The Supreme Court will hear next week a plea seeking the suspension of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The plea is linked to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. It alleges that some decisions were taken without the approval of the full Election Commission. Advocate Vikas Singh raised the matter before Chief Justice Surya Kant on Tuesday. The petition says the other two election commissioners raised at least 14 objections between October 2025 and August 2026. The Election Commission has rejected the allegations. It said differences are normal and all orders were based on unanimous decisions by the full Commission.

An Assam Rifles jawan was killed and 4 others were injured in a suspected militant attack near the India-Myanmar border in Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday. The attack took place around 6:30 am near Nampong Nallah in Changlang district. The 21 Assam Rifles patrol team was operating near an area where border fencing work is underway. Havildar Jankhokai Kuki, 42, died in the firing. The four injured personnel were being taken for medical treatment. Security forces have increased operations in the area. Preliminary reports suggested NSCN (K-YA) militants may be involved, but officials have not confirmed the attackers’ identity.

US forces are set to leave their last bases in Iraq after more than 20 years of military operations. The withdrawal was agreed in 2024 under former President Joe Biden and is being carried out by President Donald Trump’s administration. Iraqi security experts warn that Iran and its allied militia groups could gain more influence after the departure. Some also fear a possible return of ISIS. The US returned to Iraq in 2014 to help defeat ISIS after withdrawing in 2011. While many Iraqis support full sovereignty, some say the country may not be ready to manage security alone.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the world is adjusting to a changing global order shaped by US-China ties. He said Washington and Beijing remain competitors despite areas of agreement. “There are limits to what the two of them can agree upon,” Jaishankar said. He said countries are seeking new partners and ways to reduce risks. Jaishankar also said the world is moving towards greater multipolarity. On India-China ties, he said relations are “better” than in 2025 and 2024. He linked the improvement to reduced border tensions. He said the border situation remains important for normal bilateral relations.

Direct flights between New Delhi and Ulaanbaatar have started, cutting travel time between India and Mongolia to around five hours. The first flight arrived at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Monday morning. The route will operate once a week, every Monday, and will be run by Mongolia’s Hunnu Air. Earlier, travellers needed to take connecting flights through cities such as Hong Kong, Beijing or Incheon. The new service is expected to support tourism, medical travel and business. It could also boost trade by allowing faster cargo movement. Both countries offer free visas and e-visas to their citizens.  

Indian shooter Neeru Dhanda won gold in the women’s trap event at the 2026 Asian Games. She scored 28 out of 30 in the final, missing only two shots. Her score set a new Asian record. China’s Sun Yungong won silver, while Kuwait’s Hajar Abdulmalik took bronze. Dhanda also became the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games medal in the women’s trap event. The 26-year-old shooter is from Haryana. She started shooting after being inspired by her cousin Lakshya Sheron. Dhanda had earlier won gold at the ISSF World Cup and Asian Championships. This is India’s fifth gold at the Games.  

Indian applicants faced an average wait of 346 days for US non-immigrant visa interviews in 2025, according to a US Government Accountability Office report. India received 1.45 million applications, handled by only 68 consular officers. The high demand and limited staff have caused long delays. B1/B2 visa applicants face the longest waits. Current estimates range from about 6.5 months in Kolkata to 12 months in Hyderabad. Mumbai has a wait of around 11.5 months, while New Delhi has about 10 months. The standard visitor visa fee is $185. A new $250 Visa Integrity Fee may also apply.  

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India-US relations have faced “bumps” over trade talks, tariffs and differences on terrorism. Speaking in New York, Jaishankar said India’s concerns about terrorism must be better understood by its partners, including the US. He said a lack of “understanding or appreciation” could affect bilateral ties. Jaishankar also said trade talks were complicated by India’s large number of small producers and changes in US tariff rules. He stressed India’s policy of maintaining ties with several countries. His comments came days after he criticised Pakistan at the United Nations, calling it a “serial practitioner of terrorism.”  

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during the Congress Working Committee meeting on Tuesday. He accused the CEC of acting under pressure from the Modi government. Kharge also called for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resignation on moral grounds.   The demands came amid controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Kharge called for greater transparency in voter data and an independent probe into serious irregularities. He also demanded that voters whose names are deleted should get information and a chance to appeal. The Election Commission has said internal differences are part of normal institutional discussions.

US President Donald Trump has denied reports that he was considering sanctions relief and access to frozen funds for Iran. Axios reported that Trump was considering the move in exchange for steps on Iran’s nuclear programme. Trump called the report “untrue” and a “hoax,” saying, “I offered them NOTHING!” CNN also reported that Trump was open to sanctions relief, but said any deal would require progress on nuclear issues. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran was open to talks with Washington. He said Iran would not accept “bullying or coercion.” More talks are expected this week.