- Chinese research ship moors near Maldives, raising concern
- A high-tech Chinese marine research ship arrived near the Maldives after spending about a month in the Indian Ocean near the island nation
- The ship, Xiang Yang Hong 03 reached the Maldives on the same day when Indian and Sri Lankan coast guard ships reached the strategically located archipelago for a trilateral naval exercise
- India had already expressed concern about the movement of the Chinese research ship in the Indian Ocean
- India prevailed on Sri Lanka to refuse permission for the ship to dock at the Colombo port An American think-tank has alleged that a vast fleet of China’s “scientific research” ships is collecting data from the oceans, including in the Indian Ocean Region, for military purposes, especially for submarine operations
- A charge denied by Beijing
2. Massive leak shows Chinese firm hacked foreign governments
- A Chinese tech security firm — I- SOON — was able to breach foreign governments, a massive data leak analysed by experts this week revealed.
- It infiltrated social media accounts
- Hacked personal computers
- The leaked data was posted last week on the online software repository GitHub by an unknown individual
- The leak provides some of the most concrete details seen publicly to date, revealing the maturing nature of China’s cyber espionage ecosystem
- I-Soon was also able to breach government offices in India, Thailand, Vietnam and South Korea, among others
3. India to open diplomatic mission in Albanian capital
- Albania’s Foreign Minister Igli Hasani said that Albania is planning to open an Embassy in New Delhi
- While India will soon have a diplomatic mission in Tirana
- With around 500 km of coastline, Albania is a northern neighbour of Greece and is evidently trying to get onto the connectivity projects bridging India and the European continent
- India Middle East Economic Corridor
- Albania is at the crossroads between the European Union and East
- Albania is a part of many corridors that link India with the European Union
- With Albania becoming one of the fastest growing European economies
- The Albanian language is linked to Sanskrit
- The two sides have “many cultural linguistic, and historical ties.”
- In 2023, more than 10 million tourists visited Albania
- Albania is at present represented by noted architect Dikshu Kukreja who was appointed as the Honorary Consul General of Albania last year
4. U.K India strategic ties
- Strategic ties between the UK and India within the context of global challenges and security concerns
- Shared Interests: The UK and India aim for a rules-based international order where norms of behavior upon the seas are respected
- Operation Prosperity Guardian
- Launched by the UK, US, and other partners in December 2021, this operation aims to protect international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
- It addresses the threat posed to international commerce and navigation by instability and aggressive actions
- Such as those by the Houthis in the Red Sea and piracy off the coast of Somalia
- Ukraine Conflict
- There is concern about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has repercussions for global norms and freedom of navigation
- It is mentioned that the UK has provided substantial military aid and humanitarian support to Ukraine
- UK-India Defence Cooperation
- The relationship between the UK and India is increasingly important
- The UK expressed gratitude for the leadership and support of the Indian Navy, particularly Admiral R. Hari Kumar
- Carrier Strike Group Deployment
- The UK’s Carrier Strike Group is set to enter the Indo-Asia Pacific later this year to conduct exercises
- There are plans to deepen the partnership with India through further joint operations Defence Industrial Partnership
- The UK-India defense industrial partnership is robust, involving complex technology transfers from electric warship propulsion to complex weaponry to jet engines
- National prosperity is intrinsically linked to international markets and having a voice and presence within the international policy landscape is essential ○ the UK-India strategic partnership is a part of that presence
5. Interpol Notices
- Interpol, established in 1923, facilitates cooperation among 194 member countries to combat transnational crimes
- There are seven types of notices issued by Interpol
- Red Notice, Yellow Notice, Blue Notice, Black Notice, Green Notice, Orange Notice, and Purple Notice
- Blue corner notices, also known as “enquiry notices,” enable sharing of crucial crime-related information among member states
- Information such as obtaining a person’s criminal record, and location and, having his or her identity verified among others
- Questions arise about Interpol’s effectiveness in preventing notice system misuse, the influence of political agendas, and the adequacy of oversight
- Although Interpol’s Constitution explicitly forbids any activities of a political character, activists have accused it of failing to enforce this rule
- According to the U.S. rights organisation Freedom House, Russia is responsible for 38% of all public red notices
- International human rights groups have also accused China, Iran, Turkey, and Tunisia, among others, of abusing the agency’s notice system for authoritarian ends
- Interpol Response
- In response to the mounting criticism, Interpol toughened the oversight of its red notice system
- However, vulnerabilities remain when it comes to the issuance of blue notices with experts flagging that such notices are less likely to be reviewed before publication
- The agency’s data shows that blue notices have roughly doubled in number over the past decade
ONE LINER
- The 50th edition of famous KHAJURAHO Dance festival has been inaugurated successfully. It was inaugurated by Dr.Mohan Yadav Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh
- Highlight: Global Jubliee Edition of Khajuraho festival
- It is a one week long dance event takes place to promote and encourage dance, artists, culture and heritage of India
