1. 288 [278] Dead, 1178 Injured after 3-Train Crash in Odisha: CBI prob Ordered, Tracts Restored
2. President Droupadi Murmu arrives in Suriname
3. US Defence Secy Lloyd Austin arrives in Delhi to strengthen defense partnership with India
4. World’s Spy Chiefs Hold Secret Meet In Singapore
5. Nepal PM Prachanda calls India visit “astounding success”

What Else

6. SL-India talks to set up ammunition plant
7. Shah appeals to people to lift blockades at Imphal-Dimapur, NH-2 and let food reach people
8. India’s Air Force chief reacts to Chinese threat along Line of Actual Control
9. Indian drug controller probes into exported medicine to Lanka on reports of loss of eyesight
10. Japan, U.S., Australia, Philippines vow to boost defense cooperation
11. China’s defense minister warns against ‘NATO-like’ Alliances in Asia-Pacific
12. Pakistan: Two soldiers martyred in exchange of fire with terrorists in North Waziristan
13. Pakistan: Not a single penny out of PM’s Rs10bn flood relief fund given to Balochistan: CM

288 [278] Dead, 1178 Injured after 3-Train Crash in Odisha: CBI prob Ordered, Tracts Restored

• At least 288 [278]people were killed and 803 [1178] were injured in a horrific 3-train collision in Odisha’s Balasore, the country’s deadliest rail accident in the century.
• PM Modi visited the site and met with injured people at hospitals in Cuttack.
• The crash involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and a goods train.
• The information that surfaced so far, shows that due to the wrong signal to Coromandel Exp, it went to a loop line instated of going straight.
• This caused the turning of Coromandel to a loop line, where it colloid with a good train, and thereafter derailment occurred.
• Further, derailment caused the collision of derailed boogies to the upcoming downline Bengaluru-Howrah, and its bogies were also crushed.
• Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said a high-level committee will be set up to investigate the train crash.
• CM Naveen Patnaik has declared one-day state mourning, CM announces free bus services to Kolkata, Puri, and Cuttack. (here)
• Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sun said that the Railway Board had endorsed the probe of the accident to the Central Bureau of Investigation. (here)
• Previously, Railway Minister said, “Electronic interlocking” behind the Balasore train accident. (here)
• West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee arrived at the accident site on Sat and questioned why the Centre’s ‘Kavach’ system was missing from the track of the collision.
• Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sun said that the accident has nothing to do with the anti-collision system. (here)
• NDRF says it pulled out 44 passengers alive and retrieved 112 bodies (here)
• IAF deploys Mi-17 helicopters for the evacuation of casualties (here)
• As opposition leaders demanded the resignation of the minister aftermath of the triple train, citing the example of Lal Bahadur Shashtri, a fresh political row started over what caused the triple train collision.
• The minister, who at the accident site was countered by CM Mamata Banerjee, said it was no time for politics. (here)
• Official flagged ‘serious flaws in signaling system’ in Feb: [ThePrint]–While an initial internal probe by the Railways has found that the accident was likely caused by the failure of the signaling system, railway board officials had warned about “serious flaws in the system” and raised concerns on the failure of interlocking and sought immediate action (here)
• India’s vast rail network is undergoing a $30 billion transformation with gleaming new trains and modern stations but Fri’s deadly train accident shows more attention should be paid to safety, industry analysts said. (here)
• Notably, the Chennai-bound KK express suffered detention near Tiruchi in the wee hours of Fri after it hit a lorry tyre placed on the railway track, and a case was registered to apprehend the accused.
• It came to light that the tyres belonged to a lorry owner whose house was near the track.
• The incident occurred in a remote location adding that the Podhigai Express train had passed through the same location about 25 minutes ago without any obstruction. (here)

President Droupadi Murmu arrives in Suriname

• President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Suriname on Sun on a 3-day visit, her first since assuming office in July last year, to bolster India’s bilateral engagement.
• The visit to Suriname is part of her 2-nation tour that will also take her to Serbia.
• In Suriname, President Murmu will hold talks with the country’s top leaders and meet a cross-section of the Indian diaspora.
• Murmu will be the chief guest at celebrations to commemorate the 150^th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in the South American nation.
• The first ship carrying 452 Indian laborers arrived in Suriname’s capital Paramaribo on Jun 5, 1873, mostly from eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. (here)
• In a special gesture, the President of Suriname received the President at the airport with full state honors.

US Defence Secy Lloyd Austin arrives in Delhi to strengthen defense partnership with India

• US Secy of Defence Lloyd Austin arrived in India from Singapore on Sun to further strengthen the defense partnership between the two nations.
• Austin kickstarted the third leg of his 4-nation tour.
• Taking to Twitter, the US Defence Secretary wrote, “I’m returning to India to meet with key leaders for discussions about strengthening our Major Defense Partnership.”
• “Together, we’re advancing a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he added.
• The visit will focus on advancing defense innovation and industrial cooperation initiatives and continuing with the efforts to expand operational cooperation.
• Pentagon- Secretary Austin will visit New Delhi to meet with Def Min and others as the US and India continue to modernize the US-India Major Defence Partnership.
• The visit holds particular significance considering PM Modi’s upcoming state visit to the White House in Jun.
• Also just before PM Modi’s visit to the US, a powerful Congressional Committee has recommended strengthening NATO Plus by including India to deter China. (here)
• Talks are expected regarding GE’s offer to share jet fighter technology and the purchase of 30 MQ-9B attack UAVs worth more than $3 billion from the US company GAAS.

World’s Spy Chiefs Hold Secret Meet In Singapore

• The spy chiefs of the world’s major intelligence agencies held a secret meeting on the fringes of the Shangri-La Dialogue security meeting in Singapore this weekend.
• About two dozen of the world’s major intelligence agencies held a secret meeting on the fringes of the Shangri-La Dialogue security meet.
• The meetings have not been previously reported.
• “The US was represented by the head of the country’s intelligence community, while China was among the other countries present, despite the tensions, including India.
• “The meeting is an important fixture on the international shadow agenda. ….it is not a festival of tradecraft, but rather a way of promoting a deeper understanding of intentions and bottom lines,” the report said.
• “There is an unspoken code among intelligence services that they can talk when more formal and open diplomacy is harder,” it mentioned.
• Singapore MoD said that while attending the Dialogue, “participants …….also take the opportunity to meet their counterparts.”
• It said no Russian representative was present at the meeting. (here)

Nepal PM Prachanda calls India visit “astounding success”

• Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka ‘Prachanda’, on his arrival at Kathmandu, dubbed his 4-day visit to India an “astounding success”.
• Speaking to the media, the PM said, “This 4-day visit has basically resulted in the fulfillment of promises I made before setting foot in India. … the supply of 10,000 MW of electricity over 10 years is something that we have pressed for a long”
• He stated further that the agreement will help Nepal draw big-ticket investments in the energy sector and emphasized the country’s energy sector in light of this agreement.
• He underscored the newfound trust and foundation established through the agreement, adding that it will enable the country to meet the demands of the private sector. (here)

SL-India talks to set up ammunition plant

• The Govt of Sri Lanka is in discussions with India to establish a small arms ammunition manufacturing plant, The Sunday Morning reliably learns.
• Over the last several decades, Sri Lanka has held talks with several countries on establishing a domestic ammunition industry, but none have been successful.
• The discussions between the two have been ongoing for months, with several delegations visiting both countries to grasp the industrial process and ground situation.
• State Minister of Defence Tennakoon agreed that talks were underway to establish a small arms ammunition plant in Sri Lanka, but would not comment on the country with which discussions were being held.
• The armed forces and police annually import between 30 – 50 million rounds of small arms ammunition for training, qualifications and to maintain proficiency. (here)

Shah appeals to people to lift blockades at Imphal-Dimapur, NH-2 and let food reach people

• Home Minister Amit Shah Sun “sincerest” appealed to the people to lift the blockades at the Imphal-Dimapur, NH-2 so essentials can reach the people in the strife-hit state.
• Shah recently concluded a 4-day visit to Manipur to take stock of the situation and held talks with different stakeholders in a bid to restore a sense of calm in the state.
• On the last day, he urged all communities and sections of society to maintain peace, hold discussions and promote harmony as well as surrender their arms to the police.
• Shah warned that strict action would be taken against those found possessing weapons during the combing operation by the police.
• Meanwhile, the security advisor to the state govt, on Sat said peace is returning to the state after a wave of ethnic clashes and violence, and normality is being restored. (here)
• The Meitei community protested in Delhi as they are demanding NRC in Manipur.

India’s Air Force chief reacts to Chinese threat along Line of Actual Control

• Indian Air Force Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari this week emphasized the preparedness of the IAF in the wake of developments along the northern borders.
• India shares an International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan and an undefined Line of Actual Control with China.
• Speaking at an event, the air force chief highlighted the continuous upgrading of capabilities and tactical adaptations by the Indian forces since the Galwan crisis in 2020.
• He said that the country has focused on developing adequate infrastructure along with the placement of assets to ensure a steady deterrence along the northern borders (here)

Indian drug controller probes into exported medicine to Lanka on reports of loss of eyesight

• Indian drug controller is probing a Gujarat-based pharma after the reports from Sri Lanka that a steroid eye drop has been related to adverse impact, including vision loss.
• Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan government has recalled the medicine.
• The Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India has issued a notice to the company, requesting information regarding the importer, recipients of the drug, and details about the manufacturing license and product permissions. (here)

[Post covid such reports started surfacing, where Indian pharma companies came into question due to one or another reason. However, as much as it is easy to relate a medicine to any consequences, it is equally difficult to prove. Nonetheless, media reports are enough to impact the market.]

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Japan, U.S., Australia, Philippines vow to boost defense cooperation

• The defense ministers of Japan, the US, Australia, and the Philippines agreed Sat to step up security collaboration to a free and open Indo-Pacific amid China’s growing maritime assertiveness in the region.
• The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the annual Asia Security Summit in Singapore, was the 1^st-ever defense ministerial talks involving all 4 countries.
• The ministers “affirmed that they have a vision for a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ and collectively make efforts to ensure the vision continues to thrive,” Japanese MoD.
• Among the plans being considered are joint maritime patrols, with the apparent aim of monitoring the movements of the PLAN and acting as a deterrent.
• The meeting came as Tokyo, Washington, and Canberra all ramped up their defense cooperation with Manila.
• Japan and the Philippines have both been facing challenges related to China’s claims over the Senkaku Islands in the ECS and almost all of the SCS, respectively. (here)

China’s defense minister warns against ‘NATO-like’ alliances in Asia-Pacific

• China’s defense minister warned Sun against establishing NATO-like military alliances in the Asia-Pacific, saying they would plunge the region into a “whirlpool” of conflict.
• Li Shangfu’s comments came a day after US and Chinese military vessels sailed close to each other in the crisis in Taiwan, an incident that provoked anger from both sides.
• “Attempts to push for NATO-like (alliances) in the Asia-Pacific is a way of kidnapping regional countries and exaggerating conflicts and confrontations,” Li told a security conference in Singapore also attended by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
• Li warned that these alliances would “plunge the Asia-Pacific into a whirlpool of disputes and conflicts“.
• The US is also a member of the QUAD, which includes Australia, India, and Japan
• Miscalculation: On Sat, Austin called for top-level defense talks with Beijing to prevent miscalculations.
• On Sat, the US deployed a destroyer from its 7^th Fleet along with a Canadian naval vessel through the Taiwan Strait.
• China responded by sending one of its naval ships close to the US destroyer, the USS Chung-Hoon, according to the Pentagon. (here)

Pakistan: Two soldiers martyred in exchange of fire with terrorists in North Waziristan

• 2 soldiers of the Army embraced martyrdom during an exchange of fire with terrorists in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district, the military said on Sun.
• According to ISPR, the Pakistani troops engaged the terrorists’ location, killing two while injuring another two.
• It stated that weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorists.
• ISPR said that sanitization of the area is being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area.
• A day earlier, 2 soldiers of the army embraced martyrdom during an exchange of fire with terrorists in the Jani Khel area of the province’s Bannu district.
• According to ISPR, 2 terrorists were also killed during the exchange of fire. (here)

Pakistan: Not a single penny out of PM’s Rs10bn flood relief fund given to Balochistan: CM

• CM Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo on Sun made a revelation that not a single penny out of the Rs10 bn grant announced by PM Sharif for the rehabilitation was provided.
• The PM announced a grant of Rs10 billion for Balochistan flood victims last Aug.
• The devastating floods triggered by unprecedented monsoon rains wreaked havoc in the province claiming around 1,000 lives and damaging properties worth billions.
• He expressed concerns over the non-fulfillment of promises and the cold shoulder of the federal govt towards the problems where a sense of deprivation already prevails.
• “Despite several requests, the prime minister is not giving time for a meeting,” the chief minister said. (here)