CURRENT AFFAIRS - 23.11.2023

 

1. A wait for the 'big news' from Uttarkashi tunnel Riding on hope Agencies trying to rescue 41 workers, trapped in an under-construction tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi, hoped on Wednesday that the trapped men could start crawling out of the tunnel by Thursday morning. Rescuers had to cut through the estimated 57-metre stretch of debris. By Wednesday evening, they had created an about 45-metre escape passage. A microphone and a speaker were sent through the new lifeline, apart from medicines, towels, shirts and underwear. The work As the machine drills through, six-metre sections of steel pipes are pushed into the escape passage. Once the pipeway reaches the other end, the trapped workers are expected to crawl out. The officials indicated that "big news" could be expected anytime around midnight or in the early hours today. The preparation Twelve ambulances were on standby and 15 doctors were present at the disaster site on Wednesday evening. A helicopter was also expected to be earmarked for the operation. A makeshift eight-bed hospital was set up in the vicinity of the tunnel on the Char Dham route. Is there still an alternative plan? On the alternative plan, NHIDCL MD Mahmood Ahmed said about eight metres of horizontal drilling had taken from the Barkot end of the tunnel — a much longer process that could take several days. Latest updates here

2. How a search operation turned into a full-blown gunfight 4 Army personnel dead Four Army personnel - two captains, a havildar and a jawan - were killed and two others were injured during an encounter between security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district on Wednesday, officials said. Fierce gunfight continued in the area till late night with more troops deployed to neutralise two terrorists trapped there, said officials adding that the terrorists have sustained injuries. The encounter The encounter broke out between terrorists and joint forces of the Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police in the Bajimaal area of Dharmsal following a cordon-and-search operation. In a post on X, the White Knight Corps of the Army said that based on specific intelligence, joint operations were launched in the Kalakote area of Gulabgarh forest in Rajouri on Sunday. Officials said the two terrorists trapped at the encounter site in Bajimaal appeared to be foreign nationals and had been moving around in the area since Sunday. They took shelter at a place of worship for a while, they said. Recent encounters The latest encounter in Rajouri comes close on the heels of another gunfight in Behrote in Budhal area on November 17, in which one terrorist was killed. In September, Anantnag witnessed an encounter that went on for seven days. It claimed the lives of four security personnel, including two Army officers. Two earlier ambushes in the Mendhar area of Poonch and Kandi forest of Rajouri on April 20 and May 5 respectively had claimed the lives of 10 soldiers. According to officials cited by PTI, 46 deaths have been recorded in terrorism-related incidents in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch and nearby Reasi district since January this year.

3. Another 'India's most-wanted' faces a life threat? An assassination attempt US authorities thwarted a conspiracy to assassinate a Sikh separatist on American soil and issued a warning to India's government over concerns it was involved in the plot, reported the Financial Times on Wednesday, citing multiple people familiar with the case. The target of the plot was none other than Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an American and Canadian citizen who is general counsel for Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a US-based group that is part of a pro-Khalistan movement. Who is Pannun? Pannun is a designated terrorist in India and SFJ is a banned outfit. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said on November 20 that it has registered a case against Pannun and SFJ for issuing video messages threatening people flying in Air India. Timing The publishing of the report coincided with India resuming electronic visa services for Canadian nationals after a nearly two-month pause. Earlier in September, the Indian Mission in Canada suspended visa services for Canadian nationals citing operational reasons. It was seen as a retaliation to Canadian PM Justin Trudeau's allegations linking India with the killing of a Sikh extremist, identified as HS Nijjar, in Canada - which India termed as "absurd" and "motivated" - leading to a severe diplomatic standoff between the two countries. India resumed visa services for four categories in Canada from October 26, following a security review and considering recent Canadian measures. The e-visa facility was resumed on Wednesday. Back to the report According to the Financial Times report, the US issued a warning to India over concerns of its involvement in an alleged plot after PM Narendra Modi's state visit to Washington in June - which, coincidentally, was also the month when Nijjar was murdered by unidentified men in Canada. However, the news report does not elaborate on which US agency was involved in the thwarting of the alleged assassination plan. It also does not elaborate on the specific nature of the communication between the US and India. Meanwhile The NIA on Wednesday conducted raids at 14 locations in Punjab and Haryana related to attacks on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. As part of its investigation, NIA crowdsources information to identify individuals and entities in the US linked to the violent incidents.

4. Finally, Israel and Hamas strike an exchange deal Landmark breakthrough Israel and Hamas agreed to a temporary ceasefire, enabling the release of 50 hostages by Hamas in exchange for 150 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons and facilitating the entry of additional aid into Gaza. Once implemented, the ceasefire will mark the first major diplomatic breakthrough since the conflict began on October 7, following a Hamas attack on Israel. Details of the deal The two sides have agreed to a four-day truce so that 50 women and children under the age of 19 taken hostage could be freed in return for 150 Palestinian women and teenagers in Israeli detention, at a ratio of three prisoners for every hostage. The 50 hostages, among about 240 taken by Hamas in their October 7 raid on Israel, are expected to be released in batches, probably about a dozen a day, during the four-day ceasefire. It also includes an increase in humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip. Implementation timeline Hostage releases are expected to begin about 24 hours after final approval, with speculation suggesting the first exchange could occur today. The International Committee of the Red Cross stands ready to assist in any hostage swap. Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric met with Hamas leaders in Qatar earlier this week. The hostages are expected to be transported through Egypt, the only country apart from Israel to share a border with Gaza. The Israeli Cabinet approved the deal in a 35-3 vote. Notably, ministers from the extreme right-wing Otzma Yehudit party voted against the agreement. Players involved in negotiations The agreement was reached after weeks of indirect Qatari-led negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The US and Egypt also played a crucial role in the stop-and-go talks to free some of the hostages held by Hamas and other militants in Gaza. US President Joe Biden acknowledged the deal and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's commitment to an extended pause for the release of hostages and the provision of humanitarian assistance. What PM Modi said at G20 PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday asserted that there is zero tolerance for terrorism and that the killings of innocents, especially children and women, are not acceptable. Modi made these comments in his concluding remarks at the virtual G20 Summit in the context of the Israel-Hamas conflict and noted that he believes, after hearing the views of other leaders, that there is an agreement on several points, including this.

NEWS IN CLUES 5. Identify this international airline Clue 1: It became a public limited company after World War II Clue 2: Its first international flight was marked by a Lockheed Constellation airliner Clue 3: One of its flights was blown up mid-air in a terrorist attack in 1985 Scroll below for answer

6. Why tempers ran high during the PMLA hearing in SC Objection overruled A three-judge batch of the Supreme Court on Wednesday turned down the Centre's objections to its seeking to scrutinise a verdict of another bench of the same strength which had upheld the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The bench said that its decision was not unprecedented and pointed out a similar exercise in the past on the interpretation of land acquisition law. A matter to be re-examined With that, the Supreme Court commenced hearing on whether its last year's verdict upholding stringent provisions of PMLA needed to be re-examined by a five-judge bench. The first day of the hearing witnessed heated arguments. The petitioners alleged that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has become an "unruly horse". The Centre asserted that the petition was amended at the last moment to seek additional relief and appeal against the 2022 judgment. What happened in the court The hearing on nearly 200 petitions through the day was interspersed with accusations and counter claims as tempers ran high, prompting a three-judge bench to intervene repeatedly to restore calm in the courtroom. The bench observed, "Everyone seems to be on the edge except the court. It should not become a personal issue. Everybody should not be on the edge.... Both sides are extra agitated." The argument Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that the petitioners had only challenged validity of Sections 50 (to issue summons) and Section 63 (punishment for false information or failure to give information) of the anti-money laundering law. He pleaded the court not to permit the petitioners to expand the ambit of the hearing beyond the two sections. The Centre's contention was opposed by petitioners' counsel Kapil Sibal and A M Singhvi, who told the court that no new ground had been raised in the petition. Sibal said that the "draconian provisions" of the Act are against the Rule of Law and violative of the fundamental rights of an accused as they can be summoned and arrested without knowing the reasons, depriving them the constitutional right to protection. The hearing would resume today.

7. Supreme Court's pitch for a new delimitation commission What The Supreme Court on Wednesday said the Centre must take a "considered view" on the reconstitution of the delimitation commission to ensure proportional representation of Limbu and Tamang tribal communities in Sikkim and West Bengal. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said the demand of Limbu and Tamang communities for the grant of proportional representation has a constitutional foundation which can be found in Articles 330 and 332 of the constitution. The top court asked the Centre to discuss the issue with the Chief Election Commissioner and respond to it by Thursday. Why The top court said the communities which have been designated as STs since 2012 have had no political representation, which is nothing but "injustice." "Though we are conscious that we cannot direct the parliament to enact a law. We are of the view that the Union of India must take a considered view if the delimitation commission should be reconstituted to ensure justice to those communities who have been designated as Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST)," the bench said. 'Can't wait till 2026' The apex court rejected the Centre's argument that the delimitation commission cannot be constituted till the 2026 census is carried out. "When will it be done? In 2031? These communities will have to wait for another eight years to get a reservation. You are two decades behind. You are denying a constitutional mandate," the bench said. Simply put The Supreme Court, in simple words, says the inclusion of new communities into ST or SC categories should be followed by an appropriate increase in reserved seats for these communities in the Lok Sabha or assemblies. The court said it is a constitutional mandate and the Union government must follow it.

8. Can LMV licence holders drive transport vehicles? SC wants Centre's reply The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Centre to review the legal question of whether a person holding a driving licence for a light motor vehicle (LMV) can also legally drive a transport vehicle if its weight doesn't exceed 7,500 kilograms. The Centre has to reply by January 17 next year. A Constitution bench The question is being examined by a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud which observed that these are policy issues impacting "the livelihood of lakhs of people". The bench said the government needed to take a "fresh look" at the matter which needed to be taken up at the policy level. Why this question The legal question has given rise to various disputes over payment of claims by insurance companies in accident cases involving transport vehicles being driven by those having licences to drive LMVs. The lead petition was filed by M/s Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Co Ltd. The urgency The bench said, "We direct the Union to pursue the exercise with utmost expedition. Since the consultation with the state government is envisaged, we direct all state governments to comply with the timeline set by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways." "The proceedings shall now be listed on January 17, 2024, by which date we expect that the consultation will be concluded in its entirety and a clear road map of further steps which the Union proposes to take should be placed before this court." An old verdict In the 2017 Mukund Dewangan case, a three-judge SC bench held that transport vehicles, gross weight not exceeding 7,500 kg, are not excluded from the definition of LMV. "There may be lakhs of drivers across the country who are working on the basis of Dewangan judgment. This is not a constitutional issue. It is purely a statutory issue," the bench said, "This is just not the question of law but also the social impact of the law."

9. How global land crunch risks future conflicts What Future conflicts and competition over resources are increasingly likely in coming decades as humanity faces a deepening 'land crunch', according to a new report from policy institute Chatham House released on Wednesday. Current global approaches to land use are deemed insufficient to meet climate, biodiversity, food production, and essential goods and services goals. Land deficit Under a middle-of-the-century scenario. i.e. by the year 2050, the report projects a global agricultural land deficit of 573 million hectares - an area nearly twice the size of India. New land wealth index The researchers have developed a Land Wealth Index for 163 countries, based not only on the size of their resources, but also future risks, governance and population pressures. Some of the world's largest countries — the US, Russia, Australia, and China — top the list, while Djibouti and Haiti come at the bottom. India's vulnerabilities India also ranks far lower, at 45th, than it would in a table reflecting size alone (i.e. seventh), with poor soil quality a factor across much of the country. India faces various vulnerabilities in terms of land wealth, with limited biophysical redundancy and widespread poor soil quality. These factors indicate a lower resilience to future risks when compared to other countries with similar land quantity. Germany's example Germany ranks fifth in the LWI, showcasing that a smaller country can excel if it manages its land and resources effectively. Size alone does not determine land wealth. In contrast, Algeria ranks 95th despite being the 10th largest country, highlighting the impact of degraded land. Future risks Growing land scarcity raises concerns about powerful nations using their geopolitical influence to exploit the resources of other countries. Policy recommendations Clear recommendations are provided for policymakers to address humanity's land-use footprint. Transforming food systems, optimising barren and degraded lands, reducing reliance on high-risk bioenergy and carbon capture projects, and strengthening land rights enforcement are among the suggested actions.

10. You share your b'day with... Source: Various

Answer To NEWS IN CLUES Air India. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has fined Air India for not providing mandatory facilities to passengers who are denied boarding or whose flights are delayed or cancelled. The regulator on Wednesday imposed a Rs 10 lakh penalty on the airline company on these grounds as well as not compensating business class passengers who were made to travel on unserviceable seats. This is the second time in less than 18 months that Air India has been penalised for deficiency in passenger services. Other than that, DGCA slapped a penalty of Rs 30 lakh on Air India with regard to an inebriated male passenger urinating on a female passenger in November 2022. COURTESY : TIMES TOP 10