India is set to pay around $2 billion to lease a nuclear-powered submarine from Russia, a move reportedly concluded ahead of Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi. The agreement, after years of stalled talks over pricing and delivery, signals a deepening of defence ties between the two nations. The lease is expected to bolster the capabilities of the Indian Navy, expanding its under-sea deterrence posture in a strategic region. Analysts note that while conventional submarine contracts have advanced previously, this deal underscores a major leap in India’s maritime ambitions. (PC: Reuters)

The Supreme Court of India has ordered state governments and union territories to allocate additional personnel for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls conducted by the Election Commission of India, in order to ease the heavy workload on booth-level officers (BLOs). The court acknowledged reports of excessive pressure on BLOs, including stress-related incidents, and emphasised that administrations are “obligated” to support the exercise and ensure welfare of staff deployed for this key electoral process. (PC: PTI)

At the Organization for Security and Co‑operation in Europe (OSCE) annual council in Vienna, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha asserted that his country seeks a definitive peace — not a repeat of historical concessions that emboldened aggressors. He referenced the 1938 Munich Agreement, warning that “bad peace deals only lead to catastrophe.” Sybiha pledged to seize “every opportunity to try to end this war” while rejecting any settlement that merely appeases Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Meanwhile, the OSCE — including Russia, the U.S. and 55 other nations — is being positioned as a forum for post-war settlement discussions, reportedly with Switzerland aiming to launch a monitoring mission. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will still visit New York even though incoming mayor Zohran Mamdani has threatened to enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him. Netanyahu, speaking at the New York Times Dealbook forum, said he would talk to Mamdani only if the mayor-elect accepts Israel’s right to exist. Mamdani has said he supports Israel’s existence but not the idea of a Jewish state. He has also vowed to direct police to arrest leaders wanted by the ICC, including Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin. Experts say such an arrest is unlikely and may exceed a mayor’s authority. (PC: NDTV)

Israel said the body handed over by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad has been identified as Thai worker Suthisak Rintalak. He was killed during the 7 October 2023 attack and taken to Gaza. His return means only one more dead hostage remains to be handed over under the ceasefire deal. Israeli leaders expressed deep sorrow and promised to bring home the last hostage, police officer Ran Gvili. Rintalak moved to Israel in 2017 and worked on farms near the Gaza border. Thailand thanked Israel for its help. The ceasefire remains tense, with both sides accusing each other of violations. (PC: BBC)

Two women died and more than a dozen people were taken to hospital after a suspected toxic gas leak in the Kenduadih area of Dhanbad, Jharkhand. The victims, Priyanka Devi and Lalita Devi, died on Wednesday evening and early Thursday. Locals said the deaths were caused by “gas exposure,” which has created fear in the area. Officials said the exact cause will be known only after post-mortem reports. Angry villagers blocked the Dhanbad-Ranchi road and burned tyres in protest. Authorities are trying to find the source of the suspected leak and are monitoring the health of affected residents. (PC: HT)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said his viral car ride with Prime Minister Narendra Modi was his own idea and a sign of their close friendship. He spoke to India Today ahead of his two-day state visit to India. Putin said the drive during the 2018 SCO Summit in China was not planned and that both leaders “simply got into the car as two friends.” They spoke about the summit and continued talking for 45 minutes after reaching the venue. Putin arrives in Delhi tonight for talks, a formal dinner, and key agreements marking 25 years of the India–Russia partnership. (PC: India Today)

In a pointed attack from his prison cell at Adiala Jail, former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan accused army chief Asim Munir of intentionally escalating tensions with neighbouring Afghanistan, alleging the move is designed to boost Munir’s international profile and curry favour with Western powers. Khan claimed Munir’s policies have been “disastrous” for Pakistan’s national security, citing refugee expulsions, drone strikes, and rising terrorism. He described Munir as a “mentally unstable man” whose moral failings have led to the collapse of law in Pakistan. Khan also detailed his own confinement, accusing authorities of serious human-rights violations. (PC: India Today)

A jet from the United States Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team—an F-16C Fighting Falcon—crashed Wednesday morning near Trona Airport in Southern California’s Mojave Desert during a training flight. The pilot ejected safely around 10:45 a.m. local time and was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The aircraft erupted into flames on impact, sending a large plume of black smoke into the sky, and authorities confirmed the scene posed no immediate threat to nearby terrain. An investigation by the United States Air Force is underway to determine the cause. 

A morning ride in a posh colony in Gurugram turned fatal when a cyclist and businessman, Amitabh Jain (58), was struck from behind by a Hyundai Santro around 7:15 am. CCTV footage shows him riding in the left lane before the car overtook and hit him. He was critically injured and later died. The driver fled the scene; police traced the registration via CCTV but found no car or owner at the registered address and have launched a manhunt.