Nepal is mourning Bipin Joshi, a 23-year-old student who was held captive by Hamas for two years and returned home in a coffin. Joshi was studying in Israel when he was kidnapped from a kibbutz on October 7, 2023. His body was handed over by Hamas this week and flown to Nepal for burial. Family and locals in Mahendranagar gathered in grief during the Tihar festival. Nepal’s Prime Minister Sushila Karki called Joshi a “son of every mother” and praised his courage. His family said they would remember him through every flower and field he once loved.

The Louvre Museum in Paris reopened on Wednesday, three days after thieves stole jewellery worth €88 million in a daring daylight robbery. Four masked men used power tools to break into the Apollo Gallery, threatened guards, and escaped on scooters within eight minutes. The stolen items included a diamond necklace and a tiara once worn by Empress Eugenie. President Emmanuel Macron called the theft an “attack on France’s heritage” and ordered tighter security at all museums. Police are still searching for the gang, believed to be part of a larger criminal network. (PC: BBC)

Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has launched an online “jihadi course” for women named Tufat al-Muminat, NDTV reported. The group, led by UN-designated terrorist Masood Azhar, is using the course to collect funds and recruit women for its new wing, Jamat ul-Muminat. Classes will begin on November 8 and be taught by Azhar’s sisters, Sadiya and Samaira Azhar. Each woman must pay 500 PKR (about ₹156) to enroll. The move follows JeM’s push to expand female participation after India’s Operation Sindoor targeted its Bahawalpur base earlier this year, killing several members of Azhar’s family.

Saudi Arabia has scrapped its 50-year-old kafala system, which tied migrant workers to their employers and often led to abuse. The system forced workers to seek employer permission to change jobs or leave the country, trapping many in slavery-like conditions. The reform will affect nearly 13 million foreign workers, including 2.5 million Indians. Workers can now move jobs freely, travel without approval, and approach labour courts for help. The move is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 plan. However, other Gulf countries still use kafala-style rules affecting millions of workers, mostly from South Asia. (PC: India Today)

The UK government will raise university tuition fees each year from 2026, linking them to inflation. Maintenance loans will also rise, while new grants for low-income students will return by 2029. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said only universities with “high-quality teaching” can charge full fees. The plan aims to fix financial pressures on universities. From 2027, new V-levels will replace BTecs, offering clearer routes into work or higher education. The government says V-levels will simplify over 900 current vocational courses and create stronger career pathways for young people finishing their GCSEs. (PC: BBC)

At least six people, including two children, were killed in overnight Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Another 21 were injured as explosions hit Kyiv and nearby areas, damaging homes and power facilities. A couple in their 60s died when a drone struck their apartment building. Ukraine said it hit a Russian chemical plant in Bryansk using UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. The attack came as US President Donald Trump postponed his planned summit with Vladimir Putin, citing a lack of progress. Zelensky said Russia’s renewed strikes show Moscow is not ready for peace. (PC: BBC)

On the night of October 21, 2025, a man drove his vehicle into a security barrier near the White House at approximately 10:37 PM. U.S. Secret Service officers from the Uniformed Division immediately apprehended the driver. Following standard procedure, a bomb detection robot assessed the vehicle, which was subsequently deemed safe. The Secret Service has not disclosed the identity of the individual or provided details regarding the motive behind the incident. The investigation into the crash is ongoing. 

At least 35 people were injured during the traditional “Hingot Battle” held a day after Diwali in Indore’s Gautampura area. The annual event sees two local teams, Turra and Kalangi, throw burning Hingots—dried fruits filled with gunpowder—at each other in a centuries-old ritual of bravery. Despite fire brigades and ambulances being on standby, several participants suffered burns, with one critically injured. The fight was stopped early this year due to safety concerns. Critics have called for a ban on the dangerous practice, but villagers defend it as a proud symbol of heritage and courage.

European leaders, including those from the UK, France, Germany, Ukraine, and the EU, issued a joint statement on October 21, 2025, supporting U.S. President Donald Trump's call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. The statement advocates for halting hostilities and using the current frontlines as a basis for peace negotiations. This endorsement aligns with Trump's approach, which contrasts with Russia's demand for full control over Ukraine's Donbas region, as outlined in a recent private communique to the U.S. The diplomatic initiative faces challenges, including logistical issues and concerns over potential concessions to Russia. (PC: AP)  

New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Diwali events in Queens, saying he grew up in an India that celebrated pluralism. Visiting several Hindu temples, Mamdani said Modi and the BJP promote a vision that “only has room for certain kinds of Indians.” He added that his criticism comes from his belief in equality and inclusion. Mamdani said he would represent all New Yorkers, even those who disagree with him. His comments have drawn sharp reactions from Indian leaders and Hindu Americans, some accusing him of being “anti-Indian” and spreading false claims. (PC: X)