1. Israeli Cabinet approves 4-Day Ceasefire with Hamas that includes release of 50 Hostages; Modi skips BRICS-Plus meet on Israel-Hamas
2. India issues advisory for its nationals in Myanmar, asks them to register at embassy in Yangon
3. Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit today
4. Indian PM Modi shares 3 demands of Global South at concluding session of meet
5. India, Maldives to discuss ‘solutions’ for Indian military assets presence

What Else

• Australia terms China a ‘security anxiety’ while India seeks deeper defence ties at 2+2 dialogue
• India: Over 500 properties seized in J&K as govt continues ‘all-out war’ against terrorism
• ED moves to attach ₹751 crore assets in National Herald case
• NCERT panel recommends inclusion of Ramayana, Mahabharata in school textbooks
• India: Uttar Pradesh govt bans Halal-certified edible items in state with immediate effect
• US lawmakers urge Biden administration to suspend aid to Pakistan amid human rights concerns
• US announced to increase capability of the counter-terrorism force in Pakistan
• EU questions Pakistan’s record of human rights, restrictions on media

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Israeli Cabinet approves 4-Day Ceasefire with Hamas that includes release of 50 Hostages

• Israeli Cabinet has approved a ceasefire with Hamas that includes the release of some 50 hostages held by militants, according to an official statement released on Wed
• This comes after a ‘near-all-night meeting’ where PM Netanyahu told his cabinet that accepting a deal for the release of hostages taken in the Hamas attacks of Oct 7 was “a difficult decision but it’s a right decision”.
• “The Israeli govt is committed to bringing all the abductees home. Tonight, the govt approved the outline for the first stage of achieving this goal, under which at least 50 abductees – women and children – will be released over 4 days, during which there will be a lull in the fighting,” the statement said.
• “The release of every 10 additional abductees will result in an additional day of respite,” it added.
• Hamas has welcomed a “humanitarian truce” approved by Israel that provides for the freeing of hostages held by the group in Gaza in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners. (here)
• Modi skips BRICS-Plus meet on Israel-Hamas; Jaishankar attends, says ‘no compromise on terrorism’
• PM Modi Tue skipped the virtual BRICS-Plus joint meeting on the Middle East situation in Gaza, India was instead represented at the meeting by EAM S. Jaishankar.
• Dr Jaishankar said in his address that Terrorism and hostage-taking is unacceptable
• Modi was the only among BRICS leaders who skipped the meeting which was attended by Russian President Putin, President Xi, Brazil’s Lula da Silva, and South African President Ramaphosa.
• UN Gen-Secy António Guterres and the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE were also in attendance.
• Ramaphosa and Xi urged for an ‘immediate ceasefire’ and called Israel’s “collective punishment of Palestinian civilians” a war crime (here)
• Iran President Raisi at virtual BRICS summit on Gaza crisis: Western countries against the ceasefire in Gaza have no credibility in the world anymore.
• Iranian President stressed BRICS members must cut all ties with Israel.
• South Africa’s Parliament has just passed a resolution that urges the govt to shut the Israel Embassy in the country in response to Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
• Israel lists Lashkar as terror group ‘despite not being requested by India’: Israel has designated Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as a terror organization ahead of the 15^th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, emphasizing global unity against terrorism. (here)
• Amid West Asia crisis, Arab and Islamic FMs’ delegation to visit New Delhi: Amid the escalating tensions in West Asia and a deteriorating situation in Gaza, a delegation of Arab Islamic Foreign Ministers is set to visit Delhi this week.
• The delegation is expected to include FMs from Saudi, Jordan, Egypt, and Palestinian.
• The primary agenda visit is to engage in discussions concerning the ongoing crisis.
• They will be holding a meeting with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar.
• The delegation was earlier in China and is expected to travel to other global capitals as well (here)

India issues advisory for its nationals in Myanmar, asks them to register at embassy in Yangon

• India on Tue issued an advisory for its nationals in Myanmar amid fighting between Myanmar’s anti-junta groups and govt forces.
• New Delhi has advised all Indian nationals living in Myanmar, except short-term tourists, to register themselves with the Embassy of India in Yangon.
• Last week, India expressed deep concern at fighting between Myanmar’s anti-junta groups and govt forces close to the country’s border, which resulted in Myanmar nationals seeking refuge in Mizoram, and pushed for a cessation of violence and a constructive dialogue.
• Bagchi had said India’s position on the situation in Myanmar “is very clear – we want a cessation of the violence and resolution of the situation through constructive dialogue”
• According to the UN, the intensified fighting since last month has displaced about 90,000 people. (here)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit today

• Under the chairmanship of PM Modi, India is all set to hold the virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit on Wed evening, which will witness a major gathering of world leaders.
• Leaders of all G20 members, including the Chair of the African Union, as well as nine guest countries and heads of 11 international organizations, have been invited.
• On Sept 10 at the closing ceremony of the G20 Summit, PM Modi announced that India would be hosting a virtual Summit before the conclusion of India’s G20 Presidency.
• The virtual summit will address key issues, select outcomes, and review developments that have taken place since the conclusion of the New Delhi G20 Summit in Sept.
• Following the Summit that took place here in the national capital on Sept 9-10 this year, considerable progress on G20 priorities as well as outcomes have been made (here)
• While the Kremlin has confirmed the participation of Russian President Putin, no word yet from WH over President Biden’s presence.
• With the Thanksgiving season, uncertainty remains over President Biden’s presence.
• Chinese Prez Xi is skipping the summit 2^nd time in a row, which is being held under Indian Presidency.
• Premier of the State Council Li Qiang will be present at the virtual summit.

Indian PM Modi shares 3 demands of Global South at concluding session of meet

• PM Modi on Fri (Nov 17) addressed the concluding session of the Voice of Global South Summit, which was held virtually.
• Modi said that two summits of the Global South being held in a year and the large participation sent out a big message to the world.
• This summit, which is the 2^nd, focused on sharing with countries of the Global South the key outcomes achieved in various G20 meetings throughout India’s residence.
• The first Voice of Global South Summit was hosted by India in January.
• The summit has brought together countries from Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania to share their perspectives and priorities on a global platform.
• The theme for the first summit was “Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose” and had a total of 10 sessions.
• According to India’s foreign ministry, the second summit was also structured into 10 sessions, and an additional 8 ministerial sessions. (here)

India, Maldives to discuss ‘solutions’ for Indian military assets presence

• Even as the new Maldives govt has called for the “withdrawal” of Indian military personnel from the country, both New Delhi and Malé have agreed to “discuss workable solutions” on the presence of Indian military assets as they “serve the interests of the people of Maldives”, sources have said.
• The development comes after a meeting between Indian minister Kiren Rijiju and the new Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu in the capital Male on Sat
• The Indian minister, a legislator from Arunachal Pradesh, was in Male to represent India at the oath-taking ceremony of the new President on Friday (Nov 17).
• A readout from the Maldives govt said, “While discussing the matter with Minister Kiren Rijiju, President Dr Muizzu also acknowledged the significant role of the two helicopters in providing numerous emergency medical evacuations.”
• He appreciated their role in monitoring and combating drug trafficking. Indian military assets like helicopters and Dornier aircraft gifted to the MNDF are seen as central to medical evacuation, to monitor and combat drug trafficking in the country. (here)

Australia terms China a ‘security anxiety’ while India seeks deeper defence ties at 2+2 dialogue

• Australian dy PM and def min Richard Marles Mon termed China as the biggest trade partner for India and Australia and also the biggest security anxiety for both countries.
• He was speaking at the India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi, which was attended by DM Rajnath Singh, FM S. Jaishankar, and his counterpart Penny Wong
• He pointed out that the two shared an ocean and, in that sense, were neighbors and that there had never been a more important time for the two to be working together.
• Marles also said that, from the Australian perspective, it couldn’t overstate the importance of its relationship with India.
• Jaishankar, too, highlighted the importance of the India-Australia relationship and said that defense was an important pillar of the partnership.
• India’s dialogue with Australia comes in the wake of the India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, which was held earlier this month.
• India and Australia have continually expressed their commitment to promoting peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. (here)
• India to Host ‘Quad’ Meet Next Year as China’s Influence Grows: New Delhi will host a meeting of the Quad, a regional partnership that comprises Japan, India, US, and Australia, early next year as the group looks to counter China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
• “We discussed Quad at some length today,” Jaishankar told reporters at a joint briefing with Australian counterpart Penny Wong in New Delhi on Tue. (here)
• India and Australia “also agreed to jointly map the Indian Ocean sea floor which is critical for submarine operations and work out formal arrangements for air-to-air refueling, according to a statement from India’s defense ministry.”

India: Over 500 properties seized in J&K as govt continues ‘all-out war’ against terrorism

• With over 500 properties seized by various govt agencies in J&K continues an all-out war against terror organizations, terror networks, and terror financing.
• The govt says that if the terror ecosystem is crushed, terrorism will end.
• As per state govt, over 500 properties belonging to terrorists, terror sympathizers, and OGWs have been seized by various agencies like the NIA, SIA, SIU, ED, and CB
• Properties worth hundreds of crores have been seized in various districts of J&K
• According to the state govt, around 4,200 terrorists who are living in Pakistan and PoK have been listed among the “proclaimed offenders” by the GoI. (here)
• 5 terrorists killed in Kulgam operation; 7 terrorists killed in last 48 hours: in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on last Fri.
• The operation that started earlier on Thu in the Samno area of Kulgam has resulted in the killing of 5 terrorists in the gunbattle. (here)
• Drone-dropping case: NIA arrests 1 more accused for delivering weapons to terrorists: The NIA has arrested another accused in a Pakistan-backed terrorism case involving the delivery of weapons through drones to terrorists active in Jammu and Kashmir.
• This is the 8^th arrest in the case.
• According to an NIA spox, the arrested man has been identified as Zakir Hussain (22), a resident of Kathua district in Jammu region.
• Hussain was arrested by an NIA team in Jammu on Mon, he said.
• “He (Hussain) was allegedly involved in collecting, receiving, and transporting the weapons dropped from across the IB to terrorists active in Kashmir,” he added. (here)

ED moves to attach ₹751 crore assets in National Herald case

• The Enforcement Directorate on Tue said it has provisionally attached assets worth ₹752 crore in connection with its ongoing money laundering probe into the National Herald newspaper associated with the Congress party.
• The immovable properties worth ₹661.69 crore are attached under provisions of the PMLA including the National Herald House in Delhi, the Nehru Bhawan in Lucknow, and the National Herald office in Mumbai, all owned by the Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which publishes NH.
• The NH is published by AJL and owned by Young Indian Private Limited.
• Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are majority shareholders of YI, holding 76% shares in all.
• ED is probing allegations of irregularities in transactions involving AJL and YI. (here)

NCERT panel recommends inclusion of Ramayana, Mahabharata in school textbooks

• A high-level committee of the NCERT to revise the school curriculum for social sciences has recommended including epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata in textbooks and writing the Preamble of the Constitution on classroom walls.
• The 7-member committee, which was constituted last year, has made several recommendations for its final position paper on social sciences.
• The committee’s recommendation may now be taken into consideration by the 19-member NSTC notified in Jul to finalize the curriculum
• The NSTC has also recently formed a Curricular Area Group for Social Science to develop Syllabi and Teaching-Learning material for the subject.
• The chairperson CI Issac on Tue had earlier said that the panel had also recommended replacing the name ‘India’ with ‘Bharat’ in textbooks, introducing ‘classical History’ instead of ancient History in the curriculum of textbooks for classes 3 to 12. (here)

India: Uttar Pradesh govt bans Halal-certified edible items in state with immediate effect

• The Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has issued a statewide prohibition on halal-certified products.
• This decision followed the registration of a case by Lucknow Police against certain organizations for allegedly providing counterfeit certificates to retailers.
• The official order declared an immediate ban on the production, storage, distribution, and sale of halal-certified edible items in the state.
• It cited concerns for public health as the reason and did not specifically mention details of the case.  (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

US lawmakers urge Biden administration to suspend aid to Pakistan amid human rights concerns

• A group of 11 US lawmakers has called on US Biden’s administration to halt assistance to Pakistan until the country restores constitutional order and conducts free and fair elections.
• The lawmakers, including Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, expressed concern in a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and requested an assessment of whether US security assistance had contributed to human rights violations in Pakistan.
• It said that while Pakistan is a long-standing ally of the US and important for regional stability and counterterrorism efforts, the US must not “ignore the persistent reports of human rights abuses including restrictions on freedom of expression, speech, and religion and belief, as well as enforced disappearances, military courts, and harassment and arrest of political opponents and human rights defenders.”
• The lawmakers said that all of this is against the principles of democracy, justice, and the rule of law. (here)

US announced to increase capability of the counter-terrorism force in Pakistan

• For that, it is giving an aid package of $4 million and the training facility for the counter-terrorism force of the Balochistan Police will be expanded.
• As per US Embassy, the training facility of the CT force will be increased twice and financial support will be provided for the training and education of an additional 800
• Upgradation of police stations will be done under the aid package, an amount of $2 mn has been allocated for the upgradation of 10 police stations damaged during the flood.
• The facilities provided to the said police stations include state-of-the-art infrastructure, such as support for digital record management.
• American Ambassador to Pakistan Blome also met Balochistan CM Ali Mardan Khan Domki.
• The discussion covered several topics along with American aid programs.
• Blome reiterated the strong American support for the economic development of all parts of Pakistan including Balochistan. (here)

EU questions Pakistan’s record of human rights, restrictions on media

• The joint monitoring report of Pakistan’s GSP Plus has also raised questions on “pervasive corruption”, and the use of anti-corruption rhetoric and legal cases for political purposes.
• The report, released on Tue also underlined that “despite continuous civilian rule since 2008, the military has played an outsize role in politics and the economy” of Pakistan.
• The EU block has released the report as part of the monitoring of the implementation of the 27 international conventions that Pakistan has signed and committed to implement for continuous duty-free access to the European markets. (here)