Delhi Police have filed a non-cognisable report (NCR) against Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Verma for allegedly slapping Sahib Singh during a road inspection in west Delhi. The NCR was registered under Section 115 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for voluntarily causing hurt, following Singh’s complaint. An NCR does not automatically trigger an investigation; police require a magistrate’s order to conduct a probe and cannot arrest without a warrant. The confrontation occurred as Verma inspected newly laid roadwork, while Singh recorded the exchange. Singh had allegedly pulled out portions of the road to highlight what he claimed was poor construction. Verma said he reacted after an alleged abuse of his family. (PC: 

An elderly couple from Raiganj in West Bengal’s North Dinajpur district has donated their home, worth over Rs 1 crore, to support medical services for local residents. Biswanath Sinha, 69, and his wife Ratna Sengupta, 62, handed over the property documents to the People’s Relief Committee, an NGO, on Sunday. The couple, who have no children, said CPM veteran Biman Basu inspired their decision to dedicate their property to public service. They plan to move into rented accommodation. The NGO intends to use the house in Subhasganj, near Raiganj, to provide medical services to people in the area. (PC: X)

Five baby orangutans rescued from a forest in Odisha’s Balasore district have recovered from anaemia and fever and are steadily gaining weight at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar. The three males and two females were found abandoned in a casuarina forest on September 8 and later shifted to the zoo for treatment. Officials said all five are eating normally, while their appetite, activity and behaviour have improved. Their weights increased between September 14 and 26, according to zoo records. Meanwhile, Odisha Police’s Special Task Force is investigating suspected smuggling from Indonesia. No arrests have been made so far. (PC: The Telegraph)

The Delhi government has announced a winter pollution control plan to tackle rising air pollution in the national capital. The measures include doubling parking charges from November 1 and requiring 50% of government and private office staff to work from home from November 1 to January 31, 2027. Office timings will also be staggered to reduce traffic congestion. Construction and demolition activities that generate dust will face restrictions during the winter months. The plan aims to reduce vehicle emissions and dust pollution before air quality worsens. The measures will remain in force during the winter pollution period. (PC: NDTV)

Boeing has identified a software glitch in some of its 737 MAX aircraft that could affect around 96 planes operated by Indian airlines Air India Express and Akasa Air. The issue may reduce automated flight guidance when pilots change the planned route after a missed landing attempt. Air India Express operates around 53 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, while Akasa Air has 43. Boeing said it had informed all 737 operators about the issue last month and is developing a permanent software fix. Akasa Air said the glitch does not affect its operational safety. Air India Express has not issued a statement.

The Supreme Court has sought the Centre’s response to a plea challenging the introduction of the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on certain UPI payments above ₹2,000. The petition, filed by advocate Anjan Datta, challenges the new framework announced by the government, which is scheduled to take effect on October 15. Under the rules, a 0.4% MDR will apply to specified merchant transactions above ₹2,000, with some sectors attracting lower rates. The petitioner has questioned the framework’s legal basis and alleged a lack of transparency. The plea also raises concerns about the potential impact on merchants and consumers. (PC: HT)

The Supreme Court on Monday took suo motu cognisance of recent alleged rape and sexual assault cases involving women and minors across Delhi-NCR. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran sought a response from Delhi Police and raised concerns over the safety of women and children in public places. The court referred to incidents reported in Kalkaji, Swaroop Nagar and a bus travelling from Greater Noida to Delhi. Drawing a parallel with the 2012 Nirbhaya case, the bench questioned whether lessons had been learnt and highlighted the need for effective policing, patrolling and surveillance. (PC: News18)

The incident occurred as authorities began removing a portion of the Shahi Masjid to widen a road ahead of the Simhastha Kumbh in 2028. Protesters opposed the move, and police deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd. More than 2,000 police personnel were reportedly deployed, with movement restricted around the site. The road project aims to improve traffic management during the religious gathering. The mosque committee has challenged the proposed removal in court, and an appeal was scheduled for a hearing on Monday. (PC: India Today)

India and Canada are stepping up efforts to improve bilateral relations, with trade and economic cooperation emerging as key priorities. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and said both countries were preparing to take their relationship “to a higher level”. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has also indicated progress in negotiations for a proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The two countries aim to expand trade through the agreement as they work to rebuild ties following a diplomatic dispute in 2023. (PC: X)

Three students from Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab have alleged that a university video denying claims of a rape incident in a girls’ hostel was scripted. The students claimed they were instructed on what to say and that the recording was edited and posted on social media without their consent. The allegations come amid protests over claims that a female student was raped by a construction worker and later died by suicide. LPU has denied the allegations. Police are investigating the case and examining digital evidence and CCTV footage. The university has suspended classes for 10 days and postponed mid-term exams. (PC: HT)