Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar announced that the Bihar Assembly elections will be held before November 22, when the current term ends. Speaking in Patna, he said new steps have been taken to improve the voting process, including faster voter ID delivery within 15 days and mobile deposit facilities at polling booths. The CEC said the voters’ list was “purified” after 22 years through a Special Intensive Revision. He urged people to vote with the same enthusiasm as Chhath Puja. The Election Commission will soon decide on the number of phases for the polls. (PC: The Telegraph )

Dozens have died and hundreds remain trapped as heavy rain, snow, and landslides hit India’s Darjeeling, Nepal, and the Mount Everest region. At least 17 people were killed in Darjeeling and over 40 in Nepal, officials said. Nearly 1,000 people were stranded on the Tibetan side of Everest after a massive blizzard. Two iron bridges collapsed in North Bengal following 300 mm of rainfall in 12 hours. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said several districts, including Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri, were flooded. Bhutan also reported floods near the Amochu river, where Indian troops helped rescue stranded families. (PC: HT))

India women’s cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, continued their no-handshake policy during the toss before their ICC Women’s World Cup match against Pakistan in Colombo. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana won the toss and chose to bowl first. The two captains did not greet or shake hands, reflecting India’s continued stance seen earlier in the men’s Asia Cup. Reports say the policy was approved by the Indian government due to political and security reasons. The match was held under tight security as tensions remain high between the two nations following the Pahalgam attack earlier this year. (PC: India Today)

Five people, including a 15-year-old girl, were killed after Russia launched more than 50 missiles and 500 drones across Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. The strikes hit several regions, including Lviv, Zaporizhzhia, Chernihiv, and Sumy, leaving over 73,000 people without electricity. Four members of one family died in Lapaivka near Lviv. Poland scrambled fighter jets as missiles neared its airspace, and NATO aircraft were also deployed. Zelensky urged faster air defense support, saying, “We need more protection.” Ukraine’s energy ministry confirmed power plant damage, and emergency outages were reported as winter nears. (PC: BBC)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed optimism that the release of all hostages held in Gaza will be announced in the coming days. This statement comes as Israel continues to negotiate with Hamas following a significant hostage crisis that has seen citizens of multiple nations taken. The hostages' release is seen as a crucial step toward easing tensions in the region, although the specifics of the negotiations remain unclear. Netanyahu’s comments offer a glimmer of hope for the families awaiting the return of their loved ones. (PC: Reuters)  

Alakh Pandey, the founder of the popular ed-tech platform Physics Wallah, has experienced a meteoric rise in wealth, surpassing Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. This comes as the company has scaled rapidly, becoming a "unicorn" — a startup valued at over $1 billion. Despite reporting losses, Physics Wallah’s growth trajectory continues to impress, largely driven by its YouTube-based educational model and expanding user base. The platform's success is a testament to the booming ed-tech sector, especially in the wake of pandemic-driven shifts toward online learning.  

At least 17 people were killed after heavy rain caused massive landslides in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district on Saturday. Many homes were buried, and several villages were cut off. Rescue teams, including NDRF, police, and local officials, are working to find missing people in Mirik and nearby areas. North Bengal minister Udayan Guha called the situation “alarming.” Chief minister Mamata Banerjee expressed sorrow and said over 300 mm of rain fell in 12 hours. She promised full help for affected families. The weather office has issued a red alert for more heavy rain till October 6. (PC: X)

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has alleged severe mistreatment by Israeli forces following her arrest during the Gaza aid flotilla mission. She claimed she was dragged, beaten, and forced to hold and kiss the Israeli flag, then detained in a bedbug-infested cell without adequate food or water. The flotilla, carrying over 400 international activists, was intercepted while attempting to reach Gaza. Israel has denied all abuse allegations, insisting detainees received proper treatment, food, and medical care in accordance with international standards.    

A newborn elephant calf in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park has been named ‘Mayabini’ after the famous Bengali song by singer Zubeen Garg. The female calf was born to Kuwari, one of Kaziranga’s most loved elephants, on World Animal Day. Assam’s Environment and Forest Minister, Chandra Mohan Patowary, said the name ‘Mayabini’ stands for new life, hope, and harmony in the wild. He shared the joyful news on X, calling it a proud moment for Assam. The birth of Mayabini has brought happiness to forest staff and visitors, adding new life to the world-famous sanctuary.

The United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group, led by aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, began Exercise Konkan with the Indian Navy in the Western Indian Ocean on October 5. The four-day drill includes ships, submarines, and aircraft from both nations. For the first time, British and Indian carrier groups — HMS Prince of Wales and INS Vikrant — are training together. The exercise aims to build strong defence cooperation and improve sea and air operations. After the drill, UK ships will visit Mumbai and Goa to celebrate closer military ties and showcase the growing UK-India partnership.