[NEWS OF THE DAY]

1. Pakistani intruder shot dead along international border in Jammu
2. IAF upgrading radar coverage along China border in eastern Ladakh, northeast
3. MHA’s digital nod mandatory for foreign hospitality to govt servants, politicians
4. Australian parliament passes Free Trade Agreement with India
5. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh meets counterparts from US and Australia in Cambodia

What Else

6. UP govt to investigate income source of unrecognized Madrassas alongside border districts
7. Mangaluru blast: Accused Shariq’s key ‘aide’ arrested; Coimbatore link under lens of officials
8. CRPF establishes three new bases in LWE-hit areas of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand
9. India condemns recent intercontinental ballistic missile launch by North Korea
10. Nepal election results 2022: Nepali Congress surging in early trends, UML closing behind
11. EU set to renew sanctions on Chinese officials accused of human rights violations in Xinjiang

Media

Pakistani intruder shot dead along international border in Jammu

• A Pakistani intruder was neutralized by the Border Security Force along the international border in RS Pura Sector in Jammu, said a senior BSF officer on Tue.
• The intruder was neutralized at 2.30 am today as he continued approaching towards fence even after he was challenged to stop.
• Meanwhile, BSF troops also apprehended a Pakistani intruder as he approached fencing after crossing the International Border in Ramgarh Sector in J&K on Tue morning.
• Nothing incriminating was found from him. The area will be searched, said BSF. (here)

IAF upgrading radar coverage along China border in eastern Ladakh, northeast

• India is upgrading its radar coverage along the border with China (LAC) from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh as the Indian Air Force is moving ahead with over Rs 10k crore.
• Proposals are at an advanced stage in the Ministry for the acquisition of high-powered radars and around 20 low-level transportable Ashwini radars under Make in India.
• The Chinese Air Force had started probing Indian responses to its violations in the Demchok sector in Ladakh by sending its fighter planes beyond the 10-km CBM line.
• The Indian Air Force responded strongly by scrambling its fighter jets to the Demchok sector from nearby air bases. (here)

MHA’s digital nod mandatory for foreign hospitality to govt servants, politicians

• The Ministry of Home on Mon revised its guidelines linked to acceptance of foreign hospitality by members of legislatures, office-bearers of parties, judges, officials, and employees of corporations who travel outside India, asking them to seek prior “online” permission.
• As per new guidelines, Rule 7 of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Rules, 2011
  • “any person belonging to these categories who wish to avail foreign hospitality shall apply to the central govt in electronically (Form FC-2) for prior permission to accept such foreign hospitality“.
• The rule specifies that “every application shall be accompanied by an invitation letter from the host, and administrative clearance of the Department concerned “.
• The application to accept foreign hospitality must reach the appropriate authority ordinarily 2 weeks before the proposed date of onward journey, mentions the rule.
• In case of emergent medical aid needed for sudden illness, the acceptance of foreign hospitality shall be required to be intimated to the Central Govt within a month of such receipt giving full details including the source, approximate value in Indian Rupees, and the purpose for which and how it was utilized. (here)
• Foreign hospitality will mean any offer, not being a purely casual one, made in cash or kind by a foreign source for providing a person with the costs of travel to any country.

Australian parliament passes Free Trade Agreement with India

• Australia okayed the Free Trade Agreement with India on Tue, nearly two months after negotiators from both sides met for talks toward a full-fledged FTA.
• The bills easily passed the House of Representatives on Monday and the Senate made them law on Tue.
• This comes a few days after Albanese said that he will visit India in March next year. He announced this on the sidelines of the 17^th edition of the G20 summit.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh meets counterparts from US and Australia in Cambodia

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today met counterparts from Australia and the US in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
• Singh held a meeting with Australia’s Dy PM and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles in Cambodia.
• During the meeting, the two leaders discussed boosting defense ties and strengthening cooperation between India and Australia.
• Notably, Singh arrived in Siem Reap on Nov 21 to co-chair the India-ASEAN DMs’ Meeting and attend the 9^th ASEAN DMs’ Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus).
• Rajnath Singh held a meeting with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and New Zealand Defence Minister Peeni Henare in Cambodia.
• Earlier on Nov 21, Singh held a bilateral meeting with Dy PM and DM General TEA Banh.
• During the meeting, Rajnath Singh and TEA Benh noted the shared rich cultural and historic linkages between India and Cambodia. (here)
• Pentagon chief raises concern about Beijing’s ‘dangerous’ behavior with Chinese counterpart, described as “productive and professional”

UP govt to investigate income source of unrecognized Madrassas alongside border districts

• After conducting a survey, the Uttar Pradesh govt decided to investigate the income sources of the unrecognized madrassas, especially situated in the districts Nepal border.
• In the survey conducted by the govt earlier, most of the border madrassas have declared Zakat as their source of income.
• Now it will be ascertained from where more than 1500 unrecognized madrassas of the border are getting this zakat (donation).
• Especially in the unrecognized madrassas of the districts of UP situated on the Nepal border, the report of the investigation of the source of income will be studied.
• However, the concerned Minister told that the Madrasa survey has been conducted.
• There were a total of 11 points in it, related to the curriculum of the madrasas, the infrastructure of the madrasas, and the source of income of the madrasas.
• It has been revealed that there are about 8500 madrassas, which have not been recognized in which more than 7.64 lakh children are studying. (here)

Mangaluru blast: Accused Shariq’s key ‘aide’ arrested; Coimbatore link under lens of officials

• In the latest development in the Mangaluru auto blast case, an accused, identified as Roohullah, was arrested by the Bengaluru Police and handed over to Mysuru Police.
• After briefly questioning Rooullah, the Mysore Police handed him over to the Mangalore police. At present, he is in the custody of the Mangalore Police.
• Roohullah worked as a delivery boy and is considered to be an associate of Shariq.
• It may be recalled that Shariq carried a fake Aadhaar card with a Hindu name when the cooker bomb exploded in an auto on Nov 19 he was traveling in.
• It may be noted that following the Oct 23 Coimbatore car blast incident, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been conducting searches across Tamil Nadu.
• Reports have claimed that Shariq had links with the Coimbatore blast accused Jameesha Mubin. (here)

CRPF establishes three new bases in LWE-hit areas of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand

• Central Reserve Police Force has established 3 new forward bases in the remote violence-affected areas of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand to strike deep into the Maoist strongholds.
• While 1 forward operating base (FOB) has been established in CH Sukma and Bijapur districts, the 3^rd has been created in the West Singhbhum district of JH.
• These FOBs will serve as a base for the security forces to launch coordinated operations in the surrounding areas and will also help in cutting off the Maoist supply lines.
• The presence of forces in these remote locations will not only weaken the supply lines but also flush them out and provide a boost to development activities in the area.
• As per official data in Sept, in comparison to 2018, there has been a 39% reduction in the incidents of LWE violence and a 26% reduction in casualties to security forces and civilian deaths have reduced by 44%.
• The number of districts reporting violence has decreased by 24% and the number of such districts are 39 in 2022.
• Out of these 39, only 25 are in the category of violence-prone districts. (here)

India condemns recent intercontinental ballistic missile launch by North Korea

India has joined the US and a dozen other nations to condemn North Korea’s recent intercontinental ballistic missile launch, with New Delhi voicing concern over the proliferation of nuclear and missile technologies, saying they have an “adverse impact” on peace and security in the region, including on India. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Nepal election results 2022: Nepali Congress surging in early trends, UML closing behind

• The Nepali Congress seems to be edging away in the tally as the counting of votes for the 275-member House of Representatives and provincial assemblies is underway.
• The election for the parliament and seven provincial assemblies were held on Sun, and the counting began the next day Mon.
• Nepali Congress (NC) has won in 3 constituencies and is leading in 48 seats.
• Closing behind 2^nd is the main opposition Communist Party of Nepal [Unified Marxist–Leninist (UML)] which has pocketed one constituency and leading in 38 seats.
• The CPN (Maoist Centre) is leading in 12 constituencies while the Rashtriya Swatantra Party has taken a lead in 11 constituencies.
• NC party opened its account in Mustang and then in Manang. Its candidate Yogesh Thakali Gauchan was elected from Mustang for the House of Representatives. (here)

EU set to renew sanctions on Chinese officials accused of human rights violations in Xinjiang

• The EU is set to renew sanctions on Chinese officials it has accused of “serious human rights violations” in the western region of Xinjiang for another year.
• The sanctions were 1^st placed on 4 individuals and an entity in Mar 2019, and the EU observed no improvement in human rights conditions in the region.
• They are likely to be extended without a debate in Dec, according to multiple diplomats familiar with the situation.
• Ambassadors in the EU will discuss the sanctions as part of the bloc’s overall human rights sanctioning regime on Nov 30, after which the extension will be approved
• Diplomats dealing with human rights issues okayed the extension on Oct 3.
• The sanctions will be rolled over in Mar, 2 years after they 1^st came into force and helped usher in a unique period of turbulence in the EU-China relationship.
• China hit back almost immediately, imposing sanctions on 10 European individuals and four entities, including diplomats, officials, academics, and politicians. (here)