Top news of the day: INDIA bloc’s ‘public impeachment’ of CEC likely to avoid ‘mock Parliament’; BJP blames Shiv Sena for Mahayuti defeat in Maharashtra MLC polls, and more

INDIA bloc’s ‘public impeachment’ of CEC likely to avoid mocking ParliamentThe Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc’s planned “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral manipulation through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls will avoid imagery that could be seen as mocking Parliament as an institution.Maharashtra MLC polls: Blame game begins in Mahayuti as BJP accuses Shiv Sena for defeatIn Maharashtra, a blame game began among the ruling alliance partners BJP and Shiv Sena on Thursday (October 29, 2026), within hours after the result of the five Legislative Council seats were declared.Day after Spain train accident, rescuers search crash site for survivorsRescuers searched desperately through wrecked ⁠carriages on Thursday (October 29, 2026) in the hope of finding more survivors of Spain’s second deadly high-speed train crash this year, which has so far claimed 68 lives. Emergency workers were seen carrying what appeared ‌to be a body wrapped in a blanket from one of the trains in a rural area in the central province of Toledo as ‌cranes worked through the night to lift parts of the wreckage of Wednesday’s ‌crash.Document change regime developed following NALSA ‘grossly discriminatory’ against ‘biological females’: PILA Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court has argued that the regulatory regime developed in India on the back of the landmark 2014 National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) judgement that recognised transgender identity is “grossly discriminatory” against “biological females”.India ready to share ‘battle-tested’ anti-terror expertise with ASEAN, its dialogue partners: Rajnath SinghIndia is ready to share its “battle-tested” counter-terror expertise with ASEAN and its dialogue partners, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday (October 29, 2026) as he described Operation Sindoor as a declaration of New Delhi’s clear approach against state-sponsored terrorist activities.Congress-led Keralam govt firm on anti-corruption probe against Gyanesh Kumar over 2006 road projectKeralam Public Works Department Minister P.K. Basheer on Thursday (October 29, 2026) stressed the need for a fresh probe into allegations of corruption in the MC Road project undertaken nearly two decades ago, when Gyanesh Kumar, the present Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), was the Public Works Department (PWD) secretary in the State.Supreme Court directs NCLAT, NCLT presidents to submit proposals on infrastructure, staff requirementsThe Supreme Court on Thursday (October 29, 2026) directed presidents of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal and National Company Law Tribunal to submit comprehensive proposals on infrastructure, buildings and staffing needed to strengthen the tribunals’ day-to-day functioning.Low pressure forms in Andaman Sea after Cyclone Arnab, may affect Andhra PradeshA day after Cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast, a fresh low-pressure area has formed over the south Andaman Sea, and India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials say it could affect the State. According to the latest information from the IMD, Amaravati, a low-pressure area formed over the south Andaman Sea at around 5.30 a.m. on Thursday (October 29, 2026), under the influence of a cyclonic circulation. It was still over the same region at 8.30 a.m.Cheranalloor luxury car crash: Kerala HC directs police not to arrest accused judge until further ordersThe Kerala High Court on Thursday (October 29, 2026) directed police authorities not to arrest the Additional District Judge, who’s the father of the 17-year-old boy who drove the car involved in the Cheranalloor accident case until further orders. Justice Kauser Edappagath orally remarked that the court could not succumb to public opinion, saying that “the law has to be strictly followed.” He directed the accused judicial officer to cooperate with the investigation. U.S. bans imports from Chinese genomics companies over forced labour concernsThe United States banned imports from three Chinese genomics companies on Wednesday (October 28, 2026) over claims they collected genetic material used to track persecuted ethnic minorities in China’s Xinjiang region. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said BGI Genomics, MGI Tech and Shenzhen BGI Technology, also known as BGI Group, had been added to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List.U.S. Fed holds rates steady; pressure on emerging markets expected with stronger dollar outlookThe U.S. Federal Reserve held its benchmark interest rates unchanged between 3.75% and 4.0% at its October policy meeting. The 12-member committee had a 10:2 voting pattern for maintaining the status quo, while Governor Lisa Cook and Cleveland Federal President Beth Hammack voted in favour of a 25 basis points hike. Hegseth fires Pentagon’s top military planner even as Trump considers new Iran strikesDefence Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired the Pentagon’s top military planner, a defence official said on Wednesday (October 28, 2026), the latest in a series of generals to be ousted and one that comes even as President Donald Trump is weighing renewed strikes on Iran in the eight-month-long war.Carabao Cup: Liverpool beats Chelsea on penalties, Man City survives Brighton scareLiverpool beat Chelsea in a dramatic penalty shoot-out to reach the League Cup quarterfinals, while holders Manchester City survived a scare against Brighton on Wednesday (October 28, 2026). In a clash between childhood friends Andoni Iraola and Xabi Alonso, it was the Liverpool manager who took the bragging rights in the last-16 tie at Anfield.