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)

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has criticised the Centre over what he described as its failure to congratulate South African jurist Navanethem “Navi” Pillay on winning the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. In a post on X, Tharoor called the alleged absence of congratulatory messages “deplorable” and said it was shameful that India had not acknowledged the Indian-origin laureate six days after her win. Pillay’s ancestors left India more than 130 years ago, migrating first to Sri Lanka and later to South Africa. Born in Durban in 1941, she grew up amid poverty and apartheid discrimination. The award also prompted celebrations among her relatives in Tamil Nadu’s Dindigul district. (PC: X)

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned the United States and Israel against renewed military action, declaring that Iran has “unfinished jobs too.” Responding to US President Donald Trump’s post endorsing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of upcoming elections, Araghchi said Iran had emerged “even stronger” the last time Washington issued an ultimatum to “finish the job.” In a post on X, he challenged both countries to try again, writing: “Want to try your luck again? Be our guest. But be careful; we have unfinished jobs too.” His remarks followed Netanyahu’s pledge to “eliminate the Iranian threat,” amid renewed concerns over potential conflict involving Tehran, Washington and Israel. (PC: X)

A purported audio clip has surfaced following the shooting attack on Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff, with a speaker identifying himself as Anil Pandit, an alleged associate of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, claiming responsibility for the attempted assassination. In the recording, the speaker warns that members of the film industry who associate with Bollywood superstar Salman Khan could be targeted by the Bishnoi gang. The threat appears to reiterate claims made in an earlier social media post. “Whoever will work separately from us in the film industry, or will work with Salman Khan, we will kill him,” the speaker says in the clip. The speaker’s identity and claims are presented as allegations in the report.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis vowed strict action after unidentified assailants allegedly fired multiple shots at Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai’s Juhu area on Sunday evening. Shroff suffered minor injuries from gunpowder and glass shards, while his driver and an autorickshaw driver were injured. Fadnavis said police had identified specific individuals and were pursuing perpetrators allegedly operating from outside Maharashtra or abroad. He promised arrests and action against the masterminds, adding that a request concerning Lawrence Bishnoi had been sent and action was underway. The case has been transferred to Mumbai Police’s crime branch, and an FIR has been registered against three unidentified individuals. CCTV footage reportedly captured the shooting.

US Vice President JD Vance defended his description of H-1B visa workers as “foreign indentured servants”, saying his criticism targeted employers and the visa system rather than workers. Speaking at a CBS News town hall on October 17, he acknowledged that his “rhetoric may have been imperfect” but did not withdraw the remark. Vance also said he loved his Indian in-laws, referring to his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, and her South Indian parents. India’s Ministry of External Affairs had described his earlier comments as “unwarranted” and “deeply offensive”. The controversy comes as the Trump administration has suspended several firms, including Indian IT companies, from a key step towards obtaining US green cards. (PC: AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a summit with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss ending the Ukraine war, The Wall Street Journal reported. Putin floated the idea during an October 9 call with Trump, which also produced a Russian diesel deal. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed discussions but said the meeting and its agenda remained uncertain. The proposal comes amid concerns that Trump is pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Putin’s terms, pausing Russian energy tariffs and suspending intelligence-sharing with Ukraine. The summit could occur alongside the November 18–19 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China. Kyiv and European partners oppose agreements excluding Ukraine. (PC: X)

Milan police fired tear gas and used water cannons on Sunday as protests over poor public services and rising living costs turned violent for a second consecutive day. Several hundred hooded demonstrators gathered near Piazza Duomo, smashing shop windows, looting stores, throwing stones and setting rubbish bins on fire. Reuters reported that more than 60 protesters were taken to police stations for further checks. Saturday’s clashes across Milan, Bologna, Brescia, Bergamo and Turin resulted in 28 arrests, according to a police report released Sunday. The unrest echoed recent demonstrations in France, where hundreds of thousands protested rising costs and declining public services. President Emmanuel Macron condemned looting and vandalism.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das remained in judicial custody as their release hearing at Delhi’s Mandir Marg police station lasted barely 8–10 minutes after a nearly five-hour wait on Sunday. Detained on October 13 after allegedly scaling Jantar Mantar’s locked gates to unfurl the national flag, they were remanded to custody on October 14 for allegedly breaching a peace bond. Police cited concerns that CJP leaders might organise another protest, referring to Abhijeet Dipke’s reported remarks about planning the party’s next move. CJP representatives denied plans for another protest and alleged repeated objections to surety bonds had delayed the duo’s release proceedings.

French President Emmanuel Macron vowed strict action after nationwide cost-of-living protests in France turned violent, leaving two people dead and hundreds injured. Addressing the nation, he said “nothing can justify, explain or excuse violence” while promising transparency over the police response. Macron distinguished peaceful protesters with legitimate demands from rioters accused of looting, vandalism and arson. Authorities reported around 550,000 participants nationwide. Police used tear gas and stun grenades in Paris. A police officer died in Nantes after being struck by a vehicle, while a protester died near Paris. Investigations into both deaths are ongoing, as businesses and public buildings suffered extensive damage across multiple cities during one of France’s worst.