1. 4 Army jawans killed in Bathinda military station firing; Insas rifle, 28 bullets went missing on Mon
2. Addl SP among 10 injured in Sambalpur clash; prohibitory orders issued: Police
3. India-Russia discuss tech transfer, making of ‘RD-191’ semi-cryo rocket engines
4. Seven Myanmar nationals held at Manipur’s Imphal airport: Police
5. India hosts first meeting on Chabahar Port development with Central Asia

What Else

6. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy writes to PM Modi, seeks additional humanitarian aid
7. Amit Shah to review security situation in Jammu and Kashmir today: Report
8. India, Uganda have very ‘converging perpsective’ in terms of world outlook: Jaishankar
9. Indian envoy pays courtesy call to Nepal Home Minister, discusses range of bilateral issues
10. India asks UK to monitor pro-Khalistan elements operating from its soil
11. Karnataka polls: BJP releases 2nd list of 23 candidates
12. ‘Important for Opposition to unite’: Kejriwal after meeting Nitish, Tejashwi
13. Pakistan: IMF ‘expresses confidence’ in reaching staff-level agreement with Pakistan ‘soon’
14. Pakistan: Supreme Court summons finance secy, AGP over non-provision of election funds
15. Sweden shuts down its embassy in Islamabad for indefinite period
16. China: Xi says China must strengthen training for ‘actual combat’

4 Army jawans killed in Bathinda military station firing; Insas rifle, 28 bullets went missing on Mon

• A firing incident took place at 4.35 am at Bathinda Military Station, resulting in the loss of 4 army soldiers of the artillery unit.
• All aspects including the possible case of involvement of an INSAS rifle along with 28 rounds reported missing two days back are being ascertained: Indian Army
• Punjab Police sources have ruled out a terror angle
• 2 armed shooters are missing in the camp,
• Shooter was reportedly in civilian clothes
• Even police have not been allowed inside Bathinda Cantonment. (here)

Addl SP among 10 injured in Sambalpur clash; prohibitory orders issued: Police

• More than 10 people including a police officer were injured on Wed in violence during a bike rally in Sambalpur town ahead of Fri’s Hanuman Jayanti celebrations, police said.
• The festival is celebrated in Odisha on the Maha Vishuva Sankranti which falls on April 14 this year.
• Prohibitory orders were issued in areas under the jurisdiction of 5 police stations and 10 platoons of police personnel were deployed as a precautionary measure.
• The violence started when at least 600 people associated with the committee comprising BJP, VHP, and Bajrang Dal on 300 bikes were going via minority-dominated areas when they were allegedly attacked with stones. (here)

India-Russia discuss tech transfer, making of ‘RD-191’ semi-cryo rocket engines

• WION – the Indian Govt’s Deptt of Space is facilitating the tech transfer of Russian-origin ‘RD-191’ semi-cryogenic rocket engines to manufacture in India
• So, there is a possibility of exporting the made-in-India ‘RD-191’ and using the engine as part of India’s heaviest rocket LVM3, thereby increasing its payload capability.
• Both have been in talks for a long time, regarding the sale of the ‘RD-191’ engines.
• It falls under the category semi-cryogenic, as its fuel Kerosene can be stored at room temperature and the oxidizer lq oxygen has to be stored at below -150^oC
• India currently operates 3 kinds of engines on its operational rockets- solid-fuelled, liquid-fuelled, and cryogenic. (here)

Seven Myanmar nationals held at Manipur’s Imphal airport: Police

• 7 people including 2 minors who arrived in Imphal from Pune were arrested on Wed after they turned out to be Myanmar nationals, living without proper documents.
• Officials said on thorough verification, they identified themselves as Myanmarese nationals and had Aadhaar and PAN cards.
• The 5 adults have been sent to Foreigners’ Detention Centre, Sajiw, while 2 juveniles were placed at Juvenile Observation Homes, the official added. (here)

India hosts first meeting on Chabahar Port development with Central Asia

• The first 2-day meeting of the India-Central Asia Joint Working Group on Chabahar is underway in Mumbai.
• The participants include Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, along with special invitees from Iran and the UN World Food Program.
• The key issue is the development of the Shahid Behesti Terminal and the usage of the Chabahar port by the Central Asian countries.
• The port is strategically located in the SE Iranian city of Chabahar and has emerged as a commercial transit hub for the region.
• India has committed total grant assistance of $85 million and a credit facility of $150 million and has supplied 6 mobile harbor cranes etc, worth $25 million. (here)

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy writes to PM Modi, seeks additional humanitarian aid

• Ukraine President Zelenskyy has written to PM Modi seeking additional humanitarian aid including medical equipment from India, the external affairs ministry said on Wed.
• This came during the recent 3-day visit to India by Ukrainian Deputy FM Dzhaparova who handed over the letter to Dy FM Meenakashi Lekhi
• The statement read that the next Inter-Governmental Commission between New Delhi and Kyiv would be held in India on a mutually convenient date.
• India has assured of providing enhanced humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.
• The bilateral agenda included – spheres such as economic, defense, humanitarian assistance, and global issues of mutual interest. (here)

Amit Shah to review security situation in Jammu and Kashmir today: Report

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah will review the security situation in J&K on Thu.
• The situation along the International Border, infiltration bids, and attempts to target minority community are expected to be discussed at the meeting in Delhi.
• Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Home Secretary, J&K Police Chief, and other senior officials will attend the meeting.
• The govt had informed Parliament that as many as 118 civilians, including 5 Kashmiri Pandits and 16 other Hindus and Sikhs, were killed from 2019 to July 2022. (here)
• Notably, a G20 meeting is to be held in Srinagar from May 22-24.
• On the night of Apr 12-13, BSF on the IB fired at a drone and during the search, 4.5 kg of Heroin was recovered from a farming field in the Fazilka district.

India, Uganda have very ‘converging perpsective’ in terms of world outlook: Jaishankar

• In terms of the world outlook, India and Uganda have very converging perspectives which are based on the solidarity of the south-south cooperation, said Jaihankar on Thu
• He said future cooperation between India-Africa, and especially India -Uganda was an important subject, besides other topics
• Calling Uganda “noteworthy”, the EAM said that he has seen new intensity in interactions between New Delhi and Kampala looking toward the development side
• He underlined 2 important events which coincided with his visit.
• He said, “On was of the inauguration of the campus of National Forensic Science University and second of beginning of construction of solar water pump project” (here)

Indian envoy pays courtesy call to Nepal Home Minister, discusses range of bilateral issues

• Indian envoy to Nepal, made a courtesy call to Nepal Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha to discuss a wide range of issues relating to both nations.
• Envoy reached the office of Shrestha in Singhadurbar, and discussed Nepal PM’s visit to India, diplomatic relations between the two, border security, and other issues.
• Shrestha assured the envoy about the timely visit of the Nepali PM and committed to making the diplomatic relationship between the two countries stronger.
• Likewise, Shrestha also stated that the two should timely discuss and make plans on border management and controlling cross-border criminal activities. (here)

India asks UK to monitor pro-Khalistan elements operating from its soil

• During the 5^th India-UK Home Affairs Dialogue held in Delhi, wherein the govt on Wed conveyed its concerns on the misuse of asylum by pro-Khalistani and seek to increase “monitoring” and take “appropriate proactive” action.
• The govt also raised the issue of a security breach last month at the Indian high commission in London.
• Union home secretary led the Indian side while the UK delegation was led by the permanent secretary, Home Office.
• “..both sides reviewed the ongoing cooperation and identified further steps in advancing cooperation in CT, cyber security, global supply chains, drug trafficking, etc”
• The external affairs ministry had called in the senior-most British diplomat in New Delhi, Christina Scott, after the violence at the Indian mission (here)

Karnataka polls: BJP releases 2nd list of 23 candidates

• The BJP on Wed released its 2^nd list of 23 candidates for the upcoming Karnataka polls.
• This comes a day after it had announced 189 candidates in its 1^st list as Karnataka goes to polls in a single phase voting on May 10 and counting will take place on May 13.

‘Important for Opposition to unite’: Kejriwal after meeting Nitish, Tejashwi

• Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Wed met Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav in the national capital, and said that it is “extremely important for all the opposition parties to unite and change the current govt in power”.
• Slamming the PM Modi-led govt, Kejriwal said, “This is perhaps the most corrupt government at the Centre since Independence.”
• The Delhi CM also lauded his counterpart from Bihar. “Nitish ji is making efforts towards uniting everyone and the opposition parties,” he said. (here)
• “We will unite as many opposition parties as possible,” said Bihar CM Nitish Kumar after the meeting.

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Pakistan: IMF ‘expresses confidence’ in reaching staff-level agreement with Pakistan ‘soon’

• IMF Wed expressed confidence in reaching a staff-level agreement soon with Pakistan as the nation faces one of its worst economic turmoils.
• IMF Director Middle East and Central Asia Department Jihad Azour’s made the comments during a meeting with the Pakistani delegation, which is present in the US.
• Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar attended the meeting through Zoom from Islamabad, a statement from the Finance Division said.
• Azour hoped that Pakistan would continue towards its progress on the reforms and complete the program in time.
• The $350 billion economy is getting closer to securing the loan as Saudi Arabia has already committed $2 billion in funds, while UAE is likely to assure of $1bn (source)
• The funds are part of a $6.5 billion bailout package approved in 2019, which analysts say is critical for Pakistan to avert defaulting on external payment obligations. (here)

Pakistan: Supreme Court summons finance secy, AGP over non-provision of election funds

• The SC on Wed issued notices to the fin secy; Governor, State Bank, Attorney General, and the EC over the non-disbursement of Rs21 bn for polls in Punjab and KP.
• The top court has instructed the officials to appear in the judges’ chamber on April 14.
• In its April 4 verdict — issued by Chief Justice and two others— the court had ordered the govt to provide Rs21bn in funds to the ECP by Apr 10.
• The ECP, in a report submitted yesterday, informed the court about the govt’s reluctance to issue the amount needed for elections.
• The govt, meanwhile, has referred the matter to Parliament to decide. (here)

Sweden shuts down its embassy in Islamabad for indefinite period

• 24NewsHD TV- Sweden has closed its embassy in Islamabad for an indefinite period over security risks on Tue.
• According to Embassy, it will remain shut to visitors and would not be able to send any documents to its consulates, Gerry centers, and home addresses of its applicants.
• The embassy refuses to tell when the mission will resume its work in Islamabad.
• Diplomatic sources said that Pakistani students who want in Sweden will be affected most as the new academic session is starting from Aug.
• Also, the Pak diaspora could not apply for visit visas for their families back home. (here)
• Due to the current security situation in Islamabad, the Embassy of Sweden is closed to visitors: Sweden’s embassy in Pakistan

China: Xi says China must strengthen training for ‘actual combat’

• President Xi called on the country’s armed forces to “strengthen military training oriented towards actual combat”, state media reported Wed post-military drills.
• Xi’s comments, made on a naval inspection trip on Tue, come amid heightened tension in the region after the show of force by Beijing.
• China on Mon concluded 3 days of military drills launched in response to a visit last week by Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen to the US
• Xi on Tue told the PLA Southern Theatre Command Navy that the military must “resolutely defend China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime interests,”-CCTV.
• The US and the Philippines are holding their largest-ever joint military drills this week, with US Secy of State Blinken committing to “standing with the Philippines against any intimidation or coercion, including in the South China Sea”. (here)