[NEWS OF THE DAY]

1. ‘When threats are global, response can’t be local’: PM at 90^th Interpol General Assembly
2. 2 migrant workers killed in 2^nd targeted attack in Jammu & Kashmir in 3 days
3. ‘Varied laws hamper nation’s unity’: Centre files its first affidavit on UCC in SC
4. Rajnath Singh meets African counterparts ahead of India-Africa Defence Dialogue
5. Jayalalithaa Death: Panel holds Sasikala ‘Guilty’, advises probe against her, Ex-Health Minister

What Else

6. BSF shoots down Pakistani drone carrying 2kg heroin in Amritsar’s Rania border outpost
7. US International DFC CEO on 3-day visit in India, to meet private sector leaders
8. “Not transparent, internal politics in Judiciary…” Law Minister on judicial appointments
9. Jaishankar Says Peace in Border Areas Must for Normal Relations between India and China
10. Delhi HC Denies Bail to Umar Khalid in 2020 Riots’ ‘Larger Conspiracy’ Case
11. China Recruiting Former R.A.F. Pilots to Train Its Army Pilots, U.K. Says
12. US ‘confident’ Pakistan’s nuclear assets are secure
13. Xi alone stands atop the CCP

‘When threats are global, response can’t be local’: PM Modi at 90^th Interpol General Assembly

• Addressing the 90^th Interpol General Assembly, PM Narendra Modi said on Tue said when the threats are global the response to defeat it ‘can’t be just local’
• PM said it was high time that the world comes together to defeat these threats, adding that it was not enough to fight terrorism only in physical space but in cyberspace too.
• Delegates from a total of 195 member countries comprising ministers, police chiefs, heads of national central bureaus, and police officers were present in, New Delhi.
• Ahead of his address, PM Narendra Modi released the commemorative postal stamp and commemorative coins of ₹100 denomination. (here)
• On Mon, Interpol Secy General said that the organization has a limited role in arresting any person subjected to red notice and cannot compel any member country to arrest an individual on its basis. (here)
• Interpol President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi on Tue reiterated his commitment to drive for a modern Interpol, to enhance transparency, and to support collaboration between police organizations of member countries.

2 migrant workers killed in 2^nd targeted attack in Jammu & Kashmir in 3 days

• 2 migrant workers from UP were killed on Tue in the 2^nd targeted attack in J&K Shopian district in 3 days, and the terrorist who lobbed the grenade at them has been arrested.
• This came 3 days after a Kashmiri Pandit, 56, a fruit grower was shot dead at his residence in Shopian on Sat.
• A little-known outfit Kashmir Freedom Fighters claimed responsibility for the attack, which triggered a series of protests across Kashmir. (here)
• Earlier this month, Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a rally in Baramulla, but Pandits say that their demand for relocation to Jammu found no mention in his speech.
• A total of 20 civilians and 6 security forces personnel have been killed in targeted attacks this year, so far.

NIA Probe in Gangs-Terror Nexus, Conducts Raids at Multiple Locations in North India

• News18 (source)- National Investigation Agency on early Tue carried out searches at multiple locations in N India in an ongoing case against gangs and their nexus with terror groups.
• Based on specific inputs, NIA teams in coordination with state police carried out these raids at certain locations of the gangsters.
• Similar searches were conducted last month at 50 locations in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, and NCR.
• The NIA also conducted raids today at 2 locations in Phulwari Sharif, Patna in connection with the PFI, (banned organization) case of Patna. (here)

‘Varied laws hamper nation’s unity’: Centre files its first affidavit on UCC in Supreme Court

• The Central govt on Tue filed its first affidavit in the Supreme Court regarding the Uniform Civil Code and put forth several arguments in its support.
• The govt argued varied laws hamper national unity and the UCC denies personal law.
• This came in response to the petitions seeking a direction to the central govt to frame religion and gender-neutral laws for divorce, adoption, guardianship, succession, inheritance, maintenance, marriage age, and alimony.
• The top court had earlier sought a comprehensive response from the Centre on a batch of petitions on the UCC. (here)

Rajnath Singh meets African counterparts ahead of India-Africa Defence Dialogue

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Mon met his African counterparts from Ethiopia, Mauritania, Gambia, Ghana, and the Central African Republic and held discussions on issues of mutual interest.
• The India-Africa Defence Dialogue which is scheduled for Tue, Singh held discussions with defense ministers of various African nations.
• India-Africa Defence Dialogue held on Oct 18 on the sidelines of DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• Singh hosted the DMs of African Nations during the India-Africa Defence Dialogue.
• The broad theme of the dialogue is ‘India-Africa: Adopting Strategy for Synergising and Strengthening Defence and Security Cooperation.‘ (here)

BSF shoots down Pakistani drone carrying 2kg heroin in Amritsar’s Rania border outpost

• The Border Security Force shoot a drone intrusion attempt by shooting down an Octa-copter (8 propellers) at the Rania border outpost in Amritsar around 9:15 pm on Sun.
• The drone is approximately 12kg in weight, of which 2 propellors sustained damage due to firing by BSF troops.
• Just two days ago, a Pakistani drone was shot down in Punjab’s Gurdaspur. (here)
• Before that 191 drones entered [which could be detacted] into India from Pakistan in the last 9 months, and only 7 were shot down.
• Out of 191, 171 entered Paujab while 20 were in J&K, which is being used by Pakistan’s side to transport weapons, explosives, and narcotics. (here)

US International DFC CEO on 3-day visit in India, to meet private sector leaders

• US International Development Finance Corporation, CEO Scott Nathan arrived in India on Mon for his 3-day visit from Oct 17-20 to discuss prospects to accelerate economic growth.
• During his visit to Mumbai and New Delhi, Nathan hold talks on boosting economic development in the greater Indo-Pacific region.
• In New Delhi, he will visit DFC health project sites, and meet existing clients and govt officials to discuss how the US agency can help advance inclusive development.
• The DFC partners with the private sector to finance solutions to the most critical challenges facing the developing world.  (here)

Jaishankar Says Peace in Border Areas Must for Normal Relations between India and China

• External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tue reiterated that normalcy in the Sino-India ties can be restored only if there is peace and tranquility in the border areas while addressing a conference.
• He further added that the tensions in the border areas were “mischievously conflated” with solving the question related to the boundary from time to time. (here)

Jayalalithaa Death: Panel holds Sasikala ‘Guilty’, advises probe against her, Ex-Health Minister

• The Arumugasamy Commission, in its 608-page report on late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s death, said that the only conclusion the panel can reach is that VK Sasikala is guilty.
• The commission found Jayalalithaa’s close aide Sasikala, Dr Sivakumar (Jayalalithaa’s physician and relative of Sasikala), former health secretary, and former health minister to be guilty.
• Jayalalithaa died on Dec 5, 2016, and the Commission of Inquiry, constituted by the previous AIADMK govt, commenced its hearing on Nov 22, 2017.
• The commission’s report was tabled before the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tue. (here)

“Not transparent, internal politics in Judiciary…” Law Minister on judicial appointments

• Emphasizing the need for reforms in judicial appointments, Union Law Min Kiren Rijiju has said the procedure of the Collegium system is very opaque and there exists “internal politics” in the Judiciary.
• Speaking at an event organized by RSS magazine on Mon, the Minister said, “…..But the issue is that when the judiciary goes astray, there is no system to improve them.”
• The SC Collegium is presided over by the CJ+4 senior-most judges, though the govt can object or seek clarifications, but is bound to approve the if the Collegium repeats them.
• “In the SC, there are 50-60 lawyers who even threaten the judges,” he said.
• In 2014, the present govt brought the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act in an attempt to change the system of appointment, on Apr 13, 2015.
• But the top court on Oct 16, 2015, struck down the NJAC Act. (here)

Delhi HC Denies Bail to Umar Khalid in 2020 Riots’ ‘Larger Conspiracy’ Case

• The Delhi high court on Tue denied bail to scholar and activist Umar Khalid, held since Sept 14, 2020, over what the Delhi police have claimed is his connection to the ‘larger conspiracy’ behind the northeast Delhi riots.
• Khalid was charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and several sections of the Indian Penal Code, and other Acts.
• The bench went on to assert was “obnoxious, hateful, offensive and prima facie not acceptable.”
• His prolonged imprisonment in the course of what many have called a highly partisan investigation into the Delhi riots has been widely criticized by global bodies. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Xi alone stands atop the CCP

• If any demonstration was needed of the divine leadership of Chairman Xi Jinping, was found on the opening day of the 20^th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party.
• On Oct 16, Xi told assembled party luminaries of his grand vision for 1.4 bn Chinese.
• His report was entitled “Hold High the Great Banner of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Strive in Unity to Build a Modern Socialist Country in All Respects“. (here)
• Xi’s anti-corruption campaign has investigated nearly 5 million people over the past decade, the ruling CCP’s senior anti-corruption official said on Mon. (here)
• The agency on Mon reiterated that the ongoing anti-corruption campaign, a hallmark of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s 10-year tenure, will continue in the years to come to “prevent rot” in the CCP.

China Recruiting Former R.A.F. Pilots to Train Its Army Pilots, U.K. Says

• China has recruited as many as 30 retired British military pilots, including some who flew sophisticated fighter jets, to train pilots in the PLA, Ministry claimed.
• Britain – it was working with allies to try to stop the practice, which the official said dated to before the coronavirus pandemic but had gained momentum in recent months.
• The recruited British pilots, the senior official said, included former members of the Royal Air Force and other branches of the armed forces.
• These pilots are not suspected of violating the Official Secrets Act, the British law that covers espionage, sabotage, and other crimes.
• But the official said that Britain was determined to tighten the controls on retired personnel to guard against training activities. (here)

US ‘confident’ Pakistan’s nuclear assets are secure

• The US has said that it is confident of Pakistan’s ability to keep its nuclear assets safe and secure.
• “The US is confident of Pakistan’s commitment and its ability to secure nuclear assets,” US State Department told pressers after a meeting between the Pakistan envoy and US Counselor.
• This came days after the Pakistan FO summoned the US envoy in Islamabad to protest over President Biden’s remarks.
• In an address on Thu, President Biden said “What I think is maybe one of the most dangerous nations in the world: Pakistan.” Added, “Nuclear weapons without any cohesion.” (here)