1. King of Bhutan to visit India from Nov 3 to 10, Weeks after boundary talks with China
2. FM Nirmala Sitharaman pitches for economic integration with Sri Lanka
3. PM Modi to inaugurate World Food India 2023 today (Fri)
4. ‘Mahua Moitra’s narrative’: BJP MP on charge against ethics panel, dramatic exit
5. “We see very difficult, turbulent times ahead”: EAM Jaishankar on global economy

What Else

6. MoS Muraleedharan meets Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth
7. Chinese vessel conducting research at Colombo Port consistent with international law: Embassy spokesperson
8. Pakistan: General elections to be held on Feb 11 next year
9. Myanmar military loses control of strategic border town
10. Philippines exits from Belt and Road
11. China and US set for first nuclear non-proliferation talks in years
12. China’s Confucius Institutes are disappearing from US campuses

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King of Bhutan to visit India from Nov 3 to 10, Weeks after boundary talks with China

• The King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck will pay an official visit to India from today (Nov 3 to 10).
• The King will be accompanied by the senior officials of the Royal Govt of Bhutan.
• The King will meet PM Modi during the visit, the MEA said in an official statement.
• Moreover, the “External Affairs Minister and senior officials of the Govt of India will call on His Majesty the King of Bhutan,” the statement said.
• The King will also visit Assam and Maharashtra during his official visit to India.
• He also visited India earlier this year, and PM Modi and the King garnered significant interest, especially given the heightened focus on the Doklam issue.
• The discussions between the two top leaders were hailed as “warm and productive,” and they produced a broad 5-point roadmap for advancing India’s “time-tested” ties.
• His visit would provide an opportunity for both sides to review the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation and to further advance the partnership, across sectors. (here)
• The trip comes weeks after China and Bhutan held the 25^th round of boundary talks in Beijing and signed a cooperation agreement on the “Responsibilities and Functions of the JTT on the Delimitation and Demarcation of the Bhutan-China Boundary”. (here)

FM Nirmala Sitharaman pitches for economic integration with Sri Lanka

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thu urged industry leaders for economic integration with Sri Lanka to mitigate the risk of the foreign exchange-driven crisis.
• Sitharaman assured India will continue to work closely with the island nation on debt restructuring discussions and extend support for its economic recovery.
• “… it is for us to make sure that both countries will have economic integration to avoid supply chain disruptions,” the minister said on Thu (here)

• Sitharaman Inaugurates SBI Branch in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka: Sitharaman, marked her official visit by inaugurating the State Bank of India branch in Trincomalee.
• The event was attended by several dignitaries, including the Governor of the Eastern Province, Gopal Baglay, India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, and Chairman of SBI.
• During the inaugural ceremony, Sitharaman acknowledged the remarkable legacy of the State Bank of India, which has been serving Sri Lanka for 159 years.
• It facilitated the smooth extension of a Line of Credit worth $1 billion from the GoI to Sri Lanka, further strengthening the bilateral relationship, supporting corporates engaged in international trade, and actively promoting remittances. (here)

PM Modi to inaugurate World Food India 2023 today (Fri)

• PM Modi will inaugurate the second edition of the Mega food event ‘World Food India 2023’ on Fri in Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan in the national capital.
• To strengthen Self Help Groups, the PM will disburse seed capital assistance for over one lakh SHG members.
• Prime Minister will also inaugurate ‘Food Street’ as part of World Food India 2023.
• It will feature regional cuisines and royal culinary heritage, wherein over 200 chefs will participate and present traditional Indian cuisine.
• The event aims to showcase India as the ‘food basket of the world’ and celebrate 2023 as the International Year of Millets. (here)
• .

‘Mahua Moitra’s narrative’: BJP MP on charge against ethics panel, dramatic exit

• Shortly after TMCMP Mahua Moitra walked out of the parliamentary Ethics Panel meeting on the cash-for-query matter, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said the MP had made her “own narrative” of the cross-examination session.
• Jai Dehadrai is a Supreme Court lawyer who, as per Nishikant Dubey, claimed to have “irrefutable” evidence of bribes being given to Moitra.
• Dubey’s statement came as several opposition leaders, including Moitra and BSP MP Danish Ali, walked out from the Committee meeting on Thu.
• The meeting was in connection with cash-for-query charges against Moitra, the Lok Sabha MP from West Bengal’s Krishnanagar.
• Dubey has now snubbed Moitra’s claims that the panel was shooting “filthy and undignified” questions at her. (here)

“We see very difficult, turbulent times ahead”: EAM Jaishankar on global economy

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thu characterized the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic followed by conflict in Ukraine on the global economy as “very traumatic” and predicted very “difficult and turbulent” times.
• He made the remarks at the Joint Secretary Session of the Senate’s External Affairs and Defence Commission, Rome.
• Jaishankar highlighted that numerous countries are grappling with financial crises and debt issues, further exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. (here)
• 7^th Oct was a “big act” of terrorism
• Conflict cannot be normal
• Terrorism is unacceptable, need to stand up
• There has to be solution for Palestinians, Restates a 2-state solution
• Intl humanitarian law must be respected by everybody
• Jaishankar holds talks with Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto: Jaishankar on Thu held talks with Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto here focused on taking forward the renewed defense and security partnership between the two countries. (here)

MoS Muraleedharan meets Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth

• Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Thu met Mauritius PM Pravind Jugnauth in Port Louis, and expressed gratitude to Mauritius for their active participation in G20 meetings as a special guest.
• Muraleedharan is on an official visit to Mauritius from Nov 1 to 2.
• The MoS on Thu represented India at the 189^th Anniversary ceremony of Indentured Labourers’ arrival in Mauritius.
• Mauritius is India’s key maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and occupies a special place in the PM’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region). (here)

Chinese vessel conducting research at Colombo Port consistent with international law: Embassy spokesperson

• Spox of the Chinese Embassy in India has said China’s scientific research vessel Shi Yan 6 conducting marine ‘scientific research’ activities at Colombo Port is consistent with international law and international customary practice.
• Spox said that Sri Lanka is a transportation hub in the Indian Ocean and vessels from various countries, including India and USA, have made port calls in Sri Lanka for refill.
• About reports regarding a Shi Yan 6 scheduled to be docked and India’s concerns about it, he said that they have SOP and have consulted many friends, including India.
• “So, as long as it complies with the SOP, we have no problem. But if it doesn’t comply with the SOP, we have a problem,” Ali Sabry told ANI.
• He said that Sri Lanka has not permitted the Chinese vessel Shi Yan 6 to dock during October, adding that negotiations are going on.
• “…. we have not been permitted to come to Sri Lanka during Oct. So, negotiations are going on. But, Indian security concerns, which are legitimate, are very, very important for us,” he added.
• Meanwhile, US Under Secretary Victoria Nuland during her meeting with Sri Lankan Sabry raised concerns regarding the upcoming visit of Shi Yan 6. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Pakistan: General elections to be held on Feb 11 next year

• Following the continuous appeals to announce the date for general elections, the Election Commission finally stated on Thu that general elections will be held on Feb 11 next year.
• The date was shared with the Supreme Court by the lawyer for the country’s poll body during the hearing of petitions calling for timely elections across the country
• The electoral body’s counsel, Sajeel Swati, said the process of drawing constituencies would be completed by Jan 29 paving the way for polls.
• This came as the apex court resumed hearing a set of petitions calling for holding elections within 90 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly.
• Pakistan has been dealing with political uncertainty since Imran Khan’s government was removed through a no-confidence motion in Apr 2022. (here)

Myanmar military loses control of strategic border town

• Myanmar’s military govt has lost control of Chinshwehaw, an important town on the border with China, following days of fighting with armed groups.
• In a significant setback for the military leaders who seized power from Myanmar’s elected govt in Feb 2021, they have struggled to quell opposition to their rule.
• Zaw Min Tun, a govt spox, said on Wed that “govt, administrative organizations, and security organizations are no longer present” in Chinshwehaw.
• More than 25% of Myanmar’s $1.8 billion border trade with China passed through Chinshwehaw from Apr to Sept, citing the Ministry of Commerce.
• This development follows days of conflict in northern Shan state, where the army has been engaged in battles with a coalition of 3 ethnic rebel groups known as the Brotherhood Alliance. (here)

Philippines exits from Belt and Road

• Philippine President Marcos Jr was among the 23 national leaders who attended last month’s BRI summit in Beijing, marking the 10^th anniversary of the $1 trillion project.
• At the event, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced close to $100 billion in new state policy bank financing for the initiative.
• In a white paper published last month, China maintained “the ultimate goal of the BRI is to help build a global community of shared future.”
• But the Philippines won’t be among the recipients of China’s shared future as Marcos Jr’s administration swerves decidedly away from China’s monied but troubled program.
• In a major development, Manila has announced the full termination of a series of big-ticket infrastructure projects with China in favor of Japanese and Western rivals. (here)

China and US set for first nuclear non-proliferation talks in years

• China and the US will discuss arms control and nuclear non-proliferation next week in the first talks of their kind in over 4 years.
• The Chinese delegation will be led by Sun Xiaobo, who leads the foreign ministry’s arms control department, Wang Wenbin, a spox of the ministry, told on Thu.
• The US will be represented by Mallory Stewart, the assistant secretary of state for arms control, verification, and compliance, according to the Wall Street Journal.
• The American office Stewart heads is responsible for providing oversight of other countries’ arms control commitments. (here)

China’s Confucius Institutes are disappearing from US campuses

• Almost all the China-funded Confucius Institutes in the US have closed, a new report found, highlighting how soured ties between Beijing and Washington have led US universities to abandon what was once seen as a cheap way to offer Chinese classes.
• All but five of the institutes, which were created in 2004 to promote Chinese language, are now closed, the Govt Accountability Office said.
• That is compared with 2019, when the GAO found 96 Confucius Institutes operating in 44 states.
• At the time, only six states had no colleges or universities with centers.
• The decision tracks with a sharp spike in tension between the US and China dating to the Trump administration that’s seen a rise in export controls, sanctions, tariffs, and repeated diplomatic incidents. (here)