[NEWS OF THE DAY]

1. India carries out successful training launch of intermediate-range ballistic Agni-3 missile
2. If states do not implement Uniform Civil Code by 2024, we will do it: Amit Shah
3. J&K: Pakistani drone package recovered in Samba; search ops underway
4. Firing incident has nothing to do with inter-state border dispute, says Assam CM
5. PM Shehbaz picks Lt Gen Asim Munir as new army chief, Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza as CJCSC

What Else

6. Rupee inches higher on broad dollar losses, lags Asian peers
7. Election Commissioner shouldn’t be a ‘yes-man’: Supreme Court
8. ‘Delusional mindset’: ISPR hits back at Indian army official for remarks about taking control of parts of AJK
9. China seeks early completion of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: Report
10. China’s daily Covid cases hit record high: Report
11. South China Sea: Manila asks Beijing for explanation over latest maritime feud
12. Sri Lanka emerging as transit hub for narcotics smugglers
13. Nepal’s ruling party seen emerging as the single largest in elections

India carries out successful training launch of intermediate-range ballistic Agni-3 missile

• India on Wed carried out a successful training launch of an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile, Agni-3 from APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha.
• The test was part of routine user training launches carried out under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command.
• The Agni series of missiles now includes the Agni-1 (700km), Agni-2 (2000km), Agni-3 (3000 km), Agni-4 (4000 km), and the max striking range of 5000 km the Agni -5.
• (Sources)- the Agni-1 with a 700 to 220 km range which would help it to cover the ranges covered by the Prithvi series missiles (150km to 350km).
• Though the missile has been rejected by the Indian Army, it has attracted a few friendly foreign countries and they are now approaching India to export it to them.
• With Agni and the tactical cruise missile BrahMos (30 to 300km, India can easily take care of targets between 30 to 5,000 km. (here)

If states do not implement Uniform Civil Code by 2024, we will do it: Amit Shah

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thu said the drastically improved situation in Jammu and Kashmir was not his achievement but of the entire Modi govt.
• Speaking at the Times Now Summit 2022 the Minister said many had warned the Narendra Modi govt not to touch Article 370 or else it will burn its hands.
• However, the BJP leader added, the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir is now thriving.
• Shah was asked whether J&K was his biggest achievement during his term as the home minister and whether India has given a statement to the world by its actions.
• He responded by saying J&K has seen a drastic change over the past few years.
• On the issue of the Uniform Civil Code, Shah said it has been the BJP’s promise.
• “… I want to assure the audience here that the BJP is committed to implementing the Uniform Civil Code,” the minister said.
• If by 2024, some states themselves might implement UCC. But if it doesn’t happen by then, in 2024, when we will return to power and then we will implement it, he stated.

J&K: Pakistani drone package recovered in Samba; search ops underway

• Police on Thu recovered a consignment of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), pistols and cash dropped by a drone from across the border in J&K Samba, officials said.
• He said the bomb disposal squad recovered two unassembled IEDs with detonators, 2 Chinese pistols, 4 magazines with 60 rounds, and Rs 5 lakh in Rs 500 denomination.
• The consignment was covered in a wooden box with a steel base, the SSP said.
• Details awaited. (here)

Firing incident has nothing to do with inter-state border dispute, says Assam CM

• The firing incident that took place after a clash between Meghalaya villagers and police and forest guards from Assam has nothing to do with the border dispute between the two states, said Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
• “The matter was related to some clash regarding timbers and we have ordered a judicial inquiry and also referred the matter to the investigation by CBI or NIA.
• Soon after the incident, Meghalaya suspended mobile internet services in 7 districts of the state for 48 hours
• On Wed, Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma said the probe into the firing incident should be carried out by a central agency.
• The Assam govt has also agreed and they will cooperate. (here)

Rupee inches higher on broad dollar losses, lags Asian peers

• The Indian rupee was trading higher against the dollar on Thu after weak U.S. data and Federal Reserve minutes reinforced expectations of less aggressive U.S. rate hikes.
• Although the local currency underperformed its Asian peers.
• The rupee was trading at 81.6850/$ by 0520 GMT, up about 0.2% from 81.8450 in the previous session.
• In contrast, the Korean won, the Thai baht and the Malaysian ringgit rallied between 1% and 1.8%. (here)

Election Commissioner shouldn’t be a ‘yes-man’: Supreme Court 

• An Election Commissioner should be a person who would not shirk from even taking on the Prime Minister, says Justice K.M. Joseph; the court gives the govt 24 hours to produce the file of appointment of Arun Goel to the post. (here) [Notably, its observation only]
• The Supreme Court on Thu questioned the Centre on the appointment of former IAS officer Arun Goel as the new Election Commissioner at “lightning speed”.
• A 5-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice KM Joseph perused the original files brought by the Centre on Goel’s appointment as Election Commissioner.
• The petitions sought the creation of an independent collegium or selection committee for future appointments of CEC and two other ECs. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

PM Shehbaz picks Lt Gen Asim Munir as new army chief, Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza as CJCSC

• Info Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb tweeted, the premier had been chosen while exercising his constitutional authority and Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza had been picked as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC).
• The CJCSC is an inter-services forum that works for coordination among the 3 armed forces and also serves as the principal military adviser to the PM and the National Command Authority.
• She went on to say that a summary of the same had been sent to President Arif Alvi.
• Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the matter had been decided according to the law and the Constitution, calling on the nation to refrain from viewing it through a “political lens”.
• He expressed the hope that the president would not make the appointments “controversial” and would endorse the advice of the premier.
• Meanwhile, PTI’s official account quoted Imran Khan as saying, “.. I and the president of Pakistan will act according to the Constitution and laws.” (here)
• “The process will complete in two to 3 days. The excitement will end, after which we will deal with Imran Khan,” Asif was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune.
• President to meet Imran in Lahore, Asif wants Alvi to protect the country from political conflicts
• President Alvi cannot consult anyone over the army chief’s appointment: legal expert
• COAS Gen Bajwa hopes political parties will review their ‘behaviour’ following army’s ‘catharsis’

Who is Lt Gen Asim Munir? Among the 3 front-runners for the top 2 posts.

• He was head of Pak Intelligence when tensions between India and Pakistan escalated following the Pulwama suicide attack in Feb 2019.
• Munir was among the military decision-makers involved in shaping Pakistan’s response and security policies at that time.
• His brief stint as ISI chief ended abruptly because his no-nonsense attitude and by-the-books approach reportedly did not go down well with then-PM.
• His appointment is likely to be a setback for the former PM as it coincides with a dispute between the military and Khan, who blames the army for playing in his ouster. (here)

‘Delusional mindset’: ISPR hits back at Indian army official for remarks about taking control of parts of AJK

• The ISPR on Thu denounced a top Indian military official’s statement about taking control of parts of Azad Kashmir as an “apt manifestation” of the Indian army’s “delusional mindset”.
• The tweet referred to Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi’s statement from Tue, following the Def Min’s remarks about “retrieving” parts of Azad Kashmir.
• Gen Upendra Dwivedi said “As far as the Indian Army is concerned, it will carry out any order given by the govt of India. We are always ready for it.”
• The army official alleged that “there were around 300 terrorists in J&K at present, with another 160 waiting for an opportunity to cross the LoC and sneak into India”.
• The military’s media affairs wing further said the Indian officials “lofty claims and surreal ambition is intellectually insulting.
• In the interest of regional peace, the Indian military would do well to abstain from “irresponsible rhetoric and vitriolic communication”, the ISPR asserted. (here)

China seeks early completion of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: Report

• Chinese President Xi expressed hope that the two will cooperate to create the conditions for the early construction of the Main Line-1 and Karachi Circular Railway projects.
• The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is the primary factor influencing China’s “easy-going” relations with Pakistan (CPEC).
• Due to its connection to the Belt and Road Initiative, the CPEC project is immensely important to Beijing.
• To congratulate President Xi on winning the 3^rd term at the 20^th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif traveled to Beijing.
• Shehbaz Sharif was required to update Xi Jinping on the CPEC project’s status during his visit to China.
• Beijing anticipates using its clout to influence events along the land and water “silk routes” connecting China and Europe.
• The land route for the project is via the Himalayan region near the Chinese border, while the sea route travels across the Indian Ocean region. (here)

China’s daily Covid cases hit record high: Report

• On Mon, China’s top health official said that country is facing the ‘most complicated and severest anti-epidemic situation’ since the emergence of coronavirus.
• Chinese mainland reported 3,927 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, and 27,517 new local asymptomatic cases,” the state media outlet GT reported.
• The latest number broke the previous record set on April 13, when the cases hit 29, 317, according to Reuters news agency.
• IMF asks China to boost vaccinations and recalibrate COVID strategy.
• This came after an annual review of China’s economic policies between the IMF and several senior policy officials on reform progress and challenges and policy responses.

South China Sea: Manila asks Beijing for explanation over latest maritime feud

• Manila has sought an explanation from China after a Filipino military commander reported that the Chinese coastguard forcibly seized Chinese rocket debris in the disputed South China Sea.
• Sunday’s incident off Philippine-occupied Thitu island is the latest flare-up in the long-seething territorial disputes involving China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.
• China has denied its coastguard forcibly seized the debris from the Filipino sailors.
• Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said without elaborating that a diplomatic note was relayed to China for “clarification from the Chinese side over the incident.”

Sri Lanka emerging as transit hub for narcotics smugglers

• Sri Lanka is emerging as a transit hub for narcotics smugglers evidenced by Navy raids resulting in the seizure of large amounts of dangerous drugs and poisonous drugs.
• Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe yesterday emphasized that Sri Lanka is now becoming a center for the re-exportation of dangerous drugs and toxic drugs.
• Rajapakshe said the proposal submitted by him as the Justice Minister to the Cabinet to establish a Presidential Task Force.
• The minister also said that along with the establishment of a Presidential Task Force against drugs, anti-narcotics agencies were activated in the 9 provinces.
• He said the govt has also requested the Chief Justice as the chairman of the Judicial Service Commission to appoint a separate High Court and hopes for a result in Jan.
• The minister revealed that the current incomplete data reports that nearly 500,000 youths from the population of this country are currently addicted to these drugs. (here)

Nepal’s ruling party seen emerging as the single largest in elections

• Election results showed the ruling Nepali Congress party was leading on Wed and could emerge as the single largest group, said analysts who expect a hung parliament.
• About 61% of roughly 18 million Nepalis voted in Sun’s elections for the 275 members of the parliament
• The 165 seats will be decided on a 1^st-past-the-post basis and the rest by proportional representation.
• The Nepali Congress of PM Deuba has won 13 of 22 results declared, with 3 each to the main opposition Nepal Communist (UML) and the newly formed NIP.
• Deuba’s party, which contested 91 seats, was leading in 42 races, while UML, contesting 141 seats, was ahead in 43 and the NIP in 5 of the 135 constituencies.
• A 5-time PM, Deuba won his remote Dadeldhura constituency for the 7^th straight time since 1991. (here)