Congress leader Surendra Rajput compared Rahul Gandhi to Venezuela’s Maria Corina Machado, who won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for defending democracy. In a post on X, Rajput wrote that just like Machado, Rahul Gandhi is “fighting to save India’s Constitution.” He shared a photo of both leaders, saying Gandhi is leading the opposition’s battle against the “dictatorship” of the NDA government. The Congress has often said Rahul Gandhi speaks up for democratic values and against rising unemployment, voter fraud, and attacks on minority rights. The Nobel Committee praised Machado for her peaceful struggle for democracy in Venezuela. (PC: India Today)

The Federation of Indian Pilots has written to Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu, asking to ground all Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The letter, accessed by Hindustan Times, said the planes should be checked for faults in their electrical systems. It mentioned two recent incidents — AI-117, where the Ram Air Turbine was deployed in Birmingham on October 4, and AI-154, which was diverted to Dubai on October 9 due to multiple faults. The pilots also asked for a special audit of Air India by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, dedicated her award to US President Donald Trump for supporting Venezuela’s fight for democracy. Machado praised Trump for backing Venezuelans working to end President Nicolas Maduro’s dictatorship. She said, “I dedicate this prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause!” The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognised Machado for her courage and commitment to peaceful democratic change. Despite Trump missing out on the prize, Machado highlighted his role in supporting Venezuela’s pro-democracy movement. (PC: India Today)

Palestinians have started returning to their homes in northern Gaza as Israeli forces pull back, following a ceasefire deal brokered by former US President Donald Trump. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Trump for helping secure the agreement. Under the deal, Hamas must release all Israeli hostages by Monday noon local time, while Israel will free hundreds of Palestinian detainees. Aid trucks are expected to enter Gaza to help two million people, many of whom were displaced. The IDF says it will continue to “remove any immediate threat” while respecting the agreed lines. (PC: BBC)

No women journalists were invited to Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s press conference in Delhi on Thursday. The exclusion drew sharp criticism from journalists, politicians, and social media users, calling it “misogynistic” and “unacceptable.” The press meet followed Muttaqi’s talks with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on trade, humanitarian aid, and security. Photographs showed only male journalists attending. Journalists like Geeta Mohan and Nayanima Basu condemned the move, questioning India’s approval. The Taliban, known for suppressing women’s rights in Afghanistan, is accused of spreading discrimination even abroad. Critics said allowing the presser without female journalists insults India’s democratic values. (PC: India Today)

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Instagram and Facebook Reels will now support AI-powered translations in Hindi and Portuguese. The feature allows creators to automatically dub their Reels into multiple languages using Meta AI. Every translated video will be clearly marked with “Translated with Meta AI.” Zuckerberg said this update will help creators reach global audiences and “break language barriers.” The tool, which already supports English and Spanish, mimics the creator’s voice and tone for a natural sound. Users can also enable lip-syncing for smoother playback or choose to watch the original version of Reels.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in Delhi that the Muslim population in India has increased because of “infiltration from Pakistan and Bangladesh.” Speaking at an event, he added that voting rights in the country “should only be available to citizens.” Shah claimed, “The Muslim population has increased by 24.6%, whereas the Hindu population has decreased by 4.5%. It hasn't happened because of fertility rate, it has happened because of infiltration.” He further said that Hindus who decreased in Pakistan and Bangladesh came to India as refugees, while “many Muslims infiltrated into the country.” (PC: HT)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said former US President Donald Trump “does a lot for peace” after Trump missed out on the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. The award went to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado for her fight for democracy and human rights in Venezuela. Putin praised Trump’s efforts to promote peace deals in the Middle East and reduce global tensions. He said Trump’s work “should be respected, even if not rewarded.” Trump, who recently announced a Gaza peace deal, has not yet commented on the Nobel decision. The Nobel Committee praised Machado’s “courage and leadership.” (PC: India Today)

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has officially taken effect in Gaza, leading to the start of a phased Israeli troop withdrawal from the conflict zone. The agreement comes after days of heavy airstrikes and cross-border attacks that caused significant civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. Humanitarian corridors are being opened to allow aid into Gaza, while both sides have been urged to respect the truce. International mediators continue to push for dialogue aimed at a longer-term resolution to prevent further escalation in the region.

The Supreme Court of India has reserved its order on a petition filed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-politician Vijay, challenging the Madras High Court's directive to establish a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the tragic stampede during a TVK rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, on September 27, 2025. The incident resulted in 41 deaths and over 100 injuries. TVK contends that the SIT, composed entirely of Tamil Nadu police officers, cannot ensure an impartial investigation, especially given the High Court's prior concerns about the independence of the state police. The party has requested an independent probe under the supervision of a retired Supreme Court judge or an alternative agency like the CBI. The Supreme Court is expected to deliver its verdict on October 10, 2025. (PC: The Hindu)