A Delhi court has granted bail to 17 students and freelance journalists arrested during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, observing that while the allegations against them were serious, they were young and did not appear to be habitual offenders. The bail orders were passed by Judicial Magistrate First Class Animesh Kumar at the Patiala House Courts. The accused had been arrested by Delhi Police in connection with the protest and were produced before the court in separate proceedings.
Police had sought judicial custody of the accused for two weeks, citing allegations of violence and disruption during the demonstration. The prosecution also referred to injuries allegedly suffered by a police officer during the incident. The court, while considering the bail pleas, noted that the allegations could not be treated lightly. It observed that the right to protest does not give anyone the freedom to assault or use criminal force against police personnel performing their duties.
The court considered the age and background of the accused and the nature of the offences invoked against them. It noted that the accused were young and that the alleged offences carried comparatively limited maximum punishments. The court ultimately decided that continued detention was not necessary at this stage and granted bail to the 17 accused. Each was directed to furnish a bail bond of ₹15,000 along with one surety of the same amount.
During the proceedings, two of the accused also raised allegations of custodial torture. The court directed the police to submit a report on the claims and ordered preservation of CCTV footage from the Parliament Street Police Station. The bail order does not determine the guilt or innocence of the accused. The criminal case will continue, and the allegations made by the police will be examined during the course of the proceedings.
The case comes against the backdrop of protests linked to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and criticism surrounding the Election Commission. The court's observations underline that while peaceful protest is a recognised democratic right, alleged violence or obstruction during such demonstrations can still attract criminal proceedings.
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Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh met US Pacific Command Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo in New Delhi on Tuesday, with the two sides discussing measures to further strengthen India-US defence and strategic cooperation. The officials also exchanged views on key regional and global developments. The Ministry of Defence said on X that the discussions focused on expanding bilateral defence ties and strategic cooperation, alongside an exchange of perspectives on regional and international issues.
Admiral Paparo, who is on an official visit to India, had earlier met several senior Indian defence officials on Monday. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor highlighted the significance of the visit, describing it as a reflection of the growing importance of the India-US Major Defence Partnership. Ambassador Gor said Admiral Paparo, who heads the US Pacific Command, met India’s Chief of Defence Staff General N. S. Raja Subramani, Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Air Marshal Tejinder Singh and other senior defence officials.
The meetings focused on strengthening the partnership between the two countries and addressing emerging security challenges. The discussions also covered issues related to regional stability and the evolving strategic environment in the Indo-Pacific. Admiral Paparo held talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on ways to advance security cooperation and maritime coordination. Jaishankar said the two discussed strengthening the bilateral security partnership and enhancing maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
Paparo arrived in New Delhi on October 3 for a six-day official visit aimed at further consolidating defence and security ties between India and the United States. During his engagements with Indian officials, discussions covered a broad range of areas, including digital transformation, advanced technologies, maritime security, strategic stability, defence energy resilience and the increasingly competitive global technology landscape.
The US Embassy in India said the two countries are working to develop a future-ready defence partnership capable of addressing emerging challenges, particularly in areas ranging from advanced technology to maritime security. The latest round of discussions comes as India and the US continue to expand cooperation across defence, technology and the Indo-Pacific, with both countries placing greater emphasis on interoperability, emerging capabilities and regional security.
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AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has alleged a “deliberate conspiracy” to remove Muslim voters from the electoral rolls in Telangana’s Goshamahal Assembly constituency through what he described as fraudulent and bulk submissions of Form 7 applications. Speaking to ANI, Owaisi referred to a recent communication from the Telangana election authorities that raised concerns over attempts to delete genuine voters using allegedly false documents. He said the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer, in a memo dated October 5, had alerted the GHMC Commissioner, District Collectors and Election Officers about bulk Form 7 applications being submitted before Electoral Registration Officers (EROs).
According to Owaisi, the memo stated that several of the applications appeared to be non-genuine and directed officials to take action under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act against individuals making false declarations. It also called for an inquiry under Rule 20 of the Registration of Electors Rules.
Owaisi said documents submitted by his party pointed to an alleged targeted attempt at Booth Number 28 in the Goshamahal Assembly segment to remove the names of 122 voters. He claimed the applications were pre-filled and sought the deletion of electors who belonged to the Muslim community.
The AIMIM leader alleged that the forms carried the name of Tudu Murty Janardhan as the applicant and included a phone number that, according to Owaisi, was linked to a BJP supporter. He further claimed that all 122 voters named in the applications were Muslims whose names had appeared on electoral rolls for years, including the 2002 rolls and the latest draft electoral list. As an example, Owaisi cited the case of 85-year-old Mirza Farooq Baig, whose name was allegedly included in the deletion requests despite his long-standing presence on the electoral rolls. Owaisi said Baig was born locally, lives with a large family and has been listed as a voter for decades.
Owaisi called for immediate action by the Election Commission of India against those responsible for the alleged fraudulent applications. He urged the ECI to enforce Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and order an inquiry under Rule 20. The AIMIM chief also praised the Booth Level Officer at Booth 28 for identifying and rejecting the allegedly fraudulent applications. He said the party’s Booth Level Agent had also secured the documents and brought the matter to attention.
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday inaugurated several major shipbuilding and maritime infrastructure projects at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam, underlining India's growing focus on strengthening indigenous naval capabilities and maritime self-reliance. During the ceremony, Singh witnessed the launch of the Indian Navy's first Fleet Support Ship (FSS-1), named 'Surya', laid the keel for the fifth vessel in the series, FSS-5, and inaugurated upgraded facilities at the shipyard, including a new slipway and a Gola-Bar crane.
Addressing officials and workers at HSL, Singh said the simultaneous commissioning of the infrastructure and shipbuilding milestones reflected India's expanding maritime capabilities. He noted that while each achievement was important individually, bringing them together at the same shipyard demonstrated the country's growing capacity to build and sustain naval assets domestically.
The Defence Minister described the laying of a ship's keel as a symbol of India's determination to expand its maritime strength, while calling the new slipway evidence of the country's increasing shipbuilding capacity. Singh also highlighted India's longstanding maritime heritage, saying the country's current efforts to emerge as a major maritime power represented a continuation of its historic connection with the seas. He stressed that HSL occupies an important position in this journey, having contributed to India's defence and maritime requirements for more than eight decades.
Praising HSL's contribution, Singh described the shipyard as a key custodian of India's maritime capabilities. He also pointed to its improved financial and operational performance after coming under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence. The shipyard's achievement of Miniratna Category-I status in 2025, he said, reflected its significant transformation and the efforts of its workforce.
Singh further emphasised that India's maritime ambitions cannot be achieved by the Navy or shipyards working independently. He called for closer cooperation among the Indian Navy, HSL, DRDO, academic institutions, private industry, MSMEs and defence startups to create a stronger and integrated national maritime ecosystem.
Highlighting the Indian Navy's role in the Indian Ocean Region, the Defence Minister said the force has established itself as a first responder and preferred security partner through operations involving humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, anti-piracy missions, evacuations and wider maritime security.
He also underlined the operational significance of the newly launched Fleet Support Ship, saying the vessel would contribute to improving the Navy's operational reach, endurance and effectiveness. The Defence Minister reiterated that strengthening India's indigenous shipbuilding capacity is an important component of the country's broader push for self-reliance in defence. The latest developments at HSL, he said, represent another step towards building a stronger maritime industrial base capable of supporting India's long-term strategic requirements.
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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly sold broadcasting rights for 25 home internationals to state broadcaster PTV for Rs 350 million, nearly half of its Rs 600 million reserve price. The deal covers five Tests, 14 ODIs and six T20Is. Limited interest from broadcasters has reportedly been linked to Pakistan's recent performances and unpaid dues from previous rights deals. The PCB also faced weak demand for Pakistan Super League broadcasting rights, highlighting growing financial challenges for the board.
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The Flydubai incident has raised questions about how airlines recruit and screen pilots, particularly after reports that the co-pilot had previously been grounded by another airline. Shantanu Gangakhedkar, Aerospace Lead at Frost & Sullivan, outlines the standard checks pilots undergo, including licence verification, medical assessments, employment history and security screening. He also discusses whether stronger international information-sharing is needed, speaking to Hairianto Diman and Andrea Heng.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
Simon Hattenstone, a features writer at The Guardian, has supported Manchester City for more than five decades. His connection with the club began when he was a child, during a difficult period in his life when he was recovering from a serious illness. He would attend matches in his hometown alongside his father, forming a bond with the club that would remain with him for much of his life.
For many years, being a Manchester City supporter meant experiencing far more disappointment than success. The club endured long periods away from the spotlight, with occasional moments of excitement breaking up years of frustration. That changed dramatically when City's fortunes began to improve, eventually leading to an extraordinary period of trophies, high-profile players and international attention. According to the original account, that remarkable rise was later overshadowed by allegations and a major legal dispute.
Guardian football writer Jonathan Liew has described the case as being about much more than Manchester City's transformation into one of football's biggest clubs. The allegations concern claims that the club benefited from hundreds of millions of pounds in improperly reported or unlawful income following its change in fortunes after 2008. The legal findings and the club's position on those matters have become part of a much wider debate surrounding football finances.
The story also raises broader questions about how the Premier League has evolved as international investment has poured into English football. The arrival of enormous amounts of overseas money has transformed clubs, transfer markets and commercial competition, while also raising difficult questions about financial regulation, ownership and competitive balance. Manchester City's story, therefore, has become part of a much larger discussion about how money has reshaped both English football and the business surrounding it.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
Severe flooding in Bangkok has displaced thousands of residents and put the city’s drainage network under immense strain. Intense rainfall has also triggered deadly flooding in Nepal, India and the United States. Poh Kok Ing and Hairianto Diman speak with Bangkok-based Singaporean Ang Geck Geck and Tim Fletcher, Professor of Urban Ecohydrology at the University of Melbourne, to explore why cities are increasingly vulnerable to extreme downpours and how improved drainage, green infrastructure and smarter urban planning could help reduce flood risks.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
Modern buildings often represent a heavy reliance on resource extraction and high-carbon construction. But could shifting away from emissions-intensive concrete toward sustainably sourced timber offer a more environmentally responsible way to build the cities of tomorrow?
Disclaimer: This image is taken from The Guardian.
