Actor Imran Khan will approach the Bombay High Court to challenge a notice directing him to leave India by October 28. His lawyers said they would seek an urgent hearing, arguing that he had not violated any conditions. The notice was issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) in Mumbai under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. The action followed Khan’s participation in an October 10 protest at Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan, which demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Khan, a US citizen and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, was briefly detained during the demonstration.  (PC: NDTV)

India and the United States have finalised the first phase of their proposed trade agreement, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday. The deal is now undergoing legal drafting, with officials hoping to complete the process soon. Goyal said India would operationalise the agreement after securing a competitive advantage over rival exporters. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said negotiations were progressing positively, but signing would depend on the US finalising its tariff structure. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also said discussions were nearing a conclusion. The two countries have been negotiating the trade pact since early 2025 to improve market access and address tariff barriers. (PC: NDTV)

Indonesia has launched an experimental operation using dry ice to tackle toxic haze caused by widespread forest and peatland fires. On Thursday, aircraft scattered 1.5 tonnes of solid carbon dioxide over South Sumatra, targeting Palembang and nearby areas. Officials hope the method will help push haze into higher layers of the atmosphere. Indonesia is facing its worst wildfire season in a decade, worsened by strong El Niño-driven drought. Authorities are also using cloud seeding and deploying helicopters to fight the fires. The smoke has spread to Malaysia and Singapore, where air quality has reached unhealthy levels. (PC: BBC)

India has expressed concern over an alleged plan to carry out a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, in the United States. The Ministry of External Affairs described the reported anti-Hindu and racist nature of the plot as “particularly disturbing”. The remarks came after US police arrested 19-year-old Alexandros Paporakis on October 11. Investigators said the suspect had shared a document outlining an alleged shooting plan, along with images of weapons and tactical equipment. India urged US authorities to conduct a thorough investigation, bring those responsible to justice and take steps to protect the Indian community. (PC: India Today)

The Delhi Police has assured the Delhi High Court that it will take “all possible measures” to regulate a protest called by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke at Connaught Place on Friday, October 16. The protest is planned at Central Park, where Dipke has urged supporters to gather with the national flag. He called the demonstration after CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to 5 days of judicial custody following their detention over an incident at Jantar Mantar. The High Court recorded the police’s assurance but did not stop the proposed protest. (PC: HT)

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to the Centre and Delhi Police over a petition challenging the removal of Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site. The court said the law would take its own course if the responses did not satisfy it. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that the decision followed a committee’s recommendation. A Delhi Police order dated October 11 designated Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi as alternative venues for demonstrations. The police said separate standard operating procedures for protests at these locations would be issued. The move has sparked debate over access to protest spaces in the national capital. (PC: NDTV)

Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen Shah, is expected to visit India for 3 days in November, marking his first official bilateral trip abroad since taking office in March. The visit, likely in the third or fourth week of November, will include delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and meetings with senior Indian ministers. The agenda is expected to cover border disputes, hydropower projects, trade, air routes and reconstruction after devastating August floods. Both countries are also discussing agreements and memorandums of understanding. However, the official dates of the visit have not yet been announced. (PC: India Today)

Amnesty International has urged Indian authorities to release Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were sent to 5 days of judicial custody after entering Jantar Mantar on October 13. In a statement on October 14, Amnesty raised concerns over restrictions on peaceful protests after Delhi Police removed Jantar Mantar from its list of authorised protest sites. CJP member Ajinkya Shinde was released on a personal bond. Amnesty said public spaces must remain accessible for peaceful demonstrations and called for an end to the crackdown on dissent. (PC: X)

3 Indians from Kerala were killed in a suspected arson attack at a residential building in Bochum, Germany. The victims were identified as Nova Sabu, 25, a part-time gym trainer; Anjali Sheela Joy, 25, a warehouse worker; and Sivin Johny, 26, who had recently arrived for higher studies. German police have arrested a 41-year-old Romanian national who lived in the same building on suspicion of murder. Investigators suspect the fire was deliberately set on the ground floor. Five others were injured, including an Indian student reportedly in critical condition. Indian authorities are working to bring the victims’ remains home. (PC: NDTV)

The Congress has reached out to Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, inviting him to a high tea hosted by Rahul Gandhi for INDIA bloc leaders, civil society representatives and student leaders. The move signals a possible shift in the party’s approach towards CJP, which has led protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged electoral irregularities. Congress leaders had earlier maintained distance from the group, with some viewing it as linked to the Aam Aadmi Party. Rahul Gandhi recently condemned the arrest of CJP leaders during protests at Jantar Mantar.  (PC: The Indian Express)