On October 22, 2025, Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra was formally awarded the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army of India during a ceremonial “pipping” event in New Delhi. The ceremony, attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of Army Staff Upendra Dwivedi, recognised Chopra’s exceptional achievements in athletics and his service with the Army’s Rajputana Rifles since 2016. The appointment took effect on April 16, 2025, and is a symbolic honour underscoring the bond between India’s armed forces and its elite sportsmen. (PC: PTI)

India has shared the first photos of Mehul Choksi’s cell in Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail with Belgian authorities. Choksi will stay in Barrack No 12, a 46-square-metre barrack with two rooms and private toilets. He will only leave for medical visits or court hearings. The move is part of India’s effort to counter Choksi’s claims of poor prison conditions. Belgian court rejected his extradition challenges, saying he provided no proof of personal risk or unfair treatment. India assured that Choksi’s health and rights will be protected and that the jail meets international standards.

In a symbolic gesture, the intersection of 114th Street and 101st Avenue in Richmond Hill, Queens — located near the historic Gurdwara Makhan Shah Lubana — has been officially renamed “Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Marg Way” in honour of the ninth Sikh Guru. Approved by the New York City Council earlier this year, the naming was unveiled in a renaming ceremony held on the eve of Diwali, celebrating the Guru’s message of sacrifice, compassion and justice. According to Council member Lynn Schulman, the act recognises the vibrant Sikh-American presence in the area and underscores New York’s multicultural identity. 

At least seven people, including two children, were killed in Russian air strikes on Ukraine. A kindergarten in Kharkiv was hit, and parts of Kyiv suffered heavy damage. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attacks showed Moscow still faced little pressure to end the war. Over 27 people were injured in the strikes. The assault came hours after US President Donald Trump said his planned summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin was postponed. Russia later claimed talks were still being prepared. Ukraine’s air force said more than 400 drones and 28 missiles were fired overnight, mostly targeting power facilities. (PC: BBC)

Nepal is mourning Bipin Joshi, a 23-year-old student who was held captive by Hamas for two years and returned home in a coffin. Joshi was studying in Israel when he was kidnapped from a kibbutz on October 7, 2023. His body was handed over by Hamas this week and flown to Nepal for burial. Family and locals in Mahendranagar gathered in grief during the Tihar festival. Nepal’s Prime Minister Sushila Karki called Joshi a “son of every mother” and praised his courage. His family said they would remember him through every flower and field he once loved.

The Louvre Museum in Paris reopened on Wednesday, three days after thieves stole jewellery worth €88 million in a daring daylight robbery. Four masked men used power tools to break into the Apollo Gallery, threatened guards, and escaped on scooters within eight minutes. The stolen items included a diamond necklace and a tiara once worn by Empress Eugenie. President Emmanuel Macron called the theft an “attack on France’s heritage” and ordered tighter security at all museums. Police are still searching for the gang, believed to be part of a larger criminal network. (PC: BBC)

Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has launched an online “jihadi course” for women named Tufat al-Muminat, NDTV reported. The group, led by UN-designated terrorist Masood Azhar, is using the course to collect funds and recruit women for its new wing, Jamat ul-Muminat. Classes will begin on November 8 and be taught by Azhar’s sisters, Sadiya and Samaira Azhar. Each woman must pay 500 PKR (about ₹156) to enroll. The move follows JeM’s push to expand female participation after India’s Operation Sindoor targeted its Bahawalpur base earlier this year, killing several members of Azhar’s family.

Delhi’s air quality worsened sharply after two days of Diwali celebrations, reaching the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories. The city’s average AQI was 341 on Wednesday afternoon, with Punjabi Bagh recording the highest at 419. Areas like Anand Vihar, ITO, and Ashok Vihar also reported ‘very poor’ air. The lowest AQI, 209, was seen at Lodhi Road and DTU. The Commission for Air Quality Management has enforced Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan, which includes higher parking fees and curbs on diesel generators and polluting vehicles to reduce emissions across Delhi-NCR. (PC: HT)

Saudi Arabia has scrapped its 50-year-old kafala system, which tied migrant workers to their employers and often led to abuse. The system forced workers to seek employer permission to change jobs or leave the country, trapping many in slavery-like conditions. The reform will affect nearly 13 million foreign workers, including 2.5 million Indians. Workers can now move jobs freely, travel without approval, and approach labour courts for help. The move is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 plan. However, other Gulf countries still use kafala-style rules affecting millions of workers, mostly from South Asia. (PC: India Today)

The UK government will raise university tuition fees each year from 2026, linking them to inflation. Maintenance loans will also rise, while new grants for low-income students will return by 2029. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said only universities with “high-quality teaching” can charge full fees. The plan aims to fix financial pressures on universities. From 2027, new V-levels will replace BTecs, offering clearer routes into work or higher education. The government says V-levels will simplify over 900 current vocational courses and create stronger career pathways for young people finishing their GCSEs. (PC: BBC)