[NATIONAL]

PM Modi arrives in Denmark; to attend the 2^nd India-Nordic Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tue arrived in Denmark on the second leg of his 3-nation Europe trip during which he will hold talks with his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen and attend the 2nd India-Nordic Summit. As a special gesture, Danish PM Frederiksen received Modi at the airport. Both leaders will now travel to Marienborg, the official residence of the PM of Denmark, MEA tweeted. India-Denmark: A Green Strategic Partnership’ was established during a virtual summit in Sept 2020. This partnership was translated into a result-oriented 5-year action plan during PM Frederiksen’s India visit in Oct 2021. PM Modi met the Queen Margrethe II. He will also attend the India-Denmark Business Roundtable and interact with the Indian diaspora. Over 200 Danish companies in India are actively engaged in ‘Make in India, Jal Jeevan Mission, Digital India, and other key national missions. More than 60 Indian companies in Denmark, mainly in the IT sector, are further cementing bilateral business-to-business ties. Denmark is home to a robust Indian diaspora of 16000. PM Modi will also take part in the 2^nd India-Nordic Summit along with PMs of Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden, and Norway where they will take stock of the cooperation since the 1st Summit in 2018. India’s trade with Nordic countries stands at over USD 5 bn (2020-21) and a cumulative FDI of over USD 3 bn (Apr 2000- Mar 2021). (here)

India to receive 10 billion euros for green projects from Germany until 2030

ANI – Germany has made an advance commitment to provide 10 billion euros of new and additional developmental assistance in India until 2030 under the Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) on Green and Sustainable Development Partnership signed between the two countries on Mon, MEA informed. Addressing a press briefing after the first leg of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Europe visit on Mon (local time), Foreign Secy Vinay Kwatra said that the JDI provides “a long term strategic perspective” to the development cooperation agenda between the two. Kwatra also highlighted the agreement signed between the two countries on collaboration on green hydrogen and renewables. A total of 9 agreements in multiple areas were signed on the occasion of the 6^th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC). (more) PM Modi arrived in Berlin on Mon on the first day of his 3-day Europe visit. PM Modi and the German chancellor Olaf Scholz hold a bilateral meeting, followed by one to one meeting, which was their first engagement since Scholz assumed office in Dec 2021. PM Modi said that no country could emerge victorious from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He reiterated firmly saying, “We are for peace.” Scholz said through its attack on Ukraine, “Russia has violated fundamental principles of international law”. India and Germany express support for upcoming FTA negotiations between the EU and India. Discussions covered key areas of bilateral cooperation under the overall strategic partnership, as well as regional and global developments. (here, here)

China completes Pangong Tso bridge, now making the road to link Tibet garrison, satellite images show

ThePrint-China has completed the construction in the 1^st week of Apr, of a strategic bridge over Pangong Tso on territory it holds in Khurnak, which will cut down a 180-km loop (Khurnak to the south banks through Rutog county in Tibet), the narrowest part of the lake that straddles Ladakh and Tibet. It’s now building roads to connect this to one of its biggest military garrisons in the region, the latest satellite pictures show. In Jan this year, the Indian defense establishment found that a bridge was being built with pre-fabricated structures over the northern part of Pangong Tso. (source)- this was being built to counter any future moves by the Indian Army on the lines of its Aug 2020 operation, which led to the capture of dominating heights on Pangong Tso’s southern banks. The latest imagery of the locations shows that the Chinese have now also started road construction work.

Infrastructure build-up-While the stand-off was on the southern banks of Pangong Tso, between Sept 2020 and mid-2021, the Chinese had built a new road to the Moldo garrison to circumvent the visibility arc of the Indian soldiers and equipment on top of advantageous heights. (here)

Indian professionals in China ask EAM Jaishanker to help them reunite with their families

A group of Beijing-based Indian professionals, working in sectors like automobile, technology, and media has petitioned the Indian govt to help them reunite with their families, including children who have not been able to return after leaving China because of the spread of Covid since early 2020. The Indians have been separated from their partners and children for over 26 months because of the Chinese harsh rules for entering China. Conversely, the petitioning Indians have also not been able to visit their home country because their residence visas and work permits – mandatory to stay and work in any country — would automatically be canceled if they leave China with almost no chance of being renewed. (here)

India sets coal import target of 19 million tons amid blackouts, crisis: Report

The move, which marks the first time the world’s 2^nd-largest coal importer is issuing timelines for imports, can put pressure on the global prices of coal as the utilities rush to avoid a repeat of the electricity crisis in Apr. India has asked state and private sector utilities to ensure delivery of 19 mn tonnes of coal from overseas by end-Jun, according to a power ministry letter, reflecting an urgency to secure supplies in a pricey market amid increasing blackouts. If the timelines are adhered to, the imports by the states and private utilities over the next 5 months for blending with domestic coal will surpass annual imports by the entities in at least 6 years. The federal govt has asked state-owned utilities to import over 22 mn tonnes of coal and private power plants to import 15.94 mn tonnes, the ministry said in a letter reviewed by Reuters. The ministry asked all utilities to ensure delivery of 50% of the allocated quantity by Jun 30, another 40% by end-Aug, and the remaining 10% by the end of Oct. (here)

Ahead of mega LIC IPO launch, Congress criticizes the government, asks 4 questions

LIC IPO: The insurance behemoth has raised over ₹5,627 crores from anchor investors led primarily by domestic institutions. “Why was the LIC valuation of ₹12-14 lakh crore in Feb 2022 reduced to ₹6 lakh crore in just two months?” “Why did the Modi govt suddenly reduce the ‘valuation of LIC’ and ‘issue size’ after roadshows in India and abroad? “Is Modi govt ignoring LIC’s key indices?” in the last question, a reference to the Ukraine war was made as an “exception to the LIC IPO policy” was questioned, citing the Public Sector Divestment’s secy-in-charge’s statement that the govt won’t sell stakes in public sector units if the conditions were not favorable. In what has been said to be one of the biggest IPOs in the Indian market, the govt aims to raise ₹21,000 crores by diluting 3.5% of the stakes. (here)

Curfew clamped in parts of Jodhpur as violence erupts again

The violence erupted again on Tue morning at the Jalori Gate over the unfurling of a flag. The police lathi-charged the miscreants, fired tear gas shells, and dispersed the mob. After communal clashes that broke out in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur on the eve of Eid were quelled, fresh violence again erupted in the city’s Jalori Gate area on Tue. People pelted stones and damaged vehicles. The police had to lob tear gas shells and resort to mild lathi-charges to disperse the mob. Curfew was clamped in ten police station areas of Rajasthan’s Jodhpur on Tuesday after clashes occurred again between two groups. The clashes had first erupted late Mon night.

Successful trials of ATAGS howitzers carried out in Pokhran

ANI – Trials of the made-in-India Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) were successfully conducted at Pokhran Field Firing Range (PFFR) between Apr 26 and May 2, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) officials said on Mon. ATAGS is a fully indigenous towed artillery gun system project undertaken in mission mode by DRDO as a part of the artillery modernization program of the Indian Army. The ATAGS has been developed by the DRDO and produced by two firms Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems Limited. The gun is expected to be the mainstay of the Indian Army tower howitzer fleet and may also be used to replace the Bofors howitzers.

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Shanghai nursing home resident wrongly sent to the morgue while still alive

A Shanghai nursing home resident was ‘mistakenly’ taken to the morgue while still alive, state media reported, as the city’s Covid-19 outbreak and prolonged lockdown stretch aged-care and medical facilities to breaking point. 4 people were subsequently dismissed from their positions, including the director of the nursing home and 3 officials from the district civil affairs bureau and social development office, according to China Central TV. The municipal govt confirmed the incident and said it has launched an investigation- local media. While the nursing home apologized, the error has triggered widespread anger and condemnation among Chinese people, according to discussions on social media. The mistake comes as Shanghai’s lockdown enters its fifth week and new Covid cases remain in the thousands each day. (here)

China sends aircraft carrier, warships to seas near Japan

Led by the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s aircraft carrier Liaoning, 8 Chinese warships passed between southern Japan’s Okinawa island chain on Mon in a passage that state media described as “preparation for missions that include a potential military conflict across the Taiwan Straits”. The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force dispatched the Izumo, a helicopter carrier, as well as P-1 maritime patrol aircraft and P-3C anti-submarine aircraft to monitor the passage of the Chinese vessels. The warships sailed between the main Okinawa island and Miyakojima, the Japanese defense ministry and Chinese state media reports said, adding while there was no incursion into Japan’s territorial waters, helicopters on board the Liaoning carrier took off and landed. In Chinese naval doctrine, these islands are part of the “first island chain” and sailing past these means a projection of power by the Chinese navy. The US 7^th Fleet, which is stationed in Japan, is also expected to monitor the passage of the Chinese warships. China already has the largest navy in the world and, according to a 2021 US department of defense report, Beijing plans to increase the size from 355 to 460 ships by 2030. (here)

UAE Experts are due today to Discuss Economic Cooperation

To extend support to the govt for economic stability in Pakistan, a team of economic experts from the UAE is scheduled to visit the country on Tue (today) to discuss the implementation of decisions made by the leadership of Pakistan and the UAE during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent trip to the Middle East. According to the PM Office, the UAE economic experts would also meet PM Sharif in Lahore on Tue. Separately, PM Shehbaz also met the secretary-general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Hissein Brahim Taha, in Makkah on Sat in which the PM affirmed his govt’s commitment to promoting the interests of Muslim Ummah as a corner-stone of Pakistan’s foreign policy, a statement by the PM Office said. He also thanked Taha for OIC’s consistent and unequivocal support of the Kashmir cause urging him to lead the diplomatic endeavors. (here)

London, Bilawal House worried by govt handling of Madina incident

The top leadership and saner elements in the PML-N and PPP — the two largest partners in the ruling coalition — are unhappy over the handling of the situation after the Madina mosque incident and the registration of cases against PTI leaders in different parts of the country. Background interviews with several senior leaders of the 2 parties reveal there is a general feeling within the ruling coalition that the govt may have “overreacted” to the issue, and the registration of cases and action against some PTI leaders are now proving counterproductive for the govt. (here)

A flare-up of Durand line disagreement may change Afghanistan, Pakistan equations

ANI -Flare-up of the Durand line disagreement has the potential to lead to a change of equations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Surprisingly, much before the Taliban-led regime in Kabul completes a year in office, Pakistan and its western neighbor Afghanistan are falling apart. In this context, Rajiv Dogra’s examination of the border issue as the ‘Durand’s Curse’ attains greater significance for analysts and policymakers, reported Asian Lite International. Former diplomat Rajiv Dogra’s “Durand’s Curse” is the first book written in the world on the Durand agreement which divided Pathans and has bedeviled the world ever since. The illogical division of land, as well as the division of people of one ethnicity into two separate countries, reported ALI. Disputed in the context of the struggle for the Pashtun homeland, the Durand Line has of late become the cause of heightened border tensions between Pak and Af, especially in the recent past. Taliban, however, denies harboring Pakistani militants but is also infuriated by a fence Islamabad is erecting along their 2,700 km border. This is very unsettling for the Pakistan military establishment. (here)