1. PM Modi chairs high-level meeting to review preparedness against Cyclone Biparjoy
2. China tells lone Indian journalist to leave as diplomatic tensions soar: Report
3. NIA releases videos of attempted vandalization of Indian HC in UK to identify anti-social elements
4. NIA attaches 17 properties of terrorist financer Zahoor Watali in Hurriyat terror funding case
5. Pakistan’s Russian crude shipment paid in Chinese currency: minister

What Else

6. India’s GDP swells to $3.75 trillion as it topples other biggies
7. “Release detained farmers, buy sunflower seeds at MSP”: Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait
8. Displaying assassination tableau of India’s former PM Indira Gandhi ‘not hate crime’: Canada
9. India focusing on long-range weapons capable of reaching targets across China: Sipri report
10. Nilakshi Saha Sinha concurrently accredited as next Indian envoy to Georgia
11. Cowin app or database not appear to have been directly breached: Union Minister
12. India-UAE: Talks on Rupee-Dirham-based trade gathered pace, says Piyush Goyal
13. Jaishankar hails Singapore’s ratification of International Solar Alliance
14. ‘We will shut Twitter down’: Jack claims India put pressure on platform during farmers’ stir
15. The US Is Preparing Evacuation Plans for American Citizens in Taiwan (Exclusive)
16. Ex-Samsung Exec Accused of Stealing Designs to Make Copycat Chip Plant in China

PM Modi chairs high-level meeting to review preparedness against Cyclone Biparjoy

• PM Modi on Mon chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness of ministries /agencies of the Centre, as well as, Gujarat to deal with the Cyclone Biparjoy.
• PM directed officers to take every possible measure to ensure that the State Govt safely evacuates people and to ensure maintenance of all essential services such as power.
• Meteorological Department informed that Biparjoy is expected to cross Saurashtra and Kutch between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) by noon of June 15 as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 145 kmph. (here)

China tells lone Indian journalist to leave as diplomatic tensions soar: Report

• Tensions between China and India over the expulsion of other’s journalists reached a new height after Beijing officials asked the lone Indian reporter of PTI to leave.
• Foreign ministries are yet to comment on this matter.
• His departure marks the end of India‘s minuscule media presence amidst the deteriorating ties between the two Asian giants.
• Earlier in April, two Indian correspondents were barred from returning to China after the Chinese FM “froze” their visas.
• While in May, the third journalist did not have his accreditation renewed.
• Last month, China claimed that its action was in response to India denying visas to Chinese journalists.
• US, Australia also have tiff with China: Apart from India, the US and Australia also witnessed diplomatic tensions over journalist visas. (here)
• “One is still working and living in China,” the Chinese foreign ministry said when asked about the fate of the last Indian journalists in China.
• He did not comment on the visa status of the reporter or the prospect of a visa renewal.
• “China has exercised restraint, upheld goodwill, and communicated with the Indian side many times. However, it is regrettable that India has not taken any action to solve the problem,” he said [on expected line]. (here)

NIA releases videos of attempted vandalization of Indian HC in UK to identify anti-social elements

• India’s Investigation Agency, NIA has released over 2 hours of CCTV of the attempted vandalization of the High Commission in London, UK by anti-national elements.
• NIA has appealed to the public to provide information regarding the people seen in the CCTV footage to the agency in the public interest.
• The NIA has released CCTV footage of the Khalistani attack, given a WhatsApp number as well seeking info on the vandalisers, while promising to keep the identity secret.
• Information may be provided on Whatsapp No +91 7290009373. The identity of the informant shall be kept secret.”
• The Indian community on Mar 19 held a large gathering in front of the Indian HC in London against the “disrespectful act” that the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and the British govt acted against the perpetrators at the earliest. (here)

NIA attaches 17 properties of terrorist financer Zahoor Watali in Hurriyat terror funding case

• The NIA on Mon attached 17 properties of the financier of terrorism in J&K, Zahoor Ahmed Watali, in the Hurriyat terror funding case in which J&K Liberation Front’s Yasin Malik is currently undergoing life imprisonment.
• The 17 properties belonging to Watali in the Handwara, Kupwara have been attached by the NIA on orders by the NIA Court, under section 33(1) of the UA(P) Act today.
• Besides Malik, 17 others, including Hafiz Saeed, and Mohd Yusuf Shah, were charge-sheeted in the case, which had been registered suo moto on May 30, 2017.
• Malik was convicted of all the various charges against him, and sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine, in the case in May 2022. (here)
• A terrorist associate of LeT was arrested by Bandipora Police in a joint operation with RR and CRPF, informed J&K police on Tue.
• The police recovered 2 Chinese hand grenades from the arrested accused. Further details are awaited. (here)

India’s GDP swells to $3.75 trillion as it topples other biggies

• India’s GDP has reached $3.75 trillion in 2023, from around $2 trillion in 2014, said finance minister N Sitharaman on Mon.
• Sitharaman called India a ‘bright spot’ in the global economy.
• Last year, India surpassed the UK to become the world’s 5^th-largest economy and is now behind only the US, China, Japan, and Germany, as per the IMF projections.
• Recently, a stronger-than-expected Q4 lifted India’s growth to 7.2% in FY23, exceeding the 7% cited in the 2^nd advance estimates released in Feb. (here)

“Release detained farmers, buy sunflower seeds at MSP”: Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait

• Traffic on Mon on the Delhi-Chandigarh National Highway 44 was closed by farmers in Kurukshetra over their demand for MSP for sunflowers.
• Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, however, said that the farmers are not blocking the highway. “It is not right, highways should not be blocked,” Tikait said.
• “We have only two demands, release the farmers who were detained and start purchasing sunflower seeds at MSP.
• “We are ready to hold discussions with the govt,” Tikait said.
• Farmers and their supporters from Punjab and Haryana were seen coming out on streets in large numbers on their tractors after the maha panchayat this morning.
• Among those present at the maha panchayat was Olympic wrestler Bajrang Punia, who is among the grapplers demanding action against WFI chief Brij Bhushan.
• The protesting farmers from Haryana, Punjab, and UP among others, claimed that the govt was not buying sunflower seeds at the minimum support price. (here)

Displaying assassination tableau of India’s former PM Indira Gandhi ‘not hate crime’: Canada

• Canada has denied any “hate crime” involved in the display of tableau rejoicing the assassination of India’s former PM Indira Gandhi at a parade in Canada’s Brampton.
• Brampton mayor, Patrick Brown said in a statement on Sat “Police have looked at the video and it’s their determination it does not constitute a hate crime.”
• The mayor further said that Canadians are “guaranteed freedom of thought, belief and expression” under Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
• So far, there has been no official reaction from Ottawa, except the condemnation issued by Canada’s High Commissioner to India Cameron McKay. (here)

India focusing on long-range weapons capable of reaching targets across China: Sipri report

• India is intensifying its efforts to bolster its nuclear capabilities, with a particular emphasis on developing longer-range weapons, according to a report by Sipri.
• This strategic shift is driven by escalating tensions and perceived threats from neighbors China and Pakistan, the report stated on Mon.
• India and Pakistan appeared to be expanding their nuclear arsenals and developing new types of nuclear delivery systems.
• The report pointed out that India appears to be placing growing emphasis on longer-range weapons, including those capable of reaching targets across China.
• The rapidly increasing geo-political tension in the Indo-Pacific region, marked by China’s assertive behavior and rapid military modernization, has compelled India.
• India’s focus on longer-range nuclear weapons aims to bolster its deterrence capabilities against China (here)

Nilakshi Saha Sinha concurrently accredited as next Indian envoy to Georgia

• Nilakshi Saha Sinha, the Ambassador of India to the Republic of Armenia, has been concurrently accredited as the next Envoy of India to Georgia.
• She would have her residence in Yerevan.
• Georgia, a former Soviet republic located at the intersection of Europe and Asia, is home to Black Sea beaches and settlements in the Caucasus Mountains. (here)

Cowin app or database not appear to have been directly breached: Union Minister

• Amid reports of alleged breach of data on the CoWIN, IT Minister Chandrasekhar on Mon asserted that it does not appear that the Cowin app or database has been directly breached, and added that Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) responded.
• The Minister further said the National Data Governance policy has been finalized that will create a common framework of data storage, access, and security standards.
• A Telegram Bot was throwing up Cowin app details upon entry of phone numbers, he said. (here)

India-UAE: Talks on Rupee-Dirham-based trade gathered pace, says Piyush Goyal

• Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that the Central Banks of India and UAE are in active dialogue for a Rupee-Dirham trade mechanism.
• He, however, did not mention any timeline for the finalization and said, “l and you can imagine good outcomes very soon,” Goyal added.
• This Rupee-based trade followed the Reserve Bank of India’s announcement — a mechanism to settle payments for international trade in rupees. (here)
• India and UAE on Mon agreed to set a target of USD 100 billion of trade in non-petroleum products by 2030 from the $48 billion at present. (here)

Jaishankar hails Singapore’s ratification of International Solar Alliance

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Mon hailed Singapore’s ratification of the International Solar Alliance as a “big step.”
• Calling it a big step, Jaishankar on Mon announced that Singapore has ratified the ISA, signifying the decision to join collective efforts on climate action.
• Speaking at the G20 Ministers’ Meeting in Varanasi, he said that it is a big step because when a country like Singapore, is so active and motivational for many.
• ISA is a group of 106 signatory countries (86 of which are members), the majority of which lie entirely or partially between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. (here)

‘We will shut Twitter down’: Jack Dorsey claims India put pressure on platform during farmers’ stir

• Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in an interview with YouTube/podcast “Breaking Points” started in 2021 talks about Worlds Largest Democracy,
• “India for example, India is one of the country which had many requests around farmers’ protests, around particular journalists which were critical of the govt, and It manifested in ways such as
  • ‘we will shut Twitter down in India’,
  • ‘we would raid the homes of your employees..’
  • ‘We will shut down your offices if you don’t follow suit’.
• And this is India, A democratic country.” (here)
• Several Opposition leaders reacted sharply to Dorsey’s claims about pressure on Twitter from the Union govt.
• Indian Youth Congress president Srinivas BV shared excerpts from the interview on Twitter with the caption: “Mother of Democracy – Unfiltered.”
• “GoI was obligated to remove misinformation from the platform because it had the potential to further inflame the situation based on fake news,” said IT Minister.
• There is ample evidence now in the public domain about Jacks’ Twitter’s arbitrary, blatantly partisan n discriminatory conduct and misuse of its power on its platform during that period.
• [Jack started with, “For example, India…” What he claimed is what had appeared to him, not what happened.
• Also, GOI’s requests targeted ‘handles’ spreading disinformation, not those merely “critical of the government.”
• Enough on social media how Jack ]

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Pakistan’s Russian crude shipment paid in Chinese currency: minister

• Pakistan paid for its 1^st G2G import of Russian crude in Chinese currency, dy Minister, Petroleum said on Mon— a significant shift in its $ -dominated export payments policy.
• The 1^st cargo of discounted crude oil arranged under a new deal struck between Islamabad and Moscow arrived in Karachi on Sun.
• It is currently being offloaded at the port.
• Minister did not disclose the commercial details, including pricing or the discount that Pakistan received, but said the payment was made in Chinese currency.
• He said the purchase consisted of 100,000 tonnes, of which 45,000 tonnes had docked at Karachi port and the rest was on its way.
• The purchase was made back in April. (here)
• That’s the reason why Russia agreed to the Pakistan oil deal despite warning Pakistan for months of “consequences” if it turns out that it is sending weapons to Ukraine.
• Pakistan has been sending weapons for a year now.

The US Is Preparing Evacuation Plans for American Citizens in Taiwan (Exclusive)

• The Messenger (3 sources)-The U.S. govt is preparing evacuation plans for American citizens living in Taiwan.
• The planning has been underway for at least 6 months and “it’s heated up over the past 2 months or so,” said a senior U.S. intelligence official.
• The official said a “heightened level of tension” had driven the preparations. “It’s nothing you wouldn’t read in the news,” he told The Messenger.
• “Forces building up. China aligning with Russia on Ukraine.”
• The details of the U.S. plans are still being worked out, sources told The Messenger, including where U.S. citizens might be evacuated if it were deemed necessary. (here)

Ex-Samsung Exec Accused of Stealing Designs to Make Copycat Chip Plant in China

• A former Samsung Electronics executive allegedly stole blueprints and designs to try and replicate an entire semiconductor plant in China, Korean prosecutors said
• Prosecutors outlined a stunningly ambitious attempt to set up world-class chipmaking capabilities in Xi’an, backed by the capital world’s No. 2 economy.
• Accused of stealing trade secrets from 2018 to 2019, backed by capital from a Taiwanese company they didn’t identify.
• The case comes amid rising tensions between Beijing and Washington, where the latter has passed legislation and lobbied to keep semiconductor capabilities out of Chinese.
• Xi’s govt has argued the US is unfairly trying to hold back China’s economic development.
• Samsung, which dominates the global market for the memory used in smartphones and computers, declined to comment. (here)