1. LK Advani to be honored with Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award
2. PM Modi urges ‘greater synergy’ between nations for swift justice delivery, tackling cross-border crimes
3. Champai Soren sworn in as Jharkhand CM; floor test today, Hemant in 5-day custody
4. India, UAE to take economic ties to next level with bilateral investment treaty
5. US Senate Approves India’s MQ-9B Drone Deal Amid Controversies

What Else

• Canada has named India as ‘foreign threat’ in elections
• Russian ministry expects launch of visa-free group travel with India in 2024
• Pakistani ISI agent Satyendra working at Indian embassy in Russia arrested from UP’s Meerut
• Law panel: Offenders must pay for public property damage to get bail
• India-linked hackers target Pakistan with spyware in new campaign
• Operation ‘Dara-e-Bolan’: Baloch Liberation Army claims to have killed 78 Pak troops
• PoK: Viral video threatens attacks on those opposing Kashmir Solidarity Day on Feb 5
• Pakistan: Verdicts rained down on Imran at lightning speed
• Pak: Blast outside Election Commission office in Balochistan ahead of Feb 8 polls
• Sri Lanka signs free trade agreement with Thailand to revive economy.
• Maldives’ opposition parties to boycott President’s address

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LK Advani to be honored with Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award

• The Govt on Sat announced honoring senior BJP Leader and the man behind the Ram Janambhoomi drive, Lal Krishna Advani, with the highest civilian award Bharat Ratna.
• This came amid the nation’s still in a celebratory mood on the consecration of the Ram temple in which he was not in attendance.
• He will be the 50^th recipient of the highest civilian award since its inception and 7^th during the Modi Govt regime.
• “The President has been pleased to award Bharat Ratna to Shri Lal Krishna Advani,” a press communiqué from the President’s House said.
• Last month, the Govt announced Bharat Ratna for socialist icon and former Chief Minister of Bihar, the late Karpoori Thakur.
• “….One of the most respected statesmen of our times, his contribution to the development of India is monumental,” PM Modi wrote on X.
• Further, he said that his life started from working at the grassroots level to serving the nation as our Dy PM.
• He distinguished himself as our Home Minister and I&B Minister as well.
• In a statement, Advnai. 96, said that Bharat Ratna is not only an honor for him but for the ideals and principles he strove in his life to the best of his abilities. (here)

PM Modi urges ‘greater synergy’ between nations for swift justice delivery, tackling cross-border crimes

• In his address at the Commonwealth Attorneys and Solicitors General Conference, PM Modi emphasized the importance of international cooperation in delivering justice promptly while also stressing the need for nations to work together in addressing cross-border challenges.
• He highlighted that criminals operate across various countries and regions.
• He also talked about how the rise of cryptocurrency and cyber threats pose new challenges and require a modernized approach.
• Addressing the role of legal education, Modi emphasized inclusivity and the need to bring more women into the legal profession.
• The conference saw the participation of Attorney Generals and Solicitors from the Commonwealth nations spanning the Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Caribbean as well as several global delegations.
• It functions as a distinctive platform, providing a space for engagement among diverse stakeholders within the Commonwealth legal community. (here)

Champai Soren sworn in as Jharkhand CM; floor test today, Hemant in 5-day custody

• Champai Soren became the 7^th person to take oath as Jharkhand’s CM on Fri, resolving for now the instability roiling the state after the dramatic arrest of his predecessor Hemant Soren over money laundering allegations 2 days ago.
• Champai Soren, (67) was elected leader of the JMM ruling coalition hours before the arrest and was sworn in alongside 2 other members (1 Congress and 1 RJD) — even as the alliance shifted 35 legislators to Hyderabad, Congress-ruled Telangana.
• Champai Soren’s swearing-in caps a dramatic 48 hours in Ranchi that began with the arrest of Hemant Soren by the ED at 10 pm on Wed, minutes after his resignation.
• In a letter addressed to his party’s legislators before his arrest, Hemant Soren confirmed transport minister Champai Soren as the new legislature party leader.
• Champai Soren and his backers met Guv twice over 2 days, furnishing letters of support from 43 legislators in an 81-member assembly, with one seat lying vacant.
• Finally, around 11 pm on Thu, the governor invited him to form the govt and gave him 10 days to prove his majority on the floor of the House. (here)
• Former CM Hemant Soren Granted Permission to participate in the Floor Test.

India, UAE to take economic ties to next level with bilateral investment treaty

• India and UAE will integrate their economies when PM Modi signs the Bilateral Investment Treaty with President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during a big ticket visit to Abu Dhabi and Dubai on Feb 13-14.
• UAE is the 3^rd largest source of FDI into Bharat and 7^th largest trade partner of India.
• While the Modi govt is tight-lipped about the visit, it is learned that the trip will be a milestone as India already has a CEPA with Abu Dhabi from Feb 2022.
• To put the BIT in perspective, the treaty was cleared by the Modi cabinet on Feb 1^st after which UAE became the only country with which India has both CEPA and BIT.
• Even countries like S Korea, Japan, and Singapore have a CEPA with India but no BIT.
• While India is already buying crude from UAE on a local currency basis, GAIL last Mon signed an agreement with UAE to purchase 0.5 mn MT of natural gas from UAE (here)

US Senate Approves India’s MQ-9B Drone Deal Amid Controversies

• After the US State Department officially informed Congress about a foreign military sale of MQ-9B drones to India, the Chair of the US Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, Ben Cardin, on Fri, (Feb 2), expressed approval of the deal.
• This comes amidst concerns related to the Pannun murder-for-hire plot allegedly involving Indian government officials.
• (Sources)- clearance from the US Congress is pending, paving the way for India’s Defence Ministry to receive a Letter of Acceptance (LoA) from its US counterpart.
• The LoA is a crucial step preceding price negotiation.
• Out of the 31 Predators sought by India, the navy is set to receive the majority, with 15, while the rest will be distributed between the army and air force. (here)

Canada has named India as ‘foreign threat’ in elections

• Canada’s national security agency reportedly identified India as having potentially interfered in the country’s elections.
• Canadian media, Canada’s Global News citing intelligence reports, has accused India and China for “foreign interference”.
• New Delhi is yet to react: This comes amid strained ties between the two countries post allegation of Canadian PM Trudeau’s last Sept linking “Indian govt agents” to the assassination of Khalistani separatist Nijjar in Canada.
• The intelligence report: A briefing note accessed by the news outlet was titled “Briefing to the Minister of Democratic Institutions on Foreign Interference”.
• The note quoted by GN stated: “India engages in FI (foreign interference) activities.”
• The declassified document dated Feb 24, 2023 alleged India’s interference would worsen, saying the govt “must do more to protect Canada’s robust democratic institutions and processes”, as per an Independent report.
• The document obtained by the GN had 3 pages about India but the rest were redacted.
• While China and Russia are already suspected of meddling in Canadian politics, this is the first time that Canada has accused India of election interference.
• On China: China was “by far the most significant threat” to the country.
• The report stated: “We know that the PRC sought to covertly and deceptively influence the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.”
• It further alleged that Beijing’s activities “are broad in scope and significant in the level of expended resources”.
• China has earlier denied the charges and asked Ottawa to “stop hyping up China-related lies and false information”. (here)

Russian ministry expects launch of visa-free group travel with India in 2024

• Russia’s Economic Development Ministry expects the launch of visa-free trips in groups between India and Russia in 2024, Deputy Minister Dmitry Vakhrukov said.
• “We target India as the key level and the key country for this year,” he said.
• It is also necessary to expand the list of countries, whose citizens may come to Russia without visas, the official noted, adding that e-visa to Russia for citizens of 55 countries and visa-free travel in groups with China and Iran were launched last year. (here)

Pakistani ISI agent Satyendra working at Indian embassy in Russia arrested from UP’s Meerut

• The UP ATS has arrested a man, named Satyendra Siwal, working in the Indian embassy in Russia for his alleged role in anti-national deeds with the Pak intel, ISI
• (officials)- Siwal was providing the ISI with confidential inputs regarding the strategic activities of the MoD, the MEA, and the Indian military establishments, reported PTI.
• Satyendra has been working as an India-based security assistant in the Indian embassy in Moscow since 2021.
• The incident came to light after the UP ATS received inputs from several sources suggesting that ISI handlers were luring employees of the MEA with money.
• The police claimed that the information is likely to pose a big threat to the internal and external security of India.
• The police have registered an FIR against Siwal under section 121A of the IPC (waging war against the country) and the Official Secrets Act 1923. (here)

Law panel: Offenders must pay for public property damage to get bail

• Law Commission on Fri recommended that the govt amendments to existing laws that aim to prevent disturbance in public life have to pay equal to the market value of acts.
• Compelling offenders to deposit the estimated value of the public property damaged by them as a condition for getting bail will work as a deterrent against such acts
• The law panel’s report is significant, particularly given the repeated blockades in the national capital caused by opposition parties and rights groups [anti-social element] calling for frequent protests.
• The commission has cautioned the “rights” gr and parties to be mindful of the fact that their “right needs to be exercised with restraint and at all times, peacefully”. (here)

India-linked hackers target Pakistan with spyware in new campaign

• Suspected Indian state-sponsored hackers have used romance scams to lure victims in Pakistan into installing malicious apps, infecting their devices with spying malware.
• The group, known as Patchwork, created at least 12 malicious Android apps, including MeetMe, Let’s Chat, Quick Chat, and Rafaqat, and distributed them through Google Play and other platforms.
• The apps were downloaded more than 1,400 times before they were flagged as malicious and removed by Google, as per Slovak-based cybersecurity company ESET.
• Some of the hackers’ victims were located in Malaysia and India, but researchers believe those users accidentally downloaded the apps since Patchwork most likely intended to target users in Pakistan.
• The group, which has been active since Dec 2015, has a history of attacking Pakistan with phishing attacks. (here)

 [Neighborhood]

Operation ‘Dara-e-Bolan’: Baloch Liberation Army claims to have killed 78 Pak troops

• The BLA killed 78 Pakistani soldiers as it conducted its Operation Dara-e-Bolan, a 2-day campaign featuring 385 ‘Baloch freedom fighters’ including 12 fidayeen, BLA claimed
• The BLA reported the ‘successful’ completion of Operation from Jan 29 to 31.
• The operation involved the participation of 385 BLA fighters from various units of the group, including 12 ‘Fidayeen’ (self-sacrificers) from the Special Tactical Operations Squad, and the intelligence wing.
• BLA stated that the operation, which concluded at 7 pm on Jan 31, achieved all its targeted goals.
• The BLA forces secured control over a 70km radius area, including the town of Mach and the strategically important highway NH-65, according to the statement.
• During Operation Dara-e-Bolan, BLA claimed to have eliminated 78 ‘enemy personnel’, with 45 neutralized within the first three hours of the operation. (here)
• However, Pakistan’s top news agencies, claimed that 10 bomb blasts occurred and said no casualties were reported, citing only official statements, as reported on Fri. (here)
• Baloch suffering due to military aggression between Pakistan, Iran: Pro-freedom leader Marri
• The pro-freedom Baloch leader and the head of the Free Balochistan Movement, Hyrbyair Marri, in a statement to the media, said both Pakistan and Iran were in collusion in perpetrating war crimes against the Baloch in ‘occupied Balochistan’.
• He said on Jan 16, 18, both Iran and Pakistan bombed the mud houses of unarmed Baloch citizens with missiles and drone attacks in a preplanned war aggression in which 12 Baloch were martyred and many others were injured, including women, children, and elderly. (here)

PoK: Viral video threatens attacks on those opposing Kashmir Solidarity Day on Feb 5

• Several activists from “around the world” will be raising their voices for the rights of the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Feb 5 by organizing protests.
• These protests will be organized to oppose the Kashmir Solidarity Day to be observed in Pakistan on the same day.
• Amid all this, a video has surfaced on social media ‘X’, blatantly threatening the people not to protest on that day.
• In the video, an individual can be observed claiming that he will roam the area of PoK with hundreds of men and will attack the protestors and no one will be able to do anything to stop them. (here)
• IoJK: Kashmir Solidarity Day being observed today: The nat­ion [Pakistan] will observe Kashmir Solidarity Day today (Mon) with a renewed commitment to support the just struggle of Kashmiris for their inalienable right to self-determination, as enshrined in the relevant resolutions of the UNSC.
• The people and the govt of Pakistan and “AJK” [PoK] observe Solidarity Day every year not only to renew their love and affection with the people of India-held J&K but also to reiterate their commitment and dedication to the liberation of Kashmir from Indian subjugation. (here)

Pakistan: Verdicts rained down on Imran at lightning speed

• A court on Sat sentenced former premier Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 7 years imprisonment in an “un-Islamic” marriage case –they had tied the knot while the former first lady was going through her period of Iddat.
• Senior civil judge Qudratullah, while announcing a reserved verdict, also imposed a Rs 500,000 fine each on the PTI founding chairman and his wife.
• The written order read that the two would be imprisoned for a further 4 months if they failed to pay the fines.
• This was the third conviction handed down to the deposed premier over the last 5 days.
• Earlier this week, the PTI founding chairman and his wife were sentenced to 14-year imprisonment in the Toshakhana (gift repository) case.
• Similarly, Imran and PTI leader SM Qureshi were handed down a jail term of 10 years in the cipher case this week as well. (here)

Pak: Blast outside Election Commission office in Balochistan ahead of Feb 8 polls

• With the Pakistan Elections drawing near, explosions and violence have also become prevalent in the last few days in the country, as another bomb blast reportedly took place outside the Election Commission office in Balochistan’s Nushki on Sun
• However, no casualties have been reported so far.
• The police said that the explosive was detonated outside the ECP office’s gate.
• The inquiry into the nature of the explosion is ongoing.
• The police have roped off the area and the search operation to capture the culprits is underway.
•  Last week, an explosion took place outside the Karachi office of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). (here)

Sri Lanka signs free trade agreement with Thailand to revive economy.

• In a significant move, Sri Lanka has inked an FTA with Thailand on Sat as it strives to overcome its most severe financial downturn in years.
• According to WB, the country’s economy shrank by 3.8% last year, largely due to a severe foreign exchange shortage that precipitated the financial turmoil.
• With its economy battered and facing a deepening crisis, Sri Lanka has been prioritizing trade agreements to stimulate growth.
• A delegation headed by Thai pm Srettha Thavisin arrived in Colombo on Sat to sign the FTA along with other agreements
• Thavisin also attended Lanka’s 76^th I-Day celebrations on Sun.
• The countries’ 2-way trade was worth about $460 million in 2021, C’ bank data shows.
• Sri Lanka exports mainly tea and precious stones to Thailand and imports electronic equipment, food, rubber, plastics, and pharmaceuticals. (here)
• Indian Submarine INS Karanj Docks at Colombo Ahead of Sri Lanka’s I- Day: INS Karanj, an Indian Navy submarine, arrived in the port of Colombo on Thu, ahead of Sri Lanka’s I-Day celebrations on Sun.
• On a 2-day visit, the submarine was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy.
• INS Karanj is 67.5 m long with a crew of 53 under the commandeering of Commander Arunabh, the Sri Lanka Navy said. (here)

Maldives’ opposition parties to boycott President’s address

• The two main opposition parties of the Maldives, the MDP and The DP will not attend President Mohamed Muizzu’s statement in the parliament today, local media reported.
• This came days after the two parties slammed Muizzu’s anti-India pivot.
• The majority-holding MDP hasn’t yet disclosed the purpose of the boycott of Mohamed Muizzu’s presidential address.
• However, the Democrats said they would abstain from the meeting because of the re-appointment of three ministers who had been rejected by the parliament. (here)