1. President Murmu gives assent to three new criminal laws, Telecommunication Act
2. J-K: Additional forces deployed in Poonch as search for terrorists continues in Rajouri
3. MV Chem Pluto: Indian Navy desploys 3 warships in Arabian Sea to counter attacks, launches probe
4. Plane with Indians grounded in France lands in Mumbai, only 276 passengers return
5. PM Modi interacts with Christian community on Christmas

What Else

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrives in Russia on 5-day visit
• India to replace ‘very old’ Maitri research station in Antarctica by 2029
• China to provide consular protection to Vivo employees held in India; says firmly backs rights of its businesses
• UAPA case against Newsclick: Amit Chakravarty moves plea to turn approver
• India set to acquire five lithium blocks in Argentina spotted by KABIL
• MP: Mohan Yadav expands MP cabinet, 28 MLAs take oath as ministers in ceremony
• Cong Chief Kharge replies to VP Dhankhar’s meeting invite, Says He’s out of Delhi; ‘Will Meet You At…’
• Navy to commission stealth-guided missile destroyer ‘Imphal’ today (Tue)
• Pakistan’s foes bent upon creating fissures using religious, political vulnerabilities: COAS
• Taiwan detects 4 Chinese naval ships, 2 military aircraft around nation
• Philippines behavior in South China Sea “extremely dangerous”: Chinese state media

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President Murmu gives assent to three new criminal laws, Telecommunication Act

• President Droupadi Murmu on Dec 25 gave assent to the 3 new criminal justice bills which were cleared by Parliament last week.
• The 3 new laws — the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Act — will replace the colonial era Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872. (here)

J-K: Additional forces deployed in Poonch as search for terrorists continues in Rajouri

• Additional security forces were deployed in the Poonch on Mon even as a search operation was ongoing in Dera ki Gali, where 2 Army vehicles were ambushed by armed terrorists from across the border last week.
• Additional forces were also deployed in the Bafliaz area of Poonch district
• 4 Army personnel lost their lives while 3 others were injured in the ambush on Thu.
• On Sun, the 4 fallen soldiers, Naiks Birender Singh, and Karan Kumar, and Riflemen Gautam Kumar and Chandan Kumar were accorded senf-off at a wreath-laying ceremony in Rajouri. (here)
• The Army is also conducting a Staff Court of Inquiry against the 13-Sector Rashtriya Rifles Commander, who is a Brigadier, for the recurring lapses in operations.
• Indian Army chief Gen. Manoj Pande also visited the Poonch-Rajouri sector on Mon and visit again along with senior defense ministry functionaries this week. (here)
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to visit Jammu On Dec 27, Poonch-Rajouri casualties are to be on the agenda.

MV Chem Pluto: Indian Navy desploys 3 warships in Arabian Sea to counter attacks, launches probe

• The Navy on Mon said that MV Chem Pluto, carrying 21 Indians and 1 Vietnamese crew, which was earlier reported as attacked by a suspected drone on Sat, reached Mumbai and was safely anchored.
• On its arrival, the Indian Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal team inspected the vessel to make a preliminary assessment of the type and nature of the attack.
• “A Joint Investigation by various agencies has commenced on completion of the analysis by the Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Team,” the statement further added.
• MV Chem Pluto has been cleared for further operation but the ship is scheduled to undergo mandatory checks by the various inspecting authorities.
• Taking into consideration a spate of attacks on commercial vessels, the Navy deployed warships INS Mormugao, INS Kochi, and INS Kolkata to maintain a deterrent
• Following the Pentagon’s allegations condemning Tehran for an attack targetting tanker off India’s coast, Iran’s foreign ministry rebuffed the claims as worthless. (here)

Plane with Indians grounded in France lands in Mumbai, only 276 passengers return

• The airplane with around 300 Indian passengers on board detained near Paris over suspicions of human trafficking landed in Mumbai, India, on Tue at 4 am.
• “The plane, which had been grounded since Thursday, departed shortly after 2:30 pm (local time),” BFM TV, a French news broadcast television and radio network, reported.
• However, of the 303 Indian passengers, only 276 are expected to return, while the rest have applied for asylum and have been transferred to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport. (here)

PM Modi interacts with Christian community on Christmas

• PM Modi on Mon attended a program on Christmas Day and met members of the Christian community on the auspicious occasion, stating that the festive season unites the nation as one and brings together every citizen.
• PM Modi extended his greetings to the people of the world and the Christian community on Christmas and recalled his meeting with Pope Francis in Vatican City in 2021, stating that it was a “very memorable moment.”
• After interacting with PM Modi, the eminent people from the community said that our country could be the leading country in the world under PM Modi’s leadership. (here)
• “Our govt is ensuring that the benefits of development reach everyone and no one is left untouched,” said the PM, saying that many people of the Christian faith, especially poor segments, are benefiting from the schemes of the govt. (here)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrives in Russia on 5-day visit

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Russia on Mon on a 5-day visit.
• Jaishankar landed in the capital city of Moscow where he will hold talks with his counterpart and discuss bilateral and global issues.
• The last visit of EAM Jaishankar to Russia was in Nov 2022, during which he engaged in discussions with Russian FM Sergey Lavrov and Deputy PM Denis Manturov.
• During the visit, Jaishankar is also expected to travel to St. Petersburg, as per MEA.
• “The time-tested India-Russia partnership has remained stable … characterized by the spirit of the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” MEA said in a statement.
• The visit assumes importance as several Russian dignitaries paid high-level visits to India this year, coinciding with New Delhi’s presidency of the SCO and G20.
• Despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the relations between Moscow and New Delhi have remained strong. (here)
• In 2022-23, Indian import of oil from Russia increased by 639.92% from $5.25 billion in 2021-22 to $38.814 billion in 2022-23, according to official data.
• Owing to Western sanctions imposed on Russia, New Delhi, and Moscow established a rupee-ruble mechanism for trade that has since become a ‘problem’ for Moscow
• Indian exports to Russia in 2022-23 stood at $3.1 billion, while its imports stood at $46.21 billion — a $43 billion deficit — which has led to ‘billions’ of rupees accumulated by Russia.
• Apart from the rupee-ruble mechanism and economic ties, connectivity projects including the Chennai-Vladivostok maritime corridor are also expected
• The Chennai-Vladivostok route would cover a distance of about 5,600 nautical miles, while the current St. Petersburg-Mumbai route covers a distance of about 8,675 nautical miles. (here)

India to replace ‘very old’ Maitri research station in Antarctica by 2029

• India has decided to build a new research station in Antarctica, replacing its “very old” predecessor Maitri station.
• The Maitri-2 station will be established in East Antarctica near the existing one, and it will be able to house about 90 scientists and the station will be ready to use by 2029.
• The existing station, Maitri, was set up in 1988 and was supposed to be operational for ten years only.
• There was a need to replace the 35-year-old facility for two decades, but it was only in 2017 that the then-secretary to the Ministry of Earth Sciences revealed a plan to replace Maitri station “in the next 3-4 years.”
• The new research base will adhere to environmental protocols laid out by international bodies and the Indian Antarctic Act passed in 2022.
• India’s strategic Antarctica move comes at a time when China is making wide strides in the research space for the White Continent. (here)

China to provide consular protection to Vivo employees held in India; says firmly backs rights of its businesses

• China on Dec 25 said it would provide consular protection and assistance to the arrested employees working for China’s smartphone maker Vivo in India and expressed its firm backing to the Chinese businesses in protecting their lawful rights and interests.
• “The Chinese govt firmly supports Chinese companies to safeguard their lawful rights and interests,” Mao Ning told a regular press conference. [would India have the same liberty in China?]
• The ED last week arrested 3 vivo-India executives in connection with its money laundering probe against the Chinese smartphone maker and some others. [as reported]
• India’s financial crime-fighting agency last week arrested 2 senior employees of Vivo’s India unit, a move the company vowed to challenge legally. 
• The 2 were brought to a Delhi court on Sat and sent to the ED’s custody, a person directly involved with the case told Reuters. (here)

UAPA case against Newsclick: Amit Chakravarty moves plea to turn approver

• Amit Chakravarty, HR head of NewsClick, has moved an application before the court concerned saying that he wants to become an approver in the case registered under the provisions of the UAPA, following allegations that Portal received huge money for pro-China propaganda.
• Chakravarty moved an application before the Additional Sessions Judge, under relevant sections to turn approver in the case.
• The approver, an accomplice who decides to testify against the co-accused in exchange for a pardon, is subject to examination and treatment under the CrPC.
• Safeguards are in place to prevent coerced or deceitful confessions, and the approver’s testimony must be supported by corroborative evidence as per the law.
• Last week, the Patiala House Court of Delhi granted the Delhi Police Special Cell a further 2 months to complete the investigation.
• On Dec 19, the police moved an application in Patiala House Court seeking an extension of time to complete the investigation in the case.
• The FIR stated that foreign funds in crores have been infused illegally in India by Indian and foreign entities inimical to India in pursuance of a conspiracy to disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India (here)

India set to acquire five lithium blocks in Argentina spotted by KABIL

• India is close to striking a deal on acquiring five lithium blocks for exploration and development in Argentina with the negotiations entering “final stages”, even as the country is engaged in talks with other nations rich in critical minerals.
• The agreement will be signed between Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL) — a joint venture company focused on identifying, acquiring, developing, processing, and making commercial use of strategic minerals in overseas locations for supply in India — and Catamarca Minera Y Energética Sociedad Del Estado (CAMYEN), a state-owned mining and energy company in the Argentine province of Catamarca.
• The Centre will also invest around Rs 200 crore over five years for the exploration and development of these mines, Business Standard has learned. (here)

MP: Mohan Yadav expands MP cabinet, 28 MLAs take oath as ministers in ceremony

• CM Mohan Yadav led the swearing-in ceremony of 28 MLAs who took oath as ministers in the newly expanded state cabinet on Mon.
• The oath-taking ceremony, held at Lal Parade Ground in the state capital, marked the first-ever expansion of CM Yadav’s govt.
• Among the prominent leaders were Kailash Vijayvargiya and Prahlad Singh Patel, who assumed roles as state ministers.
• The oath, administered saw 18 leaders as cabinet ministers, 6 as Ministers of State (Independent Charge), and 4 as Ministers of State, media reports said. (here)

Cong Chief Kharge replies to VP Dhankhar’s meeting invite, Says He’s out of Delhi; ‘Will Meet You At…’

• The letter war between Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar continued on Mon with the former postponing the Vice President’s meeting invite to discuss a range of matters in his chamber today.
• On Sat, VP invited Kharge, who is the leader of the Opposition in Rajya House, to his residence on Christmas to discuss, saying despite his repeated requests, such a meeting could not happen during the Winter session.
• To this, Kharge replied that he was currently out of Delhi and proposed a fresh meeting after he returned to the national capital.
• Kharge had on Frid told Dhankhar that the suspension of MPs on such a large scale was detrimental to the core principles of India’s parliamentary democracy.
• In his letter to Dhankhar, Kharge had said he was pained and agonized at the suspension of so many MPs and felt frustrated and disheartened. (here)

Navy to commission stealth-guided missile destroyer ‘Imphal’ today (Tue)

• The Indian Navy is all set to commission its latest stealth-guided missile destroyer Imphal, at the Dockyard, Mumbai, on Dec 26, in the presence of Def Min Rajnath Singh
• The event marks the formal induction into the Navy of the 3^rd of 4 ‘Visakhapatnam’ class destroyers, indigenously designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house organization.
• Notably, Imphal is the first warship to have been named after a city in NE, the approval for which was accorded by the President on Apr 16, 2019.
• Imphal was delivered to the Indian Navy on October 20 after completing a rigorous and comprehensive trial program both in the harbor and at sea
• Project 15B (Visakhapatnam class) is the latest in the lineage of Project 15A (Kolkata class) and Project 15 (Delhi class) indigenous destroyers, with upgraded capabilities and greater indigenous content.
• Measuring 163 m in length, displacing 7,400 tons, and having 75% indigenous content, Imphal can rightfully be regarded as one of the most potent warships to have been constructed in India. (here)

 [NEIGHBORHOOD]

Pakistan’s foes bent upon creating fissures using religious, political vulnerabilities: COAS

• Chief of Army Staff Gen Syed Asim Munir said Mon that enemies of Pakistan were hell-bent towards creating fissures using religious, ethnic, and political vulnerabilities.
• In a statement, military media wing, ISPR said the COAS made the remarks while addressing a ceremony held in Church in Rawalpindi in connection with Christmas.
• The congregation welcomed the COAS and thanked him for sharing the festivity.
• Gen Munir wished Merry Christmas to the entire Christian community in the country.
• COAS expressed reverence for the religious community and stressed the need to promote greater interfaith harmony in society to follow Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s true vision of a united and progressive Pakistan, said ISPR.
• The COAS noted: “Islam teaches us the lesson of peace, and friendship and encourages interfaith harmony which is the need of the hour.” (here)
• [A 312 (+/-) 10-worded news published in Geo, Dawn, and The News International]

Taiwan detects 4 Chinese naval ships, 2 military aircraft around nation

• The Ministry of Defence of Taiwan has tracked 4 Chinese Naval vessels and 2 military aircraft around Taiwan.
• According to Taiwan News, the naval ships and aircraft were tracked around the nation between 6 am on Sun and 6 am on Mon.
• Taiwan responded by sending planes and navy ships, as well as deploying air defense missile systems, to track the PLA actions, as per MND.
• During that period, no PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line or reached the southwest corner of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ).
• China has intensified its use of grey zone tactics since Sept 2020 by gradually increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships patrolling around Taiwan.
• Beijing has sent 222 military planes and 137 navy ships around Taiwan so far this month. (here)

Philippines behavior in South China Sea “extremely dangerous”: Chinese state media

• The Chinese state media on Tue accused the Philippines of ignoring China’s ‘goodwill’ and ‘restraint’ and warned the country against “causing trouble and chaos” in the SCS.
• The Chinese-state-controlled newspaper The People’s Daily issued the call in commentary published on Mon, saying the Philippines has repeatedly infringed on China’s territory in the region and risked making a severe “miscalculation.”
• China’s Daily blamed the US for encouraging the Philippines’ “provocative” actions in the area, which it says “irresponsibly escalate regional tensions.”
• Written under the pen name Zhong Sheng, or “Voice of China,” the column is often used to offer hardline views on foreign policy matters.
• This comes amid escalating tensions between Beijing and Manila and both have raised accusations over a spate of run-ins in the sea.
• In the latest incident on Dec 10, the Philippines accused China of ramming a supply boat that was carrying Manila’s chief of staff near Second Thomas Shoal. (here)