5 stories you must read today, October 26: From Trump brokering peace between Thailand, Cambodia to Louvre heist arrests and more

US President Donald Trump signed trade agreements with Cambodia and a critical minerals deal with Thailand while overseeing the expansion of a ceasefire deal between the two Southeast Asian countries. The ceasefire builds on an agreement signed in July which ended months of border skirmishes. The deal involves the release of 18 Cambodian soldiers held by Thailand and a phased removal of heavy weapons along the disputed 800-kilometre border between them. Read more

At least three suspects tied to the Rs 850 crore jewel heist in Paris’ Louvre Museum were arrested by the French police on Sunday, according to reports. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said investigators made a number of arrests the previous evening, adding that one of the men taken into custody was preparing to leave the country from Roissy Airport. This follows French media reporting two arrests made on Saturday -- one in Paris and another at at Charles de Gaulle airport. Read more

The Jharkhand Health Department launched a high-level probe after at least five thalassemia-affected minors allegedly tested HIV positive in the state's West Singhbhum district. The Jharkhand High Court took suo motu cognizance of the case following media reports of a patient's father filing a complaint against a blood bank technician after his son, who had received a blood transfusion, tested positive for the virus. CM Hemant Soren reportedly directed the suspension of the Civil Surgeon and other concerned officials and announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to the family of each victim. Read more

A forensic report has concluded that the Kurnool bus accident in Andhra Pradesh, which claimed 20 lives, could have been caused by a drunk biker. B Shiva Shankar, who died in the accident, had allegedly been driving under the influence when his bike skidded on the wet road and fell. The pillion had tried to get the biker and his vehicle out of harm’s way, before the bus carrying 41 passengers came in contact with it, the police said. Read more

There is a push within the government to go ahead with the programme to upgrade the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fleet, the backbone of the Indian Air Force. This follows the exit of the last MiG-21s, which brought down the IAF fighter squadron strength to 29 as against the sanctioned 42. The 'Super Sukhoi programme', is aimed at increasing the service life of the multirole fighter by another 20 years. The upgrade will reportedly include a new cockpit, avionics, radars and IR sensors, a new electronic warfare suite including jammer pods. Read more