During discussions between Prime Minister Modi and President Muizzu, several infrastructure projects were highlighted. They agreed to expedite the Greater Malé Connectivity Project, which plays a vital role in the development of the Maldives. India also reaffirmed its support for the development of a new commercial port in Thilafushi, which will boost the trade capacity of the Maldives. India has also handed over 700 social housing units to the Maldives, built under Exim Bank’s buyer’s credit facilities. This will contribute to improving living standards in the Maldives and strengthen ties between the two nations. Prime Minister Modi emphasized that this partnership symbolizes the deep friendship between India and the Maldives and will give new direction to their bilateral cooperation.

To further strengthen economic ties, India and the Maldives have decided to initiate discussions on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This agreement is expected to bolster trade relations and enhance India’s role in the economic growth of the Maldives. Prime Minister Modi called the Maldives a close friend within India’s neighborhood policy and the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision. Last year, relations between India and the Maldives had soured when President Muizzu won the election on the “India Out” campaign, demanding the withdrawal of Indian military personnel. Controversial statements from Maldivian ministers further strained the ties. However, over time, Muizzu softened his anti-India stance and took steps to increase cooperation with India. Dismissing the ministers responsible for inflammatory statements and recognizing India as a strategic partner are part of Muizzu’s new approach.

The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, confirmed the visit, clarifying that it symbolizes India’s commitment to the SCO Charter. He said, “India is fully committed to the SCO Charter, and the primary purpose of the Foreign Minister’s visit is to fulfill obligations under this charter.” He further stressed that this visit should not be seen as an attempt to improve bilateral relations between India and Pakistan, emphasizing that the trip is solely within the context of the SCO and should not be interpreted politically.

Pakistan had extended invitations to all member nations for this SCO meeting. In August 2024, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, announced that an official invitation had been sent to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well. This sparked speculation about a potential visit by Modi to Pakistan. However, S. Jaishankar made it clear that the time for dialogue with Pakistan had passed, stating, “The time for talks with Pakistan is over.” He also added that since the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir, the issue no longer exists, and India is not in a position to consider any relationship with Pakistan.

Both India and Pakistan are members of the SCO, and officials from both nations have participated in meetings under this organization. In July 2023, India hosted a virtual SCO summit, where Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif participated online. Additionally, in May 2023, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari attended the SCO Foreign Ministers’ meeting held in Goa, marking a rare occasion of a visit to India. However, tensions between the two nations were evident even then.

The SCO was established in 2001 and is known for discussions on security, economic cooperation, and cultural exchange. The organization has eight permanent members: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became permanent members in 2017. Bilateral relations between India and Pakistan have always been tense, with issues like terrorism, Jammu & Kashmir, and border tensions complicating ties. Despite this, platforms like the SCO are important as they offer opportunities for officials from both countries to come together.

Key questions before the PAC will revolve around how SEBI conducted its investigation into the allegations against the Adani Group. The American research firm Hindenburg had made serious accusations against Adani, claiming that the group used unethical methods to inflate its stock prices. SEBI had launched an investigation into the matter, but its impartiality is being questioned. Following the Hindenburg report, Congress also leveled several accusations against SEBI chief Madhabi Puri Buch. Congress claims that Buch and her husband have close ties with Adani, which could influence SEBI’s investigation. Additionally, Congress has alleged that a consultancy company promoted by Buch, Agora Advisory Private Limited, was paid approximately Rs 3 crore by SEBI, which represents a conflict of interest. However, Buch has dismissed all these allegations, calling them false.

The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee is conducting a financial performance review of SEBI, an unusual occurrence. The PAC is scrutinizing SEBI’s accounts in detail, marking the first time the committee has focused so seriously on SEBI’s functioning. In a PAC meeting on August 29, the decision was made to inspect SEBI’s accounts, leading to the summoning of Buch and other officials.

Pakistan is hosting this year’s meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG), and leaders from all member countries have been invited. Providing details about his visit, Jaishankar said that this trip follows tradition, where either the Prime Minister or the Foreign Minister attends high-level meetings. “This year, the meeting is being held in Islamabad, and this is a new experience, as we have seen before,” he said.

Discussing the SCO’s functioning and the expectations of its members, Jaishankar said that the SCO has failed to achieve its objectives. The primary reason behind this is the issue of terrorism. He also pointed out that a neighboring country is supporting terrorism, which poses a threat to stability in the region. He stated, “Terrorism cannot be accepted. The activities of our neighboring country will bring about a change in the situation. This is why SAARC meetings have not been held in recent years.”

However, Jaishankar clarified that this does not mean regional activities have come to a halt. In fact, in the past 5-6 years, there have been several indications of regional integration in the Indian subcontinent. He said, “If you look at our relations with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, you will see that railway lines are being reconstructed, roads are being developed, and power grids are being built.”

Thus, it is clear that the main purpose of Jaishankar’s visit is to ensure India’s participation in the SCO summit, not to engage in bilateral talks with Pakistan. He also added that he would behave like a gentleman and take the opportunity to engage in discussions with the leaders of all countries during the conference. Regarding this visit, Jaishankar also said, “We are ready to promote regional cooperation, but the issue of terrorism cannot be ignored.” This statement highlights that India remains vigilant about protecting its national interests and is maintaining a strong stance for regional stability.

Israel took advantage of this weakness in the supply chain to target Hezbollah fighters with their own pagers. This plan was highly secretive and had been prepared for years. General Dwivedi said, “A war doesn’t begin on the day of the battle; it begins the day the planning starts.” Israel’s long-term preparation culminated in this significant success. This pager attack caused massive damage among Hezbollah fighters. Israel employed advanced and unconventional tools instead of traditional weapons on the battlefield. During the attack, around 1,500 Hezbollah fighters were injured, many of whom lost their hands, legs, or eyes.

The pager attack was unique because it was completely unexpected and crippled Hezbollah’s communication system. Israel effectively used this technology to disrupt Hezbollah’s communication channels, hampering the movement of their fighters. India’s military needs to stay alert and enhance its security strategies in light of Israel’s attack. When asked how India could tackle such situations, General Dwivedi clearly stated that any disruptions in the supply chain cannot be ignored. He emphasized, “We need to focus intensively on securing the supply chain. Inspections should be conducted thoroughly, not just technically but also manually.”

Additionally, he stressed that India must ensure that any devices or technological equipment in its supply chain are thoroughly vetted to prevent incidents like these. General Dwivedi remarked that this event serves as a reminder that modern warfare isn’t just about traditional weapons but also involves digital and technological tools playing a crucial role.

India, which is already facing numerous threats from terrorism and cross-border infiltration, must learn from Israel’s pager attack. This incident highlights the importance of cyber-attacks, communication system disruptions, and the use of technological devices in today’s warfare. India must strengthen its systems and be prepared to tackle future challenges. Israel’s pager attack can be seen as a warning for India. General Upendra Dwivedi called it a “masterstroke,” praising Israel’s planning but also advising India to remain cautious and bolster its security policies.

As for Covid-19, the first case in India also emerged from Kerala. In 2020, a student returning from China tested positive for the virus. Since then, Kerala has repeatedly reported early cases of global diseases. This raises the question: why are these diseases first detected in Kerala? One primary reason for the early detection of global diseases in Kerala is the state’s large NRI (Non-Resident Indian) population. About 2.2 million people from Kerala live abroad, with the majority working in Gulf countries. According to a report by Deccan Herald, the Gulf is a major source of employment for a significant portion of Kerala’s population. Additionally, many students from Kerala travel abroad for higher education.

People working in countries like the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and others frequently travel to Kerala. When they return, they may unknowingly bring diseases with them. Therefore, when a global pandemic or infection occurs, Kerala is often one of the first places to detect cases. In 2020, the country’s first Covid-19 patient was also a student returning from China. Kerala’s health department remains highly vigilant, especially when a new disease spreads worldwide. Strict screening measures are implemented at airports to catch infections before they spread. When the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Monkeypox a public health emergency, Kerala quickly began screening at its airports.

However, experts believe that airport screenings have their limitations. At a basic level, the tests are done, but unless a major advisory is issued by the government or WHO, these screenings may not always be fully effective. Moreover, identifying early symptoms can often be challenging, leading to delays in detecting infections. The importance of Kerala’s NRI population is underscored by the fact that during the elections held in April 2024, 22,000 NRI citizens returned home in just two days. The total number of registered NRI voters stood at 89,839. With such a large number of people connected to Gulf countries and their constant movement to and from Kerala, the state becomes a hotspot for the spread of any global disease.

The Prime Minister mentioned that these three supercomputers, “PARAM Rudra,” have been installed in Delhi, Pune, and Kolkata. Through these supercomputers, research in fields such as physical sciences, geosciences, and cosmology will be accelerated, further strengthening India’s scientific and technological innovations in the future. Additionally, two high-performance computing systems, named ‘Arka’ and ‘Arunik,’ were also inaugurated, which will aid in climate and weather research.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, speaking at the event, said, “Today’s inauguration is a significant step, as it introduces supercomputers that are both designed and manufactured in India. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges the world faces today. In such circumstances, these supercomputers will not only accelerate research but also help farmers, rural areas, and urban communities in developing models to tackle the challenges posed by climate change.” Prime Minister Modi highlighted that in the digital era, computing power has become synonymous with a nation’s progress. There is no field today that is not dependent on technological and computing capacity. These supercomputers will play a crucial role in ensuring India’s success in Industry 4.0.

Referring to the ₹1 lakh crore research fund announced in this year’s budget, Prime Minister Modi emphasized that India’s aim is to empower the world through its innovation and research. Today’s India is not only making new decisions but is also formulating new policies in the field of science and technology. The Prime Minister underscored that the PARAM Rudra supercomputers and other HPC systems would strengthen India’s self-reliance in the fields of science, research, and technology. These systems will not only assist in climate research and agricultural sciences but will also bring significant innovation in fields like cosmology. Thus, India has taken a critical step towards self-reliance in the computing and technological sector, setting a new example for the world in the times to come.

The Israeli army had already announced the operation in advance. On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the Israeli military shared a statement from its Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, saying that Israel was prepared for even larger strikes in Lebanon. The statement also emphasized that Israel would intensify its military action to dismantle the Hezbollah terrorist organization.

Israel urged residents of southern Lebanon to vacate their homes as soon as possible. The Israeli military alleged that Hezbollah had stockpiled a large quantity of weapons in the region and was planning attacks on Israel from there. Israel’s attack is seen as part of a broader strategic move to apply maximum pressure on Hezbollah. Israeli officials have indicated that harsher measures against Hezbollah will follow in the coming days. Lieutenant General Halevi also hinted that Israel intends to continue this conflict until Hezbollah’s strength is completely neutralized.

Analysts believe that the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah could escalate further. Although the likelihood of a full-blown war between the two sides appears low for now, Israel’s recent strikes have significantly heightened the regional tension. Lebanon is already grappling with an economic crisis and political instability, and these attacks could further deteriorate the country’s situation. Following the attacks, hopes for peace between Lebanon and Israel have diminished. Hezbollah holds significant influence in Lebanon, governing large areas through its political and military network. Israel’s strikes may provoke an even more aggressive response from Hezbollah, potentially leading to greater confrontation between the two nations.

The international community has also expressed concern over the situation. The United Nations has called for both sides to exercise restraint and seek a peaceful resolution through dialogue.

Earlier, the Supreme Court’s YouTube channel was used for live streaming court hearings and public interest cases. However, after the hack, a video titled “Brad Garlinghouse Reacts to SEC’s $2 Billion Fine! XRP Price Prediction” was live-streamed. The video featured Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple Labs, discussing the future price prediction of Ripple’s cryptocurrency XRP (XRP). The Supreme Court’s YouTube channel used to live stream court proceedings, particularly those related to the Constitution Bench. In 2018, under the leadership of then-Chief Justice UU Lalit, the court unanimously decided to live broadcast hearings of the Constitution Bench for public view. Since then, the Supreme Court has live-streamed several public interest litigations and significant cases. This step was taken to enhance the transparency of the judiciary, allowing citizens to directly watch the proceedings of the highest court.

Full details of the Supreme Court’s YouTube channel hacking incident are not yet available. According to The Indian Express, a senior official stated that there were some issues in accessing the channel, after which the Supreme Court’s IT team immediately took the matter seriously and referred it to the National Informatics Centre (NIC). The NIC team is currently investigating the matter to determine how the hacking occurred and how the channel’s security was compromised.

This incident has raised questions about the digital security of important institutions like the Supreme Court. While digital platforms are being used to promote transparency in the judiciary, such incidents expose security vulnerabilities. Strengthening the security of YouTube channels and other digital assets of government institutions has become even more important after this incident.