US President Donald Trump said he had a “very productive” call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday. Trump said Putin congratulated him on the Middle East peace deal, calling it a “great accomplishment.” Trump added that the success could help in ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Putin also praised First Lady Melania Trump for her work with children. Trump confirmed that top US and Russian advisors will meet next week, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He said he and Putin will meet in Budapest to seek peace. Trump will meet Ukraine’s President Zelensky on Friday in Washington.

India has strongly backed Afghanistan after deadly clashes with Pakistan. “Three things are clear – Pakistan hosts terrorist organisations, blames neighbours for its failures, and opposes Afghanistan’s sovereignty,” said EAM spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. The conflict began last week when Pakistan launched air strikes inside Afghanistan, including Kabul. The fighting killed 40 Afghan civilians and several soldiers on both sides. A 48-hour ceasefire was agreed on Wednesday. India also said it will soon upgrade its diplomatic mission in Kabul from a technical mission to a full embassy. Taliban minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said Afghanistan will send diplomats to India soon. (PC: HT)

India has denied US President Donald Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Modi assured him India would stop buying Russian oil. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said no such conversation or call happened. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India prioritizes the interests of its consumers amid a volatile energy market. Trump had said during a press briefing that Modi promised to stop oil purchases from Russia. India’s purchase of Russian oil has been under scrutiny since August after Trump imposed additional tariffs, raising total penalties to 50 percent. PM Modi said he will protect farmers’ livelihoods despite costs. (PC: X)

Israel has returned 30 Palestinian bodies to Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry says. This is part of a ceasefire deal where Israel returns 15 Palestinian bodies for every Israeli body. Earlier, Hamas returned the remains of two Israelis and all 20 living hostages. Nine of the 28 dead hostages have been returned so far. Hamas says it needs special equipment to locate the remaining bodies. The delay has raised worries about the ceasefire, but senior US advisers say the deal is likely to hold. Israel is preparing to open the Rafah crossing, while aid will enter through other checkpoints. (PC: BBC)

Delhi and nearby cities are facing massive traffic jams ahead of Diwali. Key roads like Ring Road, Outer Ring Road, Mathura Road, Aurobindo Marg, Barapullah Elevated Road, DND Flyway, and Delhi-Meerut Expressway are heavily congested. Commuters report being stuck for hours with little movement. Delhi Police have canceled leaves for all traffic staff to manage the situation. Social media is filled with posts and memes showing frustration over the jams. Residents say the traffic is worse than usual, calling it “chaotic” and “poorly planned.” Authorities are urging people to plan their travel carefully during the festival rush. (PC: HT)

In a major victory against Naxalism, 170 Maoists surrendered in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, including Rupesh, a top commander and intelligence chief. They joined 27 others who surrendered the day before, while 61 extremists returned to the mainstream in Maharashtra, bringing the total to 258 in two days. Security forces seized AK-47s, INSAS rifles, SLRs, and carbines. The Home Minister said Abujhmad and North Bastar are now free from Naxal violence. Authorities continue urging remaining Maoists to surrender. This year, 1,639 Maoists have laid down arms in Chhattisgarh, marking a historic step in the fight against Left-Wing Extremism. (PC: NDTV)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge spoke with RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav to resolve the Bihar assembly seat-sharing dispute. The RJD had initially offered 52 seats to Congress, which wanted at least 60. Reports say RJD may now agree to 61 seats while retaining key constituencies like Kahalgaon, Narkatiyaganj, and Vasaliganj. Talks stalled at the state level, pushing discussions to national leaders. The Congress released its first candidate list even before finalising the deal. Left allies and other parties are expected to get remaining seats in the 243-member assembly. Outcome of talks is awaited. (PC: India Today)

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Thursday that the “ball is in the Afghan Taliban’s court” for a permanent ceasefire. This follows deadly cross-border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which killed dozens of civilians and soldiers. A 48-hour truce was agreed upon, with both sides halting fighting temporarily. Sharif said Pakistan is ready to address issues if Afghanistan meets its demands, including stopping Taliban militants from using Afghan territory for attacks. Tensions remain high, but officials report no violence overnight. Additional paramilitary forces have been deployed along the border to prevent further clashes. (PC: HT)

In Uttarakhand’s Johar Valley, villagers are slowly returning to their ancestral Himalayan homes decades after the 1962 India-China conflict forced them to leave. The once-busy trade route with Tibet shut down, and villages like Martoli, Laspa, and Ghanghar were left deserted. Now, a few residents like 77-year-old Kishan Singh come back each summer to farm buckwheat and cumin. New roads and a small guesthouse for trekkers have brought fresh hope to the region. Though most homes remain in ruins, the return of even a few families signals a quiet revival of these forgotten mountain villages. (PC: Al Jazeera)

Lionel Messi’s much-awaited international friendly in Kerala may be cancelled, according to reports from Argentine media. The match, set for November 17 in Kochi, was expected to be Messi’s first game in India. However, journalists like Gaston Edul suggest the plan may have “fallen through,” with Argentina likely to play in Africa instead. TyC Sports also reported that logistics and player workload could force a schedule change. Organisers in Kerala, however, have denied the rumours, saying all approvals are complete and the match will go ahead as planned. Fans across Kerala remain hopeful for Messi’s arrival. (PC: India Today)