[NEWS OF THE DAY]

1. BSF foils Pak intrusion bid on Rajasthan border
2. Indian industry attends China’s Indian Ocean forum, but New Delhi missing in official capacity
3. “India’s strategic importance and leadership will only increase”: Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy
4. Tibet support groups to frame new action plan at conference in Delhi today
5. India holds G20 briefing for G20 nation envoys in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

What Else

6. Protests erupt across China in unprecedented challenge to Xi Jinping’s zero-Covid policy
7. Operation ‘Octopus’ successful: Naxal stronghold of Burha Pahar falls to security forces
8. ISRO successfully launches PSLV C-54 rocket carrying Oceansat, customer nanosatellites
9. President urged courts to help people languishing in jails for petty offences
10. President Droupadi Murmu receives credentials from five envoys
11. S&P lowers India FY23 GDP growth forecast, says ‘global slowdown to have less impact’
12. Taiwan president Ing-wen resigns as party leader after election loss
13. Days after border clash, Pakistan junior foreign minister to visit Afghanistan
14. Former Pak PM Imran Khan calls off long march in Islamabad to avoid ‘chaos’ in nation
15. Sri Lankan Tamil parties to push for autonomy in a new Constitution
16. China announces to provide free fuel to farmers, fishermen in Sri Lanka
17. Myanmar grounds most of China-Pak built JF-17 jets

BSF foils Pak intrusion bid on Rajasthan border

• Border Security Force foiled an intrusion attempt by Pakistan on the Srikaranpur border area in Rajasthan on Sat, the 14^th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attack.
• As per the BSF, the intruder, identified as Safdar Hussain, 39, hailing from Pakistan’s Bahawalnagar district was shot below the waist after he defied caution by the sentry.
• The intruder was later handed over to the Pakistan Rangers after questioning.
• Earlier on Sat, after hearing the sound of a suspected flying object coming from the Pakistan side around 9.05 pm on Fri, security personnel fired and downed a drone.
• Later, it was found to be a China-made Quadcopter DJI Matrice 300RTK brand drone, fitted with cameras lying in the field near the border. (here)

Indian industry attends China’s Indian Ocean forum, but New Delhi missing in official capacity

• ThePrint: Last week, individual representatives and businessmen from India participated in a gathering — organized by Beijing— of countries located in the Indian Ocean region.
• New Delhi, though, did not attend the forum in an official capacity.
• HT- India wasn’t invited to the table, according to officials.
• This was the 1^st-ever conference organized by Beijing in what is being seen as yet another attempt by Beijing to assert its sphere of influence in the Indian Ocean region
• IOR is gradually becoming a hotly-contest region, clashing with the US-led Indo-Pacific strategic framework, of which India is a crucial part.
• While China claimed that 19 countries participated in the conference organized by China Maldives and Australia have denied their attendance in an official capacity.
• The theme of the conference was ‘Shared Development: Theory and Practice from the Perspective of the Blue Economy’.
• While nobody from the Indian govt was present at the conference, individuals may have attended it in a personal capacity.
• According to the Chinese FM, India was represented by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 10 businessmen, and a few academicians. (here)

Tibet support groups to frame new action plan at conference in Delhi today

• Tibetan groups and leaders from across India gathered in Delhi on Mon for a conference to finalize an action plan and persuade the Indian govt to have a clear policy on Tibet.
• The All India Tibet Support Groups Conference is held every 3 years and members and representatives of all Tibet support groups in India take part in the gathering.
• The representatives will focus on an action plan for clear policies on Tibet by GoI that is in line with the Tibet Policy and Support Act 2019 passed by the US Congress.
• Dalai Lama was felicitated with Gandhi Mandela Award for lifelong efforts to promote peace
• The US law backs the rights of the Tibetan people to select their leaders, including the reincarnation of the 14^th Dalai Lama, without interference from Beijing.
• The conference will also focus on the importance of Tibet to India as the bilateral relationship between Delhi and Beijing has been affected by China’s actions. (here)

India holds G20 briefing for G20 nation envoys in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

• India held a briefing for envoys from G20 nations in the A&N Islands as New Delhi prepares to assume the Presidency of the G20 on Dec 1^st, 2022.
• The briefing was held at Swaraj Deep, a part of the Islands on Nov 26^th.
• “Over 40 Missions and International Organizations participated in the program. They were given detailed briefings …on the substantive, operational and logistical aspects of various G20 interactions during India’s Presidency,” a press release by the MEA read.
• Discussions also looked at the state of play in the finance track deliberations.
• Foreign missions were also briefed about protocol, visas, security, and travel for the G20 Summit.
• The briefing also involved a series of cultural activities centered around the islands.
• Foreign envoys were briefed about the culture and history of the islands.
• Delegates also visited the historic Cellular Jail at Port Blair, where a large number of our unsung heroes were imprisoned for the cause of freedom struggle” the MEA added. (here)

“India’s strategic importance and leadership will only increase”: Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy

• Canada in its new Indo-Pacific strategy released on Sun highlighted plans to increase cooperation with India and committed to working towards a new trade agreement.
• The 26-page document states that the Indo-Pacific region will play a critical role in shaping Canada’s future over the next half-century.
• The document describes China as “an increasingly disruptive global power” and rebukes the ASIAN’s country for its disregard for international rules and norms.
• The document has a separate section on India and growing economic ties through deeper trade and investment, and cooperation in building resilient supply chains.
• It seeks to expand market access with India by concluding an Early Progress Trade Agreement as a step toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
• The strategy seeks to create a Canada-India desk within the Trade Commissioner to promote the implementation of the EPTA for businesses looking to the Indian market,
• Canada will start visa-processing capacity in New Delhi and Chandigarh and will support academic, educational, cultural, youth, and research exchanges. (ANI)

Operation ‘Octopus’ successful: Naxal stronghold of Burha Pahar falls to security forces

• ‘Operation Octopus’ – the joint operation launched by the Central Reserve Police Force and Jharkhand Jaguar in Sept 2022 to capture the heavily mined ‘Burha Pahar’ hilly range in seemingly successful.
• With security forces setting up their camps, the region is witnessing development.
• The development of infrastructure projects from road to electricity has been started.
• “The operation will continue until we completely dismantle Naxal infrastructure in the region,” officials said.
• The ‘Burha Pahar’ hilly forest terrain is spread over a 55 km² area bordering 3 states – Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Bihar, and was used as a corridor by Naxals led by Arvind.
• Attempts had been made in past to free the region from the Naxals but the security forces did not succeed in taking hold of the region. (here)
• Four Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces in the forest area of Bijapur district on Sat, the police said.
• Security forces received input about the presence of 30-40 Maoists in Pomra forest area under Mirtur police station. (here)

ISRO successfully launches PSLV C-54 rocket carrying Oceansat, customer nanosatellites

• The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched 9 satellites, including 8 nanosatellites Sriharikota on Sat.
• The Earth Observation Satellite-6, commonly known as Oceansat-3, was launched by a 44.4-m rocket with a lift-off mass of 321 tonnes.
• The satellite would ensure data continuity of ocean color and wind vector data to sustain operational applications.
• It will also improve the applications by allowing for more datasets such as sea surface temp and more bands in the optical region for fluorescence and in the infrared region for atmospheric corrections.
• The eight nanosatellites were created by commercial private firms as well as India and Bhutan in collaboration.
• The satellites are scheduled to separate within two hours of lift-off. (here)

President urged courts to help people languishing in jails for petty offences

• President Droupadi Murmu on Sat urged courts to help people languishing in jails for petty offenses who are not aware of their fundamental rights or fundamental duties that are laid down in Part IV-A of the Constitution.
• Attorney General for India R Venkatramani on Sat recommended the formation of a permanent law commission for legal reforms and said that govt should stop overloading courts with endless statutory appeals.

• Addressing a function held in the Supreme Court auditorium to celebrate Constitution day today, AG said, “We need a permanent law commission for legal reforms.”
• The Constitution day celebrations were inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi while President Droupadi Murmu will deliver the valedictory address.
• On Sat, the PM launched the Virtual Justice Clock, JustIS mobile App 2.0, Digital Court, and S3WaaS Websites.
• Virtual Justice Clock makes NJDG data accessible to the public.
• “The conversion of SC into a small causal court must stop,” he said. (here)

President Droupadi Murmu receives credentials from five envoys

• President Droupadi Murmu on Mon received credentials from foreign envoys of 5 nations at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• President received credentials from Md. Mustafizur Rahman, HC of Bangladesh; Mr. Ibrahim Shaheeb, HC of Maldives; and Dr. Abdulnasser Jamal Hussain Mohammed Alshaali, Ambassador of the UAE at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• She also received credentials from Juris Bone, Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia, and Suzuki Hiroshi, Ambassador of Japan. (here)

S&P lowers India FY23 GDP growth forecast, says ‘global slowdown to have less impact’

• S&P Global Ratings on Mon said a global slowdown will have less impact on domestic-demand-led economies such as India, but lowered its projection for FY23 GDP growth.
• The agency revised India’s GDP growth rate growth projections for the financial year 2022-23 lower by 30 basis points to 7% from 7.3% in its earlier forecast.
• India’s output will expand 7% in the fiscal year 2022-2023 and 6% in the next fiscal year,” S&P Global Ratings Asia-Pacific chief economist Louis Kuijs said.
• Subsequently, for FY24, GDP growth was downgraded by 50 basis points to 6%.
• Last week, Moody’s also ruled out a recession in the broader Asia Pacific region, especially India, but the global slowdown will impact growth. (here)
• Domestic indices made new lifetime closing highs on Mon led by heavyweight oil & gas stocks.
• The S&P BSE Sensex settled at 62,504.80, adding 211.16 points or 0.34%, and CNX Nifty50 closed at 18,562.80, increasing 50 points or 0.27% from the previous close.

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Protests erupt across China in unprecedented challenge to Xi Jinping’s zero-Covid policy

• China seen on Mon unprecedented dissent after thousands of demonstrators protested in cities across China over the weekend against the zero-Covid strategy.
• “Step down, Xi Jinping! Step down, Communist Party!” some protesters yelled among hundreds who gathered in the financial hub, Shanghai
• Shanghai where protests broke out following a deadly fire Thu at an apartment block in the far western region of Xinjiang, acts as a catalyst for searing public anger.
• The videos emerged that seemed to suggest lockdown measures delayed firefighters from reaching the victims.
• From Shanghai to the capital Beijing, residents gathered to grieve the 10 people killed in the blaze in Xinjiang’s capital Urumqi.
• On dozens of university campuses, students demonstrated or put up protest posters.
• Such widespread scenes of anger and defiance– some of which stretched into the early hours of Mon morning –are exceptionally rare in China
• As the ruling Communist Party ruthlessly cracks down on all expressions of dissent.
• Chinese stock markets and the yuan tumbled in early trade Mon amid concern about the govt’s potential response to the protests would be varied from city to city. (here)
• A BBC journalist, Edward Lawrence was assaulted and detained while covering a protest in China’s Shanghai. (BBC)

Taiwan president Ing-wen resigns as party leader after election loss

• Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has resigned as head of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party following local election losses suffered by her party.
• Tsai offered her resignation on Sat evening in a short speech in which she also thanked supporters.
• Voters in Taiwan overwhelmingly chose the opposition Nationalist party in which lingering concerns about threats from China took a backseat to more local issues.
• Tsai had spoken out many times about “opposing China and defending Taiwan” in the course of campaigning for her party.
• The party’s candidate Chen Shih-chung only raised the issue of the CCP threat a few times before he quickly switched back to local issues as there was little interest.
• There was also a referendum to lower the voting age from 20 to 18, which was defeated, according to local media. (here)

Days after border clash, Pakistan junior foreign minister to visit Afghanistan

• Pakistan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar will lead a high-level delegation to Afghanistan on Tue.
• Reports suggest that the inter-ministerial delegation will comprise officials from the Ministries of Finance, Commerce and FBR and Pakistan Airlines.
• FBR, (Federal Board of Revenue) is a Pakistani agency that probes tax crimes, suspicious accumulation of wealth, and money laundering.
• The minister will be meeting her Afghan counterpart Mullah Amir Khan Muttaqi during the trip that comes days after a border clash between the two sides. 
• The broader agenda of the visit includes talks on terrorism emanating from Afghan soil, border management, economic issues, trade issues, the return of Afghan refugees. 
• The Pakistani delegation is also expected to meet Afghanistan Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund. (here)

Former Pak PM Imran Khan calls off long march in Islamabad to avoid ‘chaos’ in nation

• Pakistan’s former PM Imran Khan has called off his long protest march in Islamabad, fearing it would cause havoc in the country. 
• Khan made his announcement on Sat in his first public appearance since he was attacked.
• Khan-led nationwide march, which was supposed to conclude in Islamabad, presented a high risk of escalating political unrest with an ongoing economic crisis.
• Imran Khan also announces PTI members will quit all assemblies
• Khan said that many security sources had informed him that his life was still in danger, Reuters reported.
• On Sat, instead of standing at the rostrum to address the audience, Khan entered the stage using a walking frame and sat behind bulletproof glass. (here)

Sri Lankan Tamil parties to push for autonomy in a new Constitution

• After being invited to negotiations by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the minority Tamil parties decided in a meeting to present a 3-point plan, including federalism.
• President proposed an all-party meeting next month to address the long-standing demand for political autonomy for the country’s minority community
• All Tamil political parties with bases in the East and North of the island nation met on Fri at the home of 89-year-old TNA leader R Sampanthan to advance federalism.
• The formula adopted calls for the holding of the postponed provincial council elections, devolution of power to Tamil areas in the creation of a new Constitution, and an end to what they describe as the State’s appropriation of Tamil lands.
• To end the long-running tussle, he said it was critical to foster trust between the Tamil minority and the majority Sinhalese. (here)

China announces to provide free fuel to farmers, fishermen in Sri Lanka

• China has announced to provide 10.6 million l of diesel free of cost to farmers and fishermen in Sri Lanka on Sun.
• “The 10.6 mn l of diesel donation by China will be provided free of cost to 1232,749 farmers for harvesting 342,266 hct paddy fields across in Maha season 2022/23 (20L/hct). To all the 3,796 fishing vessels below 40 feet in (1,000L/vessel),” the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka tweeted.
• Geo-Politik- China has been extensively taking interest in Sri Lanka as the report revealed that the CCP is investing in the sea-cucumber farms in Sri Lanka, that has the capability of boosting exercise performance and have anti-fatigue effects. (here)

 Myanmar grounds most of China-Pak built JF-17 jets

• The critical part of the JF-17 avionics is the China-made KLJ-7 Al radar, which has poor accuracy and maintenance problems, analysts say.
• “The aircraft does not even have an effective beyond-visual-range missile or airborne interception radar,” according to a report published in The Irrawaddy.
• Technical issues have grounded most of the JF-17 fighter jets that Myanmar had purchased from a China-Pakistan joint venture, creating a potential hurdle for the military axis between the 3 nations.
• The lightweight, multi-role combat aircraft have structural cracks and other technical issues and are unfit for service, the people cited earlier said. (here)