Google Fitbit Air takes away a distracting screen, but is far from perfect

Google’s screen-free Fitbit Air launched in India at ₹13,999, with advanced health features, Gemini coaching and sleep insights requiring a ₹99-per-month Google Health Premium subscription after three included months. It offers activity tracking and impressive week-long battery life, but its elongated fit, overnight discomfort, inaccurate step and heart-rate readings, and subscription costs temper its appeal.

3-layer security deployed for Modi’s expected presence at Delhi Dusshera celebrations

Nearly 2,500 police and paramilitary personnel will secure Utsav Ground for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expected Dussehra visit Tuesday, with a three-layer cordon led by the SPG, mandatory searches and traffic restrictions. Around 10,000 attendees are expected; drones, teams, scanners and sniffer dogs will bolster protection, while diversions run across Delhi from 5pm to 8pm.

Australia brought in prickly acacia for shade and feed, and it now infests 6.6 million hectares

Prickly acacia now infests 6.6 million hectares of Australia, threatening farms, wildlife and biodiversity after being introduced as a shade and fodder tree. Cattle and water spread its seeds, while dense thickets reduce pasture, restrict stock access and increase erosion. Models indicate suitable habitat covers over a third of Australia and may expand with climate change. Quarantine and control can curb its spread.

How key opposition parties stand on proposals to raise Lok Sabha strength, redraw seats

Rijiju says the government has sought Opposition dialogue on women’s reservation and delimitation, urging cooperation after its bill failed in April to win a two-thirds majority. It would expand the Lok Sabha to 850 seats and reserve 33% for women by 2029. The 2023 quota law remains tied to delimitation, amid concerns over regional representation.

Comedian Neetu Bhardwaj accuses Abhishek Upmanyu and Urooj Ashfaq of stalking and harassing her

Comedian Neetu Bhardwaj accused Abhishek Upmanyu, Urooj Ashfaq and Shashwat Maheshwari of stalking and harassing her and family, hacking accounts, circulating private information and copying jokes; they have yet to respond. In Instagram Stories, she said she feared for her family’s safety and alleged smear campaigns and work interference. She said she quit comedy, calling it depressing.

A fall planting guide for long-lived perennials like peonies, iris and false indigo

Some perennials can outlive gardeners by decades, making fall an ideal time to plant enduring varieties. Peonies may bloom for 50–100 years, while bearded irises can persist indefinitely when divided every few years. Hostas and daylilies may last 50 years, and false indigo thrives for decades once established. Unlike annuals and biennials, perennials return for years.

Gwalior temple crash: Driver took detour to avoid ₹3,000 in toll tax

Police say the driver used Google Maps to avoid ₹3,000 in tolls before his truck lost control on a sloping curve near a Gwalior temple Sunday, killing 15 devotees and injuring others. Dilbag Singh told investigators brake pressure dropped as he approached, striking worshippers queued outside and crashing into the gate. He and the truck owner were later arrested.

Atlassian CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes says employees can't blame ChatGPT for mistakes at work

Atlassian CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes says employees must remain accountable for work produced with AI, arguing that blaming a chatbot cannot excuse workplace mistakes. He says AI contributions should be traceable to users, with clear identities and permissions as agents access sensitive company information. Atlassian’s protocol aims to provide oversight, amid its push into workplace AI.

Thailand planted giant mimosa to help its farms, and it now covers over 30% of the Mekong floodplain

Giant mimosa chokes farmland and irrigation systems; a 12-year study found waterbirds fell 27%, though the decline was not attributed solely to the plant. Farmers spend 11 days per hectare clearing it, but prolific seeds and regrowth frustrate control. Introduced to Thailand in 1947 as green manure, it now covers over 30% of Mekong floodplains.

Union govt faces growing demands from states for tur, chana supplies as prices rise

The Union government resists state demands for tur and chana, preserving its 4.5-million-tonne pulse buffer for market interventions as prices climb and risks threaten supplies. Southern states have sought more than 100,000 tonnes of tur each; tur dal rose 17.2% and chana dal 8.66%. Drought threatens crops, while a 30% yellow-pea import duty limits cheaper alternatives.

Sensex, Nifty closed today for Dussehra, trading to resume on Wednesday

Sensex and Nifty are closed Tuesday for Dussehra, with trading resuming Wednesday, October 21; equity, derivatives, currency and SLB segments are suspended, while MCX opens for its evening session. The holiday follows Monday’s losses, driven by private-bank weakness, disappointing earnings and rising crude prices. Investors will monitor results, oil and global cues when markets reopen.

Ten states and UTs became fully literate since 2024: Ullas, the scheme behind the declarations

Jammu and Kashmir declared itself fully literate, becoming the 10th state or Union territory under Ullas, which defines full literacy as at least 95% of people aged 15 and above able to read, write and compute. Declarations rely on state door-to-door surveys, unlike national surveys. Launched in 2022, Ullas targets 50 million adults by 2027.

Yash urges fans not to nitpick VFX in Ramayana, watch film with open mind

At Ramayana’s pre-release event, Yash urged fans to support the film and avoid nitpicking its effects, saying India must protect filmmakers taking its cinema global. He said Namit Malhotra’s commitment inspired him to join as Ravana and producing partner. Despite VFX criticism, the trailer impressed fans; Nitesh Tiwari’s two-part epic adapts Valmiki’s Ramayana and opens November 5, 2026.

Yami Gautam to perform Ravan Vadh at Delhi's Luv Kush Ramleela on Dussehra

Actress Yami Gautam will perform Ravan Vadh at Delhi’s Luv Kush Ramleela on October 20, 2026, as the Red Fort Ground hosts Dussehra celebrations promoting women’s empowerment and the victory of good over evil. Organizers say the “Respect for Women” theme presents her as a symbol of courage against injustice. The event continues a tradition of Bollywood-star appearances.

India’s Red List assessment of 1,211 birds underway; initial review of 100 birds complete

India has begun an IUCN-framework Red List assessment of 1,211 bird species, with reviews completed for 107 and proposals listing the Great Indian Bustard as critically endangered and the Indian Roller as vulnerable. Preliminary work is due by year-end, with final results expected late next year. The effort supports India’s goal of assessing 11,000 species by 2030.

Ethiopia’s Prosopis tree was meant to help; researchers link land changes to $602 million in losses

Prosopis has taken over 1.17 million hectares—12.3% of Ethiopia’s Afar region—while land changes cost $602 million in ecosystem services over 31 years, threatening pastoralists’ grazing and livelihoods. It spread 31,127 hectares a year from 1986 to 2017, replacing grassland and woodland. Introduced in the 1970s–80s for fuel and soil protection, it began invading in the 1990s.

TSA-approved liquids rule explained: 3 leak-proof travel bottles under ₹999 that pass security

After testing three refillable travel-bottle sets, the writer finds no universal winner: MAYCREATE suits short trips, DEPOZA longer holidays and fuller skincare routines, while Lyrovo’s squeezable silicone bottles handle thicker products best. Mixing sets suits different trips. The article advises leaving space in bottles and keeping liquids accessible, noting that refills replace bulky bottles and disposable minis.

Fuel costs, fewer flights, West Asia crisis: What is driving airfares higher

New airfare rules are finalised for publication within two weeks, after the Supreme Court sought fare rationalisation and passenger relief. Yet tickets are climbing as West Asia’s conflict lifts jet-fuel costs, longer detours raise operating expenses, and fewer flights limit seats, especially in peak periods. Since 1994 deregulation, airlines set fares, with exceptional government intervention.

Dugga Dugga! Never mind long queues, pandal hopping @CR Park is a must!

Durga Puja crowds have filled Delhi’s Chittaranjan Park, with Maha Saptami videos showing queues stretching for kilometres outside pandals, but devotees say the wait heightens the excitement. Noida resident Soumya Roy said mantras and dhaak make visitors forget the long wait. CR Park, Delhi’s mini Bengal, is brightly glowing with festive lights and food stalls.

Vance sidesteps Netanyahu's endorsement ahead of Israel polls: ‘I’m focused on midterms'

Vance declined to endorse Netanyahu for re-election, saying he focuses on American candidates and will not intervene in Israeli politics, unlike President Donald Trump, who emphatically backed the prime minister. Trump praised Netanyahu as a “Great Warrior Prime Minister.” Israel’s October 27 election, its first since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, could determine Netanyahu’s political future.

KPop Demon Hunters star Ejae ties the knot in Seoul dressed in traditional hanboks, dreamy gowns

Ejae, the KPop Demon Hunters singer-songwriter, married Samuel Kim in Seoul on October 17, combining a Christian ceremony with the Korean Paebaek ritual. She wore Danielle Frankel and Zac Posen gowns plus two hanboks, while Samuel wore a tuxedo. The festivities honored her heritage at Stage 28, her grandfather’s home; they reportedly met in 2017.

India, Saudi Arabia discuss proposed electricity link, explore wider power cooperation

India and Saudi Arabia reviewed progress on a proposed electricity transmission link and discussed steps to advance it, while exploring cooperation on grids, renewables and rising power demand. Riyadh sought India’s expertise in extra-high-voltage networks, data-centre demand and grid-code modernisation. The initiative builds on a 2023 energy cooperation pact; costs, design and completion dates remain undecided.

400+ Indian-origin students, alumni abroad sign ‘Spare India from Anarchy’ appeal

More than 400 Indian-origin students, researchers and alumni signed “Spare India from Anarchy,” warning that election denial and protests erode confidence in constitutional institutions. Invoking B.R. Ambedkar, they urge disputes be resolved constitutionally while acknowledging dissent’s democratic role. The statement names no parties or incidents, offers no evidence for its claims, and says signatories span 27 countries.

Enrique plays down Yamal comparisons with Messi: ‘Nobody is going to come out on top’

PSG manager Luis Enrique has rejected comparisons between Barcelona teen Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi, calling the Argentine the greatest and urging Yamal to build his legacy. He praised Yamal’s progress but said no one can match Messi. Ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash, Enrique said PSG must contain Barcelona; he previously coached Messi.

In 2021, Ted Turner turned nearly 80,000 acres of prairie into a classroom for wetlands and bison

Ted Turner’s 2021 transfer of nearly 80,000 Nebraska prairie acres to the Turner Institute created a living laboratory for wetlands and bison. Tests found wet-meadow soils held more organic carbon than dunes, while Kansas research linked bison grazing to richer plant communities and drought resilience. As Sandhills wetlands decline, findings inform restoration, though results cannot be directly generalized.

Kansas man arrested for repeated threats against Trump; ‘mapped out roofs’ to shoot POTUS

Authorities arrested 24-year-old Jaden Read and charged him with threatening to kill President Donald Trump after investigators found violent posts about Trump’s Wichita rally, including claims he obtained ammunition and mapped nearby rooftops. A Crime Stoppers tip uncovered the comments, prompting a multiagency investigation; the attorney warned that political threats are not constitutionally protected speech.

In the early 1900s, Hawaii brought in gorse to feed sheep, and it spread across over 35,000 acres

Hawaii’s sheep industry faded, but gorse imported to feed its flocks persisted, covering more than 35,000 acres on Maui and the Big Island by the 1980s. Cattle grazed it little, and seeds remained viable for 30 years; officials planned fungus releases in 2000. Introduced from Europe, gorse was once valued as sheep forage and hedging.

Marco Rubio to arrive in India today; trade, security and technology on agenda

India and the US will seek to sustain ties and advance cooperation in defence, trade, energy, technology and critical minerals when S Jaishankar meets Marco Rubio in Mumbai Tuesday, amid strains over tariffs and Russian oil. They will address Ukraine, West Asia, food security and upcoming summits. Trump’s sanctions waiver comes as trade talks stall.

Mumbai air pollution: What are BMC’s construction ban rules, and when can work be suspended?

Mumbai’s BMC may halt construction if citywide or local AQI stays above 200 for three consecutive days under Stage IV of its GRAP procedure. Builders must follow dust-control rules, install real-time AQI monitors and face ward-level enforcement; violations can prompt closure. Excavation, demolition and debris transport generate dust, while stoppages threaten timelines and raise costs.

Deepthi Jeevanji wins gold, sets Asian Para Games record in women’s 400m T20 event

Deepthi Jeevanji won India’s first gold of Day 2 at the 2026 Asian Para Games, setting a Games record of 56.36 seconds in the women’s 400m T20 and taking India’s fifth gold overall. Japan’s Niina Kanno and Akane Kato won silver and bronze. Bhavina Patel earned bronze, while India’s para-badminton pair advanced to the semifinals.