1. Israel-Hamas War: US, Russian Resolutions Fail at UNSC
2. China deploying Combined Arms Brigade near Tawang after clashes in Arunachal
3. India to Resume Visa Services in Canada for Some Categories from Thu Amid Diplomatic Row
4. Lord Ram’s idol will be installed at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir on Jan 22: Trust General Secretary
5. Chinese ‘research vessel’ Shin Yan 6 docks at Colombo Port amid India’s security concerns

What Else

6. Jaishankar to attend SCO meeting in Kyrgyzstan
7. No immunity if platforms fail to remove child sex content?
8. Pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh’s father stopped from flying out from Amritsar airport
9. China ready to work with US for “win-win cooperation and properly manage differences”: Xi
10. Afghan diplomat says Taliban govt already declared ‘attack on Pakistan not jihad’
11. Not only Afghans, deadline to leave Pakistan for all illegal foreigners: security czar

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Israel-Hamas War: US, Russian Resolutions Fail at UNSC

• The UNSC again failed to take action regarding the ongoing Israel and Hamas war.
• Russia and China used their veto power to block a draft resolution led by the US on Wed, while a separate proposal led by Moscow did not gain sufficient support.
• After exercising its veto last week, the US put forward its resolution that would support “humanitarian pauses” to let aid into the blockaded Gaza Strip and back the right of “all states” to self-defense within the confines of international law.
• The US-led draft did not call for a full ceasefire, as per the resolution draft-AFP. (here)
• Biden says progress on India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor could be one of the reasons for Hamas’ attack on Israel
• It was countering China’s BRI. No doubt China and Pakistan along with Turkey have openly supported the Hamas terror group (here)
• Israeli envoy praises PM Modi, urges India to designate Hamas a terrorist organization: Terming India a crucial “moral voice” across the world, Israeli Envoy to India, Naor Gilon has urged New Delhi to designate Hamas as a terror organization in India as well.
• He stated that both India and Israel have a “shared war” against terror and counter-terrorism is one of the areas where the countries align. (here)
• IDF strikes back at Syria after rocket attack, conducts airstrike on gunmen in Jenin: The Israel Defence Forces on Wed said that it struck several Syrian military targets after rockets were fired from Syria toward Israeli communities in the Golan Heights.
• The IDF fighter jets hit “military infrastructure” and mortar launching sites. (here)
• Israel denies Visas to UN officials as furore over Guterres’ remarks escalates: Israel’s diplomat to the UN, Gilad Erdan Wed said that his country will deny visas to the UN officials after remarks by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that appeared to justify Hamas’ assault on Israel, The Times of Israel reported. (here)
• US President Biden, Saudi Crown Prince MBS discuss Israel-Hamas conflict escalation: The two discussed the conflict between Israel and Hamas during a phone call, the WH said on Tue.
• The leaders spoke about “ongoing diplomatic and military efforts to deter state and non-state actors from widening the conflict” and agreed to pursue “broader diplomatic efforts to maintain stability across the region “. (here)
• Saudi crown prince tells Biden, Israel normalization can resume after war
• IDF claims Hamas holds over half million litres of fuel in Gaza amid power crisis: The IDF released photographs on Tue, showcasing what it claims to be fuel tanks within the Gaza Strip.
• The IDF alleges that Hamas is storing significant quantities of fuel in the region. (here)
• Lebanon’s Hezbollah chief meets with Hamas, Islamic Jihad: The head of Lebanon’s Hezbollah met with top leaders of terrorist groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Wed.
• The Israeli publication posted an image tweeted on social media X to show Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, with Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri, and Islamic Jihad chief Ziad al-Nakhala. (here)
• “Iran directly aided Hamas before attack…still helping with intelligence”: Israel: Israel has alleged that Iran “directly aided” Hamas with training, supplying weapons, money, and technological know-how ahead of the terror attack on Oct 7 and is still helping the terror group with intelligence and incitement. (here)
• “We are preparing for a ground invasion. I won’t give the details, the Date for the Ground Invasion of the Gaza Strip has been Set“: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu
• Israel agrees to delay Gaza invasion so US can rush Missile Defenses to the region – WSJ

China deploying Combined Arms Brigade near Tawang after clashes in Arunachal

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the border area of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh on Tue where he performed ‘Shastra Puja’.
• The optics of Singh’s visit to the border area on Dussehra is significant.
• In December last year, Indian forces successfully repelled a Chinese incursion in the Yangtse area of the Tawang sector.
• This was credited to the better tactical deployment of Indian troops like the occupation of the ridgeline, better preparedness, effective intelligence, and all-weather deployment at the existing outposts in the area.
• However, recent commercial satellite imagery, indicates that China likely transferred its Combined Arms Brigade deployed in proximity to the clash site at Lampug in Tsona Dzong during the standoff to Ritang in Lhontse Dzong within months post incident.
• India has leveraged its tactical position along the ridgeline and maintained a network of about half a dozen small outposts to counteract Chinese incursions.
• However, in recent times, China has invested in the development of a road network and new garrisons along the immediate depth areas of the frontier to improve their strategic deployments.
• Nevertheless, the permanent or semi-permanent deployment of additional Chinese troops in the region could potentially erode India’s long-standing perceived advantages.
• Also, the US DoD, in its recent annual report to Congress, emphasized the deployment of 3 light-to-medium CABs by China in the eastern sector of the LAC, which further underscores the evolving dynamics in the region. (here)

India to Resume Visa Services in Canada for Some Categories from Thu Amid Diplomatic Row

• India has decided to resume some visa services in the selected category in Canada, almost a month after it was suspended over security reasons.
• The High Commission of India in Ottawa informed the visa services will resume for categories– Entry Visa, Business Visa, Medical Visa, and Conference Visa– from Oct 26.
• Last month, India stopped processing visas at its high commission and consulates in Canada amid an escalating diplomatic row between the two countries.
• Ministry of External Affairs spox had said that the Indian high commission and consulates in Canada are not working properly due to threats. (here)
• [has the threat eliminated?]
• After U.S., U.K., Australia, Five eyes member New Zealand too criticizes India on order expelling Canadian diplomats
• Close on the heels of US, UK, and Australia, New Zealand on Oct 26 criticized India’s demand for 41 Canadian diplomats to leave or face a revocation of diplomatic immunity.
• New Zealand, the last of the “five eyes” to speak on the issue, also referred to the Vienna Convention on diplomatic ties.
• “Now seems the time for more diplomacy, not less,” said a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry that expressed “concern” over the departure of the diplomats (here)

Lord Ram’s idol will be installed at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir on Jan 22: Trust General Secretary

• Champat Rai, General Secretary of Shri Ram Janambhoomi Trust on Wed said that the idol of Lord Ram will be installed at Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Jan 22 next year.
• “Today along with members of Shri Ram Janambhoomi Trust we met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We have invited him (PM Modi) to come on January 22 to install the idol of Lord Ram in the Garbhagriha. He has accepted our request. He will be present on January 22. The date for ‘Pran Pratishtha’ on January 22 is confirmed,” Champat Rai said. Powered By PlayUnmute Fullscreen
• After meeting with the officials of Trust, PM Modi said he feels blessed and it is his good fortune that he will be witnessing such a historic occasion (here)

Jaishankar to attend SCO meeting in Kyrgyzstan

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wed embarked on a 2-day visit to Kyrgyzstan to attend the 22^nd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council, to be held under the chairmanship of Kyrgyzstan.
• The Oct 25-26 meeting in the Kyrgyz capital city of Bishkek will be attended by the heads of states of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the Vice-President of Iran, and the FMs of India and Pakistan.
• SCO observer States including Belarus and Mongolia as well as guest states Turkmenistan will also attend the meeting.
• The CHG is the second-highest forum in SCO.
• It focuses primarily on the areas of economy, finance, commerce, and socio-economic cooperation. (here)

No immunity if platforms fail to remove child sex content?

• The govt is reviewing the continuation of immunity for social media giants under the IT Act if they fail to take down content that causes gross user harm, including cases related to the peddling of child sexual abuse material, misinformation, and religious incitements, and algorithm mismanagement.
• Besides, the govt plans to invoke provisions of the IT Intermediary Guidelines that would make the likes of Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and Google criminally liable for punishment under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Dy Min for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar told TOI on Wed. (here)

Pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh’s father stopped from flying out from Amritsar airport

• Sleuths of intelligence stopped Tarsem Singh, father of pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh, from boarding an international flight at Amritsar’s Airport on Wed.
• Sources in the family said Tarsem was on the way to Qatar to meet some people who were in the family’s transport business.
• They added that Tarsem had informed the police before traveling abroad. (unverified)
• When contacted, Amritsar police said the police didn’t stop Tarsem.
• However, sources said the family of Amritpal, who is lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail, has been under the radar of various agencies ever since the arrest.
• In past, Amritpal’s wife, Kirandeep Kaur, was also stopped from flying to the UK. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Chinese ‘research vessel’ Shin Yan 6 docks at Colombo Port amid India’s security concerns

• Chinese Shin Yan 6—which India claims to be a spy vessel—arrived at the Port of Colombo on Wed.
• Sri Lanka foreign ministry told AFP that the vessel had been authorized to dock in the city, where a Chinese state-owned company operates a deep-sea container terminal.
• The 90-metre vessel was seen entering the port of Colombo on Wed evening.
• Vessel for research purposes [but what kind of research]
• The Chinese call the Shi Yan 6 a “scientific research vessel” with a crew of 60 to allegedly conduct oceanography, geology, and marine ecology tests.
• According to the Chinese, their primary objective is to carry out an extensive survey encompassing both the EEZ of the island nation and the region of the Indian Ocean.
• However, India believes that the research ship is a spy vessel in disguise meant to snoop on Indian military assets based in the southern region bordering Sri Lanka and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• India’s concerns: the University of Ruhuna announced that it has decided to step away from the research program that was to take place with the research vessel.
• The University of Ruhuna announced that one of the 2 university lecturers who represented the university in agreeing to conduct joint research had migrated overseas, and the other lecturer had stepped away from the university completely. (here)
• US echoes India’s security concerns over China’s Shi Yan 6’s port call to Sri Lanka: The US is learned to have expressed apprehensions over the upcoming visit of the Chinese ‘research ship’ Shi Yan 6, believed to be a spy vessel, to Colombo.
• According to Lankan outlet Daily Mirror, on Sept 25^th, US Under Secy Victoria Nuland during her meeting with FM Ali Sabry raised concerns about the upcoming visit of the Chinese vessel. (here)

China ready to work with US for “win-win cooperation and properly manage differences”: Xi

• Citing the impact of US-China relations on “world peace and development”, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that Beijing is ready to work with Washington, to “properly manage differences”, Xinhua reported on Wed.
• Xi stated that China is willing to work with the US based on 3 principles of “mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation”.
• “As two major countries in the world, whether China and the United States can find a right path of state-to-state interactions bears on world peace and development, and the future of mankind,” Jinping said.
• In a congratulatory message to the annual Gala Dinner of the National Committee on US-China Relations, Xi applauded the committee’s longstanding dedication to the exchanges and cooperation between the two in various areas.
• Notably, tensions between the US and China have escalated on a variety of issues, including technology, espionage, economic competition, and military strength. (here)

Afghan diplomat says Taliban govt already declared ‘attack on Pakistan not jihad’

• A top Afghanistan diplomat said Wed that the Taliban administration had already issued a fatwa (decree) that launching attacks in “Pakistan is not jihad” (holy war).
• Hafiz Mohibullah Shakir, the acting consul general in Peshawar, said that the neighboring country’s defense ministry had also made it clear that attacking Pakistan did not fall under jihad.
• Islamabad has time and again stressed that TTP terrorists have safe havens in Afghanistan and that the nation’s soil was being used for attacks on Pakistan.
• Since the Afghan Taliban took over the reins of govt in 2021, Pakistan has witnessed a rise in terror incidents with 2023 being the deadliest in 8 years (here)

Not only Afghans, deadline to leave Pakistan for all illegal foreigners: security czar

• Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti Wed clarified that the Nov 1 deadline is not limited to Afghans, but applies to all foreigners illegally residing in Pakistan.
• Speaking in the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, the security czar clarified that the govt addressed the issue of expulsion of “all” illegal foreigners living in the country.
• The caretaker govt, earlier this month, had directed all “aliens” — including 1.73 million Afghan nationals — to leave the country following a series of terrorist attacks in which Afghan nationals were found to be responsible for 14 of 24 suicide bombings.
• The govt is also deporting Baloch people coming into the country from Iran, Bugti said while reassuring that those with refugee cards and visas are “our guests”. (here)