The Hindu's top news of the day for October 23, 2026

Police detain protesters during march to ECI HQ

A march against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was halted by police in central Delhi on Friday (October 23, 2026), as participants sought to head towards the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters to protest against the alleged deletion of voters. The march, called by the Delhi Coordination Committee of People Against SIR -- a people's collective -- started near Gole Dak Khana, at the intersection of Kalibari Marg and Bhai Vir Singh Marg.

Netanyahu orders West Bank closure as attack wounds Israelis before election

Palestinian militants wounded five Israelis in an attack on Friday (October 23, 2026) before being killed in a shootout with soldiers, leading Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to order a lockdown in the occupied West Bank days before Israeli elections. Militant group Hamas, without claiming responsibility, praised the attack as a "heroic operation" and called for more.

16 killed, 65 injured as magnitude 7 quake hits Tibet; over 12,000 evacuated

At least 16 people were killed, and 65 others were injured after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck China's Tibet Autonomous Region, prompting the evacuation of more than 12,000 residents, authorities said.T he shallow earthquake struck at a depth of less than 10 kilometres in Baqen County in Nagqu City at around 10:33 p.m. (local time) on Thursday (October 22).

Immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship targeted in Trump administration's illegal voting crackdown

Most of the immigrants targeted by federal authorities in California this week for alleged voter fraud had applied for U.S. citizenship and now face charges related to lying on forms or during interviews. Those charges could lead to years in prison and thwart their efforts to naturalise. Amandeep Kaur, who is among those charged, has lived in the country for eight years and is in the process of becoming a naturalised U.S. citizen, said her husband, Kulwinder Singh.

Greece passes social media ban for children under 15

Greece's Parliament approved a bill on Friday (October 23, 2026) that bans the use of social media platforms for children under ⁠15 amid growing concerns over their impact on the health and safety of minors. The ban comes into force on January ⁠1, 2027

World record: Jio Platforms IPO becomes first ever issue globally to receive over 1 crore applications

Jio Platforms Ltd's initial public offering crossed another threshold on its closing day as the IPO became the first issue globally to receive over 1 crore applications. This surpasses the earlier global record of Waaree Energies, who received 97 lakh applications. Bidding for the $3.2 billion issue continues, with the IPO subscribed nearly 7 times and investors bidding for over 147 crore shares against 19.75 crores offered.

Scrap SIR 'disenfranchisement exercise', scientists urge govt. and ECI in petition

A collective of independent scientists has petitioned the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the government to scrap the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. They have demanded the immediate restoration of all eligible voters wrongly excluded. The signatories say they have endorsed the statement in their individual capacities, and that their views are personal and do not represent their institutions.

'Unusual' names, details crop up in electoral roll for MLC polls in U.P.; ECI cites software error

Entries such as "Ram ne Yadav ko maara", "Ram ne Sharma ko maara" as names and "B.Com" in place of a voter's father's name have surfaced in the electoral roll for the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council elections, prompting the Election Commission of India (ECI) to issue a clarification over the discrepancies. The discrepancies were found in the Allahabad-Jhansi graduates' constituency ahead of polling for 11 MLC seats on Friday (October 23)

POCSO survivor cannot be denied compensation solely due to absence of injury marks: Allahabad HC

The Allahabad High Court has ruled that a survivor of sexual assault under the POCSO Act cannot be denied compensation merely because the medical report does not record physical injuries. The court held that the district steering committee's decision to withhold compensation was contrary to law and the provisions of the scheme.

'Gem Granites' Veeramani's daughter detained from aircraft by SIT

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to investigate offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against 'Gem Granites' owner R. Veeramani detained his daughter Archana Veeramani at the Chennai International Airport on Friday (October 23). Minutes after Ms. Archana boarded a scheduled flight to Singapore, an SIT team got her out of the aircraft with the assistance of the crew and took the 49-year-old passenger into custody, police sources said.

Pakistan refused to accept bodies of its own soldiers killed in Kargil war: India at UN

India slammed Pakistan at the UN, reminding the country that it did not even accept the bodies of its own soldiers killed in combat in the 1999 Kargil war but speaks about faith, religious freedom and burials. The interim report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief, Nazila Ghanea, said that "Reports of systemic denial of funeral rights in the context of individuals killed in security operations in Jammu and Kashmir, India, including denial of return of bodies to families and remote and secret burials

USA to host women's football Club World Cup in 2028 - FIFA

The United States will host the inaugural women's football Club World Cup in 2028, FIFA announced on Thursday (October 22). "The decision was taken in view of its experience in organising FIFA tournaments, the maturity of its infrastructure and services and the level of stakeholder interest in women's football in the country," world football's governing body said.