Morning Brief: China's Newest Nuclear Submarine Sank This Year, Assets Of Only 13 Per Cent Of High Court Judges In Public Domain, And More

Dear reader, here’s your quick and sharp news roundup to gear you up for the day ahead.

China's Newest Nuclear Submarine Sank This Year

In what is likely to cause serious embarrassment to the Chinese Communist Party, it has come to light that the Chinese Navy lost its newest nuclear-powered submarine, which sank sometime between May and June this year. A senior US defence official shared this information, although the exact cause of the sinking and whether the sub had nuclear fuel onboard remains unclear. China already has the largest navy in the world, with over 370 ships, and is busy building a new generation of nuclear-armed submarines.

The Chinese embassy in Washington claimed they had no information on the incident. This loss raises serious questions about the training, equipment, and oversight within the People’s Liberation Army, especially since there have been recent purges at the highest levels, likely sanctioned by President Xi Jinping himself, due to corruption.

Assets Of Only 13 Per Cent Of High Court Judges In Public Domain

Nearly 15 years ago, courts decided to make judges' assets public, but only 13 per cent of the 749 judges in India’s 25 High Courts have their asset declarations available online. According to a report in The Indian Express, only 98 judges' assets are disclosed on the official websites of these courts. The Kerala High Court leads with 37 out of 39 judges' details available, followed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court with 31 out of 55 judges, and the Delhi High Court with 11 out of 39 judges.

On 18 September, The Indian Express had reported that the Supreme Court released a list on its official website featuring 27 of its 33 judges who have submitted asset declarations to the Chief Justice of India. However, the list only included the names of the judges without any details of their actual asset declarations.

Diwali Face-Off Between Two Big Bollywood Franchise Films

With the Hindi film industry bouncing back after the success of Stree 2, attention is now on the Diwali face-off between franchise films Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. Producers are challenging the idea that releasing two big films on the same day during a slow period could hurt box-office earnings. Originally, Singham Again was set for an August 15 release but was pushed to Diwali to avoid clashing with the much-anticipated Telugu sequel Pushpa 2: The Rule. Meanwhile, Pushpa 2 has also been postponed to early December. Recent hits in the horror-comedy and action genres, such as Animal, Munjya, and Stree 2, suggest both Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Singham Again could perform well.

Other Developments

China Irked As India Names Arunachal Peak After Dalai Lama

Despite ongoing talks between China and India to disengage troops along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, Beijing has reiterated its territorial claims over Arunachal. Beijing has expressed displeasure regarding the naming of a previously unnamed peak in Arunachal after the 6th Dalai Lama. It stated that India's actions are "illegal" and "null and void" since the area is considered Chinese territory. This incident follows an expedition by the National Institute of Mountaineering, led by Col Ranveer Singh Jamwal, which successfully scaled the 20,942 feet peak. The peak was named in honour of Tsangyang Gyatso, the 6th Dalai Lama, who was born in the region in 1682.

Erdogan Skips Mention of Kashmir At UN For First Time Since 2019

For the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not raise the issue of Kashmir in his speech at the UN. Over the past five years, Erdogan had been the only leader besides Pakistan's to highlight Kashmir at the UNGA. In 2019, he called for resolving the dispute through dialogue between India and Pakistan. His 2020 and 2021 speeches reiterated Turkey’s support for a solution within the framework of UN resolutions, essentially aligning with Pakistan's stance and drawing India's contemptuous dismissal of his comments. 

Israel Targets Hezbollah With "Full Force", Drone Unit Commander Killed

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the military to continue operations against Hezbollah with “full force,” despite calls for a ceasefire. Lebanon's health ministry reported at least 92 deaths from Israeli airstrikes on Thursday, with hundreds more casualties since the escalation began on Monday. Hezbollah confirmed that an airstrike on an apartment building in southern Beirut killed Mohammad Surur, the head of its drone unit. Concerns about a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah are escalating following the intensification of Israeli strikes on Lebanon.

From The States

Himachal Drops UP-Like Policy After Congress High Command Pushback

The Himachal Pradesh government distanced itself from Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh's statement that food stalls in the state must display the owner's ID card. Singh's comments seemed to mirror a recent policy in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, causing surprise. On Thursday, a government spokesperson clarified that no such decision had been made, and a committee was still working on a policy for street vendors. Reports indicate the move was prompted by a message from the Congress's first family after the issue was brought to Rahul Gandhi's notice.

Bangladeshi Infiltration Issue Heat Up Jharkhand Assembly Polls

As Jharkhand approaches Assembly elections, the issue of alleged Bangladeshi infiltration in tribal areas is intensifying political debate. The BJP has made this narrative central to its campaign against the Hemant Soren-led coalition government, with top leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressing the issue in their rallies. They assert that the infiltration concern resonates strongly with the tribals of Santhal Pargana, which holds 18 of the state’s 28 Scheduled Tribes (ST) reserved seats. The BJP, currently holding only four MLAs in the region, aims to make significant gains that could influence the outcome of the 81-member Assembly.

Communal Clashes Erupt In Dehradun

Tensions flared at Dehradun railway station on Thursday night when Hindu and Muslim groups confronted a Hindu man and a Muslim woman from Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, who came to the city to get married. The altercation escalated into stone-pelting, damaging nearby trains, after objects were hurled between the groups. Railway police detained those involved, while heavy police presence was deployed to control the situation.

Stay tuned for more updates and insights.