PLANE DETAINED BY FRANCE DEPARTS, REACHES MUMBAI

A charter plane carrying 276 passengers, mostly Indians, which was grounded in France for four days over suspected human trafficking, landed in Mumbai on Tuesday, an official said.

The Nicaragua-bound flight operated by a Romanian company was detained for four days at Vatry airport near France.

The aircraft, an Airbus A340, landed in Mumbai shortly after 4 am on Tuesday.

The charter flight that carried 303 passengers had taken off from Dubai and was grounded at the Vatry airport, 150 km east of Paris, on Thursday over suspected human trafficking.

According to French authorities, the plane had 276 passengers on board when it took off for Mumbai, and 25 persons, including two minors, had expressed the wish to apply for asylum and were still on French soil. Two others, who were brought before a judge, were released and placed on assisted witness status, a French news channel said.

According to the reports, the travel may have been planned by the Indian passengers to reach Central America from where they can attempt to enter the United States or Canada illegally.

But an anonymous tip indicated that passengers were 'likely to be victims of human trafficking' in an organised gang.

J&K CIVILIAN DEATHS : CONDUCT OPS PROFESSIONALLY: ARMY CHIEF TO COMMANDERS

Army Chief General Manoj Pande visited Jammu and Kashmir on Monday and exhorted commanders to conduct operations in the “most professional manner” amid an outrage over the alleged killing of three civilians picked up by the force for questioning following a terrorist attack in Poonch last week that left four soldiers dead.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who visited the ground zero in Poonch-Rajouri sector where a massive anti-terrorism operation is underway, also asked the troops to remain resolute and steadfast against all challenges.

In a related development, the Army initiated a Court of Inquiry as the police lodged a murder case (under Section 302 of the IPC) against unnamed persons over the death of the three civilians. The three civilians, aged between 27 and 42, were picked up by the Army for questioning after the terrorist ambushed two Army vehicles on Thursday. The three were found dead on December 22.

General Pande’s visit holds importance as there has been anger among locals over the alleged custodial deaths.

Sending a strong message that it has taken a serious note of the incident, the Army has initiated a Court of Inquiry. It’s reported that a brigadier-level officer, incharge of the Surankote belt, has been shifted and action against other officers of the unit concerned will also be taken.

JAISHANKAR ON A 5-DAY VISIT TO RUSSIA

As ties with the West come under strain, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Moscow on Monday for an unusually extended stay of five days. “The full-format negotiations between the heads of Russian and Indian Foreign Affairs Ministries are scheduled on December 27,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Monday.

Jaishankar will also travel to St Petersburg to discuss various bilateral and global issues with Russian leaders. He will also meet Russia’s Deputy PM and Industry Minister Denis Manturov to discuss economic matters. From a bilateral viewpoint, Jaishankar’s interactions are important as they will substitute for the annual summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which will not take place for the second consecutive year.

On the economic front, Jaishankar will discuss Russian investments of up to $50 billion, much of its pending payments for import of Russian crude. Other issues on the table will be in the areas of trade, energy, connectivity and defence ties, besides cooperation at the UN and the SCO, and the war in Ukraine.

Despite immense pressure from the US, India has not condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and far from heeding the American call to cut off trade with Moscow, New Delhi has vastly stepped up the purchase of crude, coking coal and timber.

MODI TARGETS PREVIOUS GOVTS ON CORRUPTION: ‘NOW, NARRATIVE IS ABOUT WELFARE SCHEMES’

Underlining that his government follows the principle of good governance and not power, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday attacked the previous regimes for indulging in widespread corruption while his government has turned the narrative towards welfare schemes.

Modi released the first series of 11 volumes of collected works of Madan Mohan Malaviya spread across about 4,000 pages, during an event organised by the Ministry of I & B.

“There was a notion that in our country governments cannot operate without scams and embezzlement. Before 2014, we used to hear about scams amounting to lakhs of crores. But our government has changed that mindset. Today, the narrative is about lakhs of crore worth government schemes,” the PM said during his 20-minute speech.

Highlighting the impact of ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ vehicle, he said crores of new Ayushman cards were handed out to those who were left behind previously within 40 days of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra. Stressing the role of transparency, he said, “If every penny of a taxpayer is spent in the public interest, this is good governance. Good governance has resulted in 13.5 crore people coming out of poverty.”

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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"WE'RE NOT STOPPING", SAYS A DEFIANT NETANYAHU

Israel on Monday said it was "intensifying the fighting" against Hamas in Gaza, where relentless strikes across the Palestinian territory exacerbated the dire conditions for civilians in the war's 12th week.

The conflict has heightened tensions across the Middle East where Iran -- which supports Hamas -- on Monday accused Israel of killing a senior Revolutionary Guards general in Syria and vowed revenge.

Pope Francis decried the "desperate humanitarian situation" in Gaza. During his traditional Christmas message he called for an immediate ceasefire and the freeing of hostages.

As war raged, festivities in Bethlehem, which Christians consider to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, were effectively scrapped in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The city's usually vibrant streets had only a handful of worshippers and tourists.

Four major Israeli strikes since Sunday killed more than 100 people, the ministry said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Monday after visiting Gaza, "We're not stopping," according to a statement from his Likud party. "We're intensifying the fighting in the coming days," he told party members.

Palestinian militants launched rockets towards Israel during the day, most of which were intercepted by Israeli air defences.

Israel lashed out at the UN on Monday over its response to the war. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen accused the world body of "hypocrisy" and said its chief Antonio Guterres "legitimised war crimes".

"We will stop working with those who cooperate with the Hamas terrorist organisation's propaganda," Cohen said on X, adding his ministry would not extend one UN employee's entry visa, and would refuse entry for another.

US STRIKES IRAN-BACKED FORCES, IN IRAQ

The US forces carried out strikes on three sites used by Iran-backed forces in Iraq after an earlier attack left three American personnel injured. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin described the strikes as "necessary" and "proportionate".

"Today, at @POTUS' direction, US military forces conducted necessary & proportionate strikes on 3 facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah & affiliated groups in Iraq. These precision strikes are a response to a series of attacks against US personnel in Iraq & Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias, including an attack by Iran-affiliated Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups on Erbil Air Base earlier today," Austin said in a statement that also shared on X, formerly Twitter.

The US Defense Secretary said President Biden "will not hesitate to take necessary action to defend the US". "And let me be clear - the President and I will not hesitate to take necessary action to defend the United States, our troops, and our interests. There is no higher priority. While we do not seek to escalate conflict in the region, we are committed and fully prepared to take further necessary measures to protect our people and our facilities," the statement said.

THE REST

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DHANKHAR-KHARGE LETTER WAR OVER SUSPENSIONS CONTINUES

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has told Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar that the mass suspension of MPs was 'premeditated' and 'weaponised' by the ruling party to sabotage Parliamentary practices as he declined the Chair's invite for an interaction on Monday, saying he was not in Delhi.

Kharge was replying to a second letter on the disruption of parliamentary proceedings and the suspension of MPs by Vice President Dhankhar, who had alleged that the disorder by the Opposition in the House was deliberate and part of a strategy. In his letter on Saturday, Dhankar had also said, 'We need to move ahead', and invited the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha for an interaction on December 25 'or a time of your convenience' at his official residence.

The Congress president, in his reply said that he agrees with the Chairman that they need to move ahead but stressed that the 'answer may not lie in a discussion in the Chairman's chambers, if the government is not keen on running the House'.

The Congress chief said he is currently out of Delhi and it would be his 'privilege and duty' to meet the Chairman as soon as he is back.

Replying to the points raised by Dhankhar, Kharge alleged that the suspensions were 'executed without any application of mind' and said that as the custodian of the House, he should protect the people's right to hold its government accountable in Parliament.

Kharge said the Chairman's letter 'unfortunately justifies the autocratic and arrogant attitude of the Government towards Parliament'.

"If anything privilege motions have also been weaponised to muzzle the voice of the Opposition. This is a deliberate design of the ruling dispensation to undermine Parliament itself. By suspending MPs, the government is effectively silencing the voice of the voters of 146 MPs altogether," Kharge said. "You have also mentioned that disorder was deliberate and strategised and predetermined.

"I would like to submit that if anything, it is the mass suspension of the Opposition MPs from both Houses of Parliament that seems to be predetermined and premeditated by the Government and I am most sorry to say, executed without any application of mind, as can be seen by the suspension of an INDIA party MP who was not even present in the Parliament," he said.

PM REACHES OUT TO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY ON CHRISTMAS

In what clearly looked like a major effort to reach out to the Christian community with the Lok Sabha elections just months away, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met representatives of the community at his residence on the occasion of Christmas.

The gathering saw a plethora of influential Christian community members right from Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church of India and Archbishop of Bombay; to the principal of St. Stephen’s College John Varghese; Alexander George, joint managing director of Muthoot Group; Alukkas Joy Verghese, chairman of Joyalukkas Group, to former Olympian Anju Bobby George and actor Dino Morea among others.

VESSEL CHEM PLUTO REACHES MUMBAI

Saying that its preliminary assessment pointed to a drone attack on the India-bound merchant vessel, MV Chem Pluto, which arrived at Mumbai’s outer anchorage on Monday afternoon, the Indian Navy announced the deployment of guided missile destroyers “to maintain a deterrent presence” in view of the recent attacks in the Arabian Sea.

Chem Pluto, a chemical/ oil tanker with a crew of 21 Indians and a Vietnamese, was on its way to New Mangalore from Al Jubail (Saudi Arabia) when it came under attack on Saturday, 200 nautical miles southwest of Veraval, Gujarat, leading to an explosion and fire. No casualty was reported.

While there was some confusion over whether the attack was a missile or drone strike, the Navy, in a statement issued late Monday, said an analysis of the area of attack and debris found on the ship pointed towards a drone attack.

“Considering the recent spate of attacks in the Arabian Sea, Indian Navy has deployed guided missile destroyers INS Mormugao, INS Kochi and INS Kolkata in various areas to maintain a deterrent presence,” the Navy said in its statement.

'INCENSED' TRANS MAN BURNS ALIVE CHILDHOOD FRIEND

A transexual man who burnt alive his childhood classmate -- a software engineer -- in a gruesome manner was arrested and remanded to judicial custody, police said on Monday.

The suspect identified as Vetrimaran, a trans man who had changed his name from Pandi Maheswari, blindfolded, chained and burnt R Nandhini alive, under the pretext of surprising her on her birthday eve on Saturday, at Thalambur near Kelambakkam, Chennai's southern suburb, they said.

Police indicated that 'being empathetic' appears to have cost Nandhini her life.

Vetrimaran made her believe that he would give her a surprise on her birthday eve on Saturday and convinced her to accompany him to a deserted place in Ponmar in Thalambur police limits. He then blindfolded her and chained her hands and feet as a 'surprise', slashed her neck and wrists, emptied a can of petrol and torched her before fleeing from the spot, said police. Hearing her cries, a few passers-by alerted the police.

However, before she was rushed in an ambulance to the Chromepet Government hospital for treatment, Nandhini gave out the mobile number of Vetrimaran, police said.

He was nabbed on Sunday and later remanded in judicial custody.

Investigation revealed that Pandi Maheswari, 26, studied with Nandhini at a school in Madurai. Nandhini had continued her friendship on humanitarian grounds even after Maheswari changed her name to Vetrimaran.

He was in regular touch with her. He got incensed when she started avoiding him. "He became over-possessive when he noticed her talking to other male friends. There was an argument between the two over this," said a police official.

NEWSCLICK HR HEAD MOVES DELHI COURT TO TURN APPROVER

NewsClick’s human resources department head Amit Chakravarty has moved a Delhi court seeking its permission to turn an approver in the case lodged under anti-terror law UAPA over allegations that the news portal received money to spread pro-China propaganda. Chakravarty moved the application before Special Judge Hardeep Kaur last week, seeking pardon in the case and claiming he had material information that he was willing to disclose to the Delhi Police, which is investigating the matter. The judge has posted the matter before a magisterial court for recording Chakravarty’s statement.

According to police sources, the agency will take a decision on whether to support his application before the court after going through his statement. The Special Cell of Delhi Police had arrested Chakravarty and news portal’s founder and Editor-in-Chief Prabir Purkayastha on October 3. They are currently in judicial custody.

According to the FIR, a large amount of funds to the news portal came from China to “disrupt the sovereignty of India” and cause disaffection against the country.

It also alleged Purkayastha conspired with a group — People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) — to sabotage the electoral process during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Raids were conducted at 88 locations in Delhi and seven in other states on October 3 on the suspects named in the FIR and those that surfaced in the analysis of data, police said.

INDIA ON LOOKOUT FOR MAJOR GLOBAL LABOUR ARRANGEMENTS

After focussing on migration and mobility pacts, the government is now increasingly eyeing agreements with developed nations to send skilled workers in the construction, farm, and manufacturing sectors. These pacts would be along the lines of the deal signed with Israel earlier this year.

Greece has approached India for sending up to 10,000 seasonal agricultural workers, while Italy has sought workers to staff municipal bodies in its emptying towns.

Hit by rising labour costs, and spiralling inflation, developed nations are facing a major shortage of workers and India has stepped in. This has also led to talks with nations such as South Korea, where Indian skilled and low-skilled workers have hitherto gone.

In a controversial move last week, the Greek Parliament approved an amendment to its laws that will now allow illegal migrants in the country to receive three-year residency and work permits for jobs in certain sectors.

“It is not the easiest of choices, but there is a real shortage of workers. A better way to fill those jobs would be bilateral agreements allowing fixed-term employment to legal workers from countries like India, en masse,” a diplomatic source said.

Last year, the country had signed a similar agreement with Egypt, and is currently also eyeing workers from Vietnam and Philippines, Greek media has reported.

INDIA TAKE ON S AFRICA IN A 2 TEST SERIES STARTING TODAY

Team India will aim to conquer the 'Final Frontier' when they square up against South Africa in a two-Test series starting today. India still await a Test series win in South Africa.

It has been a three decade-long jinx for the Indians with South Africa the only Test playing nation where they are yet to win a Test series.

India came close in the last series two years ago, when they won the opening match in Centurion before losing the next two Tests, while they managed a creditable 1-1 draw in 2010-2011.

World No 1 India are being touted as the favourites, especially after their consistent overseas run in the past 4-5 years, winning their last two series in Australia while they drew 2-2 in a five-Test series in England last year.

Even though they are missing lead pacer Mohammed Shami, India still have a potent attack to trouble the South Africans in their backyard.

With rain expected to be a factor during the first Test in Centurion, the pace bowlers are likely to be a big factor at the SuperSport Park, which has traditionally assisted fast bowlers more than spinners.

Jasprit Bumrah is back to his best as he proved in the World Cup, while Mohammed Siraj is one of the most improved bowlers in recent years across formats. Either Mukesh Kumar or Prasidh Krishna is likely to play as the third seamer while Shardul Thakur expected to make the cut as the pace bowling all-rounder.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

No time. Saddest words ever spoken or written. - Og Mandino

OFF TRACK

"Good afternoon, bartender, a glass of Less if you please."

"Less? Never heard of it."

"Oh, come now surely you have."

"No sorry, we certainly don't stock it. What is it anyway? Some kind of foreign beer?"

"Well I'm not sure. It was the doctor who mentioned it. He said I should drink Less."