Police used tear gas in Paris and Marseille and water cannon in Rennes on Tuesday as school protests in France grew into a nationwide movement. The government said over 250,000 people marched and 891 high schools were disrupted; student unions claimed 450,000 and 1,800 blockades. Students are demanding more school funding, citing overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and crumbling buildings. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said 215 students, 85 staff and 715 police officers have been injured since the protests began. Police have stopped or arrested 6,547 people since September 28, and the CGT union has called for more protests on Thursday. (PC: BBC)

Israeli singer Ben Raivitz has performed the Hanuman Chalisa and offered prayers for the speedy recovery of Captain Smit Machchhar, the Flydubai pilot praised for his actions during a recent cockpit emergency. A 38-second video of the tribute, published on October 6, has drawn attention on social media, with many viewers pointing to its message of solidarity across cultures. People from across India and abroad continue to send wishes and prayers for the pilot's recovery. The report did not give details about the emergency or about Captain Machchhar's current condition. (PC: X)

Light-controlled brain cells are in the spotlight after the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine went to Karl Deisseroth of Stanford, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for optogenetics. The technique began with light-sensitive proteins in a tiny alga and lets researchers switch specific neurons on or off with light. Deisseroth's lab published the seminal paper in 2005. Now an Indian scientist is using the tool to study pain. Dr Arnab Barik of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru works in mice to map the brain circuits behind pain, itch and stress, and to study what happens when those sensations fade. (PC:  X)

The World Bank on Tuesday raised India's GDP growth forecast for FY27 to 7.1 per cent, up from 6.6 per cent projected in April. In its India Development Update, the bank said strong domestic demand and better-than-expected exports supported the upgrade, despite trade tensions and geopolitical uncertainty. India's economy grew 7.8 per cent in FY26 and 7.8 per cent in the first quarter of FY27. The bank warned of risks from oil prices, El Nino and stock market corrections. It expects growth of 7.2 per cent in FY28 and 7 per cent in FY29, assuming energy supply chains normalise by early 2027. (PC: X)

An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 struck Uttarakhand's Chamoli district around 10:20 pm on Tuesday, and tremors were felt in Delhi and nearby areas. The National Center for Seismology confirmed the quake at about 10:40 pm. Until then, many residents took to social media to ask whether others had felt the shaking. One user in South Delhi's Safdarjung said their couch moved during the tremor. No immediate reports of damage or injury were available. Earlier on Tuesday, a 4.5-magnitude earthquake hit Assam's Nagaon district at 4:23 am IST, at a depth of 33 km, according to the seismology centre.

India captain Shreyas Iyer hit his maiden T20I century on Tuesday, powering the hosts to an eight-wicket win over the West Indies in the series opener in Lucknow. Iyer scored an unbeaten 102 off 43 balls, including 10 fours and 6 sixes, and became the first Indian skipper to score a T20I hundred in a run chase. Chasing 172, India won with 32 balls to spare. Debutant Naman Dhir took three wickets earlier as the Windies were bowled out for 171. Ishan Kishan made 37 not out. "Dreams do come true," said Iyer, as India took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. (PC: HT)

A suspected pneumonic plague case in Siberia has triggered quarantine measures in Russia, with the United States tracking developments closely. Darya Shipilova, 28, who worked at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute, died on October 1 after developing severe pneumonia. Nearly 200 people were placed under medical observation, and three hospitals faced quarantine. Russian authorities have not confirmed plague, calling it pneumonia of unknown cause. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington is monitoring the situation. Experts say India, which last saw a major outbreak in 1994, should stay cautious but not alarmed, as antibiotics work if started early. (PC: India Today)

The US House of Representatives has passed a resolution honouring Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his “extraordinary courage” in thwarting an attempted terrorist attack aboard Flydubai Flight 1073 on September 30, 2026. The Dubai-Tel Aviv flight carried approximately 174 passengers, including 27 children and four US citizens. During the flight, the first officer attacked Machchhar with an emergency crash axe and attempted to seize the controls, causing the aircraft to lose more than 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds. Despite grave injuries, Machchhar fought back and unlocked the cockpit for off-duty pilots to enter. The aircraft landed safely at Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The resolution commended the crew and passengers and called for a full investigation.

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were released from detention after two hours following the INDIA bloc’s protest in Delhi. The two leaders had been brought to Kingsway Camp from Akashvani Bhawan after police stopped their march towards the Election Commission earlier in the day. Their detention followed the Opposition-led demonstration linked to the protest over the Election Commission. Gandhi and Priyanka were among the leaders detained after police intervened to stop the march. The release came after they spent around two hours in detention at the camp. The development was part of a day of heightened political activity in Delhi, with Opposition leaders protesting and police preventing the INDIA bloc march from reaching the Election Commission.

Bangladesh Prime Minister’s information adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said reconciliation with the disbanded Awami League is “not a bad idea,” but the party must acknowledge responsibility for its actions and engage with its top leadership before talks can begin. He said mediators should reach out to the Awami League and establish basic grounds for reconciliation through discussions with its leadership. However, Zahed said conditions remain absent because the party has shown no “remorse” for the violent crackdown during the 2024 mass protests that toppled Sheikh Hasina’s government. Hasina fled to India, while an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus took charge. The current BNP government had previously dismissed the Awami League as politically irrelevant, with leaders ruling out its return to politics. (PC: AFP)