A Russian glide bomb attack on 2 civilian buses in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, has killed 33 people and injured 18, Ukrainian officials said. Donetsk regional head Vadym Filashkin accused Russia of deliberately targeting a passenger bus. Images released by prosecutors showed a burned bus and debris scattered across the road. The attack comes amid a sharp rise in Russian strikes and civilian casualties across Ukraine. In Kyiv, 3 people were reportedly killed and 14 injured in separate attacks. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky offered condolences to victims’ families and called on international partners to provide stronger defence support as Russian attacks intensify. (PC: BBC)

India on Thursday condemned recent attacks on Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, calling the targeting of civilian infrastructure “completely unacceptable”. The attacks on October 6 and 7 killed 3 people and injured 36, according to Saudi authorities. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the strikes, including an attack on Riyadh’s airport with a ballistic missile. India’s Ministry of External Affairs expressed condolences to the families of those killed and wished those injured a speedy recovery. New Delhi also expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its people and government amid the escalating regional tensions. (PC: HT)

France’s student protests have entered their third week, spreading from Paris to cities nationwide and across the border into Belgium. Students in France are demanding better school conditions, including less crowded classrooms, more teachers and repairs to deteriorating buildings. More than 6,000 people have been arrested, while rights groups have accused police of using excessive force. In Belgium, hundreds of students protested in Liège over rising education costs, crowded classrooms and access to study materials, with 107 arrests reported by local media. France also summoned Iran’s ambassador, accusing Tehran of spreading disinformation about the protests online.

Professor Suneel Kateriya of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) played an important role in the scientific journey behind the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. During his PhD research in Germany in 2001, Kateriya identified 2 genes for light-sensing proteins in the single-celled alga Chlamydomonas. The genes were later named channelrhodopsin-1 and channelrhodopsin-2. His work became part of the foundation for optogenetics, a technique that allows scientists to control selected nerve cells using light. The 2026 Nobel Prize was awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for discoveries involving light-gated ion channels and optogenetics. (PC: India Today)

The Centre has rejected Elon Musk’s claim that Starlink faces hurdles in India because of “monopolistic chokeholds”, calling the allegation “baseless” and “misconceived”. The government said regulatory procedures are necessary for the telecom sector and argued that Musk’s remarks do not reflect India’s regulatory framework. Musk had alleged that monopolistic interests were creating obstacles for Starlink’s expansion in the country. The development comes as Starlink continues to work towards expanding its satellite internet services in India. The disagreement highlights the regulatory challenges surrounding the rollout of satellite-based internet services in the country. (PC: X)

YouTuber Dhruv Rathee is set to join the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park on Thursday, October 8. Rathee urged people to attend the demonstration, calling it a fight to protect democracy. The protest is demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and changes to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Actor Prakash Raj also backed the protest and used a dialogue inspired by Singham to target Kumar. The Bengaluru demonstration will include a “People’s Tribunal on the SIR” and a “Chappal protest”. The CJP has also planned a larger protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on October 10.

Amazon has cut fewer than 1,000 white-collar jobs, mainly in its Stores business, according to Reuters. The latest layoffs affected employees in the US, India and the UK and came as the company held its Prime Big Deal Days shopping event. Amazon confirmed the job cuts but did not reveal the exact number of employees affected. The Stores unit manages Amazon’s main e-commerce website and several related operations. The latest reductions follow Amazon’s earlier plan to eliminate around 30,000 corporate positions. The company has been reducing its workforce after expanding significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic, when online shopping demand surged. (PC: News18)

Veteran actor Nana Patekar died at 75 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his residence in Goa on Thursday. He was taken to a hospital, where doctors attempted CPR for 45 minutes but could not revive him. Just 4 days earlier, Patekar had attended an event in Dona Paula, Goa, where he spoke about life and death. “We all have to go someday. I don’t know whether I will be here tomorrow or not,” he said. Patekar, known for films including Krantiveer, Parinda, Ab Tak Chhappan and Welcome, had a career spanning Hindi and Marathi cinema. He received the Padma Shri in 2013. (PC: NDTV)

Cristiano Ronaldo paid tribute to Lionel Messi after the Argentina captain played his final international match against Benin on October 6. Messi scored and provided 2 assists in his farewell appearance at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium. After the match, the 39-year-old posted an emotional message on Instagram, saying he would miss wearing Argentina’s shirt. Ronaldo responded by praising Messi’s achievements with the national team. “Leo, so many years defending your country and a history that will last forever. All my respect for what you have achieved with Argentina. A hug,” Ronaldo wrote. The pair have long shared one of football’s most celebrated rivalries. (PC: India Today)

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s Z+ security cover has been strengthened following a fresh threat assessment amid protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, according to officials. Additional personnel have been deployed around his New Delhi residence, the Election Commission headquarters at Nirvachan Sadan and as part of his personal security detail. The review follows protests near Kumar’s Delhi residence and an agitation outside his family’s residence in Agra. Officials said security was also deployed around his home after protesters reportedly traced its location. Kumar already had Z+ security, which has now been reinforced amid the escalating protests targeting the Chief Election Commissioner over the ongoing electoral-roll revision exercise. (PC: X)