[ NATIONAL ]

Indian Army receives new Israeli Heron drones for deployment in Ladakh sector

ANI-Amid After a delay of a few months due to COVID-19, the Indian Army’s surveillance capabilities have received a major boost as Israel has delivered advanced Heron drones under the emergency procurement clause to to keep an eye on the Chinese activities in the Ladakh.

Kevin Pietersen lauds PM Modi as India ready to help African nations amid Omicron scare

Kevin Pietersen has lavished huge praise on Narendra Modi and India’s spirits as the country is ready to extend their support to African countries who are reeling under the new Covid variant named Omicron.

Omicron mutations double that of Delta, Italian lab image shows

Image created in Rome shows 43 spike protein mutations, compared to 18 for Delta. But how dangerous the new variant is remains to be seen.

‘40 civilians killed in terror-related incidents in J&K this year’: Govt in LS

On Mon, the govt informed the Rajya Sabha that 1,033 incidents of attacks by terrorists have taken place in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 3 years.

No proposal to recognise Bitcoin as currency: Indian finance minister

Indian government is planning to introduce introduce the Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill 2021 in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament. MPs raised a number of questions in the context of an upcoming Bill that aims to ‘prohibit’ private cryptocurrencies, but Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman offered few answers.

GDP at Constant (2011-12) Prices in Q2 2021-22 is estimated at Rs 35.73 lakh crores, as against Rs 32.97 lakh crores in Q2 2020-21, showing a growth of 8.4% as compared to 7.4% contraction in Q2 2020-21: Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation

Indian Bio-Jet Fuel technology receives formal military certification

The provisional clearance (PC) certificate was handed over by Group Director (AT&FOL), Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) to Principal Scientist from IIP in the presence of Group Captain and Wing Commander of the IAF and CEMILAC.

CIL draws Rs 20,000 crore rail infra plan to boost supplies

Coal India Ltd will invest nearly Rs 20,000 crore in rail infrastructure with a view to raising annual transportation capacity by an additional 330 million tonne over the next three years as the world’s largest coal miner chases an annual production target of a billion tonne.

[ NEIGHBORHOOD ]

Pentagon plans stronger US posture toward China, Russia

The move comes in the wake of the formation of a new defense alliance, dubbed AUKUS, between the US, Britain and Australia to counter a rising China, which has been building up its own navy and testing decades of US military dominance across Asia.

China’s top security official touts common prosperity campaign, points to ‘hidden peril’ of wealth gap

• Guo Shengkun, secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, vows to crack down on illegal income
• Analyst expects new regulations to be rolled out to support the strategy and says China has become ‘a society of risks’

‘Big caveat’ of Omicron looms as China’s manufacturing activity expands

China’s official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 50.1 in Nov, up from 49.2 in Oct, but the official non-manufacturing PMI fell to 52.3 from 52.4 in Oct.

Myanmar court defers verdicts in Suu Kyi trial to Dec 6

She has been charged with incitement and Covid-19 protocol violations under a natural disasters law.

Mob sets Charsadda police station on fire after officials refuse to hand over alleged blasphemy suspect

Dawn-A mob attacked and set on fire a police station in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Charsadda district on Sunday, demanding that authorities hand over a man arrested for allegedly desecrating the Holy Quran. KP Law Minister Fazal Shakoor Khan, who hails from Charsadda, told that police had arrested a man for allegedly desecrating the Quran on Sunday and shifted him to the Mandani police station in Charsadda’s Tangi tehsil.

Afghanistan: Saudi Arabia Calls for OIC Meeting on Afghanistan

Saudi Arabia has called on OIC member states to join an extraordinary meeting on Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation.

‘40 civilians killed in terror-related incidents in J&K this year’: Govt in LS

HT-Minister of state for home affairs, Nityanand Rai informed Lok Sabha on Tue that 40 civilians have been killed and 72 injured in Jammu and Kashmir in terror-related incidents till Nov 15 this year. He also said that 35 personnel of the security forces, including J&K Police, were killed in such incidents till November 15 and 86 were injured.

Regarding steps taken by Govt, Rai informed

• These include proactive operations against terrorists,
• identification and arrest of over ground workers/supporters of terrorism,
• action against members of banned organizations,
• intensified night patrolling and checking at Nakas,
• security arrangements through appropriate deployment,
• coordination meetings amongst security agencies,
• high level of alertness maintained by the security forces and
• legal action in cases of terror funding.

Rai (on incident in Manipur) – “..suspected insurgents ambushed the Assam Rifles convoy along Indo-Myanmar Border in Churachandpur district on 13^th Nov, 2021 in which 7 persons including 5 of Assam Rifles and 2 civilians have laid down their lives. Besides, 6 Assam Rifles personnel were also injured.”

Over 6 lakh Indians have given up Indian citizenship since 2017, Rai informed the Parliament

On Mon, the govtt informed the Rajya Sabha – terrorists attacks- 1,033 in J&K in the last 3 years, while highest – 594 – in 2019 while till Nov 15^th this year it was 196.

Admiral R Hari Kumar takes over as new Navy chief

ANI – Admiral R Hari Kumar on Tue took over as the 25^th Navy chief, succeeding Admiral Karambir Singh who is superannuated after a 30-month tenure.

Kumar is an alumnus of the prestigious National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, while commissioned into the Indian Navy on Jan 1, 1983.

• In his career spanning over 38 years, he has commanded Coast Guard Ship C-01, IN Ships Nishank, Kora, Ranvir and the Aircraft Carrier INS Viraat.
• A Gunnery specialist, held several key appointments, including Fleet Operations Officer (FOO) and Fleet Gunnery Officer (FGO) of Western Fleet, Executive Officer (EXO) of INS Vipul, Gunnery Officer of INS Ranjit, commissioning GO of INS Kuthar and commissioning crew of INS Ranvir.

His shore appointments include Command Gunnery Officer at HQWNC, Naval Advisor to Government of Seychelles, UN Mission in Somalia (UNOSOM II) at Mogadishu and Training Commander, INS Dronacharya.

As a Flag Officer, he has served as Commandant of the Naval War College (NWC) at Goa, Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST), Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF), Chief of Staff (COS), Western Naval Command (WNC), Controller Personnel Services (CPS) and Chief of Personnel (COP) at Naval Headquarters.

Kumar has also served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to The Chairman Chiefs Of Staff Committee (CISC) at the critical junction during the creation of the institution of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Department of Military Affairs (DMA).

He was the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOCinC), WNC at Mumbai, prior to taking over the helm as the Chief of the Naval Staff on 30 Nov 2021. (ANI)

Indian Army receives new Israeli Heron drones for deployment in Ladakh sector

ANI-Amid After a delay of a few months due to COVID-19, the Indian Army’s surveillance capabilities have received a major boost as Israel has delivered advanced Heron drones under the emergency procurement clause, which grant financial power up to 500 Cr, to to keep an eye on the Chinese activities in the Ladakh sector.

(sources)- These drones are operational now and are far more advanced than the Herons in the existing inventory and their anti-jamming capability is much better than their previous one.

• The other small or mini drones are being acquired from Indian firms which can help them in the ongoing conflict with China.
• The last time such a facility was given to the defence forces was in 2019 right after the Balakot airstrikes against terrorist camps in Pakistan.

Using the same facility, the Indian Navy has leased two Predator drones which have been taken from American firm General Atomics.

The Indian Air Force had exercised the same powers to acquire a large number of anti-tank guided missiles, long-range precision-guided artillery shells along with the Hammer air to ground standoff missiles with a strike range of around 70 km.

• The emergency procurement powers under capital acquisition route ended on Aug 31 this year.
• The armed forces have a few more projects in the final stages and if they get an extension, they may go ahead for purchasing that equipment too for improving their combat capabilities.

Indian Bio-Jet Fuel technology receives formal military certification

ANI -Ministry of Science & Technology on Mon informed that Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIR-IIP), Dehradun’s, a constituent laboratory of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, (CSIR) home-grown technology to produce bio-jet fuel has been formally approved for use on military aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The provisional clearance (PC) certificate was handed over by Group Director (AT&FOL), Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) to Principal Scientist from IIP in the presence of Group Captain and Wing Commander of the IAF and CEMILAC.

• The technology, developed by the IIP, a constituent laboratory of the CSIR, has undergone evaluation tests and trials overthe last three years.
• International aviation standards define the scope of these rigorous assessments.
• Fuel being the lifeline of aircraft requires thorough analysis before being filled into manned flying machines.

The certification received is an acknowledgment of the satisfactory results obtained from various ground and inflight tests performed on the indigenous bio-jet fuel by various test agencies supported by the IAF.

• Earlier on Jan 26, 19, an AN-32 aircraft, filled with blended bio-jet fuel, had flown over Raj Path at New Delhi during the Republic Day celebrations.
• Thereafter, it was tested when the Russian military aircraft safely landed and tookoff from Leh airport on Jan 30, 20 at high altitudes under severe winter conditions.
• The fuel was also used on a civil, commercial demonstration flight operated by SpiceJet on 27 Aug 18 from Dehradun to Delhi.

This clearance will enable Indian armed forces to use bio-jet fuel produced using indigenous technology across all its operational aircraft, which will also enable early commercialization of the technology and its mass production.

• Indian bio-jet fuel can be produced from used cooking oil, tree-borne oils, short gestation oilseed crops grown off-season by farmers, and waste extracts from edible oil processing units.
• It will reduce air pollution by virtue of its ultralow sulphur content compared with conventional jet fuel and contribute to India’s Net-Zero greenhouse emissions targets.
• It will also enhance the livelihoods of farmers and tribals engaged in producing, collecting, and extracting non-edible oils.

[ NEIGHBORHOOD ]

China’s top security official touts common prosperity campaign, points to ‘hidden peril’ of wealth gap

Guo Shengkun, secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, the top Communist Party agency in charge of law enforcement, said the strategy was aimed at solving “deep-rooted risk and hidden peril caused by [uneven] income distribution”.

He made the remarks in a contribution to a book of commentaries published in mid-Nov by the state-run People’s Publishing House.

In his commentary, Guo – who sits on the 25-strong Politburo – focused on outcomes from the 6^th plenum, a 4-day closed-door party conclave held earlier this month and attended by hundreds of political elites.

Guo’s commission oversees all legal and security matters in China, from the police and spy agencies to prosecutors, courts and prisons.

• The security organs should “focus on the promotion of common prosperity”, including by improving related laws and regulations to redistribute wealth.
• There should be support to protect legal income, while excessively high income should be regulated and there should be a clampdown on illegal income.

Common prosperity has become a central theme in Xi’s economic policy in the past year. The phrase was first used by former leader Mao Zedong in the 1950s for what he saw as a more egalitarian way to distribute wealth, especially among peasants.

It has been cited as the ultimate goal in a series of recent measures, including Beijing’s push to revive the rural economy, antitrust regulations for tech firms, and tougher housing market rules.

The controversial phrase for some recalls Mao’s violent crackdown on businesses, and Beijing has repeatedly stressed that it does not mean “killing the rich to help the poor”, nor forcing the rich to donate to society.

Qin Qianhong, a law professor at Wuhan University-“In order to create a good business environment and protect the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises and entrepreneurs, these departments can act through strict law enforcement and effective justice.”

Chinese marines are ideal for Solomons-type contingencies

ANI – In recent years, China has been beefing up the expeditionary capacity – the ability to deploy at long distances at short notice – of its military.

• Indeed, the current civil unrest in the Solomon Islands in Melanesia is exactly the kind of situation in which one would expect Beijing to one day deploy troops.
• With anti-government protestors running riot on the streets of the capital Honiara since 24 Nov, it was often Chinese businesses that bore the brunt of social discontent.

Australia took the lead in dispatching troops and police, supported by personnel from Fiji and Papua New Guinea so under the auspices of the Australia-Solomon Islands Bilateral Security Treaty that came into force in 2018.

• Honiara is on the island of Guadalcanal, a furious World War II campaign recorded in the lore of the US Marine Corps.
• Yet, today, the USA does not even have an embassy in the Solomons, as the Islands is a battleground for influence between China and the USA.
• Indeed, the Solomon Islands switched diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to China in 2019, and the govt plans to open up its natural resources to Chinese state companies.
• The protestors called for PM Manasseh Sogavare to step down, and there was anger about corruption and his alleged ties with China.

Pentagon plans stronger US posture toward China, Russia

TOI-The move comes in the wake of the formation of a new defense alliance, dubbed AUKUS, between the United States, Britain and Australia to counter a rising China, which has been building up its own navy and testing decades of US military dominance across Asia.

SCMP-The US military will reinforce deployments and bases directed at China and Russia, while maintaining forces in the Middle East adequate to deter Iran and jihadist groups, the Pentagon said on Monday, referencing results of a review.

The US Defence Department will be upgrading and expanding military facilities in Guam and Australia, underscoring its focus on China as the country’s leading defence rival, officials said.

The details of the “global posture review”, commissioned by President Joe Biden’s administration early this year, would remain classified, the officials added, so as not to reveal plans to rivals.

The move comes in the wake of the formation of a new defence alliance, dubbed Aukus, between the US Britain and Australia to counter a rising China, which has been building up its own navy and testing decades of US military dominance across Asia.

That pact was formed as Beijing solidifies its control over the disputed South China Sea and intensifies its military threats towards Taiwan, for which the United States is a key ally and arms supplier.

The review confirmed the priority region for the US military was the Indo-Pacific, said Mara Karlin, a top Pentagon policy official.

The review “directs additional cooperation with allies and partners across the region to advance initiatives that contribute to regional stability and deter potential military aggression from China and threats from North Korea,” she told reporters.

Karlin -“strengthens the combat-credible deterrent against Russian aggression in Europe and enables Nato forces to operate more effectively.”

• The Middle East, however, remains an area of flux for the Pentagon after the long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Speaking separately, a senior Pentagon official who declined to be identified, downplayed any idea of radical shifts.
• However, the official added, the Biden team felt the review necessary after the disruptive approach of his predecessor Trump, who altered US commitments abruptly.

Under Trump, “there were oftentimes a devaluing of ally and partner input and engagement, which eroded US credibility and hard-won trust,” the official said.

The officials declined to answer questions on how the global posture review sees US force presence in ongoing conflict zones like the Middle East, East and West Africa, and Eastern Europe.

• But they confirmed previously announced plans to do more in Guam and Australia.
• In Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Australia there will also be upgrades to airports and fuel and munitions storage facilities, she said.
• Asked if the review foresaw more increases in the US presence in the Pacific region, Karlin said: “We’re moving the needle a bit.”
• “And what I’d like to think is, over the coming years, you will see that needle move more,” she said.