[NEWS OF THE DAY]

1. PM Modi to visit Indonesia, G20 summit to see formal announcement India’s presidency
2. MHA’s decision: DMs, home secys given powers to grant citizenship to non-Muslims from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan
3. Home Minister chairs IB meet to discuss counter-terrorism, naxal, technological upgradation among many issues By Rajnish Singh
4. ‘Russia needs to hear this… especially from India’: US on Ukraine war talks
5. Xi orders Chinese military to prepare for war amid tension with Taiwan

What Else

6. Kerala Cabinet to bring ordinance to remove Governor from post of Chancellor
7. BSF shoots down Pakistani drone in Punjab’s Ferozepur
8. Nirav Modi a Step Closer to Extradition, Loses Appeal in UK Court
9. Belarus Foreign Minister arrives in India for two-day visit
10. Kalyani strategic systems gets howitzer export order worth USD 155 million
11. Two former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers decide not to contest assembly elections
12. China is expanding an airbase close to key naval base, satellite images show
13. China’s capital outflows hit US$8.8 billion in October amid ‘notable shift’ by foreign investors
14. PTI warned of ‘consequences’ if protests not curbed
15. Pak PM Shehbaz jets off for London on ‘private flight’
16. UN warns of worsening food crisis in Sri Lanka

PM Modi to visit Indonesia, G20 summit to see formal announcement India’s presidency

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Indonesia for the G20 summit next week where a formal announcement will be made of India’s Presidency of the forum.
• PM unveiled the logo, theme, and website of India’s G20 Presidency via video-conferencing here on Tue.
• Addressing the gathering, PM said the Presidency of G-20 during the year of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is a matter of pride for every Indian.
• Highlighting the contributions of the citizens in the launch of the G-20 logo, the PM said that the govt received thousands of creative ideas for the logo.
• Noting that the G-20 logo is not just any logo, the Prime Minister said that it is a message, a feeling that runs in India’s veins.

MHA’s decision: DMs, home secys given powers to grant citizenship to non-Muslims from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan

• The Home Ministry has given powers to the DMs of 31 districts and home secretaries of 9 states to grant citizenship to minorities coming from Pak, B’desh, and Afghanistan under the Citizenship Act, of 1955.
• From Apr to Dec 31, 2021, a total of 1,414 foreigners belonging to non-Muslim communities in 3 countries were given citizenship by registration or naturalization.
• The 9 states where Indian citizenship is given are Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Maharashtra.
• Notably, the move to grant citizenship under the Citizenship Act, of 1955 and not under the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act, of 2019 (CAA).
• Though CAA also provides citizenship to non-Muslim communities in 3 countries, however, the rules under the CAA have not been notified yet.
• Hence, no one has been granted Indian citizenship under it so far.

[A bit difficult to understand, that if CA, 1955 can do the same thing what was the need to bring CAA and create so much havoc in the country? Also, if it was so significant, why not notifed]

Home Minister chairs IB meet to discuss counter-terrorism, naxal, technological upgradation among many issues By Rajnish Singh

• ANI-(source) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wed chaired a day-long high-level meeting of Intelligence officers across the country in Delhi to discuss issues of counter-terrorism, Naxal, border matters, cyber security, and technological upgradation.
• The Minister will also assess the internal security situation in the country, threats of terrorism, and the need for coordination among central and state agencies.
• This is part of the series of meetings that Amit Shah has been regularly holding with officials of security agencies and the police from across the country.
• The meeting started at 11 am at a secret and highly secured location in the city and is expected to go on till 5 pm.
• Focus on better coordination and synergy among the central and state security agencies in countering the ever-changing security challenges.

‘Russia needs to hear this… especially from India’: US on Ukraine war talks

• A day after external affairs minister S Jaishankar visits Russia, the US State Department said it is important for Russia to hear the message for dialogue and diplomacy amid the ongoing Ukraine war, “especially from countries like India”.
• State Department, said, “We’ve had a number of high-level engagements with our Indian counterparts in the past few months”.
• Recently, Blinken met with foreign minister Jaishankar just a couple of months ago.”
• “The messages we heard from Jaishankar on Russia were not dissimilar from PM Narendra Modi when he said ‘this is not an ear of war’.”
• It wants to see dialogue, it wants to see diplomacy. It wants to see an end to this needless bloodshed that Russia is responsible for inside of Ukraine,” he added.
• India has consistently called for an end to the fighting in Ukraine and pushed for dialogue but refrained from publicly censuring Putin for the invasion launched in Feb.
• India has not voted against Russia at the UN but also repeatedly raised the impact of the crisis on food and energy prices, especially for vulnerable countries. (here)
• The US also said that India should decrease its dependence on Russia and reiterated that the US is committed to working with India on its transition away from Russia.
• Jaishankar came back to Delhi after his 2-visit to Russia where he met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.

[On a day the US goes votes for mid-term elections, State Dept says ties with India a “bipartisan legacy” something which “Bush’s administration was the first to put this into effect”. Also, worth recalling this news from Washington Post “U.S. privately asks Ukraine to show it’s open to negotiate with Russia” published 3 days back (here)]

Kerala Cabinet to bring ordinance to remove Governor from post of Chancellor

• Amidst the ongoing tussle between Governor and the Left govt, the Kerala Cabinet on Wed decided to bring in an ordinance to remove Governor Arif Mohammad Khan from the post of Chancellor.
• However, the State Cabinet is planning to bring in an expert in place of the Chancellor.
• The decision came after Khan sought the resignations of vice-chancellors of all 9 universities in the state.
• Later the VCs of nine universities moved the High Court to challenge the order.
• However, the court on Tue declined to stay the appointment.
• As per the UGC Regulations also, the Visitor/Chancellor shall appoint the Vice Chancellor out of the panel of names recommended by the Search Committee. (here)

BSF shoots down Pakistani drone in Punjab’s Ferozepur

• The Border Security Force (BSF) has shot down a drone entering from Pakistan into Indian territory in the Ferozepur district in Punjab, the force said on Wed.
• Drone entering from Pakistan into Indian territory in the area near Gandu Kilcha village in Ferozepur at around 11.25 pm on Tue.
• BSF troops fired at the drone in an attempt to thwart the incursion, one of the Central Armed Police Forces mandated to guard the 3,323 km India-Pakistan border.
• Two packets of contraband drugs 2.5 Kg were recovered with the drone.
• The central govt recently shared the input from the security forces deployed at the India-Pakistan border to maintain such illegal attempts from the Pakistan side.
• Of the 191 drones observed, 171 entered into Indian territory through the India-Pakistan border along Punjab while 20 were seen in Jammu from Jan 1 to Sept 30. (here)

Nirav Modi a Step Closer to Extradition, Loses Appeal in UK Court

• Nirav Modi, 51, had appealed against being sent back to India to face trial in the massive fraud case linked to Punjab National Bank, or PNB.
• Nirav Modi, the diamond businessman from Gujarat who fled India after allegedly cheating a govt bank of over ₹ 11k crore, is a step closer to being extradited to India from the UK.
• He lost the appeal in the London High Court today.
• Modi can approach Britain’s SC against the High Court’s order within 14 days.
• But there’s a catch – he can appeal in the Supreme Court only if the high court agrees that his case involves a point of law of general public importance. (here)

Belarus Foreign Minister arrives in India for two-day visit

• The Minister of Foreign Affairs Belarus, Vladimir Makei arrived in Delhi on Wed for his 2-day visit to India and will be meeting External Affairs Minister in the evening.
• He is expected to attend a program in Delhi on Thu and will be returning on Fri.
• India was one of the first countries to recognize Belarus as an independent country in 1991.
• The cooperation between the two countries is visible at many multilateral fora such as UNSC and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
• Belarus was one of the countries whose support helped in consolidating India’s candidature for the non-permanent seat at the UNSC in July 2020. (here)

Kalyani strategic systems gets howitzer export order worth USD 155 million

• In a success for the Indian firm, Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited on Wed announced receiving an order worth USD 155 million for supplying howitzers.
• However, the Baba Kalyani-owned company did not disclose the buyer except for clarifying that it was in a non-conflict zone.
• The company has been awarded an export order for a 155mm Artillery Gun platform to be executed over a 3-year timeframe.
• Kalyani is one of the major investors in the defense sector and has been offering several weapon systems to India as well as foreign countries.
• The company has been working with Defence Research Organisation to develop the advanced tower artillery gun and has also developed an ultra-light howitzer. (here)

Two former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers decide not to contest assembly elections

• Two former chief ministers- Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti -J&K have decided to not contest the assembly elections, which are to be held next year.
• Both of them have decided that until the central govt restores statehood to J&K, they will not contest the elections.
• Since the abrogation of Article 370, the regional political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have been pushing for the restoration of statehood.
• While both the CMs have decided to not contest, their parties–National Conference and PDP–will be contesting the assembly polls.
• PDP has been pushing for a coalition between all People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration parties with an agenda to keep BJP away from power. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Xi orders Chinese military to prepare for war amid tension with Taiwan

• Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tue said that Beijing will strengthen military training and prepare for any war as the nation’s “security is increasingly unstable and uncertain.”
• Xi made the declaration during a visit to the joint operations command center of the Central Military Commission in Beijing, reported Sky News Australia.
• China will now comprehensively strengthen its military training and preparation for any war, Xi said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
• “Xi instructed them to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, and complete various tasks entrusted by the Party and the people.”
• Xi, wearing army fatigues while addressing soldiers at China’s Central Military Commission, has made similar remarks in the past, but his comments, broadcasted on state TV.
• Xi Jinping announced that China will peacefully reunify Taiwan and will not leave the option of using force.
• Under Xi, China has taken a more hard-line approach to Taiwan, claiming the island is a breakaway province that will eventually be “reunified”. (here)

China is expanding an airbase close to key naval base, satellite images show

• The PLA is expanding an airbase in southern China, as per satellite images that show a 2^nd runway, widened taxiways, and more aircraft parking areas under construction.
• Previously home to the 6^th Air Brigade of the Southern Theatre Command Air Force, the airbase is located in Suixi county, Guangdong province.
• It is just 32km northwest of Zhanjiang, which hosts a major naval base for the PLA’s South Sea Fleet.
• The images, taken on Sept 18 and obtained by American Defense News, show more than 40 markings for fighter-sized and larger aircraft painted on 2 expanded parking aprons, each about 1.3km long. (here)

China’s capital outflows hit US$8.8 billion in October amid ‘notable shift’ by foreign investors

• Foreign investors pulled US$8.8 billion of funds from Chinese stocks and bonds in Oct, reflecting changes in sentiment over geopolitical concerns and anxiety over Beijing’s zero-Covid policy.
• Outflows from Chinese equities reached US$7.6 billion last month, with the remaining US$1.2 billion removed from bond markets, the US-based IIF said on Tue.
• There had been an outflow of just US$700 million in Chinese equities and US$1.4 billion in debt in Sept, according to data from the IIF.
• Outflows from Chinese stocks and bonds have accelerated since Russia’s invasion at the end of Feb. (here)

PTI warned of ‘consequences’ if protests not curbed

• As the law and order situation continues to deteriorate amid protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf supporters in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
• Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders and Interior Minister, Rana Sanaullah separately warned the former ruling party of ‘constitutional repercussions’.
• In a media talk at the Civil Hospital in Karachi, Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman said the governor’s rule in the province cannot be ruled out.
• He, however, termed it an “extreme measure” with constitutional cover nonetheless.
• Meanwhile, Rana Sanaullah told the governments of Punjab and KP to either follow the Constitution or be ready for ‘constitutional consequences’. (here)
• PTI continues to protest at Islamabad’s entry, and exit points for 3rd consecutive day
• Responding to reports of violence, which is scheduled to resume on Thu — the US has called on all sides in Pakistan to refrain from violence and respect the rule of law.
• Referring to an earlier statement by US State Secretary Anthony Blinken, Price reiterated that the US strongly condemned the shooting on Imran Khan.

Pak PM Shehbaz jets off for London on ‘private flight’

• Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has left for London after concluding his two-day trip to Egypt on Wed, where he attended the COP27 climate conference.
• The update was shared by Information Minister in a tweet, saying that the premier had left for the British capital on a “private visit via a private flight”.
• This is the PM’s 3^rd trip to London since he assumed office in Apr and comes ahead of the appointment of the new army chief, with the Chief’s tenure set to end on Nov 29.
• Earlier, the PM had visited London in Sept, primarily to represent Pakistan at Queen’s funeral, and returned with PML-N leader and now Fin Min Dar on his return. (here)

UN warns of worsening food crisis in Sri Lanka

• The UN on Tue warned of a worsening food crisis in bankrupt Sri Lanka and said the number of people needing urgent humanitarian help has doubled to 3.4 million.
• UN agencies had estimated in Jun that 1.7 million out of the country’s 22 million people required help.
• The UN agencies in Colombo in a joint statement said they have raised US$79 million to feed those in need.
• But the increasing number of poor people means they need an additional $70 mn.
• Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since its independence from Britain in 1948. (here)