A 21-year-old Indian man, Jashanpreet Singh, an illegal immigrant in the US, caused a crash that killed three people in Southern California. The accident happened on a San Bernardino County freeway when Singh, under the influence of drugs, slammed his truck into slow-moving traffic without braking. Several others were injured, including Singh.   Singh crossed the US southern border in 2022 and was released under the "alternatives to detention" policy. He was arrested for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. US authorities confirmed he has no legal immigration status. The crash raises concerns about illegal immigrant truck drivers in the US. 

Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra will be a torch-bearer for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. The Milano Cortina Games will be held from February 6 to 22, 2026, in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.   Bindra, India’s first individual Olympic gold medallist in the 10m air rifle event at Beijing 2008, said he is “truly humbled” by the honour. The torch relay is a key Olympic tradition, symbolising unity and perseverance. Bindra will carry the flame through different regions of Italy before the opening ceremony. The 2026 Games will feature 116 medal events across 16 disciplines.

Kerala will officially be declared free from extreme poverty on November 1, 2025. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will announce this at a function in Thiruvananthapuram’s Central Stadium. Actors Mohanlal, Mammootty, and Kamal Haasan will attend as special guests.   The program started in 2021 to help 64,006 extremely poor families. The government provided houses, land, essential documents, and repairs to thousands of families. Out of the total, 59,277 families have been lifted from extreme poverty. The initiative combined existing government schemes with special programs and included social audits and geo-tagging of houses.   Minister M.B. Rajesh credited all local bodies for the success.

Russia has called the latest US sanctions on its oil firms an “act of war.” Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's security council, said the US has aligned with “loony” Europe and is now on a warpath with Russia. Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia's foreign ministry, said the sanctions are counterproductive and will not change Russia’s goals in Ukraine. The US targeted Rosneft and Lukoil to pressure Russia to stop the war. European nations also approved new sanctions. US President Trump cancelled his upcoming meeting with Putin, saying it “did not feel right.” (PC: HT)

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav was officially announced as the Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Bihar elections. The announcement came after weeks of talks and deliberations, with Congress leader Ashok Gehlot confirming Tejashwi as the CM face. VIP chief Mukesh Sahani was named deputy CM candidate. Tejashwi thanked Sonia and Rahul Gandhi for the nomination and said the alliance aims to work for Bihar and end the NDA government. The two-phase elections will be held on November 6 and 11, with results on November 14. Seat-sharing remains partly unresolved, with 12 constituencies seeing overlapping nominations. (PC: India Today)

The United States carried out a second strike on a boat suspected of carrying drugs in the Pacific Ocean, killing three people. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said no US forces were harmed. The strike followed another attack a day earlier that killed two people. Both vessels were believed to be transporting drugs along known routes in international waters. Hegseth said the strikes were ordered by President Trump as part of a wider campaign against “narco-terrorists.” Since September, the US has launched nine such strikes, mostly in the Caribbean. Trump said anti-drug operations could expand to land targets. (PC: BBC)

The U.S. government has introduced new immigration rules that exempt employers from the $100,000 H-1B visa petition fee when hiring F-1 students or extending the status of current H-1B holders. This change, effective from October 20, 2025, means that U.S. employers sponsoring F-1 students for H-1B status or filing petitions for existing H-1B workers seeking an extension will not be required to pay the hefty fee. However, the fee applies if the petition involves a change of status or extension of stay and is deemed ineligible by USCIS. This development is expected to ease the transition for international students and current H-1B workers in the U.S. 

On October 22, 2025, Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen stated that the Indian Embassy in Kabul would play a constructive role in promoting regional peace. This statement follows India's recent decision to elevate its diplomatic mission in Afghanistan to full embassy status, reflecting a commitment to engage with the Taliban-led administration. Shaheen emphasized that the Indian mission's presence would support Afghanistan's stability and development. While India has not officially recognized the Taliban government, this move signifies a pragmatic approach to fostering bilateral cooperation and addressing mutual concerns in the region. (PC: The Hindu)

US President Donald Trump announced sanctions on Russia’s two biggest oil firms, Rosneft and Lukoil, for supporting Moscow’s war in Ukraine. This marks Trump’s first Ukraine-related sanctions in his second term. The move came after Trump claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi told him during a recent call that India will “not buy much oil” from Russia. Indian officials have not confirmed the call or Trump’s claim. The US has also imposed high tariffs on India over its Russian oil imports. Trump said the sanctions aim to push Moscow toward a ceasefire and warned of more action if needed. (PC: HT)

Virat Kohli’s much-awaited Adelaide appearance ended in disappointment as he was dismissed for a duck in the second ODI against Australia. The former captain was trapped LBW by Xavier Bartlett after facing just four balls, marking his second straight duck in the series. As Kohli walked back, he waved to the Adelaide crowd, sparking talk that it could be his final game at the venue. Fans responded with a standing ovation for one of their favourites. Kohli has scored 976 runs at Adelaide Oval — the most by a visiting batter — making it one of his most successful grounds. (PC: X)