At least 34 children and a female teacher were killed when the roof of the privately run Al-Khair Education Center collapsed during classes in Peshawar, north-western Pakistan, on October 15, 2026. More than 50 people were injured, with some in critical condition. Rescue workers spent several hours pulling students from the rubble as distressed parents gathered outside the school. Police said the building had a weak structure, and authorities arrested the school’s owner while launching an investigation. The tragedy has renewed concerns about unsafe school buildings, poor construction standards and inadequate enforcement of safety regulations across Pakistan. (PC: Reuters)

FIFA President Gianni Infantino faced sharp criticism at a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich on October 15, 2026, after apologising for failing to consult members over his abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) plan. The proposal involved selling a stake in FIFA’s commercial operations to private investors. English Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt questioned Infantino’s suitability to lead FIFA, while German football chief Bernd Neuendorf demanded governance reforms and greater transparency. Officials also raised concerns about the Folarin Balogun disciplinary case and FIFA’s Peace Prize for Donald Trump. Infantino’s future remains under scrutiny ahead of the March 2027 presidential election. (PC: Reuters)

Bollywood actor Imran Khan is set to challenge the Foreigners Regional Registration Office’s (FRRO) order directing him to leave India by October 28, 2026. His legal team, led by advocate Zulfiqar Memon, will approach the Bombay High Court, contesting the notice issued after Khan participated in an October 10 protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Mumbai. Khan, an American citizen and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, was detained during the demonstration and later released. The action followed a complaint by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya alleging violations of immigration rules. (PC: X)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will skip New Delhi during his upcoming India visit, travelling instead to Mumbai and Jamnagar as Washington seeks to strengthen economic and energy ties. Scheduled for October 19–22, 2026, the visit is expected to include talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and other senior officials. Discussions will focus on bilateral strategic cooperation, regional developments, energy partnerships and trade. Rubio will also engage with business leaders to explore investment opportunities. His visit comes amid strained India-US relations over tariffs, stalled trade negotiations and disagreements concerning Russian oil purchases. (PC: Reuters)

Delhi Police is preparing a massive security operation ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) proposed Tiranga March at Connaught Place on October 16. More than 6,000 police personnel, additional paramilitary forces, barricades and CCTV cameras are being deployed, with 30,000–50,000 participants expected. CJP convenor Abhijeet Dipke announced the march following the arrest of party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. Police said the gathering lacked permission, citing prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS. Central Park will remain closed on October 16 and 17 amid concerns over public safety and traffic disruption. (PC: AFP)

BJP general secretary Smriti Irani on October 15 criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over protests against the Election Commission of India (ECI), calling him an “unelectable prince” and accusing the Opposition of seeking regime change rather than electoral transparency. She dismissed Gandhi’s “vote chori” allegations as headline-chasing and questioned whether he had sufficient evidence to support his claims. Defending the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Irani claimed that 90% of approximately 90 crore voters had been verified. She maintained that governments must be changed through elections, not protests, amid escalating tensions between the BJP and Opposition parties. (PC: India Today)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared Kyiv would resume strikes on Russian oil refineries, rejecting US President Donald Trump’s demand to halt attacks. “The block (on attacking refineries) is out,” Zelenskyy told the Financial Times. The announcement followed Trump’s easing of sanctions on Russia in exchange for Moscow supplying diesel to global markets. Zelenskyy called the agreement a “weak decision” and said it could encourage Russia to intensify its war. Trump blamed Ukrainian refinery strikes for rising diesel prices and suggested Ukraine needed a new president. Ukrainian drones struck a refinery in Russia’s Ryazan region on October 15. Zelenskyy travelled to Brussels for talks with European leaders, seeking stronger pressure on Russia and increased defence support for Ukraine. (PC: X)

Saudi Arabia accused Iran of encouraging Houthi attacks and alleged that regional actors helped the Yemen-based group obtain advanced military technology, including ballistic missiles, attack drones and explosive-laden boats. Saudi officials said Tehran continued arming, training and supporting the Houthis in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. The Saudi-led coalition reported 20 attacks on Riyadh airport in October and urged the group to stop targeting civilian infrastructure. Riyadh said it remained in direct communication with Tehran and had sought talks with the Houthis in Muscat, Oman, but the group declined. The Houthis’ military spokesperson denied responsibility for a reported attack, as Yemen’s conflict intensified amid wider regional instability. (PC: AFP)

Actor Imran Khan, an American citizen and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, will challenge the Foreigners Regional Registration Office’s (FRRO) order directing him to leave India by October 28 in the Bombay High Court. Lawyer Zulfiqar Memon will file the petition. Khan was detained after participating in a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest in Mumbai demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya subsequently complained to police, alleging Khan had violated rules by joining the protest despite being an American citizen. The FRRO issued a notice under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, asserting that OCI status does not permit foreigners to participate in protests. Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi opposed the move.

Delhi Police on Thursday urged citizens not to attend the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) proposed gathering at Central Park, Connaught Place, on October 16, citing law-and-order concerns. DCP Neha Yadav said CJP had appealed to the public to assemble at 5 pm carrying Tricolour flags, while some political groups had also extended support. The New Delhi Municipal Council informed police that Central Park would remain closed on October 16 and 17. Yadav said prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita were already in force in Connaught Place and adjoining areas to maintain peace, protect lives and safeguard public and private property.