Top news of the day: Demonstrations fuel ‘protest economy’, Supreme Court tells Delhi traders; Indian Navy rescues hijacked fishing vessel off Somalia, frees all 20 crew members, and more

Demonstrations generate ‘protest economy’, Supreme Court tells Delhi tradersThe Supreme Court on Tuesday (November 3, 2026) remarked to Delhi traders that protests are not entirely hostile to business, pointing out that there is also “protest economy” that generates brisk earnings for enterprising hawkers and vendors at demonstration sites.A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant expressed sympathy for the right to livelihood of the small traders, hawkers, push cart vendors, noting that their right competed with the right to expression of the protestors. The court said there was a need for balance. “Right to protest is constitutionally recognised. Right to trade is also. By ‘trade’ we do not mean commercial establishments, but those who do it as the sole source of livelihood, like the daily wagers, the subjiwala, etc. Where can they go?” Chief Justice Kant observed.Indian Navy rescues hijacked fishing vessel off Somalia, frees all 20 crew membersThe Indian Navy has successfully rescued a hijacked fishing vessel, Azini, from armed pirates off the northeastern coast of Somalia in an operation lasting over 48 hours, ensuring the safe release of all 20 crew members without any casualties or injuries. According to Indian Navy, the fishing vessel was hijacked by an armed pirate group earlier last month and was suspected to be used as a ‘mother ship’ to launch further attacks on merchant vessels operating in the region, posing a significant threat to maritime security.Responding to the incident, the Navy deployed a mission-ready warship, supported by a maritime reconnaissance aircraft, to locate and track the hijacked vessel. After sustained surveillance, the naval platforms employed calibrated non-kinetic measures to contain the vessel and prevent it from escaping.PM Modi launches Pune Metro projects, says India’s metro network increased from 248 km to 1,200 km in 12 yearsPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (November 3, 2026) said India’s operational metro network, which covered 248 km before 2014, now covers 1,200 km, and stressed that better urban infrastructure would accelerate the country’s economic growth.“When the country gave the NDA the opportunity to serve in 2014, we set out with a resolve to ensure the ease of living and ease of transportation for the middle class living in cities,” Mr. Modi said, after inaugurating Pune Metro Line 3 (Pink Line) via video conferencing. Mr. Modi also laid the foundation stone of four new metro corridors under Phase-II, involving a total investment of around ₹21,800 crore.Severe cyclonic storm over south coastal Andhra weakens into cyclonic storm, says IMDThe Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Murasu’ over south coastal Andhra Pradesh weakened into a cyclonic storm at around 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday (November 3, 2026) a 4 p.m. bulletin from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.The system moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 7 kmph until 2.30 p.m. and weakened into a cyclonic storm around the same time. It was centred at about 40 km west-northwest of Bapatla, 60 km north of Ongole, 80 km southwest of Vijayawada, 120 km north of Kavali and 110 km west of Machilipatnam. The eye of the severe cyclonic storm Murasu, which has battered several parts of Andhra Pradesh with torrential rains, has crossed the coast at 5.30 a.m. on Tuesday (November 3, 2026), and the rear end of the weather system continues to make landfall, a Met Department official.Centre proposes 10 new import gateways for drugs, medical devicesThe Union Health Ministry has proposed expanding the network of authorised entry points for the import of drugs, medical devices and cosmetics into India, adding 10 inland container depots (ICDs), a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and an international airport to the existing list of notified locations. The proposed amendment to Rule 43A of the Drugs Rules, 1945, is aimed at easing import operations, reducing inland transportation distances and improving the movement of healthcare products across the country.The additional locations proposed include ICD Sonipat, Piyala and Harsaru in Haryana; ICD Dadri in Uttar Pradesh; ICD Gandhidham/Mundra in Gujarat; ICD Sanath Nagar and Thimmapur in Hyderabad, Telangana; and ICD Whitefield in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The Ministry has also proposed including SEZ Bommasandra in Karnataka and Noida International Airport in Uttar Pradesh for the import of drugs by air.Theni jail warders thrashed 17 escapees after recapture, alleges mother of prisoners at Madras High CourtThe mother of two out of the 17 prisoners who escaped from Theni district jail on October 26, 2026 has approached the Madras High Court alleging the prison warders beat all 17 inmates black and blue after their recapture within 42 hours of the escape.Passing interim orders on her writ petition, a Division Bench of Justices A.D. Jagadish Chandira and B. Karthikeyan on Tuesday (November 3) ordered medical examination of the petitioner’s sons and two other inmates who had been specifically named by her.Former Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid arrested on child sexual abuse chargesFormer Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid was arrested late on Monday (November 2, 2026) on charges of child sexual abuse, the Maldives Police said. Mr. Shahid has denied the allegations, local media said. He was arrested around 10 p.m. local time following a court order.The arrest assumes significance as Mr. Shahid —who served as President of the United Nations General Assembly in 2021-22— is among the prominent presidential aspirants within the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) for the island nation’s 2028 elections. Mr. Shahid, who was in New Delhi recently, criticised President Mohamed Muizzu’s visit to Pakistan in media interviews, accusing him of steering the Maldives in an “anti-India” direction.Iran unveils huge billboard with threat against Donald Trump’s lifeIran unveiled a massive billboard and banners pledging to kill U.S. President Donald Trump across Tehran on Tuesday (November 3, 2026), bringing to a new level the official rhetoric displayed in the capital. “We will kill Trump”, read the billboard towering over the busy Enghelab Square in Tehran, which depicted the U.S. president behind bars with his head bowed.Another billboard nearby showed Trump along with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with bloodied faces and ragged suits against the background of worn-out Israeli and U.S. flags. Dozens of people gathered in the square waving red flags and carrying banners reading: “There will be blood” while calling for revenge for slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in U.S.-Israeli attacks on February 28, triggering the Middle East war.Bombay HC asks BMC to re-upload Dia Mirza’s firecracker appeal, says ‘deeply pained’ by controversyThe Bombay High Court on Tuesday (November 3, 2026) expressed its “deep pain and displeasure” over the controversy surrounding actor Dia Mirza’s video for the BMC’s eco-friendly, firecracker-free Deepavali campaign and asked the civic body to re-upload her clip.A bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale, taking suo motu (on its own) note of the issue, said it was anguished by the “petty mindset” of certain persons, especially those who are representatives of the common man. It was “most unfortunate” that such a colour was given to a video made to spread awareness about the environment and air and noise pollution, the court said. No person can question as to why a certain celebrity was chosen by the authorities to spread awareness, it stated.Supreme Court grants liberty to Abhishek Banerjee, asks Calcutta HC to consider plea against media trialThe Supreme Court on Tuesday (November 3, 2026) granted relief to Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee and asked the Calcutta High Court to consider his plea against media trial related to investigations and cases against him. A Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana said that Mr. Banerjee can mention for hearing the matter on the reopening of the High Court.Senior advocate Shoeb Alam, appearing for Mr. Banerjee, said that the matter was taken up for hearing only once by the HC, when the petitioner was told that it did not have the roster. “Since then, I have mentioned the matter three times before the High Court but the petition has not been taken up for hearing but there is continuing violation of my rights,” Mr. Alam submitted.