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Neu Delhi (AFP) – Indian police chase protesters and haul them into vehicles in New Delhi, where a major protest against the Election Commission has triggered strict security measures. The demonstration is the culmination of weeks of opposition mobilisation following allegations of misconduct during a nationwide voter-roll revision by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Police have also detained head of the satirical “cockroach” online movement, Abhijeet Dipke. The UN office for the high commissioner for human rights has urged India to immediate release people “arbitrarily detained” in protests against alleged misconduct by electoral authorities.

Shelekhov (Russia) (AFP) – People in Shelekhov, Siberia, express concern after a woman died of suspected plague in the town, despite efforts by the authorities to play down the incident. “Of course we’re worried, but given our situation here… How on earth are we supposed to protect ourselves?” says construction technician Tatyana. Russia has detected no health issues or dangerous micro-organisms after tracing all contacts of a woman who reportedly died of plague, the governor of Siberia’s Irkutsk region says.

Lima (AFP) – BTS fans gathered in Lima ahead of the first of three concerts by the South Korean K-pop group in Peru. Fans from across the country and beyond queued outside the venue carrying flags and wearing BTS merchandise. “They introduced me to a whole new world, and I’m so excited to finally be able to see these people after so long” says Carolina Montoya, as she waits in line to enter the venue.

Tehran (AFP) – An Iranian woman challenges social conventions by training female stunt performers to execute daring feats before an impressed Tehran audience. Nasrin Teymouri, 36, is leading Iran’s first and only all-female stunt crew, breaking into a male-dominated field of filmmaking where women are increasingly making their mark. “I’m a very fearful person,” she says. “But facing my fear gives me immense pleasure.”

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca says the titles the club has won since an Abu Dhabi-backed takeover in 2008 are “absolutely not” tainted, after it was found guilty of more than 100 breaches of Premier League financial rules. They have won eight Premier League titles, the Champions League and multiple other trophies over the past 15 years. TO COMPLETE VIDEO D2Q34NQ

Palangkaraya (Indonesia) (AFP) – Plumes of thick smoke rise over Palangkaraya as Indonesian villagers battle wildfires intensified this year in part because of the El Nino weather phenomenon, which is set to be one of the strongest since comparable records began four decades ago. IMAGES

Palangkaraya (Indonesia) (AFP) – Firefighters battle a peatland fire near homes in Indonesia’s Palangkaraya, with limited water supplies and difficult terrain hampering their efforts. Flames were reported about 300 metres from a residential area, where residents feared the blaze would spread to their houses.

Indonesia (AFP) – A young orangutan rescued from a fire-hit area in Indonesian Borneo is receiving intensive care for burns to her hands and feet sustained while escaping wildfires that have devastated wildlife habitats. Officials say her wounds are improving, but warn she may not fully recover.

Palangkaraya (Indonesia) (AFP) – A blanket of haze shrouds the sky in Palangkaraya, the capital of Central Kalimantan, as wildfires continue to ravage Indonesia’s Borneo and Sumatra islands. IMAGES

New Delhi (AFP) – Thousands of police personnel were deployed across the Indian capital ahead of a protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party [CJP], demanding the resignation of the Election Commission chief over alleged voter-roll irregularities. Several protests have taken place this month, with key leaders from the main opposition Congress party, including Rahul Gandhi, taking to the streets. IMAGES

Sydney (AFP) – Scientists in Australia trained sea lions and seals to respond to a hearing test for research into how the marine mammals are affected by human-made noise. Keepers at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo trained two sea lions and two fur seals to listen to sounds and press a paddle when they heard a tone. They were rewarded with fish for the right answers.

London (AFP) – “Elsinore”, starring Olivia Colman and Andrew Scott, opens the London Film Festival. The drama tells the story of actor Ian Charleson as he prepared to play Hamlet while living with AIDS in the final months of his life. Directed by Simon Stone, it raises the curtain on the 2026 festival, which showcases 251 films from 88 countries. Set in the late 1980s, the film follows Charleson as he rehearses for “Hamlet” at London’s National Theatre. Despite his illness, Charleson completed 24 three-hour performances of the play before his death in 1990 at the age of 40. “He was a real hero for doing it,” says Scott, who has won critical acclaim for his portrayal.