1. 4 dead as coaches of Dibrugarh Express derail near UP’s Gonda
2. Tibetan president in exile Penpa Tsering confirms back-channel talks with China
3. ‘Eateries on Kanwar Yatra route to display owners’ Names’: UP Police Directive Stirs Row, Oppn calls it Anti-Muslim
4. Naval base INS Jatayu commissioned, but the story’s just beginning in Lakshadweep
5. ‘Man wants to become Superman, Dev, Bhagwan,’ says Bhagwat; Congress links it to ‘non-biological’ Modi

What Else

1. Malaysia asks India to ease export curbs on rice, sugar & other farm goods
2. 2 STF personnel killed, four injured in Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur
3. Secret tunnel linked to canal found at fake gold dealer’s house: Bengal police
4. J-K LG Sinha releases North Kashmir Gazette, cultural encyclopedia of Dard Tribe
5. Pakistan hosts 97th anniversary of Chinese PLA at GHQ
6. US funds to Afghanistan may have fallen to militants: report
7. China’s Communist Party sticks to painful reform playbook to target risks and growth
8. China’s Communist Party targets another PLA Rocket Force chief in corruption investigation
9. Beijing protests after Vietnam asks UN to extend South China Sea continental shelf

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4 dead as coaches of Dibrugarh Express derail near UP’s Gonda

• At least 4 people were killed and 20 others injured after 8 bogies of the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express derailed near UP’s Gonda railway station on Thu.
• The train, which left from Chandigarh station at 11.35 pm on Wed, was bound for Dibrugarh in Assam.
• The accident happened between Motiganj-Jhilahi railway stations in Gonda
• (sources)- both loco pilots of the train are safe, and they claimed that heard a loud explosion-like sound before the derailment.
• The Railways is examining the possibility of sabotage. (here)
• “Derailment of Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express, another instance of how Modi govt has systematically jeopardized rail safety”: Congress: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge hit out at the BJP-led Centre over the derailment of the train, saying that it shows how rail safety has been compromised under the Modi govt. (here)
• This is the 4^th train accident in 2024, with the last major 1 being the Kanchenjunga Express derailment in Darjeeling, WB on Jun 2024, which left 10 people dead
• Almost a year ago, on Jun 2, 96 people were killed when the Coromandel Express, the Yeshwantpur-Howrah SF, and a goods train collided in Balasore, Odisha.
• “Human error” was blamed then. (here) [Logically next to impossible]
• [Looking at the frequent stone pelting incidence at premium trains, and an open railway tract of length 126,366 km, in which a population of a size Australia travel, possibilities of foul play can’t be ruled out, especially after the testimony of loco piolet.]

Tibetan president in exile Penpa Tsering confirms back-channel talks with China

• Tibetan President in Exile, Penpa Tsering, has confirmed back-channel talks with the Chinese govt that took place earlier this month.
• In an exclusive interview, he stated, “Talks are happening. Nothing concrete. I admit back channel, nothing substantive happening.”
• Direct talks between the two sides began in 2002, with a total of 9 rounds conducted until 2010.
• In 2008, the Tibetan side in exile presented proposals for autonomy, which were rejected by the CCP.
• Asked if he has any hopes from the ongoing talks with Beijing, President Penpa Tsering said, “If you look at what Xi is doing to Tibetans, Uygur, Mongols, to its own people, doesn’t looks likely that we can have anything concrete or positive right now.” (here)

‘Eateries on Kanwar Yatra route to display owners’ Names’: UP Police Directive Stirs Row, Oppn calls it Anti-Muslim

• The preparations for the Kanwar Yatra, which is set to commence on Jul 22, are underway accompanied by new guidelines from the administration.
• On Wed, police in the district police issued an order concerning the Kanwar Yatra route, mandating that all eateries display the names of their owners prominently outside their establishments.
• This directive aims to avoid confusion and ensure transparency during the religious procession.
• After a row erupted over in route in UP’s Muzaffarnagar being asked to display their owners’ names, opposition parties saw the significant move as “anti-Muslim”. (here)
• Kānvar Yātrā:  The yatra derives its name from the word ‘kanwar’, meaning a bamboo pole to which containers of holy water are tied at opposite ends.
• Millions of devotees called Kanwariyas or kriyas travel to pilgrimage places like Haridwar, Gaumukh, Gangotri in Uttarakhand, Sultanganj in Bihar, Prayagraj, Ayodhya and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, and return by carrying Ganga water in kanwars to seek the blessings of Shiva.
• During the whole journey, Kanwars have to make sure that the earthen pots do not touch the ground.
• While carrying the water, devotees walk barefoot, and some complete the pilgrimage by lying flat on the ground.
• They are clad in saffron clothing while undertaking the journey.
• Many observe fasts and restrict the consumption of food, water, and salt.(here)
• [Politics: essential spices of democracy, which seems to be in act may be without reason. From Haridwar to the destination, many districts are in the way, including Meerut.]

Naval base INS Jatayu commissioned, but the story’s just beginning in Lakshadweep

• The Navy Wed commissioned its new naval base, INS Jatayu, on Lakshadweep’s Minicoy island — a significant move for India’s plans to have full-fledged maritime domain awareness and the ability to respond to challenges quickly. 
• The force did have a presence there, as Naval Detachment Minicoy, set up in the early 1980s under the operational command of the naval officer-in-charge (Lakshadweep).
• It will now be converted into a full-fledged naval base in due course of time.
• The base will be capable of complete maritime operations just like the Navy’s other facilities, especially the INS Baaz, located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• The base on Minicoy, (the southernmost island) straddles vital sea lines of communication and is named after Jatayu, the mythical creature in the Ramayana.
• INS Jatayu is the 2^nd naval base in Lakshadweep after INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti.
• Sources said that more officers will be deployed to the new base, which is part of the larger plan to have complete military capability in Lakshadweep.
• The govt is also in the final stages of approving a new airport on Minicoy for both military and civilian use. (here)

‘Man wants to become Superman, Dev, Bhagwan,’ says Bhagwat; Congress links it to ‘non-biological’ Modi

• RSS sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat’s comment at a meeting about man wanting to become Superman and even God has taken a political twist, with the Congress seeking to link it with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• “I am sure the self-anointed non-biological PM has got the news of this latest Agni missile, fired by Nagpur from Jharkhand and aimed at Lok Kalyan Marg,” Congress communications chief said on X, embedding a video clip of Bhagwat’s speech.
• In the video which has since gone viral, the RSS chief can be heard saying there is no end to progress and there is also no end to people’s greed.
• He was speaking at a village-level workers’ meeting organized by Vikas Bharti, a not-for-profit organization, in Jharkhand’s Gumla. (here)

Malaysia asks India to ease export curbs on rice, sugar & other farm goods

• Malaysia has requested India to ease export curbs on some farm goods like rice and sugar, Malaysia’s minister for plantation and commodities said on Thursday.
• India, the world’s biggest exporter of rice and onions and the 2^nd of sugar.
• Imposed curbs on the exports of these commodities in 2023 to keep local prices in check ahead of the general elections held in April.
• India’s abrupt export curbs on farm goods are bad for Malaysia, Johari Abdul Ghani said on the sidelines of an industry conference in New Delhi.
• “If India opens up, it will be good for Malaysia,” he said. (here)

2 STF personnel killed, four injured in Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur

• 2 personnel of the Special Task Force were killed and 4 others injured after Naxalites denoted an IED in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, police said on Thu.
• CM Vishnu Deo Sai expressed grief and said the sacrifice of the jawans will not go in vain and the fight against Naxalism will continue till the menace is eradicated.
• This happened on Wed night in Tarrem when a joint team was returning after an anti-Naxalite operation in forests on the tri-junction of Bijapur-Sukma-Dantewada. (here)

Secret tunnel linked to canal found at fake gold dealer’s house: Bengal police

• The WB police probing a case related to the purchase of fake gold idols have found a secret underground tunnel inside the house of the accused at Kultali (South 24 Parganas) on Mon.
• While one end of the concrete tunnel opens in an underground room of the house of the accused Saddam, the other end is linked to a canal, which flows behind the house and is connected to River Matla in the Sunderbans, after which lies the Indo-Bangla IB.
• “He used to lure prospective buyers saying that he had gold bars and idols which he wanted to sell off at cheaper rates.
• He would show them fake gold items.
• Once the buyers came, Saddam would take them to an isolated place and would assault the person and snatch all his belongings. (here)

J-K LG Sinha releases North Kashmir Gazette, cultural encyclopedia of Dard Tribe

• J&K Lt Guv Manoj Sinha on Thu released the second edition of the N Kashmir Gazette and Cultural Encyclopaedia of the Dard Tribe at Raj Bhawan in Srinagar.
• Notably, the book was authored by Dr. Suheel Rasool Mir.
•  Speaking on the occasion, L-G Sinha appreciated the author for writing about the culture and traditions of the Dard tribe. (here)
• Shinon Meeras, a center to highlight the Dard-Shina tribes that were once recorded in the chronicles of ancient Greeks and Romans for expanding their rule into Afghanistan and Tibet, was thrown open at the Gurez Valley in N Kashmir’s Bandipora.
• The first such cultural center dedicated to the 38,000-Dard community, which speaks the rapidly fading Shina language, has been curated and developed by the Indian Army and the LG’s administration. (here)
•  

 [Neighborhood]

Pakistan hosts 97^th anniversary of Chinese PLA at GHQ

• The 97^th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army of China was celebrated at the General Headquarters (GHQ) on Thu, the military said.
• Jiang Zaidong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Pakistan, served as the Chief Guest at the event, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
• The ceremony was attended by Major General Wang Zhong, Defence Attaché, officials from the Chinese Embassy, and officers from Pakistan’s tri-services.
• Gen Asim Munir, COAS, welcomed the Chinese delegation, congratulating the PLA and commending its contributions to China’s defense, security, and national development.
• “Pakistan-China relations are exceptional and have always weathered the vicissitudes of the strategic environment with mutual trust and unwavering belief in each other’s support,” said Gen Munir. (here)

US funds to Afghanistan may have fallen to militants: report

• Two State Department bureaus could not prove compliance with internal policies for vetting aid groups in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan that received $293 million in funds, raising a risk that extremists may have profited, a US watchdog said.
• State must know who is benefiting from this assistance to prevent the aid from being diverted to the Taliban or other sanctioned parties,” said the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) report on Wed.
• The Taliban, the report said, has tried to obtain US aid funds “through several means, including the establishment of humanitarian organizations,” stressing the need for the dept to “fully and consistently assess the risks posed by its implementing partners.”
• The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
• SIGAR said 3 of 5 State Department bureaus were found in compliance with department regulations requiring vetting of aid fund recipients. (here)

China’s Communist Party sticks to painful reform playbook to target risks and growth

• China’s ruling Communist Party concluded its twice-a-decade policy meeting on Thu, releasing a communique that sought to strike a delicate balance between growth and security in the face of mounting uncertainties.
• It laid out a wide range of reform objectives to be completed in the next five years when the PRC celebrates its 80^th anniversary.
• The party seldom sets explicit deadlines for its reform programs.
• The communique was – as expected – short and vague, with the full statement of the meeting to be released next week.
• Still, it offered insights into the top leadership’s thinking and policy directions for the coming years.
• This session, during President Xi Jinping’s unprecedented third term, took place later than usual, reflecting the complex and challenging environment that China is facing.
• The country’s economic growth has slowed considerably, and the slumps in the financial and property markets have badly shaken public confidence.
• Externally, China’s rivalry with the United States is set to intensify, and its ties with major trading partners like Europe and Japan continue to fray. (here)

China’s Communist Party targets another PLA Rocket Force chief in corruption investigation

• China’s CP has announced an anti-corruption investigation into yet another senior general who oversaw its nuclear arsenal, adding to a slew of military leaders disgraced over the past year.
• Sun Jinming, chief of staff of the PLA Rocket Force, was expelled from the party, as per a communique released on Thu, the final day of the party’s third plenum.
• The corruption probe into Lt Gen Sun, which had already been concluded, was endorsed by the plenum.
• Sun’s downfall followed anti-corruption probes since last year into at least 7 past or serving senior military officials from the PLA’s Rocket Force, in the latest anti-corruption purge in the military since last year. (here)

Beijing protests after Vietnam asks UN to extend South China Sea continental shelf

• China has protested against Vietnam’s latest claim to an extended continental shelf in the disputed South China Sea following a similar request by the Philippines last month.
• According to Vietnam’s FM, the country filed a submission on Thu to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf to seek formal validation of the outer boundaries of its legal continental margin beyond the 370km limit in a contested area of the South China Sea.
• If its claim was recognized, Hanoi would gain exclusive rights to exploit natural resources on the extended continental shelf under the 1982 UNCLOS.
• Vietnam’s submission came after the Philippines filed a similar request in Jun seeking to confirm the extent of its continental seabed in the western part of Palawan in SCS.
• Beijing and Hanoi have competing claims in the Spratly Islands, known in China as the Nansha Islands. (here)