Wednesday, November 5, 2025 | Vol. 69 No. 26 | 30 Pages Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL INDIA EDITION | www.freepressjournal.in ● Leader in E-paper circulation GAMES NATION Neither the NDA nor the INDIA bloc wins the welfare scheme advantage in Bihar Briefs Cheney passes Former US Vice President Dick Cheney passed away on Monday at the age of 84 due to complications from pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, his family said. A towering figure in US politics, he served as Vice President under George W. Bush (2001– 2009) and was a key architect of the post-9/11 “war on terror.” SEE WORLD QS rankings All but one of the top 10 Indian institutions, including seven IITs, have slipped in the 2026 QS Asia University Rankings. IIT Delhi, India’s topranked institution for the second consecutive year, dropped 15 places to 59th from last year’s 44th. Five IITs — Delhi, Madras, Bombay, Kanpur, and Kharagpur — recorded their lowest positions in recent yrs. SEE NATION ICC sanctions India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf were found guilty of breaching the ICC code of conduct at the Asia Cup and were sanctioned for their actions. SEE GAMES Cinema Salman Khan stuns fans with his ripped physique Jaiswal slams 16th First Class hundred to earn Mumbai a point against Rajasthan Edit Clear and present danger of unsustainable welfare costs GROUND BREAKER | Israeli Foreign Minister sets the ground for PM Netanyahu’s possible visit to India by the end of 2025 DEEPER, BROADER CONVERGENCE Ashwin Ahmad NEW DELHI Gideon Sa’ar could not hide his love and admiration for India. The Israeli foreign minister, who is on his maiden visit to the country - two months after Israeli finance minister Bezalel  Smotrich’s  visit -  described India as a “global superpower” in an interview to a television channel. He added that an MoU on defence between the two countries was in the works. Recalling the Hamas terror attacks, Sa’ar said in the interview.  “We will not forget the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first world leader to call Prime Minister Netanyahu on that awful day. India stood by us, and we will remember that.” The Israeli foreign minister had a packed day in Delhi. Arriving late on Monday night, he had a morning meeting with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, followed by a meeting with NSA Ajit Doval. Observers pointed out the Israeli foreign minister’s visit was even more in the public We have stood together in testing times and we have created a relationship with a very high degree of trust and reliability. There are some plurilateral initiatives in which we both have a strong interest. I look forward to that aspect of our deliberations as well. Dr S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister domain than  Smotrich’s  had been. MEA sources state that Prime Minister Netanyahu may also be visiting India next perhaps by the year-end.        Though the Israeli finance minister met with his counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman where they inked the new Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) between India and Israel and met Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, his visit did not dominate media headlines the way Sa’ar’s has done. 4Contd on | nation India’s top 1% grew richer by 62% since 2000: Report Defence MoU India and Israel inked an MoU on defence cooperation. It was signed by the 17th Joint Working Group (JWG) on defence cooperation in Tel Aviv. Areas for cooperation include strategic dialogues of mutual interest, training, defence industrial cooperation, and capabilities including science & technology, research & development and technological innovation, artificial intelligence and cyber security cooperation. It will enable sharing of advanced technology and would promote co-development and coproduction. The JWG discussed potential areas for collaboration in the field of technology as well as enhancing operational capabilities. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Defence Maj Gen (Res) Amir Baram inked the MoU. FM: Pulled 25 mn out of poverty Mehli Mistry exits from Tata Trusts Shashwat Singh MUMBAI PTI PTI Bringing an end to the speculation around Mehli Mistry's trusteeship in the Tata Trusts, the former trustee has officially parted ways with the Tata group, ANI has learned from sources close to Mistry. In a letter addressed to all trustees of the Tata Trusts, including Chairman Noel Tata, Mistry has expressed that his commitment to Ratan N Tata's vision includes a responsibility to ensure that the Tata Trusts are not plunged into controversy and that precipit a t i n g m a t t e rs would cause irreparable harm to the reputation of the Tata Trusts. "Therefore, in the spirit of Mr Ratan N Tata, who always put public interest before his own, I hope that the actions of the other trustees going forward will be guided by the principles of transparency, good governance, and public interest. I part ways with a quote that Mr. Ratan N. Tata used to say to me, 'Nobody is bigger than the institution it serves'." 4Contd on | nation FPJ News Service NEW DELHI MUMBAI India’s richest 1% expanded their wealth by 62% between 2000 and 2023, according to a new report commissioned by the South African Presidency of the G20. The study, led by Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, has warned that global inequality has reached “emergency” levels, threatening democracy, economic stability, and climate progress. The findings come from the G20 Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Inequality, which includes economists Jayati Ghosh, Winnie Byanyima, and Imraan Valodia. The report said that globally, the top 1% captured 41% of all new wealth created between 2000 and 2024, while the bottom half of humanity received just 1%. It noted that intercountry inequality appeared to have reduced because of the rise in per capita incomes in populous nations like China and India, which slightly lowered the share of high-income nations in global GDP. Between 2000 and 2023, the richest 1% increased their share of wealth in over half of all countries, covering 74% of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said India is on its way to becoming the world’s third-largest economy, standing out as one of the fastest-growing nations globally. Addressing students at the Delhi School of Economics, she said India today stands distinctly on its feet because of its economic strength. “What is making us literally stand out is the fast movement from the tenth largest economy in 2014 to fifth and the fourth, and now sooner, probably to the third.” She said the government has been able to pull 25 million out of multi-dimensional poverty. Sitharaman noted that the balance sheets of public sector banks have improved significantly compared to the twin balance sheet problem they faced 7–8 years ago. She expressed confidence that the Centre would meet the fiscal deficit target of 4.4% for the current financial year. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi on Tuesday underscored India’s growing maritime self-reliance, declaring that one new indigenous warship or submarine is being added to the Navy every 40 days — a feat that highlights the nation’s accelerating defence manufacturing capability. Speaking at the India Defence Conclave hosted by Bharat Shakti, Admiral Tripathi said the Indian Navy has adopted aatmanirbharta (selfreliance) not merely as a slogan, but as a strategic 4Contd on | naiton Widening Inequality ■ A G20 report says top 1% globally captured 41% of new wealth created in 2000-2024 ■ In next 10 yrs, $70 tn of inherited wealth will pass down generations ■ Inequality growing in more than 8 in 10 of the world’s countries ■ 83% of countries, accounting for 90% of world population, met World Bank’s definition of high inequality ■ Nations with high inequality 7 times more likely to experience democratic decline Agencies Two separate courts have ordered immigration officials not to deport an Indian-origin man who spent over four decades in prison before his murder conviction was overturned - a case that has come to symbolise one of the most tragic miscarriages of justice in the US. Subramanyam Vedam, 64, who was born in Mumbai and moved to the US as an infant, is currently detained at a shortterm holding centre in Alexandria, Louisiana. Vedam, a Now & then legal permanent resident known as “Subu,” was transferred there from central Pennsylvania last week, relatives said. An immigration judge stayed his deportation on Thursday until the Bureau of Immigration Appeals decides whether to review his case, a process that could take several months. Vedam’s lawyers also PTI NEW DELHI The Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) on Tuesday announced the schedule for elections to 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats, marking the beginning of an intense political season. Voting will take place on December 2 and counting on December 3. The much-anticipated Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, along with 28 other corporations, will be announced in the next phase after the current round concludes. State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare said that results will be published in the government gazette on December 10 and all local body polls will be completed before January 31, 2026, in line with the Supreme Court’s directive. The model code of conduct came into force from Tuesday. Elections will be held for 6,859 seats—of which 3,492 are Navy charts course to 200-ship fleet by 2035 imperative and a long-term investment in national security. The Navy, he said, aims to operate over 200 warships and submarines by 2035. “All 52 ships currently on order are being built in Indian shipyards,” he said, pointing to the Navy’s shift from de- pendence on imports to homegrown design and production. “As we move ahead, our aim is to extend aatmanirbharta to the component level and build a fully self-reliant force by 2047.” The Indian Navy presently operates around 145 ships and submarines. Admiral Tripathi described the drive towards indigenisation as central to securing India’s maritime future, asserting that national power today rests as much on industrial ecosystems and innovation chains as on naval firepower. 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation 4See also | city Gopichand Hinduja passes away at 85 PTI LONDON “In respect of such sharing of data for advertising purposes, the rest of the impugned order is upheld. The order dated 18 November 2024 is modified accordingly,” said the two-member bench comprising Chairperson Justice Ashok Bhushan and Member Arun Baroka. A detailed copy of the judgment is awaited. Earlier in September, the NCLAT had reserved its order after completing hearings on petitions filed by Meta Platforms and WhatsApp against the CCI’s order. The fair trade regulator had imposed a penalty on Meta for unfair business practices related to the WhatsApp privacy policy update introduced in 2021. Gopichand P Hinduja, chairman of the globe-spanning Hinduja Group and one of Britain’s most prominent Indianorigin industrialists, passed away in London at the age of 85 after a long illness, sources close to his family said. Fondly known as ‘GP’ in business circles, Gopichand P Hinduja had been unwell for the past few weeks and died in a London hospital, they said. Gopichand, who belonged to the second generation of the Hinduja family, took over as chairman following the death of his elder brother Srichand in May 2023. He is survived by his wife, Sunita, sons Sanjay and Dheeraj, and daughter, Rita. “With a heavy heart, I share with you the tragic loss of our beloved friend, Mr GP Hinduja, who has departed for his heavenly abode,” said Lord Rami Ranger, a close associate of the British Indian industrialist. “He was one of the most gracious, humble, and loyal friends. His passing marks the end of an era, as he was truly a well-wisher of the community and a guiding force,” he added. Gopichand P Hinduja had been a regular feature in the annual Sunday Times Rich List, with the Hinduja Group topping this year’s tally for the fourth consecutive year with an estimated fortune of GBP 35.3 billion. 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation NCLAT partial relief to Meta NEW DELHI The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Tuesday set aside a section of a Competition Commission of India (CCI) order that had prohibited WhatsApp from sharing user data with Meta Platforms for advertising purposes for five years. Modifying the order passed by the CCI on November 18, 2024, the NCLAT struck down section 247.1 of the 158-page-long order. However, it upheld the Rs 213 crore penalty imposed on the company and retained the rest of the order. “We are setting aside the findings of the Commission insofar as it holds breach of Section 4 (2)(D) and setting aside the directions in paragraph 247.1, (which stated) WhatsApp will not share user data collected on its platform with other data companies or advertising purposes for a period of five years from the date of receipt of this order,” said the NCLAT bench while pronouncing its order orally in open court. reserved for women, 895 for SCs, 338 for STs, and 1,821 for OBCs. The SEC has identified 13,355 polling centres across six divisions. Filing of nominations opens on November 10 and ends on November 17, with scrutiny on November 18. A dedicated SEC portal has been launched for online nominations and voter verification. The commission has adopted the voter list as of July 1, 2025, covering over 1.07 crore voters. Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court dismissed petitions challenging the voters’ list, clearing the decks for the civic polls. Model code of conduct comes into effect for 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats in Maharashtra as SEC announces election schedule. Voting will take place on December 2 and votes will be counted on December 3 PTI secured a stay the same day in the US District Court in Pennsylvania but said the case may now be on hold given the immigration court ruling. Vedam came to the US legally from India as a baby and grew up in State College, Pennsylvania, where his father taught physics at Penn State University. He was serving a life sentence for the 1980 murder of a friend before his conviction was overturned earlier this year - more than 43 years after he was first arrested. Held. Freed after 43 yrs. Held. Deportation ordered, paused PHILADELPHIA DGCA moots quicker refunds, cancellations Air passengers may soon be allowed to cancel or amend their tickets without additional charges within 48 hours of booking, with DGCA proposing significant changes to ticket refund norms. According to the draft Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR), airlines will have to provide a “look-in option” for 48 hours after booking a ticket. During this period, passengers can cancel or amend their tickets without paying any additional fees, except for the normal prevailing fare of the revised flight. However, this facility will not apply if the booked flight’s departure is less than five days away for domestic flights and 15 days for international flights. Beyond 48 hours, passengers will have to pay the relevant cancellation charges for any amendments. The DGCA has also proposed that if a ticket is purchased through a travel agent or online portal, the “onus of refund shall lie with the airlines,” as agents are their appointed representatives. 4See also | money FPJ News Service MUMBAI ‘India adds 1 indigenous warship every 40 days’ NEW DELHI the global population. “In India, the top 1% have grown their share of wealth by 62% over this period (2000–2023); this figure is 54% in China,” it stated. The study stressed that “extreme inequality is a choice,” adding that it is not inevitable and can be reversed with political will. It called for greater global coordination, with the G20 expected to play a critical role in addressing the issue. The report proposed creating an International Panel on Inequality (IPI), modelled on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPI, to be launched under the South African G20 Presidency, would provide governments with “authoritative and accessible” data on inequality and its key drivers. MAHA LOCAL POLL BUGLE