[ NATIONAL ]

In J&K: The Resistance Front top Commander among 3 Millatants killed in Srinagar encounter

• 199 terrorists active in Kashmir Valley at present: CRPF
• Nitin Gadkari lays foundation stones of 25 National Highway projects to boost the tourism industry in J-K
• NIA raids multiple locations in J-K in the terrorism conspiracy case

IAF gets two Mirage 2000 fighters from France to strengthen the combat aircraft fleet

Amid tensions on the border, the Indian Air Force has received a boost to its fighter jet fleet as 2-second hand Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft have arrived from France at its Gwalior airbase.

INS Vela will play a crucial role in enhancing the Navy’s ability to protect India’s maritime interests: Admiral Karambir Singh

ANI – Indian Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh on Thu said INS Vela, the 4^th Scorpene-class submarine, will play a crucial role in enhancing the Navy’s ability to protect the nation’s maritime interests.

Manohar Lal Khattar likely to meet PM Modi

ANI – Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thu.

No solution to world challenges without India, German envoy says

German Ambassador to India Walter J. Lindner said the Glasgow climate summit has shown that nations need each other and neither rich nor poor countries can do it by themselves.

Germany announces EUR 1.2 billion in development commitments to India

Germany has announced new development commitments to the tune of more than EUR 1.2 billion (approx. Rs 10,025 crore) to aid India’s fight against climate change and for cooperation on clean energy. This announcement was made amid the visit of a delegation from the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.

UAE for resumption of normal flights with India, says traffic low under air bubble pact

The UAE on Wed pitched for resumption of its normal flight services with India, saying such a step will help in checking the escalating cost of travel and address difficulties being faced by travelers, said the ambassador of the UAE to India Ahmed Albanna. He added that the two countries are moving forward to firm up a comprehensive economic partnership agreement by the first half of next year that is expected to significantly boost trade and investment ties.

Jewar International Airport to be Asia’s biggest, create jobs:

PM Modi laid the foundation stone for Noida International Airport in Gautam Buddh Nagar’s Jewar. The ground-breaking ceremony of the Noida International Airport could have taken place in 2017, soon after the Yogi Adityanath govt came to power in the state as the project was conceptualized by the previous BJP govt, PM Modi said as he addressed the event on Thu at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh. Going by the standard practice of politics, it would not have been frowned upon, PM Modi said, but BJP’s politics is different from other parties that have been in power in UP previously, the PM said.

Parliament winter session: Bharatiya Janta Party issues three-line whip to Rajya Sabha MPs

The move is being seen as a signal that the union govt could introduce a Bill to repeal the three farm laws on the first day of the winter session of Parliament, which starts on Nov 29

Death threat e-mails received by Gambhir traced to Pak: Delhi Police sources

ANI -Two e-mails threatening to kill former Indian cricketer and BJP MP Gautam Gambhir were sent from Pakistan, Delhi Police sources said on Thu. According to the sources, the account handler has been identified as Sahid Hamid. The BJP MP had said that he had received two death threats via e-mails within 24 hours from “ISIS Kashmir”.

NASA launches DART mission to crash into an asteroid, results could help defend Earth someday

The DART mission will crash a space probe into the asteroid Dimorphos to test human capability to protect the planet against near-earth objects.

IIT Delhi beats UC Berkeley & Univ of Chicago in Times employability rankings, ranks 27^th

The other institutes that made it to the top 100 are IISc, Bengaluru, and IIT Bombay. IIT Delhi & Bombay also ranked among the top 150 in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings.

‘Nobody has asked them to read it’: Delhi HC dismisses plea to ban Khurshid’s new book

The petition demanded a ban on sale, purchase, and circulation of the book ‘Sunrise Over Ayodhya: Nationhood in Our Times‘, said statements in it defamatory for the Hindu community.

[ NEIGHBORHOOD ]

Defense secretary summoned in cantonment land conversion case

Observing that the conversion of cantonment land into private land in the metropolis was apparently in violation of laws as well as various provisions of the Constitution, the Supreme Court on Wed summoned the defense secretary and attorney general of Pakistan for Nov 26.

Energy minister tells petroleum dealers ‘legitimate’ demands will be met, urges them to reconsider strike

A majority of fuel pumps across the country closed; meetings of stakeholders are underway.

• Long queues at petrol stations in major cities as citizens rush to refuel ahead of strike
• Petrol stations to remain closed on Nov 25 in protest
• Petroleum dealers threaten to go on strike

India’s honoring of Abhinandan for ‘imaginary feats of gallantry’ against military norms: Pakistan

Pakistan on Tue termed the gallantry award conferred on Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Abhinandan Varthaman a “classic case of Indian fabrication and pure fantasy” aimed at appeasing domestic audiences.

China shows solidarity with Iran amid pressure from the US over the nuclear deal

Foreign Minister Wang Yi vows to share his experience on accelerating development and criticizes the US-led democracy summit from which China and Iran are excluded.

Coronavirus origins: WHO’s Sago experts sit down for the first meeting

The WHO’s latest group of experts to investigate the origins of the new coronavirus has begun its work, after a months-long process to assemble the team. The Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (Sago) – a body of 27 experts selected from around the world – met for the 1^st time on Tue, marking the start of what WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called “critical work at a critical time”.

In J&K: The Resistance Front top Commander among 3 Millatants killed in Srinagar encounter

ANI – One of the three terrorists killed in an encounter in Srinagar’s Rambagh on Wed afternoon has been identified as a top The Resistance Front (TRF) commander, the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) police said in a press release.

Police- acting swiftly on our specific input regarding the movement of terrorists in the Rambagh area of Srinagar, a small team from Srinagar Police signaled a suspected Santro vehicle to stop but instead they started firing indiscriminately while trying to flee from the spot under the cover of firing.

The 3 terrorists got killed and identified as terrorist commanders of proscribed terror outfit LeT (TRF) Mehran Yaseen Shalla, Srinagar, Manzoor Ahmad Mir, Pulwama, and Arafat Ahmad Sheikh, Pulwama.

• As per police records, the 3 terrorists were linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT (TRF) and part of the group involved in many terror crimes including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities.
• Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition has been recovered from their possession.

199 terrorists active in Kashmir Valley at present: CRPF

ANI – As many as 199 terrorists (110 local and 89 foreigners) are active in the Kashmir valley at present as informed by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Wed, citing an intelligence report shared by all concerned agencies of Kashmir valley, a senior CRPF officer said.

Official Statement- In counterterrorism operations in the valley by security forces this year, to date (Nov 24) 148 terrorists have been killed, out of which 127 were locals + 21 foreigners.

• He further said that the deployment of CRPF in J&K is 2^nd highest after Left Wing Extremists affected areas where around 100 companies are deployed.
• Recently, 25 additional CRPF companies were added after the attack on civilians in the valley.
• A total of 11 CRPF personnel have been killed in action, out of which, 3 were in J&K, and 8 were in areas affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE).
• In the last 7 days, they have arrested a total of 27 LWE that including 13 in Chhattisgarh, 3 in Bihar, and 11 in Jharkhand.
• On Nov 22, 7 Chakras including 5 Kirti Chakra and 2 Shaurya Chakra were presented to CRPF by the President of India for gallantry.

NIA raids multiple locations in J-K in the terrorism conspiracy case

ANI – The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thu morning carried out searches at multiple locations in J&K in a terrorism conspiracy case, the agency said.

The agency, however, did not reveal the exact case under which its sleuths conducted raids citing investigation reasons, but it assures to share the inputs soon as and when it finds a suitable time that will not affect its probe.

The raids were conducted 3 days after the NIA arrested Kashmiri human rights activist Khurram Parvez from Kashmir for his involvement in anti-India activities and having direct links with a banned Pakistan-based terrorist outfit.

(NIA official)- “Parvez was in touch with Over Ground Workers (OWGs) of a banned Pakistani organization (didn’t name, as it may impact investigation)”.

• The official said that Parvez was held based on “solid evidence” against him proving his links with the OWGs for several years and some facts yet to be verified.
• The case in which Parvez has been arrested has some links to Himachal Pradesh where the NIA sleuths had conducted raids on Mon (Nov 22) besides carrying out search operations at 2 locations in Kashmir.
• In this case, the NIA had on Nov 22 conducted raids at 2 places in Kashmir, and 1 in Himachal before arresting Parvez from the Valley.
• Parvez was arrested from J&K in connection with NIA’s ongoing probe in a terror funding case.
• The agency had conducted raids at Parvez’s residence in Sonwar and office in Amira Kadal of Srinagar.
• Parvez has been booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
• The NIA sleuths picked up Parvez from his residence in the afternoon and he was later arrested following questioning at the agency’s office in the Valley, said sources.
• The agency in Oct last year had also conducted raids at several locations in the valley including Parvez’s residence and office and was slapped with the Public Safety Act (PSA) in 2016.
• His arrest had come a day after he was barred from traveling to Switzerland to participate in a session of the UN Human Rights Council. He was released after 76 days of prison.

Parvez is the chairperson of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) and the program coordinator of JKCCS. He had lost his leg in a landmine while monitoring the 2004 Parliamentary elections.

IAF gets two Mirage 2000 fighters from France to strengthen the combat aircraft fleet

ANI-Amid tensions on the border, the Indian Air Force has received a boost to its fighter jet fleet as 2-second hand Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft have arrived from France at its Gwalior airbase.

The aircraft would now be upgraded to the latest standards as part of the Mirage upgrade program, to make up the number of aircraft in the Mirage fighter fleet to around 50, going on in the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the sources said.

The IAF had acquired around 51 Mirages in different batches and they form three squadrons which are all based in the Gwalior Air Force station.

(Sources) – the Mirage upgrade deal between the French and Indian sides was for enhancing the capabilities of 51 aircraft and some of these kits are left due to crashes involving these planes.

• The same kits can be put on these 2 French Air Force planes and make them suitable for combat operations.
• The Indian Air Force has invested very smartly in finding the spares for the Mirages in form of phased-out old French aircraft and this is going to help the Air Force maintain them till 2035.

The Mirages have been in service from the 1980s and have been the mainstay of the force from the Kargil war to the 2019 Balakot airstrikes in Pakistan.

The Mirages also successfully took out Pakistan Army camps and bunkers on the Tiger Hilltop in the Kargil war and changed the face of the war by successfully hitting enemy camps at such high altitudes with pinpoint precision using laser-guided bombs.

INS Vela will play a crucial role in enhancing the Navy’s ability to protect India’s maritime interests: Admiral Karambir Singh

ANI – Indian Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh on Thu said INS Vela, the 4^th Scorpene-class submarine, will play a crucial role in enhancing the Navy’s ability to protect the nation’s maritime interests.

• INS Vela was commissioned into the Indian Navy, in the presence of Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh, at the naval dockyard in Mumbai today. “
• The Navy chief said that the P-75 project represents the growing strategic congruence between India and France.
• “Today’s commissioning marks another high point in this enduring partnership. We crossed halfway mark of Project 75,” he said.

INS Vikrant to be commissioned by Aug 2022: Admiral Karambir Singh

ANI -Indian Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh on Thu said that the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) INS Vikrant will be commissioned by Aug 2022 while he was addressing an event at the naval dockyard in Mumbai.

Nitin Gadkari lays foundation stones of 25 National Highway projects to boost the tourism industry in J-K

ANI – Union Minister Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari on Wed said that the construction of 25 National Highway (NH) projects in J&K will provide impetus to the travel and tourism sector and also generate employment opportunities for the people in the Union Territory.

• He laid foundation stones of 25 NH projects J&K worth Rs 11,721 Crores, at the Sports Stadium, Doda.
• Gadkari assured that road network works worth Rs one lakh crore within the next 2 years will give a boost to the socio-economic development of J-K.
• On the occasion, Sinha also secured the inclusion of 6 more road projects for Jammu and 1 project for the Kashmir division under the NH and Bharatmala category.

These newly included road projects:

1. Kathua-Basholi-Bani-Bhaderwah-Doda (170 KM);
2. Doda-Bhaderwah-Chamba (Himachal Road) (132 KM);
3. Dayalachak-Challan-Billawar-Mahanpur-Basohli (118 KM);
4. Tawi Bridge-Jammu Airport-Miran Sahib-R.S.Pura Suchetgarh (Old Jammu-Sialkot Road) (29 KM);
5. Surankote-Bafliaz-Shopian-Srinagar (Mughal Road) (145 KM);
6. Atholi (Kishtwar)-Machail-Zanskar Road (Kargil);
7. Narabal-Tangmarg-Gulmarg-Baramulla (70 KM).

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said that after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the execution of new roads, tunnels, and other basic Infrastructure has gained a huge push to ensure the overall development of J-K.

• Last year, 2402 km of road was constructed under PMGSY in the Jammu division.
• Since Aug 2019, taking into account the figures of Oct 2021, 3885 km road has been built under PMGSY in Jammu division alone.
• 109 projects have been completed in the Jammu division at Rs 455 crore, including 14 bridges.
• Apart from this, 9 bridges worth Rs 19 crores have been completed under various other schemes.
• In 2019, 2290 km of road was blacktopped, while last year, 5136 km of road was macadamized.
• This year a target of macadamization of 8000 km of road has been set.

Manohar Lal Khattar likely to meet PM Modi

ANI – Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thu.

(sources)-Khattar will meet PM at 10.30 am in Delhi.

Why Matters? Notably, this meeting comes days after the Centre announced to repeal 3 farm laws and ahead of Samyukt Kisan Morcha’s call for a nationwide protest to mark the first anniversary of the farmers’ movement on Nov 26.

Meanwhile, the Haryana Cabinet meeting will be held today at 3 pm at the Haryana Civil Secretariat.

Moreover, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait had earlier said that 60 tractors will head to the Parliament in the national capital on Nov 29 as a part of the tractor march to press for a statutory guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops among other things.

• Union Minister on Wed informed that the Union Cabinet led by the PM has completed the formalities to repeal 3 farm laws and listed for introduction and passage
• The PM had also announced that the govt will constitute a committee to work on a new framework for Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Meanwhile, Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions, in an official statement had said, “Preparations are underway for marking Nov 26, 2021, on the completion of 12 long and continuous months of struggle by lakhs of farmers in India – Thousands of farmers are expected to come to the morcha sites on that day around Delhi.”

Law, order will not be allowed to be disturbed: Delhi CP ahead of farmers’ tractor march

ANI -Ahead of the farmers’ union’s tractor march to Parliament during the winter session, Delhi Commissioner of Police Rakesh Asthana said that nobody is objecting to democratic protests but under no circumstances will the law and order be allowed to be disturbed.

No solution to world challenges without India, German envoy says

German Ambassador to India Walter J Lindner on Wed said that the Glasgow climate conference earlier this month has shown that nations need each other and added that there’s no solution to world challenges without India.

Nearly 200 countries in Glasgow, Scotland, adopted an outcome document, known as the Glasgow Climate Pact.

• It calls on 197 countries to report their progress towards more climate ambition next year, at COP27, set to take place in Egypt.
• The outcome also firms up the global agreement to accelerate action on climate this decade.
• However, some nations objected to the announcement of a change to the pact which softened language circulated in an earlier draft about “the phase-out of unabated coal power and inefficient subsidies for fossil fuels”.
• As adopted, that language was revised to “phase down” coal use.

Ambassador Lindner said that Berlin has a strategic partnership with New Delhi and both countries expect special bilateral engagement in this regard.

“We have a strategic partnership with India, this is something we have with a very few countries, so not only we [Germany] expects but India also expects from Germany, the special engagement in the strategic cooperation,” J Lindner told ANI.

• Lindner also said that the govt of both nations has been engaging regularly to keep the relations intact.
• “We also do this, after every 2 years we have Govt to Govt consultations where a whole cabinet is flying to India or India’s cabinet is flying to Germany,” the envoy stated.
• “There is no solution to the challenges without India,” he said further adding that both countries can do a lot together.

Meanwhile, bilateral relations between two are founded on common democratic principles and are marked by a high degree of trust and mutual respect.

• India was amongst the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with the Federal Republic of German0y after the Second World War.
• India and Germany have a “Strategic Partnership” since 2001, which has been further strengthened with the Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) at the level of Head of Govts, the Ministry of External Affairs informed in a statement.
• Leaders from both countries have also been engaging on recent issues including the Afghanistan crisis and other terrorism-related problems.

India has set an ambitious target of USD 400 billion exports for 2021-22: Shringla ANI

Underlining goals of promoting the three Ts – Trade, Tourism, and Technology, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Wed said that India has set an ambitious target of USD 400 billion of exports for the year 2021-22 while speaking at the Annual Session of the Indian Chamber of Commerce held in Kolkata titled ‘Bharat@75: Empowering India: Today for Tomorrow‘.

• He highlighted that the Indian economy has returned to the high growth path and India’s GDP grew by over 20% in the first quarter of 2021-22.
• Noting India’s key role in world affairs, the foreign secretary said that the post-pandemic economy will differ significantly from the present one. (ANI)

[ NEIGHBORHOOD ]

Defense secretary summoned in cantonment land conversion case

Dawn – A 3-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed also put the chief executive officers (CEOs) of all the cantonment boards in Karachi as well as the Sindh advocate general on notice.

While dictating the order during Wed’s proceedings at the apex court’s Karachi registry, the CJP asked the attorney general to explain how to park/amenity land in the cantonment areas of the city was being used for commercial activities.

• The CJP-The land allotted to the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force and meant for defense purposes has progressively been used or allotted/leased/transferred by the cantonment authorities to the personnel of armed forces.
• The cantonment land had been allotted/leased out by the federal and provincial govt for cantonment purposes and the very nature of the land cannot be changed by giving personal status.
• The conversion of cantonment land into private land seems to be in direct contravention of the Cantonment Act 1924, Cantonment Land Rules 1937, and various constitutional provisions, and this issue needed to be heard and decided by this court.

The bench expressed resentment over the director, cantonment and military land, Karachi region, Adil Rafi Siddiqui over such activities within the jurisdiction of cantonment boards and also sought a report from him about a wall being built on the premises of park in Defence Housing Authority Phase-I.

Plea against commercial use of Askari Park: The bench also issued notices to the Karachi administrator, commander engineer, Corps-V, and others on an application against using the Askari Park near old Sabzi Mandi for commercial purposes.

• The bench had issued notices to respondents on the last hearing, but it was informed that nobody appeared from military authorities on Wednesday.
• Earlier, an applicant had submitted that the land of the park belonged to the KMC and an agreement for the adoption of such land was made between the then city district govt Karachi and the military authorities in 2005 for the development and maintenance of the park.
• However, the applicant argued that wedding halls and other commercial activities were being carried out on the premises of the park.

Anger at provincial authorities: The SC came down hard on the provincial authorities over sudden transfers of officials posted on key positions and warned to pass an order if the situation did not change.

The bench observed that it had been issuing various directives to the Karachi commissioner and other officials, but they were swiftly transferred while the director-general of the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) was also removed hardly a few months after his appointment and he got a stay order from the high court.

Parks of KMC: The bench said that Karachi Administrator Murtaza Wahab also assured it that he would take action to clear parks, playgrounds, and public spaces and maintain them properly.

Gutter Baghicha: The bench ruled that a portion of around 200 acres at the Gutter Baghicha Park was illegally allotted to the KMC Officers Housing Society in 1993 and the same was liable to be canceled.

India’s honoring of Abhinandan for ‘imaginary feats of gallantry’ against military norms: Pakistan

Dawn-In a statement issued a day after Abhinandan was given the Vir Chakra medal (India’s 3^rd-highest wartime gallantry award) by Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, the Foreign Office said the move was done to “hide [India’s] embarrassment”.

Citing a report by The Indian Express, Abhinandan, who was recently promoted from wing commander to group captain, was awarded the medal for “showing conspicuous courage” while shooting down a Pakistani F-16 aircraft in Feb 2019 — a claim that has been rubbished by the Pakistan military, independent observers as well as the international media.

The claim was refuted again by the Pak Foreign Office stated- “Pakistan categorically rejects the entirely baseless Indian claims that a Pakistani F-16 aircraft was shot down by an Indian pilot before he was captured by Pakistan in Azad J&K in Feb 2019,” it read.

“India’s insistence on propagating a lie that has been thoroughly exposed is ludicrous and nonsensical. Granting military honors for ‘imaginary’ feats of gallantry is contrary to every norm of military conduct.” the statement added.

Abhinandan’s capture and release: Following an attack in occupied Kashmir’s Pulwama earlier that month, Indian military planes violated the LoC on Feb 26, 2019, intruding from the Muzaffarabad sector.