1. Bhutan and India discuss Gelephu project and hydropower plans
2. ‘Dangerous triangular nexus between George Soros, OCCRP, Rahul Gandhi’: BJP calls LoP a ‘traitor’
3. Parliament Winter Session Day 9: Lok Sabha adjourned for the day amid Opposition protests
4. Fadnavis, Pawar & Shinde — The Power Trio Returns to Maharashtra With Swapped Roles
5. Farmers’ ‘Dilli Chalo’ march to Parliament today, city braces for jams again

What Else

1. ISRO’s PSLV-C59 successfully launches ESA’s PROBA-3 satellites in formation flying milestone
2. India, China hold diplomatic talks, ‘positively affirm’ progress on disengagement agreement
3. Tripura hoteliers lift ban on Bangladeshi medical tourists
4. Two Bangladeshi diplomats urgently recalled from India’s Kolkata, Tripura
5. Pakistan: Military calls for strict laws to curb hate under guise of free speech
6. Govt cracks down on individuals spreading propaganda against state institutions on social media
7. PTI founder Imran announces ‘grand gathering’ in Peshawar on Dec 13

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Bhutan and India discuss Gelephu project and hydropower plans

• India and Bhutan strengthened their bilateral ties on Thu, during the visit of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk and Queen Jetsun Pema.
• The two nations discussed electricity and urban planning projects, including the Gelephu Mindfulness City project and hydropower.
• PM Modi reassured King Wangchuk of India’s continued support for the Gelephu project, which aims to bring prosperity and well-being to Bhutan and its border areas.
• The project will also strengthen economic and investment linkages between the two countries.
• The two sides also discussed hydel power projects, including the 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II hydropower project, which is nearing completion.
• They agreed on the need for an early conclusion of the Punatsangchhu-I hydropower project and reiterated the importance of cooperation in the hydropower sector.
• India and Bhutan discussed cross-border connectivity projects, including a rail line and digital networks.
• The visit highlights the strong bilateral ties between India and Bhutan, focused on cooperation and development. (more)

‘Dangerous triangular nexus between George Soros, OCCRP, Rahul Gandhi’: BJP calls LoP a ‘traitor’

• The BJP has accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of being linked to forces trying to destabilize India, citing a French media report.
• The report claims that US billionaire George Soros funded the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).
• BJP spox Sambit Patra alleged a “dangerous triangular nexus” between Soros, OCCRP, and Gandhi.
• Patra claimed OCCRP has over 50 media partners and depends heavily on Soros and US agencies for funding.
• Gandhi has held press conferences targeting PM Modi and the govt based on OCCRP’s reports.
• The BJP has also accused Gandhi of being a “traitor” and compromising national interests. (more)
• A BJP MP accused opposition parties in Lok Sabha of trying to derail the govt with foreign funding, specifically pointing to OCCRP, which he says is funded by the US govt and the Soros Foundation.
• MP questioned the relationship between Congress leaders and foreign entities, including Soros and OCCRP. (more)
• Congress demands BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s apology for remarks targeting Rahul Gandhi: Congress MPs protested in Parliament over Dubey’s remarks, which linked Rahul Gandhi to a US-based investor.
• The Congress demanded an apology and action against Dubey. [why apology, why can’t they bring a privilege motion?]
• Opposition leaders wore black jackets with “Modi Adani Ek Hai” stickers, demanding a joint parliamentary probe into the Adani issue.

Parliament Winter Session Day 9: Lok Sabha adjourned for the day amid Opposition protests

• The Rajya Sabha passed the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 on Thu.
• However, the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day due to protests from Opposition members over various issues, including the Adani controversy and violence in Sambhal.
• The protests disrupted the proceedings, and Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw was unable to deliver his remarks on the Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
• The Lok Sabha will reconvene on Fri.
• Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha also discussed the issue of airfare regulation, with the Minister of Civil Aviation stating that the largest part of airfare goes towards fuel prices, and taxes on fuel are decided by state govts.
• Rajya Sabha MP Sulata Deo expressed that changing names doesn’t change the work, recalling PM Modi’s promises to make air travel accessible.
• The Rajya Sabha passed the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024, which aims to enhance safety, regulatory oversight, and consumer protection in the aviation sector.
• India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that India is not a member of the International Criminal Court and therefore has not taken a formal position on the ICC warrants against Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu and former Def Min Yoav Gallant.
• Jaishankar explained that India considered joining the ICC when it was constituted but decided not to become a member after careful deliberation.
• As a result, ICC decisions are not binding on India. (more)

Fadnavis, Pawar & Shinde — The Power Trio Returns to Maharashtra With Swapped Roles

• Devendra Fadnavis has made a massive comeback in Maharashtra, taking oath as Chief Minister for the third time.
• Five years ago, Fadnavis had pledged to return, and he’s fulfilled that promise.
• Alongside Fadnavis, NCP leader Ajit Pawar and Sena’s Eknath Shinde took oath as his deputies.
• The swearing-in ceremony was a grand affair, showcasing the NDA’s unity and power in Maharashtra.
• PM, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other prominent leaders attended the event.
• Fadnavis, 54, was the face of the BJP’s campaign and led the party to victory in 132 seats.
• The ceremony saw 42k attendees, with special arrangements made for 40k BJP supporters and 2k VVIPs.
• Over 4,000 police personnel were deployed for security. (more)

Farmers’ ‘Dilli Chalo’ march to Parliament today, city braces for jams again

• Farmers protesting at the Punjab-Haryana borders for over 9 months are resuming their march to Parliament today, seeking a legal guarantee for minimum support price and other demands.
• The protest, starting at 1 pm from the Shambhu border, will see around 100 farmers marching on foot.
• Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher emphasized that the protest will be peaceful, despite accusations of carrying weapons.
• Key Demands: Legal Guarantee for MSP: A legal assurance for MSP for crops.
• Debt Waiver: Waiver of debts for farmers.
• Pension for Farmers and Labourers: Pension for farmers and farm laborers.
• No Hike in Electricity Tariff: No increase in electricity tariffs.
• Justice for Lakhimpur Kheri Violence Victims: Justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
• Security has been tightened, with paramilitary forces, drones, and water cannons deployed.
• Residents of Delhi-NCR may face traffic jams due to the protest. (more)

ISRO’s PSLV-C59 successfully launches ESA’s PROBA-3 satellites in formation flying milestone

• The Indian Space Research Organisation successfully launched the European Space Agency’s (ESA) PROBA-3 satellites into a highly elliptical orbit using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
• This marks a significant collaboration between ISRO, NSIL, and ESA.
• Mission Objectives: The PROBA-3 mission aims to demonstrate precision formation-flying capabilities, where two satellites will maintain a fixed configuration, 150m apart.
• This will enable the study of the Sun’s corona through artificial solar eclipses.
• Key Features: First Precision Formation-Flying Mission: PROBA-3 is the world’s first mission to demonstrate precision formation-flying capabilities.
• Artificial Solar Eclipses: The 2 satellites will produce artificial solar eclipses to study the Sun’s corona.
• Heliophysics Research: The mission will provide valuable scientific outcomes in heliophysics, in collaboration with ESA scientists.
• ISRO Chairman S Somanath hailed the success, noting that the mission will provide valuable scientific outcomes, particularly in heliophysics, in collaboration with ESA scientists. (more)

India, China hold diplomatic talks, ‘positively affirm’ progress on disengagement agreement

• Indian and Chinese officials met in New Delhi on December 5 to review the border situation.
• They “positively affirmed” progress in implementing disengagement measures along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• The meeting, part of the 32nd session of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC), aimed to prevent the recurrence of 2020 events and maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas.
• This development follows the recent agreement on Oct 21, where both nations began disengaging their armies and dismantling temporary structures in Eastern Ladakh’s Depsang and Demchok areas.(more)

Tripura hoteliers lift ban on Bangladeshi medical tourists

• The All Tripura Hotel and Restaurant Owners’ Association announced in a statement today, mentioning that Bangladeshi nationals holding medical visas will now be allowed to avail of hospitality in Tripura’s hotels and restaurants.
• The association’s decision comes just days after it had announced, on Dec 2, a temporary ban on Bangladeshi travelers.
• The protests in Tripura, which included incidents of vandalism and desecration of Bangladesh’s national flag at the Assistant High Commission in Agartala, had escalated tensions, prompting the association to impose the initial restrictions. (more)

Two Bangladeshi diplomats urgently recalled from India’s Kolkata, Tripura

• Heads of two Bangladeshi missions in India were urgently recalled to Bangladesh following recent attacks and protests.
• The Acting Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata, Sikder Mohammad Ashrafur Rahman, returned to Bangladesh on Dec 5, while the Deputy High Commissioner in Tripura, Arifur Rahman, is also scheduled to return.
• These recall orders came after the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Agartala was attacked by supporters of Hindu “extremist” organizations, who desecrated the national flag and vandalized the mission premises.
• Bangladesh has since closed its operations in Agartala due to security concerns. (more)

[Neighborhood]

Pakistan: Military calls for strict laws to curb hate under guise of free speech

• Pakistan’s top military brass, led by Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir, has urged the govt to enact stricter laws to combat the growing spread of hate speech and polarization disguised as free speech.
• During the 84^th Formation Commanders Conference, the military leaders: Condemned the exploitation of freedom of expression to spread lies and deepen divisions
• Emphasized the need to identify and punish those responsible for spreading fake news for political or financial gain
• Expressed concern over the use of Afghan soil by terrorists to launch attacks on Pakistan
• Reiterated commitment to supporting socio-economic and development initiatives in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. (more)

Govt cracks down on individuals spreading propaganda against state institutions on social media

• Pakistan’s govt has launched a crackdown on individuals spreading propaganda and fake news about the state and its institutions on social media.
• Authorities have identified 12 suspects, filed FIRs against them, and are taking further legal action.
• The suspects, from various regions including Karachi, Sanghar, and Quetta, are accused of defaming the govt, inciting rebellion, and disrupting state affairs through inflammatory posts.
• The govt has emphasized that no tolerance will be shown for activities that undermine the state’s integrity and security.
• This crackdown is part of a broader effort to tackle the growing problem of fake news and disruptive social media campaigns targeting state institutions. (more)

PTI founder Imran announces ‘grand gathering’ in Peshawar on Dec 13

• Imran Khan, the founder of PTI and former PM, has announced a grand gathering in Peshawar on Dec 13 to pay tribute to the party supporters who were killed during the recent rally in Islamabad.
• Khan had previously issued a “final call” for nationwide protests on November 24, demanding the restoration of PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of detained party members, and the reversal of the 26^th Amendment.
• The protests turned violent, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 PTI supporters.
• The govt has denied these allegations, stating that security personnel were deployed without live ammunition. Khan has condemned the government’s actions as “state terrorism” and accused them of establishing a “dictatorship” in the country.
• Khan has also announced the formation of a 5-member negotiation team to negotiate with the federal govt on the release of political prisoners and the formation of a judicial commission to probe the events of May 9, 2023, and Nov 26.
• If these demands are not met, Khan has threatened to launch a civil disobedience movement starting Dec 14. (more)
• Imran Khan threatens govt with civil disobedience if key demands not met: Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has threatened to launch a civil disobedience movement on Dec 14 if the govt fails to meet his demands.
• These demands include the release of “political prisoners” and the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the violent crackdown on PTI supporters during previous protests.
• Khan has also announced a “grand gathering” in Peshawar on Dec 13 to pay homage to the martyrs who were killed during the Islamabad protests.
• He claims that many PTI workers are still missing and has urged the Supreme Court to take action against human rights violations.
• It’s worth noting that civil disobedience movements have been used in the past as a form of protest, such as in India’s struggle for independence.
• The movement involves peaceful defiance of laws and can be an effective way to bring attention to a cause. (more)