| 23 June 2023
1. During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the United States, India and the US have taken their cooperation in defense and space to new heights. In a landmark pact, American company GE Aerospace announced a joint production agreement with India's state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to manufacture fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force's Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mk-II Tejas. This agreement includes the potential production of GE Aerospace's F414 engines in India, pending necessary export authorizations. Additionally, India is expected to sign a deal to purchase MQ-9 'Reaper' armed drones from US manufacturer General Atomics, further enhancing India's national security and surveillance capabilities. Furthermore, India has joined the Artemis Accords, a US-led effort for civil space exploration, and agreed with NASA to undertake a joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024.
2. Leaders of around a dozen opposition parties met in Patna to discuss a common minimum program and devise a roadmap to counter the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming 2024 general elections in India. The meeting, hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, aimed to address various priorities and concerns of the participating parties. The Trinamool Congress focused on alleged misuse of investigative agencies by the central government, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sought unity against the recent ordinance related to administrative services in Delhi. The Congress emphasized broader issues such as rising prices, unemployment, and governance failures. However, there was uncertainty regarding the common program and seat-sharing formula discussions during the meeting.
3. The Delhi Police's Special Cell apprehended an individual and a juvenile from Bihar in connection with an alleged data leak from the CoWin portal, which stores vaccination data for COVID-19. The arrested individual is suspected of unauthorized sharing of sensitive vaccination data on the encrypted messaging app Telegram. It is alleged that he obtained confidential information, including personal details and vaccination status, and disseminated it on Telegram. The government initially dismissed reports of data breaches as baseless, asserting the portal's safety and privacy measures. However, concerns over potential damages and internal efforts to strengthen cyber safety measures have been raised. The investigations are ongoing, and authorities are reviewing the disclosures and safeguards implemented by the CoWin portal.
4. Indian conglomerate Adani Group experienced a sharp decline in its share prices following reports of US authorities investigating the company's representations to investors. The investigations were triggered by a report from US short-seller Hindenburg Research, accusing the Adani Group of stock manipulation and accounting fraud. Institutional investors holding significant stakes in Adani Group companies have reportedly received inquiries from the US Attorney's Office and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). While Adani Group stocks initially fell, there was some recovery after the decline. The allegations made by Hindenburg Research resulted in a significant market capitalization loss for the conglomerate. Adani Group denied the allegations and expressed confidence in the completeness and adequacy of its disclosures. The outcome of the investigations will have a lasting impact on the conglomerate's reputation and financial standing.
5. During a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, United States President Joe Biden referred to Chinese President Xi Jinping as a "dictator." This statement came after recent efforts to reduce tensions between the US and China. President Biden expressed concerns about human rights abuses and authoritarian actions by the Chinese government under President Xi Jinping's leadership. He emphasized the importance of promoting democracy and human rights globally. The remark sparked a diplomatic reaction from China, with its Foreign Ministry spokesperson stating that such comments were based on a Cold War mentality and did not reflect the reality of China's governance. The incident further strained the already complex relationship between the two global powers and highlighted the ongoing geopolitical tensions between the US and China.
.
Comments