[NEWS OF THE DAY]

1. PM Modi in Bali for G20 summit: World has to return to path of ceasefire, diplomacy in Ukraine
2. World is big enough for both China and US: Xi to Biden
3. Terror plot foiled in Jammu after security forces destroy two IEDs
4. Police searches underway at homes of suspected ISIS sympathizers across Chennai
5. Udaipur-Ahmedabad rail route repaired after explosion on track

What Else

6. Himachal records 75.6% polling percentage in 2022 Assembly polls: Election Commission
7. Vice President Dhankhar concludes 3-day visit to Cambodia
8. India abstains on UNGA resolution calling for Russia to pay reparations to Ukraine
9. Assam Bandh today: Six ethnic groups call for statewide shutdown to demand ST status
10. Forced conversions a threat to national security, says Supreme Court
11. Exiled Uyghurs mark East Turkestan formation, say will strive for freedom from China
12. Taiwan says Chinese fighter jets fly near island
13. Violent protests in China Guangzhou city amid severe Covid curbs
14. France’s Macron urges more Chinese pressure to end Ukraine war
15. Pakistan out of UK’s ‘high-risk countries’ list
16. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif tests positive for Covid-19

PM Modi in Bali for G20 summit: World has to return to path of ceasefire, diplomacy in Ukraine

• PM also said that the world should not hesitate to acknowledge that multilateral institutions like the UN have been unsuccessful in addressing global challenges.
• PM highlighted India’s efforts to further food security for the citizens and said that there is a need to ensure adequate supply chains “as far as food and fertilizers are concerned.”
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the 17^th G20 Summit in Indonesia’s Bali (Nov 15-16): 20 engagements lined up in 45 hrs
• Food, energy, security, and post-COVID-19 health issues will be at the top of the agenda in sessions at the summit.
• India will officially take over the G20 presidency on Dec 1^st
• Foreign Secretary said on Sun at a media briefing that PM will attend 3 crucial sessions at the G20 summit in Bali: food and energy security, digital transformation, and health.
• Secy said India intends to give a greater voice to the global south in issues of global economic cooperation as also on the need for reformed 21^st-century institutions. (here)
• The G20 Presidency of Indonesia, in partnership with the Pandemic Fund secretariat, on Sun officially launched the Pandemic Fund.
• Developed with Indonesia’s and Italy’s leadership, the Pandemic Fund has $1.4 billion in seed funding already committed by 24 donors. (here)
• Modi on Tue met his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak after assuming office for the first time on the sidelines of the Summit.
• PM on Mon and met President of the Republic of Senegal Macky Sall, Netherland’s PM Mark Rutte, and US President Joe Biden.
• MEA: QUAD and I2U2 were discussed in the meeting with President Biden

World is big enough for both China and US: Xi to Biden

• “I do not think there’s any imminent attempt on the part of China to invade Taiwan,” President Biden said, “There need not be a new cold war. Xi Jinping was direct and straightforward, he is willing to compromise on certain key issues.”
• During their meeting, President Xi Jinping urged the US not to cross Beijing’s “red line” over the island of Taiwan.
• US and China decided after their top leaders’ meeting that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken would visit China to follow up on Xi-Biden 3 hrs discussions on Mon. (here)

Terror plot foiled in Jammu after security forces destroy two IEDs

• 2 timer-fitted improvised explosive devices, suspected to have been dropped by a Pakistani drone, were found near a police post in the border area of Jammu district late on Mon, police said.
• The IEDs along with timers were destroyed in a controlled explosion on Tue.
• “No arrests have been made so far but we are working on it,” said police.
• The consignment was kept inside a black colored backpack near a police post in the Satwari area.
• Another police official said the timely detection of the IEDs, averted a major terror incident in Jammu. (here)

Police searches underway at homes of suspected ISIS sympathizers across Chennai

• Chennai City Police, on Tue, conducted searches at houses of people who were allegedly suspected to be ISIS sympathizers across Chennai and its outskirts.
• Earlier last week, the National Investigation Agency, on Nov 10^th, raided 40 places in Tamil Nadu to nab people who were suspected to be alleged ISIS sympathizers.
• On the same day, Chennai Police tracked down 3 men who raised suspicion after avoiding a checkpoint and escaping.
• One of the policemen, who tried to stop them, got hold of their bag, which allegedly had ISIS leaflets and bomb schematic notes. (here)

Udaipur-Ahmedabad rail route repaired after explosion on track

• An explosion was reported at the broad gauge line, near Oda railway bridge on the Udaipur-Ahmedabad rail route on Sat/Sun night, thereafter movement of the train halted.
• The track was inaugurated by PM Modi, on Oct 31, and the explosion occurred a month G20 Summit is to be held in India.
• Officials said that they suspect it to be a conspiracy to blow up the track, and claimed to have initiated a probe into the same.
• The state police chief said that central investigation agencies have been roped in to carry out the investigation and nab those involved. (here)

Himachal records 75.6% polling percentage in 2022 Assembly polls: Election Commission

• The Election Commission on Sun said that around 75.6% polling percentage was recorded in the recently held assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh.
• Voting through EVM was 74.5% while 1% by postal ballots had been received
• The highest polling 85.25% was reported from Doon Assembly constituency and the lowest polling of 62.53% was in Shimla at the end of the poll.
• According to Election Commission, the total number of males in the electorate was 27,88,925, the female voters were 27,36,306 and the third gender voters were 38. (here)

Vice President Dhankhar concludes 3-day visit to Cambodia

• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sun concluded his visit to Cambodia after attending the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit and the 17^th East Asia Summit.
• The VC was accompanied by External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and this was the first foreign visit of the Vice President in his current capacity.
• Cambodia as the current Chair of ASEAN hosted these Summits.
• This year marks the 30^th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations and is being celebrated as the ASEAN-India Friendship Year.
• A joint statement declared that advanced maritime cooperation, including in maritime security, countering piracy and armed robbery against ships, maritime safety, search and rescue operations humanitarian assistance, disaster management, and emergency response and relief. (here)

India abstains on UNGA resolution calling for Russia to pay reparations to Ukraine

• India abstained in the UNGA on a draft resolution calling for Russia to be held accountable for violations of international law by its invasion of Ukraine and requiring Moscow to pay reparations to Kyiv.
• The draft resolution, introduced by Ukraine was adopted by a recorded vote of 94 in favor, 14 against, and 73 abstentions, including by India.
• Those voting against the resolution were Belarus, China, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Russia, and Syria.
• India questioned whether a reparation process would contribute towards efforts at resolving the conflict and cautioned against such precedents. (here)

Assam Bandh today: Six ethnic groups call for statewide shutdown to demand ST status

• Six ethnic groups have called for a 12-hour statewide shutdown today demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
• The shutdown has been called by the Soy Janagosthi Joutha Mancha (Joint Platform of Six Ethnic Tribes).
• The body is an umbrella organization of six ethnic communities — Adivasi, Chutia, Koch-Rajbongshi, Matak, Moran, and Tai-Ahom.
• The forum came down heavily on the BJP-led govts at the Centre and in Assam and accused it of “playing with the sentiments of the six communities.” (here)

Forced conversions a threat to national security, says Supreme Court

• Calling religious conversions by use of force or allurement a threat to national security, the Supreme Court on Mon sought a detailed affidavit from the govt on steps being taken to curb this “dangerous trend.”
• As the solicitor general told the court that it is common knowledge that such conversions are rampant in tribal areas, the court asked what the Centre and states have done to stop it.
• The Centre must step in and make its stand clear, the bench of Justices MR Shah and Hima Kohli said. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Exiled Uyghurs mark East Turkestan formation, say will strive for freedom from China

• The Uyghur Muslims living in exile in Turkey celebrated the formation of the two East Turkestan republics, reaffirming their resolve for independence from China.
• The East Turkestan Federation organized a meeting attended by over 2,000 delegates including NGO representatives and community members.
• During the event, the Uyghur leaders highlighted the ‘hunger genocide’ unleashed in East Turkestan by the Chinese authorities in the garb of Covid Zero Policy.
• The delegates took a vow that East Turkestan is their homeland and that the community will continue to fight for ‘independence’ from China. (here)

Taiwan says Chinese fighter jets fly near island

• China’s military flew 36 fighter jets and bombers near Taiwan, the Taiwanese defense ministry announced, part of a long-running campaign of intimidation.
• Ten aircraft (6 Shenyang J-11 and 4 J-16) on Sat flew across the median line in the Taiwan Strait that separates the island from the mainland, the ministry said.
• Taiwan and China split in 1949 following a civil war that ended with the Communist Party in control of the mainland.
• The island never has been part of the PRC, but Beijing says it is obliged to unite with the mainland, by force if necessary. (here)
• President Tsai Ing-wen said on Sat the island continued to belong to its people and that Taiwan’s existence was a provocation to no one, in a fiery pre-election rebuff to China.

Violent protests in China Guangzhou city amid severe Covid curbs

• As China’s tough Covid lockdowns are fueling an increase in public anger, some residents in Guangzhou, staged rare protests against the stringent rules.
• In videos widely shared on social media, hundreds of protesters were seen marching in the street and pushing over police barriers in Guangzhou’s Haizhu district.
• The district has been in lockdown since late last month.
• The demonstrations took place in several “urban villages,” mainly poorer neighborhoods where migrant workers live, HKEJ reported.
• The local govt sent multiple police vehicles to the protests, Bloomberg reported.
• As China sticks to its Covid zero policy, lockdowns are showing no sign of abating even as authorities ease some curbs.
• Guangzhou has locked down two other districts, including Panyu and Liwan, as daily infections surged to 5,124 on Mon.
• China reported more than 17k new Covid cases on Mon, the highest since late Apr.

France’s Macron urges more Chinese pressure to end Ukraine war

• French President Emmanuel Macron urged Xi Jinping on Tue to bring Russia to the negotiating table over the war in Ukraine, the presidency said.
• The two leaders held talks just before the opening of the G20 summit in Indonesia, Bali, where Moscow is under pressure over its 8-month invasion.
• Macron called on Xi to “pass messages to President Putin to avoid escalation and return seriously to the negotiating table”.
• Xi made no direct mention of the conflict, but described the world as being in a “period of turbulence and transformation” and called for “openness and cooperation”.(here)

Pakistan out of UK’s ‘high-risk countries’ list

• The UK has removed Pakistan from its ‘high-risk third countries’ list through a statutory instrument, effectively meaning the UK FO recognizes the progress Pakistan has made.
• The UK recognizes Pakistan’s efforts to improve money laundering and terror financing curbs.
• Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari hailed the development on Twitter, saying it was “good news”. (here)

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif tests positive for Covid-19

• Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tested positive for Covid-19, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb wrote on Twitter on Tue.
• Just a day back, PM landed home from Britain after a drawn-out visit, marked by his political consultations with PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.
• During the visit, PML-N leaders, including Khawaja Asif, had accompanied him, The News International reported. (here)