Top news of the day on October 17, 2026

Anti-CEC protest | Dipke granted conditional bail after signing a bond

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was granted conditional bail and asked to sign a bond. Mr. Dipke was detained moments after he stepped out of his house in Delhi's Jhandewalan area to participate in the CJP's "Lehra Do Tiranga" protest at Connaught Place on Friday. He was arrested on Saturday morning for allegedly violating a peace bond furnished by him on October 10.

Deva, the composer who took Chennai's gaana to mainstream cinema, is no more

Tamil film music composer Deva, who brought gaana music into mainstream cinema and whose songs and background scores for Rajinikanth-starrers such as Annamalai, Arunachalam, and Baashha became hugely popular, died aged 75. Hospital sources said he had no pulse when he arrived and efforts to revive him remained futile. Deva's music bridged seemingly disparate worlds -- the earthy rhythms of Chennai's gaana tradition, the mass appeal of Tamil cinema, and the melodic richness of classical and devotional music.

Children have fundamental right to access and use internet: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has held that children, like any other individual, have a fundamental right to access and use the internet. "We have no hesitation in saying that the right to access and use the internet is a fundamental right of every individual under Article 21 read with Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. Our children, irrespective of their age enjoy the same rights, and to deny the same altogether would be as absurd," a Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Vinod K. Chandran held in an order.

CMRL payoff case: ED pastes summons outside ex-CM Pinarayi Vijayan's house, asks him to appear for questioning on Oct 23

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) pasted a summons outside the residence of Keralam Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, asking him to appear for questioning on October 23 in connection with the CMRL-linked money-laundering case. The ED issued the summons on Friday under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after registering a case based on a recent FIR filed by the State police.

Trump puts forth 'waivers' on Russian oil purchases weeks after relaxation on diesel imports

Nearly six days after allowing for the import of diesel from Russia into the United States, President Donald Trump put forth waivers on the law that sought to penalise countries with hundred per cent tariffs for purchasing crude oil or natural gas of Russian-origin, among other things. The stipulated tariffs under the law that were supposed to come into effect October 18 sought to tighten the flow of oil-related revenues to Russia.

DMK demands removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar; return to paper ballots

A meeting of DMK MPs demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that he had overseen the deletion of voters' names under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), overriding the objections of the other two Election Commissioners. "He must be removed and subjected to an appropriate inquiry," said a resolution adopted at the meeting chaired by DMK president M.K. Stalin.

L.K. Advani 'stable' at Apollo Hospitals, Nadda pays visit

Former Deputy Prime Minister and veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishna Advani was admitted to Apollo Hospital after he complained of a chest infection, according to multiple media reports. As per reports, the 98-year-old BJP leader was taken to the hospital around 7:30 p.m. on Friday (October 16, 2026) and was undergoing treatment.

Anti-CEC protest: Delhi Police registers at least 10 FIRs against right-wing members over assaults on protesters

The Delhi Police registered at least 10 FIRs in connection with alleged assaults on protesters during the ongoing demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in the national capital. This comes a week after sustained pressure from citizens, activists and media organisations across social media platforms demanding action against alleged assailants, including members of right-wing groups, accused of attacking protesters.

India rejects report by UN human rights expert that says Indian youth face retaliation, terms claims as 'hearsay'

India has rejected as "hearsay" a report by a UN human rights expert that has taken note of the "satirical political movement" created by the country's youth, with New Delhi calling on the expert to "verify" before vilifying issues using unverified claims. First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, Anuj Swarup voiced objection to the report of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association Gina Romero, calling out her assertion that young people in India face retaliation or stigmatisation for discussing mental health or gender justice.

Starlink says built India's infrastructure with requisite government approvals, ready to offer hi-speed internet

Starlink said it has worked with Indian regulators, industry and operators for over five years and built dedicated infrastructure in the country "all with the requisite government approvals", as the Elon Musk-led company asserted its readiness to provide high-speed internet services in India.

Delhi court issues bailable warrants against YouTuber Dhruv Rathee in 2018 defamation case

A Delhi court issued bailable warrants against YouTuber Dhruv Rathee in a 2018 defamation case filed by a BJP IT Cell member after a process server reported that his house was locked while attempting to serve a summons notice. Judicial Magistrate Rahul Jain issued the warrants in the case filed by Vikas Pandey, who accused Mr. Rathee of defamation over a video uploaded on his YouTube channel.

Five workers killed, many injured in blast at chemical unit in Gujarat's Bharuch

As many as five workers were killed and five others injured after an explosion ripped through a chemical manufacturing unit in Gujarat's Bharuch district, officials said. The blast occurred around 10 p.m. on Friday (October 16) during a hydrogenation process at SynZeal Pharmachem in the Saykha GIDC area in Vagra taluka, triggering a toxic leak of methylene dichloride (MDC) gas, they said.