FATF sets deadline for Pakistan to act against terror

The Election Commission of India has submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court denying unilateral decision-making by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar regarding the Special Intensive Revision, stating all measures were adopted unanimously with the two Election Commissioners. The poll body addressed procedural questions on Form 6 and voter mapping, while political tensions intensified after reports indicated Karnataka officials submitted over 61,000 Form 7 deletion requests without mandatory reasons. In response, the INDIA bloc announced a protest rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 seeking the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner, while the Bharatiya Janata Party organized nationwide padayatras to counter the opposition's claims. In international news, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva secured a fourth term as Brazilian president following an election against Flavio Bolsonaro. In Kochi, Kerala, authorities invoked culpable homicide charges against the 17-year-old son of an additional district court judge after a fatal car crash claimed the life of scooterist Jaya Balakrishnan.

This NewsTrack report examines the geopolitical implications for India following key political battles across Brazil, Israel, and the United States. In Brazil, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has secured another term, defeating Flavio Bolsonaro in a closely contested run-off election. The report highlights India's potential to deepen bilateral trade towards thirty billion dollars by 2030, strengthen BRICS cooperation, and champion reforms in international institutions. Meanwhile, in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces an electoral challenge from Gadi Eisenkot amid regional tensions involving Iran, though strategic defense and technology ties with New Delhi are expected to retain bipartisan backing. In the United States, upcoming midterm elections test Donald Trump and congressional control, potentially reshaping trade tariffs and H-1B visa policies. Panelists Felipe Ferrazu, Saul Satka, Alexander Slater, and Dr Tara Kartha analyse domestic polarisation, foreign interference perceptions, and diplomatic balancing strategies for New Delhi across these shifting global arenas.

Over 7.3 million Israeli voters head to polling stations on October 27 to elect their leadership for the next four years. Extensive preparations include deploying one lakh personnel, establishing over 12,000 polling stations, and preparing 18,000 ballot boxes alongside 1.2 million ballot papers weighing 250 tonnes. Polling runs from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., after which exit polls are expected to indicate early trends. Opinion polls depict an undecided race between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party and the opposition front led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. The election focuses heavily on security fallout and accountability following the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks, military conscription disputes, and regional dynamics across West Asia.

Controversial graffiti and posters at Jamia Millia Islamia and Jawaharlal Nehru University have sparked a political confrontation between the Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition leaders. Slogans referencing Kashmir, Sharjeel Imam, and Umar Khalid appeared amid student union election agitations, prompting the BJP to accuse visiting Congress and Samajwadi Party MPs of supporting divisive elements. Opposition leaders countered that the government is deflecting attention from student grievances and national security challenges, as debates also touched upon remarks by National Conference President Farooq Abdullah. Concurrently, the Election Commission of India submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court rejecting allegations of unilateral decisions by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar regarding the Special Intensive Revision. The Commission stated that decisions were taken unanimously with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, denying unauthorized modifications to Form 6. Internationally, political focus turned to Israel's parliamentary elections, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces former IDF Chief Gadi Eisenkot amid regional developments.