1. India rushes support in the aftermath of Türkiye earthquake
2. PM Modi unveils India’s biggest helicopter manufacturing facility in Tumakuru
3. Indian researchers develop new tech to make military equipment invisible to radar
4. Buddhist ties strengthen India-South Korea diplomacy
5. Opposition hits streets over Adani as House stalled

What Else

6. India, EU set up key body for cooperation in sensitive technologies
7. Indo-Pacific and Ukraine conflict dominate as India and Canada’s FMs meet in New Delhi
8. India’s economy already 10% more energy efficient than G20 average: IEA
9. Sarbananda Sonowal, Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti discuss strengthening India-Qatar maritime cooperation
10. After mobile tower and engine, thieves now steal 2-km long train track in Bihar
11. US’ warning to China on helping sanctions-hit Russia: ‘We’re watching’
12. First two members of Swiss multi-party delegation arrive in Taiwan for six-day visit
13. Pakistan close to securing IMF deal: Khurram Dastgir
14. Pakistan: Deposit 50pc super tax in seven days, SC orders
15. Pakistan: Imran calls on volunteers to register for ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’
16. Pakistan lifts ban on Wikipedia after PM Shehbaz Sharif orders immediate restoration

India rushes support in the aftermath of Türkiye earthquake

• In response to the massive earthquake in Türkiye, which claimed 4,372 lives, PM Modi has issued instructions for “all possible assistance” to the country.
• Hundreds are feared dead in the earthquake that measured 7.8 magnitudes and was felt in many neighboring countries.
• P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the PM, chaired a meeting attended by high-level govt officials.
• PM express his condolences on Twitter as well as in his public meeting in Karnataka.
• The consignment includes 2 teams of NDRF, each consisting of 100 personnel and trained dog squads, and medical teams, equipped with doctors, and medicines. (here)
• Terming India as “Dost” [friend] for its generosity in providing funds to the country after 3 devastating earthquakes struck Turkey in 24 hours, Ambassador of Turkey to India Firat Sunel thanked New Delhi and said, “a friend in need is a friend indeed.”
• Earlier, the Minister of State of External Affairs visited Turkey’s embassy and expressed condolences. He also conveyed PM Modi’s sympathy and humanitarian support.
• [India has a $6.7 bn trade surplus with Turkey in $10.7 bn trade (2021-22)]
• Officials and agencies confirmed that at least 4,372 deaths have been confirmed in Turkey and Syria and according to the WHO the toll could surpass 20,000
• The toll has increased rapidly as the region faced the first earthquake on Mon morning followed by a 2^nd powerful tremor about 12 hours later.

PM Modi unveils India’s biggest helicopter manufacturing facility in Tumakuru

• PM Modi on Mon inaugurated the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s helicopter factory — the country’s largest chopper manufacturing facility — in Tumakuru, Karnataka.
• Bengaluru-HQ, HAL plans to produce more than 1,000 helicopters in the range of 3-15 tonnes with a total business of more than Rs 4 lakh crore over 20 years.
• The factory, spread across 615 acres for which the PM laid the foundation stone in 2016, would initially manufacture Light Utility Helicopters (LUH)).
• India will meet its entire requisite without import and give a much-needed fillip to the PM’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in design, development, and production.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Bommai, and senior officials of the Defence Ministry were among those present on the occasion.
• Assembly polls in Karnataka are due by May. (here)

Indian researchers develop new tech to make military equipment invisible to radar

• Indian researchers have been able to develop a material that can make stealth vehicles and covert formations less visible to the radar.
• The material can absorb a wide range of radar frequencies, irrespective of the direction from which the radar signal hits the target, said the team at the IIT Mandi.
• It can also be used to cover windows or glass panels of stealth vehicles and covert establishments that must be invisible to the radar.
• The research has been published in the journal “IEEE Letters on Electromagnetic Compatibility Practice and Applications”.
• Due to the symmetrical and lossy nature of these patterns, the proposed material absorbs a wide range of EM wave frequencies within C (4-8 GHz), X (8-12 GHz), and Ku (26-40 GHz) Bands that can absorb more than 90% of the radar waves. (here)

Buddhist ties strengthen India-South Korea diplomacy

• A group of 108 Buddhist pilgrims from S Korea will be on a 43-day tour of Buddhist holy sites in India and Nepal from Feb 9.
• The walking pilgrimage, which is being organized by the Sangwol Society (S Korea), will cover over 1,100 km and take the tourists to some of the most revered Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, before moving on to Nepal.
• The tour will include visits to Bodh Gaya, Nalanda University, the Buddha’s Relic Stupa Site in Vaishali, the Mahaparinirvana Temple and Ramabhar Stupa in Kushinagar, and the birthplace of the Buddha in Lumbini, Nepal.
• The Korean envoy also confirmed that his foreign minister Park Jin will be visiting India next month to attend the G20 Foreign ministers meeting in Delhi. (here)

Opposition hits streets over Adani as House stalled

• Parliament was washed out for the 3^rd consecutive day on Mon as opposition parties continued to press for a debate on allegations of fraud against the Adani Group.
• Even as Congress hit the streets across the country in protest against the Union govt on the issue.
• Outside Parliament, members of 17 opposition parties held a protest at the Gandhi statue after their demand for a discussion in Parliament was rejected in both Houses.
• Later in the day, some opposition leaders indicated that they could relent and allow the House to function on Tue. (here)
• [since 2919, the house couldn’t perform well because protests on ‘any issue’ erupted just before the commencement of the session, few from inside and others from outside]

India, EU set up key body for cooperation in sensitive technologies

• India and the EU on Mon established a new Trade and Technology Council that will give India access to technologies and allow it to set standards in areas like 5G and AI.
• This is only the 2^nd such body created by the 27-member EU, following the 1^st one set up with the US.
• It is also the first time India has set up a trade and technology body with any of its international partners.
• The 3 groups under the TTC will focus on strategic technologies, green energy technologies, and trade, investment, and resilient value chains.
• The working groups will meet within two weeks to prepare for the first meeting of the TTC, which will be held before the next India-EU Summit.
• The move is aimed at creating alternative supply chains and reducing reliance on China for critical and sensitive technologies.
• The TTC will facilitate work by the two sides to define norms and set standards for sensitive technologies. (here)

Indo-Pacific and Ukraine conflict dominate as India and Canada’s FMs meet in New Delhi

• EAM S. Jaishankar and Canadian FM Melanie Joly, in a meeting on Mon, discussed ways to deepen their bilateral partnership and exchanged views on the global situation, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
• They recognized the significance of people-to-people ties in expanding cooperation focused on areas such as trade, investment, mobility, education, and security.
• Deliberated on deepening our bilateral partnership, focusing on trade, investment, mobility, education, and security.
• They welcomed Canada’s recently announced Indo-Pacific strategy and appreciated Canadian support for India’s upcoming G20 Presidency.
• This was the first visit by Joly to Delhi since taking charge, and it comes after the announcement of Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy last Nov.
• The meeting highlights the two countries’ commitment to strengthening their bilateral relationship and working together on global issues. (here)

India’s economy already 10% more energy efficient than G20 average: IEA

• India’s economy is already 10% more energy efficient than both the global and G20 average.
• India took less time to go from half to full electricity access than other major economies, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Mon.
• The IEA said the adoption worldwide of the kinds of actions and measures targeted by LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), would reduce the annual global carbon emissions by more than 2 billion tonnes in 2030.
• The LiFE initiative was launched by PM Modi at COP26 in Glasgow in Nov 2021.
• It aims to encourage the adoption of sustainable lifestyles in India and internationally to tackle the challenges of environmental degradation and climate change.
• India has launched important initiatives to bring down the prices and increase the supply of clean energy.
• These include a target of non-fossil fuel sources contributing to 50% of India’s power generation capacity by 2030
• National Green Hydrogen Mission with the ambition of establishing annual renewable hydrogen production of 5 million tonnes (Mt) by 2030;
• biofuel mandates that target 30% blending of ethanol in petrol by 2030. (here)

Sarbananda Sonowal, Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti discuss strengthening India-Qatar maritime cooperation

• Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal on Mon held a meeting with Qatar Minister of Transport Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti in New Delhi
• The discussion was held on strengthening maritime cooperation between the two nations, including the interaction between Indian and Qatari ports.
• Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti is on an official visit to India from Feb 5-8 and this year marks 50 years of the establishment of full diplomatic ties between the two nations.
• Sonowal and Al-Sulaiti held discussions on various policies and programs initiating progress in the transportation facilities between the two borders.
• India’s bilateral trade with Qatar in 2021-22 reached $15.03 billion.
• India’s export to Qatar was $1.83 bn during 2021-22 and India’s export from Qatar was $13.19 billion.
• India was among the top 4 largest export destinations for Qatar in 2021 and also among the top 3 sources of Qatar’s imports. (here)

After mobile tower and engine, thieves now steal 2-km long train track in Bihar

• A shocking incident of theft in Bihar’s Samastipur district has prompted an official investigation by the Railways department, according to reports.
• Some unidentified thieves stole a nearly two-km-long railway track that was used to connect the Lohat sugar mill with the Pandaul railway station.
• The theft took place at a time when there was no movement on the route as the Lohat mill shut down a few years ago.
• Following the incident, 2 Railway Protection Force employees were suspended.
• Some officials said the theft was carried out in “connivance” with RPF personnel.
• It is also being reported that the track was sold to scrap dealers after being removed from the stretch.
• Officials found out that the 2 km long rail line had been sold without a competitive tender with the complicity of some railway department members. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

US’ warning to China on helping sanctions-hit Russia: ‘We’re watching’

• The US is watching closely to make sure that China’s support for Russia doesn’t cross the line into aiding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military in Ukraine.
• The message to China “has been very simple: We’re watching very closely,” Ned Price from the Department of state said.
• “There would be costs and consequences if we were to see a systematic effort to help Russia,” he said as the Treasury sanctioned a Chinese firm for providing satellite imagery that the US said helped Russian mercenaries.
• The comments come amid increased tension between the two as a suspected spy balloon was identified.
• “Once it came over to the US, from Canada, I told the Defense Department I wanted to shoot it down as soon as it was appropriate,” President Joe Biden said.
• When asked why China launched the balloon over the US, Biden replied, “Because they’re the Chinese.” (here)
• US decision to shoot down a Chinese balloon has “seriously impacted and damaged” relations between the two countries, China’s foreign ministry said.

First two members of Swiss multi-party delegation arrive in Taiwan for six-day visit

• The first 2 members of a Swiss multi-party parliamentary delegation on Sun arrived in Taiwan for a 6-day visit that will include meetings with President Tsai Ing-wen.
• The national councilors Fabian Molina and Mustafa Atici of Switzerland’s Social Democratic Party arrived at 6 am and were greeted by officials from the MoFA.
• The delegation’s other members, national councilors Nicolas Walder and Leonore Porchet, and Yves Nidegger are expected to arrive on later flights. (here)

Pakistan close to securing IMF deal: Khurram Dastgir

• Power Minister Khurram Dastgir shared that Pakistan is on the verge of sealing a deal with the IMF as consensus had been achieved on almost all issues.
• Pakistan — with a $350 bn economy — is seeking a crucial installment of $1.1 bn from the IMF to avoid default.
• The Fund has worked out a larger gap of approx Rs900 bn, equivalent to 1% of the gross domestic product (GDP) — a major stumbling block in striking a staff-level agreement.
• Minister says global powers not willing to show leniency to Pakistan.
• Says the fund has asked Pakistan to curtail its line losses in the power sector.
• Former fin min Miftah Ismail has predicted that things on the economic front would “remain tight” even if the govt manages to secure the IMF bailout program. (here)

Pakistan: Deposit 50pc super tax in seven days, SC orders

• The SC on Mon modified an interim order of the Lahore HC and directed wealthy taxpayers to deposit their 50% due super tax directly with the Federal Board within a week.
• A 3-member bench, took up the FBR plea against the impugned interim order which had stayed the recovery proceedings from high-earning taxpayers.
• The apex court order came at a time when tax authorities are negotiating with the visiting IMF team new taxation measures to check the widening fiscal gap in 22-23.
• The FBR has projected Rs250bn from the imposition of the super tax in FY23. (here)

Pakistan: Imran calls on volunteers to register for ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’

• Ex-PM Imran Khan on Mon appealed to workers to register with the party’s district presidents for the ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’, vowing to launch the movement within a few days.
• The movement last week after apparently running out of options to press the PML-N-led govt to hold elections in 2 provinces — Punjab and KP — and stop it from “political victimization”.
• In a video address released Tue, Imran said he wanted the PTI district presidents to begin the registration process and called on volunteers to come forward.
• “First I want volunteers to register,” he said. “Then I will give a date in a few days on which day we will begin the ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’.” (here)

Pakistan lifts ban on Wikipedia after PM Shehbaz Sharif orders immediate restoration

• Pakistan has lifted the ban on Wikipedia after the country’s PM Shehbaz Sharif on Mon directed the Telecommunication Authority to restore it with “immediate effect”.
• The decision was taken after a 3-member ministerial committee comprising Pakistan’s made the recommendation, a statement from the PM’s office. (here)