PM MODI LEAVES FOR BRICS SUMMIT TODAY

As prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for the BRICS (a grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit in Johannesburg today, he’s likely to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for a one-on-one meet.

It would be their first scheduled bilateral meeting since the border standoff began in May 2020. Saying that the schedule is “still evolving”, officials did not rule out a meeting between the two leaders.

The BRICS summit is being held in-person this time, after three years of virtual meetings. Expansion of BRICS is a major item on the agenda. Around 23 countries are learnt to have submitted their applications for membership of the grouping.

Briefing reporters ahead of the visit, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said, “We have a positive intent and an open mind when it comes to BRICS expansion.”

While Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the summit, his Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will be present.

Modi will attend the summit from August 22-24.

After his visit to South Africa, Modi will pay an official visit to Greece on August 25, at the invitation of its Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. “This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Greece in 40 years,” the Foreign Secretary said.

The MEA said that India and Greece enjoy civilisational ties, which have strengthened in recent years through cooperation in areas like maritime transport, defence, trade and investments, and people-to-people ties.

INDIA, CHINA HOLD THIRD MILITARY TALKS ON LAC, IN 4 DAYS

Military officers of India and China today met for the third time within four days to resolve the border standoff, especially at the sensitive Depsang plains.

Major General-level officials met at two locations —Chushul and Daulat Beg Oldie — in eastern Ladakh on Monday. This was the third meeting since Friday.

The push to resolve the deadlock also comes just ahead of the expected bilateral between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit from August 22 to 24 in South Africa.

Major General-level officers have been tasked with finding a workable solution that could be implemented along the undemarcated LAC.

As per the border agreement, patrolling parties of one country have to return on encountering the patrol party of the other country.

One of the options being discussed now is that Indian troops would coordinate with the Chinese when patrols go east of the “bottleneck”. This would mean the creation of a new buffer zone and not carrying out patrols independently.

The claims of both sides overlap, especially in the Depsang plains. Some of these locations hold strategic value as they overlook the Aksai Chin plateau which is under illegal control of China.

The next two steps — de-escalation and de-induction — will entail pulling back troops and equipment to the pre-April 2020 levels. Till that is agreed upon and complied with, it cannot be assumed to be business as usual.

SPEAKER CALLS FOR EASY ACCESS TO INFO ON LAWMAKERS’ CONDUCT

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday called for “one nation, one legislative platform”, under which every voter can participate in the lawmaking process and access information on the conduct of their representative in the legislative bodies on one legislative platform.

This, he said, could make lawmakers conduct themselves with dignity inside the House.

Addressing the ninth meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), India region, being held in a Udaipur, Birla said, “Voters should take into account the behaviour of their representatives in the House while exercising their democratic rights.”

Birla expressed concern that RTI activists are getting more information than the common people and suggested that one digital platform, which could make the process of lawmaking and functioning of legislative bodies accessible to them, could resolve it. “If RTI activists get to know more than what citizens get from the legislature platforms, then it is a matter of concern,” he said. “Every person can access all issues, questions, Budget and its proposals, as well as Bills, on one platform once the ‘one nation, one legislative platform’ comes into effect.”

He said: “We have to make these institutions more accountable. When can we reduce disruptions? Only when the electorate starts questioning their representatives for their conduct in the House.”

WILL IMPOSE RECIPROCAL TAXES ON INDIA IF ELECTED PREZ: TRUMP

Former US President Donald Trump once again raked up his pet peeve against India of high taxes on certain American products, such as Harley-Davidson motorcycles. He said if elected President again in 2024, he would slap reciprocal taxes.

“If India is charging us too, what I want to have is a — call it retribution. You call it whatever you want. If they are charging us, we charge them,” he said in a TV interview.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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ZELENSKY CONFIDENT AFTER F-16S; RUSSIA WARNS OF ESCALATION

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told a crowd in Denmark on Monday that promised deliveries of US-made F-16 fighter jets had made him confident Ukraine could end Russia’s invasion. Denmark and the Netherlands on Sunday announced they would supply the first F-16s to Ukraine, with the initial six due to be delivered around New Year. Washington had approved the delivery of the jets ahead of Zelensky’s trip to Copenhagen.

“Today we are confident that Russia will lose this war,” Zelensky told thousands of people who gathered outside the Danish parliament to hear his speech. “All of Russia’s neighbours are under threat if Ukraine does not prevail,” he said.

Russia warned earlier that supplying the jets to Ukraine would only escalate the war. “The fact that Denmark has now decided to donate 19 F-16 aircraft to Ukraine leads to an escalation of the conflict,” Russian ambassador Vladimir Barbin said.

“We donate weapons under the condition that they are used to drive the enemy out of the territory of Ukraine. And no further than that,” Danish defence minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen said. Denmark will deliver 19 jets in total. The Netherlands has 42 F-16s available in all but has yet to decide whether all of them will be donated.

SAUDI BORDER GUARDS ACCUSED OF KILLING HUNDREDS OF MIGRANTS

Border guards in Saudi Arabia have fired machine guns and launched mortars at Ethiopians trying to cross into the kingdom from Yemen, likely killing hundreds of the unarmed migrants in recent years, Human Rights Watch said in a report released Monday. The group cited eyewitness reports of attacks by troops and images that showed dead bodies and burial sites on migrant routes, saying the death toll could even be “possibly thousands”. The UN has already questioned Saudi Arabia about its troops opening fire on the migrants.

The shooting of migrants is “widespread and systematic,” the report said, adding that if killing them were Saudi government policy, it would constitute a crime against humanity.

THE REST

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MOON LANDING: ISRO KEEPS AUG 27 IN CONTINGENCY PLANS

If any factor regarding the lander module appears unfavourable, then the landing will be shifted to August 27, said the Space Applications Centre-ISRO about Chandrayaan-3 on Monday.

Nilesh M Desai, director of Space Applications Centre-ISRO, Ahmedabad, said that the decision regarding the landing will be taken based on the health of the lander module and the conditions on the Moon.

ISRO said Chandrayaan-3 is set to land on the moon on August 23, 2023, around 18:04 hours IST. Live telecast can be had on the ISRO website, its YouTube channel, Facebook, and public broadcaster DD National TV from 17:27 IST on August 23, 2023.

Meanwhile, the two-way communication between Chandrayaan-2’s orbiter and Chandrayaan-3’s lander module has been established.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, yesterday, the ISRO said the orbiter sent a welcome message to Chandrayaan 3’s lander module comprising the lander “Vikram” and the rover “Pragyan”.

Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft comprising orbiter, lander and rover was launched in 2019. While lander with a rover in its belly crashed into the moon’s surface, Pradan, the orbiter, was not affected by the mishap and is currently on 100 km x 100 km orbit around the moon.

ASSAM GOVT SEEKS PUBLIC OPINION ON LAW AGAINST POLYGAMY

The Assam government has sought public opinion on a proposed law to end polygamy in the state, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday.

Sharing a government public notice on 'X', Sarma appealed to the people to send their suggestions on the proposed law to ban polygamy in Assam.

The notice requested the people to send their opinion by August 30 through email or by post.

It mentioned that the Assam government had formed an expert committee to study the legislative competence of the Assembly to enact a law banning polygamy, and the report stated that the state legislature is competent to enact a law to ban the marital practice.

Quoting the report, the notice mentioned that freedom of conscience and the right to practice religion under Article 25 and 26 of the Constitution are "not absolute and are subject to public order, morality, health and legislative provisions for social welfare and reform". The courts have clarified that religious practices must be essential and integral to the religion to receive protection, it added.

"With respect to Islam, the courts have held that having more than one wife is not an essential part of the religion. Legislation limiting the number of wives does not interfere with the right to practice religion and is within the scope of 'social welfare and reform'. Hence, laws favouring monogamy do not violate Article 25," said the notice, which referred to the expert committee's report.

"Considering these principles, the State of Assam would have the legislative competence to enact a state legislature to end polygamy," it added.

DELHI WCD OFFICER ARRESTED FOR A MINOR’S RAPE

Delhi police yesterday arrested a senior officer in the Delhi government’s Department of Women and Child Development (WCD), and his wife for the alleged rape of a teenaged girl — a friend’s minor daughter who was in their care — two years ago.

“We have arrested two persons, Premoday Khakha (51) and his wife Seema Rani (50), under the POCSO Act. He is a Deputy Director in the WCD department,” S S Kalsi, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North), said.

The arrest was made after the girl’s statement was recorded before a magistrate on Monday.

Police booked Khakha and his wife after the girl alleged that she was raped by him multiple times between 2020 and 2021, that she became pregnant, and that his wife made her terminate the pregnancy by giving her abortion pills.

SUPREME COURT ALLOWS GUJ RAPE SURVIVOR TO TERMINATE 28-WEEK PREGNANCY

The Supreme Court on Monday allowed a rape survivor from Gujarat to terminate her almost 28-week foetus, noting that she was clinically fit for the procedure, which would not adversely affect her child-bearing capacity. Taking note of the survivor’s medical report, a Bench led by Justice BV Nagarathna said the Gujarat High Court was not right in rejecting her prayer for MTP.

The top court directed her to be present in a local hospital tomorrow for the termination of her pregnancy. If the foetus is found to be alive, the hospital shall extend all necessary medical assistance, including incubation, to ensure the foetus survives and if it survives, the state shall take steps to ensure the child was adopted as per the law, the Bench said.

Under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, the upper limit for termination of pregnancy is 24 weeks. Since she had crossed the statutory 24-week period, she had to move courts for permission to terminate her pregnancy

Earlier, the Supreme Court had lashed out at Gujarat High Court for not treating this matter urgently enough.

ALLOW PRESCRIBING BOTH GENERIC, BRAND NAMES: PHARMA LOBBY, DOCTORS TO GOVT

The pharmaceutical industry and doctors on Monday met central government representatives in Delhi and advocated for allowing writing both generic (molecule) and brand names for drugs along in prescriptions.

In a two-hour long meeting, members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), apex body of Indian medical professionals with around 400,000 doctors, and the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) discussed new regulations issued by the National Medical Council (NMC) mandating the doctors to prescribe only generic medicines.

The government is said to have taken note of the suggestions. “The doctors and industry have suggested that brand names should be mentioned in the prescription along with writing the molecule name. Otherwise, the power shifts to chemists, instead of a medical practitioner,” the official said, adding that industry conferences should be allowed to continue as they serve as platforms for idea exchange and ensure the continuity of medical education.

Whether the NMC revises its guidelines after industry feedback is to be seen.

The IMA had earlier raised concerns about the new guidelines by the NMC, which is a government body regulating medical education and medical professionals.

PRAKASH RAJ GETS TROLLED FOR A ‘JOKE’ OVER CHANDRAYAAN PICS

Actor Prakash Raj yesterdag shared a cartoon showing a man pouring tea. He captioned the cartoon in Kannada, writing, "Latest news: First view just arrived from the Chandrayaan #VikramLander #justasking".

The post on X, formerly known as Twitter, was seen as a sarcastic and derogatory swipe at the Chandrayaan-3 mission by several social media users. The post was termed insensitive and derogatory by users who urged him to show respect for the scientists responsible for India's historic Moon mission.

The actor responded: "Hate sees only Hate... i was referring to a joke of #Armstrong times.. celebrating our Kerala Chaiwala.. which Chaiwala did the TROLLS see?? .. if you don't get a joke then the joke is on you.. Grow up #justasking."

RAHUL, SHREYAS AND TILAK MAKE IT TO INDIA'S ASIA CUP SQUAD

KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have been selected in India's ODI squad for the Asia Cup after recovering in time from a thigh and a back injury respectively.

The 17-man Asia Cup squad announced by chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar in Delhi on Monday included rookie left-hander Tilak Varma, who hasn't played ODI cricket yet.

Fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna, who made their international comebacks during the ongoing T20I series in Ireland after recovering from back surgeries, were also selected. Mohammed Shami made a comeback after being rested for the entire tour of West Indies, while Mohammed Siraj and allrounders Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur complete the pace attack.

Experienced legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal was dropped from the squad, with Kuldeep Yadav preferred as the only wristspinner along with two fingers-pinning allrounders in Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. There was no offspinner in the squad.

"We thought about an offspinner as well, [R] Ashwin and Washy [Washington Sundar], but right now you see Chahal had to miss out because we could only pick 17 players," India captain Rohit Sharma said at the press conference. "The only way we could have picked him was if one of the seamers was missing. We can't do that because seamers are going to play a big role in the next two months. A few of them are coming back after a long time, so we wanted to have a good look at them, get them in and see what they have to offer. Having said that, no doors are closed on anyone. Anyone can come in anytime. If we feel like we need Chahal for the World Cup, we'll see how we can squeeze him in, same goes for Washy or Ashwin."

India squad for Asia Cup: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya (vice-capt), Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Prasidh Krishna

Asia Cup will be played in Pakistan and Sri Lanka from Aug 30 to Sep 12.

WORLD CUP CHESS: PRAGGNANANDHAA BEATS CARUANA, MEETS CARLSEN IN FINAL

Continuing his dream run, Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa on Monday stunned world No.3 Fabiano Caruana 3.5-2.5 via the tie-break in the semifinals to set up a summit clash with world number one Magnus Carlsen of Norway at the FIDE World Cup chess tournament in Baku.

After the two-game classical series ended 1-1, the 18-year-old Indian prodigy outlasted the highly-rated American GM in a battle of wits in a nerve-wracking tie-breaker. With the two 25'+10" games ending at 1-all, Praggnanandhaa prevailed in the first 10'+10" game against Caruana to get within a draw of setting up a final clash with world No.1 Carlsen.

In the final beginning on Tuesday, Praggnanandhaa will take on five-times title winner Carlsen, who beat Azerbaijan's Nijat Abasov 1.5-0.5 in his semifinal.

Praggnanandhaa becomes the third youngest player after the legendary Bobby Fischer and Carlsen to qualify for the Candidates tournament. "I didn't expect to play Magnus in this tournament at all because the only way I could play him was in the final, and I didn't expect to be in the final. I will just try to give my best and see how it goes!," he said after booking a spot in the summit clash.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Care about people's approval and you will be their prisoner. - Lao Tzu