[NATIONAL]

Ukraine, trade, defense & energy security to dominate PM’s Europe trip agenda

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be focussing on giving a major push to trade, defense, security, and energy ties between India and Europe during his visit to Germany, Denmark, and France starting Mon. Modi’s first visit abroad in 2022 comes at a time when Europe is facing unprecedented security challenges in the wake of the raging Russia-Ukraine war that has altered Brussels’ relationship with Moscow. For Modi, this trip will be challenging because of India’s position on Russia, while insisting on dialogue and diplomacy even as New Delhi continues to do business with Moscow on arms and oil. In Germany, Modi will be holding his first bilateral meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He will be accompanied by the External Affairs Minister, Fin Minister, and Minister of State, for Science and Technology. According to the Foreign Secy, defense cooperation and trade will also be of major focus, especially during Modi’s visit to Denmark and France, while the discussions on defense and security with France and Germany are “important elements” as they are “process-based”. He will be conducting 25 engagements with 8 world leaders.  (here)

Germany to woo India with G7 invite in the push to isolate Russia

TOI-German chancellor plans to invite the Indian Prime Minister as a special guest to a Group of Seven leaders’ summit next month as part of an effort to forge a broader international alliance against Russia. Germany, which currently holds the rotating G7 presidency, will also welcome the leaders of Indonesia, South Africa, and Senegal to the gathering in the Bavarian Alps from Jun 26 – 28. The decision could be announced as early as Mon when Scholz welcomes Modi for talks in Berlin and a joint German-Indian cabinet meeting. Scholz was undecided on Modi’s invitation until a few weeks ago given the PM’s reluctance to condemn Russia’s invasion. But Scholz has decided the G7 should court India, with its growing population and long democratic tradition, as a potentially valuable partner in efforts to isolate Russia (source). Scholz also sees an opportunity to work closely with Modi in other policy areas such as climate change and defense. (here)

Ukraine war: Indian exporters head to Russia, eye food, chemicals

With inquiries from Russia pouring in, around 50 Indian food, ceramics, and chemicals exporters are headed to the country, that has been hit by sanctions after it attacked Ukraine. While the govt recognizes that the conflict opens up opportunities in Russia, it has maintained a distance, with officials suggesting that shipments will start once the war ends. With inquiries from Russia pouring in, around 50 Indian food, ceramics, and chemicals exporters are headed to the country, that has been hit by sanctions after it attacked Ukraine 2 months ago. Trade and financial sanctions imposed on Russia by the US, UK, EU and other countries due to the current conflicts between Russia and Ukraine have opened up various avenues for Indian businesses across various sectors. (here)

Vinay Mohan Kwatra takes charge as new foreign secretary

Seasoned diplomat Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Sun took charge as India’s new foreign secretary at a time New Delhi is dealing with various geopolitical developments including the Ukraine conflict, the severe economic crisis in Sri Lanka, the situation in Afghanistan, and developments in the Indo-Pacific. A 1988-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Kwatra succeeded Harsh Vardhan Shringla who retired from service on Sat. Kwatra is known to be having extensive expertise in dealing with India’s neighborhood as well as the US, China, and Europe. Before his diplomatic posting to Nepal in 2020, he served as the Ambassador of India to France from Aug 2017 to Feb 2020.

As infiltration season looms along LoC, Army considers troop deployment rejig in Kashmir

ThePrint- The Army is considering a possible rejig of troops in Kashmir’s hinterland, with an eye on freeing up more men to beef up deployment along the Line of Control (LoC) as the snow melts and infiltration season begins. Terror outfits are active in certain districts in Kashmir. (sources) While it’s unlikely that multiple battalions deployed in the Valley will be moved to the LoC, the Area of Responsibility (AOR) of specific companies could be expanded which means that instead of 4 companies looking after a particular AOR, the work can be divided among 2 or 3 companies, freeing the others for redeployment. Despite extensive investments in Artificial Intelligence and specialized monitoring systems to be deployed along the LoC, the Army’s reliance on manpower is still significant. (here)

China, modernization, and manpower rationalization: New Army chief has hands full

ThePrint-Gen. Manoj Pande created history Sat as he became the first officer from the Corps of Engineers to take over as the Chief of Army Staff — a major departure from the Army’s usual practice of appointing those from the Infantry, Artillery, and the Armoured Corps to the position. (Sources) -China’s muscle-flexing approach along the sensitive Line of Actual Control (LAC) is going to continue, and hence the new chief takes over with his plate already full. As the Eastern Army Commander, Gen. Pande led the Army’s response in the eastern sector of the LAC with a special focus on technology and new deployment patterns. Under him, the Eastern Command saw large-scale induction of technology that was aimed at thwarting any possible plan of the Chinese to stir up tensions as they did in Ladakh. Although induction and deployment of men and equipment were key areas, Gen. Pande also focused on infrastructure buildup under his Area of Responsibility. Another area that will be in focus during Gen Pande’s tenure is modernization, especially in terms of long-term plans. (here) 

Indian education sector biggest target of cyber threats, remote learning among key triggers: Report

Adoption of remote learning during the Covid-19 pandemic, digitization of education, and the prevalence of online learning platforms are key triggers that enlarged the attack surface. The report, titled “Cyber Threats Targeting the Global Education Sector”, also claimed that data shows a 20% increase in cyber threats to the global education sector in the first 3 months of 2022 when compared to the corresponding period of 2021. The report has been compiled by the Threat Research and Information Analytics Division of CloudSEK, a Singapore-based AI-driven Digital Risk Management Enterprise. (here)

The mastermind behind Patiala violence was arrested by police at Mohali airport

The main conspirator and mastermind behind the Patiala violence, Barjinder Singh Parwana was arrested by police in Mohali on Sun morning. He arrived at 7:20 am in Mohali from Mumbai on a Vistara flight. The Central Intelligence Agency Patiala team headed by Inspector Sharminder Singh arrested him at the Mohali airport. In a press conference conducted on Mon, Inspector General said that 20 teams have been constituted to arrest the accused. He added that along with Barjinder, two others have also been arrested and will be questioned in custody. So far, 6 people have been arrested in connection to the case. (here)

Amit Shah holds high-level meeting after some states faced power crisis: report

Union home minister Amit Shah is chairing a meeting on the current power crisis in the country, news agency ANI reported. The power minister, railways minister, and coal minister are also present. The meeting comes amid power cuts being reported from several states amid the heatwave. With several parts of northern India reeling under hot pre-summer months, the country’s power demand has peaked at a record high in decades. Power demand grew 13.2% to 135.4 billion kWh, as the electricity requirement in the north grew between 16% and 75%, a Reuters analysis showed. The unprecedented electricity use resulted in widespread power cuts in Apr, as utilities scrambled to manage demand as coal supplies dwindled. Power supply fell short of demand by 2.41 billion units, or 1.8%, the worst since Oct 2015.

ED attaches Rs 5551.27 cr of Xiaomi Technology India Pvt Ltd under FEMA

ANI – The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized Rs 5551.27 crore of Xiaomi Technology India Pvt Ltd– a wholly-owned subsidiary of China-based Xiaomi group– under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) in connection with illegal remittances made by the firm in Feb this year, the agency said on Sat. The seized amount of Rs 5551.27 crore is lying in the bank accounts of Xiaomi Technology India Pvt Ltd, which started its operations in India in 2014 and started remitting the money in 2015. The Company has remitted foreign currency equivalent to Rs 5551.27 crore to 3 foreign-based entities which include one Xiaomi group entity in the guise of Royalty, said the ED. Xiaomi India procures the completely manufactured mobile sets and other products from the manufacturers in India. ED further added that Xiaomi India also provided misleading information to the banks while remitting the money abroad.

How Tata used ‘jugaad’ to become India’s EV leader

To make its first electric vehicle for the consumer market, India’s Tata Motors Ltd repurposed an unused shop floor at its flagship plant. Here, there is no fancy assembly line – Nexon SUV bodies designed for petrol models are wired and fitted with battery packs by hand. The area, which could be mistaken for a prototype lab, initially made just 8 SUVs a day. But demand has shot up over the 2 years since the Nexon EV’s launch. Tata now makes more than 100 a day, though much of that is now handled at another plant nearby. Even with this humble start, which draws on India’s tradition of jugaad – a word referring to frugal DIY innovation and workarounds – Tata dominates the country’s fledgling electric car market.

IIT Mandi team discovers molecule that can be used for the treatment of diabetes

IIT Mandi’s team discovers a molecule that can be used for the treatment of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. According to the press statement the details of the research have been published in the JBC. Dr. Prosenjit Mondal, who authored the paper, said “Current drugs such as exenatide and liraglutide used for diabetes, are administered as injections, and they are costly and unstable after administration. We seek to find simpler drugs that are stable, cheap, and effective against both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.” [However, it remains a question of how an adequate supply of insulin can deal with non-insulin-dependent diabetes.]

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

S. Arabia agrees to discuss extending the term of the $3bn loan

Saudi Arabia affirmed its continuous support to Pakistan and its economy, including discussion of augmenting the $3bn deposit with the central bank through term extension or otherwise, and exploring options to further enhance the financing of petroleum products and supporting the economic structural reforms for the benefit of Pakistan and its people. In a joint statement issued after the 3-day official visit of PM Shehbaz Sharif to the kingdom, Islamabad and Riyadh said both sides supported the unity and independence of the countries of the region and their territorial integrity, as well as giving priority to political solutions that bring prosperity and progress to the region and its people. Under the package, Saudi will extend a $3bn safe deposit for another year and extend oil supplies on deferred payments to $2.4bn/year. It has also been learned that Pakistan will issue Sukuk Bonds worth over $2bn which will be bought by Riyadh.

PM’s visit to UAE-During his visit to the UAE, PM Sharif met Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. They discussed advancing the longstanding relations between the two nations, and the prospects of propelling cooperation on various fronts. The two sides reviewed many regional and international issues of common concern, according to the Emirates News Agency. (here)

17 PTV officials get suspended as unavailability of laptops leads to non-coverage of Pak PM’s event

Non-availability of an advanced laptop has cost dearly 17 officials of state-run PTV in Pakistan, for not being able to ensure ‘proper’ coverage of the Lahore visit of PM Shehbaz Sharif.

Fawad moves IHC to term cases against PTI leaders over Madina incident ‘illegal’

PTI leader and former information min Fawad Chaudhry on Mon filed a writ petition in the Islamabad High Court, calling for cases registered against the party’s leadership under the country’s blasphemy laws to be termed “illegal”. These cases were registered after some Pakistani pilgrims chanted slogans at PM Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation during their visit to the Masjid-i-Nabwi last week. While PTI leaders said the incident was a spontaneous reaction and reflected the public’s anger, the govt claims it was planned and orchestrated by the PTI leadership. Meanwhile, Attock police obtained 2-day physical remand of Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, who was arrested in connection with the case on Sun. On Sun, Faisalabad police had registered a case under ‘blasphemy laws’ against the PTI chairman and over 150 others, including some stalwarts of the party, in the wake of the Masjid-i-Nabwi incident. (here)

One injured as fire erupts at Customs intelligence office in Quetta

A man was injured when a fire erupted at the Customs intelligence office on Quetta’s Airport Road on Sun, the city’s police chief (operations), Abdul Haq Imran, said. The SSP was speaking to the media following a visit to the site after the fire, which erupted reportedly after an explosion. While there were reports that the fire was caused by an explosion, police did not confirm it and told reporters that no trace of a blast had been found so far. He added that relevant authorities were carrying out investigations to determine the cause of the fire. (here)

Sri Lanka: Former President Sirisena calls for fresh elections

ANI – Addressing a May Day rally organized by his party in Polonnaruwa, former Sri Lanka President and the chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Maithripala Sirisena on Sun called for fresh elections in the country. Saying that politicians should take the side of the people at a time when the country is facing a great tragedy, Sirisena said that he took to the streets on International Labor Day for this purpose, Colombo Page reported. The former president added that he could not stay at home when the people were in a state of distress with thousands of problems in the country. The former president also cautioned that if the current leaders stay on, there would be a situation where people would die at home, adding that 2 to 3 lakhs of people in the country were already starving and he was receiving calls from people all over the country asking for food. (here)

Chinese police will not use ‘Hong Kong-style’ tactics in the Solomon Islands, envoy to Australia says

China’s police presence under a new security pact will boost the capabilities of the Solomon Islands but they will not use techniques seen in Hong Kong, the Pacific island country’s top diplomat to Australia ‘said’ in a radio interview on Mon. Already on guard about the pact because of concerns, it gives China’s military a strategic foothold in the Pacific, Western allies are also worried that Chinese police sent there may use the same “ruthless” techniques previously used to quell anti-government protests in Hong Kong. The Solomon Islands is “beefing up their capability” after local police were unable to contain anti-government riots in the Chinatown section of the capital Honiara in November, Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Australia Robert Sisilo told ABC Radio. It came as Washington announced plans to step up diplomatic engagement with Pacific nations that have not seen US ambassadors or engagement for decades. (here)

Beijing concerned with rising North Korea tensions, envoy says in Seoul

Reuters- Beijing is concerned about the tense situation on the Korean peninsula, China’s Korean affairs envoy said as he arrived for talks in Seoul this week, adding that both the symptoms and root cause of tensions needed to be addressed. Amid stalled denuclearisation talks, N Korea has conducted a flurry of weapons tests this year, from hypersonic missiles to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). N Korea had not conducted an ICBM test since 2017. Officials in Seoul and Washington say there are signs of preparations for a new nuclear test. The US has pushed for more UN sanctions on the North. But China and Russia have signaled opposition, arguing that sanctions should be eased to jumpstart talks and provide humanitarian relief to the impoverished North. (here)

Taiwan howitzers delayed, ‘crowded out’ of US production lines

Production issues have set back delivery of the first batch of US weapons approved for Taiwan by Joe Biden’s administration, according to the island’s defense ministry. The ministry said on Mon it had been notified that next year’s expected delivery of howitzer artillery systems would be delayed until 2026. “The production line is crowded out,” it said. “We have cooperated with the US to research and develop advanced alternatives to meet actual operational needs,” the ministry said, adding it would continue to communicate with the US on the issue. Local reports lay blame on the war in Ukraine for the delayed delivery. (here)