OIC HOSTAGE TO PAK, NO RIGHT TO TALK KASHMIR: INDIA AT UN

India yesterday took on Pakistan and the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) for their observations on the situation in Jammu & Kashmir. “It has become a habit for Pakistan to misuse the platforms provided by the UN Human Rights Council to propagate its false and malicious propaganda against my country,” said senior Indian diplomat Pawan Bhide.

The OIC has “helplessly” allowed itself to be held hostage by Pakistan, which holds the chairmanship of their Geneva chapter, to “serve its own agenda”, said Bhide in response to statements by Pakistan and the OIC at the ongoing 48th session of the Human Rights Council. Bhide said Pakistan was attempting to divert the council’s attention from serious human rights violations being perpetrated by its government and accused it of failing to protect the rights of its minorities, including Sikhs, Hindus, Christians and Ahmadiyas. Thousands of women and girls from minority communities have been subjected to abductions, forced marriages and conversions in Pakistan and its occupied territories. The impunity with which such abuses have been carried out exposes the hollowness of Pakistan’s commitment to human rights.

“Pakistan is a country that has been globally recognised as a country openly supporting, training, financing and arming terrorists, including UN-proscribed terrorists, as a matter of state policy,” said the Indian diplomat. Bhide also said the OIC had no locus standi to comment on India’s internal affairs. “It’s for the members of the OIC to decide if it is in their interest to allow Pakistan to do so,” he posed.

‘FAKE HINDUS’: RAHUL GANDHI ON BJP, RSS

For the second time in a week, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi invoked deities to attack the BJP and accused the ruling dispensation of being “fake Hindus”.

Repeating what he said in a public address in Jammu on September 10, Rahul, addressing a Mahila Congress event in New Delhi yetserday, said: “These people (the BJP) call themselves a Hindu party, but they undermine the powers of deities Lakshmi and Durga all over the country. Where ever they go, they attack the deities and call themselves Hindus. What kind of Hindus are they? They are fake Hindus. They exploit the religion.”

In a reference to the RSS, Rahul said whereas the Congress ideology believed in enabling women and offering them platforms for growth, the RSS believed otherwise.

“You would have seen Mahatma Gandhi’s picture and how he would always be accompanied by women. Have you ever seen a woman with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat?” asked Rahul, in potentially controversial remarks, which the BJP had earlier termed as “immature”, with party spokesperson Sambit Patra demanding an apology.

The BJP hit back at Rahul Gandhi over his “dharm ki dalali” comment and asked the Congress leader to apologise for “insulting Hindus”. Party leaders also accused him of “insulting” Hindu deities.

APPOINTMENTS TO TRIBUNALS: SC TAKES STRONG EXCEPTION TO ‘CHERRY PICKING’ BY CENTRE

The face-off between the Government and the judiciary over appointments to various tribunals continued on Wednesday with the Supreme Court taking strong exception to “cherry picking” by the Centre in recently cleared appointments.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana made certain harsh comments on the Centre even as the latter said there were no recommendations pending with it for appointments to tribunals. The Government said it has appointed 84 members to various tribunals since 2020.

“We are very unhappy with the way things are going on and decisions are taken. There’s a problem and everyone is aware of it. We gave the solution, which is appointments and it’s for you to implement it. Without inviting orders from this court, if you can do something we will be happy,” said the Bench – which also included Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice LN Rao.

CDS: DAYS OF FRONTAL ATTACK OVER, TECHNOLOGY NEED OF HOUR

Listing out changes in the way future battles would be fought, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat said the armed forces should be able to fight using the latest technology.

“The days of frontal attacks of tanks and infantry will not happen. Long-range missiles using space-based tracking technology would possibly be used as the first offence by the enemy,” he said while delivering a speech on “Towards Progressive Defence Reforms” hosted by India International Centre (IIC) on Wednesday.

“Technology is the need of the hour and the Services need to understand technology,” he stressed. “A specialised rocket force is being created,” he replied in response to a question. China already has a dedicated rocket force.

KEY COVID NUMBERS

Current Active Cases Countrywide: 3,36,007

New Cases in last 24 hours: 30,351

Recovered in last 24 hours: 38,361

Change in no. of Active cases in last 24 hours: -8,442

No. of deaths in last 24 hours (Total Covid Deaths so far): 432 (4,43,960)

Daily Tests (Tuesday): 16,10,829

Daily Positivity Rate (Proportion of Positives among total Tested): 1.7%

Percentage of Population Vaccinated (At Least One Dose / Two Doses): 43.1% / 13.8%

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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U.S., U.K. AND AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCE NEW SECURITY PARTNERSHIP FOR INDO-PACIFIC

In a bid to counter China, Australia, UK and the US have announced an enhanced trilateral security partnership called AUKUS to deepen diplomatic, security, and defence cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

The trilateral security partnership was announced in a virtual meeting between US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Morrison. "The endeavour we launch today will help sustain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region," the Joint statement on the formation of trilateral defence partnership said.

Australian PM Scott Morrison on Wednesday said that the first major initiative of the 'AUKUS' will be to deliver a nuclear-powered submarine fleet for Australia.

"We will seek to determine the best way forward to achieve this. We intend to build these submarines in Australia in close cooperation with UK and US," he added.

The Australian Prime Minister further asserted that the AUKUS is a new enhanced security partnership between Australia, UK, and the US. "Ït is a partnership where our technology, our scientists, our industry, and defence force all working together to deliver a safer and more secure region," he said.

KIM JONG UN'S SISTER WARNS OF 'DESTRUCTION' OF SOUTH KOREAN TIES

The powerful sister of North Korea's leader has criticized South Korean President Moon Jae-in and threatened a “complete destruction” of relations hours after Moon said South Korea's growing missile capabilities will serve as a “sure deterrence" against North Korean provocations.

Moon made the comments after South Korea's first successful test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile. The test came hours after the South Korean and Japanese militaries said North Korea had fired two ballistic missiles into the sea.

In a statement released by state media on Wednesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, criticised Moon's description of the North Korean missile tests as a provocation, and warned of a “complete destruction” of bilateral relations if Moon continues with what she described as slander of North Korea.

THE REST

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RELIEF FOR TELECOM SECTOR: 4-YEAR LOAN MORATORIUM, 100% FDI

Vodafone Idea Ltd has got a big breather, with the Union Cabinet on Wednesday clearing a proposal for giving telcos a moratorium on their adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues as well as spectrum payments prospectively for the next four years. According to analysts, the move translates into a relief in the company’s cash outflow by over Rs 65,000 crore.

Analysts say that even Bharti Airtel could go for the moratorium plan. It had dues of around Rs 43,980 crore, out of which it has forked out Rs 18,000 crore and needs to pay the rest in instalments. Airtel has to make spectrum payments of over Rs 7800 crore annually.

The government also accepted taking equity as payment for dues.

Though the big announcement was surely on the moratorium, the government has also made some other welcome changes. First, the rationalisation of the definition of AGR (by taking out non-telecom revenues from its purview) will reduce the licence fee burden for all telcos. It will make the bundling of phones easier.

Second, the simplification of rules for the permission to install new towers is also a welcome step.

Third, the government has simplified other areas which have become contentious. For instance, in case of delayed payment of statutory dues like license fees and spectrum usage charges (SUC), telcos only have to pay interest, which has been lowered. Moreover, the interest will be compounded yearly instead of monthly. In addition, telcos do not have to pay penalties or interest on penalties, which constituted the bulk of the AGR dues.

Fourth, spectrum sharing has become more attractive as the additional 0.5 per cent on SUC has now been removed.

The govt has also allowed 100 per cent FDI in telecom sector under the automatic route.

BATTLEGROUND UP: ‘ABBA JAAN’ JIBE FOLLOWED BY ‘CHACHA JAAN’

The battle for poll-bound Uttar Pradesh is getting murkier by the day. After the “Abba jaan” jibe by the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath now BKU leader Rakesh Tikait has called the AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi “Chacha jaan and a team of the BJP”.

“Owaisi and the BJP are a team. He is BJP’s ‘Chacha jaan’ (uncle). He has the blessings of the BJP. He will abuse them, but they will not file a case against him. The BJP will take his help, farmers need to understand their moves,” Tikait warned.

MODI, MAMATA, ADAR AMONG TIME'S 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla have been named among the world's 100 most influential people of 2021 by Time magazine.

Time's profile of Modi says that in its 74 years as an independent nation, India has had three pivotal leaders -- Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Modi. "Narendra Modi is the third, dominating the country's politics like no one since them." The profile written by noted CNN journalist Fareed Zakaria alleges that Modi has "pushed the country away from secularism and toward Hindu nationalism." It also accuses Modi of "eroding the rights" of India's Muslim minority and imprisoning and intimidating journalists.

On Banerjee, her profile for the 100 most influential list says that the 66-year-old leader "has become the face of fierceness in Indian politics.

Poonawalla's Time profile says that from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 40-year-old head of the world's largest vaccine maker "sought to meet the moment."

TATAS, AJAY SINGH IN RACE AS POSSIBLE BIDDERS FOR AIR INDIA

Air India’s disinvestment process has moved into the final stages, with Tata Sons and SpiceJet promoter Ajay Singh having submitted their final bids to acquire 100% stake in the national airline.

The government had in January last year invited submission of expressions of interest for full stake in Air India, and made certain changes to the bid conditions over time, including allowing interested parties to bid at an enterprise value of the airline, combining the values of both debt and equity. But, soon after the government opened invited bids, the Covid19 crisis had hit and the process had got delayed.

In April this year, the Centre had finalised the qualified interested bidders and asked them to submit a final bid.

Ajay Singh is bidding in his individual capacity.

Officials in the Civil Aviation Ministry said that in an ideal situation the transfer of shares was to happen by December, but it is likely to happen by the end of current fiscal.

GOVT APPROVES RS 26,058 CR PLI SCHEME FOR AUTO, DRONE SECTORS

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a Rs 26,058 crore production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for auto, auto-components and drone industries to enhance India's manufacturing capabilities, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said on Wednesday. The PLI scheme will incentivize the emergence of advanced automotive technologies' global supply chain in India.

Incentives worth Rs 26,058 crore will be provided to industry over five years, the minister told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

It is estimated that over a period of five years, the PLI scheme for the automobile and auto components industry will lead to fresh investment of over Rs 42,500 crore, incremental production of over Rs 2.3 lakh crore and will create additional employment opportunities of over 7.5 lakh jobs, Thakur said.

The PLI scheme for automobile and drone industries is part of the overall announcement of PLI schemes for 13 sectors made earlier during the Union Budget 2021-22, with an outlay of Rs 1.97 lakh crore.

INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT ‘SURVEYS’ 6 PREMISES LINKED TO SONU SOOD IN MAHARASHTRA, UP

Income Tax Department officials conducted “surveys” at six locations in Mumbai and Lucknow linked to Bollywood actor Sonu Sood.

Sources in the department said the recent deal between Sonu Sood’s company and a Lucknow-based real estate firm was under scanner. “The survey operation has been initiated on allegations of tax evasion,” said a senior I-T official. The raids, incidentally, come days after the Bollywood star had a high-profile meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who declared him the brand ambassador for his government’s mentorship programme for school students in the Capital. After the meeting, Sonu Sood had denied having any plans to take the plunge into politics. During the lockdown, the actor had won praise for doing charity work and helping migrant workers reach their respective villages.

Reacting to the raids, Kejriwal tweeted: “... truth always prevails. Sonu Sood has the blessings of lakhs of families whom he had helped during their difficult times.” BJP spokesperson Asif Bhamla called it a search, not a raid. “The I-T department is just doing its job,” he added.

SPACEX SENDS ALL-CIVILIAN CREW INTO ORBIT

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying four space tourists blasted off Wednesday night from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the first mission to orbit the globe with an all-civilian crew.

A huge fireball illuminated the sky as the rocket's nine engines began to pull away from Earth at 8:02 p. Around 12 minutes later, the Dragon capsule separated from the rocket's send stage as the crew entered orbit, while the re-usable first stage made its way back to Earth for a vertical landing on a sea barge.

"A few have gone before and many are about to follow," said Jared Isaacman, the 38-year-old billionaire who chartered the flight. The spaceship's trajectory will take it to an altitude of 357 miles (575 kilometers), which is deeper into space than the International Space Station.

After spending three days spinning around the planet, the four-person crew, all Americans, will splash down off the Florida coast.

SpaceX hasn't disclosed what the trip cost Isaacman, a highschool dropout who went on to found Shift4 Payments and is also a keen aviator. But the price tag runs into tens of millions of dollars. Isaacman's three crewmates were selected through a competition, and their stories have been followed in a Netflix documentary.

Hayley Arceneaux, a pediatric cancer survivor, is a 29-year-old physician assistant.

Chris Sembroski, 42, is a US Air Force veteran who now works as an aerospace data engineer.

Sian Proctor, a 51-year-old geoscientist and educator.

SALMAN RUSHDIE TO PUBLISH ON SUBSTACK

Salman Rushdie’s decision to use the newsletter subscription service Substack to circulate his latest book has sparked conversation around this platform and its impact on the world of publishing.

Launched in 2017, Substack allows writers to create newsletters and set up paid subscription tiers for them, offering readers a mixture of free and paywalled content in each edition.

Substack has thus encroached on the traditional territories of newspapers, magazines, the blogosphere – and now trade publishing. Though it is worth noting that until now it has been most enthusiastically adopted by journalists rather than authors.

Rather than monetising the service via advertising, Substack’s profits come from a percentage of paid subscriptions. Substack’s founders see the platform as a way of breaking from the ‘attention economy’ promoted by social media, allowing a space for more thoughtful and substantial writing that is funded directly by readers.

Rushdie’s decision to publish via Substack signals a surprising inroad into one of the areas associated with trade publishing – literary fiction – and certainly makes for a good news story. He is the first significant literary novelist to publish a substantial work of fiction via the platform and Rushdie himself talks jokingly about helping to kill off the print book with this move.

However, the novella that Rushdie is intending to serialise will almost certainly be available in a more conventional format at some point in the future, given all Substack writers retain full rights to their intellectual property.

LIMITED SPECTATORS TO BE ALLOWED AT IPL MATCHES IN UAE

Limited spectators will be allowed into the stadiums when the second leg of the Indian Premier League starts in the UAE this weekend.

The 14th edition of IPL, which was suspended midway in May due to COVID-19 cases in its bio bubble, will resume from Sunday.

"Matches will be played at Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi with limited seating available keeping in mind the COVID protocols and UAE government regulations," the IPL said in a statement on Wednesday.

It will be the first time since 2019 when fans will be allowed to attend the IPL games.

Last year, the league was played behind closed doors in the UAE while the first half of the 2021 edition was also played inside a strict bio-bubble.

29 matches of the tournament have already been played.

INDICATORS

Sensex 58,723 (+476), Nifty 17,519 (+139), Trading Value NSE (Rs.crores) 74237.91

Nasdaq 15,162 (+124) Dow 34,814 (+237), S&P 4,481 (+38)

US$-Rs. 73.43 GBP-Rs. 101.52, Euro-Rs. 86.74, UAE Dhm-Rs.19.98, Can$-Rs. 57.97, Aus$- Rs. 53.78

GBP 0.72 /US$, Euro 0.84 /US$, Jap.Yen 109.42 /US$, Aus$ 1.36 /US$, Sing 1.34 /US$, Bang Taka 83.68 /US$, Can$ 1.26 /US$, Mal Ring 4.15 /US$,

Pak Re 168.85 /US$, Phil Peso 49.73 /US$, Russian Rouble 72.60 /US$, NZ$ 1.40 /US$, Thai Baht 32.85 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 26.50 /US$

Bitcoin - USD 47,951

Dollar Index 92,44 Brent Crude 75.50 BDI 4,221

Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 1,795 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 4,733 / 4,633, Silver (Rs. Per KG) 67,700

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Any activity becomes creative when the doer cares about doing it right or better. - John Updike