TRUDEAU SAYS INDIA HAS VIOLATED INTERNATIONAL LAW; MEA REFUTES HIM

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday that India's decision to revoke the diplomatic immunity of 41 Canadian diplomats is a violation of the Vienna Convention and it should worry all countries, hours after New Delhi rejected Ottawa's attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms.

Speaking at a press conference in Brampton, Ontario, he said the Indian government was making it 'unbelievably difficult' for life as usual to continue for millions of people in India and in Canada. "And, they're doing it by contravening a very basic principle of diplomacy," he said.

"The government of India decided to unilaterally revoke the diplomatic immunity of 40 Canadian diplomats in India. This is a violation of the Vienna Convention governing diplomacy. This is them choosing to contravene a very fundamental principle of international law and diplomacy," he said.

In New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs rejected Canada's assertion, saying that ensuring two-way diplomatic parity is fully consistent with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. 'We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms,' the ministry said in a statement.

Trudeau's remarks came after foreign minister Melanie Joly said on Thursday that Canada had withdrawn 41 diplomats following an Indian threat to unilaterally revoke their status by October 20.

Following the withdrawal of 41 diplomats, Canada has also announced that it will be 'pausing' all in-person services at its consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bengaluru and was directing all Canadians in India to the High Commission in New Delhi. "This is something that should concern everyone, but it's something that has me very concerned for the well-being and happiness of millions of Canadians who trace their origins to the Indian subcontinent," he said.

SC TO GOVT: ‘PICK AND CHOOSE’ IN JUDGES’ APPOINTMENTS CREATING PROBLEMS

The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday took exception to the government’s tendency to “pick and choose” while clearing the names recommended by the Collegium for appointment as judges of high courts, saying it disturbed seniority and created lots of problems.

“In the appointment process, when you appoint some and don’t appoint others, the very premise of seniority gets disturbed. This pick and choose creates a lot of problems… There should not be an impression that for somebody there is a delay while for somebody else there is no delay,” a three-judge Bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said.

The top court has been hearing a petition filed by the Advocates’ Association, Bengaluru alleging “wilful disobedience” of the timeframe laid down to facilitate timely appointment of judges in its April 20, 2021, order.

Justice Kaul, the second senior-most judge after CJI DY Chandrachud and a member of the Collegium who has been critical of the Centre for sitting over recommendations for judges’ appointment and transfer, termed it “troublesome”.

Noting that candidates have withdrawn their consent on account of delay in appointment, Justice Kaul said, “We have lost good people. I keep saying it is a challenge these days to make people (advocates) come to this side (Bench)…It becomes a greater challenge to make people come if this (delay) happens.”

PM MODI FLAGS OFF 1ST ‘NAMO BHARAT’ TRAIN

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off the “Namo Bharat RapidX” train connecting Sahibabad to Duhai Depot, marking the launch of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in India.

In line with the Modi government’s vision to create world-class transport infrastructure for regional connectivity, the RRTS, with a maximum speed of 180 kmph, is a transformational, regional development initiative designed to provide high-speed trains for intercity commuting every 15 minutes. The frequency can go up to trains leaving every five minutes.

A total of eight RRTS corridors have been identified to be developed in NCR, out of which three corridors have been prioritised to be implemented in Phase-I. These are Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut corridor, Delhi–Gurugram–SNB–Alwar Corridor, and Delhi–Panipat Corridor. The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS, being developed at a cost of more than Rs 30,000 crore, will cut the Delhi-Meerut travel time to less than an hour while going through the urban centres of Ghaziabad, Muradnagar, and Modinagar.

The foundation stone for the project was laid in March 2019.

The Prime Minister stressed that Namo Bharat was a glimpse of India of the future and exemplifies the nation’s growing economic muscle.

ISRO'S GAGANYAAN TEST FLIGHT LAUNCH ABORTED TODAY, VEHICLE SAFE

The ISRO aborted the first test flight for its ambitious Gaganyaan mission which was scheduled today at 8:45 am from its Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota. The maiden Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) was to demonstrate the Crew Escape System (CES) performance.

The Gaganyaan mission's primary goal is to launch humans into space, placing them in a Low Earth Orbit at an altitude of 400 kilometres for a three-day mission, with a safe return to Earth, scheduled for 2025.

The now aborted demonstration test was to serve the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of the crew escape system of the Gaganyaan mission. This system is designed to ensure the safe return of astronauts in the event of an emergency during the actual crew mission launch, which is slated for 2025.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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DEATHS, DESTRUCTION CONTINUE IN GAZA

A church in Gaza, where 500 people were taking shelter, was hit by a missile with the Israeli military stating that it was looking into the incident which killed scores even as another front was opened when a US Navy ship intercepted several missiles and drones launched from Yemen, apparently towards Israel.

The deaths in the church attack are suspected to be the second worst toll in a single attack after the death of over 300 in the attack on the Al-Ahli hospital, which the Israeli military is now disowning. Elsewhere, 80 Palestinian were killed in airstrikes, reported the local media. “The Israeli air force is ready to repel attacks by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen and is carrying out retaliatory airstrikes in the Gaza Strip at a rate that has not been seen for decades,” said an Israeli military spokesperson.

On a parallel track, diplomats scrambled to avoid a wider war and all eyes are on an Egypt-hosted meeting on Saturday which will see the participation of leaders from Arab and Gulf countries, Turkiye, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres.

Israel also ordered the evacuation of its largest town near the border with Lebanon and conducted raids in the West Bank amid clashes there.

Even as the US Navy warship in the northern Red Sea shot down three cruise missiles and several drones launched from Yemen, in Washington, President Joe Biden was considering a supplemental omnibus request of approximately $100 billion in security assistance to hot spots around the world where the US was an interested party. Of this, over $14 billion will be in emergency assistance for Israel.

HAMAS FREES TWO AMERICAN HOSTAGES, MORE RELEASES LIKELY SOON

Gaza's Hamas rulers released two Americans on Friday among some 200 hostages they abducted in brutal October 7 attacks in Israel and indicated that more could follow.

Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan were back in Israel late Friday, the Israeli government said.

No details were given on their condition, but US President Joe Biden said he was "overjoyed" at the news. Biden spoke by phone to the two women after they were freed.

And Hamas said it was working with Qatar and Egypt to free its "civilian" hostages, in a sign that more releases could follow.

Hamas said they were "working with all mediators to implement the movement's decision to close the civilian (hostage) file if appropriate security conditions allow". It gave no details of its demands.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said it had helped transport the freed Americans to Israel.

Qatar is a major donor of aid to Gaza and two Hamas leaders are based in the Gulf state. A Qatari foreign ministry spokesman said the country had mediated between Hamas and the United States and that the release followed "many days of continuous communication between all the parties involved.

THE REST

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MORE BAD BLOOD BETWEEN ALLIANCE PARTNERS SP AND CONG

The war of words between Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and the Uttar Pradesh Congress intensified on Friday, with Akhilesh saying: “If the Congress behaves like this, who will stand with them?”

A day after accusing its INDIA ally of “cheating” the SP, following failed talks for the Madhya Pradesh elections, Akhilesh said: “Only during the MP polls did I find out that the INDIA alliance is only for the Lok Sabha. The question is about credibility. If the Congress behaves like this, who will stand with them?… The BJP is a big, well-organised party. In a fight against them, there shouldn’t be any confusion in the Opposition ranks. Or you will lose.”

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai, who was described as “chirkut (small fry)” by Akhilesh on Thursday, hit back saying little could be expected of a man who did not respect his own father.

The Congress has questioned the SP decision to field candidates in MP, a state where it is in direct contest with the BJP. The SP, which demanded at least a few constituencies, has said the Congress should expect tit-for-tat treatment in Uttar Pradesh, where the SP is much stronger.

Akhilesh, who was in Shahjahanpur Friday, told reporters: “The Congress should have been clear. If you weren’t going to give seats, you shouldn’t have held talks with us… You should have told us whatever support you needed, and maybe the SP would have stood by you. But they didn’t share any information with us. Hence, the SP is contesting in places where our organisation is strong.”

ANDHRA TO GO FOR CASTE ‘CENSUS’

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government in Andhra Pradesh has announced a ‘census’ of backward castes (BC) to identify the exact number of people in each caste group, their geographical spread, socio-economic situation, education and job level, etc.

The exercise will begin mid-November and is expected to be completed before the 2024 state election, which will be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls.

The move comes at a time when parties like the Congress are promising to hold a caste census in poll-bound states, such as neighbouring Telangana, if voted to power.

The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar has already made public the results of a state caste survey, a move that triggered renewed demands for a national caste census. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed demands for a caste census a “ploy to divide the country in the name of caste”.

Political analysts say Andhra Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy’s census plan is meant to pre-empt any such election promise by the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which identifies itself as a party of backward castes.

MOITRA ROW: NO TRUTH AT ALL IN HIRANANDANI CLAIM ABOUT US: SHARDUL, WIFE

Shardul Shroff, Chairman, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Company, one of India’s leading law firms, and wife Pallavi Shroff, a lawyer, have refuted Hiranandani Group CEO Darshan Hiranandani’s claim that Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra was getting their help to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi and malign businessman Gautam Adani. In a statement on Friday, they warned of legal action against him.

Darshan had, on his part, submitted an affidavit to the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee Thursday evening and said Moitra was targeting the Prime Minister and Gautam Adani. “Ms Moitra, in her endeavour, was getting help from other people like Sucheta Dalal, Shardul Shroff and Pallavi Shroff, who were also in touch with her, and who were feeding her with all kinds of unverified information relating to Sh. Gautam Adani and his companies.”

In their statement, Shardul and Pallavi Shroff said, “We have not provided any information or paid for any query to be raised against the Adani family or the Prime Minister ever… Even to make such an allegation or insinuation against them, is deeply hurtful and is totally malicious.”

Responding to Hiranandani’s affidavit, Sucheta Dalal, a journalist and Managing Editor, MoneyLife, said, “…the very fact that he (Darshan Hiranandani) has named me makes this whole letter and his ‘solemn’ statements a farce… I don’t know @MahuaMoitra – and I think she can confirm it. The question of helping her simply does not arise, NOR did she EVER reach out an ask me for any help either!”

ON HER DEFAMATION CASE, MOITRA'S LAWYER WITHDRAWS AFTER COURT'S RAP

Mahua Moitra's defamation plea over 'cash-for-query' allegations against her will be heard by Delhi High Court on October 31. The case was postponed after her lawyer today withdrew from the case citing a 'conflict of interest'.

The withdrawal came after the court was informed by advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai that Ms Moitra's lawyer Gopal Sankarnarayan contacted him over phone on Thursday night for withdrawing his complaint to the CBI against the Trinamool leader.

The 'conflict of interest' was brought up in court by Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai on Thursday. Justice Sachin Datta said he was "appalled" and said since Mr Sankaranarayanan tried to play the role of a mediator, is he still eligible to appear in the matter?

Withdrawing from the case, Mr Sankarnarayan said, "I had reached out to him (Jai Anant Dehadrai) yesterday, that is correct. I asked him is there any way of exploring a settlement, that's all the conversation was about. Jai said he would get back to me, but he didn't. I am no longer concerned to this case and have withdrawn from it." 

DELHI HC JUNKS SANJAY SINGH’S PLEA, DOESN’T AGREE HIS CASE IS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED

While dismissing AAP leader Sanjay Singh’s plea against his arrest and remand in the excise policy-money laundering case, the Delhi High Court Friday said that in the “absence of any material”, it will not “insinuate or impute at this stage” that ED’s case against Singh is “politically motivated”.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said, “Without any evidence at this stage, this court records and would desist from imputing political affiliations or objects to a premier investigation agency as the reputation of a premier investigation of a country has a direct relation to the reputation of a country as a whole”.

On Singh’s argument that the case against him was politically motivated, Justice Sharma observed that this would involve deciding and holding that the investigation agency is “under the control of a political party”. The court said that it would not be part of either this “discussion or adjudication” unless the matter in issue or material is placed before it for adjudication.

It, further, observed that the HC had decided over Singh’s plea solely on the basis of law, material on record and judicial precedents, as “any court should do in any other case of any other citizen on the basis of equality, before the law as it is most cherished goal of the constitution”. “At this stage…at a premature stage when the investigation is still to take place and it is at a nascent stage, this court does not find any ground to interfere with the order of remand or arrest,” Justice Sharma said.

LID OFF A MULTI-CRORE CYBER SCAM

The CBI yesteday said it had unearthed under “Operation Chakra 2” an international online investment fraud worth hundreds of crores targeting Indian citizens. The CBI registered a case of sophisticated, organised cybercrime being perpetuated in the name of investment, loan and job opportunities. After carrying out a detailed analysis of the money trail, the CBI conducted raids at locations linked to the suspects. The fraudsters allegedly exploited various social media platforms and their advertisement portals to entice victims with promises of lucrative part-time jobs through multi-level marketing initiatives.

To evade detection, these criminals utilised a multi-layered approach involving UPI accounts, cryptocurrencies and international money transfers. The fraudsters were using the advertisement tool of a well-known search engine, and were sending bulk SMS to create a web of deception. Victims were lured to deposit funds for higher returns through UPI accounts. The ill-gotten money was laundered through a complex network of UPI accounts, ultimately converging into cryptocurrency or gold purchases using fabricated credentials.

The CBI identified 137 shell companies engaged in fraudulent activities. A significant number of these entities were registered with the Registrar of Companies in Bengaluru.

WORLD CUP, MATCH 18: AUS BEAT PAK IN BENGALURU RUN-FEST

David Warner and Mitchell Marsh symbolised Australia's insatiability with the bat and Adam Zampa's relentlessness with the ball as the five-time champions registered a revitalising 62-run win over Pakistan in the World Cup match in Bengaluru on Friday.

Brutal hundreds by Warner (163 off 124 balls) and Marsh (121 off 108 balls) led Australia to an imposing 367 for 9. Pakistan batters fought valiantly but could only manage 305 as leg-spinner Zampa (4/53) inflicted blows at vital junctions.

The Aussie openers amassed 259 runs in just 203 balls, and it was only the fourth instance in World Cup history that both openers notched centuries in the same match.

Australia needed a dominant show to spruce up their confidence after three middling efforts that fetched two defeats and a win in this tournament, and they did it with a bang.

Results so far: Australia Played 4 Matches, Won 2. Pakistan Played 4, won 2

INDICATORS

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GBP 0.82 /US$, Euro 0.94 /US$, Jap.Yen 149.87 /US$, Aus$ 1.58 /US$, Sing 1.37 /US$, Bang Taka 108.93 /US$, Can$ 1.37 /US$, Mal Ring 4.76 /US$, Pak Re 277.00 /US$, Phil Peso 56.74 /US$, Russian Rouble 95.86 /US$, NZ$ 1.71 /US$, Thai Baht 36.47 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 36.28 /US$

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it. - Arnold Glasow

OFF TRACK

A lady was more than a little annoyed when a neighbour telephoned at 3 AM and complained, “ your dog is barking so loudly that I can’t sleep.”

The complaining neighbour hung up before the lady could protest.

The following morning at 3 AM she called her neighbor and said, “I don’t have a dog.”