Uttar Pradesh Police have formed a 3-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate a collision involving vehicles travelling behind Rahul Gandhi’s convoy on the Purvanchal Expressway in Sultanpur on Monday. The incident occurred while the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha was travelling to attend a court hearing in a defamation case. Police said the probe will examine the circumstances leading to the collision, possible security lapses, escort arrangements and traffic management. Inspector General of Police Kiran S will lead the team, which has been directed to submit a detailed report and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents. (PC: HT)

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday blamed social media for “damaging our democracies” as France faces renewed cost-of-living protests ahead of its presidential election, six months away. Visiting Marseille City Hall, briefly occupied by protesters on October 17, he condemned the looting and vandalism, insisting such incidents must “never” happen again. Macron said authorities must address legitimate public expectations while maintaining order. Officials acknowledged security and intelligence failures and prepared a robust operation for planned weekend demonstrations. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reported 1,435 arrests, 267 injured police officers and gendarmes, and 150 injured protesters, including three seriously. The unrest began with student protests over education conditions before widening. (PC: AFP)

India’s proposed 11,200-MW Siang dam in Arunachal Pradesh is being presented as a strategic response to China’s under-construction mega-project on the Brahmaputra. However, indigenous Adi communities oppose the project, fearing displacement, loss of ancestral land, livelihoods and cultural heritage. Protests intensified on October 23, 2026, with reported incidents of vandalism and arson targeting politicians’ residences, a police station and the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation’s office. The situation in East Siang district remained tense, prompting the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces personnel. The dispute highlights the tension between India’s strategic and hydropower ambitions and local communities’ concerns about the environmental, social and cultural consequences of the proposed dam. (PC: AFP)

Saudi Arabia has stressed the importance of opening channels for negotiations to prevent further escalation amid threats of possible US strikes on Iran. Riyadh said talks involving Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan with Iranian officials in Tehran on Monday aimed to prevent escalation and create conditions for an agreement. Discussions were expected to cover Israel’s policies, Lebanon and ongoing US military operations targeting Iran. US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that there would be no strike that day, while considering whether to reach an agreement with Tehran or “finish them off”. Iran said diplomacy remained possible, with spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirming indirect messages between Washington and Tehran while criticising US demands. (PC: AP)

Senior defence and intelligence officials from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan reportedly met Iranian officials in Tehran on Monday, October 26, 2026, to discuss regional tensions. The delegation included Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin and Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei attended alongside Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. According to Iran’s state-run Press TV, discussions focused on regional security, the consequences of military aggression, and support for Palestine and Lebanon. The meeting took place amid escalating Middle East tensions and brought together representatives of countries associated with the Mecca Pact for regional consultations. (PC: AP)

India and the United States have concluded most discussions on a proposed bilateral trade agreement and are now fine-tuning the pact, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday. Speaking in The Hague during a two-day official visit, Goyal confirmed progress in negotiations but did not announce a signing date or provide further details about the outstanding issues. He is accompanying a business delegation and addressed the India-Netherlands Business Forum. Goyal also highlighted India’s trade engagement, stating that the country had concluded nine free trade agreements over the past four and a half years. The latest remarks indicate continued work towards finalising the proposed India-US trade agreement. (PC: X)

American YouTuber and makeup artist James Charles has sparked mixed reactions after reviewing several Indian dishes in an Instagram video. He rated garlic naan 7/10 on its own but gave it 10/10 with butter chicken, whose gravy he compared to vodka sauce. Charles described pani puri’s water as “vinegary and sour,” awarding it 6/10, while mango lassi received 9/10. Samosa chaat scored 4/10, and lamb curry just 2/10. He ended his food trail with gulab jamun, giving the Indian sweet a perfect 10/10. While some viewers appreciated his attempt to explore Indian cuisine, others criticised his pronunciation and dish selection, suggesting regional favourites he had missed. 

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has told the Supreme Court that a petition challenging Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s functioning relies entirely on a single news report and is not maintainable. Its counter-affidavit states that all three Special Intensive Revision (SIR) orders, issued in June 2025, October 2025 and May 2026, were unanimously approved by the Commission’s three members. The ECI clarified that Form 6 was not amended, though its online presentation could appear otherwise; the application process was separated from the declaration from October 21. It also outlined voter verification procedures, ECINet safeguards and its position on removal of the CEC, while seeking permission to file a detailed response. (PC: X)

Cyclone Arnab is moving across the Bay of Bengal towards Andhra Pradesh’s coast, with landfall expected on the morning of October 28, 2026, according to the India Today report. The Centre has alerted Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry and stepped up preparedness as heavy rain threatens affected regions. The India Meteorological Department said the storm was centred over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal at 5:30 am on Monday, around 650 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam, moving westwards at 15 kmph. It is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Monday midnight and a very severe cyclonic storm on Tuesday, with wind gusts reaching 140 kmph. (PC: PTI)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly urged US President Donald Trump to launch a joint strike on Iran before Israel’s October 27 election, but Trump refused to approve immediate action, according to a CNN report. The report, citing 2 US officials and an Israeli security source, said Washington asked Israel to wait until US forces were ready for a possible joint operation. A warning from Israel’s military chief, Eyal Zamir, that an attack could disrupt the election reportedly influenced the decision. Netanyahu’s office dismissed the report as “fake news”. The White House has not publicly confirmed the reported plans. (PC: News18)