US sanctions Greece-, Panama-based law firm over aid to Iranian shipping

The US sanctioned Greece- and Panama-based law firm Karnakis & Karnakis, accusing it of helping Iranian shipping networks conceal vessel ownership and facilitate oil sales benefiting the IRGC’s Quds Force and Houthis. Treasury also targeted Singapore- and UAE-based shipping agents and sought information from seven European banks about ties to sanctioned Iranian institutions, amid US pressure.

India, Singapore commence 33rd edition of bilateral maritime exercise in Visakhapatnam

The Indian Navy and Singapore Navy began SIMBEX-2026 in Visakhapatnam on October 21, launching six days of drills and professional exchanges to improve interoperability and maritime cooperation. Harbour activities run through October 23, followed by Bay of Bengal operations featuring anti-submarine, anti-surface and anti-air warfare. Established in 1994, the exercise supports Indo-Pacific security.

Fact check: 'Judge Judy' aka Judy Sheindlin faces death hoax on her 84th birthday

Judy Sheindlin is alive after a birthday-themed Facebook parody falsely suggested the Judge Judy star had died as she turned 84 on October 21. The post’s caption revealed the joke, and her Instagram account celebrated her birthday. Her courtroom series ran 25 seasons; she later launched Judy Justice, reportedly ending with an October 22 episode.

Epstein's longtime lawyer sued over alleged role in sex trafficking cover-up

Darren Indyke, Jeffrey Epstein’s lawyer and estate executor, faces a New Mexico lawsuit alleging he helped conceal sex trafficking at Zorro Ranch; Raul Torrez seeks to block payments to Indyke and co-executor Richard Kahn from Epstein’s estate. Indyke denied knowing of the abuse after working for Epstein since 1996 to manage legal and business affairs.

1 dead, 2 hurt as SUV ploughs into hatchback on Ludhiana–Chandigarh road

A 22-year-old factory worker was killed and two men, including his employer, injured when a speeding Scorpio rammed their i10 near Jamalpur police station on Ludhiana–Chandigarh Road Wednesday. The friends had stopped while travelling to a Dussehra fair after dinner; both survivors suffered minor injuries, the SUV occupants fled, and police are investigating the crash.

Soccer-PSG-Lyon match likely to be postponed amid unrest, say media reports

Paris Saint-Germain’s Sunday Ligue 1 match against Lyon may be postponed after police sought rescheduling over security concerns amid nationwide unrest, though no decision has been announced. The fixture could move to Monday, while authorities prepare a major operation for weekend protests and sporting events. Recent rioting followed demonstrations over living costs and public services.

Russia frees retired US schoolteacher in goodwill gesture as Putin meets Witkoff

Russia freed 74-year-old retired American teacher Stephen Hubbard on Wednesday, sending him home after President Vladimir Putin said he acted at Donald Trump’s request. The release followed talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff, who said discussions would continue toward a three-way meeting on ending the Ukraine war. Hubbard had been imprisoned since 2022 on disputed mercenary charges.

Beyond a full plate: India's hidden micronutrient gap

India’s nutrition challenge extends beyond calories: adequate food may not ensure micronutrient sufficiency, and NFHS-5 found anemia in 57.2% of non-pregnant and 52.2% of pregnant women. Iron, B12 and vitamin D gaps can affect energy, cognition and bone health; persistent symptoms require professional assessment, not unsupervised supplements. Diverse diets remain foundational, while needs vary by life stage and health.

OpenAI expands ChatGPT ads globally, sells GPT-6 Astra models through Google Cloud

OpenAI is expanding ChatGPT ads internationally and bringing GPT-6 Astra and Codex to Google Cloud, widening access for advertisers and businesses. Ads are limited to Free and Go plans; companies can buy models through Google Cloud Marketplace using existing commitments. This follows OpenAI’s exit from exclusive Microsoft distribution, as cloud platforms become AI sales channels.

Trump seeks to pause order restoring 2027 Green Card Lottery: Details here

The Trump administration is appealing a judge’s order requiring the State Department to restart the 2027 Diversity Visa lottery and has asked her to pause it during review. Judge Jinsook Ohta found the indefinite registration suspension ended the program without adequate explanation, threatening Red Eagle Law’s business. The lottery offers about 55,000 annual visas to underrepresented nations.

Ayesha Muzaffar: “A jinn is almost comforting compared with devilish humans”

An unexplained sixth finger on rational dentist Dr Shamsi anchors a writer’s South Asian horror, where science and the unseen coexist, and the impossible most frightens those who reject it. The stories blend grief, domestic pressures, jinn and folklore with 1990s Lahore and Karachi, distinguishing Islamic belief from cultural superstition and showing fear crosses class lines.

WTA Finals guide: How the eight qualifiers stack up ahead of Indian Wells showdown

Eight players will contest the 2026 WTA Finals at Indian Wells, November 8–15, after Karolina Muchova secured the final berth when Marta Kostyuk retired in Ningbo. Muchova joins defending champion Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, Mirra Andreeva, Linda Noskova, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Elina Svitolina. Andreeva, Noskova and Muchova debut; Swiatek withdrew injured. Charlotte hosts in 2027.

Controlled burn near Aurora, Colorado; smoke visible from Denver airport

A fire broke out in Aurora, Colorado, and smoke was visible from Denver International Airport, while the cause of the blaze and the extent of the damage remained unclear. The smoke’s visibility from the airport underscored the incident’s reach, but no further details about the fire were immediately available.

EA shuts down BioWare as 400 jobs face cuts in company restructuring

EA is closing BioWare and halting early development on the next Mass Effect as part of a restructuring that will cut about 400 jobs, or 3% of its workforce. The Edmonton office will close, with about 50 BioWare employees affected. Founded over three decades ago, BioWare created role-playing franchises including Dragon Age and Mass Effect.

Meta ordered to pay New Mexico $25 billion for deceiving users about privacy on Facebook

A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $25 billion after a jury found it liable for more than 43 million consumer-protection violations over misleading privacy and content-moderation claims, which Meta is expected to appeal. The award would support education spending, though payment could be delayed. Cambridge Analytica harvested Facebook data for 2016 political ads.

Mathura Road, Outer Ring Road among Delhi's 'most' dangerous stretches, says data

Delhi Traffic Police identified 153 accident-prone locations, with Outer Ring Road, Ring Road and Grand Trunk Road among the deadliest stretches; Swaroop Nagar recorded 13 fatal crashes, the highest count. These roads rank among pedestrian-fatality corridors, amid 492 pedestrian deaths through September 30, 2026. The annual assessment is shared with road agencies to guide safety measures.

India’s Corrosion Bill is a material choice problem, not just a maintenance problem

India must prioritize corrosion prevention and lifecycle cost over the cheapest construction bid: corrosion drains ₹14.15 lakh crore annually, including ₹1.42 lakh crore from infrastructure, with nearly ₹49,580 crore avoidable through better management. Environment-specific protection such as galvanising extends asset life, reduces repairs and downtime, and preserves investment, while low-carbon zinc can further reduce emissions.

‘Does BJP want Opposition votes to split?’ Annamalai backs CJP's right to protest

A special executive magistrate court released CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka on Wednesday, after their custody for entering Jantar Mantar’s de-notified protest site. Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai defended their right to protest, questioned due process, police conduct and site restrictions, and criticized anti-national accusations, invoking Narendra Modi’s earlier defense of peaceful demonstrations.

Para Asian Games: Gavit turns 2023 DQ pain into 2026 golden glow

Dilip Gavit avenged his 2023 Hangzhou disqualification by winning 100m T47 gold at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Nagoya, clocking 10.69 seconds; Mohammed Basil took silver. India claimed five athletics golds Wednesday, reaching fifth with 62 medals, as Simran, shot-putters Khilari and Verma, and high jumper Praveen also triumphed. Gavit targets his 400m title.

An opportunity to revisit the green steel roadmap

India’s draft National Steel Policy targets tripling capacity to 600 MTPA by 2047, but its modest emissions-intensity goal could allow emissions to exceed 900 MtCO₂, weakening alignment with net zero. It urges safeguards on coal gasification and blast furnaces, earlier green-hydrogen pilots and green public procurement, drawing on the ministry’s ambitious 2024 decarbonisation roadmap.

4 in custody in Bethesda, MD after shooting near school on Rockledge Drive

A shooting near Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, Maryland, led to four arrests, Montgomery County police said, with no injuries reported. The incident was reported in the 6600 block of Rockledge Drive, prompting the nearby school to go into lockdown while police responded. Authorities have not released details about the circumstances as the police response continues.

Australia trail by 170 runs at stumps on Day 4 after South Africa enforce follow-on

Travis Head’s unbeaten 87 lifted Australia to 156-4 at stumps on day four, but they still trail South Africa by 170 runs in the second Test after following on. Head and Labuschagne built a 92-run stand. Earlier, Australia collapsed for 99 against Marco Jansen’s 5-33, conceding a 326-run lead; South Africa lead the three-match series 1-0.

HT City Delhi Junction: Catch It Live on October 22, 2026 in Delhi, Noida and Gurugram

Delhi’s October 21–26 calendar brings theatre, music, art, comedy and festive shopping citywide. Shri Ram leads the lineup at Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, while Dastkar’s Festival of Lights opens October 22 at Nature Bazaar and continues through November 3. Other highlights include free classical performances, a Diwali bazaar and workshops, with easy Metro access.

'Boys have a message': Dipke shares Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka's video after their release

Cockroach Janta Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were released Wednesday after seven days in custody, renewing calls for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation in a flag-bearing video. Detained after entering Jantar Mantar, they had been remanded over breach-of-peace concerns following Delhi Police’s withdrawal of the site’s authorised protest status. Their protests focus on alleged electoral-roll irregularities.

UK student, 23, jailed for life for fatally stabbing housemate 30 times after alleged rent row

UK student Zack Coughlan, 23, was jailed for life with a minimum 28-year term for murdering housemate Jamie Collins, 21, in a premeditated attack, stabbing him 30 times in Filton last April. He delayed calling police, disposed of evidence and staged finding the body; both men were final-year robotics students, and the motive remains unclear.

‘Real way to end it’: Zelensky open to freezing Ukraine-Russia front lines to end war

Zelenskyy said Ukraine should freeze current front lines to stop the killing, calling it a practical first step toward ending Russia’s war, while insisting negotiations secure guarantees and allow displaced Ukrainians to return. He urged US and European backing and praised troops; his remarks came as Putin signaled talks and Trump secured a detained American teacher’s release.

Pune Metro work triggers traffic diversions in Market Yard

Pune traffic police have imposed temporary diversions in Market Yard from October 22, banning right turns to ease congestion during construction of the Swargate–Katraj underground metro corridor. Drivers from Upper Bibwewadi must detour via Tanishq and Aranyeshwar; Swargate, Market Yard and Satara-bound traffic will use Pushpamangal routes. Authorities ask motorists to follow signs and cooperate.

Sweets, sindoor and seeing ‘Ma Durga’ off at Gurugram’s DLF Club5

Residents from across Gurugram gathered at DLF Club5 for Sindoor Khela, closing Durga Puja with prayers, farewell rituals and sindoor exchanges. Women offered sweets, lit diyas and gave paan to Durga, seen as a daughter returning to her marital home and a mother whose blessings bring health and prosperity. The celebration now draws diverse neighbourhoods.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets Mukesh, Anant Ambani at Jamnagar refinery

Mukesh Ambani hosted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at Reliance Industries’ Jamnagar complex, showcasing energy and digital infrastructure investments and discussing commercial partnerships. Rubio toured the world’s largest single-site refinery and learned about new-energy giga-factories and data centres under construction. The refinery processes 1.4 million barrels of crude daily and has the world’s highest complexity index.

SOP lapses under scrutiny after Schaeffler India CEO taken into custody over fatal accident

Schaeffler India CEO Harsha Kadam was taken into custody Tuesday over a June factory accident that killed two workers and injured three, amid alleged safety failures and delayed rescue. Police say cylinder replacement lacked approval, trained staff, protective gear and emergency safeguards, while breaching procedures. The accident occurred in a heat-treatment pit on June 9.