Political leaders should exercise restraint: Rajnath

• Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said all political leaders must exercise restraint in their comments and everyone should stand by the Armed Forces at this crucial juncture.
• “We will take all steps to ensure that the nation’s security is not risked. Just as a farmer protects his crops, our soldiers will protect the country.”
• Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, Gujarat Home Minister Pradeepsinh Jadeja and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Brij Raj Sharma were present.

Home Minister says Pakistan border will be sealed within two years

• Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following the surgical strikes, Union Home Minister said the entire stretch of 3,323 km border would be “completely sealed” by December 2018, for which a time-bound action plan would be formulated.
• Mr. Singh said the procedure for sealing the international border would be developed in a planned manner.
• Mr. Singh said the government would apply technological solutions for sealing the border in difficult terrains. A border security grid would also be formed, with guidelines to be framed with suggestions from all stakeholders in the border areas.

Hurricane Matthew killed over 800 in Haiti

• Matthew smashed through Haiti's western peninsula with 145 mile-per- hour (233 kph) winds and torrential rain. Some 61,500 people were in shelters, officials said, after the storm pushed the sea into fragile coastal villages, some of which were only now being contacted.
• The Mesa Verde, a U.S. Navy amphibious transport dock ship, was heading for Haiti to support relief efforts. The ship has heavy-lift helicopters, bulldozers, fresh water delivery vehicles and two surgical operating rooms.

ISI chief likely to be replaced: report

• Lieutenant General Rizwan Akhtar, chief of Pakistan’s powerful spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), is likely to be replaced within the next few weeks.
• The corps commander of Karachi, Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar, is most likely to replace him.
• Gen. Raheel Sharif had announced earlier this year that he was not seeking an extension and would retire in November.

Obama casts early vote in Chicago

• U.S. President Barack Obama has cast his ballot for the November 8 general elections.
• Early voting, which has gained popularity in the last few election cycle, allows a voter to exercise their right to vote several weeks ahead of the main date of the general elections.
• In 2012, he was the first US President to vote early. He and the Clinton campaign have been urging people to vote early.