1. PM Modi leaves for 3-day visit to France, UAE; says ‘looking forward to productive discussions’
2. On European Parliament’s Manipur violence debate, India says ‘internal matter’
3. Sri Lanka to focus on energy, port projects with India during presidential visit
4. Indian armed forces likely to get their first Integrated Theatre Command in Aug
5. CBI files charge sheet against journalist, ex-Navy commander in spying case

What Else

6. India backs Pakistan’s resolution at UN condemning Quran burning in Sweden
7. SII vaccine for deadly meningitis gets WHO nod on quality & safety, can now be procured by UN
8. EAM meets ASEAN Secy-Gen, discusses development of comprehensive strategic partnership
9. India restricts import of plain gold jewelry
10. IMF board approves critical $3bn loan for Pakistan
11. Five more soldiers martyred in Zhob garrison attack, toll rises to nine
12. Ukraine foreign minister likely to visit Pakistan
13. China hits back against Nato’s ‘eastward march’ as Indo-Pacific leaders and alliance members meet at summit
14. Solomon Islands may lead way as China eyes greater South Pacific role

PM Modi leaves for 3-day visit to France, UAE; says ‘looking forward to productive discussions’

• PM Modi departed from India for an official visit to France and UAE on Thu morning.
• More submarines, jets for Indian navy on the cards as PM Modi visits France
• PM Modi heads to France on Thu to deepen ties with New Delhi’s oldest strategic partner in the West, with a slew of high-profile defense deals expected and a new joint plan to ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific.
• Modi has been invited as the guest of honor at the Bastille Day celebrations by French President Emmanuel Macron.
• Units from India’s army, navy, and air force will also participate in the parade, including 2 of the 36 Rafale jets India bought in 2015 for nearly US$9 bn. (here)
• The PM will separately interact with the Indian diaspora in France, CEOs of Indian and French companies, and prominent French personalities, according to the statement.
• This year marks the 25^th anniversary of the India–France Strategic Partnership and PM’s visit will provide an opportunity to chart the course of the partnership.
• After France’s visit, the PM will take a trip to Abu Dhabi on Jul 15. [reported yesterday]
• The PM will talk with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.
• The India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has been steadily strengthening and the visit will be an opportunity to identify ways to take this forward. (here)
• French courts [court] seek India’s help in Rafale probe ahead of new navy deal: Report- A deal is likely to sign for 26 Rafale M jets and the statement is expected to come during the visit.
• However, days before the visit, the French ‘investigative’ website Mediapart reported that the Paris magistrates overseeing the probe into the 2016 Rafale deal have sent an official request to the Indian authorities seeking their cooperation. (here)
• [Corruption (worth only Rs 9.7 Cr, that too is difficult to prove as it has been paid as an ‘excessive charge’ to a software Co. owned by Shushan Gupta and Fam), For details, see the letter of July 5, 2021]

On European Parliament’s Manipur violence debate, India says ‘internal matter’

• The European Parliament set to debate the violence in Manipur at a session in the French city of Strasbourg, India on Wed asserted that the issue is an internal matter.
• 6 parliamentary groups, with members from leftist, right, center-right, conservative, and Christian groups, have submitted motions for an urgent debate on the.
• The motions seek an EP resolution on the theme “India, the situation in Manipur”.
• The debate is expected to be held on Wed and will be followed by a vote on the proposed resolution.
• The move comes at a time when PM Modi will on Thu begin a 2-day visit to France, during which he will be the guest of honor at the Bastille Day Parade.
• Asked about the matter at a media briefing on Wed, foreign secy Vinay Kwatra replied: “On the Manipur question, this is a matter totally internal to India.”
• Kwatra didn’t respond to a query on whether India has engaged the lobbying agency Alber & Geiger to persuade the parliamentarians to withdraw their motions. (here)
• Meanwhile, the Modi govt has already leaped into action by hiring one of Europe’s leading lobbying firms, A&G, to quell any diplomatic embarrassment that is sure to arise with the EP debating and perhaps passing a resolution against it. (here)

[Intesting! A&G quoted The Wire and vice versa]

Sri Lanka to focus on energy, port projects with India during presidential visit

• Sri Lanka is likely to discuss energy, power, and port projects during a presidential visit to New Delhi next week, the foreign minister said on Mon, as India tries to push forward stalled initiatives with its crisis-hit neighbor.
• India’s support was critical for Sri Lanka last year after it almost ran out of dollars and sank into a financial crisis that left it struggling to fund essential imports including fuel and medicine.
• Sri Lanka will now focus as said above, largely on the northern part, when President Ranil Wickremesinghe visits India from Jul 21 for 2 days, FM Ali Sabry told.
• “We are now continuously reviewing the progress and finding ways to fast-track those, if possible.”
• The two want to expand and develop the Trincomalee harbor into a major port. (here)

Indian armed forces likely to get their first Integrated Theatre Command in Aug

• India’s armed forces are in for their biggest reorganization since Independence as preparations to roll out the 1^st Integrated Theatre Command are in advanced stages.
• “The Jaipur-HQ South Western Command will be the first theatre command, followed by Lucknow-based Northern Theatre Command,” a defense source said.
• An announcement in this regard is expected to be made on the Independence Day.
• The SWC will initially function as the test-bed ITC to iron out the shortcomings and implement the commensurate amendments.
• The Lucknow-based ITC will be the next, followed by the Maritime Theatre Command, based out of Karwar in Karnataka, entrusted with the responsibility of maritime operations (here)

CBI files charge sheet against journalist, ex-Navy commander in spying case

• The CBI on Wed charge sheeted against freelance journalist Vivek Raghuvanshi and former Navy Comdr Ashish Pathak for the alleged clandestine procurement of sensitive defense-related information and sharing it with foreign intelligence agencies
• In its charge sheet filed before a special court, the CBI has named both as accused in the alleged violation of the Official Secrets Act and related offenses.
• Raghuvanshi and Pathak were arrested on May 16.
• The CBI took over the probe from the Delhi Police’s Special Cell, which was tracking Raghuvanshi since Sept last year when it registered an FIR against him. (here)

India backs Pakistan’s resolution at UN condemning Quran burning in Sweden

• India on Wed supported Pakistan’s resolution at the UN that condemned the Quran burning in Sweden.
• The Rights Council, approved a measure calling on countries to do more to prevent religious hatred in the wake of Quran burnings in Europe.
• The resolution was backed by many developing countries in Africa and the Middle East, as well as China and India.
• Among the countries that voted against the resolution were the US, UK, France, Finland, Belgium, Germany, and others.
• The resolution was passed with 28 votes while 12 opposed and 7 were absent. (here)

SII vaccine for deadly meningitis gets WHO nod on quality & safety, can now be procured by UN

• Serum Institute of India’s MenFive, the 1^st conjugate vaccine to protect against the 5 major causes of meningococcal meningitis in Africa, has been prequalified by WHO
• A conjugate vaccine is a type of shot that uses part of a germ to prevent disease.
• A WHO prequalification allows MenFive to be procured by the UN and Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, thus ensuring it reaches the neediest beneficiaries at no cost
• MenFive was developed through a 13-year collaboration between SII and the US-based global nonprofit PATH, with crucial funding from the UK govt’s Foreign, CWD Office.
• The prequalification was supported by extensive clinical studies in the Gambia, India, and Mali that demonstrated a high level of safety and immunogenicity. (here)

EAM meets ASEAN Secy-Gen, discusses development of comprehensive strategic partnership

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wed met ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn in Indonesia and suggested India-ASEAN dialogues in finance, cyber and maritime domains.
• The EAM said the ASEAN relationship paves the way for the Indo-Pacific Vision.
• EAM Jaishankar on Fri also met Malaysia Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir.
• EAM Jaishankar is on a 6-day visit to Indonesia, Thailand from July 12-18.
• In the first leg of his visit, the EAM will reach Indonesia to attend FMs Meetings under the ASEAN on July 13-14 and then he will go to Thailand for the FMs Meeting of Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC).
• Jaishankar will visit Jakarta, for the FMs Meetings under the ASEAN framework in the format, ASEAN-India, East Asia Summit, and ASEAN Regional Forum on Jul 13-14.
• The EAM will also hold bilateral meetings with his other counterparts.
• ​In Bangkok, the EAM will also attend the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation FMs Retreat on Jul 17. (here)

India restricts import of plain gold jewellery

• Reuters – India on Wed restricted imports of plain gold jewelry, as the world’s second-largest consumer of the precious metal tries to plug loopholes in its trade policy.
• Import of articles of gold has been put under the restriction category from the free category except import under the INDIA-UAE CEPA agreement.
• The move comes as importers over the last few months have been using a policy flaw to source plain gold jewelry from Indonesia without paying any import taxes. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

IMF board approves critical $3bn loan for Pakistan

• The IMF executive board approved a $3 billion bailout program for Pakistan on Wed, the lender said, which will immediately disburse about $1.2 billion.
• On Jun 29, the IMF and Pakistan reached a Standby Arrangement to ease the country’s financial crisis.
• It said the arrangement comes at a challenging economic juncture for Pakistan.
• The new program would provide a policy anchor to Pakistan for addressing “domestic and external imbalances” and a framework for financial support.
• Moreover, it said the IMF approval allowed for an immediate disbursement of $1.2bn, with the rest to be phased over the program’s duration — subject to 2 quarterly reviews.
• IMF’s approval comes after Saudi Arabia and the UAE deposited $2 billion and $1 bn, respectively, with the central bank, boosting the foreign exchange reserves. (here)

Five more soldiers martyred in Zhob garrison attack, toll rises to nine

• With 5 more soldiers scumbled to their injuries, the number of soldiers killed in action climbed to 9 as terrorists launched a “dastardly attack” on the Army’s Zhob Garrison in Balochistan, the ISPR said in a statement on Wed.
• Earlier today, the military’s media wing said that 4 soldiers were martyred and 5 critically injured in the terrorists’ attack.
• In the wee hours of Wed, terrorists launched a dastardly attack on the garrison and the initial attempt to sneak into the facility was “checked by soldiers on duty”.
• Upon interception, a heavy exchange of fire took place between the terrorists and soldiers, with the militants being “contained into a small area at the boundary“.
• The report voiced alarm, stating that at least 271 militant attacks took place during the last six months, resulting in the loss of 389 lives and injuring 656 individuals. (here)

Ukraine foreign minister likely to visit Pakistan

• Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Koliba will make an emergency visit to Pakistan this week, The News reported on Wed.
• Sources said that Koliba is likely to visit Pakistan during the next 3 days and meet FM Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
• The two will discuss the food crisis in Ukraine after the Russia-led war.
• Meanwhile, govt officials say that Pakistan wants an end to the Russian-Ukrainian war and a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
• Last year, FM Bilawal reiterated Pakistan’s neutrality on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, saying that Islamabad was not taking sides. (here)

China hits back against Nato’s ‘eastward march’ as Indo-Pacific leaders and alliance members meet at summit

• Nato drew 4 Indo-Pacific countries tighter into its orbit on Wed, as China hit back against the security alliance’s “eastward march”.
• Leaders from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea met Nato’s 31 members in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on the 2^nd day of the alliance’s annual summit, with China firmly on the agenda.
• Ahead of the talks, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida said that “in the current severe international security environment the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific are inseparable”.
• “Japan and Nato share the understanding that unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion will not be tolerated, regardless of where in the world,” Kishida said after N Korea fired a suspected ICBM toward Japanese waters. (here)

Solomon Islands may lead way as China eyes greater South Pacific role

• The South Pacific could provide a “new focus” for China’s BRI after this week’s visit by the Solomon Islands’ PM Manasseh Sogavare, according to diplomatic observers.
• Sogavare met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Mon, and the two leaders pledged to establish a “comprehensive strategic partnership” and form “greater synergy” between the transcontinental infrastructure project and the islands’ 2035 development strategy.
• “Although our friendship arrived belatedly, it is leading the way in relations between China and the Pacific Islands,” Xi told Sogavare.
• Last year the Solomon Islands government was criticized by the US for signing a secretive security pact with China.
• Neither of the governments has released a full version of the agreement, but China has offered increased police training and equipment to the Solomons since then. (here)

• Australia, the island’s traditional police force partner, also reacted by stepping up police supplies and has urged the island government to renew its own security treaty.
• This week, Sogavare signed a raft of deals with Premier Li Qiang, covering development, trade, infrastructure, and policing – allowing China to maintain a police presence in the Solomon Islands for another three years. He also invited the Chinese leaders for a return visit “at an early date”.