1. Farmers’ Protest 2.0; Day 3: Tear gas shells fired, water sprayed as protests resume at Shambu border
2. People trust our intent & commitment, says Modi in UAE. ‘World needs inclusive, clean govts’
3.  ‘Golden chapter’ for UAE: PM Modi inaugurates BAPS Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi
4. ED arrests 3 J-K residents in terror financing case involving Pakistani handlers
5. France President Emmanuel Macron appoints envoy for Europe-Middle East-India Corridor

What Else

• Uttarakhand: Magisterial inquiry initiated in Halwani violence on Feb 8
• MoD signs contract worth Rs.1,752 Cr with AWEIL for 463 stabilised remote control guns for Navy & Coast Guard
• Govt tells Mumbai airport to cut flights due to high airspace congestion
• Tamil Nadu assembly passes resolutions against delimitation, ‘One Nation One Election’
• RS polls: Sonia Gandhi files nomination in Jaipur; Maken, Sanghvi in fray
• Pakistan General Election 2024 Results: PML-N nominates Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz Sharif’s brother for PM post
• China’s foreign firms grapple with upward mobility in post-Covid era as state-owned peers rise
• US lawmakers led by China hawk Mike Gallagher to visit Taiwan next week
• US to deploy 5 aircraft carriers in western Pacific in show of strength to China

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Farmers’ Protest 2.0; Day 3: Tear gas shells fired, water sprayed as protests resume at Shambu border

• The farmers from Punjab resumed their “Chalo Dilli” march on the 2^nd day after they clashed with the police on the Punjab-Haryana border on Tue and halted their stir for the night.
• On Wed, tear gas shells were fired and water sprayed from tankers on the protesting farmers who tried to cross the Shambu border
• The police had even earlier in the day resorted to firing tear gas shells to disperse the agitating farmers who were approaching the police barricade.
• Meanwhile, the authorities have suspended mobile internet services, bulk SMS, and all dongle services provided on mobile networks, except the voice calls in districts around
• Reacting to the resumption of protests by farmers, Union Minister Arjun Munda said, “We are ready to hold discussions”
• Speaking to the media, Munda said the farmer unions should not take any hasty decision that can draw criticism in the future.
• Tight security on Delhi borders: In the wake of the protest, tight security has been made at the Tikri and Singhu Borders and the borders have been closed to prevent farmers from entering the national capital. (here)
• Farmers to block trains today, hold round 3 talks with Centre: Several farmers’ unions have extended their support to the protesting farmer unions at the Shambhu border and Khanauri border in Punjab, with the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) and BKU Dakaunda (Dhaner faction) announcing a ‘rail roko’ (stop trains) in the state on Thu between 12 noon and 4 pm.
• The SKM, an umbrella body of 37 farm unions, has also supported the protests. (here)

People trust our intent & commitment, says Modi in UAE. ‘World needs inclusive, clean govts’

• The world today needs govts, which are inclusive, clean, and free from corruption, PM Modi said in Dubai Wed, ahead of the general election in which the ruling BJP-led coalition will seek a third term in power.
• Addressing the World Govt Summit during his ongoing 2-day trip to the UAE, Modi said people’s trust in the Indian government has increased over the past few years.
• He also emphasized the role of technology in governance, which he said makes the process smart and transparent.
• The PM said that social and financial inclusion had been his govt’s priority, stressing how over 50 crore people were now connected to the banking system.
• “This has taken India forward in areas of fintech and digital payments.”
• Modi called for reforms in the global governance institutions at “a time when we are transforming our country”, adding that countries now have to promote values of a “cohesive, cooperative, and collaborative world”.
• He urged the better participation of the Global South in international decision-making.
• He also said that India was forging ahead as a “friend of the world”.
• During his address, PM Modi acknowledged the leadership of his “brother”, UAE President Bin Zayed, describing him as a leader with vision, resolve, and commitment.
• He lauded Bin Zayed for playing a big role in bringing the world’s thought leaders on one platform, that of the WGS.
• Modi’s visit to the UAE is his 7^th since 2014.
• During his two-day visit, he will discuss wide-ranging issues with top leaders of the UAE to further strengthen bilateral ties. (here)

 ‘Golden chapter’ for UAE: PM Modi inaugurates BAPS Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi

• India Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wed inaugurated BAPS Mandir in Abu Dhabi.
• This is the first Hindu temple in the UAE capital.
• PM Modi arrived in UAE on Tue, in the first leg of his two-nation visit.
• After UAE, PM Modi headed to Qatar, where he will meet with Qatar Emirat.
• In addition to the inauguration, PM Modi also offered prayers at the temple as Wed marked Basant Panchmi, an auspicious day, according to the Hindu calendar.
• The sentiment was echoed by PM Modi.
• Bilateral Investment Treaty
• Inter-Governmental Framework Agreement on the IMEEC
• MoU for Cooperation on Digital Infrastructure Projects
• MoU in the field of Electricity Interconnection and Trade.
• MoU for cooperation with the National Maritime Heritage Complex, Lothal at Gujarat.
• Cooperation Protocol between the National Library and Archives of the UAE and the National Archives of India.
• Agreement on interlinking of the instant payment platforms – UPI and AANI (UAE).
• Agreement on interlinking domestic debit/credit cards – RuPay with JAYWAN (UAE). (here)
• ‘Had a wonderful meeting’: PM Modi after holding talks with Qatar counterpart: PM Modi who arrived in Qatar’s capital Doha on Wed night met with his counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and the duo discussed ways to bolster ties between New Delhi and Doha
• Notably, this came on the heels of a major diplomatic triumph for India, in which eight veterans of the Indian Navy who were sentenced to death in Qatar on espionage charges, were released by Doha on Mon. (here)

ED arrests 3 J-K residents in terror financing case involving Pakistani handlers

• The federal money watch agency ED has arrested 3 persons belonging to J&K in a money laundering case linked to terror financing involving Pakistani handlers on Wed.
• The 3 persons, a resident of Anantnag, were arrested on Tue under the PMLA, 2002 in connection with the money laundering case
• The accused persons involved in terror financing were hand-in gloves with Pakistani handlers, who arranged admissions in MBBS etc in Pakistan for students from J&K.
• The accused have been remanded to ED custody till Feb 20 by a Special Judge ACB (CBI-Cases) Kashmir, Srinagar, said the federal agency. (here)

France President Emmanuel Macron appoints envoy for Europe-Middle East-India Corridor

• The former president of Engie, a gas utility entity, was appointed by President Macron as a special envoy to IMEC (multinational rail and port project that links S Asia – Middle East) and is seen as a rival to China’s Belt and Road program.
• Macron wants “France to become a key player in this project” and make sure French companies are best-positioned in the project’s early stages, which is why he named energy sector veteran Gerard Mestrallet on Mon.
• The IMEC, which was introduced in Sept during the G20 Summit, is a component of Washington and Brussels’ strategy to oppose China’s BRI.
• France offers a welcome breather for India as New Delhi walks a diplomatic tightrope between the US and Russia
• The EU, India, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the US, and other G20 partners signed an IMEC agreement of understanding. (here)

Uttarakhand: Magisterial inquiry initiated in Halwani violence on Feb 8

• Kumaon Commissioner Deepak Rawat on Wed initiated a magisterial inquiry into the massive violence that took place in Banbhulpura, Haldwani on Feb 8.
• The Commissioner also issued a mail ID and phone number where people can present evidence regarding the incident by contacting him on the same.
• On Tue, a new PS was inaugurated by women police officials, including those who were injured during Haldwani violence at a land freed from encroachment during the anti-encroachment drive.
• State Police chief stressed that the recent “violent” clashes were not “communal.”
• The top police official said that they have registered 3 FIRs in connection with the violence, adding that “action will not be taken against innocent people.”
• Meanwhile, the local body issued a recovery notice of Rs 2.44 crore against Abdul Malik, a key accused in the violence at Haldwani, asking him to deposit the money to cover damage caused to government property during the clash. (here)

MoD signs contract worth Rs.1,752 Cr with AWEIL for 463 stabilised remote control guns for Navy & Coast Guard

• The Ministry of Def signed a contract on Feb 14 with AWEIL, for manufacturing and supply of a total of 463 indigenously manufactured 12.7 mm SRCG for the Navy & Coast Guard at a total cost of Rs. 1752.13 cr with Indigenous Content of more than 85%.
• The SRCG will enhance the capability of the Navy and Coast Guard to accurately engage small targets that pose a threat to ships in an asymmetric environment, around the clock.
• This will provide a further boost to the vision of “Aatmanirbharta in Defence”.
• This contract will also open up a large avenue in defense manufacturing for over 125 Indian Vendors and DPSUs for 5 years. (here)
• Navy, Air Force showing interest in indigenous Tapas drones: The Navy and the Air Force have shown interest in the indigenously designed and developed Tapas medium altitude long endurance drone.
• The Navy and Air Force have held discussions and communicated with the DRDO regarding the capabilities of the drone and the roles it can perform in the services.
• The Tapas capabilities were discussed in detail during a DRDO interaction with the forces.
• The DRDO is also likely to hand over the 2 Tapas drones in its inventory to the Navy for trials and testing in the A&N Island territory.
• The DRDO recently rubbished [publish] reports about shelving the Tapas drone project and announced that it is continuing with it to further develop the Tapas drones.
• The Tapas drones flying at 30k’ for over 24 hours at a stretch and have been excluded from the category of mission mode projects. (here)

Govt tells Mumbai airport to cut flights due to high airspace congestion

• In a bid to address severe airspace congestion at Mumbai Airport, the central govt has imposed flight restrictions, caused by various factors, including non-scheduled flight operations during peak hours.
• The Ministry of Aviation revealed that, despite the escalating air traffic post-pandemic, the airport had failed to take sufficient measures.
• The ministry said that the airport operator did not take steps to streamline and regulate the air traffic movements to resolve this problem, therefore forcing it to step in.
• The airport is operated by Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL).
• The ministry said that considering that an aircraft on average consumes 2000kg/hr, such a long duration of circling time causes significant wastage of fuel (here)

Tamil Nadu assembly passes resolutions against delimitation, ‘One Nation One Election’

• The legislative assembly in the southern state of TN on Wed passed 2 resolutions: one against the proposed delimitation exercise, and the ‘One Nation One Election’ system.
• The resolutions found overwhelming support with even BJP having to voice support.
• CM MK Stalin termed the delimitation exercise a ‘punishment’ for states with smaller population
• Delimitation exercise: Delimitation refers to rearranging the number of seats and boundaries of constituencies in the state for parliament and state assemblies.
• It has been seen in the last few decades that the population growth rate in north Indian states like UP, Bihar, etc has been more compared to that in southern Indian states.
• There is a fear in southern Indian states that delimitation based on population would take away political power from them. (here)
• [It hardly matters, as these are the center’s subjects, also for Delimitation, Home Min. assured time and again, that their concerns shall be addressed]

RS polls: Sonia Gandhi files nomination in Jaipur; Maken, Sanghvi in fray

• The Congress on Wed nominated its former party chief Sonia Gandhi and senior leaders Ajay Maken and Abhishek Singhvi for the Rajya Sabha election to be held on Feb 27.
• Gandhi, who was accompanied by her son Rahul Gandhi and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra besides former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, filed nomination in Jaipur.
• The 77-year-old former Congress president is set to enter the Upper House for the first time from Rajasthan.
• Gandhi will fill the seat that will fall vacant in Apr after former PM Manmohan Sigh completes his Rajya Sabha tenure.
• Party treasurer Maken has been fielded from Karnataka and Abhishek Singhvi from Himachal Pradesh.
• The party has its govt in both states. (here)
• BJP releases second list of candidates for upcoming RS elections: Nadda has been renominated by the party from Gujarat this time. (here)

[Neighborhood]

Pakistan General Election 2024 Results: PML-N nominates Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz Sharif’s brother for PM post

• Former PM Shehbaz Sharif has been nominated as the official prime ministerial candidate of the PML-N.
• This comes after speculations were rife that PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz’s brother would hold the top job and the country found itself with a hung parliament with no party claiming majority in the recent elections.
• PML-N spox took to X to announce that Nawaz’s daughter and party’s senior VP Maryam Nawaz has also been nominated for the post of Punjab CM.
• Meanwhile, the PPP on Tue announced it would support Sharif’s party to form a minority govt, ending the days-long stalemate in the country.
• PML-N is the country’s largest recognized party with 80 seats, and PPP is 2^nd with 54
• The 2 parties have enough for a simple majority in the 264-seat legislature. (here)
• Sindh, Balochistan, KP witnessed protests against alleged polls rigging: Protests are ongoing across 3 provinces in Pakistan — Sindh, Balochistan, and KP.
• The PTI, JUI-F, PTI, and other political parties are staging protests in different cities against the results of the general elections in 2024.
• In Quetta, workers of the NP, HDP, and BNP demonstrated outside the returning officer’s office, while roads across the provincial capital, Chaman, Killa Saifullah, Loralai, and Pishin were blocked due to the ongoing protests.
• As a result, land communication between Balochistan Punjab and KP was cut off.
• PPP continued its sit-in in Naseerabad against the alleged poll rigging for 6 days. (here)
• PML-N expresses ‘reservations’ on Feb 8 polls in addition to country’s controversial elections: The PML-N has expressed “reservations” on the February 8 polls saying that the country’s history is filled with controversial elections.
• The former def min also said that the PTI is silent on the poll results of KP — where they have won over 80 seats and are set to form their govt — and are complaining of rigging where they have lost. (here)

China’s foreign firms grapple with upward mobility in post-Covid era as state-owned peers rise

• There are blunt indicators that the golden age of foreign-invested firms in China has lost its shine, if not come to an end, with the ecosystem appearing more like a gilded cage of restricted growth.
• And breaking free of imposed confines looks to be as challenging as ever.
• Foreign businesses have watched their share in the Chinese economy – as well as their relevance and profitability – dwindle in recent years.
• They’ve gone from being an indispensable part of China’s development boom – bringing in outside technologies and management know-how – to what appears to be an increasingly inconsequential sector on the periphery of China’s economy.
• Among those that already have an established presence in China, not too many found themselves riding the tailwinds of last year’s 5.2% growth of the world’s 2^nd-biggest economy.
• In a revealing sign of the uneven recovery, industrial output among foreign entities in the country grew in 2023 by a meager 1.4%, year on year, underperforming the 5% growth reported among state-owned enterprises (SOEs). (here)

US lawmakers led by China hawk Mike Gallagher to visit Taiwan next week

• US House Representative Mike Gallagher will reportedly lead a delegation to Taiwan next week, a trip that is likely to anger Beijing.
• But analysts do not expect the PLA to hold large-scale war games around the self-ruled island in response to the visit given that the lawmaker – a China hawk – has visited Taiwan before.
• Gallagher, chairman of the US House Select Committee on the CCP, is due to arrive in Taiwan on Feb 21, the FT reported on Wed, citing 3 people familiar with the plan.
• The report said Gallagher was expected to lead a delegation of 7 US lawmakers on the visit, which will include a meeting with VP William Lai Ching-te, who was elected as the island’s next leader in Jan.
• They will also meet newly elected parliamentary speaker Han Kuo-yu of the opposition Kuomintang, a Beijing-friendly party. (here)

US to deploy 5 aircraft carriers in western Pacific in show of strength to China

• The US is likely to deploy nearly half of its aircraft carriers in the western Pacific this year, in a signal of deterrence against the military activity in the region by China and N Korea, analysts said.
• Three US aircraft carriers are already operating in the western Pacific Ocean, with two more on the way.
• Their arrival will mark the first time that five of the 11-strong carrier contingent have operated in the region.
• The USS Abraham Lincoln – part of the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet – was spotted heading out of its home port in San Diego, California, and was sailing towards the western Pacific as of Feb 5, according to the US Naval Institute’s Fleet and Marine Tracker.
• The USS George Washington is also expected to be deployed in the region to replace the USS Ronald Reagan, which will be relocating from Yokosuka, Japan for maintenance at the Puget Sound naval shipyard in Washington. (here)