1. House in Motion: President Murmu addresses Parliament’s joint session, calls 18th Lok Sabha ‘historic’; Rahul Gandhi chosen LoP in Lok Sabha
2. Five Indian soldiers killed in tank accident near LAC in Ladakh
3. Deeply biased, lacks understanding…: India rejects US report on religious freedom
4. We oppose unilateral actions to change status quo by force: India on fresh tensions in SCS
5. New criminal laws take effect today: Top 10 changes you should know

What Else

1. General Upendra Dwivedi takes charge as new army chief
2. Vikram Misri appointed India’s new foreign secretary
3. Three terrorists killed in encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda; J&K police to enhance arsenal with cutting-edge weapons
4. FATF recognizes India’s efforts to combat money laundering, terrorist financing
5. EAM Jaishankar meets Qatar’s PM, reviews bilateral relations
6. Delhi airport roof collapse: Aviation minister orders ‘structural audit’ of all airports
7. NTA announces new exam dates for UGC NET 2024, CSIR NET
8. Foxconn factory in India accused of denying jobs to married women: Report
9. Jharkhand High Court grants bail to former CM Hemant Soren in land scam case
10. NIA declares Rs 10 lakh cash reward each on arrest of Canada-based terrorist Brar, his aide
11. 19 break out of derelict Rawalakot prison in AJK
12. Taliban govt meets UN officials, Afghanistan envoys in Doha talks
13. In a first, China accuses former defense ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe of corruption
14. China tightens rules for rare earths mining and refining, spells out fines for breaches
15. Taiwan warns against travel to China after execution threat, China tells Taiwanese to visit ‘in high spirits’
16. Sri Lanka seals debt deal with Official Creditor Committee after financial crisis

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House in Motion: President Murmu addresses Parliament’s joint session, calls 18^th Lok Sabha ‘historic’

• President Droupadi Murmu addressed a joint session of both Houses of Parliament and congratulated all newly-elected MPs on Thu (June 27).
• The president in her address called the 18th Lok Sabha ‘historic’ in many ways- formed in the early years of the Amrit Kaal, and will be a witness to the 56^th year of the adoption of the Constitution.
• The president added that the people of India are aware the incumbent can fulfill their aspirations.
• She spoke about how Kashmir witnessed a peaceful election and commended the Election Commission of India for their work.
• “Emergency …. The entire country plunged into chaos during Emergency, but the nation was victorious against such unconstitutional powers,” the president said
• President addresses NEET issue, says government will punish the guilty
• She said that the govt is committed to investigating the paper leaks and punishing the guilty amid cries of “NEET” from the Opposition benches.
• Earlier, President Murmu was accorded the Guard of Honour when she arrived at the Parliament. Her way was led by a Parliament official who carried a Sengol. (here)
• Opposition criticizes President Murmu’s address to Parliament: The opposition on Thu criticized the address stating that it did not highlight major issues including inflation, poverty, and unemployment, and rather focused on highlighting the govt’s successes.
• Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said the President’s address was filled with lies and PM Modi was trying to gain “cheap applause” via the speech.
• He further accused the Modi govt of scripting Murmu’s address and called it an attempt by the PM to dismiss the public mandate.
• ‘President’s address is the speech of govt,’ says Akhilesh Yadav
• SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav said that the address was just a speech written by the govt
• Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said for the past 10 years, the Presidential address has just been another address by PM Modi.
• ‘Like old wine in new bottle,’ Owaisi denounces President’s joint address
• ‘No logic in mentioning Emergency in President’s address today,’ says Congress MP Shashi Tharoor (here)
• Rahul Gandhi chosen LoP in Lok Sabha: Rahul Gandhi has been appointed leader of the opposition in India’s parliament, filling a post that had been empty for a decade.
• For the first time since PM Modi entered politics in 2004, his main rival will hold a constitutional role.
• Gandhi will now participate in committees responsible for key appointments and serve as a counterbalance to the PM.
• Notably, since 2014, no opposition party has won 10% or 55 of the 543 seats required to claim the post, but Congress took 99 seats. (here)

Five Indian soldiers killed in tank accident near LAC in Ladakh

• 5 soldiers died after their tank met with an accident while they were crossing a river during an exercise near the LAC in Leh’s Daulat Beg Oldi area on Sat morning.
• Rescue officials have recovered the body of one soldier, while the 4 are still missing.
• A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) is among the five killed in the accident.
• The soldiers were on a training mission and were crossing the Bodhi River near Mandir Morh, [?] 148 km from Leh, on their T-72 tank when suddenly the water levels began to rise, official sources said.
• The tank and the soldiers were submerged in the swelling river, they added.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the nation in mourning the deaths. (here)
• Army elaborated, in a social media message that “an army tank got struck in the Shyok River, near Saser Brangsa, Eastern Ladakh due to sudden increase in the water level.”
• This is the 2^nd biggest incident in which soldiers were killed in action.
• In the first such incident of the loss of lives, the Indian Army and PLA soldiers were killed in clashes in Jun 2020 at Galwan.
• The incident occurred in a sensitive area as Eastern Ladakh has been tense with a dense deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). (here)

Deeply biased, lacks understanding…: India rejects US report on religious freedom

• India on Fri rejected the US report on international religious freedom as “deeply biased” and lacking understanding of India’s social dynamics.
• In a presser, the Foreign Ministry spox said, “We have noted the release by the US State Department of its report on international religious Freedom for 2023.”
• “As in the past, the report is deeply biased, …. and is visibly driven by vote-bank considerations and a prescriptive outlook. We therefore reject it,” Spox said.
• Spox criticized the report for its “selective use of facts” and reliance on “biased sources”.
• Spox pointed out that the report questioned the validity of Indian laws and regulations, including those aimed at monitoring financial flows and ensuring compliance, which New Delhi sees as essential for national security.
• “In 2023, India has officially taken up numerous cases in the US of hate crimes, racial attacks on Indian nationals and other minorities, vandalization and targeting of places of worship, violence, and mistreatment by law enforcement authorities,” Spox added.
• The report- on International Religious Freedom by the US State Dept expressed worries about India’s anti-conversion laws, incidents of hate speech, and alleged demolitions of residences and religious sites belonging to minority communities. (here)

We oppose unilateral actions to change status quo by force: India on fresh tensions in SCS

• India on Fri said it opposes unilateral actions seeking to change the status quo by force in the South China Sea amid concerns over China’s escalatory moves against the Philippines’ maritime operations in the region.
• Tensions between China and the Philippines escalated following an incident of a violent clash between their maritime security personnel a few days back in the SCS.
• “We have always emphasized on adherence to international law, respect for the rules-based order, and resolution of disputes in a peaceful manner,” MEA spox said.
• “Other than that, we also believe that there should not be any incident or approach that destabilizes the region,” Spox said.
• “We oppose destabilizing or unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion as well,” he said.
• There have been growing global concerns over China’s sweeping claims of sovereignty over all of the South China Sea, a huge source of hydrocarbons.
• Several countries in the region including Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei, have counterclaims. (here)

New criminal laws take effect today: Top 10 changes you should know

• Starting Mon, Jul 1, the 3 new criminal laws will take effect nationwide, significantly altering India’s criminal justice system and replacing colonial-era legislation.
• The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam will replace the old IPC, CrPC, and IEA.
• Criminal case judgments must be delivered within 45 days after the trial ends.
• Charges must be framed within 60 days of the first hearing.
• All state govts must implement witness protection schemes to ensure the safety and cooperation of witnesses.
• Statements from rape victims will be recorded by a female police officer in the presence of the victim’s guardian or relative. Medical reports must be completed within 7 days.
• A new chapter in the law addresses crimes against women and children.
• Buying or selling a child is classified as a heinous crime, punishable by severe penalties.
• Gangrape of a minor can result in a death sentence or life imprisonment.
• The law now includes punishments for cases where women are abandoned after being misled by false promises of marriage.
• Victims of crimes against women are entitled to receive regular updates on their cases within 90 days.
• All hospitals are required to provide free first-aid or medical treatment to victims of crimes against women and children.
• Both the accused and the victim are entitled to receive copies of the FIR, police report, charge sheet, statements, confessions, and other documents within 14 days.
• Courts are allowed a maximum of two adjournments to avoid unnecessary delays in case hearings.
• Incidents can now be reported via electronic communication, eliminating the need to visit a police station.
• The introduction of Zero FIR allows individuals to file a First Information Report at any police station, regardless of jurisdiction.
• An arrested person has the right to inform a person of their choice about their situation so that he can receive immediate support.
• Arrest details will be prominently displayed in police stations and district headquarters for easy access by families and friends.
• It is now mandatory for forensic experts to visit crime scenes for serious offenses and collect evidence.
• The definition of “gender” now includes transgender people.
• For certain offenses against women, victim statements should be recorded by a woman magistrate when possible. (here)

General Upendra Dwivedi takes charge as new army chief

• Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Sun took over as the 30^th chief of the Army, by succeeding Gen Manoj Pande, who retired after more than 4 decades of distinguished service.
• Known in the army as a decisive and innovative leader, Dwivedi was commissioned into 18 J&K Rifles in 1984.
• He is an alumnus of Sainik School, Rewa, NDA, Khadakwasla, and IMA, Dehradun.
• The 60-year-old, vegetarian, yoga enthusiast, has a passion for photography and reading, said senior army officials who have known Dwivedi for decades.
• He excelled in physical training as a cadet in the NDA and the IMA and went on to win a gold medal at the Pune-based AIPT when he was a young Lt.
• He also excelled in athletics in his early years in the army, with triple jump being his favorite discipline, the officials said.
• Dwivedi took over as the army’s vice chief in Feb 2024, after serving as the Northern Army commander for 2 years.
• The Udhampur-based NC is responsible for guarding the borders with Pakistan and China in the north and is the nerve center of counter-terrorism operations in J&K.
• In a military career spanning 40 years, he has served as dy chief in the Army HQ, the GoC of the Yol-based HQ 9 Corps, DG of infantry, and IG Assam Rifles in the NE (here)

Vikram Misri appointed India’s new foreign secretary

• Former dy NSA Vikram Misri was on Fri named the country’s foreign secretary.
• Misri would succeed VM Kwatra, who was given a six-month extension in Mar
• The Appointments Committee of Cabinet approved the proposal made by the MEA for appointing Misri as the next foreign secretary.
• His service will begin on Jul 15 as the extension granted to Kwatra will end on Jul 14.
• Misri is a 1989-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service and has had the honor of having served as private secretary to 3 PMs – IK Gujral in 1997, MM Singh in 2012, and Modi in 2014.
• Misri was India’s ambassador to China and played a significant role in discussions between India and China following the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes. (here)

Three terrorists killed in encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda

• At least 3 terrorists were killed on Wed during an encounter with security forces in a forest area in J&K’s Doda district.
• Arms and ammunition had been recovered from the terrorists who were suspected to be affiliated with the Pakistan-based JeM outfit.
• The gunfight reportedly started during an intensified search and cordon operation by the police along with the Army and Central Reserve Police in the aftermath of twin terrorist attacks in the hill district on Jun 11 – 12.
• On June 11, six security personnel were injured when terrorists attacked a joint check post at Chattargalla. (here)
• J&K police to enhance arsenal with cutting-edge weapons from Israel, Germany: To counter terrorists armed with modern weapons, the J&K police are set to receive a significant upgrade in their arsenal with new arms procured from Israel and Germany.
• The M-4 carbine, a 5.56×45mm select-fire, gas-operated weapon developed in the 1980s, is extensively used by the US military.
• Terrorists backed by Pakistan in J&K have been found using these carbines, along with steel-core bullets and night-vision glasses left behind by US-led NATO troops in Afghanistan in the last two years.
• The new arms from Israel and Germany will enhance the police force’s capabilities significantly, according to the police chief.
• “Terrorists can injure us, but they cannot defeat us,” he asserted. (here)

FATF recognizes India’s efforts to combat money laundering, terrorist financing

• India has achieved an “outstanding outcome” in the 2023-24 Mutual Evaluation conducted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
• The Mutual Evaluation Report, adopted during the FATF plenary held in Singapore from Jun 26-28, placed India in the ‘regular follow-up’ category, a distinction shared by only four other G20 countries.
• This marks a significant milestone in India’s efforts to combat money laundering (ML) and terror financing (TF), a Finance Ministry release said.
• FATF has recognized India’s inclusive measures in mitigating risks arising from ML and TF, including the laundering of proceeds from corruption, fraud, and organized crime.
• It includes effective measures to transition from a cash-based to a digital economy, reducing ML/TF risks and Application of the JAM Trinity and stringent regulations on cash transactions, significantly increasing financial inclusion and digital.
• India’s performance in the MER brings substantial benefits to the country’s growing economy as it highlights the stability and integrity of its financial system (here)

EAM Jaishankar meets Qatar’s PM, reviews bilateral relations

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sun met Qatar’s PM Mohd bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani in Doha and reviewed bilateral relationship, with a focus on political, trade, investment, energy, technology, culture, and people-to-people ties.
• Jaishankar, who arrived here on a day-long visit, also exchanged views on regional and global issues with Sheikh Mohammed, who also holds the portfolio as Foreign Minister.
• Exchanged views on regional and global issues. Appreciate his sharing insights on the Gaza situation,” EAM said.
• Jaishankar’s visit comes four-and-half months after Qatar released eight former Indian Navy personnel, who were sentenced to death after being arrested in August 2022.
• Earlier in the day, Jaishankar was received at the airport by Chief of Protocol Ibrahim Fakhroo.
• PM Modi visited Qatar from Feb 14 to 15 and held discussions with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. (here)

Delhi airport roof collapse: Aviation minister orders ‘structural audit’ of all airports

• A roof collapsed at New Delhi’s IGI Airport Terminal-1 in the early hours of Fri, resulting in several injuries and 1 fatality.
• In the aftermath, numerous flights from Terminal 1 were canceled, and many services were redirected to other terminals.
• All the flight movements have been shifted to Terminal 2 and Terminal 3.
• For those people whose flights have been canceled, they are being given either a refund or an alternate flight.
• Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu adopted proactive measures and said that they will carry out a structural preliminary inspection at all the airports.
• Naidus said that a report from all the airports has been sought by the ministry within 2-5 days after which necessary measures will be taken to prevent such incidents.
• War room constituted, a refund for flights canceled, said the Minister
• A circular was also issued to the airlines, asking them not to increase the fares.
• The flight operations from Terminal 1 remain suspended till further notice by Delhi International Airport Limited. (here)

NTA announces new exam dates for UGC NET 2024, CSIR NET

• National Testing Agency on Fri announced new dates for UGC NET and CSIR NET examinations that had been canceled over alleged irregularities earlier this month.
• Joint CSIR-UGC NET is now slated to be held on Jul 25 to 27 and will be a Computer Based Test.
• The NCET 2024 exam is scheduled to be held on Jul 10 whereas the UGC NET June 2024 Cycle will be held between Aug 21 and Sept 4.
• NTA cancels UGC-NET after ‘exam integrity compromised’
• NTA on Wed said the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam just a day after it was conducted
• The Edu Min stated that the UGC on Wed received certain inputs from the NCCTAU of the I4C under the Home Ministry, and the inputs prima-facie indicated that the integrity of the examination may have been conceded.
• The statement further said that the matter was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a thorough probe. (here)
• CBI arrests principal, vice principal of Jharkhand school in NEET-UG paper leak case: In a development, the Central Bureau of Investigation on Fri arrested the principal and vice principal of a school in the east Indian state of Jharkhand in connection with alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination, said the officials.
• The principal Ehsanul Haque, was designated as the city coordinator for the medical entrance examination conducted by NTA on May 5. (here)

Foxconn factory in India accused of denying jobs to married women: Report

• Disappointment turned to anger for two sisters Parvathi and Janaki in their 20s, as they approached the entrance of the Foxconn iPhone factory in southern India.
• After coming across a job opening advertisement on WhatsApp, they arrived for interviews in Mar 2023, hopeful for new opportunities.
• However, their ambitions were halted at the gate by a security guard’s discriminatory question, “Are you married?”
• “We did not get the jobs as we both are married,” Parvathi said in an interview at her village shanty.
• “Reuters investigation”- Foxconn has analytically excluded married women from jobs at its main India iPhone assembly plant, on the basis that they have more family responsibilities than their unmarried counterparts.
• Foxconn usually doesn’t hire married women because of cultural issues and societal pressures, said S. Paul, who said he left the company in Aug 2023 for a better-paying role at a consulting firm. (here)
• [This is how narratives are set. If Co. says something else will the Reuter apologize?]

Jharkhand High Court grants bail to former CM Hemant Soren in land scam case

• Jharkhand High Court granted bail to former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren in the land scam case on Fri.
• The Enforcement Directorate arrested Soren on Jan 31 on accusations of manipulating records through fabricated transactions and using fake documents to acquire land.
• Soren resigned as the Chief Minister after ED’s interrogation on Jan 31.
• Soren’s lawyer has claimed that the court has found him not guilty of the offense.
• Earlier on June 13, the high court had reserved its decision on Soren’s bail plea.
• The investigation against Soren is related to an 8.86-acre plot of land in Ranchi that the ED has alleged was illegally acquired by him. (here)

NIA declares Rs 10 lakh cash reward each on arrest of Canada-based terrorist Brar, his aide

• The premium investigation agency (NIA) on Wed declared a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh each for sharing information that can help in arresting Canada-based terrorist Goldy Brar and another accused wanted in an “extortion and firing” case in Chandigarh.
• The 2 accused are wanted in the case of firing at the house of a businessman as part of an extortion bid on Mar 8 this year, according to a statement issued by the NIA.
• The case has been registered under various sections of the IPC, UAPA, and the Arms Act against accused Satwinder Singh Goldy Brar, son of Shamsher Singh.
• The agency has announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh each for any information leading to the apprehension/arrest of either of the two men, it said, adding the “identity of the informant will be kept a secret”. (here)

 [Neighborhood]

19 break out of derelict Rawalakot prison in AJK

• In a major security breach in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 19 inmates, including 6 on death row, escaped from the Rawalakot prison while one inmate, (injured), succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital, said police and official sources.
• The incident occurred in Rawalakot, the district and divisional headquarters of Poonch, between 2 pm and 2:30 pm.
• The 30-year-old prison located adjacent to the district courts in the heart of the town has been in a dilapidated state for quite some time, whereas work on a new prison site on the outskirts of town has yet to be properly initiated.
• In light of the jailbreak, 8 prison officials, including the deputy superintendent, were detained for investigation while the AJK govt also formed an inquiry committee.
• Poonch Commissioner Sardar Waheed Khan and SP Riaz Mughal shared preliminary information from the jail administration with journalists.
• The escape was allegedly led by Ghazi Shahzad from AJK’s Sudhnoti district, who had been arrested by the CT Dept along with 3 colleagues from the town of Hajira last year.
• Booked under Section 6 of the Anti-Terrorism Act and Section 302 of the Azad Penal Code (APC), he had not been convicted as of yet.
• Interestingly, Shahzad’s 3 associates did not escape, and neither did the man who had killed a former JuD militant in a Rawalakot mosque last Sept. (here)

Taliban govt meets UN officials, Afghanistan envoys in Doha talks

• The 2-day, UN-hosted meeting in Qatar is the 3^rd of its kind in the gas-rich emirate in just over a year but the 1^st to include Taliban authorities who seized power in 2021
• “Preparatory discussions have begun with the UN meeting separately with many of the special envoys in attendance and with the Taliban Reps,” the UN spox, told AFP.
• UN officials and over 20 envoys, including the US special Rep to Afghanistan, were expected to meet with the Taliban govt’s delegation led by spox Zabihullah Mujahid.
• The talks were due to discuss increasing engagement with Afghanistan and a more coordinated response to the country, including economic and counter-narcotics efforts.
• In the aftermath of the Taliban’s return to power, the international community has grappled with its approach to Afghanistan’s new rulers.
• The Taliban govt in Kabul has not been officially recognized by any other govt since it took power and the administration has imposed a strict interpretation of Islam.
• Ahead of the UN-hosted discussions, the Taliban govt delegation held meetings in Doha with special envoys from Russia, India, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan (here)

In a first, China accuses former defense ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe of corruption

• In an unprecedented move, Beijing has announced corruption investigations into 2 Ex defense ministers.
• Wei Fenghe and his successor Li Shangfu have also been expelled from the Party, following a meeting on Thu of the party’s 24-man Politburo.
• The announcement comes months after the abrupt dismissal of Li, China’s shortest-serving defense minister.
• Li was sacked from his job in Oct, just 7 months after he became defense minister.
• Wei held the position from 2018 to 2023.
• Earlier meetings of the CMC, the country’s top military decision-making body, also stripped Li and Wei of their positions as generals and membership of the PLA, it added.
• The investigation into Li began on Aug 31 and concluded that he had accepted “large sums of money” to seek benefits for others.
• He had also bribed others, according to the statement. (here)
• Wei came under investigation on Sept 21 and is accused of accepting unauthorised gifts and large amounts of money in exchange for using his power to obtain benefits for others. He is not accused of taking bribes.
• The investigations also uncovered evidence of other possible “serious disciplinary and criminal offences” by the two men, the statement added, without giving details. (here)

China tightens rules for rare earths mining and refining, spells out fines for breaches

• China has issued a raft of regulations to tighten management of rare earths production, elements that are playing an ever-important role in the global technology race.
• In a document released on Sat, the State Council said the new rules would come into effect on Oct 1.
• The regulation spells out that the resources belong to the state and that “no organization or individual may encroach upon or damage” them.
• To improve oversight of the industrial chain, govt agencies will coordinate and manage the mining and refining of the ores and ensure that the products can be traced.
• The regulation is designed to protect and “rationally develop” rare earth resources while safeguarding the environment and securing the country’s resources.
• Restriction following Western semiconductor curbs in the latest trade war.
• China is the world’s top producer of REE, a group of more than a dozen metals essential to modern tech ranging from electric vehicles to robots, and military weapons.
• The country is also a leader in technology to refine rare earths, which require intense processing to produce usable material. (here)

Taiwan warns against travel to China after execution threat, China tells Taiwanese to visit ‘in high spirits’

• Taiwan’s govt raised its travel warning for China on Jun 27, telling its citizens not to go unless absolutely necessary, following a threat from Beijing last week to execute those deemed “die-hard” Taiwan independence supporters.
• Mr Liang Wen-chieh, spox for Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, told reporters the raised travel warning also applied to the Chinese-run cities of Hong Kong and Macau.
• China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its territory, has made no secret of its dislike of President Lai Ching-te, whom it views as a “separatist”, and staged two days of war games after he took office in May.
• Last week, announcing new legal guidelines, China threatened to execute Taiwan independence separatists in extreme cases, a further ramping up of tensions that drew condemnation from Mr Lai and his government, as well as the US. (here)
• China tells Taiwanese to visit ‘in high spirits’, despite execution threat: Most Taiwanese can visit China with no need to worry and can come “in high spirits”, the Chinese govt said, condemning Taiwan for warning its citizens. (here)

Sri Lanka seals debt deal with Official Creditor Committee after financial crisis

• In what it termed a significant milestone, Sri Lanka on Wed sealed a deal with the Official Creditor Committee [OCC], to restructure the debt owed to its bilateral lenders including India, and signed a separate agreement with China for debt treatment.
• The OCC is a platform comprising 17 countries including India and members of the Paris Club such as Japan, that have extended loans to Sri Lanka.
• It was formed in May 2023 to simplify Sri Lanka’s debt negotiations after the country defaulted on its external debt, in the wake of an unprecedented financial crash in 2022.
• China, Sri Lanka’s largest bilateral lender, opted to stay out of the platform but attended the discussions as an observer.
• Colombo has been negotiating its debt treatment with Beijing bilaterally and has clinched a deal, the President’s office said on Wed.
• “Sri Lanka signed debt treatment agreements in Beijing with the China Exim Bank to restructure USD 4.2 billion of debt,” a statement said.
• Sri Lankan authorities are yet to share details of the terms of the restructuring deal with OCC and China. (here)