1. Israel-Palestine Conflict: Israeli Air Force Kills 2 more Hamas Leaders; Water Supply to Southern Gaza Restored
2. Shorter time, higher baggage allowance; Ferry service between India-Sri Lanka launched
3. ‘Angad’, ‘Uttam’ to replace imported systems in indigenous LCA fighter jets
4. Jaishankar Arrives in Vietnam on 4-Day Visit to Enhance Bilateral Cooperation
5. George Soros closes offices across $25 billion philanthropy empire

What Else

6. Nishikant tells Speaker Mohua took cash for questions on Adani in Parliament, seeks action
7. ‘Passport scam’: CBI books 24; raids 50 locations in West Bengal, Gangtok
8. Air India Express flight from Dubai makes emergency landing at Karachi airport
9. Rangers arrest 18-year-old for illegally crossing into Pakistan
10. J-K Police seize 240 kgs of poppy straw in Udhampur, two held
11. India slips in Global Hunger Index report, ranks 111^th among 125 countries; govt calls it ‘flawed’
12. Taliban official to attend China’s Belt and Road Forum as Beijing steps up Afghan engagement
13. Pakistan PM Kakar set to visit China to attend Belt and Road Forum next week:
14. Pakistan govt destroys Afghan refugees’ houses as part of ongoing crackdown
15. Explosion rocks Takhar Province in Afghanistan
16. Security forces kill key BLA commander in Kech IBO

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Israel-Palestine Conflict: Israeli Air Force Kills 2 more Hamas Leaders; Water Supply to Southern Gaza Restored

• The war between Israel-Hamas has entered the 10^th day with the Israeli Air Forces neutralizing 2 more Hamas leaders, one of whom was the commander behind one of the heinous Kibbutz attacks.
• In an expanded emergency cabinet meeting on Sun, PM Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “demolish Hamas”.
• Meanwhile, the White House announced that Israel confirmed turning the water supply back on in southern Gaza, which is currently tackling with water shortage.
• The Israeli energy minister Katz said that this decision was taken after talks between PM Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden. (here)
• ‘Operation Ajay’ 4^th flight brings 274 Indians safely home from war-torn Israel: The 4^th flight under ‘Operation Ajay’ successfully brought back 274 Indian nationals from Israel to the national capital of India.
• These evacuees were received at the Delhi airport by Union Minister Kaushal Kishore, representing the Indian govt in their warm homecoming on Sun morning
• ‘Operation Ajay,’ is an ongoing aimed at bringing back approx 18,000 Indians who found themselves stranded in Israel due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. 
• Registration for this rescue operation commenced just a few days ago, marking a pivotal step in ensuring the safe return of Indian citizens. (here)
• US sends second aircraft carrier to “deter hostile actions” against Israel: The US sent a 2^nd aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean to deter the “hostile actions” against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas’s attack on Israel, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin said on Sat.
• The Strike Group includes the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), guided-missile destroyers USS Gravely (DDG 107) and USS Mason (DDG 87), and Carrier Air Wing 3, with 9 aircraft squadrons, and embarked HQ staffs. (here)
• Blinken urges Beijing to use influence in Israel-Gaza conflict: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Beijing to use its influence in the Middle East to prevent other state or non-state actors from attacking Israel and widening its war with Hamas.
• Blinken spoke with FM Wang Yi before departing from Riyadh, where the top US diplomat was attempting to shore up support for Israel among Arab nations. (here)
• Wang told Blinken that “China opposes all acts that harm civilians and condemns practices that violate international law“.
• The two also touched on U.S.-China relations, the statement said, which Wang said were showing signs of stabilizing. (here)
• Meanwhile, Israel expressed “deep disappointment” over Beijing’s “lack of clear condemnation” of the Hamas attack on Israel.
• China’s stand was “inconsistent with and untrue to the tragedies and fears that have occurred in the past few days,” the Israel Embassy in Beijing said in a statement. (here)
• Hamas actively preventing Palestinians from leaving Gaza: Israel Defence Forces (here)
• “We were really moved by Indian friends showing their solidarity with Israel“: Israeli Ambassador to India Naor Gilon
• RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sun said that instead of coming to an end, conflicts in the world have increased and that the world has everything except the things that bring happiness, solutions, and satisfaction. (here)

Shorter time, higher baggage allowance; Ferry service between India-Sri Lanka launched

• The newly launched passenger ferry service from Nagapattinam to Sri Lanka’s Kankesanthurai will have a travel time of approx 3-4 hours, sources said.
• According to official sources, there will be a higher baggage allowance of 50 kg compared to 15 kg in the Chennai-Jaffna sector by air.
• Travelers with large baggage (50 kg) could travel to NE Sri Lanka in 3-4 hours instead of a long journey by air to Colombo followed by a tedious 8-10 hours road journey.
• The Ferry will continue until Oct 2023 this year before the North-East Monsoon sets in Tamil Nadu and the Sri Lankan coast. (here)

‘Angad’, ‘Uttam’ to replace imported systems in indigenous LCA fighter jets

• In a significant development amid the ongoing push for the indigenization of military weapons, the made-in-India LCA-Mark1A would be fitted with the ‘Uttam’ radar and the ‘Angad’ electronic warfare suite, replacing the imported systems.
• The Uttam Active Electronically Scanned Array radar and Angad electronic warfare suite are being developed indigenously and will be ready to be integrated with the LCA.
• The Indian Air Force has already placed orders for 83 LCA Mark 1A fighter jets and going to place orders for another 97 shortly.
• The projects are being implemented by different laboratories of the DRDO.
• The push for retrofitting the LCA with indigenous weapon systems is also tipped to save millions in foreign exchange while creating employment opportunities.
• The Uttam radar has also shown very promising results in the development phase and has even been considered for deployment in high-end fighter jets.
• According to plans of the Indian Air Force (IAF), these made-in-India aircraft will replace the MiG-series fighter jets in its fleet. (here)

Jaishankar Arrives in Vietnam on 4-Day Visit to Enhance Bilateral Cooperation

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Vietnam on Sun on the first leg of his 2-nation trip to SE Asia to further enhance bilateral cooperation.
• Soon after arrival, he visited the historical Tran Quoc Pagoda- Constructed in the 6^th century- the Tran Quoc Pagoda is the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi.
• Jaishankar was welcomed by his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son at the renowned temple.
• Jaishankar as part of his 6-day visit to Vietnam and Singapore to shore up bilateral cooperation in diverse areas with two nations.
• He will also co-chair the 18^th meeting of the India-Vietnam Joint Commission on economic, trade, and scientific and technological cooperation. (here)

George Soros closes offices across $25 billion philanthropy empire

• The $25 billion international network of foundations started by George Soros is shuttering offices around the world as it prepares to cut more than 40% of its staff.
• Employees of the Open Society Foundations’ Africa operations received mail last week detailing the next steps of the process, which includes closing half a dozen offices in Africa, in addition to Baltimore and Barcelona.
• The charity doles out more than $1 billion in grants annually, including over $100 million in Africa. (here)
• In 2020, he criticized PM Modi for creating a “Hindu nationalist state”. “…a democratically elected Narendra Modi is creating a Hindu nationalist state, imposing punitive measures on Kashmir, a semi-autonomous Muslim region, and threatening to deprive millions of Muslims of their citizenship“. (here)

Nishikant tells Speaker Mohua took cash for questions on Adani in Parliament, seeks action

• BJP MP Nishikant Dubey Sun leveled serious allegations against TMC MP Mahua Moitra, claiming that she took cash and gifts for asking questions in Parliament.
• Responding to Dubey’s charge that businessman Darshan Hiranandani gave her cash and gifts, Moitra said the CBI was welcome to investigate her “right after they finish investigating Adani’s offshore money trail, over-invoicing, benami account”.
• In a letter to the Speaker, Dubey also sought an inquiry against Moitra and her immediate suspension from the House for “breach of privilege, contempt of the House, and a criminal offense under Section 120-A of the IPC”.
• Citing “irrefutable evidence”, Dubey said that out of Moitra’s recent 61 questions, 50 “shockingly seek information, with the intent of protecting or perpetuating business interests of Shri Darshan Hiranandani and his company. (here)

‘Passport scam’: CBI books 24; raids 50 locations in West Bengal, Gangtok

• The Central Bureau of Investigation is currently conducting searches at 50 different locations in both WB and Gangtok, officials said on Sat.
• The CBI has registered a case against 24 individuals, including govt officials, for their alleged involvement in issuing passports based on counterfeit documents.
• CBI has apprehended an official stationed in Gangtok and a middleman.
• Also, CBI detectives are continuing their searches not only at the passport office in Kolkata but also at various sites in Salt Lake and Howrah.
• In an unexpected move, the CBI carried out a raid at the home of an individual in Uluberia, Howrah, during the early hours of Sat.
• This person was subjected to questioning for nearly 6 hours, following which the CBI took agents into custody. (here)

Air India Express flight from Dubai makes emergency landing at Karachi airport

• A Dubai-Amritsar flight made an emergency landing at Karachi airport on Sat after an onboard guest had a sudden medical complication during the journey.
• The Air India Express flight departed from Dubai at 8:51 am (local time) and landed in Karachi at 12:30 pm (local time).
• According to an Air India Express, the crew opted to divert the flight to Karachi as it was the closest location to provide the guest with immediate medical assistance.
• The airline closely coordinated with the airport and local authorities, and the guest was provided with immediate medical services after landing in Karachi.
• However, the passengers were not allowed to disembark. (here)

Rangers arrest 18-year-old for illegally crossing into Pakistan

• The arrest was made after a suspicious presence was reported in Chah Ghuniya, Rahim Yar Khan, and on questioning, the boy turned out to be Indian.
• The boy told the Rangers that his name was Bipin, son of Matla, and was only 18 years old and belonged to Rajasthan.
• Bipin reportedly crossed into Pakistan during the night and was arrested from Chah Ghuniya in the Cholistan desert.
• He was also found to have Rs 110 and could not give a satisfactory answer about where he was found.
• Bipin was handed over by rangers to Islamgarh police station, where a case has been filed against him and investigations are underway. (here)

J-K Police seize 240 kgs of poppy straw in Udhampur, two held

• Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday recovered 240 kgs of poppy straw at Jakhani Check Naka on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Udhampur.
• Police arrested the two suspected drug peddlers on the spot and seized the vehicle.
• He said that two persons were arrested and a case was registered.
• Investigation underway (here)

India slips in Global Hunger Index report, ranks 111^th among 125 countries; govt calls it ‘flawed’

• The Global Hunger Index 2023 ranked India in the 111^th position among the 125 countries with a score of 28.7, as per a report released on Thursday (Oct 12).
• Reacting to the report, India’s Ministry of Women and Child Development called the rankings “flawed”, adding that they failed to depict the true position of India.
• Meanwhile, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka were ranked at 102^nd, 81^st, 69^th, and 60^th respectively by the GHI.
• In 2022, India was placed at the rank of 107 out of 121. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Taliban official to attend China’s Belt and Road Forum as Beijing steps up Afghan engagement

• The Taliban will attend China’s Belt and Road Forum (BRF) this week, a spokesman for the Islamic group ruling Afghanistan said.
• The move underscores Beijing’s growing official ties with the Afghan administration, despite its lack of formal recognition by any govt.
• Taliban officials and ministers have at times traveled to regional meetings, mostly those focused on Afghanistan, but the BRF is among the highest-profile multilateral summits the group has been invited to attend.
• The 2-day BRF starting on Tue marks the 10^th anniversary of President Xi’s ambitious global infrastructure and energy initiative, billed as recreating the ancient Silk Road to boost global trade.
• Impoverished Afghanistan could offer a wealth of coveted mineral resources.
• A mines minister estimated in 2010 that Afghanistan had untapped deposits, ranging from copper to gold and lithium, worth between US$1 trillion and US$3 trillion.
• It is not clear how much they are worth today. (here)
• Pakistan PM Kakar set to visit China to attend Belt and Road Forum next week: Caretaker PM Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar will attend the “3^rd BRF for International Cooperation” being held in Beijing from Oct 17-18 and hold a one-on-one meeting with President Xi.
• Speaking about the PM’s visit, Caretaker FM Jalil Abbas Jillani said Kakar would discuss joint ventures with the Chinese companies and several MoUs regarding agriculture, health, industrial, green energy, and space technology cooperation would be signed.
• The FM further said that the visit would enhance the ongoing strong bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and China as “Iron Brothers” and would help strengthen the bilateral ties.
• The foreign minister further informed that the caretaker prime minister would also visit the Xingjian region bordering Pakistan and eight other countries of the region.
• The FM said both countries coordinated to blunt the terrorist activities and both sides had expressed satisfaction over the ongoing bilateral cooperation. (here)

Pakistan govt destroys Afghan refugees’ houses as part of ongoing crackdown

• Afghan refugees living in Pakistan claimed that the Pakistani army has destroyed their houses and forced them to leave their houses, reported TOLO News.
• Refugees who have been living in Pakistan for a long time now have called on refugee’ advocates for support.
• Moreover, the head of the Afghan Refugees’ Council in Pakistan said that in different parts of Pakistan, the govt is destroying the houses of Afghans.
• The caretaker PM Anwar ul Haq Kakar stressed that the repatriation of Afghan refugees does not mean the end of relations with Afghanistan.
• However, the Taliban said that such misbehavior with the Afghan refugees adversely affects relations with Pakistan.
• In an ongoing nationwide crackdown on illegal immigrants, agencies have held more than 1,700 Afghan nationals in Karachi without valid documents. (here)

Explosion rocks Takhar Province in Afghanistan

• An explosion rocked Taleqan city of Takhar Province in Afghanistan on Sun evening, according to Khaama Press.
• With the rise in blasts and the worsening security situation since the Taliban took control, the details of the explosion remain unclear.
• However, an investigation is underway.
• According to reports, the incident happened close to the Takhar police command center and the governor’s office.
• There are still many unanswered questions regarding this occurrence, like how many people were hurt and what caused the explosion. (here)

Security forces kill key BLA commander in Kech IBO

• A key member and a hardcore Balochistan Liberation Army’s terrorist Saddam Hussain Muslim was killed in an intelligence-based operation by the security forces, on Sun.
• According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), another close associate of the killed terrorist, Maqsood, was also eliminated during the operation.
• Later, the security forces also recovered a large amount of arms and explosives from their possession.
• Saddam was operating incognito by using different names like Muslim, Guru and Jabbar to hide his identity, said ISPR.
• He became part of the Baloch Liberation Front in 2008.
• The outlawed BLA, allegedly supported by the Indian intelligence agency RAW, employs illusory strategies through social media campaigns to portray an illusion of success and discord within the country. (here)