INTEGRATION OF ARMED FORCES IS INEVITABLE, SAYS ARMY CHIEF MM NARAVANE

Addressing the officers of the Higher Defence Management Command at the

College of Defence Management (CDM), Army Chief General M M Naravane called

the creation of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) and appointment of

the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) a "momentous" decision and said the next

logical step would be the creation of integrated theatre commands.

The Army said in a statement that General Naravane "spoke on a number of

issues concerning integration, theaterisation and modernisation of the armed

forces in general and the Indian Army in particular". According to the

statement, he called the government's decision to appoint the CDS and create

the DMA "momentous" and said the services needed to "demonstrate great

wisdom and statesmanship in enabling the CDS, a long-standing demand of the

Armed Forces".

Naravane said the next logical step in the process of defence reforms was

the "formation of Integrated Theatre Commands to synergise the capabilities

and combat potential of the three services during war and peace" and advised

that this process will be "deliberate, thoughtful and well considered" and

its fruition will take a "number of years".

POMPEO, ESPER TO VISIT DELHI NEXT WEEK FOR INDIA-US 2+2 DIALOGUE

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to New Delhi for the third

India-US 2+2 Dialogue next week on his second Asia trip in less than a month

that would also take him to Maldives, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

"Looking forward to my upcoming trip to India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and

Indonesia, for productive conversations with our friends and partners, and

the US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue with Defense Secretary Mark Esper and

our Indian counterparts," Pompeo said. Each stop, he said, will include

discussions on a "broad range of bilateral topics".

Discussions will also include how they can cooperate to maintain a "free and

open Indo-Pacific", he said. "I'm sure my meetings will also include

discussions on how free nations can work together to thwart threats posed by

the Chinese Communist Party," he told reporters at a news conference in

Washington DC.

The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that India will be

hosting the third India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue on October 27 in New

Delhi.

"The first two 2+2 Ministerial dialogues were held in New Delhi in September

2018 and in Washington DC in 2019.

'HARASSMENT' OF JOURNALISTS: GLOBAL PRESS BODIES WRITE TO PM MODI

Two international press associations have written a joint letter to Prime

Minister Narendra Modi and urged him to take "immediate steps to ensure that

journalists can work without harassment and fear of reprisal".

In their letter, written on Tuesday, the Austria-headquartered International

Press Institute (IPI) and Belgium-based International Federation of

Journalists (IFJ) asked Modi to "direct the state governments to drop all

charges against journalists, including those under the draconian sedition

laws, that have been imposed on them for their work".

"The number of cases filed against journalists have increased enormously

after the spread of the pandemic," the letter stated. The "health crisis

[pandemic] is being used as an excuse to silence those who have exposed

shortcoming in the government's response to it. A free media is essential to

a successful public health response."

They wrote, "The use of sedition laws to harass independent, critical

journalists is not only a gross violation of the country's international

commitments, it is also an attempt by the government to silence any

criticism. Journalistic work cannot be equated to sedition or undermining

security."

"As many as 55 journalists were targeted for covering the pandemic in India

between 25 March, when lockdown was first imposed, and 31 May, a report by

Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) has shown," they stated.

PUNJAB FARMERS LIFT BLOCKADE FOR GOODS TRAINS TILL NOVEMBER 5

Members of as many as 30 farmer unions on Wednesday announced that movement

of goods trains will be allowed amid the ongoing 'rail roko' agitation

against the Centre's agriculture sector laws.

While the industry in Punjab is estimated to have suffered a loss of Rs

40,000 crore since September 24 when "rail roko" was launched, foodgrain

stocks procured in the past two years need to be transported from Punjab to

the recipient states immediately to free up space in godowns for the 170

lakh tonnes of paddy that is to be procured this season.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh welcomed the decision, saying it was in the

interest of the State's economy and its revival. He said the farmers had

shown their love and concern for the people of Punjab with this move, as it

will allow the State to get its much-needed coal supplies. He pointed out

that the State had been facing a total power shutdown as a result of coal

shortage.

A spat broke out between the ruling Congress and the Opposition, including

the Aam Aadmi Party and the Shiromani Akali Dal, on Wednesday over the

amendments in farm Bills that were 'unanimously' passed by the State

Assembly on Tuesday.

The Akali Dal said the Bills have thrown the farmers of the State

"completely back at [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi's mercy".

Arvind Kejriwal called it a "drama" and claimed that the Punjab government

cannot change the laws made by the Centre. "Raja Sahib, you amended the laws

of the Centre. Can the state change the laws of the Centre? No. You did a

drama. You fooled people. The laws which you passed yesterday by them will

the farmers get MSP? No. Farmers want MSP, not your fake and false laws,"

Kejriwal tweeted.

Capt. Amarinder accused both AAP and Akali Dal of adopting "double

standards" on the Bills after suporting them in the Assembly on Tuesday.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

======================

SINDH POLICE RISE IN DEFIANCE AGAINST ARMY IN PAKISTAN

In a major show of open defiance against Pakistan Army, police officers in

Karachi have threatened to go on mass leave after the Sindh Police chief was

allegedly kidnapped and coerced to act against PML(N) Vice President Marayam

Nawaz Sharif.

Reports say that Sindh IGP Mushtaq Mahar and at least two additional

inspector generals, seven deputy inspector generals and six senior

superintendents of Sindh Police on Tuesday applied for leave in order to

"come out of the shock" caused by the "episode of registration of FIR

against Marayam Nawaz's husband Safdar Awan.

The Sindh Police on Monday had arrested Safdar Awan, the son-in-law of

exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, from a hotel in Karachi. He was

later released on bail.

Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has ordered an inquiry into

Safdar Awan's arrest after PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari questioned

the Army and the ISI about the incident in a tweet.

Pakistani media quoted Bilawal alleging that the Sindh Police chief was

abducted by Pakistan Army and its intelligence wing for a few hours before

Safdar Awan was arrested. Bilawal insinuated that Pakistan military had

pressurised the Sindh Police to act against Safdar Awan.

The leave applications submitted by Sindh Police officers to IGP Mahar said

that it had become hard for them to "discharge duties in a professional

manner" due to the stress caused by Safdar's arrest. All the letters were

identical.

However, the tense situation in the province forced IGP Mahar to defer his

own leave as he ordered his officers to set aside their leave applications

for 10 days.

POPE FRANCIS SPEAKS IN SUPPORT OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

Pope Francis called for civil unions for gay couples, in what would be a

significant shift from the Catholic Church's long-held opposition to

homosexuals getting married. "They're children of God and have a right to a

family. Nobody should be thrown out, or be made miserable because of it,"

Francis is quoted as saying in a new documentary. "What we have to have is a

civil union law; that way they are legally covered."

The pontiff appeared to have discussed same-sex civil unions during an

interview with filmmaker Evgeny Afineevsky for his documentary "Francesco"

that premiered in Rome on Oct. 21.

This is a departure from the position of his predecessors and the comments

will revive the debate within the church on sexual morals, and draw

criticism from conservatives who say the pope has drifted too from

traditional values.

The Catholic Church has long resisted the idea that same-sex couples should

enjoy legal protection.

POSSIBLE RISK IN US ELECTION: 'FAITHLESS ELECTORS'

US presidents are chosen by electors, party loyalists who pledge to vote for

their candidate once their state's voters have made their selection clear.

The polarized climate in the United States has heightened the risk that

"faithless" electors may break that promise to voters, however, increasing

the possibility of confusion around this year's result.

Under the US Constitution, 538 electors - known as the Electoral College -

determine the winner of the presidential election.

In all but two of the 50 U.S. states, the popular vote determines which

candidate will receive all of that state's electors, who are apportioned by

the number of representatives in Congress.

On rare occasions, "faithless electors" have cast their vote for someone

other than the candidate that won the popular vote in their state, however.

If the race is tight, a few rogue electors could break from their pledged

candidate and throw the outcome of the election into doubt.

In 2016, 10 electors from six states went rogue, eight defecting from former

Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and two from Republican Donald Trump.

Given that electors are generally party enthusiasts, it's highly unlikely

that they would balk at casting a vote for their party's candidate, experts

said.

But grave risk arises in a razor-thin electoral vote, where one rogue vote

could determine the presidency.

THE REST

========

CABINET CLEARS DECKS FOR DISTRICT COUNCILS IN J&K

Clearing the decks for introduction of a three-tier system of local body

governance in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, the Union Cabinet

Wednesday approved an amendment to the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act,

1989.

The amendment to the law, effected by the Ministry of Home Affairs on

October 16, will lead to the establishment of District Development Councils

(DDC), members of which will be directly elected by voters of the Union

Territory. The DDCs will be the third-tier - at the district level, over the

block and village levels.

Announcing the Cabinet decisions, Union Information and Broadcasting

Minister Prakash Javadekar said approval of the amendment to the Jammu and

Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act will facilitate the holding of elections soon. He

said, "the three-tier Panchayati Raj system is now operational in Jammu and

Kashmir" which was not there earlier.

Before the abrogation of Article 370, Javadekar said people elsewhere in the

country had the right to elect local representatives, but in Jammu and

Kashmir "that was not happening". "Now, we have a three-tier system in Jammu

and Kashmir also," he said, naming the Gram Panchayat, Block Development

Council and District Development Council as the three tiers.

"This was promised by the Prime Minister in Kashmir, and it was promised by

the Home Minister in Parliament. Now that stands redeemed. Now there will be

early elections, and the power to manage local bodies will go to the

people," Javadekar said.

MAHARASHTRA WITHDRAWS GENERAL CONSENT FOR CBI TO PROBE CASES

A day after the CBI took over a case registered by UP Police against

"unknown" channels and persons over alleged fudging of TRPs, the Maharashtra

government Wednesday withdrew "general consent" given to the agency to probe

cases in the state.

The move follows apparent apprehension in the state government that the CBI

would take over a similar case on alleged fudging of TRPs in Maharashtra in

a bid to move it away from the purview of Mumbai Police.

The CBI is governed by the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act that makes

consent of a state government mandatory for conducting investigation in that

state. General consent is given by states so that the CBI can seamlessly

conduct its investigation and not seek the state government nod for every

case - unlike the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has

jurisdiction across the country.

KHADSE QUITS BJP FOR NCP

Maharashtra BJP yesterday suffered a setback with ex-minister Eknath Khadse

resigning from the party to join the Sharad Pawar-led NCP this Friday.

The 68-year-old Khadse was the de facto number two in Devendra Fadnavis'

cabinet, but has now singled out the former CM as the one responsible for

leaving the BJP. He alleged Fadnavis had made him suffer "mental torture".

"Devendra Fadnavis destroyed my life. I spent the last four years of my life

in stress. I repeatedly said I was being forced to move out of the party. I

feel sad about resigning from the BJP but I had no choice. Attempts are

being made to frame me in some case," said Khadse, who had to resign from

the Fadnavis-led cabinet in 2016 over allegations of graft.

IIT KHARAGPUR'S 'COVID-19 TEST KIT GETS ICMR CERTIFICATION

'COVIRAP,' the diagnostic machine developed by the Indian Institute of

Technology (IIT) Kharagpur researchers, has been successfully validated for

its efficacy in Covid-19 detection by the Indian Council of Medical Research

(ICMR), the Institute said on Wednesday.

"This is indeed one of the greatest contributions in the history of medical

science, particularly in the area of virology, and is well set to replace

the PCR-based tests to a large extent," Professor V.K. Tewari, Director, IIT

Kharagpur, said in a statement.

This new testing method, at about Rs. 500 per test, implements a highly

reliable and accurate molecular diagnostic procedure that can be conducted

in an ultra-low-cost portable device unit developed by the research team.

The test results are rendered via a custom-made mobile application for

dissemination without requiring manual interpretation.

Dr. Mamta Chawla Sarkar, an Internationally acclaimed virologist who oversaw

the patient trials on behalf of ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and

Enteric Diseases (NICED) said: "A detailed scrutiny of the testing results

has clearly shown that this assay holds the capability of detecting

extremely low levels of viral loads than any other method based on similar

principles of testing."

EARLY BIRD RESULTS SHOW UNLOCKING GAINS, NET PROFIT OF 104 FIRMS RISES 9.8%

The gains from the unlocking of the Indian economy are visible in the early

bird results for the September 2020 quarter (Q2).

The combined net profit of 104 companies that have declared results so far

is up 9.8 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in Q2, a sharp turnaround from the

earnings contraction seen in the previous two quarters.

As cities opened for businesses, it benefitted the top line of companies.

The combined net sales (interest income in the case of banks and non-bank

lenders) of these early bird companies grew by 5.6 per cent YoY, as against

a 3.3 per cent decline during the June quarter and 7.6 per cent growth

during the September quarter last year.

The positive impact of the lifting of the economic lockdown during Q2 is

most visible in the results of traditional manufacturing and service sector

companies.

E-commerce giants Amazon, Flipkart, and Snapdeal have witnessed blockbuster

festive season sales. The pandemic accelerated the shift to e-commerce, with

an increasing number of consumers shopping online at a higher frequency.

US SUES GOOGLE, FOR UNLAWFUL MONOPOLY

The United States Department of Justice (DoJ) sued Google on Tuesday,

alleging that the company had abused its dominant position in a way that had

harmed its competitors as well as customers. Eleven US states have joined

the DoJ in the anti-trust lawsuit against Google "for unlawfully maintaining

a monopoly in general search services and search advertising".

In his statement announcing the initiation of the lawsuit, Deputy Attorney

General of the DoJ Jeffrey A Rosen said the main concerns are business

practices that may have led to "massive concentrations of economic power" in

a few companies such as Google. The lawsuit will focus on Google as it "is

the gateway to the Internet and a search advertising behemoth".

"Google achieved some success in its early years, and no one begrudges that,

but, as the antitrust complaint filed today explains, it has maintained its

monopoly power through exclusionary practices that harm competition. So the

Justice Department has determined that an antitrust response is necessary to

benefit consumers," Rosen said in his statement.

The lawsuit marks the first time there has been a bipartisan effort -

involving both the Democratic and the Republican parties - to look into the

monopolistic powers of Google.

IPL MATCH 39: RCB THRASH KKR

In match 39 of the Indian Premier league 2020 (IPL 2020), pacer Mohammed

Siraj's fiery opening spell, accentuated by two rare wicket-maiden overs,

set up Royal Challengers Bangalore's dominant eight-wicket victory over

Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday.

Siraj virtually killed the contest, running through the KKR top order in a

stunning display of swing bowling. He ended with enviable figures of 4-2-8-3

and in the process emerged as the first bowler in the history of IPL to bowl

two wicket- maiden overs.

After Siraj's furious display, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (2/15) stymied

KKR's revival hopes as RCB restricted them to their second lowest total of

84 for eight.

In reply, RCB completed the formalities in 13.3 overs, securing their

seventh win from 10 matches and moved up a place to second in the table with

14 points.

Kolkata have won 5 out of their 10 matches so far.

INDICATORS

Sensex 40,707 (+163), Nifty 11,938 (+41), Trading Value NSE ,(Rs.crores)

61,444.39

Nasdaq 11,485 (-32) Dow 28,211 (-98), S&P 3,436 (-8)

US$-Rs. 73.44 GBP-Rs. 95.99, Euro-Rs. 87,07, UAE Dhm-Rs.19.99, Can$-Rs.

55.99, Aus$- Rs. 52.12

GBP 0.76 /US$, Euro 0.84 /US$, Jap.Yen 104.86 /US$, Aus$ 1.40 /US$, Sing

1.35 /US$, Bang Taka 83.18 /US$, Can$ 1.31 /US$, Mal Ring 4.14 /US$,

Pak Re 161.89 /US$, Phil Peso 48.47 /US$, Russian Rouble 76.96 /US$, NZ$

1.50 /US$, Thai Baht 31.17 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 28.04 /US$, Norway NOK 9.21

/US$

Bitcoin - USD 12,802

Dollar Index 92.79 Brent Crude 41.53 BDI 1,350

Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 1,914 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 5,112 / 5,012

Silver (Rs. Per KG) 63,500

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without

accepting it. - Aristotle

OFF TRACK

A gentleman who bought a new car wanted a special registration number, to

match with his wedding anniversary. As the clerk completed the paperwork he

explained, "This way I can't forget the date."

A few hours later, the same gentleman returned and said, somewhat

sheepishly, "I need to change the numbers on that plate application."