1. Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander successfully separates from spacecraft
2. India confirms Ukraine will not take part in G20 Summit
3. India hands over Indian Navy Dornier aircraft to Sri Lanka Air Force
4. India sends 47,500 MT of wheat and 200 tonnes of medical aid to Afghanistan
5. China’s claim to Tibet ‘incorrect, bid to rewrite history’: Gen Naravane backs Tibetan freedom struggle

What Else

6. Indian PM Modi to travel to Indonesia in the first week of September
7. ‘Vindhyagiri’: President Murmu launches advanced stealth frigate for Indian Navy
8. Fugitive wanted by NIA in Jaipur gold smuggling case brought from Riyadh: CBI
9. Police verification of SIM dealers mandatory; bulk connections discontinued to curb frauds: Ashwini Vaishnaw
10. Chinese man makes football betting app, scams Indians of $168 million, flees to China
11. “India has rich history of traditional medicine…”: WHO chief at Gandhinagar summit
12. Pakistan: Interim PM Anwaarul Haq Kakar’s cabinet takes oath
13. Pakistan: Election delay all but certain as ECP decides to go for fresh delimitation
14. Chinese academics want Tibet to be known as Xizang to help ‘reconstruct’ image

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Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander successfully separates from spacecraft

• The Vikram lander of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft – which will attempt to make a soft landing on the moon– was successfully separated from the propulsion module Thu.
• The lander is set to descend to a slightly lower orbit on Fri around 4 pm
• Once it has safely landed, Vikram’s rover Pragyan will exit and explore the surface.
• The 26-kg vehicle, equipped with solar panels, will move at the speed of 1 cm/sec.
• Both Vikram and Pragyan are expected to function for one lunar day or 14 earth days,
• Thereafter, the lack of sunlight will cause the mission to lose power and the extreme cold of the lunar night will throttle its structure and equipment. (here)

India confirms Ukraine will not take part in G20 Summit

• In a meeting in New Delhi with international media, the minister revealed that India has invited 9 countries – Spain, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mauritius, Egypt, the Netherlands, Oman, Singapore, and UAE besides, member states.
• The minister recalled that PM Modi met on several occasions in the past with his Ukrainian counterpart and that the two maintain “strong” relations in various areas.
• He said the decision to not invite Ukraine was made because G20 stood for growth and development and not conflict resolution, which should be done at the UNSC
• Together they account for around 85 percent of global GDP, more than 75 percent of world trade, and around two-thirds of the world’s population. (here)

India hands over Indian Navy Dornier aircraft to Sri Lanka Air Force

• In a development highlighting strong bilateral ties and collaboration, the Indian Navy Dornier aircraft was officially handed over to the Sri Lanka Air Force on Wed.
• The event witnessed the transfer of the aircraft by the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, to Sagala Ratnayaka, the Chief of Staff and Senior NSA to the President
• This marks the 2^nd Dornier aircraft to be leased to the SLAF through a grant from India.
• The aircraft represents a considerable augmentation in Lanka’s surveillance capabilities.
• This addition to the SLAF’s existing fleet is anticipated to act as a force multiplier, substantially contributing to the nation’s security efforts.
• The operational readiness and capabilities of the Dornier aircraft are expected to play a crucial role in tackling shared security challenges within the region.
• With its advanced sensor technology, the Dornier equips the Sri Lanka Air Force to effectively protect its EEZ from maritime threats. (here)

India sends 47,500 MT of wheat and 200 tonnes of medical aid to Afghanistan

• The Indian govt sent the country 47,500 metric tonnes of wheat and 200 tonnes of medical aid along with assistance for drug addicts in Afghanistan.
• In the face of a humanitarian crisis and urgent appeals from UN agencies, India has reaffirmed its commitment to providing essential assistance to the Afghan people.
• Recognizing the gravity of the situation, India’s collaboration with the UN World Food Program has facilitated the internal distribution of wheat throughout Afghanistan.
• In the past, India has sent assistance overland Pakistan, but that has been marked by delays due to Islamabad’s reluctance to give early passage.
• About 200 tonnes of medical supplies, including essential medicines, Covid vaccines, anti-TB medicines, and various medical and surgical items, were dispatched. (here)

China’s claim to Tibet ‘incorrect, bid to rewrite history’: Gen Naravane backs Tibetan freedom struggle

• Underscoring Tibet’s struggle for independence from China, former Army chief Gen MM Naravane (r) said Wed that Tibetans world over have a legitimate right to return to the land of their forefathers and experience their culture and traditions.
• He was speaking at the 6^th International Rangzen (Independence) Conference at the India International Centre in Delhi.
• Those in attendance included Geshe Lharampa Bawa Lobsang Pende, representative of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, and Umit Hamit, a noted Uyghur freedom fighter.
• According to Gen. Naravane, there are 60 lakh Tibetans in Tibet while 1,40,000 are in exile, of which 1,00,000 are in India.
• The former chief said that the principled Panchsheel Agreement especially the mutual non-interference clause, has resulted in an unsure policy over the Chinese occupation.
• “Over the decades, China has fully occupied Tibet and made territorial and administrative changes that would transform the identity and culture.” (here)

Indian PM Modi to travel to Indonesia in the first week of September

• In a bid to fortify India’s active involvement in the ASEAN and to reinforce diplomatic bonds in the Indo-Pacific region, PM Modi is set to embark on a visit to Indonesia during the first week of Sept.
• The visit will see his participation in ASEAN-related summit meetings held in Jakarta, showcasing India’s commitment to regional collaboration and dialogue.
• Scheduled from Sept 6^th to 7^th, this visit will be PM Modi’s second trip to Indonesia within a year, his prior presence being in Nov 2022 at the G20 summit in Bali.
• Notably, the visit will happen just a day before New Delhi hosts the annual G20 summit from September 9^th-10^th.
• During his stay, PM Modi will participate in several key summits, including the East Asia Summit and the India-ASEAN Summit. (here)

‘Vindhyagiri’: President Murmu launches advanced stealth frigate for Indian Navy

• President Droupadi Murmu launched India’s newest warship ‘INS Vindhyagiri’ at the GRSE facility on the banks of Hooghly River in Kolkata, West Bengal on Thu.
• President Murmu arrived in Kolkata on Thu morning to inaugurate the advanced stealth frigate Vindhyagiri, the 6^th ship of the Project 17A Frigates, for the Navy.
• P17A ships are guided missile frigates, each 149 m long, with a displacement of approximately 6,670 tonnes and a speed of 28 knots, according to a GRSE official.
• These warships with improved stealth features, advanced weapons and sensors, and platform management and are capable of neutralizing threats in all 3 dimensions. (here)

Fugitive wanted by NIA in Jaipur gold smuggling case brought from Riyadh: CBI

• Mohabbat Ali, wanted by the NIA in connection with smuggling gold bars, has been brought back from Saudi Arabia, the Central Bureau of Investigation stated on Thu.
• An Interpol red notice was issued on Sept 13, 2021, on a request from NIA.
• The CBI statement said a case for conspiracy to smuggle gold bars from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia into India was registered against him by NIA.
• CBI has ensured the return of over 40 fugitives through extradition or deportation route with the help of Interpol over the last 2 years. (here)

Police verification of SIM dealers mandatory; bulk connections discontinued to curb frauds: Ashwini Vaishnaw

• The govt has made police verification of SIM card dealers mandatory and discontinued the provision of bulk connections to curb fraudulent activities, Minister said on Thu.
• The minister said that the govt has disconnected 52 lakh mobile connections, 67k dealers have been blacklisted, and 300 FIRs have been filed against them since May.
• The minister said WhatsApp on its own blocked around 66,000 accounts that were involved in fraudulent activities. (here)

Chinese man makes football betting app, scams Indians of $168 million, flees to China

• Police in the state of Gujarat in western India have unearthed a major scam perpetrated by a Chinese man who made an app and duped Indian users to the tune of $168 million.
• Woo Uyanbe, visited Gujarat and collaborated with local individuals to create a football betting app through which he later duped 1200 Indian users.
• Gujarat Police were alarmed by the scale of the operation.
• It formed a Special Investigation Team to find the mastermind. The investigators followed a trail that led them to Woo Uyanbe who was in China’s Shenzhen region.
• It has been reported in the media that the scam was run from Patan and Banaskantha in Gujarat.
• The huge scale of the scam means that Woo Uyanbe managed to steal $24 million/day.
• Those caught in the scam were aged 15-75 (here)

“India has rich history of traditional medicine…”: WHO chief at Gandhinagar summit

• Addressing the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit, which was inaugurated in Gandhinagar on Thu, WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it.
• “India has a rich history of traditional medicine through Ayurveda, including Yoga which has been shown to be effective in alleviating pain,” Tedros said.
• Tedros, who arrived in India on Wed, added that traditional medicines are being sought by countries to deal with non-communicable diseases, mental health, etc.
• Traditional medicine has made enough contributions to human health and has immense potential for overall wellness, Tedros said further. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Pakistan: Interim PM Anwaarul Haq Kakar’s cabinet takes oath

• President Arif Alvi on Thu administered oath to members of newly appointed caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar’s cabinet.
• According to a list of cabinet members issued by the Presidency, 16 federal ministers and 3 advisors to the caretaker PM took the oath.
• Federal ministers: Senator Sarfaraz Bugti; Jalil Abbas Jilani; Shamshad Akhtar; Lt Gen (r) Anwar Ali Hyder; Murtaza Solangi; Sami Saeed; Shahid Ashraf Tarar; Ahmad Irfan Aslam; Muhammad Ali; Gohar Ejaz; Umar Saif; Nadeem Jan; Khalil George; Aneeq Ahmad; Jamal Shah; and Madad Ali Sindhi.
• Advisers to PM: Air Marshal (r) Farhat Hussain Khan; Ahad Khan Cheema; and Waqar Masood Khan (here)
• Jailed separatist leader Yasin Malik’s wife Mushaal Hussein Mullick will be part of Kakar’s caretaker cabinet, as Special Assistant to the PM on Human Rights.
• Yasin Malik married Mushaal, an alumnus of the London School of Economics, in 2009 and the couple has a 10-year-old daughter (here)

Pakistan: Election delay all but certain as ECP decides to go for fresh delimitation

• The Election Commission on Thu decided to conduct fresh delimitation, making it almost certain that elections may not be held within the specified limit of 90 days
• Earlier, the CCI approved the results of the 2023 digital census, making it compulsory for the ECP to conduct fresh delimitation — a process that will take nearly four months.
• The development was followed by the premature dissolution of the National Assembly and the farewell of the Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition govt on Aug 9.
• Article 224 of the Constitution binds the electoral body to conduct general elections within 90 days of the dissolution.
• Meanwhile, Section 17(2) of the Elections Act reads, “The commission shall delimit constituencies after every census is officially published.”
• Earlier, an ECP told that the requirement of Article 224 and the legal obligation of conducting delimitation were being thoroughly examined by the body.
• PTI, PPP oppose ECP decision (here)

Chinese academics want Tibet to be known as Xizang to help ‘reconstruct’ image

• ‘Academics’ have called for Beijing to use the Chinese name for Tibet – Xizang – when referring to the autonomous region in English to help “reconstruct” its image.
• The call came during an official seminar on Tibet that was held in Beijing from Mon to Wed, according to a report on Tongzhan Xinyu, (WeChat by the United Front Work Department, which oversees ethnic and minority affairs).
• “To establish China’s dominant position in the international discourse related to Tibet, there is an urgent need for an English translation of ‘Tibet’ that can accurately describe China’s position,” Wang Linping, a professor at HBEU of Marxism
• He claimed the use of the name Tibet had “seriously misled the international community” over the “geographical scope” of the region.
• Wang said the region should instead be referred to as Xizang – the pinyin, or Chinese romanisation of Mandarin script for Tibet.
• According to the report, when “Tibet” is used outside China, it “includes not only Tibet but also covers areas in Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu and Yunnan provinces”.
• “This overlaps greatly with the so-called Greater Tibet long advocated by the 14th Dalai Lama,” the report said. (here)