INDIA & AUSTRALIA SET TO BOOST ECONOMIC TIES AT MODI-MORRISON MEET

India and Australia are now focussed on signing the long-pending trade deal between the two countries. It’s aimed at countering China — as is the long-term strategic plan that New Delhi and Canberra already have in place.

The plans to sign the trade deal will take centre stage at a virtual summit-level meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart, Scott Morrison, to be held today.

In the first bilateral meeting that took place between Modi and Morrison in June 2020, both sides elevated the relationship to a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ paving the way for enhanced defence and security ties, which was done keeping in mind China’s growing assertiveness in the region.

This time, the focus of the meeting will be on securing economic and business ties between the two countries, according to Barry O’Farrell, high commissioner of Australia to India.

MANIPUR DONE; SUSPENSE CONTINUES OVER NEXT GOA, U'KHAND CMS

Ending speculation about the race for the top job in Manipur, the BJP central leadership on Sunday announced that N Biren Singh would remain the chief minister of the north-eastern state. An official from the chief minister’s office said the oath-taking ceremony would be held on Monday.

The newly elected party MLAs will choose their leaders on Monday in Uttarakhand and Goa where incumbents Pushkar Singh Dhami and Pramod Sawant are the clear favourites but face some opposition.

UKRAINE IS A MIRROR TO INDO-PACIFIC, SAYS TOP BEIJING OFFICIAL

In a clear reference to groupings like the Quad, a top Chinese foreign ministry official has drawn parallels between “the NATO strategy of eastward expansion in Europe” and the creation of “small blocs” and “group confrontation” in the Indo-Pacific, the region that China calls Asia-Pacific.

“The Ukraine crisis provides a mirror for us to observe the situation in the Asia-Pacific. We cannot but ask, how can we prevent a crisis like this from happening in the Asia-Pacific?” Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said on Saturday.

“The Asia-Pacific now faces two opposite choices: should we build an open and inclusive family for win-win cooperation or go for small blocs based on the Cold War mentality and group confrontation?” Le said in remarks in English posted on the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s website.

“Going against the trend to pursue the Indo-Pacific strategy, provoke trouble, put together closed and exclusive small circles or groups, and get the region off course toward fragmentation and bloc-based division is as dangerous as the NATO strategy of eastward expansion in Europe,” he said.

“If allowed to go on unchecked, it would bring unimaginable consequences, and ultimately push the Asia-Pacific over the edge of an abyss.”

Le is a former Chinese ambassador to India, who served in New Delhi during the first two years of the Narendra Modi government — 2014 to 2016.

IMRAN KHAN PRAISES INDIA’S ‘INDEPENDENT FOREIGN POLICY’

Prime Minister Imran Khan Sunday lauded India for importing crude oil from Russia despite American sanctions. Khan is a fierce critic of the ruling NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But in his address at a public rally in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, he told his supporters that he would like to praise the neighbouring India for following an “independent foreign policy”. He said India, which is a part of the Quad, has imported oil from Russia despite American sanctions.

Khan said that his foreign policy, too, would favour the people of Pakistan. “I haven’t bowed before anyone and will not let my nation bow either,” said Khan, who is rallying public support ahead of a no-confidence vote against him in Parliament.

Breaking from the tradition of not openly discussing complicated matters relating to foreign relations in public rallies, Khan mentioned that he had said “absolutely not” to the EU envoys seeking Pakistan’s support against Russia in the Russia-Ukraine conflict because “they broke protocol by making the request”. He said that Pakistan would have gained nothing by complying with the EU’s request.

“We became part of America’s war against terror in Afghanistan and lost 80,000 people and USD 100 billion,” he said.

It is for the second time he spoke against a statement by the EU and other Western countries asking Pakistan earlier this month to condemn the Russian intervention in Ukraine. In his previous address, Khan had also asked the EU if it would make a similar demand to India.

COVID DASHBOARD – INDIA

As of 0800 IST / March 21

from mohfw.gov.in ,

New Cases on Sunday 1,549

Active Cases 25,106 (-1,134)

Total Deaths (Deaths Yesterday) 5,16,510 (11)

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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1ST PHASE OF RUSSIA’S WAR MAY BE OVER, ANALYSTS SAY

With Russian forces failing to seize major cities in Ukraine, appearing to lose ground around Kyiv and beset by losses that limit their ability to mount new large-scale offensives, there is an emerging consensus in the West that the war has reached a bloody stalemate.

“Russian forces are digging in around the periphery of Kyiv and elsewhere, attempting to consolidate political control over areas they currently occupy, resupplying and attempting to reinforce units in static positions, and generally beginning to set conditions to hold in approximately their current forward positions for an indefinite time,” according to an analysis issued by the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington research body.

Russia has made some gains in the east, where UK’s defence intelligence agency said forces were still working to encircle cities. “Russian generals are running out of time, ammunition, and manpower,” Ben Hodges, the former commander of the US army in Europe, wrote earlier this week.

But he said he was confident that the Russian campaign was reaching its culmination. Culmination is a concept in war outlined over a century ago by the Prussian general Carl von Clausewitz, who described it as the moment when “the remaining strength is just enough to maintain a defence and wait for peace”.

But, President Putin of Russia has offered no indication that he wants to “wait for peace,” and the bombardment of cities and towns across Ukraine shows no sign of letting up. UK’s defence intelligence agency said on Sunday Russia had increased “indiscriminate shelling of urban areas resulting in widespread destruction and large numbers of civilian casualties. ”

TURKEY HOPEFUL A CEASEFIRE CAN COME SOON

Turkey’s foreign minister said in an interview published on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine were nearing agreement on “critical” issues and he was hopeful for a ceasefire if the two sides did not backtrack from progress achieved so far.

Foreign ministers Sergei Lavrov of Russia and Dmytro Kuleba of Ukraine met in the Turkish resort town of Antalya earlier this month with Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also attending. The discussions did not yield concrete results. But Cavusoglu, who also travelled to Russia and Ukraine last week for talks with Lavrov and Kuleba, told Turkish daily Hurriyet that there had been “rapprochement in the positions of both sides on important subjects, critical subjects”. “We can say we are hopeful for a ceasefire if the sides do not take a step back from the current positions,” he said, without elaborating on the issues.

Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin cited Russia’s demand for Ukraine to renounce ambitions to join Nato, demilitarisation, what Russia has referred to as “de-nazification”, and the protection of the Russian language in Ukraine. Ukraine and the West have dismissed Russian references to “neo-Nazis” in Ukraine’s democratically elected leadership as baseless propaganda, and Kalin said such references were offensive to Kyiv.

Kalin said a permanent ceasefire could come only through a meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky. But he said Putin felt that positions on the “strategic issues” of Crimea and Donbas were not close enough for a meeting.

“I’m ready for negotiations with Putin,” Zelensky told CNN. “I think without negotiations we cannot end this war,” the Ukrainian leader said through a translator. “Russian forces have come to exterminate us, to kill us,” said Zelensky. “If there is just 1% chance for us to stop this war, I think that we need to take this chance... to have the possibility of negotiating, the possibility of talking to Putin,” he said. “If these attempts fail, that would mean that this is a third world war.”

NO-TRUST VOTE AGAINST PAK PM ON FRIDAY

Pakistan’s parliament will convene on Friday to take up a no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan, the lower house Speaker’s office said on Sunday, in what is shaping up to be his toughest test since coming to power in 2018.

An alliance of opposition parties filed the motion against Khan this month, saying he had lost his parliamentary majority after over a dozen defections from his party, raising the risk of political turmoil in the country.

Imran Khan has appealed to the defected lawmakers to return to the ruling party. “Get back, you will be forgiven,” he said at a public rally yesterday. “Like a father forgives his children.”

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PERFORM OR PERISH, ARVIND KEJRIWAL TELLS NEW MINISTERS AND MLAs IN PUNJAB

Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday told the party’s newly elected MLAs and ministers in Punjab to perform well or perish and cautioned them that heads would roll if they indulged in corruption.

In a straight talk with the legislators and ministers, the Delhi CM said, “I will not congratulate those ministers who were sworn in yesterday. Rather, I will give them best wishes. I pray to God that you will come true to the expectations of people. As Mann Sahib (Bhagwant Mann) has said, we have wasted 70 years and are short of time. Mann Sahib will give you targets. A day of 24 hours will not be enough. You will have to work 30 hours a day. If you do not meet the targets, then people will say change the minister. Then you will feel bad, but we will have no option but to replace you.”

Recalling Mann’s advice to legislators, Kejriwal said, “During his first address to MLAs, Mann Sahib had asked you not to sit in Chandigarh; every MLA, every minister will be among the people 24×7. He will hit the streets, meet people, go to each household and listen to people.”

“Do not take pride that you are giant killers. You have not defeated the stalwarts. People have defeated them. If people can defeat others, they can defeat you also. You work so hard as an MLA in your area that your reputation travels. People should love you so much. Some people say that they have a right to a certain post. Just remember that nobody has a right. Just remember this is a democracy. When people get angry, they remove even the big guns, even the CMs. Our predecessors also thought they were born to be CMs. But the people defeated them,” he said.

Asking MLAs not to misbehave with employees and officials, Kejriwal said, “I watched a video in which someone was telling a police officer that he would hang him upside down. Does this kind of language befit us? Respect everyone. Be it the opposition, rivals, employees, doctors or teachers. They are not to be blamed. It is the system.”

Recalling his Delhi experience, he said, “When we formed the government in Delhi, we respected all doctors, teachers. They worked wonders in tandem with us. We have to work in unison with police officers, doctors and teachers. We have to change the system. Fold your hands and tell them that times have changed and they should also change. Work with everyone.”

'BJP'S GAME PLAN': UDDHAV REJECTS AIMIM ALLIANCE OFFER

Asserting that Shiv Sena is a "Hindutvavadi" party, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday rejected AIMIM offer for an alliance calling it a "conspiracy" by the opposition BJP to defame the Sena, which heads the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

Addressing Shiv Sena MPs and other functionaries via video link, Thackeray, who heads Shiv Sena, dubbed Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM as the "B" team of BJP.

"Who has sought an alliance with the AIMIM? This is a game plan and conspiracy of the BJP. The AIMIM and the BJP have a tacit understanding. The BJP has ordered the AIMIM to defame the Shiv Sena, to raise questions on Shiv Sena's Hindutva. Accordingly, the AIMIM leaders are making the offer of alliance,” he claimed.

GHULAM NABI AZAD HINTS AT ‘RETIREMENT’ FROM POLITICS

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday said that he had serious reservations about the ability of political parties to bring about real transformation and civil society has an important role to play in difficult times. He also said that he often has a longing to retire from politics and be more actively involved in social service.

While addressing members of civil society at an event, Azad said, “We have to bring about a change in the society. Sometimes I think, and it is not a big deal that suddenly you come to know that I have retired and started doing social service.

At the beginning of his 35-minute address, Azad made it clear that he would not deliver a political speech. “Politics in India has become so ugly that sometimes one has to doubt whether we are human,” he said.

Saying that the average human lifespan is now 80-85 years, he said it makes sense for individuals to use the 20-25-year-long post-retirement period to contribute to nation-building. He added, “If we all reform a city or a province, the entire country will get reformed.

Political parties will keep dividing people in the name of religion or politics but it is the role of civil society to guide people in difficult times, he said.

PANEL CUTS GAP, 2ND COVISHIELD DOSE BETWEEN 8-16 WEEKS

The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) has recommended to the government to reduce the gap between the two Covishield doses, suggesting that the second shot be given between 8 and 16 weeks after the first.

The current protocol is to administer the second dose at a gap of 12 to 16 weeks after the first one. The NTAGI, however, hasn't suggested any change of dosing for Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, the two doses of which are given 28 days apart.

Health Ministry sources said that the NTAGI suggestion followed recent scientific evidence on the dosage effectiveness. The final decision to reduce the gap has to be taken by the ministry.

3 KARNATAKA JUDGES WHO GAVE HIJAB RULING GIVEN 'Y' SECURITY

Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday said that anti-national forces who pose a challenge to the nation's system of law and order cannot be tolerated. His remarks came after the chief minister informed that death threats against three judges of the Karnataka High court have been received from Tamil Nadu for their judgement on the Hijab row.

The CM described that there are provisions for filing review petitions if the petitions are not satisfied with the judgement, however, the disruptive forces are still inciting the people to rise against the system.

Following the death threats, the CM directed the State DGP to start the investigation immediately. He also affirmed that the security for three judges has been tightened by raising it to the 'Y' category.

₹ 6,000 CRORE UNICORN RAIDED IN 5 STATES, AGREES TO PAY UP AVOIDED TAX

The Income Tax department has detected "undisclosed" income of more than ₹ 224 crore after it recently raided Maharashtra-based unicorn start-up Infra.Market, officials said on Sunday. The searches were launched on March 9 at the firm's 23 premises in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

The CBDT said the group, founded by Souvik Sengupta and Aaditya Sharda in 2016, is "engaged in wholesale and retail (business) of construction materials and has a pan-India presence with an annual turnover exceeding ₹ 6,000 crore."

Officials identified the searched entity as the Infra.Market group.

The CBDT statement said it was found that the group has booked "bogus" purchases, made huge unaccounted cash expenditure and obtained accommodation entries, aggregating to the tune of over ₹ 400 crore. The directors of the group, who were confronted with these evidences, "admitted under oath this modus operandi, disclosed additional income of more than ₹ 224 crore in various assessment years, and consequently offered to pay their due tax liability," the CBDT claimed.

ALL ENGLAND: LAKSHYA SEN FAILS TO CLEAR THE FINAL HURDLE

Lakshya Sen’s dream run at the All England Championships ended with a heartbreaking straight-game loss against world number one and Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen in the men’s singles final, continuing India’s 21-year-long agonising wait for the coveted trophy.

After four days of sensational badminton, the 20-year-old Sen faltered on the cusp of history as he committed too many errors to go down 10-21 15-21 to former champion Axelsen in a lop-sided summit clash that lasted 53 minutes at the Barclaycard Arena.

A week back, Sen had recorded his first win over former world champion Axelsen en route to his final appearance at the German Open but he couldn’t sustain his craft on Sunday as his highly-fancied rival returned the favours, claiming his fifth overall win against the Indian.

While 2020 winner Axelsen claimed the men’s singles title for the second time, Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi won the women’s singles crown, beating South Korea’s An Seyoung 21-15 21-15 in the final.

Despite the loss, it has been a creditable performance for Sen, who is still in his early days in elite-level badminton.

BENGALURU PITCH RATED BELOW AVERAGE

The M Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch used for the second Test between India and Sri Lanka has been rated below average by the match referee and received one demerit point, cricket's governing body (ICC) said on Sunday.

The day-night pink ball Test finished inside three days as India beat Sri Lanka by 238 runs to win the two-Test series 2-0. The pitch offered sharp turn and variable bounce from the first session as 16 wickets fell on day one.

"The pitch offered a lot of turn on the first day itself and though it improved with every session, in my view, it was not an even contest between bat and ball," match referee Javagal Srinath said.

Demerit points remain active for a rolling five-year period and any venue which accumulates five of them for poor pitches or the outfield will be suspended from hosting international cricket for a period of 12 months.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

It takes nothing to join the crowd. It takes everything to stand alone. - Hans F. Hansen

OFF TRACK

An anthropologist was cataloguing South American native remedies with the assistance of a tribal elder who indicated that the leaves of a particular fern were a sure cure for any case of constipation.

When the anthropologist expressed his doubts, the elder looked him in the eye and said, "Let me tell you, with fronds like these, you don't need enemas."