INDIA, IRAN TO ACTIVATE NEW SHORTER CORRIDOR TO RUSSIA

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra spoke to Ali Bagheri Kani, Iran’s Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, on Tuesday, the latest in a series of high-level talks in order to activate a shorter and sanctions-proof route between Russia and India. Almost a dozen countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus will also benefit from the route.

The two sides discussed various elements of bilateral relations, including progress on the Chabahar Port. “They also discussed international and regional issues, including Afghanistan,’’ said an MEA statement. The telephonic conversation comes a fortnight after Iran’s state-run shipping company said it had successfully completed the first transit of Russian goods to India using the International North-South Transportation Corridor (INSTC). India has requested for the Chabahar Port to be brought under the INSTC ambit. Touching on the importance of the INSTC last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently said Moscow would pay more attention to it as it could help make the Caspian basin the hub of energy and logistics.

Interestingly, all 18-odd countries touched by the INSTC route have never been active backers of sanctions announced periodically by the West.

Last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian had visited India and held talks on regional connectivity which entailed reviewing the progress made at the Shahid Beheshti terminal, Chabahar that will provide sea access to landlocked Afghanistan and emerge as a commercial transit hub for the region, including Central Asia.

As if in acknowledgement of the developing ties, a few days later India abstained from voting against Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency board meeting.

Ex-JUDGES, BABUS, ARMY VETERANS SLAM SC FOR REMARKS ON NUPUR SHARMA

Underlining that the observations of the Supreme Court on former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma violate judicial propriety and fairness, a group of “concerned citizens” that includes 15 former high court judges wrote an open letter addressed to the Chief Justice of India.

“The observations, simultaneously relayed by all channels in high decibel, are not in sync with judicial ethos and by no stretch these observations, which are not part of the judicial order, can be sanctified on the plank of judicial propriety and fairness,” the letter stated.

The signatories include former chief justice of the Bombay High Court Kshitij Vyas, former Gujarat High Court judge S M Soni, former Rajasthan High Court judges R S Rathore and Prashant Agarwal and former Delhi High Court judge S N Dhingra. Apart from former high court judges, 77 bureaucrats and 25 army veterans are signatories to the open letter.

“The observations, judgmental in nature, on issues not before the court, are crucification of the essence and spirit of the Indian Constitution. Forcing a petitioner by such damning observations, pronouncing her guilty without trial, and denial of access to justice on the issue raised in the petition can never be a facet of a democratic society,” the letter said.

The Supreme Court last week declined Sharma’s plea to club the hate speech cases filed against her across the country. A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and J B Pardiwala, while refusing to grant interim relief, underlined that her contentious comments were “irresponsible.” “The way she has ignited emotions across the country…this lady is single-handedly responsible for what is happening in the country,” Justice Kant had said.

“The judgemental remarks were unprecedented and in a sense dilute the barbaric and dastardly beheading in Udaipur. In the annals of judiciary, the unfortunate comments have no parallel and are an indelible scar on justice system of the largest democracy.,” the open letter said.

JAISHANKAR SPEAKS ON UKRAINE, AND NUPUR SHARMA CASE FALLOUT

India is on the “right course” regarding the situation in Ukraine, and the most important issue now is to prevent further escalation of hostilities, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday.

He said India’s position on Ukraine is based on Krishna’s actions in the Mahabharat, which was to avoid war and “return to dialogue and diplomacy”. He said New Delhi had “historical interests, strategic interests and current interests” and it needed to “manage those interests”.

Responding to a question on the Ukraine war, by a teacher in the audience, he said, “It is a very complex issue. The real issue, to my mind the most urgent issue, is to prevent hostilities from escalating to a level where it only does harm.”

On the controversy surrounding Nupur Sharma’s remarks, although he did not name her, Jaishankar said the Prime Minister has given a lot of attention on changing “our image, our engagement, or actually our relationship with countries in the Gulf”.

He said: “In fact, only recently he was in the UAE…. Now, because he is visible, because he has been active on the international stage, a lot of world leaders know him. They know him, they know us, they know this government. They know what our views are. So, I think when we asserted that…what was said did not reflect the views of the party in that case, and because many of them took it up with (India’s) ambassadors, obviously the ambassador has also pointed that out…. I think they accepted that.

“When it comes to terrorism, especially of cross-border nature, he has been crystal clear that he would not allow it to be normalised. This determination has shaped our Pakistan policy since 2014,” said Jaishankar, while reading excerpts from a chapter written by him in the book “Modi@20: Dreams Meet Delivery”.

COVID DASHBOARD – INDIA

As of 0800 IST / July 6

from mohfw.gov.in ,

New Cases on Tuesday 16,159

Active Cases 1,15,212 (+737)

Total Deaths (Deaths Yesterday) 5,25,270 (22)

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

======================

RISHI SUNAK, SAJID JAVID RESIGN FROM BORIS JOHNSON’S CABINET

In the latest and potentially fatal blow to the government of Boris Johnson in the UK, two of his most senior ministers, Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid, resigned within minutes of each other on Tuesday, expressing a lack of confidence in his leadership.

Johnson is facing heat for his shifting claims on Chris Pincher, a lawmaker accused of sexual misconduct. Pincher had to step down as a government whip after allegations that he groped two men at a London club in a drunken state, some three year ago.

In his resignation letter, finance minister Rishi Sunak said, “For me to step down as Chancellor while the world is suffering the economic consequences of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and other serious challenges is a decision that I have not taken lightly. However, the public rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously. I recognise this may be my last ministerial job, but I believe these standards are worth fighting for and that is why I am resigning.”

Health minister Sajid Javid said, “It is with enormous regret that I must tell you that I can no longer, in good conscience, continue serving in this government. I am instinctively a team player but the British people also rightly expect integrity from their government.”

Johnson has been accused of not acting against Pincher even though he knew of the allegations against him in 2019. While on July 1, the government claimed the PM was not aware of the charges, on Monday, a spokesperson said Johnson knew of allegations that were “either resolved or did not progress to a formal complaint.”

Sunak and Javid’s resignations, however, did nothing to dampen speculation that both men still have an eye on the top job.

THE REST

=========

SPICEJET AIRCRAFT MAKES AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN KARACHI

An alternate aircraft of Indian budget carrier SpiceJet flew to Dubai from Karachi's Jinnah International Airport on Tuesday night, ending a wait of nearly 11 hours for 138 passengers who got stranded there after taking off from New Delhi in the morning.

The Boeing 737 Max aircraft made an emergency landing at Karachi airport, on humanitarian grounds.

An official said engineers of the Pakistan International Airlines worked with the SpiceJet crew to locate and rectify the technical fault in the aircraft. "Apparently there was and is a problem with the aircraft's light indicator and it couldn't be repaired immediately and it didn't get clearance from the engineers so another aircraft was sent from Mumbai," he said.

In another incident yesterday, cracks developed on the windshield of another SpiceJet plane, forcing a priority landing in Mumbai in a double whammy for the airline.

The two episodes on a single day have taken the total number of technical malfunction incidents involving SpiceJet aircraft to seven in the last 17 days.

ROW OVER KERALA MINISTER'S CONSTITUTION "CONDONES EXPLOITATION" REMARK

Kerala Minister Saji Cheriyan has harshly criticised the Constitution, saying it "condones exploitation" and is written in a way helping to "plunder" the people of the country, drawing sharp reaction from the opposition which sought for his immediate removal from the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF cabinet.

"We all say that we have a beautifully written Constitution in India...the most significant aspect of the country. But, I will say, a beautiful Constitution, which can serve to loot the most number of people, was written in the country," he said.

The minister also alleged that the Constitution of the country was "compiled by the British'' and it was written as such by an Indian which has been implemented in the country for the last 75 years. Values like "secularism" and "democracy", the "kuntham and kodachakram" (spear and wheel) were just inscribed on its (Constitution) sides, he added.

Cheriyan's remarks did not go down well with the Opposition Congress and the BJP. Strongly criticising his remarks, KPCC president K Sudhakaran and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly V D Satheesan urged Chief Minister Vijayan to remove Cheriyan from the cabinet or face stringent legal action.

KALI IS MEAT-EATING, ALCOHOL-ACCEPTING GODDESS: MAHUA MOITRA

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Tuesday stirred a controversy by saying that she has every right as an individual to imagine Goddess Kali as a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting goddess, as every person has the right to worship god and goddess in his or her own way.

While the BJP went hammer and tongs against Moitra and wondered if it was the official stand of West Bengal’s ruling party to insult Hindu gods and goddesses, the TMC distanced itself from the comment and condemned it.

While taking part in India Today Conclave East held in Kolkata, the Krishnanagar MP said it is up to individuals how they view their gods.

“For me, Goddess Kali is a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting goddess. And if you go to Tarapith (a major Shakti peeth in West Bengal’s Birbhum district), you will see sadhus smoking. That is the version of Kali people worship (there). I, within Hinduism, being a Kali worshipper, have the right to imagine Kali in that way; that is my freedom,” she said.

After her comments went viral, Moitra issued a clarification attacking the Sangh Parivar.

“To all you sanghis - lying will NOT make you better hindus. I NEVER backed any film or poster or mentioned the word smoking. Suggest you visit my Maa Kali in Tarapith to see what food & drink is offered as bhog. Joy Ma Tara,” she tweeted.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police and the Uttar Pradesh police have filed separate FIRs against filmmaker Leena Manimekalai over the controversial poster of her documentary Kaali.

TWITTER MOVES HC AGAINST CENTRE'S BLOCKING ORDER

Twitter has filed a petition at the Karnataka High Court for a judicial review of the government telling the microblogging firm to take down content from its platform.

This comes even as the company has complied with the information technology ministry’s July notice on removing some content. A Reuters report said Twitter argued in its request for a judicial review that some removal orders fell short of the procedural requirements of India’s IT Act, without specifying which ones Twitter wanted to be reviewed.

FUNDING DRIES UP FOR STARTUPS, OVER 12K EMPLOYEES LAID OFF

For most of 2021, investors were cutting big cheques to Indian startups, thereby propelling over 40 startups to become unicorns, firms valued at over $1 billion.

However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year, the US Federal Reserve hiking interest rates, and rising inflation has meant that capital has become hard to come by. As a funding winter sets in on India’s startup ecosystem, its biggest chilling effect has been on their employees across sectors, including some of the country’s most storied companies like Byju’s, Unacademy, Ola, Blinkit and Meesho. So far, in 2022, more than 12,000 people, including employees and contractual workers, have been laid off by startups as they look to conserve cash and cut runaway costs.

MARKETS FIND THEIR FEET AS FPIs STEP OFF PEDAL AFTER BRUTAL SELLOFF

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have taken their feet off the pedal, helping markets find their sea legs after a brutal sell-off that saw key indices drop to 13-month lows last month.

In the past fortnight, the average daily selling by overseas funds has moderated to less than Rs 1,400 crore, compared with nearly Rs 3,500 crore in the preceding fortnight. This has helped markets stage a comeback.

Since June 17 — when the Nifty had ended at its lowest levels since May 2021 — the market has surged nearly 5 per cent after dropping close to 8 per cent in the previous fortnight.

On Tuesday, FPIs were net-buyers to the tune of nearly Rs 1,300 crore.

BIRMINGHAM TEST: ENGLAND PULL OFF RECORD CHASE, LEVEL SERIES

England rode unbeaten hundreds by Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow to pull off their highest successful chase, coasting to a series-levelling seven-wicket victory in the rescheduled fifth test against India at Edgbaston on Tuesday.

Chasing 378 for victory, England went into the final day needing 119 runs with seven wickets in hand.

Root went on to smash a masterly 142 not out, his 28th test century, forging a mammoth 269-run partnership for the unbroken fourth wicket with Bairstow. Bairstow's unbeaten 114 was his second hundred of the match as England triumphed with two sessions to spare.

England's previous highest successful run chase came in 2019 when they reached a 359-run target in an Ashes test against Australia on the back of Ben Stokes's brilliant unbeaten century.

It was a tremendous turnaround by England who had been on the back foot after conceding a significant first-innings lead of 132.

Former India opener Virender Sehwag believes all is not well with the Rahul Dravid-coached Indian team and a few things needed to be addressed as soon as possible. "India have quite a few issues to address. Only Pujara and Pant in the top-six are scoring runs. Jadeja batting brilliantly but we need top-order batters to be in form. Bowling in the fourth innings was absolutely listless," Sehwag said on Twitter.

Scores: India 416 & 245; England 284 & 378/3; MoM Jonny Bairstow

INDIA LOSE 2 WTC POINTS FOR SLOW OVER-RATE IN 5TH TEST

India have been fined 40 per cent of their match fee and penalised two ICC World Test Championship points for maintaining a slow over-rate during the match.

India are fourth in the WTC table behind Australia (84 points and 77.78 percentage points), South Africa (60 points, 71.43 percentage points) and Pakistan (44 points and 52.38 percentage points).

After being docked two points, India -- who have played 12 games with six wins, four losses and two draws -- have 75 points (docked five WTC points) but in terms of percentage points, they are  fourth with 52.08.

WIMBLEDON: BATTLING NORRIE SETS UP DJOKOVIC SEMIS

British 9th-seed Cameron Norrie reached his first Grand Slam semi-final when he twice came from behind to beat unseeded Belgian David Goffin 3-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 on Tuesday to set up a dream Wimbledon meeting with Novak Djokovic.

Just when Djokovic's troubling year looked like hitting another low he salvaged his bid for a fourth successive Wimbledon title by coming back from two sets down to beat Italian Jannik Sinner.

The Serbian top seed had looked in all kinds of trouble against the inspired 20-year-old after being outplayed for two sets but stormed back to win 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. In the end there was an air of inevitability about the outcome.

Djokovic has not been able to add to his 20 major titles this year after being deported before the Australian Open following a COVID-19 standoff and then losing to Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals of the French Open.

But he kept alive the prospect of facing second seed Nadal in Sunday's final with a superb comeback, the seventh time in his career he has triumphed after losing the first two sets.

In Women's Singles, Tunisian third seed Ons Jabeur, the highest surviving seed in the women's draw, recovered from losing her first set to beat Czech Marie Bouzkova 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 to reach her maiden Grand Slam semi-final.

In the second QFinal, 34-year-old Tatjana Maria beat Jule Niemeier, 22, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 in an entertaining battle of German outsiders.

INDICATORS

Sensex 53,134 (-100), Nifty 15,811 (-25), Trading Value NSE (Rs.crores) 41,185

Nasdaq 11,322 (+194) Dow 30,968 (-129), S&P 3,831 (+6)

US$-Rs. 79.00 GBP-Rs. 94.91, Euro-Rs. 81.57, UAE Dhm-Rs.21.50, Can$-Rs. 60.96, Aus$- Rs. 53.83

GBP 0.83 /US$, Euro 0.96 /US$, Jap.Yen 135.91 /US$, Aus$ 1.46 /US$, Sing 1.40 /US$, Bang Taka 91.78 /US$, Can$ 1.29 /US$, Mal Ring 4.41 /US$,

Pak Re 204.13 /US$, Phil Peso 55.28 /US$, Russian Rouble 59.99 /US$, NZ$ 1.61 /US$, Thai Baht 35.80 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 29.29 /US$

Bitcoin - USD 19,834

Dollar Index 106.25 Brent Crude 104.03 BDI 2,098

Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 1,771 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 5,247 / 4,810, Silver (Rs. Per KG) 64,700

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A competent and self-confident person is incapable of jealousy in anything. Jealousy is invariably a symptom of neurotic insecurity. - Robert A. Heinlein

OFF TRACK

An Italian boy and a Jewish boy are neighbours. The Jewish boy is the son of a Jeweler, and the Italian boy is the son of a hit man. Oddly enough, they have the same birthday. For their 12th birthday, the little Jewish boy receives a Rolex watch and the little Italian boy receives a 22 Beretta. The next day, they are out on the street corner comparing their presents and neither is happy, so they switch gifts with each other. The little Italian boy goes home to show his Father the watch and his Father is NOT pleased.

"What are you, nuts? Let me tell you something, you idiot! Some day you're gonna meet a nice girl, you're gonna wanna settle down and get married. You'll have a few kids, all that stuff. THEN one day, you're gonna come home and find your wife in bed with another man. What the hell ya gonna do? Look at your watch and say - 'Hey, how long you gonna be?'"