Australian Zoo celebrates its 1st cassowary egg since 1992, featuring green shell made for survival

Adelaide Zoo’s 34-year cassowary-egg drought ended when supervisor Erin discovered a fluorescent-green egg laid by 10-year-old Martina, paired with 13-year-old Jeffrey. Its color comes from biliverdin, which camouflages eggs among rainforest leaves. The zoo last welcomed cassowary chicks in 1992; males incubate eggs and raise young, while females leave them in their care.

US Treasury yields hold steady as investors await economic data ahead of Fed rate decision

U.S. Treasury yields were little changed Wednesday as investors awaited mortgage-rate and jobless-claims reports for clues to economic strength and the Federal Reserve’s October 28 rate decision. The 10-year yield held at 5.1211%, the two-year at 4.7889%, and the 30-year at 5.4320%. Rising oil prices amid supply concerns added inflation uncertainty; bond prices and yields move inversely.

No tandoor at eateries, open burning of waste: List of curbs under Grap-1 in Delhi

Delhi recorded a minimum of 18°C on Wednesday, with a high of 31°C forecast, as air quality reached the “poor” category, with an AQI of 233 at 9 a.m.; authorities enforced Stage-I GRAP restrictions after readings climbed from 179 to 244. Measures target dust, waste burning, dirty fuels, generators and polluting vehicles, while the November–February winter plan adds construction curbs, monitoring and cleaner transport.

Stephen Hubbard, retired Michigan teacher detained in Russia since 2022, released

President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg Wednesday, thanking him for releasing Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American detained since 2022. The meeting coincided with negotiations to free detained U.S. citizens. Hubbard, a retired Michigan educator living in Ukraine, was sentenced on mercenary charges that his family and U.S. officials reject.

Jeweller who crafted 'Sengol' installed in Parliament dies at 99. PM Modi condoles loss

Jeweller Vummidi Ethiraj, who helped craft the historic Sengol presented to Jawaharlal Nehru, died in Chennai Wednesday aged 99, drawing condolences from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan. Modi noted its 2023 placement in the new Parliament building. Ethiraj headed the family behind 125-year-old Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers, leaving a legacy in Indian jewellery craftsmanship.

Guwahati woman found dead in rented flat, insurance company senior officer held: Police

Guwahati police arrested Biswanath Das, state head of a private insurance company, for alleged abetment of suicide after a 29-year-old employee was found dead in her Hengrabari apartment. Police said a suicide note accused Das of mental and physical torture; he is currently being questioned, with autopsy results pending. The woman’s family suspects foul play.

Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif flags ‘exodus’ of top officials in country

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif alleges senior bureaucrats arranged overseas moves while serving, questioning their commitment to the country; he says Portugal is a favored destination and claims a residency facilitator took money, but named no one and offered no evidence. Former intelligence official Tilak Devasher said the alleged exodus signals concerns about Pakistan’s future.

Takeaways from AP’s report on the taxpayer-funded growth of classical Christian schools

Conservatives plan to build 5,000 classical Christian schools for 1.5 million students within a decade, using scholarships making half of U.S. children eligible for aid. The Association of Classical Christian Schools calls public funding an opportunity; critics warn it could drain public schools and raise church-state concerns. Founded in 1994, its network has 500 schools.

GRAP Stage 1 invoked later this year thanks to govt’s preventive measures: Sirsa

Delhi-NCR entered Stage I of GRAP after air quality fell to “poor,” later than in previous years, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, citing readiness to curb winter pollution. Measures include vehicle curbs, staggered office hours, remote work and construction restrictions. The government’s 11-point plan involves nearly 30 agencies, addressing pollution that largely crosses Delhi’s borders.

Celebs bid adieu to Maa Durga in festive style in Mumbai

Bollywood stars gathered in Mumbai on October 20 to bid farewell to Maa Durga, closing Dussehra’s Durga Puja festivities with traditional dress and rituals. Soha Ali Khan performed the dhunuchi dance in an orange saree, while Juhi Chawla, Kajol, Tanishaa, Neelam Kothari and Seema Sajdeh wore festive looks. Karan Johar, Manish Malhotra and Ayan Mukerji attended.

Andhra local polls: SC asks SEC to decide on YSRCP plea for extending nomination deadline

The Supreme Court ordered Andhra Pradesh’s State Election Commission to decide within 24 hours whether to extend nominations for YSRCP candidates alleging violence blocked filings, delaying the final candidate list until October 25. It directed police protection, citing the need for fair elections. YSRCP cited 87 incidents in 19 urban bodies ahead of October 28 polls.

Pak operatives trying to lure Indians into relationships for sensitive info: J&K cop

Jammu and Kashmir police chief Tejinder Singh warned that Pakistani operatives allegedly use intimate relationships and unknown calls to extract Indians’ sensitive information, urging people to avoid disclosures and report suspicious foreign numbers. Agencies are monitoring networks and taking legal action; the warning follows an investigation into an Army officer’s wife accused of sharing information with China-linked operatives.

‘Keep your powder dry’: HC declines to entertain plea by CJP’s Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka

Delhi High Court declined Cockroach Janata Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka’s challenge to extended custody in an alleged peace-breach case after they withdrew it, saying they should seek revision before a sessions court. They contest a magistrate’s two-day extension and rejected sureties after arrests over protests against electoral-roll revision and Jantar Mantar’s de-notification.

Is your child using AI to think, or just to finish homework?

AI literacy, rather than banning chatbots, helps children use AI as a thinking partner by questioning answers, checking facts and explaining results in their own words. Parents can nurture these habits with simple questions, while schools introduce computational thinking and AI lessons. The Global Learning Foundation AI Olympiad 2026 offers students in Grades 3–10 structured preparation and assessment, from safe technology use to generative AI, with no coding required.

Corona High School shooting threat leads to arrest of 2 Riverside County teen girls

Two 15-year-old girls were arrested over an alleged plot against Corona High School after investigators uncovered months of school-shooting research and discussions of attack methods, police said. The students attend Corona and Norco schools; they allegedly sought firearms but obtained none, and searches found no weapons. The FBI had alerted police to threatening social-media messages.

Kichcha Sudeep gets playful as he exchanges garlands with wife Priya on their 25th anniversary

Kannada star Kichcha Sudeep and wife Priya celebrated 25 years of marriage with family, exchanging garlands amid cheers, flowers and playful teasing that left Priya blushing. Sudeep, in a cream sherwani, also honoured his late mother, Saroja Sanjeev, with a portrait. Married in 2001, the couple withdrew a divorce petition in 2017 and remain together.

Golden Globes reject Michael Jackson biopic from musical category, film may face tougher competition

The Golden Globes rejected Lionsgate’s request to classify *Michael* as a musical or comedy, sending Jaafar Jackson’s biopic into the 2027 drama race, where six nomination spots heighten competition. Lionsgate may appeal by October 31; supporting categories remain unaffected. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film charts Jackson’s rise from the Jackson 5 to Bad tour.

Alexander Skarsgård’s red-carpet look features a shirt with Olivia Colman’s face

Alexander Skarsgård brought playful flair to Tuesday’s Los Angeles premiere of *The Wicker*, wearing Chopova Lowena clothes featuring co-star Olivia Colman’s face on a black shirt. He paired it with a punk-inspired pink-and-green plaid skirt with safety-pin details. Earlier this month, he wore a shirtless gold Saint Laurent suit at the film’s London Film Festival premiere.

SpaceX stock jumps 10% as revenue surges 161% and Musk weighs Tesla merger

SpaceX shares surged 10.4% before Wednesday’s open after third-quarter revenue rose 161% to $14.6 billion, beating estimates, as Elon Musk said SpaceX and Tesla boards were discussing a potential historic merger. SpaceX reported $4.4 billion in net income and forecast first-quarter 2027 revenue of $33 billion–$37 billion; Starlink and its ninefold-growing AI business powered rapid growth.

Delhi court grants bail to man accused of deceiving woman into sexual relationship

A Delhi court granted bail to a married man accused of deceiving a woman into sex through a false marriage promise, citing his cooperation and no need for custodial questioning. Arrested September 16 under BNS Section 69, he must furnish a Rs 25,000 bond and follow conditions. He says their relationship was consensual; recordings await forensic review.

Punjab Police ask Centre for powers to check pharma drug trade

Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav urged the Centre to empower police alongside drug inspectors and classify Pregabalin under the NDPS Act, enabling tougher prosecution of illegal drug sales. Amid a CBI probe into activist Parvinder Singh Jhota’s murder, Punjab is targeting 435 hotspots and coordinating with five states. Jhota was killed confronting a chemist over pills.

LuLu Group plans ₹2,500-crore investment, targets 25 outlets across Delhi-NCR by 2030

LuLu targets ₹2,500 crore in investment to open 25 Delhi-NCR outlets by 2030, mixing hypermarkets and smaller daily stores to match local demand, after launching its 100,000-square-foot Greater Noida hypermarket as a regional entry point. A 30,000-square-foot Gurugram store is planned by financial year-end, while two Lucknow outlets are nearing completion. The group operates over 285 stores across 35 countries.

5 children among 10 injured in fire during Ramlila performance at Bihar pandal

At least 10 people, including five children, were injured in a fire at a Durga Puja pandal during a Ramlila performance in Bihar’s Siwan district, police said; five badly burned children were referred to Patna. It broke out Tuesday evening in Rasulpur village. Police formed a probe team, called forensic experts and are recording organisers’ statements.

Elon Musk recalls firing Tesla employee who later killed 3 people in Austin shooting

Elon Musk said a former Tesla employee, identified as Ndiaga Diagne, was fired after violently assaulting a woman who accidentally stepped on his prayer rug, then killed three people in an Austin shooting. The March 1, 2026, attack injured 13; police killed Diagne at the scene. He was a naturalised US citizen originally from Senegal.

Punjab to host Asian Hockey Champions Trophy for first time, says Mohali mayor

Punjab will host the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy for the first time, with league matches in Jalandhar from October 27 to November 2 and knockouts in Mohali on November 4-5, mayor Sarabjit Singh said. Entry is free for all six teams’ matches. About ₹25 crore is funding venue upgrades, while the government says its Khed Kranti initiative is expanding grassroots sports.

2 senior HDFC officials leaked confidential data, bank's internal probe shows

An HDFC Bank probe found evidence that two senior executives disclosed confidential strategies and potentially market-sensitive information to outsiders; investigators are still examining misuse. The executives have been informed, but disciplinary action is unclear. The review adds pressure on the $115 billion lender, facing leadership turnover and boardroom tensions amid a 28% share-price decline this year.

A guide to choose between a tote, shoulder bag, and backpack for everyday use

Choose a bag to suit your routine, needs, and comfort, rather than appearance alone, advises Foret founder Supriya Shirsat Satam. Totes suit work and travel, folios organize laptop days, shoulder bags suit movement, backpacks distribute heavier loads, and crossbodies carry essentials. Check capacity, straps, and compartments; plant-based leather, cork, banana bark, and recycled materials offer alternatives.

Shahin Mannan on wearable runway fashion, trends and styling statement pieces

Designer Shahin Mannan says festive and wedding fashion should reflect personal style and offer repeat wear, rather than follow trends. At Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI, her I AM collection reimagined denim, shirts and jackets with embroidery and distinctive silhouettes, with Sanjana Sanghi as showstopper. Mannan recommends balancing statement pieces with simple basics and investing in versatile designs for lasting wear.

Hemato-oncologist warns untreated sleep apnea could be putting your liver at risk

Sleep apnea may threaten liver health alongside metabolic risks: repeated oxygen deprivation can disrupt insulin sensitivity and fat metabolism, promoting fatty liver, inflammation or fibrosis. Heavy snoring, choking, witnessed breathing pauses and daytime sleepiness warrant evaluation and a sleep test; treatment may include lifestyle changes or CPAP. OSA occurs when upper airways narrow during sleep.

Meira Kumar entitled to compensation for her land acquired in 1976: Patna HC

The Patna High Court ruled former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar entitled to compensation under the 2013 law for land Bihar acquired in 1976, restoring revenue records cancelled by a collector. It found the collector lacked jurisdiction because the state had not established vesting under the Bihar Land Reforms Act; Kumar’s mother bought the Patna plot in 1965.