Saudi forces say 10 ballistic missiles launched by Houthis intercepted

Saudi forces said they intercepted 10 ballistic missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthi movement, but no details were provided about the interceptions, the missiles’ intended targets, or any casualties or damage. The announcement adds to a history of cross-border hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, amid Yemen’s long-running conflict and ongoing wider regional tensions.

Why do your ears pop during flights, and what happens inside your ears during take-off and landing?

Ear popping during take-off and landing results from cabin-pressure changes outpacing the Eustachian tube’s ability to equalise pressure, and is harmless once pressure equalises. Swallowing, yawning, chewing gum or sipping water can ease discomfort; avoid forceful nose-blowing. Severe or persistent pain, hearing loss, dizziness or ear discharge warrants medical care, particularly after infection or surgery.

Trump denies plan to turn White House press room into swimming pool, hints at moving reporters

Trump ruled out restoring the historic pool beneath the White House briefing room but left open moving journalists, naming no destination or decision. He dismissed reports of the pool’s return and suggested reporters could be sent to a “less obnoxious” location. He reportedly raised relocation with aides; the pool was covered during Richard Nixon’s presidency.

Chakra Horoscope Today, October 25, 2026

Today’s horoscopes urge patience, self-compassion and action amid uncertainty: Aries should take a step forward; Taurus and Pisces reflect before deciding; Gemini and Leo welcome possibility; Cancer, Virgo and Libra prioritize steadiness and acceptance. Scorpio through Aquarius are encouraged to embrace change, intuition and support, with each receiving chakra practices, food suggestions and crystal remedies.

After 2 baby raccoons die in their care, US couple rehabilitate over 800

After two abandoned baby raccoons died in their care, New York couple Paul and Sarah Bookbinder founded a centre that has helped more than 800 raccoons. They bottle-feed orphaned kits, teach older animals to forage and release those able to survive independently, while keeping disabled animals permanently. Their loss inspired the centre, which opened in 2018.

Anup Soni expresses disappointment over his deleted scenes from Parineeti Chopra-starrer Shaque

Anup Soni expressed disappointment after scenes featuring his Inspector Khurana were cut from Netflix’s *Shaque: Trust No One*, sharing the unused footage on Instagram while acknowledging that omissions can serve the story. The clips show him fighting co-star Vicky Arora and running with a waist-mounted camera. Directed by Rensil D’Silva, the series premiered September 24.

DK Shivakumar warns IT firms of action if found sidelining Kannadigas in Bengaluru

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the government would act against firms found deliberately denying jobs to Kannadigas, following complaints about Bengaluru IT companies. He said their rights, dignity and employment opportunities would not be ignored, reaffirming commitment to locals. The pledge revives debate over a proposed private-sector quota bill, paused after industry backlash in 2024.

Book Box: Two Himalayan bookstores, a birthday and a borrowed book

On a birthday outing in the Himalayas, a reader finds community, comfort and unexpected generosity at two bookshops: Jitters, with its café and library, and a trekking store where bookseller Kapil-ji lends a cherished, out-of-print novel without charge. Conversations, coffee and reading revive the writer’s love of bookshop spaces after a year building a home.

'200 seats our right': Cong poster seen as UP poll seat-sharing talks with SP intensify

A Lucknow poster demanding 200 Congress seats has exposed friction with Samajwadi Party (SP) as the INDIA bloc negotiates seat-sharing. Congress submitted a list of 175–200 seats, while SP leader Dharmendra Singh said top leadership must decide allocations according to candidates’ winnability. Talks face a mid-November deadline; SP was the bloc’s dominant partner in the state.

2.2 billion people live with vision loss: WHO shares why it happens and simple steps to reduce risk

Vision loss affects billions: 2.2 billion people have near or distance impairment, and one billion cases are preventable or still untreated. It can disrupt children’s development and education, limit adults’ employment, and increase older adults’ isolation and falls. Refractive errors and cataracts are major causes, treatable with glasses or surgery, but access remains unequal worldwide.

US Visa Bulletin explained: All about green card priority dates, cut-off dates and visa queues

The US Visa Bulletin tells family- and employment-based applicants when they may file or receive green-card approval by comparing priority dates with monthly cut-offs. Its charts separate filing eligibility from visa issuance; dates can advance, stall or move backward, and eligibility does not assure approval. The monthly bulletin reflects annual visa limits and demand.

All Indian Cine Workers Association condemns ‘humiliation’ of Shilpa Rao at Bollywood Music Project

Singer Shilpa Rao’s performance at Mumbai’s Bollywood Music Project was cut short Saturday when her mic was switched off mid-set and the next act began, leaving her unable to address fans; she expressed heartbreak. The All Indian Cine Workers Association condemned the treatment and pledged legal support if she pursues action, warning organisers to respect performers.

Barcelona vs Real Madrid: All you need to know about the much-awaited El Clasico

Barcelona host Real Madrid at Camp Nou, with leaders seeking a tenth straight league win after nine victories and 27 points, while third-placed Madrid aim to close the six-point gap after four consecutive wins. Barcelona lost 2-4 to PSG; Madrid beat Leipzig 4-1, spotlighting Yamal and Mbappé. Historically, each side has 106 wins in 264 meetings.

Justice Unresolved: Arizona teen was ‘excited’ to be an aunt; then she mysteriously disappeared

Emily Hieber, 19, disappeared in Yuma, Arizona, on February 3, 2013, with miniature pinscher Bruiser; neither has been seen since. Her mother, Jenny Jimenez, says investigators continue pursuing leads, but the family remains without answers. Hieber had been moving between places but told her mother she was ready to change her life shortly before vanishing.

New US filing deadline rules now in effect for green card and visa applicants

From October 23, 2026, USCIS will change weekend and holiday deadline calculations: certain paper-filed procedural deadlines may extend to the next business day, but online filings and substantive eligibility dates will not automatically move. Age-sensitive petitions and H-1B workers nearing I-94 expiration require care; applicants should check form-specific rules and file early, following September’s alert.

Jared Kushner demands Vanity Fair remove article on alleged undisclosed foreign bank accounts

Kushner demanded Vanity Fair remove Matthew Cole’s book excerpt, threatening legal action over allegations of secret Saudi and Emirati billions exchanged for US policy influence. His lawyers denied the claims, called them defamatory, and said the magazine disregarded prior denials and lacked documentary evidence; Vanity Fair, Cole and publisher Simon & Schuster have not responded publicly.

Just Like That | Dussehra: One festival, different traditions, a shared moral message

Dussehra’s varied celebrations—from Bengal’s Durga Puja to northern India’s Ravana-burning—affirm that destructive power must yield to righteousness and urge society to confront its moral failures. Bengal honors Durga as Shakti through art and communal festivity; northern observances emphasize fasting, Ramlila and restraint. Both commemorate victories over evil and insist the moral struggle continues today.

Fantasy to imagine collegium isolated from political pressures: Ex-SC judge

Former Supreme Court judge Sanjay Kishan Kaul says the collegium remains vulnerable to political pressure, linking government resentment over the 2015 NJAC ruling to appointments and faulting former Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud for deference. He recounts resisting questions about a candidate’s faith and caste, acknowledges opacity, and urges scrutiny of judicial records. Chandrachud disputes Kaul’s account.

Delhi child rights panel notices to police, education dept over student’s death in school

DCPCR issued notices to the education department and police, demanding reports within two weeks after a 17-year-old girl died by self-immolation at a school in Krishna Nagar. The commission questioned how she brought petrol onto campus and why no one was present to help, citing concerns. Her body and a purported suicide note were found Saturday.

PayPal cofounder Peter Thiel says Apple has done 'nothing new' since Steve Jobs' death

Billionaire investor Peter Thiel says Apple has delivered no major technological breakthrough since Steve Jobs died in 2011, arguing its success reflects scaling the iPhone rather than fresh innovation. On The Builders podcast, he contrasted Jobs and Elon Musk with CEO Tim Cook. Apple has expanded products and faces AI scrutiny, despite its commercial strength.

Karwa Chaut: Fashion designers Pallavi, Tannmayaa and Romaa give festive wardrobe gets a modern edit

Lucknow designers are reimagining Karwa Chauth fashion, balancing heritage with comfort and individuality. Romaa Agarwal updates reds and pinks through contemporary cuts, statement blouses and embroidery; Tannmayaa Manish champions royal green, Banarasi silk and Kashmiri Tilla work, while Pallavi Madeshia Yadav favours red Banarasi silk with gold. Thus, tradition can feel fresh and effortless.

HT Exclusive | AR Rahman says he was terrified of live performances, agrees that Roja was his 'peak'

AR Rahman’s Wonderment Tour brings a three-hour production to Mumbai November 1 and Delhi November 21, blending iconic 1990s compositions with contemporary work and an international ensemble. In an interview, he called music a blessing, reflected on overcoming stage fright and said collaborators shape creative phases. His soundtrack Ramayana, with Hans Zimmer, releases November 5.

The Siang dam project, China’s upstream megadam and fears behind Arunachal protests

Arunachal Pradesh’s proposed 11,200-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project has sparked protests, clashes and arson, as Indigenous communities fear displacement, ecological damage and loss of ancestral land. The government says the dam could buffer China’s upstream hydropower development, but insists construction is undecided and feasibility surveys are planned. Opposition dates to a project proposed in 2008.

‘Political art’ not the problem, politics behind it is’: Khera accuses Bikaner House of censorship

Congress leader Pawan Khera accused Bikaner House of selectively enforcing political-art rules, citing a September 2025 artwork showing Modi beside Gandhi while 75 protest photographs by Raihan Vadra were removed. Vadra’s show documented youth-led civic movements; officials invoked a ban on political content, while Congress called the decision censorship. Vadra plans to exhibit the full collection elsewhere.

Kerala BJP chief urges equal respect for faiths amid cafe video row, slams CM Satheesan

BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar accused Chief Minister VD Satheesan of “selective secularism,” demanding respect for religions while criticizing Congress and CPI(M) over tolerance of anti-India and anti-Hindu rhetoric. The dispute followed Satheesan’s condemnation of a YouTuber arrested over a video about a Fort Kochi cafe; Chandrasekhar also challenged alliances and invoked constitutional speech rights.

Step inside Indian family’s beautiful New Jersey home with huge backyard and double-island kitchen

What does a dream home in New Jersey look like? Content creator Priyam Saraswat gives a peek inside a beautiful Indian family’s home in Princeton in his October 24 Instagram video. From a huge backyard where deer often visit to a double-island kitchen, the house has plenty of thoughtful details. Built from scratch by Shraddha and her husband, Stephen, the home brings together modern living, family-friendly spaces and little touches of Indian heritage. Let’s take a closer look.

In 2026, 9.41-pound smallmouth was released in Idaho; it could qualify for catch-and-release record

Matteo Bonales’s 9.41-pound smallmouth, caught 54 feet underwater in Idaho, could challenge the IGFA catch-and-release length record: its reported 23.5 inches exceeds the 20.86-inch mark. But it remains uncertified because Bonales released it without official-device measurements and documentation, while line strength may affect eligibility. He and his father drove from California for five days of fishing.

At Nanjing University in China, students call strangers to build confidence and social skills

Nanjing University’s course asks students to phone strangers, building confidence, empathy and communication skills, but scam fears make the assignment difficult. One student made more than 30 calls to find an interviewee; some urge professor Xu Kai to keep the task, while others quit. Launched in 2015, the course gives young people practice speaking up.

Kutle Khan’s manager blames Shilpa Rao for interrupting singer on stage, alleges false narrative

Kutle Khan’s manager Sharad Sharma says Shilpa Rao interrupted Khan’s set to thank fans after her performance, disputing claims that he cut her off. He alleges both artists’ sets were shortened when Himesh Reshammiya’s three-hour soundcheck delayed the one-day Bollywood Music Project schedule; Rao called the incident heartbreaking, while organisers apologised, citing delays and curfew rules.

Indian Embassy in UAE shuts four consular service centers, 12 remain operational

India’s Embassy in the UAE has discontinued consular, passport, visa and attestation services at four centers from October 22, cutting its network from 16 locations to 12 while services continue elsewhere. Affected applicants must visit remaining centers in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the Northern Emirates; closures were attributed to administrative reasons, while services remain outsourced.