1. Qatar sentences 8 former Indian Navy officers to death, MEA says ‘exploring all legal options’
2. Israel Prepares for Ground Invasion; US Hits Proxy Iranian Facilities in Syria
3. China, Pakistan to hold Arabian Sea joint military drills in Nov
4. 5 Lashkar Terrorists Killed In J&K Encounter, Infiltration Attempt Stopped
5. PM Modi inaugurates 37th National Games in Goa

What Else

6. SCO meet: Jaishankar takes veiled dig at China’s BRI debt trap, exudes confidence in IMEC
7. Piyush Goyal to attend G7 meet in Japan
8. Former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang dies of heart attack
9. Pakistan: CJP Isa questions utility of caretaker set-ups

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Qatar sentences 8 former Indian Navy officers to death, MEA says ‘exploring all legal options’

• 8 Indian Navy veterans were sentenced to death by a court in Qatar Thu.
• The charges have still not been made public.
• The Ministry of External Affairs has called the verdict “shocking” and pledged to take up the matter with Qatari authorities.
• “We are deeply shocked by the verdict of death penalty and are awaiting the detailed judgment. We are in touch with the family members and the legal team, and we are exploring all legal options,” read a statement from the ministry.
• The 8 former officers worked for Dahra Global Technologies & Consulting Services, a company engaged in training Qatari navy personnel.
• Last Aug, they were picked up by Qatari intelligence and incarcerated in Doha.
• The report quotes the official saying: “We’ve tried to convince our counterparts in Doha that India and its nationals were not involved in hostile intelligence operations against the emirate,” and that, “But the Qataris are insisting that the intelligence on the submarine program was passed on to Israel.” (here)
• The website of the company, which no longer exists — it was removed after the first media report of the arrests appeared in this newspaper on Oct 28 — said it provided training, logistics and maintenance services to Qatari Emiri Naval Force. (here)
• Have hopes of relief in, Say Top Govt Sources: The Indian govt has hopes of relief in the case top sources told CNN-News18 on Thu.
• The judgment is not confirmed, they said.
• “This is a lower court judgment and needs confirmation from the constitutional bench,” said a top govt official. (here)

Israel Prepares for Ground Invasion; US Hits Proxy Iranian Facilities in Syria

• Israel continued to pound several targets in Gaza overnight, with the military engaging with Hamas fighters and targeting anti-tank weapons to “prepare the battlefield” before an expected ground invasion.
• It came after more than 2 weeks of devastating airstrikes that have left thousands dead, and more than 1 million displaced in Gaza.
• Arab leaders made a joint plea on Thu for a cease-fire to end civilian suffering and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
• Residents are running out of food, water, and medicine, and U.N. workers have barely any fuel left to support relief missions.
• Pentagon says Air Base in Iraq sustained minor damage after attempted attack
• 9 Arab nations condemn violations of international law, issue statement: A joint statement from foreign ministers of the UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt and Morocco condemns Israel.
• Iran Warning to US: Meanwhile, Iran’s FM Hossein Amirabdollahian warned on Thu that if Israel’s retaliation against Palestinian militants Hamas in the Gaza Strip doesn’t end then the US will “not be spared from this fire.” (here)
• 900 US troops deployed or are being deployed in Middle East: Pentagon official amid Israel-Hamas war (here)
• Pakistan: COAS Gen Asim Munir on Tue expressed grave concern over the “indiscriminate killing” of Palestinians in Gaza and called on the international community to put an end to the “unlawful use of force” by the Israeli military. (here)

China, Pakistan to hold Arabian Sea joint military drills in Nov

• China and Pakistan will hold their third joint naval exercises next month in the north of the Arabian Sea, the Chinese defense ministry said on Thursday.
• The Sea Guardians-3 drills will focus on formation movements, inspection, and capture, the mutual landing of helicopters, joint search and rescue, as well as anti-submarine operations, the ministry said.

• China and Pakistan launch naval drills aimed at countering US strategy: “The theme of this joint exercise is ‘jointly responding to maritime security threats’,” said ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Wu Qian at a press briefing on Thu.
• The two countries are aiming to further deepen the “China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and traditional friendship”, and improve the level of actual combat training between the two militaries, he said.
• Chinese President Xi met Pakistan’s PM Anwaarul Haq Kakar at last week’s BRF in Beijing and pledged to “promote regional unity and cooperation and safeguard the legitimate interests of developing countries”.
• Last month, the PLA Air Force’s J-16 fighter jet and Pakistan’s J-10C and JF-17 fighters took to the skies over northwest China for Shaheen-X, a joint air exercise aimed at validating interoperability in the face of “realistic contemporary air combat scenarios”.
• The first Sea Guardians exercise was held in the Arabian Sea in Jan 2020, with the second joint naval drill taking place in the waters near Shanghai in July last year. (here)
• China’s Aircraft Carrier Group Enters Western Pacific: Taiwan: Taiwan said Thu that a Chinese flotilla led by the Shandong aircraft carrier had entered the Pacific Ocean via the Bashi Channel, a waterway that separates the island from the Philippines. (here)

• Indian Navy closely tracking Chinese submarines, warships : Chinese submarines and warships are moving towards Pakistan for likely wargames and are being closely tracked by its assets including the P-8I surveillance planes and MQ-9B Predator drones.
• The Indian Navy keeps a close watch on the activities of the Chinese naval movements in the Indian Ocean which is considered globally as the area of responsibility of India.
• The 3 warships were part of the 44^th Anti-Piracy Escort Force since May 2023 and have now handed over the duty of anti-piracy roles to the 45^th APEF in the Gulf of Aden.
• The 45^th APEF entered the IOR in Oct and has been there since then. (here)
• As reported on Thu, China’s ocean research ship ‘Shi Yan 6’ docks in Colombo, and a map posted a map outlining its path and areas of recent activity, (here)
• India has raised concerns suspecting a military role for the vessel, in support of future Chinese Navy operations in the IOR

5 Lashkar Terrorists Killed In J&K Encounter, Infiltration Attempt Stopped

• 5 Lashkar terrorists were killed on Thu during a counter-infiltration operation by police and army along the LoC in Machil sector of Kupwara, J&K, said police
• In the initial shootout today, 2 terrorists were killed and in the ensuing gun battle 3 more terrorists were shot dead, police said.
• According to police, the killed terrorists belonged to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).
• Increasingly, the police are also being used in counter-infiltration operations, which was earlier done exclusively by the army.
• The Police Chief said that 16 terrorist launching pads are still operational across the LoC and there are efforts to push in terrorists from Pakistan. (here)
• Pakistan troops resort to unprovoked firing on BSF posts in RS Pura Sector: Panic gripped Arnia and other areas of the RS Pura J&K along the India-Pakistan IB on Thu after Pakistan Rangers resorted to unprovoked firing on BSF troops.
• Meanwhile, BSF personnel in Jammu informed that an appropriate response was given to the Pakistan Rangers for the ceasefire violation and unprovoked firing on their posts.
• The ceasefire violation from the Pakistan side started around 8 pm.
• Locals found mortal shells in the border village of Bulleh Chak. (here)

PM Modi inaugurates 37th National Games in Goa

• PM Modi inaugurated the 37^th edition of the National Games in Panaji, Goa on Thu.
• He was felicitated by Goa CM Pramod Sawant with a Kunbi shawl, a symbol of the state’s culture and identity.
• The Indian athletes presented a torch to PM Modi at the opening.
• The ‘Infinity Flame’ representing the games was presented to the PM and the games were officially inaugurated on that note.
• The National Games are being held in Goa for the very first time.
• The Games will be held from Oct 26 to Nov 9, participated by more than 10k athletes from across the country in over 43 sports disciplines across 28 venues. (here)

SCO meet: Jaishankar takes veiled dig at China’s BRI debt trap, exudes confidence in IMEC

• In a sharp dig at China’s BRI debt trap, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that “connectivity initiatives should always respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.”
• The Indian foreign minister made these remarks at the SCO Head of Government meeting in Kyrgyzstan on Wed.
• The minister also exuded confidence about the recently launched landmark India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
• IMEC was launched on the sidelines of the G20 summit hosted by New Delhi and is touted to be a rival of China’s BRI.
• China’s white elephant projects in lesser economically advanced nations are often seen as expansionistic ambitions of Beijing and are widely condemned.
• EAM said, “We should bear in mind that the Global South should not be saddled with unviable debt arising from opaque initiatives.” (here)

Piyush Goyal to attend G7 meet in Japan

• Commerce and industry minister will attend the G7 trade ministers’ meeting in Osaka on Oct 28-29 to discuss issues related to supply chain resilience and prospects for the upcoming ministerial conference of the WTO.
• Trade ministers of G7 member states hold an annual meeting to meet the current global challenges related to trade and investment and to set the course for a better future.
• Under its G7 presidency this year, Japan has invited India along with a few other invitee countries – Australia, Chile, Indonesia, and Kenya – to participate in the outreach program to be held on Oct 28, the ministry said. (here)
• Canada Trade Minister Mary Ng will also be present in Japan. She canceled the India visit a month ago.

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang dies of heart attack

• Li Keqiang, the former premier of China, died of a sudden heart attack on Fri, Xinhua reported.
• 68-year-old Li Keqiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the 17^th, 18^th, and 19^th CCP central committees and former Premier, passed away on Fri in Shanghai.
• Li Keqiang, the former premier of China, has died of a heart attack, less than a year after stepping down from his post as the country’s second-highest-ranking leader.
• Once seen as a potential top leader, Li was deliberately kept out of the limelight for years so as not to outshine Jinping.
• At the same time, Xi accumulated increasingly more powers.
• Many say Li Keqiang entered the Communist Party with an ambition to contribute to his country but was stifled by its rigid red-tapism.
• His exit has put a question mark on the future of the country’s private sector as well as the wider economic reforms that he was championing, reported Singapore Post. (here)

Pakistan: CJP Isa questions utility of caretaker set-ups

• At a time when caretaker govts are in place in the center and all 4 provinces, the Chief Justice of Pakistan has raised questions over their utility and purpose.
• When the Constitution vested the responsibility of holding transparent elections with the Election Commission, what was the purpose of interim govts, asked CJP Qazi Faez Isa on Tue.
• The court was hearing a petition moved by Sardar Kashif Khan for simultaneous elections to the national and all four provincial assemblies on the same date.
• The CJP wondered what the concept behind caretaker govts was and asked the counsel who proposed this system of governance.
• It was introduced by ex-president Gen Ziaul Haq through the Revival of Constitution Order in 1985, said Senator Farooq H. Naek, who was representing PPP. (here)