US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said European countries refused Washington’s request to impose additional tariffs on India and China over their purchases of Russian oil. He questioned why the US should bear the burden of pressuring Moscow alone.   Speaking to NBC, Bessent said Washington had approached European allies earlier this year to seek coordinated action against buyers of Russian energy. He also accused European countries of continuing to support Russia’s economy through energy imports.   US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, meanwhile, called India an important ally and said its energy needs must be considered before imposing further economic penalties.  (PC: X)

All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora has approached the Delhi High Court, challenging a police notice directing her to furnish a ₹10,000 personal bond and one surety to maintain peace during an inquiry.   The notice asked Bora to appear before a Special Executive Magistrate on October 19. She was detained on October 16 while heading to the Cockroach Janata Party’s ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march and released the next day.   Bora’s petition argues that the notice is vague and unsupported by evidence of a likely breach of peace. She has sought its cancellation and protection from coercive action. (PC: HT)

French President Emmanuel Macron has rejected Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez’s resignation following widespread riots and looting across France, as protests over rising living costs and poor public services continue to fuel unrest across Europe.   At least 2,400 people were arrested in France after violent clashes damaged businesses and public buildings. Macron has ordered a review of security failures and called for new policing measures.   Protests have also spread to Italy, Portugal and Belgium, with demonstrators demanding affordable housing, higher wages and better public services. In Albania, protesters are targeting alleged corruption and unemployment, adding to pressure on European governments. (PC: India Today)

The Delhi Police is likely to seek an extension of the judicial custody of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka as their five-day detention nears its end. The duo is expected to appear before a Special Executive Magistrate on Monday, October 19.   According to The Indian Express, police believe their release could disturb public order. Das and Ranka were arrested on October 14 for allegedly entering Jantar Mantar, a recently denotified protest site, during demonstrations over electoral roll revisions. They had demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. Their custody extension will depend on the magistrate’s decision. 

Actor Aamir Khan met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray at his Mumbai residence on Sunday, October 18, amid a legal battle involving his nephew, actor Imran Khan.   The meeting’s purpose remains unclear. It came days after Imran received a Leave India Notice from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), directing him to leave India by October 28.   The notice reportedly concerns his participation in a Mumbai protest on October 10 demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision exercise.   Imran has challenged the notice in the Bombay High Court, calling it unconstitutional and seeking its cancellation.

Anil Pandit, who claimed responsibility for the firing at actor Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai’s Juhu area, is now wanted in more than 12 extortion cases in Haryana, according to police. Pandit reportedly had no significant criminal record before leaving India in 2023. Investigators suspect he is operating from California and coordinating extortion demands and attacks on celebrities and businessmen in India in the name of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Pandit and his associate Harman Sandhu claimed responsibility for Sunday’s shooting through social media posts. Tiger escaped unhurt, but his driver and a bystander were injured. (PC: HT)

A controversy has erupted over Durga Puja celebrations in South Delhi’s Chittaranjan Park (CR Park), with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accusing Delhi Police of harassing organisers and disrupting festivities. AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bhardwaj alleged that police personnel entered a pandal, disconnected electricity and damaged equipment. He also questioned restrictions on the timing of celebrations, warning of possible crowding. The Delhi Police rejected the allegations, saying its intervention was aimed at enforcing court-mandated noise pollution rules. Police claimed organisers continued playing loud music beyond the permitted time despite agreeing to follow the rules. (PC: India Today)

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has admitted that police “lost control” in some cities during a weekend of riots and looting. He blamed a lack of preparation and offered to resign, but President Emmanuel Macron asked him to stay. More than 500,000 people took to the streets across France on Saturday to protest against the high cost of living. Demonstrations turned violent in several areas, with buildings set on fire and shops looted. Disorder continued in Paris on Sunday, where police arrested more than 350 people. The French cabinet is holding an emergency meeting to discuss the unrest. (PC: BBC)

Three men accused of firing at Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai’s Juhu area have been arrested in Rajasthan’s Kota. The arrests were made on Monday by a joint team of the Rajasthan Anti-Gangster Task Force and Kota Police, acting on inputs from Mumbai Police. The suspects were travelling on a train from Mumbai towards Delhi when they were intercepted. Police suspect 2 of them opened fire, while the third helped with their escape. Shroff escaped serious injuries, but his driver and another person were injured. The Mumbai Crime Branch is investigating the case. (PC: X)

An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna made an emergency landing in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Sunday, October 18, after a reported bomb threat. Flight OS82, an Airbus A320, was carrying 51 passengers and 6 crew members when the threat was reported near the Bulgarian-Romanian border. The Bulgarian Air Force deployed a MiG-29 fighter jet to escort the aircraft to Sofia airport, according to reports citing Bulgarian authorities. The plane landed safely, and passengers were taken off the aircraft. Austrian Airlines said a security search was underway and passengers would be rebooked after the inspection. Authorities have launched an investigation. (PC: India Today)