1. 8 Ex-Indian Navy Personnel as Qatar Court reduces death sentence to Jail term
2. India Requested Extradition of 26/11 Mastermind Hafiz Saeed, Pakistan Yet to Reply: Sources
3. PM Modi agrees to inaugurate BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, say temple authorities
4. PM Modi to inaugurate projects worth Rs 15000 crore in Ayodhya on Fri ahead of consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla Temple
5. ‘Conspiracy to Promote Anti-India Agenda’: NIA Court Hands 7-Year Jail Terms to 2 AQIS Terrorists

What Else

• US deploys cutting-edge military capabilities in Indo-Pacific, supports India’s defense modernization plans
• Nicaragua Flight Case of Indian tourists who didn’t want to return? ‘Larger Conspiracy’-Intel
• Italy to allow Indian students temporary residence after studies under new mobility pact
• Pakistan: Nawaz ‘cleared’ to contest NA seat in Mansehra
• China, Myanmar revive hopes for Bay of Bengal deep water port in Kyaukphyu under BRI

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8 Ex-Indian Navy Personnel as Qatar Court reduces death sentence to Jail term

• In the case of 8 Indians in the custody of Qatari authorities, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thu said their sentences have been reduced by the court of appeal.
• They will now face jail terms the duration of which would vary depending on the charges against each individual.
• The 8 retired Indian Navy personnel, working for a defense services provider company in Qatar, were taken into custody by the authorities there in 2022.
• The Qatar court announced the death penalty for these men on Oct 26.
• India had filed an appeal after eight individuals– 7 officers and 1 sailor– were sentenced to death on spying charges in Qatar. (here)

India Requested Extradition of 26/11 Mastermind Hafiz Saeed, Pakistan Yet to Reply: Sources

• The Govt of India has officially requested Pakistan to extradite 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed to India to stand trial in various cases, top sources told on Thu
• The document names Saeed as the accused in multiple NIA cases, including terror attacks and funding of terror groups in Kashmir.
• “He is also indulging in anti-national and subversive activities in the Kashmir valley,”
• “This is a Letter of Rotatory which Pakistan agencies have not replied to. We are awaiting a reply. We will follow up again,” another official said.
• Sources added that before any possibility of talks between India and Pakistan, the latter must comply with the extradition request. (here)

PM Modi agrees to inaugurate BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, say temple authorities

• PM Modi has accepted the invite to inaugurate the BAPS Hindu Mandir on Feb 14^th, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Temple authorities have said.
• The invite was extended on behalf of BAPS Mandir in Abu Dhabi by Pujya Swami Ishwarcharandas and Brahmaviharidas, on Thu and he “graciously accepted”.
• Situated at Abu Mureikha, along the Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway, the forthcoming BAPS Hindu Mandir is the first traditional Hindu stone temple in West Asia.
• The genesis of this historical project can be traced back to the visit of PM Modi in 2015, during which the UAE govt allocated land for the temple.
• Notably, in 2018, PM Modi virtually participated in the Shila Pujan, further cementing his connection to this endeavor. (here)

PM Modi to inaugurate projects worth Rs 15000 crore in Ayodhya on Fri ahead of consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla Temple

• Ahead of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla Temple at Ayodhya PM Modi is set to embark on a visit to Ayodhya on Dec 30, during which he will inaugurate various projects worth Rs 15 thousand crore to Ayodhya.
• Many projects will be inaugurated along with the airport, railway station, highway, railway line doubling, and 4 major roads will also be inaugurated.
• The PM will also inaugurate the Ayodhya Dham Railway Station, a major milestone in the govt’s commitment to enhancing infrastructure and connectivity. (here)

‘Conspiracy to Promote Anti-India Agenda’: NIA Court Hands 7-Year Jail Terms to 2 AQIS Terrorists

• A National Investigation Agency Special Court in Bengaluru on Wed convicted 2 “highly radicalized members” of al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent and sentenced them to 7 years’ imprisonment each.
• Akthar Hussain Laskar (alias Md Hussain) of Assam and Abdul Aleem Mondal (alias Md Juba) of WB have also been fined Rs 41k and Rs 51k respectively by the court
• The conviction of the two AQIS members marks a major success in the NIA’s sustained efforts to identify the banned outfit’s “handlers” and prosecute them, said officials.
• As per NIA, the 2 convicts had been radicalized and recruited by foreign-based online handlers of AQIS and were actively engaged in furthering the activities of the terrorist.
• Following their recruitment by AQIS, the men joined various Telegram groups. (here)
• NIA chargesheet 6 key accused in Maharashtra ISIS Terror Module Case: Cracking down further on the ISIS terror conspiracy in India, the NIA has charge-sheeted 6 persons allegedly involved in recruitment and fund-raising on Wed.
• Two of these accused were earlier also charge-sheeted in the Pune ISIS module case for alleged fabrication of IEDs for triggering blasts.
• The accused were allegedly engaged in actively propagating the violent and extremist ideology of ISIS and in carrying out acts preparatory to terrorist violence (here)

US deploys cutting-edge military capabilities in Indo-Pacific, supports India’s defense modernization plans

• To maintain deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and assist India in bolstering its defense modernization plans, the US is deploying cutting-edge military capabilities to its allies.
• Calling 2023 a ‘decisive year’, the US Department of Defence, in a release has stated that it is supporting allies and partners as they invest in their capabilities.
• “Bolstering India’s defense modernization plans, including by advancing the priorities outlined in the Roadmap for US-India Defense Industrial Cooperation,” the release read
• Both nations will co-produce fighter jet engines and Stryker armored vehicles, as well as launch the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem.
• It said that India is modernizing the scope of its military engagements.
• The DoD’s year-ender fact sheet also highlighted the defense Exercise MALABAR of the US with India, Japan, and Australia.
• It was hosted in Australia for the first time this year and facilitated high-end training in anti-submarine exercises, communications, and air defense.
• Over 2023, the US collaborated with allies and partners to accomplish ground-breaking results for peace, stability, and deterrence in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (here)

Nicaragua Flight Case of Indian tourists who didn’t want to return? ‘Larger Conspiracy’-Intel

• The case of a flight, which landed in Mumbai on Tue, carrying 303 Indians, is part of a conspiracy where tourists leave India and never return and seek asylum in France
• Out of the 303 passengers, mostly from Punjab and Gujarat, 276 were sent to India, and 25 sought asylum in France based on religious persecution.
• The Airbus A340 flight, operated by Romania, was grounded at France’s Chalons-Vatry airport, which is also a refueling station for aircraft.
• At the halt at Vatry airport, an email was received by the French authorities that it was a case of human trafficking, and they took special permission from the court to offload passengers and detained 2 people who were not carrying the passport.
• It is learned that the passengers were not forced but “chose” to travel to Nicaragua. Travelers need a visa to visit Nicaragua from India for business or tourism purposes.
• The passengers were told that the person to whom they paid money would help them cross Nicaragua (North America) to the US.
• Agencies are looking at a larger conspiracy where people from 2 states travel as tourists but never return to the country, and seek asylum citing “religious persecution”. (here)

Italy to allow Indian students temporary residence after studies under new mobility pact

• Italy is set to welcome an increased number of Indian workers under the recently approved India-Italy Migration and Mobility Agreement.
• The agreement, given the green light by the Indian cabinet on Wed, is poised to not only strengthen bilateral ties but also address irregular migration.
• According to details released by the Indian govt, the agreement reserves quotas for both seasonal and non-seasonal workers from India.
• For non-seasonal workers, Italy has allocated quotas of 5,000, 6,000, and 7,000 for the years 2023, 2024, and 2025.
• The total reserved quota stands at 12000 for non-seasonal workers.
• Additionally, for seasonal workers, quotas of 3,000, 4,000, and 5,000 have been reserved for the same period (the total reserved quota stands at 8000 for seasonal workers). (here)

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Pakistan: Nawaz ‘cleared’ to contest NA seat in Mansehra

• The nomination papers of former PM Nawaz Sharif for Mansehra’s NA-15 constituency were reportedly approved by the respective returning officer on Thu.
• Decisions were reserved on objections to the nomination papers of PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and ex-premier Imran Khan in Lahore.
• In NA-15, objections were moved against Nawaz Sharif by PTI leader Azam Swati through his representative Shahid Rafiq, a local party leader.
• The papers, however, were initially cleared by the RO after she rejected the objections.
• The PTI leader argued that the PML-N supreme leader had been disqualified for life by the Supreme Court and added the RO was not authorized to approve the nomination.
• But Mr Sharif was cleared. (here)

China, Myanmar revive hopes for Bay of Bengal deep water port in Kyaukphyu under BRI

• China and the Myanmese military govt have signed a supplementary agreement for the Kyaukphyu deep water port, as both sides seek to get the stalled BRI off the ground.
• The renewed push for the project in Myanmar’s restive western Rakhine state comes amid escalating violence between ethnic rebel groups and the junta, which has prompted repeated security warnings from the Chinese mission.
• Chinese state-owned Citic Group will, as agreed in 2018, maintain a 70% stake in the port, which is expected to give China access to the Bay of Bengal as an alternative route
• Top Citic officials, Chinese diplomats, and junta officials attended the signing of an addendum to the project concession agreement, in the capital Naypyidaw on Tue
• “Citic Group will make every effort to promote the implementation of the Kyaukphyu project,” Xi pledged, according to a readout from the Chinese embassy. (here)