1. G20 Virtual Summit: PM Modi backs AI boom but cautions society on its misuse like deepfakes
2. Four Indian Army personnel killed during encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir
3. US ‘foiled plot to kill India-designated terrorist Pannun on American soil, warned Delhi’, [Claims] FT
4. NIA raids 14 locations in Punjab, Haryana in US consulate attacks case, seizes ‘digital data, documents’
5. New Delhi resumes e-visa services for Canadian nationals after two-month halt

What Else

• Manipur clash ‘political problem’; 4,000 looted arms still in open: Lt Gen R P Kalita
• Four govt employees sacked in J-K in ‘interest of security of State’
• Was the ‘UFO’ sighted near Imphal airport a Chinese spy balloon?
• SCS: pressure mounts on Beijing in region as Marcos says Philippines will never give an inch
• China to support Russia’s work as BRICS chair in 2024 — Xi
• China closing hundreds of mosques in northern regions, rights group says
• China sees mysterious pneumonia outbreak, hospitals flooded with sick children
• US calls for safe resettlement of Afghan refugees
• Pakistan: 2 soldiers martyred in IED blast in North Waziristan: ISPR

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G20 Virtual Summit: PM Modi backs AI boom but cautions society on its misuse like deepfakes

• As the world leaders came together for the virtual G20 summit, PM Modi admitted the AI boom but cautioned the world against the misuse of AI, as in deepfake technology.
• This is yet another alarm raised by PM Modi after he had earlier highlighted the threats posed by emerging AI technology.
• “AI should reach people, and it must be safe for the society,” PM Modi said.
• PM Modi also “welcomed” the Israel-Hamas truce which took place on Wed under which the Islamist “militant” group agreed to release 50 Israelis against 150 Palestinians in the first phase.
• In the same vein, PM Modi condemned the civilian deaths that are taking place because of the war.
• Hailed India’s G20 presidency and said that the grouping is now known as People’s-20 since New Delhi was the summit host. (here)
• PM Modi congratulated Brazil for taking over the Presidency, assures Indian support

Four Indian Army personnel killed during encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir

• 4 Indian Army personnel including 2 officers lost their lives during an encounter with the terrorists in J&K’s Rajouri on Wed while one soldier is undergoing treatment.
• A joint operation, along with the J&K Police, was being held at Bazi Mal Upper in the
• A combing operation was launched in the morning after officials received inputs about some terrorists being holed up in the forest.
• Police said that they received inputs about terrorist movements on Nov 19, following which a joint operation was launched in Rajouri.
• The security forces and the terrorists engaged with each other on Wed morning and an intense fight ensued. (here)
• 3 of the deceased army personnel have been identified as Captain MV Pranjal of 63 Rashtriya Rifles, and Captain Shubham and Havildar Majid of 9 PARA-Special Forces.

US ‘foiled plot to kill India-designated terrorist Pannun on American soil, warned Delhi’, [Claims] FT

• US authorities foiled an “assassination attempt” on “Sikh separatist” Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and issued a “diplomatic warning” to the Indian govt over concerns it was involved in the plot, the FT reported Wed.
• However, the report does not mention when the alleged incident occurred.
• Citing an anonymous source, FT also reported that US federal prosecutors had filed a sealed indictment against at least an alleged perpetrator of the plot in district court.
• The US Justice Department, the report says, is debating whether to unseal the indictment or wait until Canada finishes its investigation into the murder of Nijjar.
• Pannun is the founder of the banned SF, a US-based group that has repeatedly called for a “referendum” for an independent Sikh state called “Khalistan”.
• Earlier this month, in a video message, Pannun had warned Sikhs against flying Air India on Nov 19 (here)
• MEA reaction: New Delhi confirmed having received US inputs on the “nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists, and others” and said that it takes “such inputs seriously since it impinges on our own national security interests as well’.
• “The inputs are a cause of concern for both countries and they decided to take necessary follow-up action.”
• MEA also added that “issues in the context of US inputs are already being examined by relevant departments.” (here)
• On Wed, a report published by “The Intercept” citing leaked secret Pakistani intel assessments that the Indian Govt’s intel agency, the RAW, has been planning assassinations targeting Sikh and Kashmiri activists living in foreign countries. (here)

NIA raids 14 locations in Punjab, Haryana in US consulate attacks case, seizes ‘digital data, documents’

• To probe into the attacks on the Indian consulate in San Francisco by Sikh extremists earlier this year, the NIA Wed conducted raids at 14 locations in Punjab and Haryana.
• The NIA said it had raided locations in Moga, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Gurdaspur, Mohali, and Patiala districts of Punjab, and Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar districts in Haryana.
• The NIA said it has been able to seize “incriminating documents” related to those accused in the Mar 19 and Jul 2 attacks on the San Francisco consulate in the US.
• The crackdown led to the seizure of digital data containing information related to the accused persons, along with other incriminating documents.”
• ‘Send a message to anti-Indian elements’: The NIA had sent a team to San Francisco in Aug to investigate the case and released images of 10 suspects the following month.
• According to NIA, the suspects committed criminal trespass, damage to public property, and attacked officials of the consulate leading to fear among the staff and community in the country. (here)

New Delhi resumes e-visa services for Canadian nationals after two-month halt

• New Delhi on Wed resumed e-visa services for Canadian nationals, as per Indian govt sources.
• This comes after nearly a 2-month pause, triggered by Canadian PM Trudeau’s surprise allegations against the GoI regarding the killing of Khalistani terrorist Nijjar in Jun
• Trudeau alleged that “agents” of the GOI were involved in Nijjar’s murder, something India strongly denies.
• This resulted in the downgrading of the diplomatic ties between the two countries.
• Notably, India’s de-escalatory move amidst its tussle with Canada comes as PM Trudeau joined Indian PM Modi for the G20 Virtual Summit later in the day. (here)
• External affairs minister S Jaishankar described the resumption of e-visa as a “logical consequence” of the improved situation. (here)

Manipur clash ‘political problem’; 4,000 looted arms still in open: Lt Gen R P Kalita

• Terming the ethnic clashes in Manipur as a ‘political problem’, Eastern Army Cmdr Lt Gen RP Kalita said incidents of violence will continue unless around 4,000 weapons, which were looted from security forces, are recovered from common people.
• Gen Kalita also said India is giving shelter to anyone from Myanmar seeking refuge, including villagers, army or police, in Mizoram and Manipur, but not armed militant or drug traffickers.
• As far as the ground situation was concerned, the Army’s aim initially was to carry out rescue and relief operations for the people who were displaced from their houses (here)

Four govt employees sacked in J-K in ‘interest of security of State’

• The J&K admin has terminated the services of 4 govt employees, including a doctor, in the “interest of the security of the state”.
• The order said that in the interest of the security of the state, it is not expedient to hold an inquiry in all these cases.
• The govt has invoked 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution to sack the 4 govt employees including Asstt Prof, a constable in police, a faculty, and a laboratory bearer.
• In the last 3 years, the UT administration has invoked 311 (2)(c) of the Constitution to sack more than 50 employees. (here).

Was the ‘UFO’ sighted near Imphal airport a Chinese spy balloon?

• The sighting of an ‘unidentified flying object (UFO)’ near Imphal airport, which saw the IAF mobilize the fully-loaded Rafale, has alarmed the security establishment.
• 2 Rafael jets of the No. 101 Squadron ‘Falcons’ from the Hasimara Air Force Station in West Bengal took to the skies on Nov 19 to intercept the ‘UFO’, but failed to track it.
• The French Rafales were equipped with advanced sensors and did low-level flying, but did not find anything.
• While the object may have been a drone flown by an individual near the airport, the possibility of a Chinese military spy balloon cannot be ruled out.
• In the video shot by people, the object appeared to be a white balloon, similar to the one spotted in the US in Feb.
• The balloon was shot down off the coast of South Carolina, raising tensions between the US and China.
• Sources said while there was nothing much to detect in the Imphal incident, some suspect China may have sent the object to test India’s reaction and preparedness. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

SCS: pressure mounts on Beijing in region as Marcos says Philippines will never give an inch

• Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said Manila will never abandon its claims in the South China Sea amid heightened tensions with China, according to a strongly-worded statement.
• “As I have said before, and I will say again, the Philippines will not give up a single square inch of our territory to any foreign power,” he told a forum in Honolulu on Sun, without explicitly naming Beijing.
• Marcos Jnr says China showing interest in SCS atolls that lie close to the Philippines
• This came a day after he met Chinese President Xi on the margins of the Apec summit, where he said disputes over the SCS should not define bilateral ties – but he stressed that “problems remain”.
• In San Francisco, Marcos also held talks with US Vice-President Kamala Harris where they discussed “some of the ways forward” on the South China Sea situation. (here)

China to support Russia’s work as BRICS chair in 2024 — Xi

• China, along with other BRICS members, will support Russia’s chairmanship next year, Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the unusual BRICS online summit on the M East.
• “Russia will chair BRICS next year. China is willing to cooperate with other members to support Russia’s efforts and create a new era of BRICS cooperation,” Xi said.
• Xi called the BRICS cooperation mechanism “an important platform for emerging markets and developing countries to strengthen unity and cooperation and safeguard common interests.“
• South Africa holds the rotating presidency of BRICS in 2023. (here)

China closing hundreds of mosques in northern regions, rights group says

• Chinese authorities have closed or altered hundreds of mosques in the northern regions of Ningxia and Gansu, homes to the 2^nd highest Muslim populations after Xinjiang
• The closing is part of broader efforts to “sinicize” China’s religious minorities
• Researchers at HRW said the Chinese govt was significantly reducing the number of mosques in the Ningxia autonomous region and Gansu province.
• The CCP has long maintained a tight grip over China’s religious and ethnic minorities, and since 2016, when Xi Jinping called for the sinicization of China’s religions.
• In April 2018, Beijing issued a directive stating that govt officials should “strictly control the construction and layout of Islamic activity venues” and “adhere to the principle of demolishing more and building less”.
• It found that between 2019 and 2021, the domes and minarets were removed from all 7 of the mosques. (here)

China sees mysterious pneumonia outbreak, hospitals flooded with sick children

• China, which is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, is facing another possible health emergency — a mysterious pneumonia outbreak resulted in hospitals being overwhelmed with sick children.
• This has caused concern among global health experts.
• The epicenters of this outbreak are Beijing and Liaoning province, where pediatric hospitals are facing an overwhelming number of sick children.
• The severity of the situation has led to the suspension of classes in some schools, as both students and teachers have fallen ill, a situation like the early days of Covid-19.
• The symptoms include high fever and lung inflammation and many develop pulmonary nodules, but no cough. (here)

US calls for safe resettlement of Afghan refugees

• The call comes amid concerns that hasty or unscrupulous deportations could pose a significant risk to the lives of these vulnerable individuals.
• “Our key concern is the safety of vulnerable and at-risk individuals,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a Tue afternoon news briefing.
• Highlighting the shared responsibility in addressing the plight of refugees, he emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to navigate the complexities of resettlement.
• “We believe it is in both our countries’ interest to ensure the safe and efficient resettlement of refugees and asylum seekers.”
• State Dept official sidesteps question about ambassador’s reported meeting with Imran
• As the situation evolves, the diplomatic engagement between the US and Pakistan takes center stage in addressing the challenges associated with the resettlement. (here)

Pakistan: 2 soldiers martyred in IED blast in North Waziristan: ISPR

• In a statement, the army media wing ISPR identified the martyred soldiers as 33-year-old Lance Naik Ehsan Badshah and 30-year-old Lance Naik Sajid Hussain.
• Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar condemned the incident and extended his condolences to the martyrs’ families.
• 2 killed, 2 injured in Bajaur blasts: Meanwhile, 2 people were killed while 2 others were injured in two separate blasts in KP’s Bajaur, according to officials. (here)