Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met the parents of Ankita Bhandari at their sit-in protest near India Gate in Delhi on Wednesday. The family is opposing the appointment of Uttarakhand BJP leader Dushyant Gautam as Sikkim governor and has demanded that the move be halted until the investigation is completed. Ankita, a receptionist at Vanantra Resort in Uttarakhand’s Pauri district, was murdered in 2022. Her family has alleged Gautam’s involvement, an allegation reported by the Congress. Rahul Gandhi said the family had been waiting for justice for 4 years. (PC: HT)

Indonesia’s worst wildfire season in a decade has spread toxic haze across Southeast Asia, raising health concerns in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. An unusually strong El Niño has intensified fires, which have burned around 900,000 hectares of land, according to Nusantara Atlas. Many fires are linked to land clearance for agriculture, including commercial plantations. Greenpeace has identified companies connected to areas where fires were recorded, although the firms deny responsibility for illegal burning. Indonesian authorities have suspended 26 companies’ operating licences and launched investigations. Meanwhile, residents face hazardous air, breathing difficulties and growing pressure for government action. (PC: BBC)

Actor Imran Khan, nephew of Aamir Khan, has been asked to leave India by October 28 following his participation in a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest in Mumbai on October 10. The Mumbai Police issued the notice under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, citing his participation despite not being an Indian citizen. Khan reportedly holds US citizenship and an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. He was detained alongside his partner, actor Lekha Washington, and cousin Zayne Marie Khan during the protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. All 3 were later released. (PC: NDTV)

Following the alleged attempted hijacking of Flydubai flight FZ1073 by an Omani co-pilot, who reportedly tried to crash the aircraft while stabbing Indian captain Smit Machchhar during a mid-air cockpit brawl, Air France has reportedly agreed to comply with new Israeli nationality-based flight restrictions. According to French investigative publication Mediapart, nationals of 31 Muslim-majority countries are barred from flying aircraft into Israeli airspace. The countries reportedly include Pakistan, Algeria, Tunisia, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Niger. The restrictions concern who can fly to and over Israel. The report also states that Smartwings and Air France confirmed compliance with Israel’s new rules affecting pilots and cabin crew. (PC: AP)

India has asked the UN human rights office when it will publish a report on Pakistan’s response to concerns over the situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), including alleged killings and internet restrictions. Speaking at the 81st UN General Assembly Third Committee session, India’s First Secretary Anuj Swarup cited previous statements by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights calling for prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into deaths involving security forces. The UN office had also urged legal access for detained Joint Awami Action Committee leaders, fair trials, restoration of internet access and meaningful political dialogue. Swarup questioned Pakistan’s human rights record. In July, UN High Commissioner Volker Turk had urged calm amid unrest ahead of regional elections. (PC: The Tribune)

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke has urged supporters to gather at Central Park in Delhi’s Connaught Place on October 16, carrying the national flag, amid protests over the arrest of his associates. Dipke, who arrived in Delhi on Wednesday, said waving the Tricolour was an expression of patriotism, not a crime. In a video message, he criticised the government’s action against party members and alleged that the crackdown on dissent would not silence people. His call comes amid tensions following the arrests of CJP associates. Dipke’s appeal urges supporters to assemble with the national flag as the party prepares for fresh protests in the capital. (PC: PTI)

Iran has vowed to intensify its crackdown on Starlink satellite internet and impose further internet restrictions amid continuing tensions with the United States and Israel. Mohammad Amin Aghamiri, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Cyberspace Council, called Starlink a “tool of war,” alleging it enables enemy command operations, espionage and information gathering. Authorities say they have systems to disable terminals. Reported countermeasures include jamming signals, spoofing GPS locations, detecting Starlink-related internet protocols and physically seizing devices. Using or possessing Starlink can attract six months to two years in prison, while importing or distributing terminals carries up to five years. National security or espionage charges can potentially lead to the death penalty. (PC: Reuters)

Oman overtook the United States to become India’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplier in September 2026, as the West Asia conflict disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. According to Kpler data, Omani shipments rose 11.6% month-on-month to 0.59 million tonnes, while US supplies fell 60.7% to 0.34 million tonnes. India imported 2.24 million tonnes in September, down 12.7% from August but 7% higher year-on-year. Between May and September, imports reached 11.87 million tonnes, up 17.8% annually. The US remained the largest supplier over that period, providing 3.41 million tonnes. India continued purchasing costly spot-market cargoes to meet domestic demand, particularly from city gas networks and fertiliser manufacturers. (PC: Reuters)

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels are seeking Chinese-made components to develop advanced ballistic missiles capable of striking targets in Saudi Arabia and Israel, according to a Conflict Armament Research (CAR) report released October 14. Yemeni authorities intercepted two suspected shipments originating in China and reportedly destined for Houthi-controlled Hodeidah port, the Associated Press reported. The components included stabilising fin cores, rocket motor closures, nozzle attachments, igniters and phenolic resin used in missile heat shields. Researchers said the parts could support development of a missile resembling Iran’s Kheibar Shekan, reportedly capable of travelling around 2,000 kilometres. CAR analyst Fabian Hinz said the findings indicated more ambitious Houthi manufacturing plans. China said it controls military and dual-use exports. (PC: AFP)

A 19-year-old man, Alexandros Paporakis of Palatine, Illinois, was arrested on October 11 over an alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois. He faces charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of weapons. Investigators recovered a manifesto containing white supremacist rhetoric and references to violence against people of Indian descent, PTI reported. The investigation began after Mount Prospect Police received information from an individual who reported receiving concerning electronic communications from Paporakis. Authorities said he had shared a document outlining an alleged shooting plan, alongside images of a rifle, magazines, body armour and other tactical equipment. He remains detained pending further court proceedings. (PC: India Today)