??Canada is afraid of the K-word | ?? Who is leading in the US Elections?

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Market Watch

??The market started the week on a weaker note—Nifty50 closed at 23,995, down 309 points (1.27%), while the BSE Sensex ended at 78,782, losing 941 points (1.18%).

??Nifty Media, Nifty Realty, Nifty Private Bank, and Nifty Financials experienced the largest sectoral declines. Broader indices suffered steeper losses, with the BSE MidCap index down 1.31% and the BSE SmallCap index dropping 1.65%.

ICYMI

• ??Bypolls in three key states—Kerala, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh—will now take place on November 20, the dates were postponed because of the festivals.
• ?? 12 people were injured in a grenade attack in Srinagar on Sunday following an operation where security forces in Srinagar neutralized a Lashkar-e-Taiba commander.
• ??A bus in Uttarakhand tragically plunged into a gorge, 36 dead, and many feared trapped as rescue efforts are underway.
• ??A minor domestic help was tortured to death in Chennai, and six people, including the couple who hired her as the babysitter, were arrested.
• ??Fury follows floods in Spain which killed over 200 people. A crowd of flood survivors tossed mud and shouted insults at King Felipe VI during his visit to the affected villages.
• ??Producer Quincy Jones, known for his work with Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra, has passed away at age 91.
• ??With an AQI soaring to 1900, Lahore was labelled the world’s most polluted city, prompting Pakistani officials to point fingers at cross-border factors.
• ??A WhatsApp group exclusively for Mallu Hindu IAS officers sparked heated debates and raised questions on bias.

??Canada is afraid of the K-word

Yesterday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a video message for Diwali was seen proudly flaunting his Kalwa, saying ‘We will always stand with Hindu Canadians to ensure their safety and security so they can freely and proudly practise their religion.’

On the very same day, there were horrific scenes of Khalistani groups surrounding the Hindu Sabha Mandir on Gore Road in Brampton, leading to a violent attack on the devotees of the temple. Devotees were chased down and hit with sticks in an unprovoked attack.

In their condemnation, most of the Canadian MPs refused to identify the attackers, barring MP Chandra Arya. Justin Trudeau added a word of appreciation for the Peel Police but here's what the police actually did.

What did the Peel Police do? A video shared by a Canadian journalist shows police clashing with Hindu devotees, an officer is seen striking a protester and others attempting to shield themselves while waving Indian flags.

• Not just that, an anonymous source shared images and videos on X allegedly showing Peel Police Sgt. Harinder Sohi holding a Khalistan flag and participating in the protest at Brampton Hindu Sabha Temple. Peel Police have not yet responded to requests for comment.

Concerning: This is not a one-off incident, there have been multiple incidents of vandalism and defacement of Hindu temple walls in Canada:

• January 2023: Gauri Shankar temple, Brampton
• February 2023: Ram Mandir, Mississauga
• April 2023: BAPS Swaminarayan temple, Windsor, Ontario
• August 2023: A Hindu temple (unnamed) in British Columbia
• October 8, 2023: Three temples in Durham Region:
• October 15, 2023: Laxmi Narayan Mandir, Surrey, BC (entrance obstructed)
• December 22, 2023: Ram Dham temple, Kitchener
• December 27, 2023: Home of Satish Kumar (president of Lakshmi Narayan Mandir temple), Surrey
• February 11, 2024: Vaishno Devi Temple, Oakville
• July 2024: BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Edmonton, Alberta

Who is emboldening them and why? Trudeau’s reliance on the Sikh vote and alliance with the New Democratic Party has strained India-Canada relations, with mutual diplomat expulsions and worsening rhetoric. Despite lacking hard evidence, Trudeau recently accused India of interference in the death of a Khalistani terrorist whom Trudeau fondly describes as a ‘Canadian citizen.’

• Canada downplays Khalistani terrorism under political pressure. Trudeau has faced criticism for prioritizing Khalistani support over India-Canada ties to secure votes, despite warnings from New Delhi about Khalistani extremists in Canada.
• Security analyst Joe Adam George argues in National Post that Trudeau’s stance is rooted in "wilful blindness and partisan gain," even as such policies threaten Canadian security.
• “Another Pakistan”: Observers warn Canada’s leniency towards anti-India extremism could embolden radicals. Some fear this could lead Canada down a similar path to Pakistan’s, where extremism has historically impacted national security.

Pic du jour

These AI-generated pictures of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump campaigning in Indian attire.

?? Who is leading in the US Elections?

As the 2024 US presidential election looms, high stakes and historical firsts are at play in a tightly contested race. A Kamala Harris victory would mark her as the first female, Black, and South Asian President, while a Trump victory would make him the first convicted felon to hold the office.

Who is leading now? Kamala Harris maintains a narrow lead in national polls, with an average of 48.3% support against Trump's 47.2%, according to 270toWin.

• ?AtlasIntel's latest poll suggests that Donald Trump is leading in all seven swing states.
• Iowa poll shows Harris ahead by 3 points, although Emerson poll results contradict this, showing Trump leading by 10 points in the same state.
• An Emerson College poll found both candidates tied nationally at 49% support each among likely voters, reflecting a tight race.
• The New York Times/Siena poll indicates Harris gaining ground in North Carolina and Georgia, while Trump leads in Arizona and Pennsylvania remains tied.

What’s happening on the 5th? U.S. citizens cast their votes, indirectly selecting pledged electors for the Electoral College.

The results: The timing of the results is uncertain due to varying state rules. While official results are announced in January, elections are “called” before all votes are counted. In 2020, Joe Biden was projected as the winner four days post-election while in 2016, Hillary Clinton conceded to Donald Trump the next morning.

• January 6, 2025: Congress meets to officially count and certify the electoral votes, confirming the winner.
• January 20, 2025: The president-elect is sworn into office as the new U.S. president.

What should you watch out for? Swing states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, are crucial for determining the election outcome.

Wait…Americans don’t believe the elections? Just before the 2024 U.S. elections, a 19-year-old Chinese student at the University of Michigan was charged for allegedly voting illegally in Michigan. The ballot, cast anonymously, will still be counted, sparking debate over election security.

• Concerns over potential unrest and claims of election integrity could lead to heightened tensions. Last time, with the 6th January Capitol Hill riots, there was no peaceful transfer of power in the oldest democracy in the world. Social media is flooded with memes and jokes questioning the integrity. BBC has branded them as a right-wing conspiracy to prepare the ground for Capitol Hill Riots 2.0.

Also, check out NDTV’s US election page which has a state-wise predictor game and FAQs section.