How AAIB conducts probe into air crashes

After the Joshimath helicopter crash killed all six aboard, India’s AAIB will investigate under 2025 rules designed to identify causes and prevent recurrence, not assign blame. Investigators secure wreckage and flight recorders, examine evidence, summon witnesses and consult relevant states; the probe may be reopened if significant new evidence emerges, while sensitive records remain protected.

Manisha becomes world champion with golden comeback

Manisha Bhanwala rallied from 0-6 down to defeat Abigail Elizabeth Nette of the US 8-6 in Astana’s 59kg final, becoming India’s first woman world wrestling champion. After a first-period attack put her behind, she followed coach Virender Dahiya’s plan, capitalizing as Nette tired. The non-Olympic title crowns years of perseverance after her father’s death in 2022.

Binance founder CZ tells Elon Musk to stop mocking $6.3 billion crypto hack

Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao urged Elon Musk to stop mocking its $6.3 billion hack, reminding him Binance invested $500 million in Musk’s 2022 Twitter takeover and asking for support. Binance says $3 billion in assets are frozen, while co-CEO Yi He says annual revenue can cover losses without selling SpaceX shares; investigators describe a complex attack.

Construction activities halted in Delhi-NCR from Nov 5 to 20 to curb air pollution

To curb Delhi-NCR’s winter pollution, the Centre suspended construction and demolition from November 5 to 20 and ordered offices in Delhi and five nearby districts to cap in-person staffing at 50%, with remaining employees working remotely. Essential projects remain exempt. The measures anticipate mid-November “severe” air quality, as forecasts predict worsening pollution from November 1.

Sindarov wins Clutch Chess title ahead of World Championship match vs Gukesh

Javokhir Sindarov won Saint Louis’s Clutch Chess Champions Showdown and $168,000, weeks before challenging world champion D Gukesh. The 20-year-old Uzbek overturned Praggnanandhaa’s lead, sealing the title with a standout King’s Indian win over Hikaru Nakamura. Praggnanandhaa finished second with $109,000, and Fabiano Caruana placed third. Gukesh last competed at September’s Chess Olympiad.

Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia named next IAF vice chief

Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia is the next Vice Chief of the Air Staff, the Defence Ministry announced Friday, succeeding Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, who becomes the IAF’s 29th chief Saturday. Currently Eastern Air Command chief, Walia was commissioned as a fighter pilot in 1988, brings nearly four decades of experience and has received two service medals.

In for a wicked treat this Halloween? Here's where to head

Mumbai and Pune eateries are celebrating Halloween with themed menus, limited-edition desserts, cocktails and immersive parties. Bandra’s AlterEgo and Sorena serve devilish dishes, while JW Marriott’s Lotus Café and St Regis’s Seven Kitchens offer feasts and Dracula-inspired drinks. Pune’s Valour hosts a spooky mixer and DJ nights; KMCY adds fiery Sichuan fare. Offers are brief.

Shooting reported at Riverchase Galleria mall in Hoover, Alabama

A shooting was reported Friday, October 30, at the food court of Riverchase Galleria mall in Hoover, Alabama, with at least one person possibly shot, according to local radio reports. Authorities have not confirmed the victim’s condition or the number of people injured, and further details remain unavailable as the incident develops.

Indian-origin professor demonstrates AI drone that follows a person through dense forest without GPS

An Indian-origin Purdue professor has demonstrated a drone that autonomously follows people through dense forests without GPS, maps or cloud computing. It makes decisions onboard and predicts a person’s direction when trees block its camera, potentially aiding rescues. Professor Aniket Bera says its perception algorithms are original, while acknowledging open-source tools; rescue performance remains untested.

South Africa fight back with Rickelton, Mulder centuries to set Australia 288 to win

Rickelton’s 101 and Mulder’s 115 lifted South Africa to 387 on day four of the decisive third Test, setting Australia 288 to win at Newlands with the series and world No. 1 ranking at stake. On a worn pitch against a rested attack, Australia face the second-highest successful Newlands chase in 137 years; the series remains tied 1-1.

Meta avoids trial after settling Mississippi teen's social media addiction lawsuit

Meta Platforms settled a lawsuit brought by 18-year-old Mississippi teenager K.D.B., who alleged its platform contributed to depression, anxiety and eating disorders. Confirmed Friday by the plaintiff’s lawyer, the deal removes Meta from a trial scheduled next week in Los Angeles, while claims against Snap Inc., Snapchat’s parent, continue; the suit originally named both companies.

Fifty years on, the pioneers of Indian women’s cricket await their due

As India’s women’s Test cricket turns 50, Shantha Rangaswamy says unpaid pioneers deserve recognition, criticizing the BCCI’s failure to mark the milestone. India’s 1976 debut against West Indies drew 20,000 fans; Rangaswamy struck the first six by an Indian woman in international cricket and scored 74 in a draw. Players funded tours, laying foundations for today’s professionals.

Char Dham trip ends in tragedy for five Bengaluru friends as helicopter crashes in Chamoli

Five Bengaluru residents, including police inspector Arun Salunke, died when their helicopter crashed near Joshimath, Uttarakhand, on Friday while returning from Badrinath after a three-day pilgrimage. The victims were Salunke, H.S. Nataraj, Prathap Ningraju, Sudheer K. and advocate Shankar Gowda; the pilot also died. Karnataka officials are arranging repatriation. Nataraj had told a friend fog delayed departure.

Air Force One flyover for White House Halloween event causes flight delays

An Air Force One flyover for a White House children’s Halloween party halted Reagan National traffic, delaying 202 flights and alarming officials, who said they received 15 minutes’ notice. The plane made two low passes Thursday, prompting the FAA’s traffic halt; airlines had under an hour’s warning. Trump often favors flyovers at sporting events.

106 tribal students served notice after Oct 25 protest

Mumbai Police served notices on 106 tribal students booked after attempting to protest at Shivaji Park, intensifying scrutiny of the response to youth-led demonstrations. The students demanded the tribal development minister’s resignation and action over unsafe, inadequate residential schools and centralised kitchens; police cited unlawful assembly and prohibitory-order violations. The protest follows a 40-day Nashik sit-in.

Jailer 2 box office collection day 16: Rajinikanth film brings in ₹431 cr ahead of its 3rd weekend

Jailer 2 has crossed ₹430 crore in India, reaching ₹431.65 crore net after earning ₹1.75 crore on its third Friday, following a strong first week and slower second. It remains 2026’s second-highest-grossing film and Tamil cinema’s highest-grossing film ever. Nelson Dilipkumar’s sequel stars Rajinikanth as retired jailer Muthuvel Pandian, who battles an idol-smuggling gang.

'Should make our art, culture global’: Piyush Goyal recalls how Prada row helped Kolhapuri artisans

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal urged India to take art, culture and craftsmanship to global markets, saying wider exposure would create opportunities for artisans and support young entrepreneurs building globally competitive businesses. He cited Prada’s agreement with Kolhapuri shoemakers after a 2025 backlash and called for quality, relevant skills, exports and risk-taking. Kolhapuri footwear has GI protection.

Venkatesh's stoppage-time goal earns Bengaluru FC a draw vs NorthEast United FC

Bengaluru FC salvaged a 1-1 draw against NorthEast United in Guwahati on Friday, as substitute Vinith Venkatesh scored in the 93rd minute after Sunil Chhetri set him up. NorthEast led through Jithin MS’s 15th-minute finish, while both goalkeepers made saves and Bengaluru pressed before finding a stoppage-time equalizer, earning a point apiece after sustained pressure.

Udta Teer box office collection day 8: Ayushmann Khurrana film refuses to slow down, crosses ₹33 cr

Udta Teer has collected ₹33.26 crore in India, with Wednesday’s ₹2.36 crore slightly above Tuesday’s, though momentum has slowed in week two. Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan’s film opened at ₹4.10 crore, peaked at ₹8.20 crore Sunday after positive reviews, and faces Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana. An amnesiac Pakistani spy mistakes himself for an Indian officer.

Population census begins January 25, barring poll-bound states and snow-covered regions

India’s Census 2027 will run from January 25 to February 28 across most states and Union territories, with March 1 as its reference date; poll-bound states and snow-affected regions are excluded from the announced schedule. Self-enumeration opens January 10–24, followed by a March 1–5 revisional round. The delayed decennial count, last conducted in 2011, will be India’s eighth since Independence.

Delhi records coldest October day since 1951, cleanest air for month in over a decade

Delhi recorded its coldest October day since 1951 on Friday, as Safdarjung’s maximum fell to 20.7°C after rain linked to a western disturbance and Cyclone Arnab. The observatory measured 61.4 mm in 24 hours, making October the fourth-wettest since 1951, while average AQI of 167 marked the city’s cleanest October air in over a decade.

Chef Sanjeev Kapoor shares fluffy and delicious pumpkin muffin recipe to try on Halloween

At Halloween, chef Sanjeev Kapoor shared a recipe for fluffy pumpkin muffins, with pumpkin puree adding texture and coffee liqueur, cinnamon and nutmeg lending flavor. The batter combines butter, sugar, eggs, flour, spices and milk, then bakes at 180°C for 15–20 minutes and is dusted with icing sugar. Kapoor, known for *Khana Khazana*, shared it on his blog.

Nagaland United mark IFL debut with impressive win over Real Kashmir

Debutants Nagaland United SC opened their Indian Football League 2026–27 campaign with a 3-1 win over Real Kashmir FC in Srinagar, earning maiden points. JH Remlala scored in the third minute, and Vanlalhriatzuala K struck twice, while captain Rohmingthanga’s own goal revived the hosts; the Man of the Match sealed victory in the 74th minute.

Who funded Jalaun MD lab? Probe focuses on financial, chemical supply chains

Two men arrested in the Jalaun mephedrone-lab bust were remanded to 14 days’ judicial custody, as the DRI and UP ATS intensify efforts to identify masterminds and interstate links. The raid seized 1,102.88 kg of drugs, semi-processed substances and precursor chemicals worth over ₹300 crore. Investigators are tracing suppliers, recipients and possible earlier shipments.

San Francisco startup offered $20 an hour to walk robot dogs for AI training, no experience required

San Francisco startup Dimensional offered workers $20 an hour to guide robot dogs through city streets, collecting data to train AI navigation systems that still struggle to control machines independently. Operators steered the robots on four-to-six-hour routes and had to carry back units that overheated or stopped working. Founded by Stash Pomichter, the company hopes its technology will automate demanding physical jobs.

Exclusive| I will initiate the necessary criminal proceedings: Vidnyan Mane on Palash Mucchal case

Actor-producer Vidnyan Mane says Bombay High Court dismissed Palash Muchhal’s defamation case, and he plans criminal proceedings against the composer he accuses of misleading people. He says the dismissal stemmed from procedural deficiencies; Muchhal’s legal team did not respond. The dispute followed Mane’s allegation that Muchhal failed to return ₹40 lakh invested in an unfinished film.

Shraddha Kapoor proud to be part of Eetha, says what matters to her the most is a good film

Shraddha Kapoor’s transformation into legendary tamasha and lavani performer Vithabai Narayangaonkar anchors the newly released trailer for *Eetha*, a biographical musical drama directed by Laxman Utekar and set for cinemas on December 4, 2026. Kapoor says she prioritizes compelling stories over box-office records or gender labels. The film traces Narayangaonkar’s rise from child performer to celebrated “Tamasha Empress.”

Lucknow triple murder: Top brass meet bereaved family, assure fast-track trial, security

Senior officials promised security, a fast-track trial and stringent punishment to the family of three men shot dead in Lucknow, while police offered ₹25,000 rewards for tips about two absconding suspects. The killings followed a neighbourhood dispute over parking and municipal construction; authorities are measuring the prime accused’s property amid claims it occupies Nazul land.

Buried cash cache in blue drums at Prayagraj home: I-T officials, police launch Pune trail

Authorities in Prayagraj intensified Friday a third-day excavation after police found three drums of cloth-wrapped ₹500 notes buried beneath a home. Income Tax officials took control, questioning property-owning brothers Rakesh and Rajesh Yadav. Police deployed guards, labourers, a dog squad and ground-penetrating radar as investigators trace Pune links. The cache surfaced during an assault inquiry.

7 international music festivals every Indian music lover should experience once

International music festivals let travellers pair memorable live music with exploring the world, spanning electronic dance, rock, pop and performing arts. Ultra Music Festival in downtown Miami draws dance fans with leading DJs, powerful sound systems and high-energy performances; other events include Tomorrowland, Glastonbury, Sziget, Untold, Electric Daisy Carnival and Coachella, each offering distinct settings, genres and spectacle.