Indian fashion models are having a field day with the ‘Hometown vs Runway’ trend on Instagram

Hundreds of Indian fashion models are joining a viral Instagram trend contrasting hometown routines with glamorous runway appearances, celebrating journeys from villages and small towns to major fashion shows. Set to Garhwali song “Swami Pardesh,” clips show chores or farm work before couture transformations, with models including Deeksha, Karan and Sakshi Kumbhar revealing lives beyond fashion-week glamour.

HT Morning Brief: Delhi AQI improves after rain, Netanyahu’s party falls short of majority in polls

Delhi’s air quality improved to satisfactory after overnight rain lowered the AQI to 90, with more showers forecast, while Israel’s election left Netanyahu’s bloc without a majority. North Bengal officials monitored the Dooars after a Bhutan glacial-lake outburst. Karnataka’s Uma Kashvi became the youngest WPL auction pick, and Patrick Stewart died aged 86 after dementia.

Delhi: More rain expected after overnight showers under WD, Cyclone Arnab influence

Delhi-NCR faced further rain, including intermittent heavy showers, through Friday afternoon, after overnight downpours improved air quality and lowered the minimum temperature to 17.2°C. Safdarjung recorded 61.4 mm in 24 hours, while waterlogging hit underpasses; the AQI fell to 90 from 222. A western disturbance and Cyclone Arnab brought the unseasonal rain; skies were expected to clear Saturday.

Tarot Horoscope Today for October 30, 2026

Today’s tarot readings urge zodiac signs to balance confidence, focus and flexibility amid change. Aries and Leo should act decisively, Taurus and Virgo weigh choices and avoid conflict, while Cancer, Libra and Scorpio remain open through transitions. Each forecast offers a lucky colour, ritual and crystal pairing from tarot reader and crystal healer Kishori Sud.

NEET SS Exam 2026: Registration begins at natboard.edu.in, direct link to apply here

NBEMS has opened registration for NEET SS 2026, with applications due by November 18 at natboard.edu.in. The exam will be held December 11–12; city slips arrive November 30 and admit cards December 7. Its 150 questions are divided into three timed, 50-minute sections. Eligible postgraduate medical degree-holders pay ₹3,500 per group; edits run November 20–23.

EAM Jaishankar in US for G20 Foreign Ministers’ meet

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will attend the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta, chaired by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to address energy supply chains and shared economic and security challenges. Quad ministers will also meet on the sidelines, ahead of President Donald Trump’s December G20 leaders’ summit in Miami.

Rain lashes Gurugram, Pataudi logs 80mm; morning showers bring air quality relief and traffic snarls

Heavy pre-winter showers across Gurugram and southern Haryana lowered pollution and brought cooler conditions, with Pataudi receiving 80 mm and Farrukhnagar 51 mm in the 24 hours to Friday morning. Rain slowed NH-48 and other roads, while Gurugram’s AQI fell to 125. The IMD forecast thunderstorms and gusty winds Friday, before dry northwesterlies bring cooler weekend nights.

I tried and tested these 5 shampoos on my frizzy hair, and I'm in love with these 2

People with frizzy, wavy or curly hair should choose shampoo according to scalp oiliness, dryness and curl definition, rather than smoothing claims. A review compares five options: L’Oréal Paris for volume, Kérastase for manageability, Plum for softness and shine, Pilgrim for strength, and Moxie Beauty for gentle cleansing. Her own curly hair prompted this comparison.

Andhra CM directs officials to expedite restoration works in cyclone-hit areas

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu ordered faster power, road and mobile-network restoration after Cyclone Arnab, directing utilities to deploy crews and work until every affected village is reconnected. Power has returned to most villages, but hundreds remain without supply and road breaches still require repairs. The cyclone damaged crops across more than 330,000 hectares.

Once barred in US, now at centre of a billion-dollar crypto heist: All about Binance

Binance reported a $6.3 billion security breach, potentially one of crypto’s largest heists, and said partners froze roughly $3 billion in verified assets. Co-founder Changpeng Zhao said customer funds remain safe, while Binance pledged to cover losses. Investigators suspect an engineer’s compromised laptop enabled unauthorized withdrawals. Founded in 2017, the exchange has faced regulatory scrutiny.

1,330 registered unrecognised parties lack both financial reports for FY 2024-25: ADR report

ADR found 1,330 Indian unrecognised political parties—65% of the total—had no FY2024-25 audit or contribution reports publicly available; just 461 disclosed both. Of 734 parties analysed, reported income reached ₹1,118 crore, while 98.4% of high-value donations went to parties winning no seats or not contesting. The findings follow the Election Commission’s 2025 delisting of 808 parties.

Kumar Sangakkara details “racist” ordeal at Dublin airport

Kumar Sangakkara says Ryanair staff at Dublin Airport told him people with passports like his should expect such treatment, and warned that challenging the remark could see him labelled a threat and denied boarding; he called it racist while travelling with his family. The former Sri Lanka captain had earlier condemned staff conduct, and Ryanair has yet to respond.

Prasidh ruled out of NZ ODIs; Reddy to leave squad after first game to join India A

India pacer Prasidh Krishna is out of the ODI series against New Zealand, starting November 4, after failing to recover from a hamstring injury. The BCCI says he needs more time to be match-ready and may join India A’s final four-day game, subject to passing a return-to-play assessment, to prepare for the Tests.

Gun found in box of Halloween candy in DC public school for young kids

A firearm was found in a box of Halloween candy at KIPP DC Grow Academy’s Shaw Campus in Washington on October 29, prompting an investigation; no students encountered it and no injuries were reported. Staff secured the weapon before calling police. No arrests have been announced, and the gun’s owner and origin remain unknown. The campus serves young children.

‘Changing political winds, shifting stands’: SC strikes down 2022 Karnataka recruitment law

Supreme Court struck down Karnataka’s 2022 law reviving 362 appointments, ruling legislators cannot override judgments and criticizing successive governments’ shifting positions, which left jobseekers in limbo. It ordered fresh recruitment for vacancies, granting candidates age relaxation. The 2011 selection was canceled after CID probe exposed corruption and nepotism, and courts upheld the decision in 2018.

'You look like hell': Trump lashes out at reporter questioning his health

Donald Trump attacked a Reuters journalist Thursday after questions about his health and the cancellation of campaign rallies in Kansas and Iowa, telling him, “You look like hell.” Trump said he skipped Kansas because Roger Marshall was doing well, while his campaign plans tele-rallies across 19 states, a GOP strategy amid his 32% approval rating.

Bilkis Bano gang rape case: Supreme Court grants bail to 2 convicts

The Supreme Court granted bail to Bilkis Bano gang-rape convicts Bipinchand Joshi and Pradip Modhiya, citing over 17 years’ incarceration and unresolved legal issues; one has a severe disability. The trial court will set conditions. Both were among 11 men convicted in 2008, whose 2022 remission by Gujarat was quashed by the Supreme Court in 2024.

CBSE revises Class 9 curriculum, drops CT and AI modules for current batch

CBSE has dropped Individuals in Society and computational technology and artificial intelligence modules from the Class 9 curriculum, while Environmental Education will be excluded from Class 10 for the same cohort, clarifying requirements as students advance. Nine compulsory subjects remain, including vocational education. The changes follow NEP-aligned plans, with NCERT textbooks for the affected subjects still pending.

Sensex, Nifty open flat amid high crude oil prices, jump in IT stocks

Indian stocks opened nearly flat on Friday as investors weighed higher crude oil prices against a jump in information technology shares, with early benchmarks edging higher by 9:34 a.m. The Sensex gained 138.77 points to 74,289.81, while the Nifty rose 38.95 points to 22,967.10, offering a cautious start for the domestic market amid competing pressures.

Man who asked Prince William to sing after mistaking him for singer Prince pens apology letter

Somerset man Sebastian Smith, 22, has written Prince William an apology after mistaking him for singer Prince during a café visit, a mix-up William shared on television. Helped by his family, Smith thanked the royal and explained his confusion. Devoted to Prince’s music, Smith has severe learning difficulties; the café provides training for adults with disabilities.

Isha Ambani appointed co-chair of Friends of The Costume Institute at New York's Metropolitan Museum

Isha Ambani has been named co-chair of the Friends of The Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, extending her family’s ties to the institution. NMACC announced the appointment on October 29; Isha thanked Andrew Bolton. Her mother, Nita Ambani, sits on museum’s board, while the institute explores fashion’s links to art and culture.

Delhi braces for another wet day, red alert on for rain and thunderstorms

Delhi faced a red alert Friday morning until 11:15 a.m. after overnight rain sharply lowered temperatures, with the IMD warning of thunderstorms, lightning, isolated heavy showers and gusts up to 45 kmph; a yellow alert covers the rest of the day. Delhi’s AQI fell to 133, while Uttarakhand saw rain and high-altitude snow. Fair weather is forecast November 1–2.

Texas agriculture department bars businesses employing H-1B workers from getting some state grants

Texas Department of Agriculture will bar businesses employing H-1B visa holders from eligible agency grants, Commissioner Sid Miller announced, arguing taxpayer funds should create jobs for Texans. He urged Gov. Greg Abbott and statewide officials to impose similar restrictions across agencies. Exceptions include independent programs and federal grants; the department did not estimate the potential impact.

Another extension on cards for special provisions law that protects illegal constructions in Delhi

Delhi’s civic bodies recommend extending the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act for three years, protecting pre-June 2014 illegal construction from action as it nears expiry in December 2026. Amid collapses, uptake of regularisation remains low: 136 applications were filed and 22 approved. Enacted in 2006, extensions have prompted criticism that temporary protection is now a loophole.

Netanyahu, Eisenkot or fresh polls? Here are four ways Israel can form its next government

Israel’s election has produced no clear winner, leaving Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot short of the 61 seats needed to govern and triggering coalition talks. Likud won 27 seats, Yashar 21, while Arab parties captured 19. Possible routes include defections, Arab-party backing, a unity government or elections; Israeli politics has repeatedly relied on fragile coalitions.

Bhavitha Mandava among 25 global winners of Instagram Rings Award 2026

Indian model Bhavitha Mandava is among 25 winners of Instagram’s 2026 Rings Awards, recognized for her career rise and distinctive fashion perspective. The annual award honors creative global creators regardless of follower count, and winners receive a marble ring and Instagram profile customization. Discovered in a subway station, Mandava later became a Chanel House ambassador and opened the brand’s Métiers d’Art runway show.

Bowling coach Lasith Malinga and Mumbai Indians part ways

Mumbai Indians have parted ways with bowling coach Lasith Malinga, additional bowling coach Paras Mhambrey and fielding coach Carl Hopkinson, following head coach Mahela Jayawardene’s departure and Kieron Pollard’s appointment as his replacement. The franchise thanked the coaches for their service and wished them well. Malinga’s exit ends an 11-year playing and coaching association with MI, where he took 170 wickets in 122 matches.

Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen's relationship in focus as actor pays moving tribute to late friend

Ian McKellen paid an emotional tribute to longtime friend Patrick Stewart, who died Wednesday at 86, remembering him as an honest, Yorkshire-born man who “wore his heart on his sleeve.” Their friendship began around the Royal Shakespeare Company and deepened while playing Magneto and Professor X in X-Men. McKellen praised Stewart’s stage and screen career.

Inside the U.S. Military’s Open-Ended Mission to Keep Gulf Oil Flowing

U.S. forces are intercepting Iranian missiles and drones to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, helping restore oil exports, but months of operations are straining crews, aircraft and resources. The campaign involves 50,000 troops and costs up to $3 billion monthly, limiting readiness elsewhere. The conflict began in February, and Iran keeps challenging U.S. control.

The Easy Money Offers That Disguise a Deathtrap for Small Businesses

Merchant cash advances helped push trucking firm Triways into collapse, as more than 30 advances—one carrying an estimated 2,190% APR—drained cash for payroll and operations. CEO John Jauregui borrowed to survive, but escalating repayments and creditor liens overwhelmed the company, which shut down and entered bankruptcy. The industry fills gaps left by retreating banks.