External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar gave a witty response when asked whether he would choose to have dinner with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un or businessman George Soros. In an interview, he said, “It is Navratri, I am fasting,” sparking cheers from the audience. The video went viral, with netizens praising Jaishankar’s clever reply. Jaishankar also confirmed he will attend the SCO meeting in Pakistan on October 15-16 but won’t discuss India-Pakistan relations, emphasizing it is a multilateral event, not a bilateral discussion.

Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik declined to present awards to orphan girls at an event in Pakistan, stating it was inappropriate to refer to them as "daughters." Naik explained that the girls were “non-mahrams,” meaning eligible for marriage under Islamic law, and said, “You cannot touch them or call them your daughters.” The video of the incident, hosted by Pakistan Sweet Home Foundation, went viral. Naik, wanted in India for money laundering, is in Pakistan for a lecture series. He recently met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who praised his lectures for being "insightful and impactful."

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced his upcoming visit to Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit on October 15-16, emphasizing that the trip is solely for multilateral discussions, not bilateral talks. This marks the first visit by a high-ranking Indian minister to Pakistan in nearly a decade. Jaishankar stated, “I’m going there to be a good member of the SCO,” adding he would behave accordingly. The minister also expressed concern over escalating conflicts in the Middle East and their broader implications for global stability, linking them to ongoing tensions in Ukraine.

More than 1 million people have fled their homes in southern Lebanon, following intensified evacuation orders from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The warnings have expanded to over 70 villages, urging residents to move north beyond the Awali River. The IDF cautions that any southward movement could endanger lives, causing mass panic. Despite reassurances, daily airstrikes have left many terrified. Lebanon is witnessing its largest displacement in history as tens of thousands flee to Beirut, seeking safety.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will visit Pakistan later this month to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. This will be his first trip to Pakistan as India’s foreign minister, and the first such visit by an Indian foreign minister in nearly a decade. The last visit was by Sushma Swaraj in 2015. Relations between India and Pakistan have been tense since the 2016 Uri attack. The summit will be held in Islamabad on October 15-16. There is no confirmation of any bilateral talks between India and Pakistan during the visit.

India has rejected the US Commission on International Religious Freedom’s (USCIRF) report, which criticized India for alleged religious freedom abuses. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed the report as "biased" and claimed it promotes a "motivated narrative." The USCIRF's annual report recommended designating India as a "Country of Particular Concern" over alleged violations, including violence against religious minorities and destruction of homes and worship places. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged the USCIRF to "desist from agenda-driven efforts" and focus on human rights issues in the US instead.

Indian citizens in Israel are voicing their fears after Iran launched ballistic missiles targeting the country. The Indian embassy urged citizens to remain vigilant and adhere to local safety protocols. Nilabja Roychowdhary, a medical student from Kolkata, stated, “The situation is getting scarier by the day,” recalling a bomb dropping near a friend's home. Caregivers expressed concerns, with one stating, “We have not seen something as threatening as this ever.” Many are currently in bomb shelters, with the embassy reporting approximately 18,000 nationals in Israel, mostly caregivers and IT professionals, while monitoring the situation closely.

S Iswaran, Singapore's former transport minister of Indian origin, was sentenced to one year in prison after pleading guilty to five corruption charges. This sentence exceeds the prosecution's request of six to seven months, deemed "manifestly inadequate" by Justice Vincent Hoong. Iswaran is the first individual prosecuted under Section 165 in post-independent Singapore. The judge highlighted that the former minister's public service was a neutral factor, noting his lack of remorse. Despite mitigating factors like his early guilty plea, the repetitive nature of his offenses led to an increased level of culpability.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his wishes to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the people of Israel, and the global Jewish community on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Best wishes on Rosh Hashanah to my friend PM @netanyahu... May the new year bring peace, hope, and good health in everyone's life." The Indian Embassy in Israel also joined the celebrations, raising a toast with Israeli friends. Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days, celebrated for two days each autumn.

India has expressed deep concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East, urging all parties to exercise restraint following Iran's missile attacks on Israel. The Ministry of External Affairs emphasized the importance of “dialogue and diplomacy” to resolve conflicts and prevent the situation from escalating regionally. Iran reportedly fired over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel, with Israel's Iron Dome intercepting many of them. While no casualties were reported in Israel, one person was killed in the West Bank. The region has faced increasing instability since the onset of the Gaza conflict nearly a year ago.