1. At Least 9 Dead After Naxalites Blow Up Police Vehicle In Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur
2. India-US strategic partnership scaled new heights: PM Modi
3. PM Modi meets Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, discusses tech, innovation and AI
4. India condemns Pakistan airstrikes on Afghanistan: ‘Old practice to blame neighbors for own failures’
5. Mahakumbh security: 1,000 terror suspects added to AI facial recognition system

What Else

1. UGC’s new draft norms allow domain experts without teaching experience to be eligible for post of V-C
2. Dallewal’s hunger strike: Capt Amarinder meets Amit Shah a day after mega rally at Khanauri
3. Pak-China trade suspended as protest on KKH against power outages in Hunza continue
4. Two policemen killed in Lakki Marwat, Pakistan.
5. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan issues warning to ruling parties in Pakistan
6. Bangladesh: ‘Arrest Sheikh Hasina By Feb 12’: Court Issues 2nd Warrant For Ex-PM
7. Bangladesh: EIB vice president arrives today

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At Least 9 Dead After Naxalites Blow Up Police Vehicle In Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur

• A tragic incident occurred in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Mon when Naxalites detonated an improvised explosive device that blew up a police vehicle.
• Unfortunately, at least 9 people, including 8 jawans and the driver, lost their lives
• The incident took place on the Bedre-Kutru Road in Bijapur district, where 2 Scorpio vehicles carrying around 20 soldiers were returning from an anti-Naxal operation.
• The IED explosion was so powerful that it created a huge crater, over 10 feet deep, on the concrete road.
• Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai strongly condemned the attack, stating that the government will end Naxalism by 2026.
• This came after 5 Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in Bastar.
• The gunfight broke out on Sat evening at a forest in south Abujhmaad along the border of Narayanpur and Dantewada districts when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation.
• Earlier on Fri, at least 3 Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in the Kandeshar village in Gariaband district. (more)

India-US strategic partnership scaled new heights: PM Modi

• India and the US are taking their strategic partnership to new heights, with PM Modi saying that their comprehensive global strategic partnership has made significant progress in areas like technology, defense, space, biotechnology, and AI.
• The India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) is a key part of this partnership.
• Launched by Modi and US President Joe Biden in May 2022, iCET aims to boost collaboration between India and the US in critical technologies.
• Key areas of cooperation under iCET include:
• Semiconductors: Deepening cooperation in semiconductor manufacturing and supply chains.
• Critical Minerals: Promoting cooperation in critical mineral supply chains.
• Advanced Telecommunications: Collaborating on advanced telecommunications technologies.
• Defense Space: Working together on defense space technologies. (more)
• US to Remove Indian Nuclear Entities from Restricted List:  The United States is set to remove Indian nuclear entities, including government-run organizations, from its restricted list.
• US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan announced this move to boost civil nuclear cooperation between the two nations.
• The decision will benefit prominent Indian entities, such as the Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Centre and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, enabling them to cooperate with US private sector companies and scientists.
• This cooperation is expected to foster advancements in civil-nuclear cooperation.
• The India-US civil nuclear cooperation has its roots in the 2005 agreement between former US President George Bush and Indian PM Manmohan Singh.
• This agreement granted India a special status regarding nuclear technology transfer and international recognition as a responsible nuclear state.
• Sullivan’s announcement is part of a broader effort to strengthen the US-India strategic technology partnership, including cooperation in space technology, defense innovation, clean energy, semiconductors, and AI. (more)

PM Modi meets Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, discusses tech, innovation and AI

• PM Modi met with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Mon to discuss various aspects of technology, innovation, and artificial intelligence (AI).
• Nadella expressed his gratitude for Modi’s leadership and reiterated Microsoft’s commitment to making India an “AI-first” nation.
• PM Modi responded, saying it was a delight to meet Nadella and that he’s glad to know about Microsoft’s expansion and investment plans in India. (more)

India condemns Pakistan airstrikes on Afghanistan: ‘Old practice to blame neighbors for own failures’

• India has strongly condemned Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghanistan, calling it an “old practice” of Islamabad to blame its neighbors for its internal failures.
• This condemnation comes after Pakistan’s airstrikes killed 46 people, including women and children, in Afghanistan’s Paktika province.
• The Ministry of External Affairs stated that it “unequivocally condemns any attack on innocent civilians” and noted that Pakistan’s actions are a violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty.
• The Taliban has also spoken out against the airstrikes, with a spokesperson claiming that 50 people, including 27 women and children, were killed in the strikes.
• Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry has summoned the Pakistani envoy and lodged a strong protest over the strikes, stating that Kabul “will not accept the violation of the country’s territory under any circumstances”. (more)

Mahakumbh security: 1,000 terror suspects added to AI facial recognition system

• To ensure safety at Mahakumbh 2025, authorities have integrated a database of over 1,000 terror suspects into an AI-driven Facial Recognition System (FRS).
• This move comes after specific threats from Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu and a social media alert warning of a potential bombing.
• The FRS technology uses 116 AI-based cameras and over 1,000 CCTV cameras to match faces with a preloaded database, alerting security personnel in real time.
• Surveillance extends beyond Prayagraj to districts with major religious sites, considered potential targets for terror attacks.
• A high-level meeting is set for Jan 7 in Lucknow to share intelligence inputs and bolster security.
• With nearly two crore devotees expected to use trains for their pilgrimage, authorities face a significant security challenge. (more)
• Security agencies are on high alert after a video of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Pannu’s threat to disrupt the Mahakumbh festival went viral on social media.
• The video surfaced after 3 Khalistani terrorists were killed in an encounter in Pilibhit.

UGC’s new draft norms allow domain experts without teaching experience to be eligible for post of V-C

• UGC Releases Draft Guidelines for University Recruitment
• The University Grants Commission has released draft guidelines for the recruitment of Vice Chancellors (V-Cs) and faculty members in universities.
• The guidelines propose: Allowing industry experts and professionals with 10 years of experience to be eligible for V-C positions.
• Broadening faculty recruitment criteria to include professionals with relevant experience.
• Introducing specialized recruitment pathways for fields like Yoga, Music, and Performing Arts.
• Doing away with the Academic Performance Indicator (API) system for promotions.
• The guidelines aim to attract the best talent, promote innovation, and recognize professional accomplishments. (more)

Dallewal’s hunger strike: Capt Amarinder meets Amit Shah a day after mega rally at Khanauri

• Senior BJP leader and former Punjab CM Amarinder Singh met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss various current issues in Punjab, including the ongoing farmers’ protest.
• This meeting gains significance amid growing dissent among farmers regarding the hunger strike by Jagjit Singh Dallewal, convenor of the SKM (“non-political”).
• This is not the first time Amarinder has met with top govt officials to discuss farmers’ issues.
• Last year, he met with PM Modi to discuss a range of issues concerning Punjab, including farmers’ grievances.
• The meeting with Amit Shah is crucial, given the farmers’ demands for the Centre to resume talks. (more)

[Neighborhood]

Pak-China trade suspended as protest on KKH against power outages in Hunza continue

• A protest sit-in in Hunza district’s Aliabad area has entered its 4^th-day, with the Karakoram Highway (KKH) remaining blocked.
• This has paralyzed Pakistan-China tourism and trade, with 700 trucks, including those carrying imports and exports, stuck at the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor dry port.
• The protesters, led by the Hunza Awami Action Committee and the All Parties Traders Association, are demanding a resolution to the power crisis in the region.
• Despite govt assurances, including a promise to lay a new power transmission line, the protesters have rejected the offers, citing past unfulfilled promises.
• The situation has affected not only trade but also tourism, with many visitors returning due to the closure of the highway.
• The Chamber of Commerce president has emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that traders are facing significant problems and that the machinery to remove snow from the border has been stuck. (more)
• The current power supply situation in Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan, is quite dire: The region is experiencing an acute energy deficit, with the govt struggling to meet the electricity demands of the local population.
• The govt had proposed connecting Hunza to the Jaglot Guru power station, which would supposedly provide 1.2 MW of electricity.
• However, the protesters have rejected this proposal, citing the power station’s inability to meet the electricity needs of nearby areas like Danyore and Gilgit.
• It’s worth noting that the region’s energy demands are particularly high during the winter. (more)

Two policemen killed in Lakki Marwat, Pakistan.

• 2 police constables, Hikmatullah and Khan Bahadar, were martyred in Lakki Marwat’s Jabukhel area on Mon when unidentified gunmen on motorbikes opened fire on them.
• The constables were on their way to work on a motorcycle from Kherukhel Pacca area when they were attacked.
• Both received critical bullet injuries and died instantly.
• The killed police officials were deployed at the Shaheed Haibat Ali Khan police station and Shahbazkhel police station, respectively.
• No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which is part of a recent surge in attacks targeting security forces in Balochistan and KP. (more)

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan issues warning to ruling parties in Pakistan

• The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has issued a warning to Pakistan’s ruling parties, specifically the Pakistan Muslim League (PML), to refrain from taking sides in the conflict between the TTP and security institutions.
• The TTP spox, Muhammad Khorasani, stated that the group’s targets are solely security institutions and their affiliates, but warned that the PML’s leadership using language similar to the Pakistan Army’s may lead to the TTP targeting them.
• Additionally, the TTP announced its intention to target economic institutions with ties to the Pakistani military, including the National Logistics Cell and Frontier Works Organization (FWO). (more)

Bangladesh: ‘Arrest Sheikh Hasina By Feb 12’: Court Issues 2^nd Warrant For Ex-PM

• Sheikh Hasina, the former PM is facing a second arrest warrant issued by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal on charges of enforced disappearances during her rule.
• This comes after she fled to India on Aug 5, 2024, following a student-led revolution that toppled her regime.
• Hasina, 77, is already facing charges of crimes against humanity related to a student-led uprising in Jul and August 2024, which resulted in hundreds of fatalities.
• The ICT has ordered authorities to arrest and produce Hasina and 11 others, including her military adviser and law enforcement officials, before Feb 12.
• Bangladesh has asked India to extradite Hasina to face trial, but India has yet to respond.
• The interim govt of Bangladesh, led by Yunus, has vowed to prosecute Hasina and her administration for their involvement in the crackdown during the uprising. (more)

Bangladesh: EIB vice president arrives today

• EIB Vice-President arrives in Bangladesh today, marking a significant visit to strengthen economic ties between the European Investment Bank and Bangladesh.
• Although the article doesn’t specify the Vice-President’s name, the EIB’s current Vice-Presidents include Ambroise Fayolle, Thomas Östros, Teresa Czerwińska, and others.
• During the visit, the EIB Vice-President is expected to hold meetings with high-ranking govt officials and discuss potential investment opportunities in Bangladesh.
• The EIB has been supporting “development projects” in Bangladesh, focusing on infrastructure, energy, and education.
• The visit is seen as a positive step towards enhancing economic cooperation between the EIB and Bangladesh, with potential benefits for the country’s development and growth. (more)