Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the upcoming Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit in Kuala Lumpur virtually due to the ongoing Diwali festivities, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday.

In a post on X, Ibrahim said he received a call from PM Modi last night, during which the two leaders discussed the 47th Asean Summit to be held in Kuala Lumpur from October 26 to 28.

Seven US lawmakers, including both Democrats and Republicans, have written to President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, urging them to withdraw the $100,000 fee on H-1B visas. They warned that the recent changes could harm the country’s innovation-driven economy and weaken its global competitiveness.

Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the ‘very poor’ category for the fourth consecutive day, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). On 23 October at 8 am, the national capital recorded an AQI of 328, days after Diwali festivities filled the skies with smog.

Earlier, on 22 October, the city’s 24-hour average AQI touched 353 at 4 pm, the highest level recorded this season, up from 351 on 21 October and 345 on 20 October.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) reiterated his claim that India would significantly reduce its imports of Russian oil by the end of this year, calling it a “gradual process”. His statement followed US sanctions against two major Russian oil companies and renewed calls for Moscow to end its war in Ukraine.

Saudi Arabia has announced the end of its decades-old Kafala system, a controversial labour sponsorship model that controlled the lives of millions of migrant workers for more than seventy years.

The reform, unveiled in June 2025, is one of the most sweeping changes to the Gulf’s labour framework and is expected to directly benefit around 13 million foreign workers.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday promised to provide one government job per family within 20 months if his party forms the government in Bihar.

Addressing the media in Patna, the Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly said that contractual and community workers across the state, including the Jeevika Didis, would be made permanent and offered higher pay and benefits.

The Congress on Wednesday said that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his colleagues are trying to manufacture a bullish sentiment on the economy, they are simply running away from the "bearish reality" facing farmers who are getting prices below MSP.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh claimed that the market prices for various crops like maize, soybean and moong are currently well below their minimum support prices (MSPs).

Industrialist Venu Srinivasan has been reappointed as a life trustee at the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT), a day before his three-year term was set to end. The decision was taken unanimously by the trustees on Wednesday morning, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Srinivasan’s current term at SDTT was due to end on October 23, 2025.

As assembly elections in Bihar come closer, senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot is expected to reach Patna on Wednesday to resolve the issue of "friendly fight" within the opposition Mahagathbandhan.

Gehlot is likely to meet the Bihar Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, who is contesting the assembly polls from the Raghopur constituency.

US President Donald Trump took part in Diwali celebrations at the White House on Tuesday (local time), extending warm greetings to the people of India and Indian-Americans. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a "great person" and "a great friend", while highlighting US-India ties in trade and regional peace.

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