[NATIONAL]

Indian Navy successfully test-fires BrahMos missile from INS Delhi

India successfully test-fired the anti-ship variant of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile using an upgraded modular launcher from the guided-missile destroyer INS Delhi. On the same day, the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully test-fired a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from a Sukhoi fighter jet on the Eastern seaboard. The “live firing” of the missile was carried out in close coordination with the Indian Navy, the IAF said. On Mar 5, the Indian Navy successfully test-fired an advanced version of the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile from a stealth destroyer in the Indian Ocean. The missile was test-fired from the stealth destroyer INS Chennai. BrahMos Aerospace, an India-Russian joint venture, produces supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms.

Mumbai: Last Scorpene-class submarine Vagsheer is all set for the trial run starting Apr 20

Vagsheer is equipped with 6 torpedo tubes of 533 mm. During any major operation, it can carry 18 torpedoes or SM39 anti-sheep missiles with it. This submarine also can lay mines in the sea to destroy the enemy. Vagsheer made at the Mazgaon shipbuilding yard was entrusted with the manufacturing of 6 submarines under Project-75. This Submarine is 67.5 m in length, 12.3 m in height with a diesel-electric submarine. Its surface speed is 20 km/h while underwater is 37 km/h and can go down 350 feet below the surface, and stay max up 50 days.

40 Chinese among 150 people booked by Mumbai EOW for fraudulently becoming directors of Indian firms

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police has registered 34 FIRs against 150 people, including 60 foreigners- 40 of them from China- for allegedly violating laws regarding the registration of new companies and for fraudulently becoming directors of Indian companies, a police official said on Mon. The official said the FIRs were registered between Apr 1 to 15 and added that 4 more FIR were registered till Tue. Among the 60 foreigners against whom the cases are filed, 40 are from China and the rest from Singapore, the UK, Taiwan, the USA, Cyprus, the UAE, and S Korea. As per police, the accused had given false statements to the Registrar of Companies, Mumbai, an EOW official said. In some cases, the communication addresses of the companies were found changed. The 34 FIRs also name more than 30 Chartered Accountants, 30 Company Secretaries, and directors of companies.

Cheap Indian wheat faces quality checks, the high freight cost for Egypt’s export

Reuters – Indian wheat could offer a cheaper option for top importer Egypt but will have to overcome quality controls set by the country’s agriculture ministry as well as higher freight costs ($ 70/ton against $30 if send through the black sea region). Last week, Egypt’s agriculture ministry announced it had approved India as a wheat import origin with several conditions including pests and pesticide issues. Indian traders and officials, however, have said they had not received any complaints when exporting large quantities this year to countries such as Bangladesh, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Oman and Qatar, and others. India’s wheat exports hit 7.85 mn tonnes in the fiscal year to Mar, an all-time high and a sharp increase from 2.1 mn tonnes in the previous year. Recent export deals from India have been signed at between $330 and $335 a tonne free-on-board, more than $100 cheaper than European offers purchased by state grains buyer the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) in its latest tender.

Why UK PM Boris Johnson is in Gujarat before meeting Modi in Delhi

ThePrint reported citing many experts, that Ahmedabad will be the first stop on UK PM’s checklist as he begins his maiden visit to India in his current capacity on 21 Apr, with the biggest goal being Free Trade Agreement with India. Gujarat has an itinerary for the simple reason that the state’s highly lucrative dairy industry has been “up in arms” against granting greater market access to European dairy products because of the ban on the sale of Indian dairy products in the UK and EU citing the reason of low standard. Also, the UK and EU subsidize their dairy products and processed foods, so Indian exporters cant compete.

Amit Shah holds a meeting with ministers on coal, power issues

ANI- Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tue held a meeting with the Power, Coal, and Railway Ministers amid reports of ongoing coal and power situation across the country along with officials in concerned departments. A similar meeting was held in Oct last year too following the coal crisis in the country. There are reports of depleting coal inventory of domestic thermal power plants in 12 states which are facing power cuts ranging from 3 to 8.7%. In the first fortnight of Apr 2022, domestic power demand reportedly hit a 38-year high for the month. While there was a 1.1% power shortage in Oct 2021, this shortfall shot up to 1.4% in April 2022. Power Min has blamed the steep rise in the prices of imported coal on the Ukraine crisis, which is unified to the inadequate availability of railway wagons to transport.

Indian Naval Chief visits the Maldives in first overseas visit since assuming office

ANI – In his first overseas visit after assuming the office of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Admiral R Hari Kumar held several high-level bilateral meetings on a 3-day visit to the Maldives on April 18-20. During the visit, the CNS has called on the President, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Def Min, and Chief of Defence Staff, an official statement said. The CNS hosted a reception onboard INS Sutlej on Apr 18, in honor of the Defence Minister of Maldives and the leadership of Maldives National Defence Forces, an official statement said. INS Sutlej is currently deployed to the Maldives for undertaking a joint hydrographic survey under the MoU on Hydrographic Cooperation. The CNS unveiled the first Navigation Chart jointly produced by India and Maldives and handed over hydrography equipment to consolidate the organic capabilities of the MNDF. India and Maldives share common perspectives on maritime security issues in the Indian Ocean and have been working together closely in several bilateral, mini-lateral, and multilateral fora.

India’s top court halts demolition of illegal shops in the area near New Delhi clashes

India’s Supreme Court stepped in to stop authorities from demolishing illegal shops and walls around a mosque in a predominantly Muslim area of New Delhi near the site of clashes between Hindus and Muslims over the weekend. At least 20 (24) people were arrested in connection with the clashes which erupted during a procession at a Hindu festival.

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

China wary of US officials’ high-level visit to the Solomon Islands

As high-level US officials begin their visit to the Solomon Islands, Chinese media said this visit to the South Pacific archipelago is an attempt to nullify the already signed security pact. China and Solomon Islands on Tue signed a framework agreement on security cooperation that neighbors of the South Pacific archipelago fear could open the door to a Chinese naval base in the country. China’s Foreign Ministry announced the security agreement, saying the deal would involve China cooperating with Honiara on maintaining social order, protecting people’s safety, aid, combating natural disasters, and helping safeguard national security, Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Chinese envoy arrives in Zambia as another debt crisis looms for Lusaka

SCMP-Zambia’s debt troubles will be the biggest headache for the new Chinese 16^th ambassador, Du Xiaohui to Lusaka, who arrived on Sun with a promise to “strengthen the friendly ties the two countries have enjoyed over the years”. Du said the “all-weather friendship” between China and Zambia “has stood the test of time and is deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples”. The embassy’s statement read the new envoy pledged to uphold the spirit of China-Africa friendship and continue to contribute to South-South cooperation and world peace. Du’s arrival coincides with Zambia’s latest crisis, as it waits for private lenders and the world’s 20 wealthiest nations to decide on its application for debt relief under the G20’s common framework. In 2020, Zambia became the 1^st African country in the covid era to default on US$3 bn-denominated bonds. Zambia is in the process of reforming about US$15 bn of external debts as a precondition to secure US$1.4 bn in IMF loans. Chinese lenders make up more than US$6 bn of the amount, spent on mega projects.

PML-N allies at odds over new Pakistan cabinet

ANI – Merely a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Tue formed a 33-member federal cabinet, bitterness among the ruling alliance has emerged over the allocation of key portfolios. Pakistan Although the oath was taken by 33 lawmakers, a notification issued by the country’s Cabinet Division carried the names of 26 federal ministers and 2 ministers of state. Several members of the cabinet, from the PML-N, were still under consideration, the Pakistani daily reported citing a source in the PM’s Office. The report said the two main parties of the ruling coalition – Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party – are at odds over the selection of their members for the cabinet and distribution of portfolios.

Pakistan: Political instability, policy paralysis exacerbating economic distress

ANI – Political instability and policy reform slippages are exacerbating the economic distress that Pakistan has been facing in the last few years according to a World Bank report. The Bank in its biannual report, “Pakistan Development Update“, noted that long-standing structural challenges pose risks to the country’s sustained growth whereas domestic political uncertainty and policy reform slippages can lead to protracted macroeconomic imbalances, Business Recorder reported. Tighter global financing conditions, potential further increases in world energy and food prices due to the Ukraine crisis, and slower global growth due to rising inflation pose substantial risks for Pakistan’s economic outlook, the report added. The Bank recommended that given the current significant imbalances in the external sector and low external buffers, macroeconomic adjustment, specifically fiscal consolidation to complement ongoing monetary tightening, is urgently needed. The fiscal deficit is projected to increase to 6.3% of GDP in the fiscal year 2022, while the Current Account Deficit is expected to widen to 4.4% of GDP on the back of higher spending on vaccine procurement, settlement of energy sector arrears, development spending, and recently announced food and fuel price reduction.

Six Rohingya dead, hundreds flee after a riot at the Malaysian detention camp

Reuters – 6 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, including two children, have died after being hit by vehicles on a Malaysian highway as hundreds fled an immigration detention center where a riot broke out early on Wed, officials said. A total of 582 Rohingya escaped the Sungai Bakap temporary immigration detention camp in northern Penang state by breaking down doors and barrier grills, though 362 have since been re-arrested, the immigration department said in a statement. Malaysia, which does not recognize refugee status, has long been a favored destination for Rohingya fleeing persecution in Myanmar or refugee camps in Bangladesh.

Fault lines within the Taliban come to the fore after Pak airstrikes in Afghanistan

ANI – Fault lines within the Taliban came to the fore at a meeting convened to discuss the response to airstrikes conducted by Pakistan on Afghan soil that left more than 40 dead. Pakistan struck the Afghan provinces of Khost and Kunar on Saturday, leaving more than 40 dead. Pakistani airstrikes prompted a series of protests across the country. While the Taliban Dy PM questioned Islamabad’s decision to carry out airstrikes inside the Afghan territory, Def Min, Dy Def Min, and the Chief of Army Staff insisted on a stern response to Pakistan. However, Interior Min and Higher Education maintained that Kabul should engage in a dialogue with Islamabad to resolve the issue.