare unlike most other missile boats perform only Anti shipping.
Previously Indian navy used the Russian missile boats that can bring down entire Karachi and did awesome work in the 1971 WAR and get the Nickname Killer Squadron, thus later replaced by the corvette’s.
It seems navy didn’t satisfied those Corvette’s they need new generation missile Boats, but here the missile vessel have 8 VLS or Tubes for Surface attack this can be added with either Nirbhay LACM ( Land Attack Cruise Missile ) or Combination of Brahmos land attack and anti-shipping cruise missiles.
The Nirbhay can strike target far more than 1200 kilometers with impressive loitering capability, also flies at low level and reduced RCS. So hard to be tracked by enemy air defense radars.

India, US Likely To Hold Third Edition Of 'two-plus-two' Dialogue On Oct 26-27

India and the US are expected to hold the third edition of the two-plus-two ministerial dialogue in New Delhi on Oct 26-27 amid rising tensions with China.
India and the United States are expected to hold the 3^rd edition of the 2+2 ministerial dialogue in New Delhi.
Both India and the US have aggressively responded to China’s expansionist and coercive policies in the region, and are likely to discuss expanding the scope of strategic cooperation by signing important agreements.
India’s External Affairs Min, S Jaishankar and Def Min, Rajnath Singh will hold the 2+2 ministerial dialogue with their US counterparts. US Secy of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secy Mark Esper are scheduled to visit India for the ministerial-level talks.
Pompeo and Esper are expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on the sidelines of the ministerial dialogue.
Both sides are also likely to sign the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) for geo-spatial cooperation after they agreed to expedite the work of the deal earlier this year.

India successfully test-fires Rudram Anti-Radiation Missile developed by DRDO

India today successfully test-fired Rudram from a Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft off the east coast, developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
The missile will provide air superiority, tactical capability for the Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft.
DRDO ARM has a range of 100–150 km which is made to be integrated with Sukhoi Su-30MKI as its primary test platform, although can be used with Dassault Mirage 2000, SEPECAT Jaguar, HAL Tejas and HAL Tejas Mark 2/MWF in future.
It is designed primarily for suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) that can be launched from a range of altitudes for destroying enemy surveillance radars, tracking and communication systems.

GDP to contract by 9.5% in FY21, may turn Positive by Q4: RBI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das on Fri told to media that projected gross domestic product (GDP) contracting by 9.5% in the current financial year amid disruptions caused by pandemic which may turn positive in the last quarter (Jan-Mar). ” said
If, however, the current momentum of upturn gains ground, a faster and stronger rebound is eminently feasible. Barring the incidence of a second wave, India stands poised to shrug off the deathly grip of the virus and renew its tryst with its pre-COVID growth trajectory.
Das said the RBI’s assessment is that inflation will remain elevated in Sept but ease gradually towards the target over Q3 and Q4. The analysis also suggests that supply disruptions and associated margins and markups are the major factors driving up inflation.
RBI keeps repo rate unchanged amid high inflation

India gets 2nd set of Swiss bank account details under automatic info exchange framework

India is among the 86 countries with which Switzerland’s Federal Tax Administration (FTA) has exchanged information on financial accounts within the framework of global standards on AEOI this year.

India has got the second set of Swiss bank account details of its nationals and entities under the automatic exchange of information pact with Switzerland, marking a key milestone in the Govt’s fight against black money allegedly stashed abroad.

India had received the first set of details from Switzerland in Sept 2019 under AEOI (Automatic Exchange of Information), when it involved 75 countries.

The information exchange this year involved nearly 3.1 million (31 lakh) financial accounts, FTA said in a statement on Fri. The number of such accounts was similar in 2019.

While the statement did not explicitly name India among the 86 countries, officials told PTI that India is among the prominent countries with which Switzerland has shared details about financial accounts of clients of Swiss banks and various other financial institutions.

Piyush Goyal gets additional charge of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

The ministry was under Ram Vilash Paswan, who passed away yesterday night after a month long battling with life at 74. He was instrumental in executing, Other Backward class Reservation (27%) during than Prime Minister, VP Singh. Goyal has already the Railways Ministry and Commerce and Industry in the Cabinet.

Elghar Parishad case: NIA files charge sheet against seven accused

The 7 accused are academic and activist, Dr Anand Teltumbde, Gautam Navlakha, Hanybabu Musaliyarveetil Tharayil, 3 members of Kabir Kala Manch (Jyoti Raghoba Jagtap, Sagar Gorkhe, Ramesh Gaichor), and Father Stan Swamy.
One day after the arrest of activist Father Stan Swamy, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Fri submitted a supplementary charge sheet against 7 persons accused of being connected to the Elghar Parishad case.
NIA took over the probe from Maharashtra Police in Jan. a 4 months later, the agency arrested Teltumbde and Navlakha.
They had to surrender before the agency as the Supreme Court refused to grant them any further protection and relief from arrest.
On Jan 1^st, 2018, riots broke out in various parts of Pune district on the occasion of the 200^th commemoration day of the Bhima-Koregaon battle in which the East India Company defeated the Peshawar with the help of Dalit soldiers.
One person was killed in these riots.
According to the FIR registered at the Vishraumbaug police station on Jan 8^th, members of Kabir Kala Manch had allegedly made provocative speeches, sung and performed skits that led to violence at Bhima Koregaon on Jan 1^st, 2018.

Maharashtra ATS arrests HAL employee for leaking sensitive information to ISI

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested a 41-year-old employee, identified as Deepak Shirsath, of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for supplying sensitive information about Indian fighter aircraft and their manufacturing unit to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan.
The aircraft manufacturing unit is situated in Ozar area in Nashik, the airbase and the prohibited area inside the manufacturing unit. The Nashik facility houses both Su-30MKIs and MIG-21s.
The 3 seized phones, with 5 sim cards and 2 memory cards and other electronic equipment were sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for examination.

Lalu gets bail in a fodder scam case, but to remain in jail The Jharkhand HC granted bail to former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad in a fodder scam case related to Chaibasa treasury. The case involves fraudulent withdrawals amounting to Rs 33.67 crore from the Chaibasa treasury in undivided Bihar when Lalu Prasad was the chief minister. The RJD chief, however, will have to remain in jail as he is serving time in another case related to Dumka treasury.

Bengaluru ISIS module: NIA arrests two for radicalising youth

The NIA has arrested a business analyst working at a Chennai bank and a rice merchant from Bengaluru for allegedly radicalizing members of a Bengaluru-based ISIS module and raising funds for facilitating the travel of Muslim youths from India to Syria. Ahamed Abdul Cader (40) and Irfan Nasir (33) were arrested on Wed in the case.

Modi govt wants Yale, Oxford to be able to open campuses in India

India’s universities have produced CEOs at companies from Microsoft Corp. to Google — now PM Modi thinks they can be even better with competition from global names like Yale, Oxford and Stanford. The legislation to regulate the operation of foreign universities — is being prepared for approval by the parliament and will double education spending to 6% of India’s GDP.

7 Indians kidnapped in Libya; govt in touch with Libyan authorities

Seven Indians, hailing from Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh were kidnapped in Libya last month and India is in touch with authorities in the African nation to secure their release, the ministry of external affairs said on Thu. The Indians were kidnapped at Asshwerif on Sept 14 when they were on their way to the Tripoli airport to catch a flight to India.

PM Modi virtually addresses Invest India Conference in Canada

PM Modi on Thu’s night virtually delivered the keynote address at the Invest India Conference in Canada. PM Modi said, “India-Canada bilateral ties are driven by our shared democratic values and many common interests”. India has not been led down by the challenges Covid-19 posed and played the role of the pharmacy to the world, said PM Modi at the conference.

Virtual expos revive UP carpet industry with orders worth Rs 250 crore

Carpet Industry was going through a period of gloom and doom as exports business had dried up completely between Feb to Aug this year.
Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown made it impossible both for handmade carpet exporters of Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh and overseas buyers to travel earlier this year and thereby hit this industry hard before two virtual expositions brought the much-needed succor in form of orders worth Rs 250 crore from foreign buyers.
“The pandemic badly hit carpet export due to which there was an extremely depressing scenario in the carpet industry. There were no orders from foreign buyers this year. Carpet manufacturers, exporters, workers and weavers all were upset due to it,” says Siddhnath Singh, chairman, carpet export promotion council (CEPC), which had organized the virtual exhibitions.

Govt allows export of Bangalore Rose onions, Krishnapuram onions

The government of India on Fri allowed the export of Bangalore Rose onions and Krishnapuram onions up to 10,000 metric tons each, till March 31, next year. The government has put the condition that onions will be only exported through the Chennai port.

NEIGHBORHOOD/ WORLD

Massive protests in Gilgit-Baltistan against Pakistan Army, government's human rights violations

Thousands of people have been taking to streets in Hunza in Gilgit Baltistan protesting against the atrocities by Pakistan Govt and Army.

As per Indian media, a massive protests broke out in Gilgit-Baltistan area in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) against the atrocities by Pakistan Army and Govt. The protestors have demanded the release of political prisoners and have alleged that the state machinery has been violating human rights of the local population.

Raising slogans of – Ye jo dehshatgardi hain, uske peechhe vardi hain (Administration/ uniform is behind the violation) – thousands of protestors have taken to streets for the past 4 days. Visuals showed political leaders, men, women and people from across strata taking to streets against the suppression by Pak Govt.

Several killed in ‘gang war’ at Rohingya camps in Bangladesh

A turf war between criminal armed groups in Rohingya camps in southern Bangladesh has killed at least 8 people and forced thousands to flee following clashes in recent days, police and humanitarian workers said.
Authorities on Thu said they have arrested 12 people after days of gunfire, arson, and abductions by gangs competing for dominance in the sprawling camps, the world’s largest refugee settlement.

Imran in virtual meeting with Sandberg welcomes Facebook's investments, programs in Pakistan

Pakistan Prime Minister, Imran Khan on Friday held a virtual meeting with Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Sheryl Sandberg during which they discussed about the social media giant’s investments and programs in the country.
He recognized the immense potential of digital platforms like Facebook and the role that they can play in giving global opportunities to Pakistani youth and entrepreneurs and how the opportunities they create can lift people out of poverty.
He also raised concerns around the global rise in hate and extremism and acknowledged the immense challenge of fighting hate speech online.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) taking tweeter and said that “So many friends from India Flag of India are ready to join in celebrating Taiwan National Day Flag of Taiwan. Our hearts are touched in Taiwan by this wonderful support. Thank you! When I say I like India, I really mean it. “Get Lost” Minister JW”. This was in response to a letter issued by Chinese Embassy in India, to Indian media, which said not to support Taiwan on national day. Ironically no Indian media supported the Taiwan National day but support was on social media.

INDIA COVID UPDATE

Indo-Israel rapid COVID-19 testing research to fructify in ”matter of days”: Israeli Ambassador in India Ron Malka

A game-changer rapid COVID-19 testing technology being jointly developed by India and Israel should be ready for rollout in “a matter of days” and it will be able to give test results in less than a minute by simply requiring an individual to blow into a tube, the Israeli envoy to India has said.

Malka also said Israel would want India to become the manufacturing hub for this rapid testing kit and the two countries will also collaborate on vaccine development for this dreaded disease with India taking a key role in production given its “very strong relative advantage in manufacturing“.

He said the work on the rapid COVID-19 testing project is in a very advanced stage.

The rapid testing is being jointly developed in cooperation with the Defense Research and Development Directorate of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, India’s DRDO, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Principal Scientific Advisor, India – coordinated by the ministries of foreign affairs of Israel and India.

Covid-19 vaccine delivery: Centre to map cold chain storage facilities: A national expert group is talking to public and private sector entities in the pharmaceutical sector, food processing industry and agro businesses as well as food delivery start-ups such as Swiggy and Zomato to identify cold storages or fridges at the taluka level that can stock and distribute the vaccine, sources with direct knowledge of the discussions said.