1. Israel-Palestine Conflict: India Launches ‘Operation Ajay’ to Facilitate Return of its Citizens From Israel
2. Bihar train accident: Union Minister inspects restoration work, rescue ops
3. PM Modi to inaugurate 9th G-20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit
4. NIA raids 20 places in 6 states in PFI’s Phulwari case; seizes substantial cache of evidence
5. India’s commitment to IORA rooted in principles of peaceful coexistence, regional collaboration: Jaishanakar

What Else

6. Union Cabinet approves MoU between India, France in field of digital technology
7. India-China dispute: 20th round of Commander-level talks fail to defuse tensions
8. Indian Air Force carries out successful test of surface-to-surface version of Brahmos
9. Shahid Latif, key accused behind 2016 Pathankot attack, shot dead in Pakistan
10. Pakistan, OIC reiterate support for Kashmir cause

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Israel-Palestine Conflict: India Launches ‘Operation Ajay’ to Facilitate Return of its Citizens From Israel

• The death toll surpassed the 3,600 mark on Wed and is expected to go higher dramatically 5 days after Palestinian militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, which has responded with massive shelling of Gaza.
• Israel said it had recaptured Gaza border areas that were invaded by Hamas militants in Sat’s assault.
• It is also continuously bombarding the Palestinian enclave from the air, land, and sea. Israel has stopped entry of food, fuel, and medicine into Gaza, and the sole remaining access from Egypt shut down on Tuesday after airstrikes hit near the border crossing.
• India Launches ‘Operation Ajay’ to Facilitate Return of its Citizens From Israel: EAM S Jaishankar on Wed announced that the GoI is launching “Operation Ajay” to facilitate the return from Israel of Indian citizens who wish to return.
• “Special charter flights and other arrangements being put in place. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad,” the EAM wrote on X.
• Indian Embassies in Israel, Palestine urge stranded Indians to remain vigilant, share helpline numbers
• As the war between Israel and Hamas continues to rage on, Indian Embassy in Israel has urged citizens stranded in the war-ravaged country to remain “calm and vigilant” and follow the issued advisories, a statement read.
• The Embassy has been working constantly to help our fellow citizens in Israel through a 24-hour helpline.
• Indian Envoy to Israel Sanjeev Singla also shared a video message urging the members of the Indian community in Israel to remain alert due to the ongoing war that has escalated tensions in the country. 
• Meanwhile, the Representative Office of India in Palestine also shared the emergency helpline numbers for Indian who are stuck in Palestine. (here)
• Egypt Warned Israel 3 Days Before Hamas Attack: Senior US Lawmaker: Israel received a warning from Egypt of potential violence 3 days before Hamas caught Israeli forces off-guard with a large-scale attack, the chairman of the powerful US House Foreign Affairs Committee said Wed. (here)
• Jaishankar Speaks to UAE Counterpart in First Contact With Arab World Following Hamas-Israel Conflict: In the first outreach from India to the Arab world following the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas militants, EAM S Jaishankar on Wed discussed the “crisis” in West Asia with his counterpart from the UAE Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
• The two foreign ministers deliberated on the evolving situation during a phone conversation.
• Jaishankar is currently on a visit to Sri Lanka.
• In a statement on Oct 7, the foreign ministry of UAE called for exercising utmost restraint and an immediate ceasefire.
• The MEA has not yet commented on the conflict.
• In the past, it said New Delhi is committed to supporting all efforts to resume direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians to achieve a two-state solution. (here)

Bihar train accident: Union Minister inspects restoration work, rescue ops

• Union Minister Ashwini Choubey on Thu inspected restoration work and rescue operations following the mishap in which the 21 coaches of Kamakhya-Bound North-East Express derailed in Bihar a day ago.
• The Minister said that operations to restore the operations is on and an inquiry has begun.
• The minister said that the injured are under treatment at AIIMS Patna and out of danger.
• 21 coaches of the North-East Express train derailed at Raghunathpur station in Buxar in Bihar around 9:30 pm on Wed
• At least 4 persons were killed and around 70 people were injured (here)

PM Modi to inaugurate 9^th G-20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the ninth G-20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P-20) on Fri at the newly constructed IICC.
• Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla will also participate in the meeting, the statement added.
• Besides Presiding Officers of Parliaments of G20 Nations, Presiding Officers of Parliaments of invited countries will also attend the Summit.
• Notably, the President of the Pan African Parliament will be making their inaugural participation in the P-20 Summit hosted in India, as per the official statement.
• The two-day Summit will deliberate on the following subjects of contemporary relevance: (i) Agenda 2030 for SDGs: Showcasing Achievements, Accelerating Progress; (ii) Sustainable Energy Transition Gateway to Green Future; (iii) Mainstreaming Gender Equality- From Women’s Development to Women-led Development; and (iv) Transformation in people’s lives through Public Digital Platforms. (here)

NIA raids 20 places in 6 states in PFI’s Phulwari case; seizes substantial cache of evidence

• In a massive crackdown against the banned outfit PFI, the NIA on Wed carried out extensive search operations at 20 different locations in 6 states in connection with a case linked to Bihar’s Phulwari Sharif terror conspiracy case.
• The Phulwari terror case has been probed by the agency for the last year.
• These searches were carried out at premises in various regions, including Fazalpur, Shaheen Bagh, Okhla, and Chandni Chowk in Delhi; Bhopal in MP; Thane and Mumbai; Tonk and Gangapur in Rajasthan; and the regions of Lucknow, Siddharth Nagar, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Kanpur, and Gorakhpur in UP.
• Additionally, searches were conducted in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
• During the searches, a substantial cache of evidence like digital devices such as laptops, mobile phones, SIM cards, memory cards, pen drives, and hard discs was found
• Additionally, a significant amount of Indian currency, with a face value of Rs 8.5 lakhs has been seized in connection with the instant case. (here)
• NIA court orders confiscation of land belonging to designated Pak-based Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh: NIA Special Court in Punjab has ordered the confiscation of land belonging to ‘Designated Individual Terrorist (DIT)’ and Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh, alias Rode, the NIA said on Wed.
• The special court in SAS Nagar, Mohali ordered to confiscation of the land situated in Kothe Gurupura (Rode) village in Moga Punjab previously owned by Rode, the self-styled Chief of banned terror outfits International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) and Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) Lakhbir Singh.
• “His (Rode’s) criminal dossier includes armed attacks on law enforcement personnel, IED and bomb blasts, targeted killings of the minority, extortion, fundraising for terrorist operations, and instilling terror among the general populace.
• To date, a total of 9 accused individuals, among them Lakhbir Singh, have been formally charged in this case. The investigation in this case remains open. (here)

India’s commitment to IORA rooted in principles of peaceful coexistence, regional collaboration: Jaishanakar

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said India’s commitment to the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is deeply rooted in the principles of peaceful coexistence, shared prosperity, and regional collaboration.
• The EAM said at the press conference of the 23^rd IORA Council of Ministers Meeting in Sri Lanka.
• The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is an inter-governmental organization aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and sustainable development within the Indian Ocean region through its 23 Member States and 11 Dialogue Partners.
• Jaishankar said: “We should be equally clear where the dangers are, be it in hidden agendas, in unviable projects, or unsustainable debt.”
• Jaishankar on Tue landed in Colombo on a 3-day visit.
• This is the external affairs minister’s second visit to Sri Lanka this year. During the visit, Jaishankar will have bilateral meetings in Sri Lanka. (here)
• EAM posted on X, “Glad to witness the exchange of agreements and inaugurate projects in the presence of President Ranil Wickremesinghe this evening at the President’s Secretariat.”
• These projects in social housing, community development, and dairy sectors will improve the ease of living of Sri Lankans.

Union Cabinet approves MoU between India, France in field of digital technology

• The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi has approved a MoU between India and France on cooperation in the field of digital technologies.
• The cabinet has approved the signing of the MoU between the Ministry of Electronics and IT and France’s Ministry of Economy, and Finance.
• The MoU intends to promote closer cooperation and exchange of information about digital technologies and will mutually support each participant’s goal to promote access to digital technology in their country by the MoU, as per a release issued by the cabinet.
• Through the MoU, both G2G and B2B bilateral Cooperation in the field of digital technologies will be enhanced.
• The MoU envisages improved collaboration leading to employment opportunities in the field of IT.
• The cooperation under this MoU will start on the date of its signature by both participants and will last five years. (here)

India-China dispute: 20^th round of Commander-level talks fail to defuse tensions

• The 20^th round of Corps Commander-level talks between India and China held Mon-Tue failed to curtail tensions along the Indo-Tibet border in Eastern Ladakh.
• This means that both Indian and Chinese soldiers will continue to remain deployed in forward areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) for the fourth straight winter.
• Ministry of External Affairs released on Wed, read, “The two sides exchanged views in a frank, open and constructive manner for an early and mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in the Western Sector”
• It added that both sides agreed to maintain the “momentum of dialogue and negotiations through the relevant military and diplomatic mechanisms”.
• The other avenue, the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC), engages diplomats and officials. (here)

Indian Air Force carries out successful test of surface-to-surface version of Brahmos

• The Indian Air Force recently carried out a successful test of its surface-to-surface version of the Brahmos Missile near the Eastern Seaboard archipelago.
• The missile fire was successful and the mission achieved all its objectives.
• Indian defense forces, including the IAF, carried out 4 trials of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles in the last 2 days, Defence officials said.
• The extended-range missiles hit their targets successfully with precision (here).

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Shahid Latif, key accused behind 2016 Pathankot attack, shot dead in Pakistan

• The mastermind behind the 2016 Pathankot attack was shot dead by unknown assailants in Pakistan’s Sialkot on Wed.
• Shahid Latif, the 41-year-old member of the proscribed terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed, the key conspirator of the Pathankot attack that took place on Jan 2, 2016. 
• After serving his sentence in India, he was deported to Pakistan via Wagah in 2010.
• He was arrested in India in Nov 1994 on terror charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
• Shahid Latif allegedly provided logistical support for the 4 Pakistani terrorists who attacked the Pathankot Air Force station in Jan 7 years ago.
• He was arrested again from Jammu in 1996 on narcotics and terror charges.
• He was then put on trial and eventually jailed.
• Killed In Pakistan In 1999, Latif’s release was demanded by the JeM terrorists who hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC-814. (here)

Pakistan, OIC reiterate support for Kashmir cause

• Current Indian leadership is bent upon perpetuating India’s occupation of J&K, crushing “fundamental rights” of the Kashmiri, said Interim FM Jalil Abbas on Wed
• Addressing a PC alongside OIC Secretary General and Special Envoy on J&K Yousef Aldobeay in Islamabad, the minister stressed Indian excesses in IOJK, which have significantly increased under the Modi govt.
• “The total number of detained political activists and human rights defenders comes to around 4,000,” he said, adding that members of the Hurriyat leadership have been “incarcerated arbitrarily“.
• Meanwhile, the visiting dignitary stressed the OIC’s commitment to securing the rights of the Kashmiri people. (here)