INDIA-SAUDI TIES PROMISE SHARED GROWTH, SECURITY, STABILITY, SAYS JAISHANKAR

Emphasising the importance of strategic economic ties between India and Saudi Arabia, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday that the collaboration holds the “promise of shared growth, prosperity, stability, security and development”.

Jaishankar, who reached Riyadh on Saturday, is on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia – his first as External Affairs Minister.

He addressed diplomats at the Prince Saud Al Faisal Institute of Diplomatic Studies in Riyadh on Sunday, where he “underlined the importance of India-Saudi strategic relationship at a time when the world is at crossroads”.

At an interaction with the Indian community on Saturday, Jaishankar hailed the ties between the two countries, and said Saudi Arabia was “very helpful” during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We saw our international friendships also deliver at that point of time… Saudi Arabia was very helpful and provided supplies of oxygen. Two years of Covid are when the country was tested but we came through,” he said.

Talking about the current geopolitical situation, he said the world is facing many challenges, like rising food, oil and shipping prices due to the Ukraine crisis. “But we are still very confident that India will be the fastest growing major economy in the world this year. We will get at least 7 per cent growth,” he said.

He said India’s economic recovery after Covid was worth studying. Stating that many countries spent a lot of money during the Covid period, he said, “I would say, like a knee-jerk…they were in a hurry to respond to the crisis situation. So they did not… necessarily use their funds and resources wisely.”

INDIA PROTESTS F-16 PACKAGE FOR PAK

India had protested against the reversal of Washington’s US policy on arms sale to Pakistan during its interactions with a high-powered US delegation led by the State Department’s pointsman on South Asia Donald Lu.

The arrival of the US delegation to India for security-related discussions had intersected with an announcement by the Pentagon that the Biden administration had approved a $450 million sustainment package for Pakistan’s fleet of F-16 fighters.

Lu was here for an intersessional US-India 2+2, the Maritime Security Dialogue and the Quad senior officials’ meeting.

CONGRESS’S BHARAT JODO YATRA’S 19-DAY KERALA LEG BEGINS

Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra commenced its 19-day long Kerala leg Sunday morning from Parassala area of the capital city.

Rahul Gandhi started the yatra after being formally welcomed by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president and MP K Sudhakaran. A huge crowd of supporters and onlookers gathered to welcome the Gandhi scion.

“Our Bharat Jodo Yatra in Kerala. The diversity of India is so apparent. Yesterday we entered Malayalam speaking Kerala from Tamil speaking Tamil Nadu. From “Vannakam” to “Namaskaram”, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, the national coordinator of the yatra, tweeted.

“Gain freedom through education, gain strength through organization, gain prosperity through industry. Today, as we enter the beautiful state of Kerala, on the auspicious occasion of Sree Narayana Guru Jayanti, his words inspire every step we take on the #BharatJodoYatra,” Gandhi had tweeted as the yatra entered Kerala Saturday evening.

SUPREME COURT TO TAKE UP CAA CHALLENGE: WHERE DOES THE CASE STAND?

A three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) U U Lalit will hear the challenge to the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act today.

The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 seeks to grant citizenship to a class of migrants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan.

The Act was passed on December 12, 2019 and was notified on January 10, 2020.

While the govt claimed the amendment was sympathetic and inclusionary, critics said it was unconstitutional and anti-Muslim. The law provoked widespread protests in the country.

The lead petitioner is the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML); other petitioners include politicians such as Asaduddin Owaisi, Jairam Ramesh, Ramesh Chennithala, and Mahua Moitra, and political parties and groups such as the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, the DMK, and the Asom Gana Parishad.

The challenge rests primarily on the grounds that the law violates Article 14 of the Constitution that guarantees that no person shall be denied the right to equality before law or the equal protection of law in the territory of India.

COVID DASHBOARD – INDIA

As of 0800 IST / Sep 11

from mohfw.gov.in ,

New Cases on Saturday 5,072

Active Cases 45,365 (-905)

Total Deaths (Deaths Yesterday) 5,28,150 (7)

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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BLOW TO RUSSIA AS UKRAINE REGAINS A STRATEGIC CITY

The war between Russia and Ukraine appears to be entering a new phase after Kyiv dealt a big blow to Moscow's grip on parts of the east with a fast-moving offensive that saw Ukrainian troops enter the strategic city of Izium after six months of occupation.

Russian forces were forced to evacuate the strategic eastern city just five days after Ukrainian forces began a new offensive eastward through the Kharkiv region.

"Russians escaped and left weapons and ammo behind. The city centre is free," a spokesperson for the Bohun Brigade of the Land Forces of Ukraine said in a statement.

Ukrainian forces have liberated the settlement of Chkalovske in the Kharkiv region of Russian troops, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Telegram on Sunday. "Another freed settlement! Thanks to the 14th separate mechanized brigade named after Prince Roman the Great, the Ukrainian flag returned to Chkalovske, Kharkiv region," Zelenskyy said.

In his daily video message late on Friday, Zelenskyy said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had liberated and taken control of more than 30 settlements in the Kharkiv region.

The last five days have seen the most ambitious ground assaults by the Ukrainians since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in late February.

'Weapons, weapons, weapons have been on our agenda since spring. I am grateful to partners who have answered our call: Ukraine's battlefield successes are our shared ones. Three agenda items now are schedule, schedule, and schedule. Prompt supplies bring victory and peace closer,' tweeted Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

N-POWER PLANT HALTS OPERATIONS

Europe’s largest nuclear plant has been reconnected to Ukraine’s electricity grid, allowing engineers to shut down its last operational reactor in an attempt to avoid a radiation disaster as fighting rages in the area. The six-reactor Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant lost its outside source of power a week ago after all its power lines were disconnected because of shelling. It was operating in “island mode” for several days, generating electricity for crucial cooling systems from its only remaining operational reactor. That’s considered an unstable way of operating a nuclear plant.

Nuclear operator Energoatom said one of the power lines was restored “to its operational capacity” late Saturday, making it possible to run the plant’s safety and other systems on electricity from the power system of Ukraine. “Therefore, a decision was made to shut down power unit No. 6 and transfer it to the safest state – cold shutdown,” the company said on Sunday. Energoatom said the risk remains high that outside power is cut again, in which case the plant would have to fire up emergency diesel generators to keep the reactors cool and prevent a nuclear meltdown. The company’s chief said on Thursday that the plant only has diesel fuel for 10 days.

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KASHMIR'S SPECIAL STATUS IS NOT COMING BACK, SAYS GN AZAD AT RALLY

Addressing his first public rally in the Valley after leaving the Congress last month, Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday said he would not “mislead” people on the issue of Article 370.

For the most part of his 40-minute speech in Baramulla, Azad sought to address the allegations against him – from his alleged proximity with the BJP leadership to his silence on Article 370.

Saying there were “efforts to call me a BJP man”, Azad said he would launch his party “in 10 days” and it would be “azad” (free) and would not “join or merge with any other party”.

“They (his critics) say that you don’t talk much on Article 370. Ghulam Nabi Azad doesn’t mislead people for votes. I would tell them not to raise a slogan that is not in my hands or their hands. To restore Article 370, you should have two-thirds majority in Parliament. That is around 350 seats out of 550 in Parliament… I don’t see the Congress getting 350-360 seats in my lifetime… Now tell me who is lying, me or them,” he said.

CBI TO PROBE DELHI GOVT BUS DEAL, L-G GIVES NOD

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has approved a proposal to forward a complaint to the CBI to probe the alleged corruption in the procurement of 1,000 low-floor buses by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), leading to another war of words between the ruling AAP and BJP.

Accusing CM Arvind Kejriwal of indulging in corruption, the BJP claimed he had “no right to remain in the post”. Party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged each department of the AAP govt “is involved in corrupt activities” with “contracts and tenders are being tailor-made to benefit Kejriwal’s aides”.

Hitting back, AAP said the tenders were cancelled and buses were never purchased. Party MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed the CBI had conducted a preliminary inquiry a year ago and couldn’t find anything.

“The L-G is facing many serious allegations of corruption. To divert attention, he is marking such inquiries, most of which failed to yield anything. After making frivolous complaints against three ministers, he is now targeting another minister,” he alleged.

OIL PRICES AT 7-MONTH LOW, BUT NO CHANGE IN PETROL, DIESEL PRICES IN INDIA

International oil prices have hit a seven-month low but there is no change in retail selling price of petrol and diesel in India as state-owned fuel retailers recoup losses incurred for holding rates for a record five months despite rising cost.

Responding to reporters' questions on no change in fuel prices, oil minister Hardeep Singh Puri had on Friday sought to link the no revision to losses state-owned fuel retailers incurred in keeping rates unchanged when international oil prices surged to multi-year high.

The basket of crude oil that India imports averaged USD 88 per barrel on September 8. It had averaged USD 102.97 in April, before rising to USD 109.51 in the following month and USD 116.01 in June. Prices started to fall in July when the Indian basket averaged USD 105.49 a barrel. It averaged USD 97.40 in August and USD 92.87 in September so far.

SFIO ARRESTS ‘MASTERMIND’ WHO SET UP SHELL COMPANIES LINKED TO CHINA

The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) has arrested a man who had masterminded the incorporation of a large number of shell companies linked to China and provided dummy directors on their boards to run the fraudulent businesses. The arrest was part of the crackdown on Chinese shell companies that are allegedly into serious financial crimes in India.

The agency said it had arrested a man named Dortse — who was on the board of Jillian India Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jillian Hong Kong Ltd — and raided multiple places to unearth the scam.

ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE ASSUMING PANDEMIC PROPORTIONS: ICMR

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has found severe disease-causing bacteria to be resistant to top class antibiotics in 87.5 per cent of hospitalised patients tested for antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Resistance to carbapenems in superbug Acinetobacter baumannii, associated with nearly 20 per cent ICU infections, was recorded at 87.5 per cent in 2021, limiting the availability of treatment options for people, states ICMR’s fifth AMR Report.

Carbapenems are a very effective class of antibiotic agents commonly used to treat severe bacterial infections. This class of antibiotics is reserved for known or suspected multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. Resistance to it indicates exhaustion of further lines of treatment.

Kamini Walia, author of the report, said the trend of AMR, which the WHO has reported as one of the top 10 global health threats, is devastating. “AMR is assuming pandemic proportions in India. Sagacious use of antibiotics is urgently advised or we will be back to the pre-antibiotic era,” she said, referring to the resistant superbug Acinetobacter baumannii which attaches to medical devices and causes devastating infections in the lungs, urinary tract, wounds and bloodstream. The report presents data from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021.

PHARMA BODY CLEARS MICRO LABS OF CHARGES OF SPENDING RS 1000 CR ON FREEBIES

The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) on Saturday cleared Micro Labs, the makers of the paracetamol tablet Dolo-650, of the charge that they offered freebies worth Rs 1,000 crore to doctors to prescribe the brand.

The IPA, whose members account for 60 per cent of India’s domestic pharmaceutical market and about 80 per cent of India’s exports, in a report submitted to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) said that, “in view of interaction with the management of the company and the detailed reply, it is clear Rs 1,000 crore expenditure on single brand Dolo-650 on freebies in one year is not correct.”

The national pricing regulator had asked the IPA to investigate the matter under the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP). A three-member internal committee examined the issue.

BRAHMASTRA MAKES IT BIG AT THE BOX OFFICE BUT FAR FROM PROFITABLE YET

Brahmastra, made by Dharma Productions, is Bollywood’s most expensive, costing Rs 410 crore. The country’s largest movie theatre chain, PVR, is elated. It saw average occupancy rates hit 80 per cent at the weekend across 650 screens (compared to around 30 per cent in July-August).

Dharma Production head Karan Johar declared on Twitter that the movie has achieved worldwide gross box office collections of Rs 75 crore on the first day. The net collection will be far lower at an estimated Rs 35 crore.

Trade analyst Komal Nahata said the tide was finally turning. “With average occupancy of 50 per cent for the movie across the country, we expect it to reach at least net box office collections of Rs 250 crore, with a good chance to even make it to Rs 300 crore.” However, many in the industry question whether even this projected box office collection will be enough for the movie to cover its costs and make a profit.

For one, the cost does not include the interest that has to be paid out by virtue of the fact that the film has been in the making for many years. Some estimate the interest could take the cost of the film to over Rs 500 crore.

But irrespective of the interest bill, even if net box office collections hit Rs 300 crore, the producers and distributors (Star Studios and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures) will get only a 45 per cent share, ie around Rs 135 crore, as the rest will go to the exhibitors.

“Even at Rs 410 crore, they have to make another Rs 275 crore to break even from OTT, satellite rights, music, and overseas income. It seems a tough task,” said a top production house executive.

Trade analysts say the OTT rights are believed to have been sold to Disney+Hotstar at Rs 150 crore so even that leaves a substantial gap.

For perspective, though, the first weekend numbers of Bhramastra have to be compared favourably to the flops in July and August of Ranbir Kapoor’s Shamshera, Aamir Khan’s Lal Singh Chadha, and Akshay Kumar’s Raksha Bandhan which collectively garnered less than Rs 180 crore on a budget of Rs 490 crore.

SRI LANKA BEAT PAKISTAN TO WIN ASIA CUP

Sri Lanka, a country picking up the pieces after facing enormous financial and political turbulence, found 11 worthy heroes on a cricket pitch as Dasun Shanaka's unheralded bunch crushed Pakistan by 23 runs to win their sixth Asia Cup title in Dubai on Sunday.

It was one for posterity as Sri Lanka first raised themselves from the dungeons to post 170 for 6 from a hopeless 58 for 5, thanks to Bhanuka Rajapaksa's 45-ball-71, easily one of the best knocks under pressure in T20s in recent times.

If that wasn't enough, Pakistan, who were cruising along at 93 for 2, were finally bowled out Pakistan for 147 as pacer Pramod Madushan (4/34 in 4 overs) and leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga (3/27 in 4 overs) ensured that the few thousands of Sri Lankan fans out-cheered the 20,000 odd Pakistan fans.

The 17th over by Hasaranga served as Pakistan's death knell as three wickets fell in quick succession.

ALCARAZ WINS US OPEN, ASCENDS TO WORLD NUMBER ONE

Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz completed his rapid rise to the top of the tennis world on Sunday, claiming his first Grand Slam title and taking the number one ranking with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-3 win over Norway's Casper Ruud in the US Open final.

Alcaraz, 19, fell to his back and cupped his hands to his face before jumping up to embrace Ruud at the net. He then climbed past photographers and into the stands to celebrate in his box with his team.

“This is something I dreamed of since I was a kid, to be number one in the world, to be the champion at a Grand Slam," Alcaraz said in an on-court interview.

The electrifying Alcaraz, who thrilled fans over the two-week tournament in New York with his acrobatic shot-making, youthful vigour and late-night finishes, replaced Russian Daniil Medvedev at the top of the rankings.

He is the youngest world number one since the ATP rankings began in 1973, breaking the mark set by Lleyton Hewitt, who was 20 when he became number one in 2001.

He battled from a break down in the fifth set to beat Marin Cilic in the fourth round, played the latest finishing match in tournament history to defeat Italy's Jannik Sinner in the quarters, and faced down American Frances Tiafoe in the semis. "I always say that there is no time to be tired in the final round of a Grand Slam or any tournament," said Alcaraz, who spent 23 hours and 40 minutes on court over his seven matches.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Beauty is all very well at first sight; but whoever looks at it when it has been in the house three days? - George Bernard Shaw

OFF TRACK

A preacher went to visit a member of the community and invited him to come to church regularly. This man was a producer of fine peach brandy, and told the preacher that he would attend his church IF the pastor would drink some of his brandy and admit doing so in front of his congregation. The preacher agreed and drank up.

Sunday morning the man visited the church. The preacher recognized the man from the pulpit and said: "I see Mr. Johnson is here with us this morning. I want to thank him publicly for his hospitality this week and especially for the peaches he gave me and the spirit in which they were given."