Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday strongly denounced the killing of two Special Police Officers (SPOs) in Kishtwar district, expressing deep sorrow over the deaths of the personnel who lost their lives while performing their duties. In a message posted on X, Sinha paid tribute to the deceased officers, identified as Babi Chand and Rashpal Kumar, and extended his heartfelt condolences to their grieving families. He described the attack as cowardly and condemned the violence in strong terms.

Expressing his grief, the Lieutenant Governor said he was deeply saddened by the loss of the two brave Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. He added that their courage, dedication and selfless commitment to the nation would always be remembered. Sinha also assured the bereaved families of solidarity and support during this difficult period.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had also expressed anguish over the killing, condemning the incident as a cowardly act of violence. In a statement shared through the Chief Minister's Office on X, Abdullah offered condolences to the families of SPOs Rashpal Kumar and Babi Chand and prayed for their strength to cope with the irreparable loss.

According to reports, the bullet-riddled bodies of the two personnel were recovered on Thursday morning from the remote Dachhan area of Kishtwar. The deceased were identified as Babi Chand, aged 57, and Rashpal Kumar, aged 45. Both officers were attached to the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the local police and were deployed at Kiyar village in the Dachhan belt. They had gone missing on Wednesday while travelling from their camp towards an Army post in Dharna-Marwah. Their deaths have triggered grief among the police fraternity and political leadership in Jammu and Kashmir, with senior leaders paying tribute to the personnel and expressing solidarity with their families.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

In a joint operation involving security forces, Baramulla Police apprehended a man and seized two hand grenades from the Baderkoot forest area of Tangmarg in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. According to a police statement, the accused has been identified as Ghulam Jeelani Reshi, a resident of Baderkote village in Tangmarg. The operation was carried out by Baramulla Police in coordination with CICT Ftr BSF (112/06 Bn), 2RR and CRPF's 176 Battalion during an Area Domination Patrol (ADP) in the forest region.

During the operation, security personnel recovered one hand grenade from the possession of Reshi. Acting on information provided by him, the forces subsequently located and seized another hand grenade that had been hidden in the forest. Police have registered a case at Tangmarg Police Station, and an investigation has been initiated to determine the origin of the explosives, their intended purpose and whether the accused has any wider connections, the statement said.

Baramulla Police reiterated its commitment to maintaining peace and security in the region while appreciating the coordinated efforts of the participating security agencies. In a separate incident in Kishtwar district, the bodies of two missing Special Police Officers (SPOs) were recovered early Thursday, a day after they disappeared from the remote Dachhan area.

The deceased personnel were identified as Babi Chand, 57, and Rashpal Kumar, 45. Both were attached to the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the local police and posted at Kiyar village in Dachhan. Officials said the two officers went missing on Wednesday while travelling from their camp towards an Army post in Dharna-Marwah. Their bodies were recovered on Thursday morning. The disappearance of their service weapons, which were not found along with the bodies, has raised suspicions of a possible militant connection. Further details about the circumstances surrounding their deaths are awaited.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

Delhi experienced its third-worst Diwali pollution episode since 2021, with air quality deteriorating sharply during the celebrations as firecracker emissions added to the capital's existing pollution burden. However, gaps in data from air-quality monitoring stations have raised concerns about whether the available figures accurately reflect the full extent of the pollution spike. An analysis of air-quality data showed that more than half of Delhi's monitoring stations stopped reporting continuous readings around midnight on Diwali night, a period when pollution levels were rising significantly.

At 9 pm, 61% of the 57 monitoring stations reporting data recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 400 or above, falling in the severe category. Between 10 pm and 6 am, around 80% of the stations that continued transmitting readings reported severe air quality. The data disruptions have made it difficult to establish how widespread the pollution surge was across the city, particularly during the hours when firecracker activity was at its peak.

For a historical comparison, data from six monitoring stations with relatively consistent records since 2021 was examined. The average peak hourly PM2.5 sub-index across these locations stood at 655 this year, making it the third-highest Diwali reading during the period. The corresponding figures were 812 in 2021, 483 in 2022, 583 in 2023, 489 in 2024 and 752 in 2025. The six stations included Alipur, Aya Nagar, Bawana, IHBAS-Dilshad Garden, Narela and Punjabi Bagh.

Weather conditions may have played a role in preventing this year's pollution levels from reaching the peaks recorded in 2021 and 2025. Relatively warm temperatures and favourable wind conditions during certain periods helped disperse pollutants, limiting their accumulation near the ground. Weather data from the Palam meteorological station indicated that Diwali night this year was among the warmest since 2021. The comparatively favourable atmospheric conditions may also explain the improvement in Delhi's pollution ranking later in the evening. The overall air-quality situation remained concerning. Delhi's average pollution readings until the morning of November 8 were reportedly the worst for the comparable period since 2021 before improving later in the day.

The monitoring disruptions have also renewed questions about the reliability of Delhi's air-quality surveillance network. Continuous readings from monitoring stations are essential for assessing pollution levels, identifying affected areas and issuing timely health advisories. Repeated interruptions during periods of severe pollution could leave important gaps in the official assessment of residents' exposure to harmful pollutants.

The health implications remain significant, particularly because Diwali coincides with the beginning of Delhi's winter pollution season. High concentrations of PM2.5, or fine particulate matter, can penetrate deep into the lungs and contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Children, elderly people and those with existing health conditions are particularly vulnerable. Apart from firecrackers, vehicular emissions, construction dust, industrial activity, waste burning and pollution from neighbouring regions continue to contribute to Delhi's poor air quality.

The latest findings highlight the need for stronger pollution-control measures as well as improvements in the city's monitoring infrastructure. Ensuring uninterrupted data transmission, investigating equipment failures and maintaining transparency in pollution reporting will be important for assessing future pollution episodes. Delhi's latest Diwali pollution figures once again underline the scale of the capital's air-quality challenge. While weather conditions may have prevented an even worse outcome this year, the combination of high pollution levels and missing monitoring data has raised fresh concerns about the effectiveness of the city's efforts to track and tackle its air pollution crisis.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.

An elderly couple died after a fire broke out at their residence in the Sadabad area of Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district in the early hours of Thursday. The blaze reportedly erupted around 1:30 am on November 5 while the couple was sleeping, leaving them trapped inside the house. The deceased were identified as Shahzad Beg, 70, and his wife, Salma Beg, 65. According to preliminary information, an electrical short circuit is suspected to have triggered the fire.

The incident took place in the Kaharan locality of Sadabad. Reports suggest that the couple was sleeping on the upper floor of the house when the fire broke out. A large quantity of clothes stored inside the premises reportedly helped the flames spread rapidly. After noticing the fire, neighbours alerted the authorities and attempted to help the couple. Fire brigade personnel and police teams soon reached the location and launched rescue and firefighting operations.

Despite the efforts, the elderly couple could not be saved. They were taken to a community health centre, where doctors declared them dead. Officials said suffocation may have been the cause of death. Chief Fire Officer R.K. Bajpai said the preliminary assessment indicated that an electrical short circuit could have caused the fire. The presence of clothes and other combustible materials inside the house may have contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.

A 10-member team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) was also dispatched from Vrindavan to assist in the rescue operation. However, the fire had reportedly been brought under control by the fire department before the team arrived. According to reports, the couple's younger son had gone to attend a wedding at his in-laws' residence along with his family. Their other children were also living separately, leaving the elderly couple alone at home when the incident occurred.

Police have initiated the necessary legal proceedings, and the bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination. Further investigation is underway to establish the exact cause of the fire. The tragic incident has once again highlighted the risks posed by electrical faults in residential buildings, particularly during nighttime hours when occupants may have little time to respond. Authorities suspect a short circuit in this case, although the final cause will be determined after the investigation.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan times.

A new round of demonstrations led by India’s youth-driven Cockroach movement has faced a government crackdown under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside the closure of a long-standing protest venue in Delhi. Two prominent leaders of the movement have reportedly been jailed for five days over alleged violations of restrictions on protests. Initially sparked by concerns over education and unemployment, the demonstrations have expanded to focus on voting rights. The government rejects allegations that it intends to exclude millions of people from the electoral process. However, its handling of the protests has drawn criticism from the United Nations and Amnesty International, prompting broader concerns about democratic freedoms in India. In this report, Lucy Hough speaks with South Asia correspondent Hannah Ellis-Petersen about the protests and their wider political implications.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has announced a broad set of initiatives covering family support, housing, technology and Singapore’s national resilience. Hairianto Diman and Justine Moss speak to SMU School of Law Associate Professor Eugene Tan about the major measures, their significance for Singaporeans and what they reveal about the Government’s priorities for the country’s next stage of growth.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

Myanmar's military government has released rare images of detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi meeting a Red Cross official, marking her first known contact with the outside world since the 2021 coup. The photos were released just ahead of junta chief Min Aung Hlaing's first official visit to Thailand, prompting speculation about their political significance.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

In a conversation with political editor Tom McIlroy and chief political correspondent Dan Jervis-Bardy during the 50th Labor conference in Adelaide, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas discussed his state’s political battle with One Nation. He said progressive groups should avoid dismissing or talking down to Pauline Hanson’s supporters, arguing that their concerns need to be understood rather than ignored. Addressing the ongoing debate over the AUKUS submarine deal, Malinauskas acknowledged concerns after the US revealed that Virginia-class submarine production rates had not improved. However, he maintained that walking away from the agreement would create greater strategic risks than the challenges surrounding the controversial defence partnership.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.