Indian Medical Student Airlifted Home From Kazakhstan After Brain Stroke
A 22-year-old Indian MBBS student was successfully evacuated from Kazakhstan and airlifted to Jaipur for advanced medical care. The student, Rahul Ghosalya, had suffered a brain stroke on October 8 and was on ventilator support in a hospital in Astana. Following appeals from his family to the government, a coordinated effort involving an air ambulance brought him to SMS Hospital in Jaipur, where a special team of doctors has begun his treatment, marking a significant humanitarian and diplomatic success.
Global Internet Disrupted as Amazon Web Services Suffers Major Outage
A massive outage at Amazon Web Services (AWS), the world's largest cloud provider, caused widespread internet disruption, affecting thousands of global companies and popular online services. The issue, originating from AWS's US-EAST-1 region, was linked to its Domain Name System (DNS). Platforms like Snapchat, Reddit, Roblox, and numerous business and financial services were impacted for hours. Amazon confirmed the problem was resolved Monday evening, but the event highlighted the global economy's critical dependence on a few cloud infrastructure giants.
European Council Approves New Strategic Agenda to Deepen Ties with India
The European Council has approved a 'New Strategic EU-India Agenda' aimed at significantly strengthening ties between the two powers. The conclusions endorsed efforts to finalize a 'balanced, ambitious, and mutually beneficial' Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of the year. The agenda focuses on deepening cooperation in security, defence, technology, and global issues. This move signals a strong political impetus from the 27-member bloc to elevate its partnership with India amid a complex geopolitical landscape.
Cargo Plane Skids Off Hong Kong Runway Into Sea, Killing Two
A Boeing 747 cargo aircraft operated by Turkey-based ACT Airlines skidded off a runway while landing at Hong Kong International Airport and crashed into the sea, killing two people in an airport ground vehicle. The four crew members on the plane were rescued and hospitalized. The aircraft, arriving from Dubai, was partially submerged off the sea wall, leading to the closure of one of the airport's three runways. An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.
Assam Police Team Reaches Singapore to Investigate Singer Zubeen Garg's Death
Two senior officers from the Assam Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) have arrived in Singapore to investigate the mysterious death of popular singer Zubeen Garg last month. The team will visit the scene of the incident and collaborate with their Singaporean counterparts, with India having invoked the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) to facilitate cooperation. The high-profile case has led to several arrests in Assam, including the singer's cousin and personal security officers, amid ongoing investigations into potential foul play.
23 Indian Crew Members Rescued from Burning LPG Tanker off Yemen Coast
Twenty-three Indian crew members were rescued after an explosion and fire broke out on the LPG tanker MV Falcon off the coast of Aden, Yemen. The EU Naval Force Operation Aspides launched a search and rescue mission after the Cameroon-flagged vessel went adrift while sailing from Oman to Djibouti. The crew abandoned the ship, which was fully loaded with liquefied petroleum gas, posing a significant navigational hazard. A private company is now managing the salvage operation for the damaged tanker.
Veteran Actor and Comedian Asrani Passes Away at 84
Govardhan Asrani, the beloved veteran actor known for his impeccable comic timing in over 300 films, died in Mumbai at age 84 after a brief illness. Best remembered for his iconic role as the eccentric jailer in the 1975 classic “Sholay,” Asrani was a staple of Hindi cinema for five decades, celebrated for his performances in films like “Chupke Chupke” and “Pati Patni Aur Woh.” His passing was mourned across the film industry as a significant loss.
National Medical Commission Approves Over 10,600 New MBBS Seats for 2024-25
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved 10,650 new MBBS seats for the 2024-25 academic year, establishing 41 new medical colleges and raising the national total to 816. This expansion increases the total number of available undergraduate medical seats to 1,37,600. The move aligns with the government's goal of significantly boosting the country's medical education capacity to address the growing demand for healthcare professionals and improve the doctor-patient ratio across India.
Pakistan and Afghanistan Agree to Ceasefire After Qatar-Mediated Talks
After a week of deadly border clashes that killed dozens, Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire. The agreement was reached during negotiations in Doha, mediated by Qatar and Turkiye, to end the worst violence between the neighbours since 2021. Both nations also agreed to hold follow-up meetings to ensure the truce is sustainable. The fighting had flared after explosions in Afghanistan on October 9, which Kabul blamed on Islamabad, leading to cross-border strikes and ground battles.
Anti-Pollution Curbs Intensified in Delhi-NCR as Air Quality Worsens to 'Very Poor'
Authorities have invoked Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR after the city's air quality index (AQI) crossed the 300 mark, entering the 'very poor' category. The move introduces stricter measures to combat rising pollution levels ahead of Diwali. These curbs include increased frequency of public transport, daily mechanised road sweeping and water sprinkling, and strict enforcement of dust control norms at construction sites to prevent further deterioration of the region's air quality.
US to Cut Aid to Colombia Over Drug Production, Escalating Tensions
US President Donald Trump has announced he will slash funding to Colombia, accusing its president, Gustavo Petro, of failing to curb drug production. In a social media post, Trump referred to Petro as an "illegal drug dealer" and threatened direct US intervention if operations are not shut down. The statement marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two longtime allies, following earlier US accusations of non-cooperation and a recent move to revoke Petro's visa.
Ladakh Leaders to Resume Talks with Centre After Months-Long Deadlock
Representatives from Ladakh have accepted an invitation from the Ministry of Home Affairs to resume talks in Delhi on October 22, ending a months-long stalemate. Delegations from the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) will discuss their core demands, including statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution for tribal area protection. The development follows a period of intense protests and is seen as a crucial step toward resolving the region's political grievances.
Centre Approves ₹1,950 Crore in Advance Flood Relief for Karnataka and Maharashtra
The Union Home Ministry has approved the advance release of ₹1,950.80 crore to aid flood-affected regions in Karnataka and Maharashtra. The funds, part of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for 2025-26, will be allocated with ₹1,566.40 crore for Maharashtra and ₹384.40 crore for Karnataka. This financial assistance is intended to help the state governments provide immediate relief to citizens impacted by severe rainfall and flooding during the recent southwest monsoon season.
Election Commission Reactivates Economic Intelligence Panel to Curb Money Power in Polls
Ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India has reactivated its Multi-Departmental Committee on Election Intelligence (MDCEI) after a six-year hiatus. The panel, comprising 17 central agencies including the ED, NCB, and tax departments, will enhance coordination and intelligence sharing to curb the use of money, liquor, and other illicit inducements to influence voters. The move aims to ensure free and fair elections by strengthening the crackdown on electoral malpractices.
Louvre Museum Closes After Jewels from Napoleon Collection Stolen in Heist
The Louvre Museum in Paris was forced to close after a significant theft on Sunday morning. Robbers reportedly stole nine pieces from the jewellery collection of Napoleon and Empress Joséphine, located in the Apollo Gallery. The thieves are said to have entered via a facade undergoing construction, using a freight elevator to access the gallery before breaking display windows. An investigation is now underway at the world's most visited museum, which houses iconic artworks including the Mona Lisa.