1. Home Minister in Manipur: Amit Shah chairs meeting with Manipur CM and ministers
2. Minor girl murder in Delhi: Accused arrested near UP’s Bulandshahr
3. ISRO Successfully Launches Next-Gen Satellite, Key to India’s Satnav System
4. India and 13 other major nations reach agreement on supply chain cooperation
5. CBI books arms dealer Sudhir Choudhrie, Rolls Royce over HAL deal — ‘£1.85mn bribe, missing papers’

What Else

6. Air Force’s Apache Helicopter Makes Precautionary Landing In Madhya Pradesh
7. Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni arrives in Delhi for 3-day visit
8. MoS Muraleedharan to embark on 4-day visit to Brunei, Malaysia from Today
9. RBI governor Shaktikanta Das flags governance gaps in certain banks
10. Jahangir Tareen likely to ‘announce new political party in 72 hours’
11. JIT ‘summons Imran Khan’ in Jinnah House attack case today
12. Shenzhou 16 lifts off with China’s first civilian astronaut on board
13. US, Australian military staff tour China’s Beijing garrison despite freeze on top brass talks

Home Minister in Manipur: Amit Shah chairs meeting with Manipur CM and ministers

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Mon chaired a meeting with Manipur CM N Biren Singh and ministers of the state, senior leaders, and officials here to assess the situation.
• On the 1^st day of his 4-day long visit to the state, a meeting was held in the presence of dy home min., Union Home Secy, and IB Chief among other officials.
• As per security forces, fierce encounters are on between suspected Kuki militants and security personnel at the Kadangband and nearby Singda areas in the Imphal West.
• Apart from attacking civilians in several foothills of Manipur, the militants also torched over 200 houses in 3 villages near Sugnu in the Kakching district late Sat night. (here)
• Manipur Violence: 25 Arrested with Guns in Manipur Ahead of Amit Shah’s Visit
• 25 armed men who were allegedly planning to carry out an attack on security forces in Imphal’s East District in Manipur have been caught and weapons recovered from them.
• Five 12 bore double barrel rifles, 2 single-barrel rifles, 1 country-made weapon with double bore, and 1 muzzle-loaded weapon were recovered.
• An INSAS Rifle with a magazine, 60 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition, a Chinese hand grenade, and 1 detonator were also recovered.
• Security has been further tightened in violence-hit Manipur ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s 3-day visit this evening
• CM N Biren Singh Dy Home Min Nityanand Rai reviewed the security situation in the northeastern state along with several top officials earlier today. (here)

Minor girl murder in Delhi: Accused arrested near UP’s Bulandshahr

• Sahil, the accused behind the horrific murder of a minor girl in New Delhi’s Shahbad was arrested by the Delhi Police near Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh on Mon.
• The minor was allegedly killed after being stabbed 16 times and her head being crushed with a boulder by Sahil.
• As per the police, the accused was in a relationship with the victim girl, but they had a quarrel on Sun night after which he killed her with multiple assaults.
• Several locals can be seen present there but no one intervenes in the matter.
• The police had registered FIR in the matter under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Shahbad Dairy Police Station. (here)
• In the picture in media, he looks to wearing a Kalawa, part of the Hindu worship process, which means he was trying to pretend Hindu.

ISRO Successfully Launches Next-Gen Satellite, Key to India’s Satnav System

• Indian space agency ISRO successfully launched a navigation satellite, NVS-01, on board an expendable rocket, GSLV-F12, from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on Mon.
• Nearly 20 minutes after the flight, the rocket deployed the satellite in a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) at an altitude of about 251 km, ISRO said.
• GSLV-F12 is India’s larger rocket, which is crucial for future space missions.
• “We now can launch even bigger payloads,” ISRO said.
• These satellites will be an alternative to GPS, and enable users to get their precision location – which is crucial for multiple applications, plus positioning data for missiles
• NavIC is designed with a constellation of 7 satellites and a network of ground stations that operate 24×7. (here)

India and 13 other major nations reach agreement on supply chain cooperation

• The 14 partner countries of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity have concluded negotiations for a supply chain agreement, Commerce Min of said on Sun
• The IPEF, launched by the US and 12 other countries in May 2022, is a grouping that comprises more than 40% of global GDP.
• The member countries – Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the USA.
• The countries have been trying to nail down an agreement on a wide variety of issues or ‘pillars’, which include Trade, Supply Chains, a Clean Economy, and a Fair Economy.
• India is the only partner out of the 14 nations that is not a part of the Trade pillar.
• The current announcement primarily had to do with the Supply Chains pillar.
• IPEF supply chain agreement: IPEF partners will seek to set up a framework to better understand supply chain risks —that has come to the fore in a post-COVID”. (here)

CBI books arms dealer Sudhir Choudhrie, Rolls Royce over HAL deal — ‘£1.85mn bribe, missing papers’

• London-based India-born arms dealer Choudhrie and Rolls Royce were booked by the CBI in a corruption case on procurement of Hawk jets for the training of IAF pilots
• A case has also been registered against unknown public servants, including the Def Ministry and HAL, the manufacturer of the Hawk trainers in India.
• The case was during the UPA govt was in power in India.
• However, while Sudhir Choudhrie has been probed by investigative agencies in the past, including by the CBI, he has never been convicted or arrested in India.
• Choudhrie is also reportedly a big political donor in the UK.
• Notably, the ongoing CBI investigation, which has spanned several years, has found crucial documents related to the purported transaction.
• In September 2009, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the procurement of 66 Hawk 115 aircraft and the signing of a G2G Agreement. (here)

Air Force’s Apache Helicopter Makes Precautionary Landing In Madhya Pradesh

• Air Force’s Apache helicopter made an emergency landing in MP’s Bhind.
• Officials said that the pilot noticed a technical fault in the chopper, and decided to make a precautionary landing.
• Precautionary landing means there could have been some minor issues, due to which the aircraft was landed as a precaution, officials said.
• No harm was caused to any person or material, he said, adding the aircraft is being currently examined. The helicopter will be flown out shortly.
• The AH-64 Apache is the world’s most advanced multi-role combat helicopter.
• The IAF has a fleet of 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, and in 2020, Boeing signed an agreement for the acquisition of 6 more helicopters for the Indian Army. (here)

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni arrives in Delhi for 3-day visit

• King Norodom Sihamoni on Mon arrived in New Delhi for a 3-day visit to India.
• Union MoS, External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh received the King at the airport.
• Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi took to his Twitter handle to inform about his arrival.
• King Sihamoni’s visit to India marks the culmination of the celebrations of the 70^th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the 2 nations.
• King will hold bilateral meetings with President Murmu and PM Modi.
• VP Jagdeep Dhankhar and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will call on the King.
• India actively assists Cambodia in capacity building and human resource development through training slots under the ITEC and scholarships under ICCR.
• India has extended a grant of $1.5 million for the purchase of demining equipment and has offered an LoC worth $50 million LoC for defense equipment from India. (here)

Abuja: Defence Minister attends swearing-in ceremony of Nigeria President-elect Tinubu

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the swearing-in ceremony of the President-elect of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja on Mon.
• In addition to senior officials of the Ministry, the Def Min’s delegation to Nigeria included top executives of HAL and GSL
• These executives met with military and govt personnel from Nigeria to determine what needs they had that Indian defense businesses could meet.
• To improve cooperation, B2B meetings were organized with Nigerian businesses.
• Besides high-level political representation from countries across the African continent, India was among the select non-African nations
• The B’desh Minister for Local Govt, Tazul Islam, who was also in Abuja for the swearing-in event, also met with Rajnath Singh for a brief period. (here)

MoS Muraleedharan to embark on 4-day visit to Brunei, Malaysia from Today

• Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan will pay an official visit to Brunei and Malaysia from May 30-Jun 2.
• MOS would interact with the Indian Diaspora members constitute over 14,000 Indians.
• From Brunei, he will embark on an official visit to Malaysia from Jun 1-2.
• The MOS will be traveling to Brunei for the first time, and it will also be the first Ministerial visit from India to the country since Oct 2019.
• The MoS will have a private meeting with Malaysia’s Deputy FM, Datuk Mohamad bin Alamin, and the Minister of Human Resources. (here)

RBI governor Shaktikanta Das flags governance gaps in certain banks

• Central Bank has come across gaps in corporate governance for certain banks said Governor Shashikant Das that the management mustn’t allow such gaps to creep.
• Das said a robust governance structure is the first and the most important requirement for ensuring the stability of a bank as well as sustainable financial performance.
• The Reserve Bank has issued guidelines listing 7 critical themes which need to be discussed in the Board meetings, Das said.
• They are business strategy, financial reports and their integrity, risk, compliance, customer protection, financial inclusion, and human resources.
• The RBI has also issued guidelines on the appointment of a chair and meetings of the board; composition of committees of the board; age, tenure, and remuneration of directors; and appointment of the whole-time directors. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Jahangir Tareen likely to ‘announce new political party in 72 hours’

• In a bid to take advantage of the mass exodus of leaders from the PTI, seasoned politician Jahangir Khan Tareen — once Khan’s closest aide — is likely to announce his new party, mostly comprising the former ruling party’s defectors, within days
• The development came during a luncheon hosted in honor of JKT and his aides at the residence of former PTI leader Aleem Khan.
• Tareen, accompanied by “important political personalities” is likely to announce the launch of a new political party.
• The former ruling party has been feeling the heat of the state’s might after enraged PTI workers allegedly attacked sensitive military installations.
• The ‘exodus’ of leaders from the party started when the government decided to try the May 9 vandals in the military courts. (here)
• [So, the ‘top boss’ wishes to relaunch PTI minus Imran Khan, as no faith remains in the capability of the current dispensation. So army rule is now ruled out, for now. Interesting to note that the persons who were responsible for the mayhem and out on condition of leaving PTI, can constitute a new party and are most likely to come into power.]

JIT ‘summons Imran Khan’ in Jinnah House attack case today

• A joint investigation team— formed by the Punjab interim govt to probe arson attacks on Corps Commander’s House and the Askari Tower in Lahore on May 9 — has summoned PTI Chairman Imran Khan today.
• Khan’s arrest sparked days of street protests after which the PTI leaders’ exodus started, as security forces launched a crackdown against the party.
• At least eight people were killed in the violent protests in the country.
• The JIT headed has asked the former PM — who was removed from office via a vote of no-confidence in last April— to appear before the probe body at 4pm on May 30.
• The Punjab Home Department has constituted 10 different JITs to conduct a probe into the attacks and violent protests on May 9, which the army dubbed as “Black Day”.
• The deposed PM was nominated in several FIRs lodged at different police stations in the province, the sources added. (here)

Shenzhou 16 lifts off with China’s first civilian astronaut on board

• China’s Shenzhou 16 spacecraft left Earth at 9.31 am on Tue, sending 3 astronauts to the Tiangong space station on a 5-month mission to mark “a new stage of application and development” in the country’s space program.
• The China Manned Space Agency declared the launch a success about 19 minutes after the craft blasted off from the Jiuquan satellite launch center in N China. as planned.
• The astronauts are expected to dock with the station’s Tianhe core module – 400 km above the ground – after a journey of less than 7 hours.
• Mission commander Jing Haipeng said before the craft on Tuesday morning that the launch marks “a new stage of application and development” in China’s space program,
• Jing is making his 4^th journey into space, a record for the country’s astronauts. (here)

US, Australian military staff tour China’s Beijing garrison despite freeze on top brass talks

• Military attaches from the US and Australia were among the dozens invited to tour the PLA’s garrison in Beijing on Thu, the first event of its kind since the pandemic.
• This came as the US said it would not consider lifting sanctions on Chinese Def Min Li Shangfu to pave the way for a meeting with US Def Secy Lloyd Austin at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore this week.
• Observers said the invitation from the PLA Ground Force indicated China’s willingness to have regular military exchanges with Western forces.
• More than 50 military attaches and officers from 43 embassies took part in the tour, the ground force said on its WeChat social media account on Sun.
• Troops put on demonstrations of boxing, firearms drills, and antiterror training, and showed the visitors around the officers’ dormitory. (here)