REORIENTING INDIA AWAY FROM RUSSIA LONG-TERM CHALLENGE

Even as National Security Adviser Ajit Doval held confabulations with his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev to advance bilateral ties, the US yesterday said it recognised that there were countries around the world that had long-standing ties with nations like Russia.

“Reorienting a country’s foreign policy or a country’s security establishment or defence procurement practices away from a country like Russia is not something that we can do overnight. It’s not something that we can do over the course of weeks or even months. We do see this as a long-term challenge,’’ said US State Department spokesperson Ned Price.

On the other hand, Moscow said Doval and its Deputy PM Denis Manturov also met to use the mechanism of the Inter-govtal Commission to the maximum degree to “strengthen bilateral collaboration across the board.’’ This is Doval's first visit to Russia since the Ukraine conflict and it comes ahead of the Vostok (East) 2022 exercises to be held in Russia from August 30 to September 5 in which India, China, Belarus, Tajikistan, Mongolia and other countries will participate.

Asked if India’s participation in the Vostok military exercises represented the failure of the US approach to isolate Russia, the US State Department said the US did not ask countries to choose between the US and any other country.

JAISHANKAR SAYS QUAD WILL BENEFIT INDO-PACIFIC

The entire Indo-Pacific region will benefit from the Quad and any reservations to the activities of the four-nation bloc is possibly a “unilateralist opposition to collective and cooperative endeavours”, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday, in an apparent reference to China’s objection.

The Quad, or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, comprising India, the US, Japan and Australia was set up in 2017 to counter China’s aggressive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region.

Speaking at the prestigious Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, on ‘India’s Vision of the Indo-Pacific’, Jaishankar said the Quad is the most prominent plurilateral platform that addresses contemporary challenges and opportunities in the Indo-Pacific. “It has, in recent years, been meeting at the highest level. We had a summit in Tokyo a few months ago, and that itself is an indication of how substantive its work has become,” he said.

“…We are confident that the entire Indo-Pacific region will benefit from (the Quad’s) activities. And that is validated by the growing recognition of its importance in the international community,” he asserted.

“If there are reservations in any quarter, these stem from a desire to exercise a veto on the choices of others. And possibly a unilateralist opposition to a collective and cooperative endeavours,” Jaishankar underlined without naming any country.

China’s foreign ministry has repeatedly opposed the Quad grouping. It has said that the Indo-Pacific strategy “cooked up” by the US, in the name of “freedom and openness”, is keen on forming “cliques”. China claims that the grouping intends to “change China’s surrounding environment”.

INFLATION TARGET BREACH: RBI COMMITTEE WILL MEET TO DRAFT REPORT FOR GOVT

THE RBI will call a special meeting of its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) after October 12 to discuss a report it will have to submit to the Union govt explaining the reasons for the average retail inflation remaining above the upper tolerance limit of 6 per cent for three consecutive quarters.

The Union govt, in consultation with the RBI, fixes the inflation target for the central bank every five years. It had fixed it at 4 per cent plus/ minus 2 per cent (upper limit 6 per cent, lower limit 2 per cent) for the period August 5, 2016 to March 31, 2021, and retained it for the next five years ending March 31, 2026.

With the political class over years realising that inflation or price rise hurts the poorest the most and also adversely impacts growth in the long run, the Union govt decided to provide a statutory basis for implementing inflation targets by the RBI. A monetary policy framework was signed between then RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan (on behalf of the RBI) and then Finance Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi (on behalf of the President) on February 20, 2015. The RBI Act, 1934, was amended in May 2016, giving effect to this framework agreement.

The framework agreement requires the RBI to submit a report to the Union govt if it is in breach of the inflation targets for three consecutive quarters. In eight years, this will be the first time the RBI would have let retail inflation slip beyond the upper tolerance limit of 6 per cent for three straight quarters.

The average retail inflation in January-March 2022 and April-June 2022, according to data released by the National Statistics Office, was 6.34 per cent and 7.28 per cent, respectively. In July this year, it stood at 6.71 per cent. The data for August and September is scheduled to be released on September 12 and October 12, respectively.

‘ARE YOU NOT ASHAMED OF SUCH POLITICS’: RAHUL ATTACKS PM MODI ON BJP’S ‘SUPPORT’ TO RAPE ACCUSED

The BJP’s support to criminals displays the party’s mindset towards women, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged on Thursday and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi if he was ashamed of “such politics”.

He cited the examples of rape cases in Unnao and Hathras in Uttar Pradesh, Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir and now Gujarat where the govt this week released those convicted of rape and murder in the 2002 Bilkis Bano case.

“Unnao - worked to save BJP MLA. Kathua - rally in favour of rapists. Hathras - the govt in favour of rapists. Gujarat - the release and honour of rapists. The support to criminals displays the petty mindset of the BJP towards women,” Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi. “Are you not ashamed of such politics, Prime Minister ji,” he asked.

Discussing the release of the Bilkis Bano case convicts, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram added that two BJP MLAs were part of the review panel that granted them remission. He asked whether this was a neutral, non-partisan panel of experts in criminology and penology and said the district collector was the chairperson.

“Some of the convicts in the Bilkis Bano case of the 2002 Gujarat riots are "Brahmins" with good 'sanskaar' or values and it is possible they may have been fixed due to their past family activities, said BJP MLA C K Raulji, who was a part of the review panel.

COVID DASHBOARD – INDIA

As of 0800 IST / Aug 18

from mohfw.gov.in ,

New Cases on Wednesday 12,608

Active Cases 1,01,343 (-3,715)

Total Deaths (Deaths Yesterday) 5,27,206 (72)

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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

RUSSIA WARNS WILL SHUT N-PLANT; UKRAINE SAYS IT RISKS DISASTER

Russia said on Thursday it could shut down Europe’s largest nuclear power station after it came under shelling at the front lines in Ukraine, a move Kyiv said would increase the risk of a nuclear catastrophe there. Moscow also rejected international calls for a demilitarised zone around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which it seized early in the war and which is still operated by Ukrainian engineers under Russian occupation.

Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky, who discussed the situation at the plant with visiting UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres in Lviv, called on the UN to ensure that it was demilitarised and protected. “This deliberate terror on the part of the aggressor can have global catastrophic consequences for the whole world,” Zelensky wrote on the Telegram messaging app, accusing Russia of “nuclear blackmail” at the plant.

The power station sits on the Russian-controlled south bank of a huge reservoir; Ukrainian forces hold the north bank. Recent days have seen several incidents of shelling at the plant, which both side blame on each other. Ukraine also accuses Russia of using the plant as a shield for its forces to launch strikes across the reservoir on Ukrainian-held cities, which Moscow denies.

UK INKS DEAL TO DEPORT ILLEGAL PAK MIGRANTS

Britain has clinched anew agreement with Pakistan, dubbed a “landmark” deal, to speedily remove Pakistani nationals with no legal right to remain in the UK. The Returns Agreement was signed by home secretary Priti Patel and Pakistan interior secretary Yousaf Naseem Khokhar and the country’s high commissioner to the UK, Moazzam Ahmad Khan in London on Wednesday. The agreement will target Pakistan criminals, failed asylum seekers, visa overstayers and immigration offenders to facilitate their re-turn to their home nation.

“I’m proud to have signed a new landmark agreement with our Pakistani friends to return foreign criminals and immigration offenders from the UK to Pakistan,” said Patel. “I make no apology for removing dangerous foreign criminals and immigration offenders who have no right to remain in the UK. The British public have quite rightly had enough of people abusing our laws and gaming the system so we can't remove them. This agreement, which I am proud to have signed with our Pakistani friends, shows the New Plan for Immigration in action and the govt delivering,” she said.

According to the UK Home Office data, Pakistan nationals make up the seventh largest number of foreign criminals in prisons in England and Wales — totalling nearly 3% of the foreign national offender population, around 2,500 prisoners.

THE REST

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YACHT WITH 3 AK-47 RIFLES FOUND OFF MAHA COAST; NO TERROR ANGLE SO FAR

An abandoned yacht was Thursday found adrift off Maharashtra, carrying three AK-74 rifles and ammunition, briefly setting off a security scare before officials ruled out a terror angle.

The yacht’s sailing master, also the husband of its Australian owner, says that the weapons were meant as protection against Somali pirates — and that he now wants the vessel back.

A senior Coast Guard official confirmed that the weapons were all legal.

The 16-metre-long yacht, Lady Han, was found by local fisherfolk off Harihareshwar beach in Raigad district, 190 km from Mumbai, on Thursday morning.

The Master of the UK-flagged craft, Robert James, says from UK: “This yacht is owned by my wife. I was sailing with three others to Europe from Dubai. Our next halt was at Salalah (Oman) and later, we were to pass through the Suez Canal....On June 26, there was an engine failure in the Gulf of Oman. We raised a distress call and were rescued by a cargo ship, Kyoto Express."

The yacht was being towed by the rescue vessel but it went adrift due to bad weather.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, told the Assembly: “As of now, there is no terror angle. But investigation is going on.”

EIGHT YOUTUBE CHANNELS BLOCKED OVER ‘HATE NEWS’

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued orders to block eight YouTube-based news channels, a Facebook account and two Facebook posts.

The blocked YouTube channels had a cumulative viewership of over 114 crore and were subscribed by over 85 lakh users, the ministry said on Thursday.

The purpose of the content published by some of these YouTube channels was to spread hatred among religious communities in India. False claims were made in various videos of the blocked YouTube channels. Examples include fake news such as the Govt of India having ordered demolition of religious structures, having banned celebration of religious festivals and declaration of a religious war in India. Such content was found to have the potential to create communal disharmony and disturb public order in the country. The YouTube channels were also used to post fake news on various subjects such as the Indian armed forces and Jammu and Kashmir.

DOLO TABLET MAKERS GAVE FREEBIES WORTH RS 1,000 CR TO DOCS, SC TOLD

The Supreme Court on Thursday described as a "serious issue" the matter raised by an NGO relating to the Central Board of Direct Taxes' allegation against the makers of Dolo tablets that they had distributed freebies worth about Rs 1,000 crore to doctors for prescribing their 650 mg anti-inflammatory, fever reducer drug.

A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna was told by senior advocate Sanjay Parikh and advocate Aparna Bhat, appearing for petitioner 'Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives Association of India', that the market price of any tablet up to 500 mg is regulated under price control mechanism of the govt but the price of the drug above 500 mg can be fixed by the Pharma company concerned.

Parikh alleged that to ensure a higher profit margin, the company manufacturing Dolo tablets distributed freebies to doctors to prescribe the 650 mg drug.

The advocate also said he would like to bring more such facts to the knowledge of the court after a response is filed by the Centre.

The bench listed the matter for further hearing on September 29.

KERALA COURT BLAMES WOMAN FOR ‘EXPOSING’ IN SEXUALLY PROVOCATIVE DRESSES, GRANTS BAIL TO ACCUSED

Blaming a woman complainant for “exposing” in sexually provocative dresses, a Kozhikode sessions court in Kerala has granted anticipatory bail to writer-activist Civic Chandran – accused of sexually harassing her.

District and Sessions Judge S Krishna Kumar said the charge under Section 354 A (sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code would not be attracted if the complainant woman was wearing “sexually provocative” dress. “In order to attract Section 354 A (sexual harassment), there must be physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures. There must be a demand or request for sexual favours. There must be a sexually-coloured remark. The photographs produced with the anticipatory bail application by the accused reveal that the complainant herself is exposing in dresses which are sexually provocative. Section 354 A will not prima facie stand against the accused.”

In another controversial order with regard to applicability of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the judge said offences under the Act would not prima facie stand against Chandran as he was fighting against the caste system.

National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma and CPI(M) Politburo member Brinda Karat have strongly condemned the judge’s observation.

DOT ALLOCATES SPECTRUM, TELCOS TOLD TO GEAR UP FOR 5G LAUNCH

The DoT has allocated spectrum to telecom operators, paving the way for the launch of 5G services. The letters for spectrum assignment were issued within hours of telecom operators making payments yesterday.

The speed at which the DoT has processed the matters related to spectrum auction has drawn praise from Bharti Enterprises chairman Sunil Mittal too. In a statement, he said: “Yesterday, Airtel paid Rs 8,312.4 crore towards spectrum dues and was provided the allocation letter for the designated frequency bands within hours. E-band allocation was given along with spectrum as promised. No fuss, no follow-up, no running around the corridors and no tall claims. This is ease of doing business at work in its full glory. In my over 30 years of first-hand experience with DoT, this is a first.”

The govt as well as telecom operators are rushing to launch 5G services as early as next month.

IRCTC MOVES TO MONETISE PASSENGER DATA; FLOATS TENDER TO HIRE CONSULTANT

In a first of its kind move, the IRCTC, the ticket booking arm of the Indian Railways, is looking to monetise its bank of passenger data while conducting business with private and govt companies.

IRCTC has a large bank of data related to every online railway ticket ever generated as it is the country’s only railway ticketing platform.

The public sector undertaking plans to raise Rs 1,000 crore through this exercise. IRCTC has said that a thorough analysis of rules like the European General Data Protection Regulations and the now-shelved Personal Data Protection Bill, 2018, will be undertaken by the consultant to ensure that the proposed monetisation is in line with legislative and Supreme Court’s directives on data privacy.

Highlighting privacy concerns, Amol Kulkarni, Director (Research) at CUTS International, said that the sharing of personal data of the passengers creates the risk of breaching consumer rights. “The data needs to be aggregated, anonymised and protected. There is the possibility that IRCTC will share personal data with different service providers without anonymising it. There is a greater risk of breach, violation of privacy, and misuse of data if that happens. We do not have a data protection bill in place, and neither do we have adequate protection available in case of misuse of non-personal data. Given this scenario, it would be really unfortunate," Kulkarni said.

CHAHAR SHINES AS INDIA ROUT ZIMBABWE IN 1ST ODI

Pacer Deepak Chahar made an impressive comeback to international cricket with an incisive spell and openers maintained their consistency as India outclassed Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in the opening One-Day International, in Harare yesterday.

Playing for India for the first time in six months after a long injury lay-off, Chahar hit the straps right away with figures of 3/27, which was instrumental in India restricting Zimbabwe to a sub-par 189 in just 40.3 overs.

With very little scoreboard pressure, it was a walk in the park for the Indians as the in-form opening pair of Shikhar Dhawan (81 not out) and Shubman Gill (82 not out) knocked off the target in just 30.5 overs.

With skipper KL Rahul foregoing his spot at the top of the order to let the in-form pair maintain its momentum, Dhawan and Gill scored their third half-centuries in last four games. Not to forget that it was also their third century-plus stand from the start of the West Indies series. Their lowest opening partnership had yielded 48 runs in second ODI in Caribbean.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Besides learning to see, there is another art to be learned - not to see what is not. - Maria Mitchell

OFF TRACK

A woman was driving unusually fast on a highway when she was asked to by a police Gypsy that had to give her a considerable chase. Hoping to get off with a warning, she tried to appear shocked as the inspector walked up to the car. 

"I have never been stopped like this before," she said to the officer. 

"What do they usually do, ma'am," he asked, "shoot the tires out?"