Kaumi Gazette

National

Supreme Court issues notices to Election Commission and Maharashtra government over voter deletions

26 October, 2026

NEW DELHI — The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Maharashtra government on a petition challenging voter deletions under the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise in the state and seeking an interim stay on the process. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant,

National

Congress urges traders to join protests demanding Election Commissioner resignation

26 October, 2026

NEW DELHI — Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has called on Delhi shopkeepers and traders to join nationwide demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR voter re-verification exercise. Gandhi stated that the ongoing agitations would stop in 30 seconds if Prime Minister Narendra Modi dismisses Kumar, whom

National

Election Commission declines to disclose electoral roll software details, cites trade secrets

26 October, 2026

NEW DELHI — The Election Commission of India has declined to release specific technical details regarding the software utilised in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, citing trade secrets and intellectual property protections. In response to an application filed under the Right to Information Act, 2005, the poll body withheld the name and version

World

British Employers Question Proposed Cost Increases for Older Apprenticeship Training

26 October, 2026

LONDON — Britain’s largest employers have raised concerns over government proposals to increase apprenticeship training costs for workers over the age of 25 in England by 25%. According to reports, the proposed overhaul forms part of broader government plans to tackle a youth jobs crisis and address the needs of 1 million 16- to 24-year-olds

World

Lula wins Brazil presidential runoff as opponent contests result

26 October, 2026

BRASÍLIA — Incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil’s presidential runoff election, defeating far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro, according to official election results recognized on Monday. Kassio Nunes Marques, president of Brazil’s electoral court, certified Lula’s victory after he secured more than 64 million votes. Lula’s upcoming presidential term is scheduled to begin on

Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer orders scrutiny of voter forms following data discrepancies

26 October, 2026

LUCKNOW — Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa has ordered a comprehensive scrutiny of all voter registration and modification forms entered by computer assistants following severe electoral roll discrepancies detected in Pilibhit and Azamgarh. Under the fresh administrative directives, authorities must examine all Forms 6, 7, and 8 processed by computer assistants since April

World

Displacement follows military sweep in Hebron after checkpoint attack

26 October, 2026

HEBRON — Nearly 2,000 Palestinians have been displaced in Hebron following a military sweep and the takeover of homes by Israeli forces, triggered by a gun attack at a nearby military checkpoint that left two soldiers dead. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich visited the site following the Friday attack and vowed

World

Mecca Defence Alliance delegations hold high-level security talks in Tehran amid regional tensions

26 October, 2026

TEHRAN — Delegations from the Mecca Defence Alliance nations comprising Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan are scheduled to hold high-level talks in Tehran on Monday, marking a diplomatic push amid escalating regional tensions. According to state-run media and officials from Saudi Arabia and Iran, the scheduled meetings involve high-ranking security and defence figures. Ali Bagheri

National

Supreme Court agrees to examine petition challenging electoral roll revision in Maharashtra

26 October, 2026

NEW DELHI — The Supreme Court has agreed to examine a petition challenging the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Maharashtra, issuing notices to the Centre, the Election Commission of India, and other respondents. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued the notices following a plea

National

Rahul Gandhi Conditions Delhi Protest Halt on Election Commissioner Removal

26 October, 2026

NEW DELHI — Congress leader Rahul Gandhi responded on Tuesday to an appeal from trade representatives to defer the INDIA bloc’s planned November 1 protest in the national capital, declaring that demonstrations would cease immediately if Prime Minister Narendra Modi removes Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The response follows an appeal by the Chamber of

National

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge outlines INDIA bloc demands for election commissioner resignation and paper ballots

26 October, 2026

NEW DELHI — Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday outlined three key demands put forward by the INDIA opposition bloc, calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, an immediate halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and a return to paper ballots. The announcement follows mounting opposition scrutiny over

National

Manipur violence leaves ten dead as intelligence agencies cite drug cartel conspiracy

26 October, 2026

NEW DELHI — Fresh outbreaks of violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in Manipur have left at least 10 people dead during the first fortnight of October 2026, according to official figures. According to intelligence agencies, the renewed unrest is driven by a conspiracy involving Myanmar-based drug cartels seeking to expand the illicit narcotics

National

Opposition Leader Mallikarjun Kharge Weighs Traders Appeal Over Planned Delhi Rally

26 October, 2026

NEW DELHI — Opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge renewed his criticism of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, urging citizens to participate in a scheduled November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan while facing calls from trading associations to defer the event. The planned demonstration forms part of a broader campaign by the INDIA alliance targeting the Election

National

Election Commission declines RTI request for voter roll software details, citing intellectual property exemptions

26 October, 2026

NEW DELHI — The Election Commission of India has declined a Right to Information (RTI) request seeking technical details, algorithms, and software versions used to identify errors in voter rolls during the SIR exercise, citing commercial confidence, trade secrets, and intellectual property exemptions. The response, dated October 16, was issued following an application filed on

National

Manipur Chief Minister asserts state cannot attain progress while gun culture persists

25 October, 2026

IMPHAL — Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand asserted on Sunday that the state cannot attain progress or lasting peace as long as a “gun culture” persists, marking his stance during a visit to the Sinai Camp in Kangpokpi district. The camp, a designated facility under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement for the Kuki National

National

Congress accuses Election Commission of withholding software details and demands suspension of electoral roll revision

25 October, 2026

NEW DELHI — The Congress party has accused the Election Commission of India of withholding critical information regarding the ECINET software used in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, alleging that the secrecy is intended to conceal centralized electoral manipulation. The political confrontation intensified following disclosures that the poll body declined an RTI application

World

Saudi-led coalition intercepts incoming missiles as cross-border attacks escalate

25 October, 2026

RIYADH — The Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting a ballistic missile launched toward Riyadh, a drone in the Riyadh region, and a cruise missile aimed at Khamis Mushait on Sunday morning, amid an escalation in cross-border attacks. The latest aerial interceptions followed an announcement by Riyadh airport that international flights would resume from Terminal 2 on

World

Trump Administration Removes Thirteen Percent of Americans From Federal Food Stamp Program

25 October, 2026

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has removed 13 percent of Americans previously enrolled in the federal food stamp program, according to a report published on October 25, 2026. The reduction affects participants across the United States. Specific criteria, mechanisms, and dates regarding how enrollees were removed from the assistance rolls have not been detailed in

National

Opposition INDIA bloc announces Delhi rally against Election Commission over voter list allegations

25 October, 2026

NEW DELHI — Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and the opposition INDIA bloc have announced a “Chalo Dilli” mega rally and march to Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1. The demonstration is directed against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. According to Congress

National

Election Commission declines to disclose voter roll software details under RTI Act

25 October, 2026

NEW DELHI — The Election Commission of India has declined to disclose details of the software used to identify errors and anomalies in voter rolls during the Special Intensive Revision exercise, citing exemptions under the Right to Information Act. In an RTI reply dated October 16, responding to an application filed by Karimnagar-based social activist

Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh Government Abolishes Housing Board NOC Requirement for Building Plans

25 October, 2026

LUCKNOW — The Uttar Pradesh government has abolished the requirement for property owners and developers to obtain a no-objection certificate from the Uttar Pradesh Housing and Development Board (Avas Vikas Parishad) for building-plan approvals. The policy change removes a mandate established by a September 2010 government order, which required property owners whose land fell within

National

Election Commission orders action against nine officials over voter list anomalies in Azamgarh

25 October, 2026

LUCKNOW — The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered departmental proceedings and dismissal notices against nine officials following a voter list anomaly in Uttar Pradesh where a single name appeared multiple times in the Azamgarh assembly constituency. The administrative action follows a public press conference held on October 15, during which Samajwadi Party chief

World

Britain’s Cocaine Market Reaches Billions As Use And Treatment Demand Surge

25 October, 2026

LONDON — Britain’s annual cocaine market has reached an estimated £9.8bn, driven by high consumption levels and fluctuating wholesale pricing, according to government data and independent analysis. Home Office experimental sewage estimates indicate that cocaine use in England rose by 26% between 2021 and 2025. During the 2024–25 period, Home Office scientists estimated that consumers

World

Brazil Holds Presidential Run-off Election Between Lula and Bolsonaro

25 October, 2026

BRASILIA — Nearly 160 million citizens across Brazil head to the polls on Saturday for the decisive presidential run-off election, choosing between incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro. The high-stakes ballot on October 25 follows a tightly contested first-round vote held on October 4, in which Bolsonaro secured 47 percent

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