Source: The Hindu  Indian Express and others

Supreme Court allows sale, use of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (October 15) permitted the sale of green firecrackers approved by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) between October 18 and 21. The court clarified that their use would be limited to two days, October 19 and 20, and confined to 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

U.K. sanctions Gujarat’s Nayara Refinery

The British government has sanctioned the Vadinar (Jamnagar) oil refinery owned by Nayara Energy Ltd., on Wednesday. The sanctions are part of the U.K.’s sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Lukeoil and Rosneft, which own 49.13% of Nayara. The E.U. had already sanctioned the refinery on July 18.

Young and jobless: key demographic weighs claims and promises of parties

In poll-bound Bihar, most young voters agree that the need for government jobs is their top priority. There are about 1.63 crore voters aged 18 to 29 years, making up 22% of the State’s electorate, of which 1.5 crore are abve 20 years.

Pakistan, Afghanistan agree to 48-hour ceasefire: Pakistani Government

Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire on Wednesday (October 15, 2025), the foreign ministry in Islamabad said, after dozens of troops and civilians were killed earlier in a fresh round of border skirmishes.

Ladakh eases curbs after normalcy returns

The Ladakh administration lifted restrictions on the assembly of more than four persons in Leh, 20 days after the region witnessed violence that left four civilians dead.

Indian team in U.S. to discuss tariffs, shutdown not “right time” for official negotiation on trade deal: Commerce Secretary

A team from India is currently in the U.S. to discuss issues relating to tariffs, according to Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal. However, due to the ongoing shutdown in the U.S. government, it is not “the right time” to hold the next official round of negotiations on a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), he said.

Bihar polls: BJP firefights as allies protest ‘disproportionate’ seats for Chirag Paswan

BJP leaders had their hands full on Wednesday as allies Rashtriya Lok Morcha and Hindustan Awam Morcha voiced displeasure over “disproportionate” allocation of seats to Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), forcing re-negotiations over several seats.

Five accused in Zubeen Garg’s death in Assam remanded to judicial custody; protesters lathi-charged outside jail

Five people, who have been arrested in connection with the death of singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore last month, have been sent to judicial custody on Wednesday (October 15, 2025) after their police remand ended. Assam Police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse an agitated mob that hurled stones at vehicles carrying the five accused as they were being brought to Baksa Central Jail, police said.

Number of Left Wing Extremism-affected districts reduced to three from six: Home Ministry

In significant changes to India’s “red corridor”, the number of districts “most-affected” by Left Wing Extremism (LWE) has reduced to three from six, the Union Home Ministry said on Wednesday (October 15, 2025). Now, Bijapur, Sukma and Narayanpur in Chhattisgarh remain under the classification of “most affected”. the statement said.

Twenty seven Maoists surrender in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma

As many as 27 active Maoists carrying a total bounty of ₹50 lakh surrendered before the police in Sukma district on Wednesday (October 15, 2025), said the police. Among those who laid down their arms are 17 men and ten women and two were described as “hardcore” in a statement issued by the police.

U.S. judge temporarily halts shutdown layoffs of federal workers

A federal judge ordered a temporary halt to the layoffs by the Trump administration of thousands of federal workers during the government shutdown, U.S. media reported.

Raila Odinga, former Prime Minister of Kenya, dies in Kerala

Raila Odinga, former Prime Minister of Kenya, died at a private hospital in Koothattukulam in Ernakulam district of Kerala on Wednesday (October 15, 2025). He was 80. He suffered a cardiac failure around 8 a.m during his morning walk at the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic eye hospital-cum-research centre in Koothattukulam, where he had been under treatment for the last five days.