1. Modi’s swearing-in ceremony likely to be held on June 9: Reports
2. Biden, Putin, Sunak call Modi; 7 countries invited to swearing-in
3. Canada says India second-biggest foreign threat to its democracy
4. China protests PM Modi’s response to Taiwan President’s greetings, US says diplomatic business, While Taiwan Slams China
5. Naveen Patnaik’s first reaction after poll loss: ‘We shouldn’t be ashamed’

What Else

1. Operation Blue Star anniversary marked by pro-Khalistan slogans at Golden Temple
2. MP Kangana Ranaut slapped by a CISF guard at Chandigarh airport
3. Famous temple in India’s Kashmir gutted in fire, cause of blaze not known
4. Pakistan, Panama, Somalia, Denmark and Greece elected UNSC non-permanent members
5. Pakistan: PM Shehbaz in China pledges full support, security for investors
6. Nepal: Cabinet recalls 11 ambassadors, despite strong objections by Foreign Minister
7. China: US and allies say China is ‘aggressively recruiting’ their fighter pilots
8. Chinese, Ukrainian ministers meet days after Zelensky slams Beijing over Russia relations
9. China’s expanding travel curbs are cutting off more state workers from the rest of the world

—————-

Modi’s swearing-in ceremony likely to be held on June 9: Reports

• Narendra Modi will most likely take oath as India’s PM for a historic third consecutive term on Jun 9 (Sun), reportedly rescheduled from 8^th according to reports citing sources.
• As India enters the era of coalition govt and BJP-led NDA to form govt after winning 293 seats, speculation remains rife over the ministry’s demand by the allies.
• Here are the top updates on politics revolving around India’s govt formation:
• (sources)- JD(U) with 12 seats has demanded the rail and fin and agriculture ministry
• TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar gave written support, besides 2 parties, LJP (RV) leader Chirag Paswan (4) Maha CM Eknath Shinde (7), JD(S) HD Kumaraswamy (2), and RLD’s Jayant Chaudhary.
• However, the BJP may not easily concede to its allies and has reportedly asserted its stake over key portfolios–Defence, Finance, Home, and Foreign Affairs.
• (sources)- the TDP and JDU are eyeing their preferred ministries.
• Based on initial discussions, the allies are demanding 1 minister for every 4 MPs.
• TDP is seeking 4 cabinet berths, while the JDU is pushing for 3 ministers.
• Additionally, Shinde’s Shiv Sena, and LJP, each expect two ministries.
• US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is set to visit India and interact with Modi’s new govt, said The White House
• NDA MPs will have a meeting on Jun at Parliament Central Hall, which will be their first meeting after the announcement of the results on June 4. (here)

Biden, Putin, Sunak call Modi; 7 countries invited to swearing-in

• US President Joe Biden called up PM Narendra Modi on Wed and congratulated him and the NDA on their victory, and “nearly 650 million voters in this historic election”.
• PM Posted on X-“…Conveyed that India-US Comprehensive Global Partnership is poised to witness many new landmarks in the years to come.”
• The U.S. govt, in addition to congratulating Mr Modi and the NDA, also congratulated journalists, civil society workers, and others for their contributions to democracy.
• Besides Biden, Russian President Putin, French President Macron, British PM Sunak, German Chancellor Scholz, Israel PM Netanyahu, Italian PM Meloni, B’desh PM Sheikh Hasina, Ukraine President Zelenskyy and Egypt President El Sisi were among the world leaders who congratulated.
• Leaders from Mauritius, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Maldives were among the first ones to wish Modi on Tue itself even before the final results were out
• Italian PM Meloni posted on X late night — being the 1^st G7 country — congratulating Modi for the victory.
• PM Modi is expected to travel to Italy for the G-7 outreach on Jun 13 and 14, where he will meet Biden, and other G7 leaders, as well as to Kazakhstan on July 3-4 for the SCO summit, where the Presidents of Russia, China, and Central Asian countries and the PM of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, are expected to be present.
• President Zelenskyy said, “I wish the people of India peace and prosperity, and I hope for continued cooperation between our countries.”
• “Everyone in the world recognizes the significance and weight of India’s role in global affairs. …. In this regard, we also look forward to seeing India attend the Peace Summit,” he said, reiterating the expectation that Delhi will send a representation to the peace conference in Switzerland on Jun 15-16.
• South Korea, Japan, UAE, Iran, Seychelles, Malaysia, Austria, EU, Argentina, Cambodia, Sweden, Greece, Denmark, Norway, Latvia, Netherlands and Lithuania were among others who also congratulated Modi.
• From Africa, presidents of Nigeria, Kenya, and Comoros, and leaders of Jamaica, Barbados, and Guyana from the Caribbean islands sent congratulatory messages. (here)
• 7 countries have been invited to oath-taking ceremony this weekend: The invited nations from India’s neighborhood and the IOR include—Seychelles, Mauritius, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal.
• PM Modi has personally reached out to several leaders from these countries, extending invitations that have now been formally sent.
• The grand event at Rashtrapati Bhawan will mark the beginning of Modi’s 3^rd consecutive term. (here)

Canada says India second-biggest foreign threat to its democracy

• A recent report from a high-level Canadian parliamentary committee has labeled India as the “second-biggest foreign threat” to Canada’s democracy.
• The report named China as the number-one threat. India has moved up from the third spot in 2019 ahead of Russia in the foreign threat perception index.
• While India’s interference efforts have slowly increased, it became clear that its efforts had extended beyond countering what it perceived as pro-Khalistani efforts in Canada to include interfering in Canadian democratic processes and institutions.
• Earlier this year, unclassified documents shared by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service alleged interference in Canada’s elections by some countries, including India.
• India had vehemently denied any such connection, and termed it allegations “baseless”.

• Contrary to the 2019 report that identified Russia as the 2^nd most significant foreign threat, has been downgraded.
• The committee’s report also noted the involvement of Pakistan and Iran.
• Dy PM Chrystia Freeland told reporters that the Canadian govt took such threats “very seriously” and that the country couldn’t be “naive” about authoritarian govts attempts.
• The NSICOP report comes amid strained relations between India and Canada.
• China remains the primary actor in foreign interference, according to the report, which highlights the nation as the “most prolific” in such activities. (here)

China protests PM Modi’s response to Taiwan President’s greetings, US says diplomatic business, While Taiwan Slams China

• China on Thu, Jun 6 protested over PM Modi’s comment that he looked forward to having closer ties with Taiwan and insisted that New Delhi should resist the Taiwan authorities’ “political calculations.”
• “First of all, there is no such thing as ‘president’ of the Taiwan region,” Chinese FM spox told a media briefing.
• “As for your question, China opposes all forms of official interactions between the Taiwan authorities and countries having diplomatic relations with China,” spox said.
• “India has made serious political commitments on this and is supposed to recognize, be alarmed about, and resist the Taiwan authorities’ political calculations. China has protested to India about this.”
• Earlier on Wed, Mr. Modi’s remarks came in response to a congratulatory message from Taiwan President Lai Ching-te on his election victory.
• In his reply posted on X, PM Modi said: “Thank you @ChingteLai for your warm message. I look forward to closer ties as we work towards mutually beneficial economic and technological partnership.” (here)
• US says diplomatic business: Amid China’s protest, the US State Department said such congratulatory messages between two foreign leaders are a part of diplomatic business.
• I would say that such congratulatory messages are the normal course of diplomatic business,” State Department Spox told reporters on Thu at his daily briefing. (here)
• Taiwan Slams China: While countries around the world are congratulating India on its successful completion of parliamentary elections and PM Modi’s re-election, China is using political coercion..which in turn highlights the nature of its authoritarian system.

Naveen Patnaik’s first reaction after poll loss: ‘We shouldn’t be ashamed’

• Odisha’s outgoing CM and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief Naveen Patnaik, reacting to his loss in the recently concluded Assembly elections, said that the party should not be ashamed of its 24-year rule.
• He also said that there were several milestones Odisha has achieved under his rule.
• He claimed that when he first became the chief minister of the state, 70% of Odisha was the Below Poverty Line but currently only 10% of them are below the poverty.
• Since 1997, the BJD has reigned over Odisha for 27 years.
• However, in the recently held state assembly polls, it lost to the BJP, breaking Patnaik’s aura of invincibility in the state. (here)

Operation Blue Star anniversary marked by pro-Khalistan slogans at Golden Temple

• On the 40^th anniversary of Operation Blue Star in Punjab, some Sikhs on Thu raised pro-Khalistan slogans within the Golden Temple in Amritsar
• Posters of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the prominent Khalistani separatist at the time [with a known Pakistan connection], were also seen during the demonstration.
• Indian Army’s ‘Blue Star Operation’ began on Jun 1, 1984, was carried out to eliminate Bhindranwale, who had taken shelter in the Golden Temple.
• Security beefed up in Amritsar: The Punjab police have beefed up security across Amritsar to prevent any unforeseen incidents.
• Security forces have been deployed throughout Amritsar, with checkpoints established on roads leading to the Golden Temple and SGPC task force personnel bolstering security within the complex.
• The Dal Khalsa organized a procession in memory of those who lost their lives during Operation Blue Star, referring to it as a “holocaust remembrance” parade.
• The radical group also announced a call for an Amritsar Bandh on June 6.
• The occasion also came in the wake of the overwhelming election victories of detained radical Sikh extremities Amritpal Singh and Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa- the son of Beant Singh, one of the assassins of former PM Indira Gandhi. (here)

MP Kangana Ranaut slapped by a CISF guard at Chandigarh airport

• Newly elected MP from the Mandi constituency on a BJP ticket Kangana Ranaut was reportedly slapped by a CISF guard at the Chandigarh airport on Thu.
• The actress has alleged that a female guard called Kulwinder Kaur slapped her while she was at the Chandigarh airport- on her way to New Delhi.
• The MP was on her way to Delhi for a party meeting when the incident took place.
• The guard reportedly attacked Kangana over her earlier comments on the farmers’ protest in 2021.
• On her arrival in Delhi in the evening, the media crowded the actress but she refrained from commenting about the incident.
• Ranaut made the comments in 2020 pointing to an elderly woman who was seen in the protests against the 3 farmer laws, misidentifying the woman as Bilkis Bano.
•  She reposted with pictures of 2 elderly women, including Bilkis, and wrote that the “same Dadi” who featured in Time Magazine was “available in 100 rupees”. (here)
• Kulwinder is the sister of Sher Singh Mahiwal, who is the organizational secretary of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee.
•  The 35-year-old now-suspended constable joined the CISF in 2009 and has been with the aviation security group of the force at the Chandigarh airport since 2021.
• She is from Punjab’s Sultanpur Lodhi and is the mother of two children.
• The CISF, tasked with providing security at airports, has also ordered a court of inquiry into the incident and lodged an FIR against Kulwinder. (here)

Famous temple in India’s Kashmir gutted in fire, cause of blaze not known

• A famous temple in J-K Gulmarg was gutted in a blaze early Wed.
• The fire broke out in the Shiv Temple, which is also known as Rani Temple, before dawn.
• Officials told PTI that police assisted by locals put out the fire but could not save the temple. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
• The temple was popular among tourists as it has been featured in several Bollywood movies.
• In a post on X, NC leader Omar Abdullah condemned the fire incident.
• “I hope the administration quickly establishes the cause of the fire & reconstructs this place of great religious (and tourist) significance as soon as possible,” he said. (here)

 [Neighborhood]

Pakistan, Panama, Somalia, Denmark and Greece elected UNSC non-permanent members

• Pakistan, Somalia, Denmark, Greece, and Panama were Thu elected as non-permanent members of the UNSC for a 2-year term from Jan 1^st, 2025.
• In the 2 seats for African and Asia-Pacific, Somalia got 179 votes and Pakistan 182.
• In the Latin American and Caribbean States, Panama got 183 votes while in the Western European and other States, Denmark got 184 votes and Greece 182.
• “Proud moment,” Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif posted on X.
• He said Pakistan was looking forward to working with the international community to address pressing global challenges.
• Pakistan’s Dy PM and FM Ishaq Dar said Pakistan looks forward to upholding its commitment to the UN Charter’s vision of preventing war & promoting peace; fostering global prosperity, and promoting universal respect for human rights. (here)
• Translation: China-Pak combined raking Kashmir, preventing listing of Pak terrorists.

But also means, that India’s friends and partners like Greece, Panama, and Denmark will be preventing any mischief.

Pakistan: PM Shehbaz in China pledges full support, security for investors

• Emphasizing the need for B2B cooperation between Pakistan and China, PM Shehbaz Sharif on Wed assured Chinese investors and their investment-oriented projects of all-out facilitation and foolproof security in Pakistan.
• Addressing the Business Forum in Shenzhen on the 2^nd day of his visit, the PM stressed bilateral trade and investment potential, especially in key sectors including the ToT, industry, and business in IT, agriculture, mining, steel, textiles, and renewable energy.
• He repeatedly lauded the Chinese model of development and economic transformation and vowed to replicate the same in Pakistan.
• He told the forum that Pakistan had mineral deposits of around $10 trillion, while the country’s exports stood at $30 billion.
• PM Shehbaz drew a comparison between the $500 billion GDP of the 13 million-strong city of Shenzhen and the $380 billion GDP of Pakistan, with its 250 million people.
• Earlier, PM Shehbaz was greeted at Beijing airport by Chinese Vice FM Sun Weidong and officials of Pakistan’s embassy in Beijing.
• The PM has an extensive program in Beijing and will meet with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and the chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.
• 32 MoUs on cooperation in various fields are likely to be signed.
• He also invited the Huawei chairman to visit Pakistan.
• Later, the PM also attended the signing ceremony of a framework agreement between Huawei and Pakistan’s Ministry of S&T under which the company would impart free-of-charge training to around 200,000 youngsters in IT including AI.
• Besides, the company would also extend its support to Pakistan in the establishment of Safe Cities, e-governance, and digitization of the economy. (here)

Nepal: Cabinet recalls 11 ambassadors, despite strong objections by Foreign Minister

• Despite strong reservations from Dy PM and FM Narayan Kaji Shrestha, the govt on Thu recalled ambassadors from 11 countries including India.
• Ahead of PM Pusha Kamal Dahal’s visit to New Delhi on Sun in Indian PM Modi’s swearing-in ceremony, the govt decided to recall its envoy to India, Shankar Sharma.
• Such a move sends a very undiplomatic message, multiple ministry officials told Post.
• Shrestha had reportedly been opposing the proposal to recall diplomats appointed in the quota for the Nepali Congress and other parties, but PM and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli unilaterally decided to recall the ambassadors, a minister told the Post.
• Shrestha is learned to have told both not to recall all 11 envoys because the performance of some of them was good, the minister said.
• Dahal and Oli are learned to have pressured Shrestha to accept the move which was later decided by the Cabinet.
• The recalled ambassadors were from India, USA, UK and South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Denmark, Israel, Malaysia, and Portugal.
• The envoys have been given 3-4 weeks to return, according to a minister. (here)

China: US and allies say China is ‘aggressively recruiting’ their fighter pilots

• The US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have jointly warned that China’s PLA is “aggressively recruiting” Western fighter pilots to train its military aviators.
• The US National CI and Security Center and its 5 Eyes intelligence-sharing network partners issued the warning.
• The concerns about Western pilots training their PLA peers have intensified since revelations in 2022 that the TFA of S Africa, a private school, had used more than 2 dozen retired British AF, navy, and army pilots to train Chinese military pilots.
• The Western partners had achieved some success recently in preventing recruitment, but PLA efforts continued to “evolve in response”.
• The 5 Eyes bulletin said recruiters for the PLA used “nefarious recruitment” methods that hid the involvement of China’s military.
• As part of the training, the PLA was trying to gain data about state-of-the-art Western aircraft and tactics that might be used in, for example, a conflict over Taiwan. (here)

Chinese, Ukrainian ministers meet days after Zelensky slams Beijing over Russia relations

• Senior Chinese and Ukrainian ministers met in Beijing on Wed in the first meeting of its kind since Russia’s invasion more than two years ago.
• The meeting between Chinese dy FM Sun Weidong and Andriy Sybiha, Ukraine’s 1^st dy FM, followed President Volodymyr Zelensky’s open criticism of Beijing over the weekend which has raised speculation relations between the two countries may have reached a “turning point”.
• Sybiha “informed his counterpart about the situation in Ukraine and preparations for the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland” and urged Beijing to send a delegation, as per the Ukrainian foreign ministry.
• Since the war started in Feb 2022, Zelensky has been reluctant to openly criticize China and its growing alignment with Moscow, but at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sun, he accused Beijing of trying to stop other countries from attending the talks.
• “Russia, using Chinese influence in the region, using Chinese diplomats also, does everything to disrupt the peace summit,” he said.
• He also claimed that Chinese economic and technology flows to Russia were helping it wage war, and that Beijing had not responded to requests for a meeting. (here)

China’s expanding travel curbs are cutting off more state workers from the rest of the world

• The restrictions, (or outright bans), have come into sharper focus in the past decade as Beijing seeks to neutralize a widening range of risks, including preventing corrupt officials from fleeing abroad, thefts of state secrets, or threats from foreign spies.
• Just as Beijing sought to re-engage with the rest of the world after three years of strict border controls under COVID-19, restrictions on a large group of personnel employed in the state sector – who are highly educated, relatively affluent and central to public life – have continued to tighten.
• Over the past year, from the central level down to the county level, various institutes and agencies continue to roll out fresh rules to curtail private overseas trips, encompassing wider segments of the population and putting those already covered under even closer scrutiny.
• But aside from impeding travel freedom, experts say the ongoing international travel restrictions will constrain China’s people-to-people exchanges with other countries, restrict information flows and stunt the perspectives of those who are responsible for carrying out the country’s policies on a day-to-day basis. (here)