[NATIONAL]

India among 12 to abstain from UNHRC Ukraine vote

India and Pakistan were among the 12 countries which abstained from voting on a UN Human Rights Council resolution seeking to address the deteriorating situation in Ukraine “stemming from Russian aggression” while China and Eritrea were the only two countries to vote against it in the 47-member body. In a balancing act, India called for respect and protection of the human rights of people in Ukraine. (here)

WHO must be reformed and strengthened to build a more resilient global health security architecture, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the WHO must be reformed and strengthened to build a more resilient global health security architecture, while he was addressing the 2^nd Global COVID Virtual Summit, which he attended at the invitation of the US President on Thu evening. PM Modi stressed that a coordinated global response is required to combat future health emergencies. He said, all the stakeholders must build a resilient global supply chain and enable equitable access to vaccines and medicines. PM said India operationalized the largest vaccination program in the world wherein 90% of the adult populace is fully vaccinated and more than 50 million children have been administered COVID vaccines. India manufactures 4 WHO’s approved vaccines and has supplied over 200 million doses to over 98 countries. Secy-General of the UN, DG of WHO, and other dignitaries also participated in the summit.

India considering Preferential Trade Agreement with Oman, says Piyush Goyal

The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal on Thu said that India was considering entering into a Preferential Trade Agreement with Oman while delivering the keynote address at the 10^th Meeting of India-Oman Joint Business Council in New Delhi. He further said that India was already looking at a comprehensive trade agreement with Gulf Cooperation Council nations, of which Oman is an important member. Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, and Industry of Oman said that the 2 nations had a successful Joint Commission Meeting and added that India and Oman had great trust and confidence in each other. He also invited Indian companies to invest and do business in Oman. (here) Indian Ambassador to Oman has confirmed that India is sending wheat consignments to the country and “more shipments of wheat will be on their way to Oman soon“.

Retail inflation jumps record 7.79% economists believe RBI will continue to increase repo rates

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) Inflation for April 2022 is 7.79% higher as against 6.95% in Mar this year and 4.23% in Apr last year, according to the official data. Retail inflation of 7.79% is at a record high in 19 months as the previous highest number was 7.61% recorded in Oct 2020. The surge in inflation is largely driven by rising fuel and food prices, govt data showed on Thu. The consumer price-based inflation figure stayed well above the Reserve Bank of India’s upper tolerance limit for a 4^th consecutive month. RBI has been mandated by the Centre to keep the retail inflation between 2 – 6%. (here)

India is likely to be the world’s fastest-growing big economy this year

The trials and transformation of India’s economy have an epic quality, reminiscent of 19^th-century America. A vast national market is being created, allowing firms to grow from economies of scale. Internal migration is shifting tens of millions of desperately poor people; a brash new consumer class is proliferating and empires are being built on new technologies. Tycoons unleashing vast investments are happy to debate if they are India’s Rockefeller or its Carnegie. (here)

FSSAI, Ministry of Ayush formulate regulations for ‘Ayurveda Aahara’ products

The Ministry of Ayush and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has formulated regulations of safety and quality standards for food products under the “Ayurveda Aahara” category. According to the Ministry, this comprehensive initiative will ensure the manufacturing of quality Ayurveda food products and help in expanding the international market for Make-In-India products. It is confident these regulations will further strengthen India’s global positioning as a custodian of the Ayush system. (here)

Karnataka introduces anti-conversion law via ordinance, Archbishop slams move

The ruling BJP in Karnataka on Thu decided to opt for the ordinance route to give effect to contentious anti-conversion law in the state, months after the Assembly approved it, even as the Archbishop of Bengaluru decried the move as “sad” and requested the Governor to not to give his assent to it. The Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill was passed by the Legislative Assembly in Dec last year, ahead of the 2023 Assembly polls, but is pending passage in the council, where the BJP is just 1 short of the majority. The state cabinet on Thu decided to promulgate an ordinance. Archbishop claimed that with the promulgation of the ordinance, fringe elements will try to create problems for the Christian community. [but how?] It proposes imprisonment from 3-5 years with a fine of ₹25,000, while for violation of provisions for minors, women, and SC/ST, the offenders will face imprisonment from 3 to 10 yrs and a fine of not less than ₹50,000. The bill also makes provisions for the accused to pay up to ₹5 lakh as compensation to those who were made to convert, and with regards to cases of mass conversion there shall be a 3-10 yrs jail term and a fine of up to Rs. 1 lakh. (here)

Cop Dies after being shot at by terrorists in J&K’s Pulwama, was attacked near his residence

A constable of Jammu and Kashmir Police has succumbed to his injuries after he was shot at by terrorists on Fri in J&K’s Pulwama district, officials said. The constable was identified as Reyaz Ahmad Thoker and he was shot near his residence in the Gudoora village. The area is cordoned off, police had said. Additional forces reached the spot and an operation was started to nab the attackers. Terrorists on Thu shot and killed a Kashmiri Pandit govt employee, Rahul Bhat in his office in Chadoora town of Budgam district. Bhat’s murder has been widely condemned while the migrant Kashmiri Pandits working in the Valley have accused the administration of failing to protect them. (here). 3 Govt employees have been sacked from their job – a constable of J&K Police, a teacher, and a Professor- on the ground of their actions in supporting terrorists. Kashmiri Pandits later sit-in protest for their security and seek to assure them of life safety from the administration.

Jamaat-e-Islami misuses Zakat funds to encourage violent, secessionist activities in J-K: NIA

Outlawed terror group Jamaat-e-Islami (JeL) misused funds collected for Zakat, Mowda, and Bait-ul-Mal to encourage violent and secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir, says National Investigation Agency charge sheet against 4 JeL terrorists. It adds that one of the accused had been soliciting funds and organizing meetings in the name of the terrorist organization in J&K. In these meetings the accused had been giving “hateful anti-India speeches and exhorting people to donate according to their status. Javaid and another charge-sheeted terrorist Aadil Ahmad Lone had been accused of acquiring firearms and ammunition, with “ulterior motives” from the co-accused persons. (here)

Maharashtra: NIA arrests gangster Chhota Shakeel’s aides in D-company case

ANI – The NIA, on Fri, arrested gangster Chhota Shakeel’s aides Arif Abubakar Shaikh (59) and Shabbir Abubakar Shaikh (51) involved in handling the D-Company’s illegal activities and terrorist financing in the western suburbs of Mumbai. The case pertains to terror activities of the international terrorist network of D-Company (Dawood Ibrahim and associates), which was allegedly indulged in arms smuggling, narco-terrorism, money laundering, circulation of fake Indian currency notes (FICN), and unauthorized possession of key assets for raising terror funds and working in active collaboration with the international terrorist organization including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Al Qaeda (AQ). (here)

‘A direct hit’: IAF successfully fires extended-range of Brahmos missile from Su-30 MKI

The Indian Air Force (IAF) said it has successfully fired an extended-range version of the BrahMos Air Launched missile from Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft. The launch from the aircraft was as planned and the missile achieved a direct hit on the designated target in the Bay of Bengal region, ANI reported. IAF said it was the first launch of the extended range version of the BrahMos missile from Su-30MKI aircraft. With this, the IAF has achieved the capability to carry out precision strikes from Su-30MKI aircraft against land and sea targets over very long ranges, (from 290 to 350km) it added. BrahMos missile flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach. Last month, an anti-ship version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired jointly by the Indian Navy and the Andaman and Nicobar Command. (here)

Helicopter crashes at airport in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur, two pilots killed

ANI – Two pilots died after a helicopter crashed at Raipur’s Swami Vivekanand Airport on Thu night during a “routine” training sortie. According to the state government, initial indications suggest technical malfunction as the cause of the crash. A detailed technical investigation on behalf of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Chhattisgarh Govt will be undertaken to ascertain the exact cause. (here)

Congress Chintan Shivir: Communal polarisation, farmers’ issues, to be discussed

(Sources)-Congress’ 3-day Chintan Shivir which is all set to begin on Fri in Udaipur will emphasize discussions over ‘communal polarization’, farmers’ issues, and strengthening the party for the upcoming elections, informed party. Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi will address the party leaders at the Chintan Shivir. 6 groups have been formed for Chintan Shivir. Every group will have 60 to 70 people. No paper discussion will take place. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

‘India’s commitment…’: High commission as Wickremesinghe sworn as Sri Lanka PM

Ranil Wickremesinghe took his oath in a ceremony at President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence. Protesters have blocked the entrance to the president’s office for more than a month. India said it is looking forward to working with the new govt of Sri Lanka shortly after 5-time former PM Wickremesinghe was reappointed on Thu to bring stability to the island nation, which is reeling under a political and economic crisis. India said its commitment to the people of Sri Lanka will continue. Soon after taking over, Wickremesinghe on Thu said that India-Sri Lanka relations will become much better. During his previous stints as the PM, Wickremesinghe visited India on 4 occasions – Oct 2016, Apr 2017, Nov 2017, and Oct 2018. Wickremesinghe’s foreign policy during his tenant as the PM pushed closer relations with the west. He expected their economical backing to overcome the economic crisis. Sri Lanka’s newly-appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Fri called on the Indian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay on his first day at the PM’s Office in Colombo. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing financial assistance to Sri Lanka in an economic crisis.

Pakistan NA passes resolution denouncing BJP’s demographic engineering in IOK

The National Assembly on Thu unanimously passed a resolution to denounce the latest Indian attempt at demographic engineering in Indian Occupied Kashmir (they call J&K) through the ‘delimitation commission’ constituted in Mar 2020. The resolution moved by Foreign Min urged India to immediately halt and reverse unilateral and all illegal actions it had taken in IOK and fulfill its obligations under the relevant UNSC resolutions. The assembly expressed gave concern over the series of illegal measures taken by the Indian occupation forces to change the demographics of the territory, in violation of international law, “particularly the 4^th Geneva Convention and relevant resolutions of the UNSC,” the draft read. (here)

US vows 150 million in investment to ASEAN with China in focus

ANI – Amid concerns over China’s growing influence in the South Asian region, the US has pledged over USD 150 million in investment to the ASEAN for maritime cooperation, infrastructure, and other initiatives. On Thu, US President Joe Biden starts a two-day summit with the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Washington. Reports say that China’s economic and political profile has expanded unusually quickly in Southeastern, Central, and Eastern Europe and South Asia. The US ASEAN gathering is intended to demonstrate the commitment the US has to the Indo-Pacific, where China has been increasing its clout and making extensive claims in regional waters. It is the first time the US has hosted the ASEAN leaders in the US capital. ASEAN represents the world’s 4^th-largest market and the US is ASEAN’s largest source of foreign direct investment. Their bi-way trade amounted to over $360 billion in 2020, according to the US govt. (here)

Thousands detained in Xinjiang region, reveals China database

A leaked list of thousands of detained Uyghurs has thrown a light on the miseries of the ethnic minorities in China’s Xinjiang region. Adrian Zenz, senior fellow in China studies at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in Washington DC told CNN that the leaked document is a 137-page PDF file, likely generated from an Excel spreadsheet or Word table. Zenz pointed to the use of similar terminology and language in this document, which he refers to as the Karakax List, and other records leaked from Xinjiang. CNN recounted that one Rozinsa Mamattohti could not sleep or eat for days after she read the detailed records the Chinese govt had been keeping on her entire family. (here)

OIC rights body condemns India’s ‘wicked’ delimitation exercise in occupied Kashmir

The Independent Human Rights Commission of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on Fri “strongly condemned” the Indian govt’s recent delimitation of electoral constituencies in J&K, terming it a violation of OIC and UNSC resolutions. Last week, New Delhi issued a new list of redrawn political constituencies for IO Kashmir, giving greater representation to the Muslim-majority region’s Hindu areas and paving the way for fresh elections. (here)

Pakistan likely to receive an additional $2.5b loan from ADB

According to a government statement, $1.5-2bn could be available during the next calendar year. The Asian Development Bank will likely provide an additional $2.5bn loan in budgetary support to Pakistan in 2022-2023. Yong Ye, country director of ADB, indicated the funding plan as he met the minister of state for Finance and Revenue, on Thu. According to an official statement, $1.5-2bn could be available before the end of the year, reported Tribune.

China tightens curbs on overseas travel as part of the Covid-19 battle

China has said it will impose tight restrictions on “non-essential” overseas travel for its citizens to help contain the worst coronavirus outbreak the country has seen in the past two years. The immigration authorities said on Thu the curbs were designed to stop infections crossing the border and would include a more rigorous approval process for passports and other travel documents and a crackdown on illegal border crossings. The measures were announced following last week’s meeting of the top leadership, where they doubled down on the zero-Covid policy. (here)

Australia calls the Chinese spy ship’s presence off the west coast an ‘aggressive act’

A Chinese intelligence ship was tracked off Australia’s west coast within 50 nautical miles of a sensitive defense facility, the govt said on Fri, raising concern amid an election campaign about Beijing’s assertive behavior in the region. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Chinese navy vessel was not in Australian territorial waters but its presence was “concerning”. “It is an intelligence ship and they are looking at us and we’re keeping a close eye on them,” he told reporters. Australia had tracked the spy ship over the past week as it sailed past the Harold E Holt naval communications station at Exmouth, which is used by Australian, US, and allied submarines. China’s embassy in Australia did not immediately respond. (here)

Satellite images ‘suggest China is practicing missile strikes on targets in Taiwan and Guam’

The Chinese military has refined its anti-ship missile training from striking large, carrier-sized targets to smaller ships and naval bases, according to recent satellite images. They show a training base in Xinjiang’s remote Taklamakan desert with the layout of a mock-up ship moored in a naval base that resembles one in northeast Taiwan and other targets in Guam, according to a Taipei-based naval analyst. The US Naval Institute news site said new satellite photos show China is building more large-scale target ranges along the rim of the desert, including model destroyers and piers. Analysts say new images of mock targets in the Taklamakan desert suggest the PLA is refining its strike capacity to hit smaller ships. One of the mock targets is described as resembling a base in northeast Taiwan that would be a key target in the event of a conflict. (here)

Bangladesh: Human chain to withdraw Chinese ‘attack-case’ on locals in Mathbaria

ANI – A human chain has been formed on Thu in demand of the withdrawal of false charges in the violent attack on the locals for obstructing the construction of an embankment at Mathbaria in the Pirojpur district of B’desh. The general public observed this human chain program under the banner of ‘Sachetan Nagarik Samaj’ at Pagla in Narayanganj. Hundreds of people took part in the peaceful rally. The attackers were termed by the locals as ‘aggressive Chinese Business Minded People’ under the banner of protest. On May 1, the residents became angry and obstructed the work due to the complexity of land acquisition for the construction project and the construction of the embankment without giving priority to the demand of the area. The Chinese workers clashed with the locals. After the incident, a fake case was filed against the locals. As a result, many are fleeing in fear. (here)