US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi condemned Florida politician Chandler Langevin's calls for mass deportation of Indians, stating such rhetoric "echoes the cruelty of Donald Trump's mass ICE raids." Krishnamoorthi warned that normalizing hate speech and scapegoating communities weakens democracy, urging leaders to protect all Americans regardless of race, accent, or origin. Langevin, a Palm Bay city council member, posted on X demanding Trump "revoke every Indian visa and deport them immediately" as a birthday wish, claiming Indians "exploit us financially." He wrote "There's not a single Indian that cares about the United States." The comments sparked criticism from civil rights groups and the Indian American community amid Trump's ongoing immigration crackdown.

Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Congress MP and former UN diplomat, recently visited the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, describing it as an "extraordinary experience" and a "remarkable structure." He commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his pivotal role in facilitating the temple's establishment in the UAE, highlighting the Prime Minister's engagement with the UAE government as instrumental in transforming the vision of a Hindu place of worship into reality. Tharoor lauded the temple's intricate design, including the Wall of Harmony at its entrance and heat-resistant tiles. He also praised the handcrafted sandstone carvings and detailed statues representing seven major deities with individual shrines, showcasing meticulous craftsmanship. Reflecting on his UN tenure, Tharoor noted the temple as a "microcosm of the unity of creation," embodying the common humanity he championed. (PC: NDTV)

On October 19, 2025, the Louvre Museum in Paris was closed after a daring daylight robbery in the Galerie d’Apollon, home to part of the French Crown Jewels. Thieves used a basket lift to gain access, smashing display cases and stealing nine pieces of historic jewelry, including items associated with Napoleon and Empress Eugénie. The heist lasted approximately seven minutes, and the perpetrators escaped on motorcycles. No injuries were reported, and visitors were evacuated. Authorities are conducting forensic investigations, and a detailed inventory of the stolen items is underway. The museum remains closed for the day to preserve evidence.  

Australia defeated India by seven wickets in a rain-affected Perth ODI, chasing a revised DLS target of 131 in 21.1 overs. Captain Shubman Gill suffered a losing debut as India's eight-match ODI winning streak ended. Rohit Sharma (8) and Virat Kohli (0) looked rusty returning after four months without competitive cricket. Mitchell Marsh's unbeaten 46 guided Australia's chase in the 26-over match. India struggled with Perth's pace and bounce after only three days' training in Australia. Four rain interruptions disrupted batting rhythm. The DLS method drew criticism as Australia's target (131) was lower than India's total (135). This marked Australia's first ODI win at Optus Stadium.

Pakistan's Federal Information Minister Ata Tarar condemned the ICC's statement on three Afghan cricketers' deaths, calling it "selective" and "biased." The ICC and BCCI condoled the deaths from an aerial attack in Paktika Province without mentioning Pakistan. Tarar dismissed claims of Pakistani strikes, stating the ICC failed to independently verify Afghanistan Cricket Board's allegations. Pakistan Cricket Board replaced Afghanistan with Zimbabwe for next month's tri-series with Sri Lanka after ACB withdrew. Tarar emphasized Pakistan has been a terrorism victim and demanded the ICC correct its statement. He questioned ICC's independence, citing ICC Chairman Jay Shah's similar social media post and recent Asia Cup no-handshake incident as evidence of bias against Pakistani cricket.

Indian tourists in Japan will soon make digital payments using UPI apps following an MoU between NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and NTT DATA Japan. Merchants acquired by NTT DATA will accept UPI-based payments via QR code scanning, reducing tourists' reliance on cash or foreign exchange cards. This marks UPI's first introduction in East Asia. Between January-August 2025, Japan welcomed over 208,000 Indian tourists, making familiar payment options crucial. NTT DATA Japan's Head of Payments noted this will enable convenient shopping for Indians while creating new business opportunities for Japanese merchants. Indian travelers currently use UPI in France, UAE, Nepal, Mauritius, Peru, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Qatar, and Bhutan.

A viral 17‑second video posted by IFS officer Parveen Kaswan shows a leopard rummaging through a pile of trash near Mount Abu in Rajasthan, highlighting the distressing impact of human waste on wildlife. The big cat—normally a stealthy apex predator—can be seen digging in plastic and spoiled food, clearly driven into desperation. Kaswan captioned the post, “What a sad visual… See how our trash is reaching the wild! Let’s be better, protect forests, manage waste, and give the wild its home back.” Social‑media users responded with outrage over habitat encroachment and called for stronger anti‑litter enforcement and better forest‑waste management.  

Israel launched airstrikes in southern Gaza's Rafah on Sunday following alleged Hamas attacks on Israeli forces with sniper fire and rocket-propelled grenades. Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Katz held emergency discussions with military officials. Israel's public broadcaster claimed the strike followed an "exchange of fire," while Al Jazeera reported an IED explosion injured Israeli soldiers. Hamas accused Israel of ceasefire violations. Gaza's civil defense recovered nine Palestinian bodies, including four children, after Israeli tank shells hit a bus Saturday. Both sides have traded ceasefire violation accusations for days. Under the US-brokered agreement, Hamas returned all 20 surviving hostages and 12 deceased remains, with remaining bodies requiring recovery from rubble.

The US military destroyed a suspected drug-carrying submarine in the Caribbean on Thursday, killing two people, President Trump announced Saturday. Trump claimed the vessel was "loaded mostly with Fentanyl" and would have killed "at least 25,000 Americans" if allowed ashore. Pentagon footage showed the semi-submersible exploding after strikes. Two survivors including citizens of Ecuador and Colombia were rescued and returned for prosecution. Trump justified the operation under "armed conflict" legal authority against cartels, treating traffickers as enemy combatants. This marks the sixth strike on drug vessels since early September, bringing the death toll to 29. The campaign occurs amid US military buildup in the Caribbean with 6,500 troops, destroyers, F-35s, and a nuclear submarine.

Canada is on track for record-high forcible removals of Indian nationals in 2025, with 1,891 removed by July 28, surpassing 2024's total of 1,997. This marks a dramatic increase from just 625 in 2019. Indians rank second after Mexicans (2,678) in forced removals. Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed plans to expedite deportations with better resources and tracking as part of broader immigration reforms. The surge reflects growing anti-immigration sentiment in Canada. Indians top the removal inventory at 6,837, with most being refugee claimants. Peel Regional Police now actively collaborates with border services to pursue removal of accused foreign nationals during judicial processes, including recent mail theft arrests. (PC: India Today)