Morning Brief: Zakir Naik In Pak; Israel Troops In Lebanon; Jaishankar In Lanka

Morning Brief!

Dear Reader,

Make sense of the day’s news with Swarajya's roundup of what’s making headlines this morning. 

Manufacturing Job Growth Hits 12-Year High

Job growth in India’s manufacturing industries reached a 12-year high in 2022-23, with employment rising by 7.5 per cent, according to the latest government data. The number of workers increased to 1.84 crore from 1.72 crore the previous year. Factories producing food products, textiles, and motor vehicles saw the highest employment gains. The total number of factories also grew, reaching 2.53 lakh, reflecting a full recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, jobs in the informal sector declined by 16.45 lakh in the same period. The data highlights a clear shift towards formal manufacturing jobs.

Israel Launches 'Limited' Ground Operation Into Lebanon

Israel has launched a limited ground operation into Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah after days of airstrikes that dismantled much of the group's war infrastructure. Israeli officials emphasise there will be "no long-term occupation" of Lebanon but have not provided a clear timeline for the mission. Troops are focused on neutralising immediate threats along the border, including Hezbollah's ability to infiltrate Israel. The operation follows the killing of Hezbollah leader Hasan Nazrullah, leaving the group in disarray. Israeli forces are being supported by air and artillery units as part of Operation Northern Arrows. Israel remain tight-lipped about how far its troops will advance or how long they will stay.

Jaishankar Heads To Sri Lanka For First Meeting After Election

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit Colombo this week, marking the first high-level engagement between India and Sri Lanka since Anura Kumara Dissanayake took office as president. This visit is significant for India to reaffirm its commitment to supporting the strategically located Indian Ocean neighbor amid concerns about potential shifts in its foreign policy under the new Marxist president. Jaishankar will meet with Dissanayake, making him the first foreign minister to visit Sri Lanka following the recent presidential election. India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, was the first foreign diplomat to meet Dissanayake after the election results. The visit aims to strengthen India’s outreach to Dissanayake, who previously visited Delhi despite his party's longstanding resentment towards India.

Other Developments

Pakistan Rolls Out Red Carpet For Islamist Zakir Naik

Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, wanted for alleged money laundering in India, has arrived in Pakistan at the invitation of the government. He was greeted by senior officials at Islamabad Airport, and his month-long tour includes public talks in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, along with meetings with top government figures. Naik is accompanied by his son, Fariq Naik, who will also speak during the tour. Known for his inflammatory speeches, Naik's PeaceTV channel is banned in multiple countries. In the past, the Islamist has been denied entry into Canada and the United Kingdom.

New Study On Elephant Migration In India Reveals Fascinating Insights

Researchers from Bengaluru's NCBS and IISc have discovered that Indian elephants migrated from the north to the south over thousands of years, losing genetic diversity with each migration. The study, published in Current Biology, analysed genome sequences from wild and captive elephants, identifying five distinct populations across India.

These populations include one in the north along the Himalayan foothills, one in central India, and three in the south. The study found that the northern elephants diverged from other populations over 70,000 years ago, with further southward migrations occurring 50,000 and 20,000 years ago. India's last elephant census in 2017 recorded over 29,000 elephants, with nearly half located in southern regions.

India To Tailor Drone Manufacturing PLI To Keep Chinese Parts Out

India is set to tailor its new drone manufacturing productivity-linked incentive (PLI) policy to keep Chinese parts out, focusing on research and development and manufacturing. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on foreign components in drone production, particularly from China. The revised proposal will not provide incentives for testing but will prioritise R&D and manufacturing. The proposed incentive amount is Rs 3,000 crore.

This move aligns with the Indian defence establishment's efforts to ensure that military drones sourced from domestic private companies do not include Chinese parts. Recently, the defense ministry halted an order for 200 medium-altitude logistics drones, demanding proof from manufacturers that no Chinese components were used.

RBI Cautions Against 'Gold Rush'

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has warned that it will take action against banks if they fail to correct violations of gold loan regulations within three months. The central bank noted a significant 41% increase in gold loans in August compared to the previous year, highlighting the need for tighter monitoring. With gold loan portfolios reaching Rs 1.4 lakh crore, the RBI found several irregular practices in how banks lend against gold. Key issues included poor transparency in auctioning gold from defaults and insufficient checks on loan valuations. The RBI has urged banks to implement timely remedial measures and strengthen their oversight of third-party services.

From The States

Voting Begins In Final Phase Of J&K Assembly Polls

Voters in Jammu and Kashmir are casting their ballots in the third and final phase of assembly elections. A total of 415 candidates are contesting across 40 seats, with 24 in Jammu and 16 in Kashmir. Prominent figures like former deputy chief ministers Tara Chand and Muzaffar Beig are in the fray. The BJP is aiming for dominance in Hindu-majority districts in Jammu, while the focus in Kashmir is on key districts in the north, with Engineer Rashid and Sajad Lone among the leading candidates.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Booked By ED In Land Allotment Case

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been booked by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged money laundering case linked to the Mysore Urban Development Authority. The ED registered a report based on an FIR from the Karnataka Lokayukta, which includes allegations of corruption. A senior ED official stated that the offences fall under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, allowing for potential attachment of the CM's properties. Siddaramaiah and three others were previously booked by the Lokayukta for the alleged allotment of 14 housing sites to the CM’s wife in 2021.

Ayodhya Gang-Rape: DNA Sample Matches That Of SP Leader's Help

The DNA sample of 71-year-old Samajwadi Party functionary Moeed Khan did not match that of the fetus of the 12-year-old Ayodhya gang-rape survivor but instead matched that of his domestic help, Raju Khan. The survivor, from the scheduled caste Nishad community, was allegedly raped by Moeed and Raju for two-and-a-half months. This information was revealed when the Uttar Pradesh government submitted the DNA report to the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court. The crime sparked significant political controversy ahead of the by-poll in Ayodhya's Milkipur constituency.

Stay tuned for more insights throughout the day.