US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the India-US trade deal could be finalised within weeks, with 99% of the work completed. In an interview with The Indian Express, Rubio said negotiations had narrowed to a few words and phrases. He described bilateral ties as positive and a key feature of Washington’s foreign policy. Addressing concerns over US relations with Pakistan and China, Rubio said ties with other countries would never come at India’s expense. He also said the Trump administration’s tariffs and tighter visa policies were not specifically directed at India, seeking to reassure New Delhi amid trade tensions. (PC: X)

Delhi’s air quality is expected to deteriorate to the ‘poor’ category from Wednesday and remain there until Friday, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System. The city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 179 on Tuesday, placing it in the ‘moderate’ category. An AQI between 201 and 300 is classified as poor by the Central Pollution Control Board. The worsening air quality comes as temperatures fall and weather conditions become less favourable for dispersing pollutants. Stubble burning in neighbouring states could also contribute to rising pollution levels as the winter pollution season approaches. (PC: NDTV)

Delhi Police detained 10–12 students and activists associated with the Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS) on Tuesday after they burned a 20-foot effigy of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Sangam Park near Model Town. The protest was organised during Dussehra to highlight alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Police said the group had not obtained permission for the demonstration and was protesting near a residential area. KYS members claimed the action was an expression of dissent and alleged that activists were detained illegally. Police said all those detained were released within a few hours. (PC: HT)

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has approached the Delhi High Court challenging the continued detention of its leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. The party has sought an urgent hearing, including a possible night hearing, arguing that their detention violates their fundamental right to liberty. The move follows a Special Executive Magistrate’s decision to extend their judicial custody by 2 days, taking it to 7 days. The leaders were detained after allegedly entering Jantar Mantar, which is no longer a designated protest site, during a demonstration. CJP has challenged the legality of the custody extension.

The suspects in the Tiger Shroff shooting case allegedly conducted reconnaissance at Salman Khan’s Mumbai residence but abandoned their plan after finding police deployed there, India Today reported. According to investigators, the suspects then targeted Shroff, whose movements were allegedly easier to track. Three men opened fire at Shroff’s car in Mumbai’s Juhu area on October 18, leaving his driver injured. The actor escaped direct gunshot injuries. Police are investigating the alleged conspiracy and possible links to a wider criminal network. The case has prompted increased security around several Bollywood personalities as investigators pursue further leads. (PC: India Today)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said intelligence sharing with the United States on early warnings of Russian strikes was now working, thanking Washington for its support. Speaking in Oslo after meeting US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Zelensky said he was ready for negotiations and called for trilateral talks involving Ukraine, the US and Russia. The meeting comes amid worsening relations between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected claims that Washington was withholding intelligence and causing Ukrainian deaths. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said Witkoff would meet Russian leaders on Wednesday to exchange ideas. (PC: BBC)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Taj Mahal Palace Hotel security chief Sunil Kudyadi in Mumbai on Tuesday, hearing his first-hand account of the 26/11 terror attacks. Kudyadi was present at the hotel during the November 2008 assault. Before the meeting, Rubio laid a wreath at the hotel’s memorial to honour the 166 people killed in the attacks, including 6 American citizens. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar introduced Kudyadi to Rubio. The visit highlighted the shared commitment of India and the US to fighting terrorism. Rubio also held talks with Jaishankar on energy, defence, technology and regional issues.

Delhi Police have arrested 4 more people, including 2 women, in connection with the shooting incident outside actor Tiger Shroff’s residence in Mumbai. The arrests were made by the Delhi Police Special Cell on Tuesday as investigators probed the alleged conspiracy behind the attack. The accused, identified as Kunal, Sumit, Radha and Babita, were handed over to the Mumbai Police. According to investigators, Kunal and Sumit allegedly arranged the weapons, while Radha and Babita delivered the guns to the 3 shooters in Mumbai’s Dadar area. With these arrests, the total number of people arrested in the case has reached 7. (PC: NDTV)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged India to increase purchases of American energy, defence equipment and technology during talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Mumbai on Tuesday. The discussions focused on energy security, defence cooperation, trade and regional developments amid continuing strains in bilateral ties. Rubio said greater energy trade could help India diversify its supplies and meet growing demand. He also expressed optimism about finalising a bilateral trade deal, saying only a few issues remained. Rubio highlighted India’s refining capacity and said Indian companies could process more Venezuelan crude as supplies increase in global markets. 

Saudi Arabia’s execution of 2 Bangladeshi nationals over alleged “immoral acts” inside a mosque in Mecca has sparked outrage in Bangladesh and beyond. Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar were executed on October 14, according to Saudi media reports. However, authorities have not publicly detailed their alleged offences or disclosed information about their trials. Bangladesh’s government said it learned of the executions through media reports and has sought an explanation from Riyadh. Nazrul’s family questioned the fairness of the proceedings, saying they received no prior notice. The case has raised concerns over transparency, due process and consular notification. (PC: India Today)