India and the United Kingdom aim to double bilateral trade to $120 billion by 2030, building on their free trade agreement (FTA). Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds announced the shared ambition during the 16th Joint Economic and Trade Committee meeting in New Delhi on Monday. Current bilateral trade stands at around $60.56 billion, covering goods and services. Both countries plan to address trade barriers, strengthen business partnerships and expand investment opportunities. Goyal also met visiting UK mayors to discuss regional cooperation in trade, investment and innovation. (PC: NDTV)

Four Pakistani terrorists, including senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Muhammad Faizan, were killed in a landmine blast while allegedly attempting to enter India through the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Monday, October 12. According to officials, the explosion occurred in the Satwal-Naki area of the Krishna Ghati sector. The other deceased were identified as Muhammad Ishtiaq, Muhammad Waqas and Muhammad Asim, all residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Security forces subsequently heightened surveillance along the LoC. Officials said the exact circumstances leading to the explosion are yet to be established. (PC: NDTV)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and INDIA bloc leaders have approached the Supreme Court seeking an interim stay on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Their petition lists 10 demands, including a judicial review of Election Commission decisions and an independent audit of voter lists and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).   The plea seeks disclosure of records related to the revision, publication of deleted voters’ names with reasons, and action against officials over alleged violations. It also demands that no eligible voter be removed without proper notice and an opportunity to be heard. The Supreme Court has yet to issue directions on these demands. (PC: News18)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia struck 6 Ukrainian energy facilities after US President Donald Trump announced an immediate energy ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv. Zelensky said 33 people were injured in the attacks, which targeted energy infrastructure and other facilities. Ukraine’s state grid operator Ukrenergo reported power cuts in Kharkiv, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia due to damage to energy equipment. The city of Izyum also faced blackouts after power grids were damaged. Zelensky accused Russia of rejecting the proposed truce, while Moscow’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine did not deserve the “respite” a ceasefire would bring. (PC: BBC)

Senior IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe has been appointed secretary of a committee investigating alleged paper leaks and irregularities in Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) examinations. The development follows an 11-day protest by aspirants in Pune demanding accountability and reforms. The five-member panel will be headed by retired judge Dilip Bhosale and is expected to submit its report within 60 days. MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimanwar has decided to go on leave until the inquiry is completed. The state government has also agreed to withdraw cases against protesters and double the number of Group C posts planned for recruitment through the 2027 examination. (PC: The Times of India)

Punjab’s final electoral roll, released on October 12, lists 2,01,00,727 eligible voters after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The state recorded a decline of over 13.6 lakh electors, or 6.33%, from the 2,14,61,043 voters registered before the revision began. Chief Electoral Officer Anindita Mitra said 7,97,263 new voters were added to the final list. The number of electors increased from 1.93 crore in the draft roll published in August. The revision involved checking records for deaths, migration, absent voters and duplicate entries ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly election. (PC: NDTV)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on October 12 claimed that around 200 government officials, including those from the ED, CBI and MEA, were sharing information with the Opposition. He did not disclose their identities or provide evidence publicly. At a press conference in New Delhi, Gandhi demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged electoral irregularities. He also signalled solidarity with youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protesters, saying there was only one movement against the CEC. Gandhi criticised Delhi’s security restrictions and alleged that police treated opposition protesters differently from BJP and RSS workers. These claims remain unverified. (PC: India Today)

Gold prices in New Delhi fell by ₹1,400 to ₹1.53 lakh per 10 grams on October 12, as a stronger rupee and weak global market trends weighed on bullion prices. The price of 99.9% pure gold stood at ₹1,54,400 per 10 grams at Friday’s close.   Silver prices also declined by ₹2,000 to ₹2,26,500 per kilogram, according to the All India Sarafa Association. The rupee gained 96 paise against the US dollar, recording its strongest single-day rise in more than 6 months. Investors are now watching the dollar, US bond yields and upcoming inflation data for further market signals. (PC: X)

Russia launched fresh attacks on Ukraine overnight and on October 12, killing civilians and injuring dozens, according to Ukrainian officials. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of violating the energy ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump. Strikes hit energy facilities in Kyiv and Kharkiv, raising doubts about the proposed truce. Zelenskyy urged Washington to ensure Russia respects the arrangement and said Ukraine had not attacked Russian refineries overnight. Trump had announced that both countries agreed to stop targeting each other’s energy infrastructure. However, Moscow had not publicly confirmed the agreement, leaving its implementation uncertain. (PC: India Today)

Yorkshire Wildlife Park in England has confirmed that a tiger named Altai will not be euthanised after a man was mauled to death inside its enclosure on Saturday. South Yorkshire Police said the man entered the enclosure before the tiger attacked him. Emergency services were called at 1.35 pm, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has not yet been released. The park remained closed on Sunday, with staff offered specialist support following the incident. UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband expressed condolences to the victim’s family and thanked emergency services and park staff for their response. (PC: X)