Newsletter 13 October

October 13, 2020
 Team

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

Global Times, (a China state-affiliated media): New Delhi will be frustrated playing the Taiwan card. In terms of China’s sovereignty, India is not free. China won’t allow other countries to break its bottom line, and this has nothing to do with democracy or freedom.

India's new bridges along tense China border may deepen crisis-Global Times (Chines State Media)

 

  • Concerning new bridges India claimed to build amid border tensions, Chinese FM said Mon neither side should take any action in the area to complicate the situation and China opposes to any infrastructure constructions for the purpose of military monitoring and control.
  • While what Indian media reported “Zhao Lijian, spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, also called border infrastructure development “the root cause for the tension between the two sides” and said neither side should take action that might escalate tension”.
  • “First I want to make it clear that China does not recognize the Ladakh UT illegally set up by the Indian side and the Arunachal Pradesh. We stand against the development of infrastructure facilities aimed at military contention along the border area,” said the Chinese spokesperson.
  • News of the bridges emerged as senior military officials of India and China met on Mon for the 7th time to restore calm after several recent confrontations. The talks lasted for more than 11 hours and ended around 11:30 pm, reports say. However, no official statement came so far from Indian MEA till 1738 hrs (IST).
  • Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated some 44 new brigades, mostly in border area, yesterday.

Meetings of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) and union cabinet to be held tomorrow via video-conferencing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping inspected the Marine Corps under the PLA Navy on Tue. He said the Marine Corps are the elite force for amphibious combat, and they have an important duty to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

EAM Jaishankar holds talks with US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun

  • External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun on Mon held talks on bilateral, regional and key global issues with a focus on the common vision of the two countries for the Indo-Pacific region.
  • Biegun arrived in New Delhi on a 3-day visit primarily to finalize the groundwork for the 3rd edition of two- plus-two dialogue between the two countries later this month.
  • “Pleased to meet US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun. Useful exchange of views on world politics and regional issues. Appreciated the steady progress of our bilateral cooperation. Confident that our Strategic Partnership would continue to deepen,” EMA tweeted.
  • The US embassy, in a tweet said, Biegun and Jaishankar exchanged views on key regional and Global Issues Impacting the “Indo-Pacific priorities”.
  • US Secretary of State Pompeo and Defense Secretary Defense Secretary Mark Esper are scheduled to visit India for the dialogue.
  • The Indian side at the talks will be represented by Jaishankar and Rajnath Singh. 
  • Reacting on the forthcoming visit, The “Indo-Pacific Strategy” proposed by the US is actually an attempt to build an “Indo-Pacific NATO” based on QUAD mechanism of the US, Japan, India and Australia: Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during his Malaysia visit.
  • Shri Rahul Shrivastava has been concurrently accredited as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Albania
  • Shri Manoj Kumar Bharti has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Indonesia  

Over 52,000 eligible voters opt for postal ballots in 71 constituencies for Bihar Assembly polls

  • More than 52,000 voters belonging to Senior Citizen (above 80 years of age) and PwD (Persons with Disabilities) categories, have opted to exercise the facility to vote through postal ballots in the forthcoming 1st phase General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Bihar 2020, the Election Commission said on Mon.
  • Booth Level Officers of 71 Assembly Constituencies in Bihar have reached out to more than four lakh such electors.
  • Remaining voters intend to visit the booth on the poll day for voting. General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Bihar 2020 were announced on Sept 25.
  • In the first phase elections, polling in 71 ACs spread over 16 districts of Bihar, is to be held on Oct 28.

Polls to 11 RS seats in UP, Uttarakhand on Nov 9

Elections to 10 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh and one in Uttarakhand, falling vacant next month, will be held on Nov 9, the poll panel announced on Tue. Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav, actor-politician Raj Babbar are among the 10 members from UP retiring on Nov 25. Counting of votes will take place on Nov 9 evening after polling.

Should you spend Rs 3 lakh to get Rs 30,000 LTA tax sop?

The Govt is banking on widespread private sector participation to boost the leave travel concession (LTC) cash voucher scheme. It may help those who already have the spare money and want to buy goods or services as they will save tax on it. But for others, in the current situation of uncertainty for the job and/or pay rise, etc, it may be hard to excite them to buy.

Shooting, hockey, swimming among 22 NSFs to be recognized

The sports ministry has decided to restore the provisional annual recognition of shooting, hockey, swimming, cycling, wushu and judo federations after informing the Delhi High Court. There are total 22 such national sports federations (NSFs) whose recognition will be restored, TOI has learned. NSFs will be recognized for one year each from the date of issuance of the letter.

Facebook bans Holocaust denial, distortion posts

Facebook is banning posts that deny or distort the Holocaust and will start directing people to authoritative sources if they search for information about the Nazi genocide. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the new policy Mon, the latest attempt by the company to take action against conspiracy theories and misinformation ahead of the US presidential elections.

My Hindutva doesn't need verification from you, Thackeray replied to Maharashtra Guv over issue of re-opening temples

  • Responding to Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s letter over the issue of reopening of places of worship in the state, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tue said his Hindutva does not need verification from Koshyari.
  • Koshyari, through a letter written on Mon, had urged the CM to announce reopening of places of worship in the state.
  • He had cited that religious places have reopened in Delhi, and across the nation, without any surge being witnessed in the COVID-19 cases, and had further questioned the motive behind delaying the same in Maharashtra.
  • A hunger protest also organized by Saints to open the temple, backed by BJP.

Centre reaches out to stakeholders on farm bills; Rajnath meets farmers, policy experts

  • Rajnath Singh and Min of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare NS Tomar held a meeting with farmer leaders and experts today, over Farm Laws.
  • In Haryana, farmers are really happy with the farm laws as these laws fulfil their long-pending demand that they should be allowed to sell their produce freely anywhere across the country at the cost they want to sell it: Mohanji Saxena, Ayurvet Research Foundation, Sonepat
  • These Acts give freedom to farmers to sell their produce anywhere. They can sell it even at small mandis, set up by Farmer Producer Orgs (FPOs) & can get a good rate without paying mandi fee: Sanjeev Chadha, MD, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd
  • The three farm laws introduced by the Centre will boost the development of seed industry. It will benefit lakhs of farmers involved in the seed industry, they are happy with the decision: M Prabhakar Rao, President, National Seed Association of India.
  • Punjab: Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee’s ‘rail roko’ agitation against farm laws enters the 20th day.

Centre's Garib Kalyan Scheme and the reality of a burgeoning subsidy bill

While govt would have saved Rs 18,000 cr by distributing 33 mn tones of grains that would otherwise have gone waste, its subsidy payout amounts to Rs 45,000 cr

Food grain stocking norms refer to the level of inventory in the Central Pool that is sufficient to meet the operational requirement of food grains and exigencies at any point of time. These stocks are kept to ensure that if there is shortfall at any point of time in procurement due to whatsoever reason, the smooth functioning of the PDS is not hampered.

Earlier this concept was called Buffer Norms and Strategic Reserve. The present Food Corporation of India (FCI) stocking norms were last implemented from 2015.

Govt does not believe in viewing crime from prism of caste, creed, religion or region: MoS G Kishan Reddy

  • Union MoS for Home G Kishan Reddy on Tue inaugurated the 21st All India Conference of Directors, Fingerprint Bureau 2020.
  • He also inaugurated the eCyber Lab set up by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
  • In his address, he said that NDA Govt believes in zero tolerance in crime and terror.
  • “Under the leadership of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, our aim is to create Crime Free India,” he added.
  • He further stated that the Government does not believe in viewing a crime from the prism of caste, creed, religion or region, as crime is against humanity and peace.
  • The government would never tolerate crimes against women and the downtrodden and will take all measures in ensuring speedy and decisive justice for all victims, MHA stated in a press release.

NEIGHBORHOOD/ WORLD

Is a Chinese invasion of Taiwan Growing more likely?

  • Taiwan has always been the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) highest strategic priority, yet Beijing has felt the need to deepen its coercion against the island nation.
  • Indeed, a number of commentators are claiming the threat of a Chinese invasion, or military action of some kind, is higher now than it ever has been.
  • The ongoing border clashes along the Sino-Indian border in Eastern Ladakh represent a sideshow for the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA), for the posture of China’s military is directed primarily against Taiwan and the threat of a US intervention on Taipei’s behalf.
  • Back in March, Enodo Economics, a macroeconomic and political forecasting company, assessed the probability of a conflict between China and the USA over Taiwan was 45% sometime in 2020-22.” [1]
  • China resolutely opposes the US’ plan to sell three weapons systems to the island of Taiwan, and will respond according to the development of the situation: FM spokesperson Zhao Lijian.

Pakistan's link to drug haul in Maldives emerges; 4 of its nationals arrested

  • The drugs included MDMA, amphetamines, heroin and were being smuggled with cooperation with international traffickers
  • Pakistan’s link to a major drug haul has emerged in Maldives, with the arrest of four Pakistani nationals aged from 20 to 45.
  • The incident happened earlier this month as Maldives Police Service confiscated around 80 kg of drugs in Addu and in all arresting 14 individuals involved in the cartel.
  • It is also understood that no intelligence sharing occurred between the Pakistani forces and Maldives Police on the issue but what is interesting is Pakistani media via sources claimed that the country’s Anti-Narcotics Force played a key role in helping.
  • This was dismissed in the tweet by Maldives Police commissioner who mentioned “locally developed intelligence” playing a key role.

Tokyo strongly opposes Chinese ships entering Japanese waters off disputed East China Sea islands

  • Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said it was “regrettable” the situation around the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands, which China calls the Diaoyu Islands, had continued “for more than two days”.
  • Japan government on Tuesday lodged strong protests to China over the entry of Chinese coast guard ships into Japan’s territorial waters off disputed East China Sea islands and top Govt spokesperson urged Chinese vessels to leave its territorial water around disputed islands in the East China Sea.
  • The Chinese ships refused to move out for a third day, Japanese officials said.
  • “The Chinese ships entered the Japanese territorial waters on Oct 11 and continue to remain there, for more than two days already. This is extremely unfortunate. Japanese maritime security vessels reiterate the demand to leave Japan’s territorial waters,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said.

NEIGHBORHOOD/ WORLD

WHO Chief Rules Out Herd Immunity Strategy For COVID Response; Says ‘It’s Not An Option’

  • The WHO Director-General Dr (non-medico) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has ruled out herd immunity strategy as a response to the coronavirus pandemic, calling it scientifically and ethically problematic.
  • Tedros said that the concept of herd immunity is used for vaccination and not for exposing people to the deadly virus.
  • Dr Tedros said that there is not enough information about immunity, adding that they don’t know the longevity and strength of the immune response developed within the few weeks in people infected with the virus.
  • However, credibility of Tedero has well explained by President Trump, besides, credibility of WHO itself.
  • India continues to be among countries with lowest per million Covid
  • India’s COVID19 recoveries cross 62 lakhs; highest in the world. Active cases are below 9 lakhs for the 5th consecutive day: Union Health Ministry
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