1. Joshimath Sinking: PM Modi speaks to Uttarakhand CM Dhami, assures all possible help
2. Pak-origin pistol, assault rifles seized by forces in massive arms cache recovery in J&K
3. Himachal Pradesh cabinet expansion: Vikramaditya Singh, 6 other MLAs take oath
4. Jaishankar lauds Indian youths for “connecting India to the world” at 17th PBD Convention
5. Sixth India-US forum to be held in Delhi from Jan 13-14

What Else

6. Goyal to visit US from Jan 9-11, to participate in 13th India-US Trade Policy Forum
7. Army starts training its 1^st batch of 19,000 Agniveers — hi-tech simulators, ethos
8. UK vessel HMS Tamar docks at Andaman & Nicobar Islands, crew to conduct exercise with Indian Navy
9. Ahead of Bharat Jodo entering J&K, 17 Ghulam Nabi Azad loyalists rejoin Congress
10. CJI to be conferred with ‘Award for Global Leadership’ by Harvard Law School Center
11. Hidden Chinese tracking device ‘found in UK Govt car’ sparks national security fears
12. China ends ‘zero-Covid’ policy, reports no deaths, but viral images, videos tell another tale
13. Chinese scientists develop laser-powered drone to stay aloft ‘forever’
14. Top engineers and scientists dying at an unprecedented rate in China after lifting of Covid controls
15. Chen Song, resumes as 22^nd Ambassador to Nepal
16. Pakistan: Govt to complete terms of IMF program, vows PM Shehbaz
17. Establishment hasn’t learnt from past, political engineering still under way: Imran
18. TTP chief says ‘open to guidance’ from Ulema on group’s violent campaign
19. Melting glaciers of Tibetan plateau may impact regional security in South Asia: Report

Joshimath Sinking: PM Modi speaks to Uttarakhand CM Dhami, assures all possible help

• PM Modi has assured all possible help to save Joshimath, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Sun, in a telephone conversation
• PM took stock of the situation and asked about the steps being taken to rehabilitate the affected families.
• Dhami, in a tweet, added, “The situation in Joshimath is being analyzed. We’ll also see if other mountainous towns have achieved their toleration limit.”
• The PM’s Office, meanwhile, held a high-level meeting to take stock of the situation.
• The appearance of cracks on many roads and houses across Joshimath, due to land subsidence, is neither a new phenomenon in this region — nor a reversible one.
• The main problem has been the fact that the town has come up on relatively loose soil, deposited by landslides triggered by earthquakes.
• Joshimath has been declared a landslide-subsidence zone and over 60 families have been evacuated to temporary relief centers while 90 are yet to be.
• Out of 4,500 buildings in Joshimath and 610 of these have developed cracks (here)

Pak-origin pistol, assault rifles seized by forces in massive arms cache recovery in J&K

• The J&K police recovered a massive cache of arms, made in Pakistan after 2 terrorists trying to infiltrate the borders were neutralized by the armed forces in the morning.
• Arms include assault rifles, pistols, and magazines, apart from currency, night-vision goggles, binoculars, and phone chargers, in the backdrop of targeted killings.
• The assault rifles include AK-56 and AK-47 and according to the reports, the terrorists were planning a bigger attack.
• In the last 10 days, two infiltration bids have been foiled by the security forces in J&K.
• The recoveries indicate that they were here to camp and establish their base before committing terror activities. (here)
• Indian Army conducts search operation in J&K ahead of Republic Day
• Srinagar likely to host G20 event: Official: J&K administration is making “advance arrangements” as Srinagar is likely to host one of the G20 events in May.
• “As part of India holding the presidency of the G20, several events are going to be held in mid-May but dates have not been fixed yet,” PTI reported.
• It is added that the administration was cleaning up the city as it will go a long way in boosting tourism, and at the same time clearing the misgivings about the valley. (here)

Himachal Pradesh cabinet expansion: Vikramaditya Singh, 6 other MLAs take oath

• A month after Congress returned to power in HP, after defeating BJP in Assembly elections, the much-awaited expansion of the state cabinet took place on Sun.
• The swearing-in ceremony of the new ministers took place at the Raj Bhavan.
• A total of 7 MLAs, including Vikramaditya Singh – son of former CM, took oath as cabinet ministers in the presence of CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
• Besides Singh, Harshwardhan Chauhan, Jagat Singh Negi, Rohit Thakur, Dhani Ram Shandil, Chandra Kumar, and Anirudh Singh took oath as cabinet ministers.
• Chief Minister and Dy CM Mukesh Agnihotri were sworn in on Dec 11. (here)
• Diesel gets costlier in Himachal Pradesh as the govt increases VAT by Rs 3.

Jaishankar lauds Indian youths for “connecting India to the world” at 17^th PBD Convention

• EAM S Jaishankar on Sun lauded Indian youths for “connecting India to the world” at the 17^th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
• Jaishankar said that India has the largest diaspora in the world.
• He said that the country’s relationship with 34 million people of Indian origin is what brings us here.
• Speaking about the changes in India, he highlighted MADAD an e-portal that will help Indian citizens living abroad to file consular grievances.
• He also showed his pleasure over Australian MP Zaneta Mascarenhas who attended the Youth Pravasi Bhartiya Divas.
• Speaking at the event MP said, “Indian community is the fastest-growing diaspora in Australia. PM Anthony Albanese is looking to visit India later this year.” (here)
• In his address, Malaysian Human Resources Minister Sivakumar Varatharaju Naidu on Sun expressed hope that strong trade relations between the two would continue.
• PM Modi will be in Indore on Mon to attend the ongoing 3-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

Sixth India-US forum to be held in Delhi from Jan 13-14

• The 6^th India-US Forum is scheduled to take place in New Delhi from Jan 13-14
• The forum will be addressed by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and US Secretary of state Antony Blinken, among other top officials from the two sides.
• The meet will be convened by Ananta Centre and India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
• Conversations are under the Chatham House Rules and the main discussions of this year will cover the Indo-Pacific, Russia-Ukraine, Afghan-Pak relations, defense production, emerging tech, data governance, and G20 among others. (here)

Piyush Goyal to visit US from Jan 9-11, to participate in 13^th India-US Trade Policy Forum

• Union Minister of Commerce Piyush Goyal will be on an official visit to New York and Washington DC from Jan 9-11 to participate in India – US Trade Policy Forum.
• In the first leg of the visit, he will interact with CEOs of reputed multinational enterprises, and join roundtable meetings with business leaders and think tanks in NY.
• He will attend the 13^th TPF meeting in Washington on Jan 11^th, 2023.
• Before delegation-level talks, he will also hold one-to-one meetings with USTR Ambassador Katherine Tai. (here)

Army starts training its 1st batch of 19,000 Agniveers — hi-tech simulators, ethos crash course

• More than 19000 Agniveers of the Indian Army have begun training at nearly 40 centers across in specially curated courses, which involve a heavy focus on simulation.
• (Sources)- the training methodology and infrastructure were adapted to meet the dual requirement of future-ready soldiers and the short duration of the engagements.
• The training, which began on Jan 1, involves both Basic and Advanced military programs that have been optimized to a standard 24 to 31 weeks.
• A large number of simulators for training on varied weapons and equipment are being established and infrastructure creation and staffing of specialists in sports medicine and physiotherapy are being carried out as a pre-emptive measure for possible stress injuries at all training centers.
• “All these layers will ensure that adequate discipline and ethos is imparted to an Agniveer in his four years of employment,” a source said. (here)

UK vessel HMS Tamar docks at Andaman & Nicobar Islands, crew to conduct exercise with Indian Navy

• The UK’s HMS Tamar, an offshore patrol vessel of the Royal Navy, docked at the strategic Islands Fri as part of its permanent deployment in the Indo-Pacific region.
• The ship and her crew will undertake capability demonstrations and maritime exercises with the Indian Navy, the British High Commission said in a statement.
• Describing the opportunity to engage with the Indian Navy as “hugely valuable”, First Sea Lord Admiral Ben Key said
• The HMS Tamar has a top speed of 20+ knots, can accommodate a maximum crew of 60, and has a range of 5,500 nautical miles. (here)

Ahead of Bharat Jodo entering J&K, 17 Ghulam Nabi Azad loyalists rejoin Congress

• The Democratic Azad Party is threatening to divide the secular votes and benefit BJP, 17 key Congress fellows who had quit along with Ghulam Nabi Azad returned on Fri.
• Terming their decision to leave Congress as a blunder based on the “friendship of a person” and apologized, a move that marks a setback for Azad.
• The 17 leaders, led by ex-deputy CM and former state Congress chief joined the party in the presence of AICC state in-charge Rajani Patil. (here)

CJI Chandrachud to be conferred with ‘Award for Global Leadership’ by Harvard Law School Center

• Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud has been selected for the “Award for Global Leadership” by the Harvard Law School Center in recognition of his lifetime service to the legal profession.
• The award will be presented to him at an online event on Jan 11.
• Chandrachud obtained an LLM degree and a Doctorate in Juridical Sciences (SJD) from the Harvard Law School in the United States.
• At the event, professor David Wilkins of the Harvard Law School will also have a conversation with the CJI. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Hidden Chinese tracking device ‘found in UK Government car’ sparks national security fears

• A hidden Chinese tracking device was found in a UK Govt car after intelligence officials stripped back vehicles in response to growing concerns over spyware, i has been told.
• At least 1 SIM card capable of transmitting location data was discovered in a sweep of Govt and diplomatic vehicles which uncovered “disturbing things”.
• The device had been placed into a vehicle inside a sealed part imported from a supplier in China and installed by the vehicle manufacturer.
• Chinese officials dismissed the revelations as “groundless and sheer rumor”, adding: “We are firmly opposed to political manipulation.”
• The cars are used to transport Government ministers and diplomats.
• Cars have been “dismantled surgically down to the last nut and bolt” by intelligence workers and “rather disturbing things” have been found, the officer said.
• i (source)- “It [the tracking SIMs] gives the ability to survey government over months and years, constantly filing movements, building up a rich picture of activity. (here)

China ends ‘zero-Covid’ policy, reports no deaths, but viral images, videos tell another tale

• China opens its borders as an end to its ‘zero-Covid’ policy ahead of the Chinese new year on Jan 22.
• But satellite images shared by Damien Symon, show piles of bodies at crematoriums and long queues of vehicles carrying corpses are going viral.
• This is even though China has officially reported only two new deaths due to Covid in the mainland on Jan 7, along with three deaths a day earlier.
• The official all-time death toll in China, as reported to the WHO stands at 32, 792.
• It’s not just larger cities of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou that are affected, citizens of the deceased in 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th-tier cities revealed that local hospitals and crematoriums are also overcrowded – Voice of America.
• China’s neighboring countries are also worried about the escalating situation.
• The Korean Disease Control Agency data obtained by The Washington Post shows a 23.2% infection rate for short-term visitors from China to Korea from Jan 2 to 6. (here)

Chinese scientists develop laser-powered drone to stay aloft ‘forever’

• A team of researchers in northwest China says it has developed a way to use high-energy laser beams, not to destroy drones but to keep them in the air “forever”.
• Many countries, including China, are developing powerful laser systems as anti-drone weapons.
• But Professor Li Xuelong and his colleagues from Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) approached the drone-laser relationship from another angle.
• The research team says it has cracked the problem of keeping drones in the air for extended periods which has limited their use, until now
• The system uses a laser beam to power an optics-driven drone remotely by converting light energy into electricity (here)

Top engineers and scientists dying at an unprecedented rate in China after lifting of Covid controls

• More senior Chinese engineers and scientists have died in less than a month than typically die in a year following the govt’s decision to lift Covid controls.
• The Chinese Academy of Engineering said on its website that 20 members had died between December 15 and January 4.
• This compares with an average of 16 deaths a year between 2017 and 2021 and 13 deaths in 2021.
• The Chinese Academy of Engineering reported that 20 members have died in less than a month, compared with an average annual death rate of 16
• One doctor in Beijing said academy members usually have privileged access to healthcare, but now there are no beds available to treat them
• The academy has more than 900 members who have been involved in all country’s mega-projects, including the 3 Gorges dam, high-speed rail network etc. (here)

Chen Song, resumes as 22^nd Ambassador to Nepal

• Chen Song, who arrives in Nepal on Sun, resumed his assignment on Mon.
• Chen is a familiar face in Nepal’s diplomatic circles as he has in the past been a part of several meetings with Nepali officials.
• Chen’s arrival in Nepal was delayed after he and his wife got infected with Covid-19.
• China had proposed Chen, one of its senior diplomats, as the new ambassador to Nepal in Nov.
• He replaces Hou Yanqi, who has already returned to China after completing her 4-year tenure in Oct. (here)

Pakistan: Govt to complete terms of IMF program, vows PM Shehbaz

• PM Sharif on Sat said he had expressed his govt’s resolve to complete the terms of the IMF program, in a conversation with the lender’s managing director yesterday.
• The telephone conversation comes as Pakistan’s economy is increasingly febrile, with foreign exchange reserves amounting to fewer than 3 weeks of imports.
• PM said “I also explained Pakistan’s economic difficulties, especially after the devastating floods. IMF delegation will come to Pakistan soon.”
• The statement comes a day after he said an IMF delegation would come to Pakistan in “2-3 days” to finalize the 9^th review of Pakistan’s $7bn Extended Fund Facility (EFF).
• Pakistan entered a $6 bn IMF program in 2019, which was increased to $7bn last year.
• The 9^th review, which would release $1.18bn, is currently pending.
• A delegation of the IMF will meet Fin Min Dar on the sidelines of the upcoming Geneva conference to “discuss outstanding issues”, the lender’s spokesperson said on Sun. (here)
• The IMF on Sun said that a call between Georgieva and the PM took place at the request of later – a statement that indicates Islamabad has not refrained from doing politics despite nearing default. (here)

Establishment hasn’t learnt from past, political engineering still under way: Imran

• PTI Chairman Imran Khan said on Sun that the establishment had not learned from past mistakes as “political engineering” was still underway in the country.
• Addressing a women workers convention in Karachi via video link, Imran reiterated that the PTI desired free and fair elections.
• Once that happens, a new govt will come if political engineering is not carried out, he said.
• “I fear that unfortunately, our establishment has not learned from the past,” he said as he pointed to the rumored merger of the MQM’s factions and BAP are joining the PPP.
• Imran alleged that similar efforts were afoot to bring the PML-N into power in Punjab while a “different game” was being played in KP“ — all to weaken the PTI. (here)

TTP chief says ‘open to guidance’ from Ulema on group’s violent campaign

• Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud, chief of the TTP, has said that his group is “open to guidance” from Pak’s religious scholars if they believe “the direction of our jihad” is wrong.

• A video message addressed to the religious scholars sought to justify the TTP’s violent campaign against “the international agenda of infidel forces” which started post 9/11
• Mehsud while addressing Ulema said if you believe we are right but can’t support us then called us the enemy, not terrorists or misguided.
• “We will consider your silence as our support.”
• The video came amid an uptick in terrorist violence in the country with the govt ruling out the resumption of dialogs which publicly tore up a ceasefire in Nov, last year. (here)

Melting glaciers of Tibetan plateau may impact regional security in South Asia: Report

• Melting glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau can result in excess water in some places and shortages in others, says a report in Hamrakura.
• The melting of glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau could impact regional security.
• Water-related problems are growing rapidly and changes in the water supply will impact Asia’s water security due to climate change in future.
• There is no clear consensus among nations on how to tackle and mitigate the effects of natural disasters that affect infrastructure and agriculture, according to Hamrakura.
• As most of the nations of South Asia, particularly low-lying riparian countries depend on shared water resources for development, food, and drinking water. (here)