Govt bans e-cigarettes, will stop all production, sale

A criminal complaint has been filed with the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi by journalist Richa Prashar. The complaint alleges mistreatment, threats, and the use of criminal force against the three-month pregnant journalist during a march organized by the Congress and INDIA bloc leaders to the Supreme Court on October 12. Prashar stated that she was hurt during the incident and was subsequently hospitalised for three days before submitting the official police complaint. The complaint seeks registration of an FIR invoking legal provisions related to using criminal force against a woman, causing hurt, and endangering human life. Delhi Police have initiated an initial investigation into the matter, reviewing CCTV recordings, mobile video footage from the area, and collecting eyewitness accounts to examine the allegations before proceeding with further legal action.

In an interview in Hyderabad, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka criticized the misuse of Form 7 to delete opposition voters, stating, "Election Commission, that is their basic duty to create a trust and confidence, uh, that they are running the elections fair and free, which is lacking. So that is where the, the, the very basic question of the democracy is at stake." He condemned the arrest of student activists, asserting that in a parliamentary democracy, governments must listen to public voices. Vikramarka also addressed the Rohith Vemula Act drafting process, confirming an official committee is actively consulting stakeholders, and dismissed BRS criticism regarding El Niño, noting it is a severe natural challenge affecting drinking water and heat across the country.

Left organisations, including KYS and RWPI, staged a protest at Delhi's Raisina Road near the Press Club, attempting to march towards Jantar Mantar. The demonstration targeted Chief Election Commissioner Ganesh Kumar and opposed the SIR exercise along with the initial de-notification of Jantar Mantar as a protest venue. Delhi Police personnel and paramilitary forces in anti-riot gear set up two layers of barricades to halt the marching cadres holding placards. Demonstrators sat on the barricades and raised slogans against the CEC. Various left groups, including AISA, AISF, SFI, alongside JNUSU, IVH, and the Congress party, have continued ongoing agitations across the national capital for over a week despite the administration re-notifying Jantar Mantar as a protest site.

White House Press Secretary Katie Zachariah has been removed from her post just five days into the job following intense social media backlash over her debut press briefing. During her maiden appearance, Zachariah mistakenly referred to Donald Trump as her husband before correcting the slip-up while answering a question about balancing work and family. The briefing also featured an announcement that the Trump administration had asked Kimberly Guilfoyle, the US ambassador to Greece, to resign. Although Trump praised her performance as excellent, her removal came hours after he advised her to reconsider the position.