Iran has exempted merchant vessels from India, China, Iraq and Qatar from restrictions on navigating the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian lawmaker Amir Hayat-Moghaddam. He said the move would facilitate Indian medicine imports, while exemptions for Chinese ships aim to secure Beijing’s political support. Iran charges transit fees to Indian and Chinese vessels but allows Qatari ships to pass free. The development is significant for India, which imports nearly 90% of its crude oil, with around 30% passing through the strait. The waterway also carries 90% of India’s LPG imports and over half its LNG imports from Qatar and the UAE, alongside vital fertiliser supplies. (PC: Reuters)

The Democrats’ sweeping victory in the 2026 US midterm elections could give India greater negotiating space amid tensions with Washington over trade, Russian oil purchases and immigration. Former Indian ambassadors believe Democratic control of Congress may impose checks on President Donald Trump’s unilateral decisions, including proposed penalties on countries buying Russian crude and restrictions affecting skilled foreign workers. However, differences over energy security and defence imports are unlikely to disappear. Views differ on the India-US trade deal: one former envoy expects renewed American pressure, while another believes Washington’s focus on upcoming presidential primaries could delay negotiations. The results offer New Delhi breathing room, but not a resolution of bilateral differences. (PC: NDTV)

Polish Ambassador to India Piotr Antoni Świtalski has said the 2026 US midterm results demonstrate that “democracies work”, while calling for stronger strategic ties between Warsaw and Washington. Reacting to the Democrats’ victory, which saw them take control of both chambers of Congress from Republicans, he expressed hope that the United States would use its global influence to help resolve ongoing international conflicts. His remarks followed Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s October 21-23 visit to India, where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The leaders discussed expanding bilateral trade from around $6 billion to $10 billion and strengthening cooperation in defence, AI, semiconductors, green technology and critical minerals. (PC: Times Now)

US Senator Abdul El-Sayed, who became the country’s first Muslim senator after winning Michigan’s Senate race, has family ties to Karnataka through his wife, Dr Sarah Jukaku. Sarah is the granddaughter of JH Shamsuddin Jukaku, a prominent lawyer, educator and politician from Bhatkal who served as deputy finance minister in the erstwhile Mysore State government in 1958. He was also elected to the Bombay Legislative Assembly in 1946 and later represented Honnavar in the Mysore Legislative Assembly. Sarah’s father, nephrologist Dr Jukaku S Tayeb, moved to the US in the 1980s. Sarah met El-Sayed at the University of Michigan, and they married in May 2006. (PC: AP)

  Democrat Pia Dandiya has won Florida’s 22nd Congressional District seat, defeating Republican candidate Casey Askar in the US midterm elections. A former school principal, Dandiya secured victory in the newly redrawn district, which was considered favourable to Republicans. Her win marks a notable development in the congressional contest, where former President Donald Trump had backed mid-decade redistricting efforts to strengthen his party’s position in the House of Representatives. Askar had also pledged to work with Trump if elected. Dandiya’s victory adds to the growing representation of Indian-American politicians in US electoral politics. (PC: X)    

At least 22 Indian nationals have died in the ongoing West Asia conflict since February, including 14 seafarers, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed concern over the situation and said the government remained in close contact with the Indian community across the Gulf region to ensure their safety. He also confirmed that 3 Indians had died in Saudi Arabia. Several Indian sailors have been killed in attacks involving commercial vessels operating in the region. India has repeatedly called for dialogue and diplomacy to end the conflict and protect civilian lives. (PC: NDTV)

The Indian Navy has rescued all 20 crew members of the hijacked fishing vessel Azini from armed Somali pirates after a 48-hour operation off Somalia's northeastern coast. The vessel was seized last month and was feared to be used as a mother ship for further pirate attacks on commercial ships. The Navy deployed a warship and maritime reconnaissance aircraft to track and intercept the vessel. Marine commandos were then air-dropped from an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft to secure it and neutralise the pirate threat. All 20 crew members were rescued safely, with no casualties or injuries reported. (PC: The Indian Express)

An Indian seafarer was killed after an Indian-flagged vessel, Al Jusufi, was struck by an aerial object off the coast of Oman. The vessel was carrying 14 crew members when the incident occurred. The Indian government confirmed the death and said it was monitoring the situation. The incident has raised concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in the region, which has witnessed heightened security tensions. Authorities are looking into the circumstances surrounding the attack and the condition of the remaining crew members. (PC: News18)

A 32-year-old Brampton resident of Punjab origin, identified as Sahib Brar, has been arrested in Toronto and charged with two counts of sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement following an alleged assault on a female ride-share passenger. According to Toronto Police, the incident occurred near Yonge Street and Wellesley Street East on October 31, 2026. The woman was allegedly assaulted inside the vehicle and again when she attempted to leave. She eventually escaped but left her purse behind, after which the driver allegedly assaulted her once more outside the vehicle. Brar was scheduled to appear before the Toronto Regional Bail Centre. Investigators suspect additional victims and seek public information.

An Indian national was killed and another person injured after two helicopters collided while approaching the Pheriche helipad in Nepal’s Solukhumbu district on Tuesday morning. The aircraft, operated by Fishtail Air and Dynasty Air, were landing at the helipad when their rotor blades struck each other, according to Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority. The collision was confirmed by authority information officer Gyanendra Bhul and local police. The deceased’s identity and nationality had not yet been officially established by police. The body was subsequently flown to Lukla, while the injured passenger was airlifted separately for medical treatment. CCTV footage reportedly shows the helicopters approaching dangerously close before their rotor blades made contact. Further details are awaited.