COP17: Global progress on biodiversity targets to be assessed ahead of COP31

At COP17 in Yerevan, nearly 200 countries will assess progress toward 2030 biodiversity goals, while a UN review warns fewer than half of assessed targets are on track. Delegates will confront implementation gaps, harmful subsidies and a $200-billion annual finance pledge, alongside Indigenous rights. The review precedes COP31, where climate and biodiversity action are closely linked.

Meghalaya identifies 3.4 lakh hectares of cultivable wasteland: Study

Satellite imagery identified 340,673 hectares of potentially reclaimable wasteland in Meghalaya, 15.2% of the state, offering a baseline for agricultural planning, but sites need assessment before cultivation. Sparse scrubland accounted for 60.64% and ranked highest for reclamation, followed by dense scrubland and shifting cultivation. The 2025–26 map was 86% accurate; soil, water, slope and ecological effects remain unassessed.

CISF scraps territorial commands, puts sectors under specialist control

CISF will replace regional supervision with industry-specific commands from 1 November, following Home Ministry approval, to sharpen oversight, expertise and coordination. Eight of 11 sectors will become dedicated commands for power, coal, steel, petroleum and gas, ports, and Delhi’s government buildings, monuments and transit. Aviation, atomic energy and space retain existing arrangements, building on 25 years of functional management.

Rhea Chakraborty on Durga Puja:Shakti is about having faith in yourself, even when the world doesn’t

Rhea Chakraborty says Durga Puja’s celebration of Shakti reflects her evolving strength: embracing vulnerability, seeking help and beginning again, while trusting herself and living on her own terms. She also calls for women’s safety, accountability and freedom from judgment. Family visits, Mumbai pandal-hopping, Dashami gatherings and Bengali favourites anchor her warm memories of the festival.

In 2025, Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife MacKenzie Scott gave $60 million to a group fighting methane emissions

MacKenzie Scott donated $60 million to the Global Methane Hub to support efforts against methane, a potent greenhouse gas. UNEP says cutting human-caused emissions 45% by 2030 could avert nearly 0.3°C of warming by 2045 and prevent deaths, asthma visits and crop losses. Methane comes from fossil fuels, farms and landfills, while success requires coordinated action.

LuLu opens 1 lakh sq ft hypermarket in Greater Noida

LuLu Group has opened a 100,000-square-foot hypermarket at I-Thums Galleria Mall in Greater Noida, expanding its reach across Uttar Pradesh and Delhi-NCR. Launched October 18, the store offers fresh produce, groceries, international foods, household essentials, electronics, appliances, bakery goods and ready-to-eat meals. The opening advances LuLu’s Indian expansion, supported by its announced ₹19,000-crore four-year investment plan.

Infosys, Cognizant and TCS H-1B visa registrations plunge amid Trump’s US immigration crackdown

H-1B registrations by Infosys, Cognizant and TCS plunged in FY2027, with Cognizant submitting none, Infosys down 91% and TCS 95%, as US immigration restrictions and employer costs tightened. A weighted lottery now favors higher-paid workers, while a $100,000 payment applies to certain new overseas hires. The figures count lottery entries, not workforce totals or job losses.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw thanks Canadian man for Bengaluru cleanup, he says civic body deserves credit

Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw thanked Caleb Friesen after Bengaluru’s Wind Tunnel Road was cleared and its wall repainted, with a curb laid and footpath work underway. Friesen refused credit, praising the Greater Bengaluru Authority, Arun Pai and Virendra Suryawanshi; authorities and civilians cleaned the site and began fining dumpers. His posts spotlighted Bengaluru’s civic failures.

South Africa 20-2 against Australia at stumps as rain spoils Day 1 of 2nd Test

Rain-hit opening day of the second Test in Gqeberha yielded just 12.2 overs, with South Africa ending at 20-2 after Australia won the toss and chose to bowl. Scott Boland dismissed Aiden Markram and David Bedingham in consecutive balls. Repeated rain delays forced play to be abandoned, with more rain forecast. Australia lead the three-match series 1-0.

In the 1800s, India got a pretty garden shrub; it now threatens 44% of its forest cover

A Madhya Pradesh field study found lantana-invaded forests had fewer species than uninvaded plots—98 versus 132—while carbon findings were mixed; fewer regenerating trees may undermine carbon storage. Comparing 60 plots in 2017–18, researchers could not establish lantana caused the differences. Introduced from Central and South America as an ornamental, the shrub now threatens Indian forests.

Career & Finance Horoscope, October 19, 2026

Today’s career and financial outlook emphasizes decisions, adaptability, and steady progress, with teamwork and conversations opening opportunities for some signs while others benefit from pausing, reassessing, and strengthening foundations. Across the zodiac, readers are urged to research commitments, clarify expectations, manage pressure, and prioritize sustainable growth. Each sign also receives a crystal recommendation for guidance.

Putin proposes trilateral meeting with Trump, Xi Jinping to discuss Ukraine war

Putin has proposed a November meeting with Trump and Xi in China to discuss Ukraine, seeking a settlement favorable to Moscow, but Trump has not agreed and the summit remains unconfirmed. The plan could exclude Zelensky and European leaders, raising fears Ukraine’s future may be negotiated without Kyiv. It could also bolster Xi’s diplomatic role.

Madhya Pradesh leads farm fires with 354 incidents; Punjab at 2nd with 220

Madhya Pradesh recorded 354 stubble-burning incidents from September 15 to October 17, nearly twice last year’s count and the highest among states, according to IARI data. Punjab followed with 220 fires, 176 in Amritsar and Tarn Taran, prompting CAQM notices; Uttar Pradesh reported 134, Haryana eight and Uttarakhand 24. IARI tracks fires across six states.

What happens when the act of reporting becomes an act of resistance?

The Supreme Court barred coercive action against a journalist accusing a Delhi police officer of molestation and agreed to create an independent committee, led by a retired woman judge, to examine women reporters’ complaints of police abuse. The move follows reports of assaults and mass detentions during Delhi protests, where journalists say police intimidation obstructed coverage.

Ton-up Salman Agha helps Pakistan down Sri Lanka in tri-series opener

Salman Agha marked his international return with a century as Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 37 runs in the Rawalpindi tri-series opener on Sunday. His 107 anchored Pakistan’s 305, while Shaheen Shah Afridi took three wickets as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 268. Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage led a spirited fightback before a late collapse. Agha said domestic cricket helped rebuild his form after a difficult spell.

Long distance: India’s protest sites drift from power centres

Across India’s major cities, authorities confine protests to designated grounds far from power, reducing visibility and weakening citizens’ ability to confront decision-makers, activists say. Police cite traffic and safety, while critics call restrictions spatial control that suppresses dissent. From Bengaluru to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, the shift reflects struggle over public space and democracy.

ISL: NorthEast United Cruise to 4-1 victory over Kerala Blasters in Guwahati

NorthEast United FC beat Kerala Blasters 4-1 in Guwahati on Sunday, climbing to the Indian Super League summit with a second straight victory. Alaaeddine Ajaraie struck twice, in the 15th and 70th minutes, while Antonio Moyano and debutant Aman CK also scored. Yansane briefly reduced the deficit, but NorthEast restored control and finished emphatically late.

HT Exclusive| Army to get own communications satellite by mid-2028: Top officials

The Army’s first dedicated communications satellite, GSAT-7B, is expected to launch around mid-2028, six months later than planned, providing troops secure connectivity across remote borders and strengthening battlefield command and control. The five-tonne satellite will support military formations, weapons and aircraft when terrestrial networks fail. India is expanding military space capabilities, with 52 additional satellites planned.

Where is Ilhan Omar after federal search? Latest update on investigation and legal fight

Ilhan Omar says she is safe and will not be silenced, though no confirmed public appearance has been reported since federal agents searched her Washington home on October 12. She has posted twice on X, while a rally message said she would return soon to campaign. Her lawyers deny wrongdoing and seek return of seized property.

UP jails go high-tech with 7000+ cams, AI vigil, digital libraries

Uttar Pradesh has expanded prison surveillance to more than 7,000 CCTV cameras, including 750-plus AI-enabled units linked to headquarters, strengthening security and oversight. JARVIS monitoring, perimeter fencing and electric barriers accompany an early-release module, paperless administration, video court appearances, solar installations and digital libraries. Officials describe these measures as part of a broader prison-modernisation drive.

4.67 lakh tulips to bloom in NDMC, DDA parks; MCD gardens to miss out again

Delhi’s parks will see 467,000 tulips this winter: NDMC will plant 300,000 imported bulbs and DDA 167,000, while MCD parks will miss the flowers for a second year. Planted in December, tulips bloom from late January into early March. MCD stopped after flowers were damaged or plucked in 2024; NDMC, planting since 2017, reuses stored bulbs.

Pilot slams AAP govt over law & order, drug issue

Congress leaders Pargat Singh and Sachin Pilot demanded a probe into AAP worker Balwinder Singh’s killing, alleging police-criminal collusion and warning Punjab’s law-and-order crisis endangers public safety. They said families face intimidation and delayed justice, and pledged to raise concerns in legislatures. They also visited families of two other 2022 victims killed in separate attacks.

3 govt laboratories position Bathinda as food-testing hub

Bathinda is emerging as a food-testing hub, with three laboratories serving businesses, farms and self-help groups through adulteration, contamination and quality checks. CUP’s NABL-accredited facility has tested over 400 samples and invested ₹5 crore in honey-authentication technology; MRSPTU handles about 70 samples monthly. PAU’s facility, established in 2019, has resumed testing and supports entrepreneurs despite lacking accreditation.

Jefferson High School football team faces backlash over alleged celebration of opponent's takedown

A Grant player carrying an American flag was shoved to the ground by a Jefferson opponent at Friday’s game, triggering a confrontation and backlash. A Jefferson-associated Instagram account appeared to celebrate the incident, then said the post was unaffiliated with the school and not intended to disrespect the flag. The teams have a longstanding rivalry.

Amit Shah to visit Punjab on Oct 20, meet families of anti-drug victims

Union home minister Amit Shah will visit Punjab on October 20 to meet families of three people whose deaths were linked to opposition to drug trafficking, intensifying political disputes over narcotics before assembly polls. The Centre has sought reports; Shah blames AAP, which accuses it of failing to curb drug inflows. The BJP promises a drug-free Punjab.

Godown owners ask Pungrain to vacate facilities over outdated rates

Pungrain’s effort to rehire 35 lakh tonnes of PEG warehouse capacity faces deadlock: owners reject rates frozen at 2012 levels and have asked it to vacate their godowns. Financial negotiations are scheduled for October 21, after tenders stalled and interim use expired. Punjab’s warehouses are full, intensifying storage shortages before paddy procurement; owners say FCI offers better rent.

Matter of great pride for our farmers: Mann at SIAL Paris

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann launched MARKFED’s SOHNA-brand canned chickpeas and kidney beans in brine at SIAL Paris 2026, seeking global markets for Punjab’s produce and higher farmer incomes. At the India Pavilion, MARKFED showcased the products alongside its ready-to-eat Punjabi dishes, including sarson ka saag and dal makhani, highlighting the cooperative’s expanding processed-food range.

Guest column: Why Punjab’s war on narcotics is misfiring

Punjab’s drug crisis is a test of governance and public safety, sharpened by anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh’s killing in Mansa. Authorities must investigate, protect informants and measure progress through lives saved, not arrests and seizures. Overdose deaths climbed from 78 in 2021 to 144 in 2022, underscoring the need for treatment, prevention and action beyond unfulfilled promises.

Speeding car mows down 8 workers in Sangrur

Eight workers, six women, were killed and 12 injured when a speeding car struck labourers near Alisher village, Sangrur, on Sunday; driver Pargat Singh was arrested, while Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced ₹2 lakh for each bereaved family and free treatment for the injured. Witnesses alleged ambulance delays; the victims were working under a rural employment scheme.

Woman sells 45-day-old son for ₹1.30 lakh in Kasganj, five held

Police in Kasganj recovered a 45-day-old boy and arrested five people after his father alleged the child was sold for ₹1.30 lakh to a childless Hathras couple. Investigators say the mother and a doctor couple brokered the deal; ₹1.20 lakh was frozen and cash recovered. His mother said he disappeared at a bus stand Saturday.