PM MODI TO PACIFIC ISLAND-NATIONS: INDIA A RELIABLE PARTNER, WITH YOU, ALWAYS

In a rare tandem move to minimise Chinese influence, the US and India held parallel summits with 14 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) on the same day in Papua New Guinea.

PM Narendra Modi announced a 12-point action plan focusing on health, wellness and community development sectors, while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, standing in for President Joe Biden, inked pacts in defence and security areas with PNG.

In his remarks to the assembled leaders of the FIPIC (Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation) summit, PM Modi made an emotional speech that drew a distinction between the approach followed by India and, without naming it, China. Referring to the adverse impact of Covid-19 pandemic and other global developments, Modi said India stood by the Pacific Islands in challenging times.

“Those whom we considered trustworthy, it turned out that they were not standing by our side in times of need…. I am glad that India stood with its Pacific island friends during this challenging time. Whether it was vaccines or essential medicines, wheat or sugar, India, in line with its capabilities, has been assisting all partner countries,” he said.

Unveiling the 12-point action plan, PM Modi said India stood ready to share its capabilities and experiences with PICs “without any hesitation” and assured them that “we are with you in every way”. “For me, you are not small island states, but large ocean countries. It is this vast ocean that connects India with all of you,” added PM Modi.

PNG PM James Marape responded by calling the Pacific island nations as victims of global power play. “You (PM Modi) are the leader of Global South. We will rally behind your (India) leadership at global forums,” he said.

Fiji and Papua New Guinea on Monday conferred their highest civilian awards on PM Modi.

The difference in the US and Indian approach was evident in the PNG capital. Students demonstrated against Washington’s package of $45 million mainly for security cooperation. On the other hand, India’s promised health and social sector assistance came in for all-round praise.

PM Modi, who reached Sydney on Monday, said he wanted to take ties with Australia to the next level, especially in defence and security, to help secure an “open and free” Indo-Pacific.

DISREGARDING PROPRIETY: KHARGE ON PM OPENING NEW PARLIAMENT

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday slammed the BJP govt at the Centre over the inauguration of the new Parliament building by the Prime Minister.

In a series of tweets, Kharge said, “It looks like the Modi govt has ensured election of President of India from the Dalit and the tribal communities only for electoral reasons. While former President (Ram Nath) Kovind was not invited for the new Parliament’s foundation-laying ceremony, President Droupadi Murmu is not being invited for the inauguration of the new Parliament building.” “The Parliament is the supreme legislative body of the Republic of India and the President is its highest Constitutional authority. She alone represents govt, Opposition and every citizen alike. She is the first citizen of India,” Kharge said. “Inauguration of the new Parliament building by her will symbolise the govt`s commitment to democratic values and Constitutional propriety. The Modi govt has repeatedly disrespected propriety,” Kharge added.

AFTER CHINA, SAUDI ARABIA, TURKEY, EGYPT & OMAN SKIP G20 TOURISM MEET IN KASHMIR

Egypt and Oman Monday joined China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey in skipping a G20 tourism working group meeting in Kashmir, the first international event of this scale being held since the abrogation of Article 370 and withdrawal of special status to the now Union territory of Jammu & Kashmir in 2019.

Egypt was a special invitee to the G20 event.

While Indonesia was also speculated to skip the event, it sent representatives from its mission in New Delhi.

Incidentally, trade delegations from both Saudi Arabia and Turkey have come to attend the tourism meet. However, no one from China or Egypt was present.

While China had publicly said that it will not attend the event over the issue of Kashmir, Turkey and Saudi Arabia did not register for it, meaning they did not attend in an official capacity.

Minister of State for PMO Jitendra Singh said that over 300 meetings have been held as part of the G20 and not all countries take part all the time. It all depends on what is of interest to whom.

CONGRESS MAY BACK AAP AGAINST CENTRE'S MOVE ON DELHI OFFICERS

The Congress on Monday indicated that while it agrees in principle that the Centre's executive order on transfers and postings in Delhi is undermining the Supreme Court, they would prefer to take a collective decision on their stance on siding with Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party in parliament. KC Venugopal, the party's Organisational in-charge tweeted this evening that the party will "consult its state units & other like-minded parties on the same".

"The Party believes in the Rule of Law and at the same time does not condone unnecessary confrontation, political witch-hunt and campaigns based on lies against political opponents by any political party," he said in the tweet.

On Sunday, senior Congress leader Ajay Maken advised Mr Kejriwal to follow the "Sheila Dikshit model" of engaging with officers respectfully, rather than "mistreating" them.

Sources, however, said the Central leaders are concerned about the BJP govt's "undermining of the Supreme Court" and its "efforts to subvert democracy". The Ordinance, they said, brings the Chief Minister on par with the Chief Secretary, giving him one of three votes in a decision. This is also undermining of an elected govt, they said.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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META FINED RECORD $1.3BN BY EU FOR DATA TRANSFERS TO US

The EU slapped Meta with a record $1. 3 billion privacy fine on Monday and ordered it to stop transferring users personal information across the Atlantic by October, the latest salvo in a decade-long case sparked by US cyber-snooping fears.

The penalty of is the biggest since the EU’s strict data privacy regime took effect five years ago, surpassing Amazon’s $865 million fine in 2021 for data protection violations. Meta, which had previously warned that services for its users in Europe could be cut off, vowed to appeal and ask courts to put the decision on hold.

“This decision is flawed, unjustified and sets a dangerous precedent for the countless other companies transferring data between the EU and US,” Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, said.

IMRAN MOVES SC AGAINST MILITARY TRIALS & TROOP DEPLOYMENTS

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, lead by former PM Imran Khan, challenged in the Supreme Court on Monday the deployment of armed forces in three Pakistan provinces and the federal capital, Islamabad, in aid of the civilian govt, and the trial in military courts of civilians accused of the May 9 attacks on military installations.

PTI moved the apex court shortly after PM Shehbaz Sharif claimed people who attacked military properties during rallies earlier this month would be tried by the country’s army courts. The plea argued that troops were being deployed in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Islamabad by invoking Article 245 of the constitution. The article states that armed forces shall, under the directions of the federal govt, defend Pakistan against external aggression or threat of war, and, subject to law, act in aid of civil power when called upon to do so.

PTI alleged the aim of the troop deployment was to politically victimise the Imran-led party and to sow seeds of discord between the military and key political figures.

THE REST

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FRESH VIOLENCE IN MANIPUR, 3 DETAINED; ARMY RUSHES TO SPOT

In fresh violence in Manipur, two houses were torched by a mob in Imphal East district after four armed men, including a former MLA, forced people to shut their shops on Monday, police officials said.

However, no casualty was reported due to the arson.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh said one of the three arrested men was a former MLA.

Armymen deployed in the area who rushed to the scene used force and fired teargas shells to disperse the mob resulting in minor injuries to a few people.

NORTHWEST SIZZLES, DELHI TEMP CROSSES 46°C; RELIEF LIKELY TODAY

The northwest region, including New Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, witnessed heatwave conditions on Monday with maximum temperature climbing to 46 degree Celsius.

Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh was the hottest in the country with a maximum temperature of 46.5 degrees Celsius.

The IMD said two weather stations in New Delhi — Najafgarh and Sports Complex — reported 46.2 degrees Celsius. In Punjab, Patiala district sizzled at 45.2 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest district in the state. Haryana’s three districts — Sirsa, Hisar and Jind — recorded the maximum temperature of 45.2 degrees Celsius. The IMD said maximum temperatures were around 3-4 degrees higher than the normal.

ASSAM AIMS TO COMPLETELY REMOVE AFSPA BY YEAR END, SAYS CM

The Assam govt is aiming to withdraw the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA, completely from the state by the end of 2023, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Monday.

“We will also rope in ex-military personnel to train our police force,” Sarma said on the sidelines of the Conference of Assam Police Commandants at the Lachit Barphukan Police Training Academy, Dergaon.

According to a notification on 31 March, the ‘Disturbed Area’ status under AFSPA was withdrawn from Lakhipur sub-division of Cachar district in Assam’s Barak Valley, but was extended for another 6 months in 8 districts — Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao.

In these areas, the controversial law gives the armed forces the power “to fire upon or otherwise use force, even to the causing of death” upon those suspected of contravening the law, waging an armed conflict, or even “posing an imminent threat”.

MARGINAL IMPACT OF RS 2,000 NOTE WITHDRAWAL: RBI CHIEF

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on Monday said the impact of withdrawal of Rs 2,000 currency notes would be “very very marginal” on the economy because it accounts for only 10.8 per cent of currency in circulation. The RBI chief also cautioned that unlimited deposit of Rs 2,000 notes in bank accounts could attract scrutiny. “What we have said is the existing procedures have to be followed by banks. We have not come out with an additional procedure… there is an income tax rule that if you deposit cash above Rs 50,000, you have to produce your PAN. So, existing rules will apply,” he said.

Das said studies had shown that Rs 2,000 notes were hardly being used for active transactions and defended the withdrawal as being part of the RBI’s “clean note policy”. A similar exercise was undertaken in 2013-14 when notes printed before 2005 were withdrawn from circulation.

The notes, he reiterated, would continue to be legal tender, though most of the notes are expected to come back. “That is our expectation at this stage. We will see how many notes come back. And as we approach September 30, we will decide at that stage,” he said while asking people not to panic as there was ample time for them to deposit or exchange the notes. He also assured that there was adequate stock of other bank notes available.

NGO SUES BBC FOR RS 10,000 CR OVER MODI DOCUMENTARY, DELHI HC ISSUES NOTICE

The Delhi high court on Monday issued notice to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on a plea by an NGO seeking damages, claiming its documentary India: The Modi Question casts a slur on the reputation of India and makes false and defamatory imputations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian judiciary.

Besides BBC (UK), Justice Sachin Datta also issued notice to BBC (India) on the plea filed by Gujarat-based NGO Justice On Trial.

The petitioner has sought damages of Rs 10,000 crore in favour of the NGO and against the defendants on account of the ”loss of reputation and goodwill caused to the hon'ble prime minister of India, the Govt of India, the govt of the tate of Gujarat as it was during the period of the Gujarat riots, and also the people of India”.

The documentary relates to the 2002 Gujarat riots when Modi was the state's chief minister.

The high court said, "Issue notice to the respondents through all permissible modes," and listed it for further hearing on September 25.

The govt had banned the documentary soon after it was released.

JOB SCAM: ABHISHEK MOVES SC AGAINST CBI INTERROGATION

The Supreme Court will take up on May 26 TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s petition challenging his questioning by the CBI in the teachers recruitment scam case.

Questioned for more than nine hours by the CBI on May 20 in connection with the probe into the case, Banerjee has urged the top court to direct that no coercive steps be taken against him by the probe agency. The CBI was probing the criminal aspect of the scam, while the ED was investigating the money trail involved in the alleged irregularities in school recruitment.

On behalf of Banerjee, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi on Monday mentioned the matter for urgent listing before a vacation Bench led by Justice Aniruddha Bose which said it would hear it on Friday.

DELHI’S G20 MESSAGE FROM J&K: 2 GENERATIONS LOST, CHANGE HERE

THE G20 tourism working group meeting is a “a moment of rejuvenation and reincarnation” for Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister Jitendra Singh told foreign delegates as the three-day event got underway in Srinagar Monday.

A total of 61 delegates from 29 nations are participating in the meeting — the first such international event to be held in J&K since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.

“When I was trying to capture all that I was seeing, the first thought that occurred to me was: it is indeed a moment of rejuvenation, a moment of reincarnation…,” Singh said, as he underlined the positive changes in the Valley.

The Minister of State for PMO, giving an example, said that unlike in the past, there were no takers for strike calls here anymore. “If such an event was held earlier, a strike call would have been given from Islamabad and shops on Residency Road (in the heart of) Srinagar would have shut down. Now there is no hartal even if the call for hartal comes from here or there,” he said.

“This change has happened. Common people on the streets of Srinagar want to move on. They have lost two generations [due to militancy],” he said, addressing the delegates at a side event on “Film Tourism for Economic and Cultural Preservation”.

The minister expressed hope that the delegates highlight the positives in the Valley when they return. “I hope that when our friends go back, they will be our ambassadors… about the situation here and how it appears,” he said.

In his address, Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy said, “Film tourism has emerged as a powerful medium to promote tourism industry, and the govt is chalking out a comprehensive strategy for its growth in J&K.”

WHATSAPP TO ALLOW USERS TO EDIT MESSAGES … BUT ONLY FOR 15 MINUTES

WhatsApp has announced an editing feature to allow users to alter messages up to 15 minutes after they have been sent.

The Meta-owned messaging service has started rolling out the editing function globally and it should become available to all users in the coming weeks, the platform said in a blogpost.

Messages that have been edited will have an “edited” notification displayed alongside them, although the edit history will not be shown so a user cannot view what the post said before it was altered.

The feature can be activated by pressing down on a message and selecting “edit” from the pop-up menu that appears.

ADANI MCAP CROSSES ₹10L CR, BEST DAY SINCE HINDENBURG

Adani Group companies’ combined market capitalisation topped the Rs 10-lakh-crore mark on Monday after nearly more than three months. The rally came after a Supreme Court-appointed committee, in an interim report published on Friday, said that it didn’t find any regulatory failure on Sebi’s part in dealing with price manipulation of Adani Group stocks.

On Monday, led by a 19% surge in flagship Adani Enterprises, the 10 Adani Group companies’ combined market cap closed at nearly Rs 10. 2 lakh crore, up from Rs 9. 3 lakhcrore on Friday.

On January 24, US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research had come out with a damning report against Adani Group that alleged stock manipulation, cooked books of accounts and other corporate malfeasance. Since then, over a month, the group’s market cap had fallen by nearly 65%: From Rs 19. 2 lakh crore on January 24 to Rs 6. 8 lakh crore on February 27. After that, there has been a gradual recovery in the Ahmedabad-headquartered group’s stock prices.

NEERAJ CHOPRA ATTAINS NO. 1 SPOT IN WORLD ATHLETICS MEN'S JAVELIN RANKING

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra became the world number one for the first time in his career in the latest men's javelin throw rankings issued by the World Athletics. Chopra topped the charts with 1455 points, 22 ahead of Grenada's reigning world champion Anderson Peters (1433). Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic was third with 1416 points.

The 25-year-old Chopra rose to world number two on August 30 last year but was stuck behind Peters since then.

In September last year, Neeraj Chopra won the Diamond League 2022 finals in Zurich, becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious trophy.

INDICATORS

Sensex 61,964 (+234), Nifty 18,314 (+111)

Nasdaq 12,721 (+63) Dow 33,287 (-140), S&P 4,193 (+1)

US$-Rs. 82.83, GBP-Rs. 103.06, Euro-Rs. 89.58, UAE Dhm-Rs. 22.55, Can$-Rs. 61.33, Aus$- Rs. 55.05

GBP 0.80 /US$, Euro 0.92 /US$, Jap.Yen 138.16 /US$, Aus$ 1.50 /US$, Sing 1.34 /US$, Bang Taka 105.99 /US$, Can$ 1.35 /US$, Mal Ring 4.54 /US$, Pak Re 285.21 /US$, Phil Peso 55.68 /US$, Russian Rouble 80.11 /US$, NZ$ 1.59 /US$, Thai Baht 34.40 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 36.65 /US$

Bitcoin - USD 26,847, Dollar Index 103.16, Brent Crude 76.19, BDI 1,365

Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 1,965 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 6,141 / 5,629, Silver (Rs. Per KG) 75,000

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing. - Blaise Pascal

OFF TRACK

A guy was visiting his friend in the hospital who was "all torn up." "What happened?" he asked.

"Well, we were hunting the Mumba snake. It has yellow and black stripes. It likes to sun itself lying across a pathway in the jungle. You catch it by grabbing the tip of its tail with one hand and quickly running your other hand up the length of its body so you can grab it behind the neck."

"Well, I stealthily sneaked up to the tail laying across the jungle path, grabbed it by the end and rapidly moved my other hand upward -- just as the procedure goes."

"So why are you so beaten up?" the friend asked.

"Did you ever poke a tiger?"