October
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Modi telephoned the family of captain Smit Machchhar, praising the Indian pilot stabbed in the cockpit of Flydubai FZ1073 on its Dubai-Tel Aviv run. Tributes from Netanyahu and Trump followed, framing survival of 174 people after a 15,000-foot plunge as averting a 9/11-style attack.
Coverage then reconstructed the attack: a crash axe as weapon, headphone cords and zip ties used by passengers including a plumber, dentist and banker to subdue the Omani co-pilot, Israeli jets scrambled, and Machchhar airlifted from Tabuk to Dubai. Focus shifted to motive, with Netanyahu calling the co-pilot radicalised and shouting kill me, the UAE opening a terror-link probe, and Trump suggesting a possible Iran connection.
Elsewhere India beat Sri Lanka to set an Asian Games cricket final against Pakistan and edged Pakistan 4-3 in hockey, while eight Pune students drowned at Diveagar beach and the Sensex fell over 1,000 points.
Coverage then reconstructed the attack: a crash axe as weapon, headphone cords and zip ties used by passengers including a plumber, dentist and banker to subdue the Omani co-pilot, Israeli jets scrambled, and Machchhar airlifted from Tabuk to Dubai. Focus shifted to motive, with Netanyahu calling the co-pilot radicalised and shouting kill me, the UAE opening a terror-link probe, and Trump suggesting a possible Iran connection.
Elsewhere India beat Sri Lanka to set an Asian Games cricket final against Pakistan and edged Pakistan 4-3 in hockey, while eight Pune students drowned at Diveagar beach and the Sensex fell over 1,000 points.
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Saudi Arabia handed the Omani co-pilot accused in the Flydubai cockpit attack to the UAE as new video emerged of injured Indian captain Smit Machchhar seeking help. Prime Minister Modi telephoned Machchhar, who said he recited Hanuman Chalisa while fighting back, and Israel's Netanyahu warned whoever sent the pilot would pay a heavy price.
Attention shifted to Jantar Mantar and Mumbai's Shivaji Park, where the CJP's Jail Bharo protest and opposition parties demanded CEC Gyanesh Kumar's removal over SIR voter deletions. Police sealed the area, shut 11 metro stations, suspended internet and detained over 700 including Atishi and Brinda Karat.
Live pages then tracked a record Asian Games run: women's recurve archery gold over Korea, boxing titles for Lovlina, Parveen and Ankush, wrestling gold for Sujeet, and women's hockey 1-0 over China for first title since 1982 and Olympic qualification.
Attention shifted to Jantar Mantar and Mumbai's Shivaji Park, where the CJP's Jail Bharo protest and opposition parties demanded CEC Gyanesh Kumar's removal over SIR voter deletions. Police sealed the area, shut 11 metro stations, suspended internet and detained over 700 including Atishi and Brinda Karat.
Live pages then tracked a record Asian Games run: women's recurve archery gold over Korea, boxing titles for Lovlina, Parveen and Ankush, wrestling gold for Sujeet, and women's hockey 1-0 over China for first title since 1982 and Olympic qualification.
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Overnight reports named the Flydubai co-pilot as Hamam Al Hamami, barred by Oman over extremist views. The UAE called his crash-axe assault on Captain Smit Machchhar a terrorist attempt, while Dubai's Crown Prince Hamdan visited Machchhar in hospital and Netanyahu invited him to Independence Day.
Attention then shifted to Nagoya for a gold rush. India posted 211/6 on Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma fifties and beat Pakistan by 19 runs despite Hasan Nawaz's 96 to retain the title. The men's hockey team routed Malaysia 5-1 to retain gold and qualify for LA 2028, as Aman Sehrawat, Kumkum Mohod and Pranavi Urs added titles for 21 golds and 85 medals.
India summoned Pakistan's diplomat over infiltration and criticised Islamabad at the UN, while Rahul Gandhi launched a Satyagraha platform amid continued protests demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
Attention then shifted to Nagoya for a gold rush. India posted 211/6 on Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma fifties and beat Pakistan by 19 runs despite Hasan Nawaz's 96 to retain the title. The men's hockey team routed Malaysia 5-1 to retain gold and qualify for LA 2028, as Aman Sehrawat, Kumkum Mohod and Pranavi Urs added titles for 21 golds and 85 medals.
India summoned Pakistan's diplomat over infiltration and criticised Islamabad at the UN, while Rahul Gandhi launched a Satyagraha platform amid continued protests demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
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Captain Smit Machchhar told Benjamin Netanyahu by phone the Omani co-pilot rose as if to pray before striking him from behind with an axe. Netanyahu invited Machchhar and Narendra Modi to light Israel's Independence Day torch. Outlets quoted investigators saying the co-pilot wanted to crash the jet and was unafraid of death, examined how he cleared security despite a UAE crew list shared with Israel, and noted Al Qaeda praise for the attempt and Iran's denial of links.
Protests demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation spread to Mumbai, where Uddhav and Raj Thackeray led a Garjana Morcha, and Delhi, where police detained Saurabh Bharadwaj, Neha Bora and others. Three women journalists accused Delhi police of groping at Jantar Mantar, prompting a Crime Branch probe. Justice Ujjal Bhuyan called mass voter deletions a strike at the Constitution as Kerala ordered a probe into Kumar's PWD tenure.
Protests demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation spread to Mumbai, where Uddhav and Raj Thackeray led a Garjana Morcha, and Delhi, where police detained Saurabh Bharadwaj, Neha Bora and others. Three women journalists accused Delhi police of groping at Jantar Mantar, prompting a Crime Branch probe. Justice Ujjal Bhuyan called mass voter deletions a strike at the Constitution as Kerala ordered a probe into Kumar's PWD tenure.
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Court declined interim relief against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, saying orders could not rest on newspaper reports. It issued notice to the Election Commission and Centre on pleas alleging unilateral SIR decisions, sought records on whether they were unanimous or by majority, and said it had not approved a modified Form 6, warning decisions could be stayed if illegal. The Commission denied changing even a comma and called Rahul Gandhi's accusation misleading, while Congress alleged illegal unilateral alteration.
BJP named eight new candidates for Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha seats, dropping Hardeep Puri and seven sitting MPs in a caste-balanced reset read as preparation for 2027.
The Supreme Court separately rebuked Delhi Police over recent rapes, telling the commissioner to create fear among offenders and ensure women feel safe even at 10 pm.
BJP named eight new candidates for Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha seats, dropping Hardeep Puri and seven sitting MPs in a caste-balanced reset read as preparation for 2027.
The Supreme Court separately rebuked Delhi Police over recent rapes, telling the commissioner to create fear among offenders and ensure women feel safe even at 10 pm.
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Polling opened for one Lok Sabha and five Assembly bypolls in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry, with turnout reported from Nandigram and Rejinagar where Humayun Kabir was briefly detained.
In Delhi, INDIA bloc MPs marched from Parliament to the Election Commission demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over SIR deletions the opposition put at 13 crore. Police with barricades and 3,000 personnel stopped the march near NITI Aayog; Rahul Gandhi climbed a barricade waving the tricolour before he, Priyanka Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and others were held. They then staged an eight-hour sit-in inside Akashvani Bhavan, with Gandhi accusing Modi, Shah and Kumar of treason. The Commission said no meeting had been sought till 4 pm. Police cleared the site in the evening and released the leaders after two hours.
Courts stayed on SIR, with the Supreme Court warning unlawful orders would be annulled and Bombay High Court questioning exclusions.
In Delhi, INDIA bloc MPs marched from Parliament to the Election Commission demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over SIR deletions the opposition put at 13 crore. Police with barricades and 3,000 personnel stopped the march near NITI Aayog; Rahul Gandhi climbed a barricade waving the tricolour before he, Priyanka Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and others were held. They then staged an eight-hour sit-in inside Akashvani Bhavan, with Gandhi accusing Modi, Shah and Kumar of treason. The Commission said no meeting had been sought till 4 pm. Police cleared the site in the evening and released the leaders after two hours.
Courts stayed on SIR, with the Supreme Court warning unlawful orders would be annulled and Bombay High Court questioning exclusions.
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Carrying over from the Akashvani sit-in, INDIA bloc MPs lunched at Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence then bussed toward Jantar Mantar demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged vote theft. Police halted them about 100 metres short. Rahul Gandhi confronted officers, calling Kumar illegitimate and each FIR a medal, while Priyanka Gandhi lay on the road with the Constitution, alleging police scratched and threw her down. Both were detained and released after about two hours, vowing protest until Kumar quits. Congress declared a black day and called nationwide protests for October 8.
The Reserve Bank raised the repo rate 25 basis points to 5.5%, its first hike since February 2023, shifting to calibrated tightening.
Narendra Modi marked 25 years as head of government with a We Will Do It pledge for Viksit Bharat by 2047, as a Seemapuri building collapse in Delhi killed three.
The Reserve Bank raised the repo rate 25 basis points to 5.5%, its first hike since February 2023, shifting to calibrated tightening.
Narendra Modi marked 25 years as head of government with a We Will Do It pledge for Viksit Bharat by 2047, as a Seemapuri building collapse in Delhi killed three.
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Found unconscious at his Dona Paula home, the veteran actor was declared dead of cardiac arrest after 45 minutes of CPR; his body was taken to Pune for an evening state funeral as Modi and co-stars paid tribute.
Carrying over the Jantar Mantar detentions, the INDIA bloc marked a third day against CEC Gyanesh Kumar with a Kharge-hosted lunch in Connaught Place followed by a bus march to Rajghat. Police filed fresh FIRs alleging assault by Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, Kumar's Z-plus cover was strengthened, and 42 former judges backed the Commission against vote-theft claims while a Bengaluru tribunal drew Dhruv Rathee and Prakash Raj.
The GST Council scrapped arrest powers and raised the prosecution threshold to Rs 5 crore, while Washington suspended Infosys, TCS, Wipro and others from PERM sponsorship and Houthi strikes on Riyadh airports forced Indian flight cancellations.
Carrying over the Jantar Mantar detentions, the INDIA bloc marked a third day against CEC Gyanesh Kumar with a Kharge-hosted lunch in Connaught Place followed by a bus march to Rajghat. Police filed fresh FIRs alleging assault by Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, Kumar's Z-plus cover was strengthened, and 42 former judges backed the Commission against vote-theft claims while a Bengaluru tribunal drew Dhruv Rathee and Prakash Raj.
The GST Council scrapped arrest powers and raised the prosecution threshold to Rs 5 crore, while Washington suspended Infosys, TCS, Wipro and others from PERM sponsorship and Houthi strikes on Riyadh airports forced Indian flight cancellations.
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Counting for six bypolls gave BJP wins in Nandigram by over 1.22 lakh votes, Rejinagar and Assam's Nagaon, while Vijay's TVK took Tamil Nadu seats and AINRC won Puducherry, prompting a Modi message on good governance.
Focus moved to Delhi ahead of the October 10 CJP protest seeking CEC Gyanesh Kumar's removal. Police denied permission, sought closure of 57 metro stations, cancelled incoming trains and ordered a 24-hour internet shutdown around Jantar Mantar. The Supreme Court rejected a complete stoppage as disproportionate and ordered regulated services to continue.
INDIA bloc MPs marched from Parliament, were halted at Vijay Chowk, while ten leaders visited Rashtrapati Bhavan with demands for Kumar's resignation and SIR suspension. Rahul Gandhi said she sought proof of vote theft to be submitted before a planned court move Monday, a version the government disputed.
Focus moved to Delhi ahead of the October 10 CJP protest seeking CEC Gyanesh Kumar's removal. Police denied permission, sought closure of 57 metro stations, cancelled incoming trains and ordered a 24-hour internet shutdown around Jantar Mantar. The Supreme Court rejected a complete stoppage as disproportionate and ordered regulated services to continue.
INDIA bloc MPs marched from Parliament, were halted at Vijay Chowk, while ten leaders visited Rashtrapati Bhavan with demands for Kumar's resignation and SIR suspension. Rahul Gandhi said she sought proof of vote theft to be submitted before a planned court move Monday, a version the government disputed.
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Delhi woke sealed for the CJP's Jantar Mantar protest demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's removal, with 45 metro stations closed, 250 trains cancelled, mobile internet suspended and up to 38,000 personnel deployed. Police detained hundreds overnight, then boarded Abhijeet Dipke's flight at IGI to hold him with Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka; Dhruv Rathee was picked up in Gurugram.
Protesters breaking barricades clashed with police near Connaught Place, leaving officers injured. Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and P Vijayan were detained en route, Banerjee holding a taped-mouth dharna in custody. Dipke named Ajinkya Shinde to lead in a pre-recorded video.
Detention counts rose to 7,000 before most were released except CJP leaders. The Supreme Court set a Sunday hearing on the curbs as CJP called a fresh march and UN rights office criticism drew an Indian rebuke.
Protesters breaking barricades clashed with police near Connaught Place, leaving officers injured. Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and P Vijayan were detained en route, Banerjee holding a taped-mouth dharna in custody. Dipke named Ajinkya Shinde to lead in a pre-recorded video.
Detention counts rose to 7,000 before most were released except CJP leaders. The Supreme Court set a Sunday hearing on the curbs as CJP called a fresh march and UN rights office criticism drew an Indian rebuke.
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Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were produced before an executive magistrate and released after about 23 hours on a one-year good-behaviour bond, while Dhruv Rathee was freed overnight in Gurugram.
In a special Sunday hearing on the October 10 curbs, the Supreme Court directed the Centre and Delhi Police to remove barricades unless warranted, restore internet, keep metro and trains running and avoid illegal detention of peaceful protesters outside the Section 163 zone.
Police still detained around 100-200 people on day two around Connaught Place and the Press Club, including journalists, as released leaders alleged kidnapping from flights and phone seizure and vowed to continue. Police countered with video of Dipke being informed of his grandmother's death.
Rahul Gandhi called a Monday march to the Supreme Court over CEC Gyanesh Kumar, which CJI Surya Kant declined to meet, citing judicial process.
In a special Sunday hearing on the October 10 curbs, the Supreme Court directed the Centre and Delhi Police to remove barricades unless warranted, restore internet, keep metro and trains running and avoid illegal detention of peaceful protesters outside the Section 163 zone.
Police still detained around 100-200 people on day two around Connaught Place and the Press Club, including journalists, as released leaders alleged kidnapping from flights and phone seizure and vowed to continue. Police countered with video of Dipke being informed of his grandmother's death.
Rahul Gandhi called a Monday march to the Supreme Court over CEC Gyanesh Kumar, which CJI Surya Kant declined to meet, citing judicial process.
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CJI Surya Kant refused to meet INDIA bloc leaders before their march, citing separation of powers and saying relief must come through petitions. At a morning briefing Rahul Gandhi accused the government of sealing Delhi, halting trains and buses, claimed contact with 200 officials and messages from CEC Gyanesh Kumar, and urged Kumar to turn approver.
By afternoon Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi led thousands on foot from Barakhamba toward the Supreme Court with Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav and activists Neha Bora and Yogendra Yadav. Police stopped the column short of the court while aides filed an 11-leader writ petition seeking a stay on SIR, disclosure of EC records and an independent audit. The registry flagged 14 defects including a Rs 220 fee shortfall.
Delhi Police denotified Jantar Mantar as a protest site and named three alternatives. A Kerala Congress post demanding the CJI resign was deleted after backlash.
By afternoon Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi led thousands on foot from Barakhamba toward the Supreme Court with Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav and activists Neha Bora and Yogendra Yadav. Police stopped the column short of the court while aides filed an 11-leader writ petition seeking a stay on SIR, disclosure of EC records and an independent audit. The registry flagged 14 defects including a Rs 220 fee shortfall.
Delhi Police denotified Jantar Mantar as a protest site and named three alternatives. A Kerala Congress post demanding the CJI resign was deleted after backlash.
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Aftermath of Monday's march dominated, beginning with the registry's 14 defects in the INDIA bloc petition and morning detention of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka for scaling the gates of de-notified Jantar Mantar. The Supreme Court deferred pleas on metro closures to October 15 as police sought CAPF cover till October 20 and filed a case over the entry.
Focus moved to Rahul Gandhi's hi-tea with INDIA bloc leaders and joint press conference vowing to force CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation and expose alleged vote theft, answered by Amit Shah and Piyush Goyal accusing Congress of shielding infiltrators and rewarding pliant CECs.
A boat capsizing in Vaishali killing 13-15, mostly children, and a TMC claim of a knife attempt on Mamata Banerjee broke into the politics, as the UPI merchant fee was deferred past Diwali and L. Murugan quit the ministry.
Focus moved to Rahul Gandhi's hi-tea with INDIA bloc leaders and joint press conference vowing to force CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation and expose alleged vote theft, answered by Amit Shah and Piyush Goyal accusing Congress of shielding infiltrators and rewarding pliant CECs.
A boat capsizing in Vaishali killing 13-15, mostly children, and a TMC claim of a knife attempt on Mamata Banerjee broke into the politics, as the UPI merchant fee was deferred past Diwali and L. Murugan quit the ministry.
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Overnight preventive detention of CJP's Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka over breaching barricades into denotified Jantar Mantar ended in five days' judicial custody in Tihar, while Ajinkya Shinde was released on a peace bond. Rahul Gandhi for the first time openly backed the CJP pair, vowed to reclaim Jantar Mantar with Kejriwal and others, presented injured NSUI protesters alleging beatings, as police detained fresh Youth Congress, SFI and DYFI marchers and Dipke called a Lehra Do Tiranga gathering at Connaught Place on October 16 ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on SIR on October 15.
A Meerut court sentenced Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla to death for the March 2025 murder of Saurabh Rajput, whose dismembered body was sealed in a cement-filled blue drum.
Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi later joined Ankita Bhandari's parents protesting at India Gate against Dushyant Gautam's appointment as Sikkim Governor.
A Meerut court sentenced Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla to death for the March 2025 murder of Saurabh Rajput, whose dismembered body was sealed in a cement-filled blue drum.
Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi later joined Ankita Bhandari's parents protesting at India Gate against Dushyant Gautam's appointment as Sikkim Governor.
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Overnight police detained Ankita Bhandari's parents and Congress leaders at India Gate before releasing them.
The Supreme Court dominated, with CJI Surya Kant saying nobody can browbeat the judiciary and seeking explanations from Rahul Gandhi and INDIA bloc leaders for the October 12 march. Notices went to the Centre, Delhi Police and ECI on Jantar Mantar denotification, metro closures and detentions, as officials apologised over October 10 curbs. The court upheld denial of quota after conversion, while the MEA demanded a US probe into the foiled Illinois Hindu temple shooting plot.
The Election Commission ordered special summary revision in 17 states amid the SIR row. Mumbai Police directed actor Imran Khan to leave by October 28 for joining the anti-CEC protest. Ahead of Dipke's October 16 Tiranga call, the High Court refused to ban it while Central Park was shut and police urged the public to stay away.
The Supreme Court dominated, with CJI Surya Kant saying nobody can browbeat the judiciary and seeking explanations from Rahul Gandhi and INDIA bloc leaders for the October 12 march. Notices went to the Centre, Delhi Police and ECI on Jantar Mantar denotification, metro closures and detentions, as officials apologised over October 10 curbs. The court upheld denial of quota after conversion, while the MEA demanded a US probe into the foiled Illinois Hindu temple shooting plot.
The Election Commission ordered special summary revision in 17 states amid the SIR row. Mumbai Police directed actor Imran Khan to leave by October 28 for joining the anti-CEC protest. Ahead of Dipke's October 16 Tiranga call, the High Court refused to ban it while Central Park was shut and police urged the public to stay away.
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