Elon Musk has criticised the obstacles facing Starlink’s launch in India, blaming what he described as “monopolistic chokeholds” for delays in the company’s operations. Starlink has been seeking regulatory approvals to begin commercial satellite internet services in India. The company says it has already established infrastructure to meet Indian security and regulatory requirements, including 20 gateway sites with hundreds of antennas. A SpaceX executive said Starlink is ready to begin operations once India grants the necessary clearances. The delays come as authorities continue to examine security requirements for satellite internet providers and their operations in the country. (PC: X)

Israeli Ambassador to India Reuven Azar has warned of a possible new wave of Islamist terror attacks, saying terrorist groups are developing capabilities faster than governments and security agencies. Speaking to India Today, Azar linked his concerns to the recent flydubai cockpit attack involving Indian pilot Smit Machchhar. He said Hamas had inspired terrorist groups in India’s neighbourhood and cited the 2025 Pahalgam attack as an example. Azar stressed that investigators have not yet established whether the flydubai incident was a lone-wolf attack. He also praised Machchhar and passengers for preventing a major disaster. (PC: India Today)

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised the Delhi Police over an FIR registered against Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and others following an INDIA bloc protest. Yadav questioned the police action, saying, “Delhi Police has no work except registering FIRs.” The FIR was filed over the alleged unauthorised entry of protesters into Akashvani Bhawan after their march towards the Election Commission was stopped. Opposition MPs were protesting against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations concerning electoral roll revisions. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were among those detained during the protest, which involved several Opposition leaders. (PC: Deccan Herald)

A five-storey building collapsed in Delhi’s New Seemapuri area on Wednesday afternoon, killing 3 people and injuring 8 others. Among the deceased was Gulafsa, 21, who was around four months pregnant, along with a 12-year-old girl and another child whose identity was not immediately confirmed. Rescue teams pulled 11 people from the debris, with the injured taken to Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital in Tahirpur. The collapse also damaged parts of 2 to 3 adjoining buildings. Delhi Police, Fire Service, NDRF and other emergency teams continued rescue operations as several people were initially feared trapped under the rubble. 

Veteran actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty has been appointed as an advisor to the West Bengal government, with the rank of a Cabinet Minister. He will advise the Information and Cultural Affairs Department, which is headed by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The announcement was made during an event marking the centenary celebrations of legendary Bengali actor Uttam Kumar. Chakraborty, a prominent BJP campaigner during the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, has now taken on a formal role in the state administration. His appointment comes as the government plans to expand film and cultural infrastructure and strengthen Bengal’s position as a major cultural centre. (PC: India Today)

Kenya has quarantined 10 people who came into contact with the country’s first confirmed Ebola patient, who died in Nairobi on Monday after travelling from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Authorities are tracing 57 additional contacts as concerns grow over screening measures. Africa CDC chief Jean Kaseya questioned how the patient, who had been sick for about a month, travelled through several cities in DR Congo, Uganda and finally Kenya without being detected. Kenyan officials said medication may have masked his symptoms. More than 650,000 travellers have been screened, while authorities have intensified surveillance at airports and border crossings. (PC: BBC)

An Omani co-pilot accused of trying to seize control of a flydubai aircraft had reportedly been grounded twice before joining the airline. Hammam Al Hammami was removed from flying duties by Oman Air in 2025 over concerns about extremist online content, according to reports. He later moved to Morocco and underwent three months of theoretical training with Royal Air Maroc, but his application was rejected in January 2026. Despite this, he joined flydubai as a co-pilot the following month. On September 30, he allegedly attacked Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar with a cockpit axe during a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight. Passengers helped overpower him. (PC: NDTV)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to examine a plea seeking recall of its September 23 split verdict on the law governing appointments of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan mentioned the application before CJI Surya Kant, who said the court would examine it before taking a decision. The earlier verdict by Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma differed on whether challenges to the 2023 CEC appointment law should be referred to a larger Constitution Bench. The recall plea reportedly cites concerns over potential bias involving Justice Sharma, whose son represents the Election Commission in Madhya Pradesh High Court. (PC: India Today)

An 8-foot gold-covered statue depicting US President Donald Trump has been unveiled at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Titled “The Orange Plague – King of Injustice”, the sculpture was created by Danish artist Jens Galschiøt as a satirical protest. The statue shows Trump naked, holding a golf club, a world-shaped ball and a set of scales while standing on the shoulders of a smaller man. Galschiøt said the work addresses concerns over US climate and foreign policies. The sculpture is scheduled to remain in Strasbourg until Thursday and is expected to appear again at the COP31 climate conference in Turkey in November. (PC: The Independent)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was released on Wednesday night after being briefly detained during an Opposition protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several other INDIA bloc leaders were also detained as police stopped their buses while they were heading to Jantar Mantar. The Opposition is demanding Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities linked to the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision exercise. Rahul and Priyanka were taken to separate police facilities and released shortly after 8 pm. The protest followed a lunch meeting hosted by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, where Opposition parties discussed continuing their campaign against the CEC. (PC: HT)