AI news and headlines on Saturday, 31 October 2026

Ebola is a rare but deadly virus that spreads through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected people. DR Congo has seen several Ebola outbreaks since the first recorded one in 1976, which keeps the country a long-running focus for response teams.

Context: A world model is an AI system that learns how an environment behaves so it can predict what happens next, which helps machines plan actions. Google has released earlier Genie models as research previews, so Genie 4 continues that line of work.

Context: WhatsApp keeps automatic backups in Google Drive on Android and iCloud on iPhone, so deleted chats are usually restorable only from the most recent backup saved before deletion.

Context: Google has put a first data-centre satellite in orbit, so this test checks whether AI can work beyond Earth. A haiku is a short three-line poem, often about nature.

Context: Dearness allowance is a payment added to basic salary and pension to offset rising prices, and states revise it periodically. The central government also revises its own DA rate twice a year, so state hikes are often watched by staff elsewhere.

Context: Alphabet owns Google, along with YouTube and Android. Big tech firms are spending heavily on AI chips and data centres, and investors keep asking when those bets will earn money. Sharp swings like this often reflect that wider debate, not one quarter alone.

Context: AI data centres on Earth use large amounts of electricity and cooling, which is a growing concern for tech firms. Putting computing in orbit is an untested idea that companies are exploring as a possible alternative.

Context: GST is India's goods and services tax, a single tax that replaced many state and central levies in 2017. Each state where a business sells can require its own registration, so easier rules can matter a lot to small online sellers.

Context: KMF, or Karnataka Milk Federation, is the state's large dairy cooperative and sells milk under the Nandini brand. Dairy price revisions like this often reflect rising costs for farmers and transport, so households feel the change in their monthly budget.

Context: AI models are trained on large amounts of web content, and news sites have long complained about bots copying their work. Robots.txt, the standard file that tells bots what not to crawl, is the common tool publishers use today.

Context: Many homebuyers have waited years for flats when a builder defaulted on loans and stalled work. Under India's insolvency law, a developer's failure can freeze all its projects, so the new rules offer a narrower route for sound ones.

Context: Many women do farm work but are often not counted as farmers in official records, because land ownership usually decides recognition. Recognition can affect access to farm schemes, loans and benefits.

Context: El Niño is a natural warming of the central and eastern Pacific that shifts rain and heat patterns worldwide. It often weakens the Indian monsoon, so farmers and water planners watch it closely.

The census counts the population once every ten years, and its data helps guide how government plans services and resources. Enumerators are the field staff who visit homes to collect the answers.

Context: Big tech firms are spending huge sums on AI data centres and chips, so investors are worried whether those costs will pay off; the Nasdaq is the US index heavy in technology shares.

Context: Glass waste is hard to recycle, so turning it into building material can help cut landfill waste. Concrete with glass has long raised concern about a chemical reaction that can crack it, which is why long-term checks matter.

Context: NavIC is India's own regional satellite navigation system, meant to give location and timing services over India and nearby areas. Like GPS, it needs a group of satellites in orbit, so each new launch helps keep it working.

Context: Many households in Indian cities hire maids and cooks through private agencies, which often operate with little public oversight. Police verification is meant to check a worker's background before they enter a home.

Context: Lava is an Indian smartphone brand known for budget phones, and this rise lands in the segment where buyers are most price-sensitive. Mid-range phones sit just above that tier, so their buyers may also watch prices closely.

Context: The H-1B is a US work visa that many Indian software engineers and other skilled workers use, and a green card grants permanent residence. Each new Congress and administration can change these rules, so election results matter for applicants.

Context: Fusion joins light atoms together to release energy, the same process that powers the sun, and no country has yet run a fusion power plant that sends electricity to the grid. Private firms are joining this race, and India's effort is one example.

Context: The Census is India's official count of its population, and it was delayed from 2021. Caste was not counted in the last full census, and the new round will include it for the first time.

Context: A cess is an extra charge collected for a specific purpose, separate from the regular tax on goods. TASMAC is the state-run liquor retailer in Tamil Nadu, and liquor sales bring in a large share of state revenue.

Context: Foxconn is the Taiwanese company that assembles many Apple devices, including in India. Foldable phones use flexible screens, which have been a known durability concern for the whole industry.

Context: Jowar, also called sorghum, is a staple grain eaten widely in parts of Karnataka. When rain fails, harvests shrink and supply tightens, so prices tend to climb.

Context: Madhyamam is a Malayalam news daily based in Kerala, and this dispute is over unpaid wages that have built up for months. Long pay delays often lead to strikes, and unions usually push for talks between the staff and management.

Context: Gaganyaan is India's planned human spaceflight mission, run by ISRO, the Indian Space Research Organisation. Parachutes slow a returning spacecraft to a safe landing speed, so their testing is a key safety step.

FSSAI is the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, which sets food rules and licences for restaurants and food businesses across the country. A show cause notice is a formal first step asking a business to respond before any final penalty is decided.

Delhi often sees severe smog in winter, when cold air traps pollution close to the ground. Similar winter action plans have been used in the National Capital Region for years, with curbs stepping up as air quality worsens.

Context: India's census is held every ten years and runs in two steps, first listing houses and buildings, then counting every person. Jammu and Kashmir's progress shows how the national count is moving state by state.

Context: Customs duty is a tax on goods brought into India, and cotton is the main raw material for yarn and clothing. Exemptions like this are often used when domestic supply runs short or prices rise.

Context: NHAI, the National Highways Authority of India, builds and manages national highways. Flyover projects on busy Kerala roads often face local objections over traffic, flooding and access to shops, so such disputes are common.

Context: India's census is held every ten years, and the previous one was in 2011. Its results shape decisions on seats, welfare schemes and how government money is shared between states.

Context: Zilla panchayats are district-level and taluk panchayats are block-level elected bodies that manage local development and services. Local body polls are often delayed, so a fixed timeline matters to voters and candidates.

Context: BS VI is India's current vehicle emission standard, and Delhi has tightened rules on older, non-compliant vehicles to fight severe winter air pollution. Commuters from nearby NCR towns are among those most affected.

Context: Airfares in India often rise during festival season because demand peaks and many people travel home. Airlines also add fuel and other surcharges that pass costs on to passengers, so route prices can shift quickly.

Context: Space telescopes orbit high above Earth and are usually not built to be brought back, so their orbits slowly decay over time. Rescue missions in space are rare and technically difficult, which is why a failed attempt draws attention.

Tenements are multi-family housing blocks built by government bodies for low-income families, and many are old and unsafe. Rebuilding aging blocks usually requires residents to move out first while construction takes place.

Context: CAQM is the Commission for Air Quality Management, which sets air rules for Delhi and nearby states that often face severe winter smog. Factories are among the sources of pollution, so enforcement of these rules is a long-running effort.

Context: Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities in Manipur have been in conflict since May 2023, and the state has seen displacement and deaths. Agreements with armed groups and tribal organisations are often contested locally, so the rally reflects a wider debate over peace and security in the state.

Context: The Railway Board is the central body that oversees Indian Railways and sets rules that its zones follow. Many long-distance trains run overnight, so charging limits affect travellers who rely on phones for tickets, maps and navigation.

Context: El Niño is a periodic warming of the Pacific Ocean that often weakens the Indian monsoon and brings drier spells. Kyasanur forest disease is a tick-borne illness found in forested parts of Karnataka and Kerala.

Context: Yaks are large, high-altitude animals found across the Himalayas and the Tibetan plateau, and they are important to herders there. Finding a related species helps scientists trace how today's yaks evolved.

Context: India's main privacy law is the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, which sets rules for how companies and the state use personal data. Changes to it would affect how millions of people's data is collected and protected.

Context: The World Bank is a global lender that publishes poverty estimates by comparing household spending with an international poverty line. Its figures for India have often been debated, because national surveys and methods can give different results.

Export duties are extra taxes on fuel sold abroad, and the government reviews them every fortnight to balance domestic supply with overseas sales. Indian refiners also export a lot of fuel, so these levies can influence how much is kept for domestic buyers.

Context: The state first offered this instant pension to women in the old-age category, and this change reaches groups who often have irregular incomes. Filariasis is a mosquito-borne disease, and toddy tappers collect palm sap for a living.

Context: Cyclone Arnab recently hit Odisha, and the Bay of Bengal often produces storms in autumn that can bring heavy rain to coastal districts. IMD, India's weather agency, issues these warnings, and this storm is forecast to be weaker than Arnab.

Context: The Siang project is a large hydropower dam on the Siang river in Arunachal Pradesh, seen as a strategic counter to China's mega dam upstream on the Yarlung Tsangpo. Such projects often face local concern about land, water and displacement.

Context: Mandya is a farming district in southern Karnataka, where canal irrigation is a major concern for farmers. Jayadeva is a well-known heart-care institute in Bengaluru, so a 100-bed hospital adds to the state's healthcare network.

Context: November is when the monsoon has withdrawn from most of India, so daytime temperatures often rise while nights turn cooler. IMD's monthly outlooks help farmers, city planners and power utilities prepare for the coming weeks.

Low-pressure areas over the Bay of Bengal can grow into depressions that bring heavy rain, flooding and disruption to coastal states. Andhra Pradesh and Kerala often see heavy rain in this season, so following local alerts and IMD updates helps families plan travel and safety.

Context: Municipal corporations and municipal councils run civic services such as roads, water and sanitation in Indian towns and cities. Their elected mayors and chairpersons lead these bodies, so local elections shape everyday services for residents.

Context: Tensions between Iran and the United States have been rising, and Iran's leaders have recently promised a strong response to any new US attack. Qeshm is an Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz, a busy route for oil shipments.

Context: Abiy Ahmed has led Ethiopia since 2018 and won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, and his government fought a war in the northern Tigray region from 2020 to 2022. Ethiopia has faced internal conflicts, so defence readiness is a major focus.

Context: The Commission for Air Quality Management coordinates pollution control across Delhi and its neighbouring cities. Every winter, smoke and dust push the region's air into hazardous levels, and the commission often uses steps like these.

Context: India offers two income tax regimes, an old one that allows many deductions and a newer one with lower rates but fewer deductions. Taxpayers pick the regime that gives them the lower tax bill.

Context: Low-pressure areas over the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea often grow into depressions or cyclones, and they can bring heavy rain to coastal south India. The IMD, India's official weather agency, issues these forecasts, which are updated as the system moves.

Context: Utilities are the companies that generate, transmit and sell electricity, and many are regulated, so state regulators approve how much they can charge. Rising demand and costly grid upgrades are common reasons bills climb, and the midterm elections are due in November 2026.

Context: Oleshky is in southern Ukraine, on the Dnipro river, and has been under Russian control since the early months of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Short local pauses like this are usually fragile, so they do not end the wider war between the two countries.

Context: The 2018 Sandpapergate scandal involved Australian players tampering with the ball in South Africa, which made this series a closely watched return. Simon Harmer is a South African off-spin bowler.

Context: SoO, or Suspension of Operations, is a truce deal between the government and armed groups in Manipur, and it has been contested since ethnic violence began there in 2023.

Context: Mars meteorites are rocks knocked off the Red Planet by ancient impacts that later fell to Earth. Scientists study them to learn about Mars's early history.

Context: AAP governs Punjab, and the state's next Assembly election is due in 2027. Candidate lists in the months before a vote show which seats each party sees as key.

Attappady is a hilly forest region in Palakkad district of Keralam, home to a large tribal population. Infant deaths and malnutrition there have been recurring concerns for decades, and the area has long faced gaps in health care and food access.

Context: Refugees are people forced to flee their home country because of persecution, war or violence. Resettlement means a country agrees to accept them permanently, usually through a government-run route rather than irregular travel.

Context: GST is India's national tax on most goods and services, and enforcement officers can check businesses and goods. Rules like these shape how often traders and transporters face checks and penalties.

Context: Bonus payments are a yearly money matter for many workers, and in India the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 sets the rules for them. Fake messages can cause anxiety and protests, so official clarifications from labour offices are the reliable source to check before acting.

Diwali, also called Deepawali, is one of India's biggest festivals and is celebrated across many regions with different local customs. Dhanteras usually marks the start of the festival, with Bhai Dooj closing it.

Context: After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, many Afghans who had worked with US forces were evacuated abroad. Their future immigration status has since become a contested policy question in the US.

Context: Delhi faces severe smog most winters, when cold air and smoke from crop burning trap pollution close to the ground. The GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) is a staged set of emergency steps that rise as air quality worsens.

Context: The Chief Election Commissioner heads the body that runs India's national and state elections. Removing a CEC is a formal process that needs a motion passed in Parliament, so a public event like this does not by itself remove anyone from office.

Manipur has been divided by ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities since 2023, and the SoO deal was meant to calm armed groups while talks continued. Its future matters for peace in the state before any election.

Context: Free-flow tolling lets vehicles pay without stopping at a barrier, using RFID tags fixed to windscreens. Delhi's entry points are often jammed during peak hours, so the change is part of a wider push to reduce traffic and pollution in the city.

Context: Tariffs are taxes on imported goods, and US tariffs on Canadian products have hit industries like forestry and paper that rely heavily on exports. When a single mill anchors a small town, its closure can affect nearly every local family.

Context: The Chief Election Commissioner heads the Election Commission, which runs India's elections. A formal impeachment requires Parliament to act, so a symbolic version is a protest rather than a step toward removal.

Context: A glacial lake outburst flood happens when a lake held back by glacier ice or debris suddenly bursts, sending water and rocks rushing downstream. Bhutan's Himalayan rivers flow into Assam, so the flood risk reaches Assam's plains quickly.

Context: In India, a government can seek to withdraw certain cases, and courts often have to approve the request. Such moves are often debated over which cases should qualify and why.

Context: Disinvestment means the government selling its stake in a public company, and IDBI Bank has been part of such plans for years. Bank staff and unions often watch these moves closely because jobs and asset values can change.

Context: Jailbreaks usually lead to suspensions and transfers while officials review security, guard duties and staffing. Theni is a district in southern Tamil Nadu, near the Kerala border.

Context: Cyclones and rough seas often keep fishing boats in harbour for days, and coastal families rely on daily earnings. Weather bans can quickly push fisherfolk into debt when they have little savings to fall back on.

Context: Indian households buy gold for weddings and festivals, so price swings change the cost of planned purchases. Gold prices move with global markets, the US dollar and interest rates, which is why forecasts are hard to make.

Context: The World Bank measures poverty using its own international yardsticks, adjusted for living costs, so its figures often differ from India's official estimates. Forecasts like this are usually revised as new survey data comes in.

Context: Student safety in schools is a major concern for parents and authorities across India. Questions about who is allowed on school premises are often raised after incidents like this one.

Context: Sugarcane prices in India are guided by a government-set minimum, but farmers often protest when mill payments feel low or arrive late. Belagavi is a major sugarcane district in north Karnataka, so protests there affect many growers.

Context: Russia seized parts of southern Ukraine after its February 2022 invasion, and many civilians there have been cut off. Belarus borders Ukraine to the north, so evacuees arriving there are crossing into a neighbouring country.

Context: Transgender people in India gained legal recognition in 2014 through the Supreme Court's NALSA judgment, which recognised a third gender and self-identification. Since then, many government bodies have had to set up procedures to change staff records under service rules.

Context: Social media companies face many lawsuits in the United States, and some involve claims about harm to young users. Meta and Snap are both large platforms, so the outcome of this case could influence how other similar cases are handled.

Context: Landslides in Wayanad district in July 2024 destroyed several villages and left many families displaced. The township is part of the state's rehabilitation effort, and survivors have stayed in rented homes until permanent houses are ready.

Context: The Rafale is a French-built fighter jet that India agreed to buy, and the Tejas is India's homegrown light fighter, which has been delayed for years. Both are central to the air force's plans to replace older aircraft.

Context: The Kerala PSC runs public recruitment exams for state government jobs, so copied questions affect many candidates. This probe follows an earlier case in which the commission's chairperson was indicted in an exam fraud matter.

Context: Odisha lies on the Bay of Bengal coast and is hit by cyclones several times a year, especially in the post-monsoon months. Such storms often bring heavy rain that causes floods and landslides in nearby districts.

Context: Ahoi Ashtami is a festival observed mainly in North India, where mothers fast for their children's wellbeing. It falls a few days before Diwali, so many families plan it alongside the wider festive season.

The IPL is India's top franchise cricket league, where teams buy players at auctions and can change captains from season to season. Mumbai Indians is one of its most successful teams, so leadership changes draw wide attention.

Electrocution from electric fences set up to keep out animals or intruders has caused deaths in parts of India. Such deaths have prompted repeated calls for stricter enforcement of safety rules.

Context: Kabila led DR Congo from 2001 to 2019, after taking over from his father. Eastern DR Congo has seen years of fighting with armed groups, so any new rebel movement draws close attention.

Context: Vande Bharat is India's fast, modern train series built to cut journey times, and sleeper versions add overnight travel. Kashi is another name for Varanasi, a major pilgrimage city.

Kerala's hills are a major cardamom-growing region, and small planters rely on auctions to sell their crop and get paid quickly. The West Asia crisis is disrupting trade and energy markets, which can slow money moving through the supply chain.

Context: Customs duty is a tax on imported goods, and India often adjusts it on cotton to balance mill supply against farmers' prices. Spinning mills and garment makers depend on cotton, so changes to the duty affect their costs.

Context: Deepavali firecrackers have long been linked to air pollution in Indian cities, which is why courts and governments set limits on which crackers can be used and when. Green crackers are designed to produce less smoke than regular ones.

Context: NVS satellites are part of India's satellite navigation system, and the earlier NVS-02 failure makes this launch closely watched. Propulsion systems move a spacecraft into its planned orbit.

Context: Mangolpuri is an industrial area in northwest Delhi where many small factories operate in crowded buildings. Fires at such units have repeatedly raised concerns about exit routes and fire safety rules for workers.

Context: NVS satellites are part of NavIC, India's own regional navigation system used for positioning across the country. Pyro valves are small valves triggered by controlled explosive charges, used in rockets to manage fuel and pressure flow.

Context: The Strait of Hormuz, between Iran and Oman, is one of the world's busiest oil shipping routes, so attacks there affect fuel prices and supply. Tensions across West Asia have been rising, and many Indian seafarers work on ships passing through it.

Context: Jammu and Kashmir is a union territory whose Lieutenant Governor is the Centre's appointed head. Security convoys for officials often close or slow roads, which can affect ordinary traffic, including ambulances.

Big tech firms have poured huge sums into AI data centres and chips over the past few years, and investors are now asking when that spending will pay off. Markets often swing sharply when that doubt grows.

Context: Tasmac is the state-run liquor retailer in Tamil Nadu. The bottle-return refund is a way to encourage recycling, and it means buyers will pay more upfront for many drinks.

Context: France has a long tradition of large street protests, and young people have often led them over issues like education, jobs and living costs. Halloween nights can bring large crowds, which is why officials watch them closely.

Context: Test wickets are a key measure of a fast bowler's career, since Test matches last up to five days. Pat Cummins captains Australia in Test cricket, so the team's struggle at the crease matters for the series.

Scotch is imported whisky, and India and the UK have been negotiating a trade deal that would lower tariffs on Scotch over time. Prices and import rules are therefore a sensitive part of that deal, so disputes like this one draw attention.

Context: The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow sea passage between Iran and Oman that carries a large share of the world's oil. Many ships passing through it have crews from India, so restrictions there affect Indian families and fuel prices.

Context: Jadeja is a left-arm spinner and lower-order batter who has played a major role in India's limited-overs teams. White-ball cricket means one-day and T20 formats, and the 2027 ODI World Cup is the next major goal for selectors.

Context: The Ganges water-sharing treaty between India and Bangladesh was signed in 1996 and sets out how river flows are shared in the dry season. Any renewal draws close attention on both sides because water and transit are sensitive issues.

Rajya Sabha is the Upper House of Parliament, and its members are elected by state legislatures rather than directly by voters. When a seat falls vacant mid-term, a byelection is held to fill it only for the rest of that term.

Context: Crypto exchanges hold users' digital coins, so a hack can leave customers unable to recover funds. Major hacks have hit exchanges before, and they often lead to tighter security rules and questions about how safe crypto storage is.

Context: Manipur has seen violence between the Kuki and Meitei communities since 2023. A Suspension of Operations deal usually pauses security action against armed groups while peace talks continue.

Context: US and Iran have been in a long-running standoff over Iran's nuclear programme and regional armed groups, and Qatar often acts as a go-between in such talks.

Context: Exporters have faced higher shipping and insurance costs in recent years, partly due to global trade disruptions, which squeeze margins for small and medium businesses. The commerce ministry runs trade support schemes to help them compete abroad.

Context: Village development in India is often funded by both the Centre and states, through schemes that can overlap and confuse local planning. Plans that run for several years, with regular checks, aim to make spending more coordinated and results easier to track.

Context: Airlines often struggle when jet fuel prices rise, since fuel is one of their biggest costs. Alaska Air Group is the parent of Alaska Airlines, a major carrier on the US West Coast.

Context: Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and malaria tend to rise in Delhi during the monsoon, when standing water lets mosquitoes breed. Civic bodies typically step up drain cleaning and fogging each year to cut these risks.

Children with special needs often rely fully on school staff for their safety, so schools are expected to follow strict supervision and reporting rules. Cases like this raise questions about how well those rules are followed and how complaints are handled.

Context: Milling means scraping off the top layer of an old road before resurfacing it. Over years of repeated resurfacing, roads can rise above nearby buildings, and rainwater may then flow into homes and shops.

Context: Drink-driving is one of the leading causes of road deaths in India, and enforcement drives usually follow high-profile crashes that bring the issue into public debate. Such crackdowns can mean more checks on roads and stricter action against offenders.

Context: Golden Dome is a US missile defence plan announced by President Trump in 2025 to shield the country from missile attacks. Big tech firms joining such projects is part of a wider debate about defence work by technology companies.

Context: Many households and workplaces depend on packaged drinking water, especially where tap supply is unreliable. Regulators check these units for hygiene and quality, and lab results show whether the water is safe to drink.

Context: NTPC is a state-owned power company and one of India's biggest electricity producers, so its quarterly results are watched as a signal for the power sector. Q2 means the July to September quarter of the financial year.

Context: Many teenagers use AI chatbots, and companies face growing pressure to add age-based safeguards. OpenAI makes ChatGPT, one of the most widely used AI chatbots in the world.

Context: NVS-03 is a navigation satellite in India's NavIC system, which provides positioning for users across India and nearby regions. GSLV is ISRO's launch vehicle used to put heavier satellites into orbit.

Context: NavIC is India's homegrown satellite navigation system, a regional alternative to GPS covering India and nearby areas. Adding satellites helps keep it working well and reduces reliance on foreign systems.

Context: Proton therapy is a precise form of radiation treatment for cancer that aims to spare healthy tissue around the tumour. Such care has been available in India mostly in private hospitals, and many patients still travel to big cities for it.

Context: Caregivers look after elderly people, young children and sick family members, and demand for trained help is rising as India's population ages. A formal certificate gives workers recognised skills in a field that has often relied on informal training.

Context: The INDIA bloc is an alliance of opposition parties that contests elections against the ruling NDA led by the BJP. Ramlila Maidan is a large, historic ground in central Delhi often used for mass rallies.

Context: Riyadh is Saudi Arabia's capital. Saudi Arabia has faced drone and missile attacks in recent years, including from Yemen's Houthi movement, so early reports of a drone often raise questions about who sent it.

Context: PU, or pre-university, is the two-year college stage after Class 10 in Karnataka, and SSLC is the state's Class 10 board exam. Seats at this level are growing each year, so the state is slowing new private openings to match seats with students.

Context: India A is the country's second-string team used to test young and fringe players. Performances in these unofficial matches can influence selection for the senior national side.

Context: The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow sea route between Iran and Oman that carries a large share of the world's oil. Limpet mines are small bombs fixed to a ship's hull, and Indians form a large share of many ship crews.

Context: Uttar Pradesh is India's most populous state, and Ayodhya is a major pilgrimage town. Solar schemes like the national PM Surya Ghar rooftop programme aim to bring cheap power to homes and farms across India.

Context: Cardamom is a major spice crop in Keralam's hill districts, and warmer temperatures are pushing farmers toward year-round harvests. Pesticide overuse is a wider concern in Indian farming because it can affect soil, water and food safety.

Context: Waymo, owned by Alphabet, already runs robotaxi services in US cities, while Toyota is Japan's largest carmaker, so this partnership combines car-making with self-driving software.

Context: Israel's prime minister is normally chosen by parliament rather than voters directly, and Benjamin Netanyahu has led the country for much of the last 15 years. Direct election of the prime minister was tried in Israel from 1996 to 2001 before being dropped.

Context: The sugar minimum support price and sugar-to-ethanol policy are set by the Centre, which shapes how much mills pay farmers for cane. Cane yields fall in drought years, which squeezes farmers and mills alike.

Context: Andhra Pradesh was recently hit by Cyclone Arnab, so residents are watching closely for more heavy weather. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues these forecasts, and depressions over the Bay of Bengal can sometimes strengthen into cyclones.

Poland's courts have been a major political fight since 2015, when the ruling government began overhauling the judiciary, which the EU and many judges criticised. Those disputes over judicial independence still shape today's clashes.

Context: Rising prices and wages that have not kept pace have fuelled cost-of-living protests across Europe in recent years. Unions often call strikes to press governments for action on pay and prices.

Context: US midterms are held two years into a presidency and elect all House seats and some Senate seats. Mail-in voting lets people post their ballots, and rules differ by state, so checks like these vary across the country.

Context: Global nature talks set shared targets for protecting forests, rivers and wildlife, with a widely cited goal to halt nature loss by 2030. Funding is a recurring dispute, since poorer countries want richer ones to help pay for conservation.

Peels and stalks are often thrown away, while public health advice usually focuses on eating enough fruit and vegetables overall. Such findings usually add detail to general diet advice rather than replace it.

Context: Tata Sons sits at the top of the Tata Group, a large Indian conglomerate, and a listing would let public investors buy shares in it. Disputes over leadership and governance can affect investor trust in the wider group.

Context: Many vision problems in India, such as cataracts and uncorrected refractive errors, can be treated cheaply if caught early. Family decision-making about health spending has long been linked to unequal care for women.

Context: The Black Sea is a key shipping route for grain and oil, and attacks there have increased since the war in Ukraine began in 2022. Greek shipping companies carry a large share of global cargo, so disruptions can raise trade costs far beyond the region.

Context: MEMU trains are short-distance electric multiple-unit services that stop often and carry daily commuters, and the Venad Express is a long-running train on the Kerala coastal route.

Context: The Kerala Public Service Commission recruits people for state government jobs through competitive exams, so its rank lists decide who gets hired. An FIR is a first police step, and the charges still need to be proven in court.

Context: The FDA checks food, drugs and cosmetics for safety and quality, and inspections are a key part of that work. Officials must act within their legal authority, so allegations of improper raids can affect both businesses and public trust.

Context: Iran's nuclear programme and the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow sea passage for much of the world's oil, have been at the centre of tensions between Tehran and Washington. Qatar has been mediating talks between the two sides.

Context: Emmanuel Macron is France's president, and cost of living has been a major public concern in the country. Recent unrest with riots and looting has made authorities prepare for a larger security response.

Context: EWS stands for Economically Weaker Sections, a category for poorer groups outside existing reservation categories. Open seats are not reserved, so admission depends on merit, and high private fees can make these seats hard for many families to afford.

Context: Margin means the gap between what a drug costs to make or buy and what it sells for. Cancer treatment is expensive in India, and drug prices have been a long-running debate between companies, patients and regulators.

Context: Trademark cases decide whether one brand name is too similar to another and could confuse customers. The Madras High Court sits in Chennai and hears appeals and cases from Tamil Nadu.