Sheeja Anand, a 41-year-old Indian nurse from Kerala working in Ashkelon, Israel, was injured during a Hamas rocket attack on Monday while on a video call with her husband in India. Anand, who has lived in Israel for 7 years amid the unrest, had earlier reassured her family she was safe. But a later call was cut off by a loud noise, and a fellow Keralite informed her family of her severe injuries requiring immediate surgery. Anand later said she was shifted for a second surgery. Her husband and two children live in India. Meanwhile, a report says over 200 Keralites stuck in a Bethlehem hotel feel safe but heard air raid sirens while attending mass.

The largest Hindu temple in the United States was inaugurated on Sunday, October 8 in Robbinsville, New Jersey. The BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham temple spans 126 acres and is considered the biggest Hindu temple outside of India in modern times. Crafted from Italian marble and Bulgarian limestone, the intricately carved temple was hand-built over 4.7 million volunteer hours. PM Modi hailed the "spiritually significant" occasion in a letter. The monumental temple provides an immersive experience, transporting visitors to India. Volunteers call it a masterpiece of architecture, built with dedication over 11 years. As a cultural landmark, it serves the region's Hindu community and offers a mesmerizing glimpse of India's heritage.

The Israel Defence Force and Israeli Air Force announced an "extensive" attack on Hamas centers in Gaza on social media. A fresh barrage of Hamas rockets from Gaza also hits the Israeli towns of Ashkelon and Ashdod. Israel's Iron Dome intercepts many rockets day and night but some penetrate. Four people were wounded in Ashkelon and one woman was critically injured in Ashdod. Gaza's health ministry says 511 people have been killed, and 2,750 injured, as a result of Israeli missile strikes on the Gaza Strip since Saturday. The BBC reports that Israel clearly plans much more, with tanks, troops, and armored vehicles massing at the Gaza border, potentially prepping a major ground offensive into Gaza itself. 

The Hamas rocket attack on Israel and brutal counterstrike has put India in a difficult diplomatic position as it splits global opinion. This comes as India aims for greater Middle East ties, as seen in PM Modi's "deeply shocked" response condemning attacks and standing with Israel. No official MEA statement yet beyond retweets. Modi's stance signals support for Israel juxtaposing China and Pakistan's blame on Israeli actions in Palestine. The flare-up also puts Saudi Arabia in a spot amid its normalization efforts with Israel mediated by the US. Saudi Arabia has called to immediately halt violence and referenced depriving Palestinian rights, hinting it won't overlook Palestinian interests for normalization. While India's position on the Israel-Palestine conflict has shifted over time since independence, the current violence threatens India's major regional outreach efforts and pressures it to take sides, something New Delhi has avoided in the past given its trade and strategic interests.

Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a "complete siege" on the Gaza Strip with no electricity, food, or fuel to be allowed in. Israel controls Gaza's airspace, shoreline, and border crossings, restricting entry. Egypt also controls its border with Gaza. Air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem and across Israel as rockets were fired from Gaza. At least three explosions were heard in Jerusalem, though unclear if rockets landed or were intercepted. The Israel Defense Forces said the rockets were fired from Gaza. Earlier, Israel said forces had regained control of all communities near the Gaza barrier with some clashes still continuing in the region. 

Israel says its forces regained control of all communities near the Gaza barrier but some clashes continue with militants. Israel's biggest worry now is freeing kidnapped civilians and soldiers, regardless of the war's trajectory. Israel highly values its citizens' lives and has launched daring rescues globally in the past. In 2011, Israel freed over 1,000 Palestinians for one soldier after 5 years of talks. Any deal now for hundreds taken by Hamas will be massive. Hamas also claims to have Israeli commanders captive. In a BBC interview, Gershon Baskin, who negotiated the 2011 release said, Hamas likely took hostages underground, complicating rescue efforts. He expects Israel to send ground troops into Gaza in a massive operation to kill Hamas leaders and rescue hostages, following initial airstrikes.

The 2023 assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Mizoram, and Chhattisgarh will be held between November and December. Voting for the five states will start with Mizoram on November 7. Chhattisgarh will vote in two phases coinciding with Mizoram's date (November 7) and Madhya Pradesh's date November 17. Rajasthan and Telangana will vote on November 23 and 30 respectively. Results for all states will be declared together on December 3. In the 2018 assembly polls, Congress scored hat-trick victories in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh but later lost power in MP after Jyotiraditya Scindia and 22 MLAs defected to BJP. In Chhattisgarh, Congress had won 68 of 90 seats with 43% vote share while BJP got just 15 seats. Around 16.1 crore voters are eligible to cast ballots in the significant 2023 elections seen as 'semi-finals' ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. [Image: Bloomberg]

Chinese-born activist Jennifer Zeng suggests that Chinese Communist Party agents might be responsible for the assassination of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, ANI reports. Zeng claimed in her blog that the CCP orchestrated the killing to create discord between India and the West as part of their "Ignition Plan." Zeng alleged a secret meeting in Seattle, USA, involving high-ranking CCP officials and agents tasked with disrupting India-West relations. The assassins, with silenced guns and adopting Indian-accented English, allegedly executed the plan. Fresh provocation on the issue came when Canadian PM Trudeau raised concerns about alleged Indian involvement with the UAE President on a call, further straining India-Canada relations. [Image: Jennifer Zeng X handle]

In a fresh provocation, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said he spoke to UAE's President about the India-Canada diplomatic row and upholding the 'rule of law'. This is amid a snowballing crisis over Canada's allegations linking Indian agents to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Trudeau also discussed the Israel-Hamas conflict in the same call. Earlier, Trudeau raised the row with UK PM Rishi Sunak, who hoped for de-escalation while reaffirming respect for the 'rule of law'. Tensions escalated after Trudeau claimed Canada was pursuing credible allegations tying Indian agents to Nijjar's murder. India called the allegations absurd and motivated.

Amid escalating Israel-Palestine tensions, a 45-member pilgrim group from Kerala has gotten stuck in Israel while visiting holy sites after earlier traveling to Jordan and Palestine. The pilgrims said they were safe and communicated with families back home. Meanwhile, 27 pilgrims from Meghalaya, including Rajya Sabha MP Dr. WR Kharluki and his family, were stranded in Bethlehem and Jerusalem due to the conflict while on a holy pilgrimage. Meghalaya's Chief Minister confirmed their safe passage, stating they successfully crossed into Egypt through efforts by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian mission.