1. Assembly Elections 2023: Mizoram CM Zoramthanga Casts His Vote; Blast by Naxals in Sukma Chhattisgarh
2. ‘Preventing escalation important’: PM, Iran President discuss Israel-Hamas war
3. India, Bhutan agree on new initiatives to bolster trade, connectivity
4. Malaysian FM arrives in India to strengthen ties; Several documents to be signed
5. India’s 1st 100% FDI in defense project cleared: Sweden’s Saab to manufacture Carl-Gustaf M4

What Else

• Philippines Looking at Japan, India for Railway Funding Deals
• 2^nd Consignment of relief Materials from India arrives in Quake-Hit Nepal
• India blocks 22 illegal betting apps and websites amidst political chaos in poll-bound state
• China, Australia can become ‘trusting’ partners, Xi Jinping says
• China trade: exports continue slide in October, adding to economic woes, but imports surprise
• US ‘happy to help’ countries fearing China’s economic coercion: State Department
• Pak Army officer, 3 soldiers martyred in intelligence-based operation in Khyber district: ISPR
• ‘Should think of consequences …’: Taliban warns Pakistan against ‘cruel’ treatment of Afghans
• Bangladesh: BNP announces fresh 48-hour blockade from Wed

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Assembly Elections 2023: Mizoram CM Zoramthanga Casts His Vote; Blast by Naxals in Sukma Chhattisgarh

• Mizoram and Chhattisgarh residents have queued up to cast their votes for assembly elections as polling began at 7 am on Tue.
• Early morning visuals showed polling officers preparing at 19-Aizawl Venglai-I YMA Hall voting station, under the Aizawl North-II assembly constituency.
• Meanwhile, pictures from Chhattisgarh showed a ‘rainbow’ themed polling station in the Kanker district to ensure the active participation of the third gender in the process.
• Chhattisgarh is all set to the polling for the high-octane assembly elections on Tue.
• In the first phase, 20 out of 90 constituencies in Chhattisgarh will witness voting across 5,304 polling booths.
• The 20 seats that will go to polls today include seven districts of the Naxal-affected Bastar division and 4 other districts.
• One jawan of CRPF CoBRA Battalion was injured in an IED blast triggered by Naxals in the Tondamarka area of Sukma.
• The jawan was deployed for election duty: Sukma SP Kiran Chavan (here)

‘Preventing escalation important’: PM, Iran President discuss Israel-Hamas war

• PM Modi and Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi on Mon exchanged views on the “difficult situation” in the West Asia region, with the PM expressing deep concern at the “terrorist incidents, violence and loss of civilian lives”.
• The two leaders stressed the need to prevent escalation, ensure continued humanitarian aid, and early restoration of peace and stability, a statement issued by the PMO said.
• In his telephonic conversation with Raisi, Modi also reiterated India’s longstanding and consistent position on the Israel-Palestine issue.
• Modi’s conversation with Raisi is part of his ongoing dialogue with top leaders of the region in the wake of the escalation in violence in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
• The two leaders also reviewed and positively assessed progress in multifaceted bilateral cooperation and welcomed the focus and priority accorded to the Chabahar Port. (here)
• India must “use all its capacities” to end Israel’s attack on Gaza, Iran’s President tells PM Modi says Iranian readout
• PM Modi has so far spoken to leaders of Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, UAE, and Iran on West Asia crisis
• “Gaza Strip cut into two”, says Israeli military amid “significant strikes”: The Israeli Army said on Sunday that “significant strikes” are being carried out and the Gaza Strip has been “cut into two”. (here)
• Iran FM writes to BRICS nations, calls for halt to attacks on Gaza: Iran Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has written a letter to the BRICS countries, including India, urging them to call for a halt in the attacks on the Gaza strip. (here)
• Jordan’s PM Bisher Khasawneh says attempts to ‘displace’ Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank would be ‘a red line’ and his country would consider it a ‘declaration of war’.
• Blinken arrives in Turkey for another key meeting amid Israel-Hamas conflict: Hours after an unannounced stop in Iraq, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Turkey in the early hours of Mon to hold a key diplomatic meeting.
• Turkey happens to be his last stop in the region before heading to Asia.
• Notably, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been immensely critical of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, calling the actions “crimes against humanity” and saying this weekend he was suspending communications with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
• Turkey has also recalled its ambassador to Israel for “consultation”.
• Blinken has traveled to Israel, Jordan, the West Bank, Cyprus, and Iraq so far as part of his whirlwind diplomatic trip. (here)

India, Bhutan agree on new initiatives to bolster trade, connectivity

• India and Bhutan on Mon agreed on several new initiatives in trade, technology, and cross-border connectivity, including a survey for the first rail link between the 2 sides to be built with Indian support.
• The measures were agreed on during a meeting between PM Modi and visiting Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who is on a week-long trip to the country.
• The visit comes against the backdrop of reports of China and Bhutan inching towards an agreement to settle their disputed boundary.
• Modi assured Wangchuck of India’s commitment to its friendship and cooperation with Bhutan and reiterated the country’s “continued and full support to the socio-economic development in Bhutan”, according to a joint statement.
• Indian Railways has already completed the preliminary engineering-cum-traffic survey for the 57-km Kokrajhar-Gelephu rail link, which will be built with Indian support.
• To strengthen trade infrastructure, the two sides agreed to upgrade the existing land customs station at Dadgiri in Assam into an integrated checkpost with India’s support and to develop facilities at Gelephu on the Bhutanese side.
• they decided to designate the Haldibari (West Bengal)-Chilahati (Bangladesh) rail link as an additional route for Bhutan’s trade with Bangladesh. (here)
• Also, Consider concessional financing for skill development, provide bridge financing for a 5-year project, strengthen trade infrastructure and facilities, enhance environmental conservation collaboration, allocate more MBBS seats for Bhutan students in Assam and double the Ambassador’s scholarship outlay.

Malaysian FM arrives in India to strengthen ties; Several documents to be signed

• Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir arrived in the national capital for his first India visit in the late hours of Sun and received a warm welcome.
• The visit scheduled from Nov 5-8 is aimed at strengthening the Enhanced Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
• The visit will strengthen the Enhanced Strategic Partnership between the two countries,” Ministry of External Affairs posted on X.
• Kadir will co-chair the 6^th India-Malaysia Joint Commission Meeting with S Jaishankar on whose invitation he has made his first India visit on Nov 7 in the national capital.
• “the progress of Enhanced Strategic Partnership with Malaysia in the areas of political, defense, security, economic, trade and investment, health, science and technology, culture, tourism, and people-to-people ties,” the MEA said in a statement.
• The official itinerary for the visit includes a sit-down with Vice President Dhankhar on Tue, followed by a meeting with Jaishankar at the Hyderabad House. (here)

India’s 1st 100% FDI in defense project cleared: Sweden’s Saab to manufacture Carl-Gustaf M4

• India has approved its first 100% FDI in the defense sector, permitting Sweden’s Saab to establish a facility for rocket manufacturing.
• The FDI proposal, valued at less than Rs 500 crore, was given the green light last month.
• India currently allows up to 74% FDI in the defense sector through the automatic route, with clearances beyond that available on a case-by-case basis.
• Despite relaxed clearance rules in 2015, no foreign company had previously received approval for 100%FDI in defense.
• A new company, Saab FFV India, has been registered to produce the latest generation of the Carl-Gustaf M4 system, with the facility likely to be located in Haryana. (here)

Philippines Looking at Japan, India for Railway Funding Deals

• The Philippines is looking at Japan and India for alternative financing deals after dropping Chinese loans as a funding source for 3 railway projects valued at $5 billion
• Diokno said he expects negotiations for the new financing deals to conclude by the first quarter.
• Partnering with multilateral lenders is also an option, he said.
• Manila has said it will no longer pursue Chinese financing for the first phase of the 100-km Mindanao Railway Project as well as for the Subic-Clark freight railway. (here)
• Japan, South Korea, and India have offered to finance 3 Philippine railway projects worth nearly $5 billion, the country’s transport chief said on Mon (here)

2^nd  Consignment of relief Materials from India arrives in Quake-Hit Nepal

• A 2^nd consignment of 9 tonnes of emergency relief materials from India arrived in Nepal on Mon for the quake-affected families in the NW region as a fresh tremor struck.
• Nepal was jolted by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake just before midnight on Fri that killed 153 people and injured over 250 others.
• The earthquake, which hit Jajarkot and Rukum West districts in western Nepal, also damaged around 8,000 houses, both public and private, according to officials.
• India has become the first respondent to the earthquake-hit districts in Nepal.
• The relief materials include 625 units of plastic tarpaulin and tents, 1,000 units of sleeping bags, 1,000 blankets, 70 large-size tents, 35 packets of tent accessories, medicines, and 48 other articles, officials said. (here)

India blocks 22 illegal betting apps and websites amidst political chaos in poll-bound state

• In a major crackdown on illegal betting syndicates, India on Sun issued blocking orders for 22 apps and websites.
• One of the banned apps is the Mahadev Online betting platform, which has also been at the center of political controversy in Chhattisgarh, where elections are due.
• Chief Minister, Bhupesh Baghel was earlier accused of receiving Rs 508 crore  Indian rupees from the promoters of the Mahadev Online app.
• The action by the GoI comes hot on the heels of an ongoing investigation by India’s prime economic intelligence agency, ED, against the illegal betting app syndicate.
• So far, the ED has arrested 4 persons and seized assets worth over Rs 450 crore in proceeds of crime. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

China, Australia can become ‘trusting’ partners, Xi Jinping says

• Chinese President Xi Jinping told Australian PM Anthony Albanese Mon that their countries could become “trusting partners”, pledging to work with Canberra on everything from regional security to climate change.
• Beijing is Canberra’s biggest trading partner, but relations plummeted in 2020 after Canberra barred Chinese tech giant Huawei from 5G contracts.
• A furious Beijing then slapped punitive tariffs on a slew of Australian commodities including coal, barley, and wine as the relationship descended into a deep freeze.
• But China has reversed course since Albanese took power in May last year, lifting most of its restrictions on Australian goods and saying it wants “healthy and stable” ties.
• Xi said the two countries had “no fundamental conflict of interests”. (here)

China trade: exports continue slide in October, adding to economic woes, but imports surprise

• China’s exports continued to decline in Oct, underlining persistent weak external demand and increased uncertainty over the precarious overall economic recovery, while imports surprised the market by bouncing back to growth.
• Exports fell for a 6^th consecutive month in Oct, dropping by 6.4% from a year earlier to US$274.8 billion, the General Administration of Customs said on Tue.
• The decline widened from a contraction of 6.2% in Sept, missing surveyed expectations of a 3.8% drop, according to Chinese financial data provider Wind.
• Imports, meanwhile, grew by 3% last month to US$218.3 billion, up from a 6.2% decline in Sept, and exceeding expectations from Wind for a drop of 4.7%. (here)

US ‘happy to help’ countries fearing China’s economic coercion: State Department

• ‘Happy to help’ is the message the admin of US President Joe Biden seeks to convey to countries pondering actions in their interest but fearful about incurring Beijing’s wrath.
• The US is “more than happy” to share “what we know about Beijing’s playbook” on economic coercion, according to a senior State Department official on Mon.
• “Our doors are open. You are not alone. We are always ready to serve as a resource,” said Melanie Hart, a senior adviser for China and the Indo-Pacific in the office of the under-secretary of state for economic growth, energy, and the environment.
• Hart’s remarks came at the launch of a report titled “Investigating China’s Economic Coercion: The reach and role of Chinese corporate entities” held at the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank. (here)

Pak Army officer, 3 soldiers martyred in intelligence-based operation in Khyber district: ISPR

• A Pakistan Army Col and 3 soldiers were martyred in an intelligence-based operation in the Tirah area of KP’s Khyber, the military’s media affairs wing said on Mon.
• According to the army media wing ISPR, security forces conducted an IBO in Tirah on the reported presence of terrorists.
• During the operation, Pakistan Army troops — led by Lt Col Muhammad Hassan Haider — “effectively engaged the terrorists’ location”.
• As a result, 3 militants were “sent to hell” while 3 others were injured, the ISPR said.
• On Fri, 17 security personnel were martyred in an ambush, bomb blasts, and security operations in Gwadar, Dera Ismail Khan, and Lakki Marwat.
• There were 99 attacks across the country, the highest number in a single month since Nov 2014, the report said. (here)
• [Despite such horrific incidents, Pak media have consistently been busy with Israel’s operation]

‘Should think of consequences …’: Taliban warns Pakistan against ‘cruel’ treatment of Afghans

• Taliban have issued a stern warning to Pakistan over its treatment of Afghan refugees amid Islamabad’s sweeping anti-migrant crackdown.
• The Taliban-ruled Afghanistan has asked Pakistan not to be “cruel” to the Afghans leaving the country.
• The statement comes after Pakistan’s caretaker govt asked all undocumented refugees to leave the country, including nearly 1.7 million Afghans.
• The decision by Pakistan sent ties with the Taliban plunging to an all-time low, with Kabul describing it as “unacceptable”.
• “The regime in Pakistan should not be cruel to the Afghans, not seize their personal property and assets,” Tolo News quoted acting dy def min, Mohammed Yaqoob Mujahid
• The minister said that Afghanistan will attempt with all its capacity to prevent such treatment of its citizens and won’t allow anyone to seize and steal their property (here)

Bangladesh: BNP announces fresh 48-hour blockade from Wed

• Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the senior joint secretary general, announced the program at a virtual press briefing this afternoon.
• Today is the second day of the 48-hour countrywide blockade called by BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.
• The parties previously enforced a 72-hour blockade starting Oct 31, following the violence centering BNP’s rally on Oct 28. (here)
• Crude bomb-like objects found at DU washroom: 2 crude bomb-like objects were recovered from a washroom on the ground floor at Dhaka University’s Faculty of Arts building on Tue morning.
• Members of a special action group of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s CTTC unit recovered the two objects around 10:15 am, our DU correspondent reports.
• Nur Mohammad, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Station, confirmed. (here)