1. Election 2024: The nomination form of ‘Waris Punjab De’ Chief Amritpal accepted
2. PM Modi expresses shock over Slovak PM Robert Fico’s shooting
3. ED arrests Jharkhand minister Alamgir Alam in money laundering case after huge cash seizure
4. NIA arrests wanted accused in espionage case involving Sri Lankan, Pakistani nationals
5. Saarc secretary general discusses regional cooperation on 5-day India visit

What Else

• India’s Supreme Court orders release of NewsClick founder, calls his arrest ‘invalid’
• Don’t take a ‘narrow view’: Jaishankar on US sanction warning over Chabahar port deal
• Top court refuses to allow abortion for pregnancy beyond 27 weeks, says foetus has right to live
• Indian Army sets up one of world’s highest tank repair facilities near China border
• Kerala temples ban oleander flowers in daily rituals after 24-year-old woman dies of its poison
• Pakistan: In talks with Dar, China vows to ‘upgrade’ CPEC
•  ‘Old friend’ Putin arrives in China for state visit, summit with Xi Jinping
• Pakistan: Imran to ‘appear before SC’ today after big relief
• China blasts U.K. arrest of Hong Kong trade office manager in spy case

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Election 2024: The nomination form of ‘Waris Punjab De’ Chief Amritpal accepted

• Punjab: The nomination form of ‘Waris Punjab De’ Chief Amritpal Singh, to contest the Lok Sabha election from the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha seat has been accepted.
• He is currently lodged in Dibrugarh jail, Assam.
• Voting in Punjab will be held on Jun 1 has been accepted.
• He is currently lodged in Dibrugarh jail, Assam. (ANI)
• 1^st set of citizenship certificates handed over to 14 persons under CAA: 2 months after the rules were notified in 2024 – for which law was passed in 2019– the Centre on Wed handed over the 1^st set of citizenship to 14 persons who escaped due to persecution
• The handing over of citizenships comes in the middle of elections, with 4 phases of polling over and the next 3 to happen till Jun 1. (here)
• Will support INDIA bloc from outside to form govt at Centre: Mamata Banerjee: WB CM and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee announced on Wed that her party will support the opposition INDIA bloc from outside to form the govt at the Centre.
• She also pledged to repeal the CAA, NRC, and UCC once the BJP govt is voted out.
• Banerjee expressed doubt about the BJP’s ambitious goal of securing 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, stating that people will completely reject them. (here)

PM Modi expresses shock over Slovak PM Robert Fico’s shooting

• PM Modi on Wed condemned the attack on his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico, who was shot at in an assassination attempt during a political event on Wed.
• Modi expressed shock over the attack on Robert Fico, terming it a “cowardly and dastardly act”.
• Robert Fico was shot multiple times and gravely wounded after a political event in an attempted assassination that shocked the small country and reverberated across Europe.
• The pro-Russian leader, 59, was reported to be fighting for his life after being hit in the stomach.
• Biden says he is ‘alarmed’ after horrific attack on, wishes him a speedy recovery
• A suspect was in custody, and an initial investigation found “a clear political motivation” behind the attempt, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (here)

ED arrests Jharkhand minister Alamgir Alam in money laundering case after huge cash seizure

• The ED arrested Jharkhand cabinet minister and Congress leader Alamgir Alam in link with a money laundering case on Wed.
• This arrest follows his 9-hour interrogation by the central probe agency at its zonal HQ in Ranchi.
• On May 6, the ED conducted a raid on the apartment of 1 Jahangir Alam, who serves as the house help for Alamgir Alam’s secretary, Sanjeev Lal, and seized over $4.5mn
• Subsequently, both Alam and Lal were arrested after the raid.
• The raids were part of an ongoing investigation into a money laundering case involving Virendra K Ram, the former chief engineer of the Rural Development Dept, who was arrested last year.
• The investigation is linked to alleged irregularities in the implementation of certain schemes within the department. (here)

NIA arrests wanted accused in espionage case involving Sri Lankan, Pakistani nationals

• The NIA on Wed arrested an accused, who had absconded after jumping bail, in an espionage case involving a Sri Lankan and a Pakistani national.
• Nuruddin alias Rafi, who was carrying a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh, was nabbed from the Rajiv Nagar area of Mysuru, Karnataka by an NIA team, an official statement said.
• Following his arrest, a house search was also conducted and several “incriminating materials”, including mobile phones, laptop, pen drives, and a drone, were recovered
• A non-bailable warrant was issued earlier against Nuruddin when he had failed to appear before the NIA Special Court, Chennai, after being released on bail under stringent conditions in August 2023.
• The case relates to a terror conspiracy by Sri Lankan Muhammed Sakir Hussain and Amir Zubair Siddique, a Pakistani employed at the Pakistan HC in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
• They had conspired to carry out explosions at the US Consulate in Chennai and Israel Embassy in Bengaluru in 2014, the NIA claimed. (here)

Saarc secretary general discusses regional cooperation on 5-day India visit

• The secy gen of the Saarc, Mohd Golam Sarwar, has met Indian officials to discuss the status of regional cooperation and assess the working of institutions under the grouping.
• Sarwar, who began a 5-day visit to India on May 11, met the secretary (East) of the MEA, on Wed.
• Sarwar also met FS Vinay Kwatra and MoS for external affairs, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh
• This was the first official visit by the senior Bangladeshi diplomat to any of the member states of Saarc after he was appointed Saarc secretary general in July 2023.
• Saarc includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
• On Tue, Sarwar visited the South Asian University, an international university established by the 8 members of Saarc that is hosted by India in New Delhi.
• Sarwar met SAU president KK Aggarwal, who briefed him about the work of the varsity, new programs introduced by it, and avenues for future development. (here)

India’s Supreme Court orders release of NewsClick founder, calls his arrest ‘invalid’

• Supreme Court ordered NewsClick editor Prabir Purkayastha’s release after it observed that his arrest by the Delhi Police in the anti-terror case was ‘invalid’.
• A bench of Justices Sandeep Mehta and BR Gavai on Wed said that the court was not provided with the remand copy which made his arrest void.
• “There is no hesitation in the mind of the court that the grounds of arrest were not provided…which vitiates arrest,” Justice Mehta said.
• According to the top court, the grounds for arrest should be provided in writing to the accused person in custody. (here)

Don’t take a ‘narrow view’: Jaishankar on US sanction warning over Chabahar port deal

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, reacting to the US’ warning of “potential risk of sanctions” over India signing a 10-year agreement to run the Chabahar Port in Iran, said the entire region would benefit from the project.
• He added that the US had praised Chabahar Port’s larger relevance in the past.
• The minister was addressing an interaction during the book launch of the Bangla edition of ‘Why Bharat Matters’ in Kolkata on Wed
• Reacting to the remarks made by the US,  Jaishankar said, “I did see some of the remarks which were made, but I think it’s a question of communicating, convincing and getting people to understand, that this is actually for everyone’s benefit. I don’t think people should take a narrow view of it.”
• “… the US has been appreciative of the fact that Chabahar has a larger relevance…we will work at it,” he stated. (here)

Top court refuses to allow abortion for pregnancy beyond 27 weeks, says foetus has right to live

• The Supreme Court on Wed declined to consider a plea from a 20-year-old unmarried woman seeking to terminate her pregnancy of over 27 weeks, arguing that the fetus also has a fundamental right to life.
• A bench led by Justice B R Gavai issued the order against the Delhi High Court’s May 3 decision, which denied her request to terminate her pregnancy.
• “We can’t pass any order contrary to the statute,” the bench, also comprising Justices S V N Bhatti and Sandeep Mehta, told her counsel.
• “The child in womb also has a fundamental right to live. What do you say about that?,” the bench asked.
• The woman’s lawyer argued that the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act focuses solely on the mother’s rights. (here)

Indian Army sets up one of world’s highest tank repair facilities near China border

• With over 500 of its tanks and infantry combat vehicles deployed in Eastern Ladakh, the Indian Army has created a record of sorts by setting up two of world’s highest tank repair facilities in that area to support its operations there.
• The Army has set up 2 armored vehicle maintenance and repair facilities near the China border in Nyoma and the DBO Sector to at altitudes of over 14.5 feet, which is the world’s highest battlefield for tanks and infantry combat vehicles.
• A large number of tanks and BMP combat vehicles, along with Indian-made armored vehicles have been deployed in Eastern Ladakh after the stand-off between India and China started in April-May 2020, post-Chinese aggression there.
• The Indian Army has been creating infrastructure in a big way for housing its tanks, including the T-90 and T-72, the BMPs and the K-9Vajra self-propelled Howitzers, in the high-altitude areas where temperatures are extremely low in winter.
• Recently, Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande visited the Facility for Armoured Fighting Vehicles, where he saw the unique maintenance facility.
• The facilities also keep the combat fleet operationally ready even in rugged terrain and challenging weather with temperatures dipping down to – 40^o, the officials said. (here)

Kerala temples ban oleander flowers in daily rituals after 24-year-old woman dies of its poison

• Two temple boards under the control of the Kerala govt, overseeing approx 2,500 temples across the state, have banned the oleander flowers, (arali), in temple offerings.
• This decision follows the death of a 24-year-old woman who accidentally chewed oleander leaves.
• A woman had a new job for her in the UK and was supposed to leave on Apr 28.
• Shortly afterward, she began to feel unwell and vomited several times.
• The forensic surgeon who performed her autopsy alerted the police about oleander poisoning.
• Oleander, scientifically known as Nerium oleander, is a plant found across tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions worldwide. (here)

 [neighborhood]

Pakistan: In talks with Dar, China vows to ‘upgrade’ CPEC

• China is ready to work with Pakistan to develop an “upgraded version” of the CPEC, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Pakistani counterpart on Wed.
• In talks with Dar, Pakistan’s dy PM, Wang hailed the “ironclad” relationship between the neighboring countries and pledged to advance CPEC, the SCMP reported.
• “Both sides should effectively implement the Framework Agreement on Industrial Cooperation, strengthening our cooperation in areas like industry, agriculture, mining, new energy and information technology,” Mr Yi said
• Both co-chaired the 5^th round of China- Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, the FO stated
• Dar described relations with China as the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
• He also highlighted the threats posed to regional peace and security due to India’s illegal occupation of the disputed region of J&K and appreciated China’s principled stance on the dispute.
• Both Yi and Executive Vice Premier Ding, who also met Mr Dar on Wed, called on Islamabad to ensure the safety and security of Chinese workers and investments
• “China’s determination to deepen cooperation with Pakistan will not waver,” Anadolu Agency quoted Yi as saying.
• The two discussed connectivity through the Khunjerab border crossing and a simplified visa regime. (here)

‘Old friend’ Putin arrives in China for state visit, summit with Xi Jinping

• Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in China for a 2-day state visit, as the two countries look to further deepen a relationship that has grown closer since Moscow invaded Ukraine more than two years ago.
• The visit comes days after Russia launched a new offensive in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv, and as it claims advances on the 1,000km long front line where Kyiv’s forces have been hampered by delayed deliveries of weapons and ammunition from the US.
• Broadcast live on state television, Putin’s motorcade of nearly 20 vehicles escorted by a formation of motorcyclists dressed in ceremonial white uniforms
• In discussions later, Xi greeted Putin as an “old friend”.
• He told President Putin that China and Russia’s relationship had stood the test of time and that they had provided each other with “strategic guidance” in their more than 40 meetings over the past decade.
• “China is ready to work with Russia to stay each other’s good neighbor, good friend and good partner,” state news agency Xinhua reported Xi as saying.
• “We will try to establish closer cooperation in the field of industry and high technology, space and peaceful nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, renewable energy sources, and other innovative sectors,” Putin told China’s Xinhua state news agency. (here)

Pakistan: Imran to ‘appear before SC’ today after big relief

• Former PM Imran Khan who has been in jail for almost 9 months in multiple cases is all set to appear before the Supreme Court through video link as a petitioner in a case about changes in the NAB law, a day after two courts in the federal capital granted him relief in separate cases, including the Al-Qadir Trust matter.
• IHC grants post-arrest bail on ‘reasonable grounds’ in graft case; says allegations need ‘holistic’ inquiry
• Bench questions transparency of ‘£171m transaction’, says ‘proceeds of corruption’ belong in govt account
• Ex-PM acquitted in Azadi march case; PTI says Adiala ban meant to keep party founder away from SC (here)

China blasts U.K. arrest of Hong Kong trade office manager in spy case

• China’s rep in the UK on Mon slammed the arrest of 3 individuals, including a staffer at the HK Economic and Trade Office, on accusations of spying for the HK intelligence.
• The Chinese Embassy in the U.K. “firmly rejects and strongly condemns” the accusations against the Hong Kong government.
• The embassy warned the move could damage China-U.K. relations.
• The Hong Kong govt echoed the Chinese statement and demanded the UK protect the rights and interests of the office manager of the HKETO.
• Earlier on Monday, the 3 individuals appeared before the Magistrates’ Court on charges of assisting a foreign intelligence service and of foreign interference.
• They are due back in court on May 24. (here)