1. PM Modi’s 3 nation visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia
2. PM Narendra Modi inaugurates international museum expo
3. China, Turkey likely to skip G20 meet in Kashmir
4. Siddaramaiah to be next Karnataka CM, DK Shivakumar deputy CM, declares Congress
5. Punjab: Farmers block railway track during protests, say compensation for land acquisition inadequate; trains affected

What Else

6. After Kiren Rijiju’s exit, MoS law SP Baghel shifted to health ministry
7. India in touch with US on Tahawwur Rana’s early extradition: Foreign secy Vinay Kwatra
8. Counter CyberAttack: Indian Hackers Retaliate, Paralyze 10 Pakistani Embassy Sites in Worldwide DDoS Drama!
9. Supreme Court stays WB govt’s ban on ‘The Kerala Story’, asks TN govt to provide security
10. Elon Musk’s Tesla finally coming to India? Here’s what we know
11. Indian Navy deploys aircraft to rescue 39 crew on Chinese ship that sank; two bodies found
12. Pakistan: “Orchestrated May 9 violence will never be allowed again”: COAS Asim Munir
13. Nepal: Bhutanese refugee leader Tek Nath Rijal arrested in connection with refugee scam

PM Modi’s 3 nation visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia

• PM Modi is set to visit Hiroshima, Japan for the G7 Summit following an invitation by the Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida as Tokyo holds the presidency this year.
• He will also travel to 3 countries from May 19 to May 24.
• PM Modi is also expected to address sessions at the G7 on subjects like peace, stability and prosperity of a sustainable planet; food, fertilizer and energy security, etc
• G7 this year’s of the group world’s most advanced economies will be focused on nuclear disarmament; economic resilience and security; regional issues; etc.
• On the sidelines of G7, a bilateral is expected with Kishida and [US President Joe Biden]
• During this visit, PM Modi will travel to 3 countries, where he will participate in 3 summits of G7, Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC), and Quad.

[However, it is uncertain when Quad will take place, as it was scheduled in Sydney, but later canceled, and then news flash that meets may be possible in Japan]

• Notably, the Indian PM is scheduled to have over 40 engagements with over 2 dozen world leaders in summits as well as bilateral meetings.
• PM Modi will also hold a bilateral meeting with PM Albanese on May 24, marking his 5^th meeting with the Australian counterpart this year. (here)
• India is planning for QUAD leaders meeting in Japan on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Thu. (here)
• Japan considering joining India’s UPI payment system, says Japanese Minister Kono Taro. It could be another standard of cross-border payment,” he said. (here)

PM Narendra Modi inaugurates international museum expo

• PM Modi on Thu inaugurated the international museum expo at the national Capital.
• He also unveiled the plan for one of the world’s largest museums, Yuge Yugeen Bharat, which will capture 5,000 years of India’s history and replace the existing one.
• The PM underlined the loss of India’s heritage during the period of slavery which lasted for hundreds of years.
• He said that many ancient manuscripts and libraries were burnt to the ground at the time. “This is not just a loss for India, but for the world,” PM Modi said.
• “We have to honour our legacy, as we work to create a better and brighter future”, he said. (here)
• PM will dedicate the newly constructed Parliament building to the Nation on May 28.

China, Turkey likely to skip G20 meet in Kashmir

• China and Turkey are among G20 member states that won’t attend a tourism working group meeting to be held in Srinagar, May 22-24 while several other countries will have low-level participation in the event, people familiar with the matter said.
• The meeting, to be held during, is being billed as one of the largest international events to be organized in Kashmir post Article 370 abrogation.
• Tight security arrangements have been put in place around the venue, SKICC on the banks of the Dal Lake.
• It was unclear if Indonesia, the last president of the G20 and a member of the grouping’s troika, would participate in the meeting in Srinagar.
• These countries are likely to be represented by diplomats from their embassies in New Delhi instead of officials from their respective capitals, the people added.
• Saudi and Mexico are likely to be among these countries, to avoid participation. (here)

Siddaramaiah to be next Karnataka CM, DK Shivakumar deputy CM, declares Congress

• Siddaramaiah will be the next CM of Karnataka and DK Shivakumar the deputy CM, senior Congress leader KC Venugopal confirmed on Thu.
• The two leaders, who were in a tight race for the top post, are expected to take oath along with other ministers on May 20 at the swearing-in ceremony.
• Venugopal also thanked the party’s top leadership for their role in the outcome of the state assembly polls.
• Congress won the Karnataka assembly elections with a thumping majority of which the results were announced on Sat.
• The party secured 135 seats while the BJP won 66 seats and the JDS managed to get 19 seats. (here)

Punjab: Farmers block railway track during protests, say compensation for land acquisition inadequate; trains affected

• Hundreds of activists of farmers’ outfit KMSC on Thu squatted on a railway track and blocked rail traffic at Devidaspura village here over alleged “inadequate compensation” for the land acquired for the Bharatmala project, [in 2021].
• Railway officials said incoming and outgoing trains running between Amritsar and Delhi were affected after 12.30 pm in the wake of the farmers’ protest.
• They said all trains on this particular section here are being diverted.
• He said that govt were acquiring the land but not paying adequate compensation as desired by farmers.
• Chabba also alleged that a woman farmer was slapped by a policeman in Gurdaspur, accusing police of using force against protesting farmers. (here)

After Kiren Rijiju’s exit, MoS law SP Baghel shifted to health ministry

• Union Minister of State SP Singh Baghel has been moved from the law ministry to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare where he will take charge as the MoS
• Earlier today Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju was assigned as Minister of Earth Sciences while Arun Ram Meghwal was allotted the charge of the Law Ministry.
• Rijiju took over as the Law and Justice Minister on July 8, 2021.
• He served as the MoS (Independent Charge) of Youth Affairs and Sports from May 2019 to July 2021. (here)

India in touch with US on Tahawwur Rana’s early extradition: Foreign secy Vinay Kwatra

• India is in regular touch with the US authorities for the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, Kwatra said on Thu against the milieu of a US court approving extradition.
• In India’s fight for bringing perpetrators of the 26/11 attacks to justice, the US Judge of US District Court issued a 48-page order on May 16, saying Rana should be extradited.
• The ruling on Rana’s extradition came just over a month before Modi travels to the US on his first state visit at the invitation of Biden. (here)

Counter CyberAttack: Indian Hackers Retaliate, Paralyze 10 Pakistani Embassy Sites in Worldwide DDoS Drama!

• At midnight on May 18^th, a wave of cyber warfare shook the digital world.
• Indian hacktivist group Kerela Cyber Xtractors claimed responsibility for successfully taking down a total of 10 Pakistani Embassy websites across the globe.
• The impacted nations included India, France, Germany, and Kazakhstan, leaving a significant imprint on the digital map.
• This massive online assault was not a standalone event but a counter-attack.
• The KCX’s robust response was to the recent DDoS attack launched by a Pakistani hacktivist group, Team Insane PK, that targeted 23 Indian State Police websites. (here)
• Indian and Pakistani hackers have been engaging in this kind of ‘cyber war’ for more than two years now, for the most part as small groups or working solo.
• The attacks of choice usually involve breaking into and defacing govt websites of the other country, though they also occasionally target those of colleges and NGOs. (here)

Supreme Court stays WB govt’s ban on ‘The Kerala Story’, asks TN govt to provide security

• The SC on Thu stayed West Bengal govt’s order banning the screening of the film “The Kerala Story” and directed the Tamil Nadu govt to ensure the safety of moviegoers
• Theatre owners decided to stop screening the film due to security concerns.
• A bench headed by CJ also directed the producer to put a disclaimer in the movie by 5 pm on May 20 on the claim that 32,000 Hindu and Christian women were converted.
• The Court also agreed to examine the petitions challenging orders passed by the Kerala and Madras high court declining stay on the film’s release. (here)

Elon Musk’s Tesla finally coming to India? Here’s what we know

• Tesla Inc has reportedly proposed setting up a factory in India to build electric cars for domestic sale and export.
• Senior executives from Tesla are on an India visit to meet the Indian govt officials on May 17 and 18 to discuss issues like local procurement of parts etc.
• Reuters says that the proposal comes after India refused to agree to Tesla’s request last year to lower the import tax on cars, which can reach as much as 100%. (here)

Indian Navy deploys aircraft to rescue 39 crew on Chinese ship that sank; two bodies found

• the Indian Navy stated on Thu that it deployed its “Air MR assets” in the Southern Indian Ocean Region to rescue the sinking Chinese fishing vessel.
• 2 bodies found in Chinese vessel: On Thu, 2 bodies were found in the search for the missing crew members, China’s state media reported.
• The ongoing search operation following the capsizing of the Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028 “found and salvaged the remains of two victims”, Xinhua reported.
• No details were given on the nationalities of the bodies.
• Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s spokesperson told Xinhua that based on drift modeling, a remote 12,000 km² zone has been identified to search for the vessel. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Pakistan: “Orchestrated May 9 violence will never be allowed again”: COAS Asim Munir

• Army Chief Gen Munir has said that “planned and orchestrated tragic incidents” of May 9, the day military installations were attacked, will never be allowed again at any cost.
• According to the military media wing ISPR, COAS visited Sialkot Garrison and laid a floral wreath at the Martyrs’ Monument while paying rich tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the pride, honor, and dignity of the nation.
• Those killed “have been promised the highest abode in the life hereafter and shall continue to maintain the highest levels of respect amongst the people of Pakistan,” he said (here)
• Former PM says law of jungle is prevailing in Pakistan: Imran Khan hit out at the Sharif-led ruling dispensation and Pakistan army for killing and injuring several of his party workers.
• The Punjab govt gave Khan a 24-hour deadline to hand over 30 to 40 terrorists that were allegedly taking refuge at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore (here)
• Dy regional director for South Asia at Amnesty International, said that Pakistan’s army now intends to hold trials for the protesting civilians in military courts
• Former PM Imran Khan says his legal problems have been orchestrated because he dared to take on the country’s powerful military.
• 20 party leaders left the party so far.
• Punjab police to send ‘delegation’ to search Imran’s residence tomorrow: Amir Mir
• President Dr Arif Alvi, who belongs to the PTI, on Thu said his party chairman and deposed premier Imran Khan should condemn the violence triggered on May 9 in the wake of the latter’s arrest.

Nepal: Bhutanese refugee leader Tek Nath Rijal arrested in connection with refugee scam

• Police on Thu arrested Bhutanese refugee leader Tek Nath Rijal from the Tribhuvan International Airport this afternoon in connection with the fake refugee scam.
• The court has remanded him to two days in custody.
• The refugee leader was on the police radar for his alleged involvement based on statements by other accused.
• Earlier today, police arrested Nepal Hajj Committee President Shamsher Miya for his alleged involvement in the scam.
• A total of 15 people including former deputy PM Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and former home minister Bal Krishna Khand have been so far arrested in the scam
• In the scam, scores of people were swindled of millions of rupees under the pretext of sending them to the United States as Bhutanese refugees. (here)