1. Israel-Hamas War: Iran Says Hamas Ready to Release Hostages If Israel Stops Airstrikes; Siren Sounds in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem
2. Chinese Agents Under Guise Of Nepalis Plan For Economic Warfare & Covert Operations, Warns R&AW
3. Sundar Pichai thanks PM Modi for ‘terrific’ meeting on Google’s commitment to India
4. EAM Jaishankar meets Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh
5. Impressed by Chandrayaan-3, American space experts wanted India to sell its tech to US: ISRO chief

What Else

6. India’s next ambassador to UN in Geneva is MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi
7. Fire erupts in 5 coaches of Ashti Ahmednagar DEMU train
8. India: Allahabad HC acquits Koli and Pandher in Nithari serial killings case
9. Pakistan: Caretaker PM orders cut in essential services prices after reduction in fuel prices
10. Two terrorists killed, two soldiers martyred in Waziristan IBOs
11. One killed, 6 injured in grenade attack in Karachi’s Lyari
12. Pakistan: 215 people charged with blasphemy while 179 arrested
13. China: Russian leader Putin arrives in China for Belt and Road Forum

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Israel-Hamas War: Iran Says Hamas Ready to Release Hostages If Israel Stops Airstrikes; Siren Sounds in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem

• The war between Israel-Hamas has entered the tenth day with the Israeli Air Forces neutralizing 2 more Hamas leaders, 1 of whom was the commander behind 1 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)
• ‘Israel Fighting India’s War’: Netanyahu’s Minister Seeks Continued Indian Support: An Israeli minister has claimed that Israel’s war against Hamas-led Palestinian militants is also India’s war and sought continued Indian support amid fighting in Gaza.
• The minister, Amichai Chikli, thanked Indian leadership and people for their support to Israel following the Hamas’ assault on Israel on Oct 7 (here)
• UN agency says fuel, medical kits ‘stolen’ from Gaza compound, then deletes tweet: The UN agency that works for Palestine refugees on Mon said that it received reports that on Sun, a group of people posing as officials from Gaza’s health ministry “removed” fuel and medical equipment from the compound, hinting that they were stolen.
• The agency had shared a statement about this on X but deleted the post soon after.
• Speaking about the ‘stolen’ items, the UN agency, in the now-deleted post on X, said, “Fuel & other types of material are kept for strictly humanitarian purposes – any other use is strongly condemned.” (here)
• Dozens detained by police for staging pro-Palestine protests without due permission: At least 60 people, including students, were detained in New Delhi for organizing a pro-Palestinian demonstration demanding diplomatic support for Palestine and denouncing Israel’s actions in Gaza, on Mon
• This comes after Israel declared war against Hamas after the Palestinian militant group launched a surprise against southern Israel over a week ago.
• The Delhi police said that they had detained around 60 people for not taking prior permission for the protest.
• The demonstration was held by the CPI (ML)-backed Students Association (AISA) and other student organizations. (here)

[Why Indian, mainly majorities are supporting Israel? This is mainly because India has faced the worst phase of terrorism.]

Chinese Agents Under Guise Of Nepalis Plan For Economic Warfare & Covert Operations, Warns R&AW

• India’s external intelligence agency, also known as the Special Bureau, has recently raised an alarm by sharing critical intelligence regarding Chinese operations in India.
• This was further corroborated by the FRRO during a security review meeting.
• The agency has issued directives to maintain close surveillance on Nepali individuals arriving in Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur.
• The directives indicate that Chinese agents have devised new covert strategies to enter India undetected by discreetly adopting new identities of Nepali.
• Once they reach such cities, their intriguing choice is to settle and often integrate into local communities, including joining ashrams to initiate operations. (here)
• PM Modi to inaugurate 17 km India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System Delhi-Meerut section on Oct 20: PM is all set to inaugurate India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System on Oct 20.
• PM Modi will inaugurate the 17 Km priority section on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor on Oct 20.
• The trains are similar to metro trains in look but their coaches are equipped with features like luggage carriers and mini screens. (here)

Sundar Pichai thanks PM Modi for ‘terrific’ meeting on Google’s commitment to India

• The Chief Executive Officer of Google, Sundar Pichai, has thanked PM Modi for a “terrific” meeting to discuss Google’s ongoing commitment to India.
• PM Modi virtually interacted with the CEO of Google and Alphabet, Sundar Pichai, earlier on Mon.
• During the interaction, PM Modi and Pichai discussed Google’s plan to participate in expanding the electronics manufacturing ecosystem in India.
• PM appreciated Google’s partnership with HP to manufacture Chromebooks in India.
• Prime Minister acknowledged Google’s 100 languages initiative and encouraged efforts to make AI tools available in Indian Languages. (here)

EAM Jaishankar meets Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh on Mon and valued his guidance for further development of India-Vietnam ties.
• The EAM on Mon also met the Chairman of the External Relation Commission of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Le Hoai Trung.
• He also addressed the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam on “India in the Indo-Pacific” and “discussed why cooperating in the Indo-Pacific construct is in our shared interests.
• The EAM is on an official visit to Vietnam. (here)

Impressed by Chandrayaan-3, American space experts wanted India to sell its tech to US: ISRO chief

• ISRO chairman S Somanath on Sun said that the experts, who were given the task of developing complex rocket missions in the US, appealed to India to share space technology with them after seeing the development of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft.
• Speaking at an event in Rameswaram, he said that the times have changed and India can build the best of the best rockets and devices, and this is the reason why Indian PM Modi has opened the space sector to private players.
• He was speaking to students during a program organized by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s Foundation to commemorate the late former president’s 92^nd birth anniversary. (here)

India’s next ambassador to UN in Geneva is MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi

• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Oct 16 announced the appointment of career diplomat Arindam Bagchi (IFS:1995) as India’s next permanent representative to the UN and related global bodies in Geneva.
• The exact date when he would assume the charge was not disclosed, but the ministry noted that he would take over the assignment “shortly”.
• Bagchi would be succeeding IM Pandey, who was given the key charge in July 2020, and is now set to return to New Delhi after a 3-year stint.
• While his replacement as MEA spox has not been named yet, 4 senior diplomats, including Nandini Singla and Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur are being considered (here)

Fire erupts in 5 coaches of Ashti Ahmednagar DEMU train

• A fire broke out in five coaches of Ashti Ahmednagar DEMU train in Maharashtra at around 3 pm on Mon.
• As per information provided by Railway officials, the fire erupted when the train was running between Narayandoh and Ahmednagar.
• The guard side brake van and 4 adjacent coaches had caught fire.
• The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained by railways, for which an inquiry is underway, the PRO said. (here)

India: Allahabad HC acquits Koli and Pandher in Nithari serial killings case

• Surender Koli and Maninder Singh Pandher were acquitted by the Allahabad High Court on Mon in the infamous Nithari serial killings case in Noida.
• The court has acquitted Koli in 12 cases and Pandher in 2 cases in which they were awarded the death penalty.
• the Nithari case: The Noida serial murders unfolded in 2006 after the skeletal remains of 8 children were discovered on Dec 29 2006 from the drain behind Pandher’s house.
• When the authorities dug further and combed through the drains in the area around Pandher’s house, they found more skeletal remains. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Pakistan: Caretaker PM orders cut in essential services prices after reduction in fuel prices

• After the substantial cut in fuel prices, Caretaker PM Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Mon ordered a reduction in the prices of essential commodities and services.
• For the current fortnight, the govt has reduced the per liter price of petrol by Rs40 and diesel by Rs15.
• As per notification, the reduced prices would be applicable from Oct 16, and remain in effect for the next fortnight, with petrol at Rs283.38/l and HSD at Rs303.18.
• The interim premier directed the authorities in the federal and provincial govts to activate a strict price control mechanism (here)

Two terrorists killed, two soldiers martyred in Waziristan IBOs

• At least 2 terrorists were killed and as many 5 Army soldiers embraced martyrdom in 2 separate gun battles in KP’s South and N Waziristan on Mon, the military said
• However, during an intense exchange of fire, a Sepoy, Azad Kashmir, having fought gallantly, embraced martyrdom, the military’s media wing added.
• In another intense fire exchange between own troops and terrorists in the general area of Miran Shah, North Waziristan, “1 terrorist was sent to hell, whereas a brave son of soil, Sepoy, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat”.
• Sanitization is being carried out to eliminate any terrorists found in the area, the ISPR said. (here)

One killed, 6 injured in grenade attack in Karachi’s Lyari

• At least one person was killed and 6 others injured in a grenade attack in Lyari’s Bihar Colony on Mon night, according to police.
• Police said that unidentified individuals on a motorcycle threw a hand grenade outside a shop that had been closed for months before fleeing the scene.
• The authorities are investigating the motive behind the attack, the police official said before adding that it appeared to be a random act without a specific target.
• Separately, Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori also took notice of the incident and directed the Karachi Commissioner to brief him. (here)
• On Sept 29, as many as 59 people were killed in a suicide blast in Balochistan’s Mastung.

Pakistan: 215 people charged with blasphemy while 179 arrested

• According to the official documents released by the NCHR, cases were filed against 215 people on charges of blasphemy and religious insult.
• In which 179 accused have been arrested.
• Most cases of blasphemy and religious insult have been registered in Sindh, which is 82
• 55 blasphemy cases have been registered in KP and 37 blasphemy cases have been registered in Punjab. (here)

China: Russian leader Putin arrives in China for Belt and Road Forum

• Russian President Vladimir Putin has landed in Beijing for this week’s Belt and Road Forum, (BRF) state broadcaster CCTV has reported.
• African and Southeast Asian leaders will also be among representatives from more than 130 countries and 30 international organizations expected to gather for the 2-day event
• In a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Mon, Russia’s FM Sergey Lavrov said: “We are interested to seeing the 3^rd international Belt and Road Forum be successful and we are confident that will be the case.”
• Lavrov said he was “very happy” to be discussing the international agenda and other issues “that are necessary to prepare meetings between our leaders”.
• The third edition of the forum, put on hold since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, marks the 10^th anniversary of China’s global infrastructure-building scheme, the BRI.
• More than 150 countries and 30 international organizations are currently on board, according to the Chinese foreign ministry. (here)
• Caretaker PM of Pakistan, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Mon received a red carpet welcome upon his arrival in Beijing to participate in the 3^rd BRF
• At the airport, Chinese Minister of Science & Technology Wang Zhigang, among others received the interim premier, the PM Office Media Wing said in a press release (here)
• Sri Lankan president arrives in Beijing to attend BRF for International Cooperation: Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Mon arrived in Beijing to attend the third BRF for International Cooperation, Xinhua reported.
• Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror recently reported that a multifaceted interplay of economic troubles, strategic dynamics, and regional influence is currently unfolding in Sri Lanka.
• This island nation grapples with mounting debt and is navigating China’s growing presence and influence in the region. (here)