Just days before Diwali, Delhi’s air quality has plunged to the “very poor” category, with an overall AQI of 254. Pollution hotspots such as Anand Vihar (384), Wazirpur (359), Jahangirpuri (307), Bawana (307), and Siri Fort (303) recorded dangerously high levels. Experts attribute the spike to stubble burning, vehicular emissions, and pre-festive firecracker use. Authorities have deployed anti-smog guns and water sprinklers to curb dust pollution. Health officials have warned of severe respiratory risks, particularly for children, the elderly, and those with asthma or heart conditions. (PC: PTI)

In a major success for anti-insurgency operations, 210 Maoists, including several senior commanders and 111 women cadres, surrendered before security forces in Jagdalpur, Bastar on October 17, 2025. They handed over 153 weapons, marking one of the largest mass surrenders in the state’s history. Officials credited the move to the government’s revised rehabilitation and outreach policy, which encourages reintegration into society. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chhattisgarh’s DGP hailed the surrender as a turning point in restoring peace across the Bastar and Abujhmad regions, long considered Maoist strongholds. (PC: The Hindu)  

Three Afghan cricketers — Kabeer, Sibghatullah, and Haroon — were tragically killed in a cross-border attack in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, near the Pakistan border, while returning home after a friendly match. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) condemned the assault, blamed Pakistan for the “cowardly act,” and announced withdrawal from an upcoming tri-series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka in protest. Former captain Mohammad Nabi and current skipper Rashid Khan expressed deep grief, calling it a heartbreaking loss for Afghan cricket and a serious violation of human rights. (PC: PTI)  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that 303 Maoists surrendered in the past 75 hours, calling it a major step toward ending terrorism in India. Speaking at the NDTV World Summit, he said his government’s efforts had reduced Maoist-affected districts from 125 to just 11 in ten years. Modi said the surrender shows that “wayward youth” are returning to the mainstream. He accused past governments of hiding Maoist violence and praised Bastar’s progress, saying, “Now they can celebrate Diwali peacefully.” Modi ended by saying a “Maoist-free India” is part of his “Modi Guarantee.” (PC: NDTV)

Pakistan carried out new airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika province on Friday evening, breaking a two-day ceasefire between the two neighbours. Afghan officials said Pakistani jets hit targets in the Argun and Barmal districts. “Pakistan has broken the ceasefire and bombed three locations in Paktika. Afghanistan will retaliate,” a senior Taliban official told AFP. The truce, which began on Wednesday, had paused a week of deadly border clashes that killed dozens of soldiers and civilians on both sides. Earlier reports suggested both countries were considering extending the ceasefire after talks in Doha, but the new strikes ended those plans. (PC: X)

Delhi witnessed massive traffic jams on Friday evening as people rushed for Diwali shopping. Major intersections like Moolchand, ITO, Chanakyapuri and Teen Murti Marg saw long queues of vehicles. Heavy congestion was also reported on the Delhi-Gurugram route and near Okhla and IFFCO Chowk. The Delhi Traffic Police issued an advisory urging people to avoid peak-hour travel and use navigation apps for updates. Officials said ongoing road repair work has worsened delays. To handle the rush, police have cancelled all traffic personnel’s leaves and deployed extra staff across the city to manage movement and prevent bottlenecks.

US President Donald Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Thursday for talks on the Ukraine war. Zelensky is expected to ask for long-range Tomahawk missiles to strike deep into Russian territory. Trump recently hinted he might consider the request but said after speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin, “We need them too.” The Kremlin has warned that supplying such weapons would be a major escalation. The two leaders shook hands outside the West Wing but did not respond to reporters’ questions before heading inside for their meeting.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications. The Chamber says the fee violates existing U.S. immigration laws and makes it too expensive for companies to hire skilled foreign workers. The fee was introduced to discourage replacing American workers with cheaper foreign labour but affects start-ups and small businesses most. Neil Bradley of the Chamber said the H-1B program is meant to help all U.S. businesses access global talent. The fee is set for one year but may be extended. (PC: The Hindu)

Delhi’s air quality stayed in the ‘poor’ category for the fourth day on Friday as pollution rose ahead of Diwali. The CPCB reported an AQI of 254 at 4 pm. Ghaziabad had the worst air at 306, followed by Noida 278 and Gurugram 266; Faridabad remained moderate at 105. Five Delhi stations, including Anand Vihar (382) and Wazirpur (351), recorded very poor air. Transport emissions and stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh were major causes. The IMD forecasts a misty Saturday with temperatures around 33°C maximum and 19°C minimum. (PC: BBC)

Three Bangladeshi nationals were killed in Tripura after they attacked villagers during an attempted cattle theft, India said on Friday. The clash took place three kilometres inside Indian territory in Bidyabil village. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the attackers used sharp weapons and killed one Indian villager before locals fought back in self-defence. Bangladesh called the killings a “grave human rights violation” and demanded a transparent investigation. India rejected the charge, saying the men were illegal immigrants. Delhi also urged Dhaka to cooperate on building a border fence to stop cross-border smuggling. (PC: India Today)