Bihar MLC elections: BJP wins 2, leads on 1; JDU, RJD, JSP win 1 seat each, Independents 2

Bihar’s MLC polls gave the NDA a mixed result: the BJP won Tirhut Teachers’ and Kosi Graduates’, and led in Darbhanga Graduates’ but lost Patna Teachers’ stronghold to the RJD. JD(U) retained Patna Graduates’; Jan Suraaj, RJD and independent candidates won other seats, while Congress won none. The council has 75 seats, with 12 nominated members.

Patrick Mahomes’ foundation enlists Kansas City eatery under their food allergy safety initiative

Patrick Mahomes promoted a food-allergy safety initiative after Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que became its first restaurant partner. The 15-and-FARE programme, launched with Food Allergy Research & Education by Mahomes’ foundation, aims to expand allergy support in Kansas City. Joe’s staff completed food-allergy handling training. Founded in 2019, the foundation focuses on children’s health and wellness.

Katie Zacharia says she would take back White House Press Secretary job if Trump asks

Former White House press secretary Katie Zacharia says a new role is lined up and she would accept another job with President Donald Trump, but has not disclosed details. In her first post-exit interview, she told NewsNation’s Rob Finnerty that “exciting things” lie ahead and reaffirmed her support for Trump. She left after a scrutinized debut briefing.

First images of Captain Smit Machchhar's injury show stitches on his head as UAE honours him

The UAE awarded Indian Captain Smit Machchhar and flydubai crew members the First Class Order of Zayed II for protecting passengers during a cockpit attack. Injured by his co-pilot, Machchhar opened the cockpit door, allowing others to subdue the attacker; a pilot landed in Saudi Arabia. Machchhar was treated in Abu Dhabi, while the motive remains unclear.

‘Bullet marks on car, house’: Shots fired in Delhi's Pitampura; police probe gang link

Police said at least six shots were fired Wednesday at an alleged bookmaker’s Pitampura home, damaging the house and a parked car but injuring no one. They recovered a live cartridge and two empty cases while probing possible extortion; gang involvement remains unconfirmed. The alleged victim reportedly received a threat from Lawrence Bishnoi in 2021.

Trump says Netanyahu is in ‘pretty good shape’ after ‘horror reports’ of Israeli election

Donald Trump said his endorsement helped Benjamin Netanyahu’s election showing, calling the prime minister in “pretty good shape” as partial results indicated a tight contest. With 93% counted, Netanyahu’s bloc led the opposition, but neither neared the 61 seats needed for a majority; Arab parties were projected to win a record 19 seats. Government talks now loom.

WPL auction: Sophie Molineux top buy, teams go for uncapped players

UP Warriorz made Sophie Molineux the WPL auction’s costliest buy at ₹1.10 crore, pairing her with Meg Lanning in their title bid. Grace Harris returned for ₹30 lakh, while Delhi Capitals secured Kiran Navgire for ₹75 lakh. Across the auction, teams spent ₹73.1 crore and filled 25 of 27 slots, including 14 uncapped players bought.

Lucknow: Crematorium worker killed over video recording suspicion; 3 colleagues abscond

A 29-year-old crematorium worker was allegedly murdered after a suspected dispute over video recording; post-mortem findings confirmed a fatal head injury, and three coworkers named by his family remain absconding. Relatives protested at Baikunth Dham crematorium for nearly four hours, demanding arrests, Rs 20 lakh compensation and a government job. Police formed three teams to pursue the case.

Ludhiana: MC inspector held for accepting ₹25k bribe for property transfer

Punjab Vigilance Bureau arrested Ludhiana municipal inspector Shubham Wednesday, catching him allegedly accepting ₹25,000 to facilitate transfer of ancestral property to a complainant and his brothers. The Ajit Nagar resident filed documents at Zone-B and reported the demand. A trap, witnessed by two officials, led to his arrest; authorities registered a corruption case, and investigation continues.

State to NGT: 26 dyeing units operating outside sewage treatment grid in Ludhiana

Punjab told the National Green Tribunal that 26 dyeing units in Ludhiana’s Industrial Area-A remain outside the city’s CETP network because connections are infeasible and land for a separate facility remains unavailable. The state did not clarify whether the units have compliant alternative treatment, leaving a key gap in the 2019 pollution-control plan for Buddha Nullah and the Sutlej.

₹1,700 crore paid to farmers as Ludhiana procures 7 LMT paddy

Ludhiana received 7.18 lakh tonnes of paddy by October 27; agencies bought 7.02 lakh tonnes, and farmers received ₹1,705.91 crore, Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain said. Agencies had lifted 5.46 lakh tonnes, leaving 1.57 lakh tonnes in mandis. Farmers should bring mature, dry grain within 17% moisture limits; harvesting is restricted to 10 am–6 pm, and the MSP is ₹2,461 per quintal.

NCP names Zeeshan Siddique as Mumbai chief as Parth Pawar pushes organisational changes amid dissent

NCP’s appointment of Parth Pawar ally Zeeshan Siddique as Mumbai unit president signals an organisational reshuffle, but has triggered senior resistance as Parth seeks greater control. Working president Siddharth Kamble resigned in protest, while Brijmohan Shrivastav challenged another appointment as unconstitutional. Further party and cabinet changes are expected amid electoral setbacks and calls for introspection.

Ludhiana: Bike-borne assailants fire two shots at Rajoana village gurdwara

Two masked, bike-borne men fired twice at head sevadar Baldev Singh’s room at Gurdwara Manji Sahib in Rajoana Kalan early Wednesday; he escaped injury by sheltering in an attached bathroom. Police registered a case and are reviewing CCTV while probing a possible link to an earlier shooting at a nearby gurdwara, where attackers left a letter threatening officials.

Josh Inglis, Alex Carey put Australia in driving seat against South Africa

India’s Kajal Dhochak and Neelam Sirohi claimed silver at Worlds, extending India’s wait for a women’s world title. Dhochak lost 6-8 to Ukraine’s Anastasiya Alpyeyeva, while Japan’s Yui Susaki pinned Sirohi. Their achievement marked the first time two Indian women reached the Worlds final at a single edition; Anshu Malik won silver in 2021.

Govt to study feasibility of subterranean road network in Patna; AI policy gets cabinet nod

Bihar’s cabinet approved 43 proposals, led by a feasibility study for underground roads in Patna to ease congestion, an AI policy and scientific flood-risk studies on the Kosi, Gandak and Sone. It also cleared Sonepur planning changes, Motipur industrial development, power-grid investment and consultants for major roads, alongside job-creation and policing measures, at Wednesday’s meeting.

China rejects Real Madrid's defence of Mbappe over Mao joke as club apologises

Real Madrid apologized to China after broadcaster CCTV rejected its defense of Kylian Mbappé’s remarks about Mao Zedong, suspending La Liga coverage and escalating fallout. Mbappé called his comments ill-judged, but sponsors ended partnerships and accounts were restricted. The controversy began in a podcast, where he joked about an image comparing him to the leader.

Ludhiana: Two councillors booked for burning effigies of CM, mayor and AAP MLA

Tibba police booked two councillors and others for allegedly burning Dussehra effigies bearing photographs of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Mayor Inderjit Kaur and AAP MLA Daljit Grewal, and circulating a video of the act. A complainant said the display and remarks hurt sentiments; one councillor had earlier faced a case after an alleged altercation with a municipal employee.

Ludhiana: Govt school teacher’s house burgled in Dugri

Two unidentified burglars broke into a Dugri Phase 2 home while its government school teacher and son attended a wedding, stealing gold jewellery, silver coins and ₹60,000, police said. CCTV showed them scaling the gate around 3 a.m. and entering through a kitchen grille. Police registered a BNS case and are reviewing footage to identify them.

Ludhiana: Heavy vehicles banned on busy stretch for 2 months

Ludhiana police have barred heavy vehicles from the Samrala Chowk–Atam Park stretch daily from 5pm to 9pm for two months to ease festival-season congestion and reduce accident risks. Passenger buses and emergency vehicles are exempt. Police say heavy traffic prompted the order, while trucks, containers and tippers are restricted on Rahon Road during construction.

Spain Train Crash: Shocking images show rail piercing through carriage

At least 68 people were killed when a Renfe train struck a stationary Iryo service in Toledo province on Wednesday, derailing carriages and driving track through a coach. A passenger described a “massive roar” lasting 10 seconds. Investigators are determining why the collision occurred; high-speed services were suspended as emergency crews responded. It was Spain’s deadliest rail crash in more than a decade.

Udta Teer box office collection day 6: Ayushmann Khurrana's spy comedy crosses ₹28 crore

Udta Teer collected ₹2.65 crore on Wednesday, its sixth day in theatres, taking its India total to ₹28.65 crore. The spy-comedy opened at ₹4.10 crore, climbed to a Sunday peak of ₹8.20 crore, then dipped from Monday; discounted offers may steady collections ahead of Ramayana. Ayushmann Khurrana plays a Pakistani spy who believes he is an Indian officer.

Israel election: Arab parties projected to win record 19 seats but may not be 'kingmakers'

Arab-led parties are projected to win a record 17 seats in Israel’s 120-member parliament, potentially giving them leverage in government talks as neither bloc has a majority. Their support could lift opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot’s alliance above the 61-seat threshold, but Netanyahu and Eisenkot reject partnering with them. Arab citizens have long faced political exclusion.

Ludhiana: BJP seeks staff verification, probe into sweeping tender

The BJP demands verification of municipal sanitation workers and review of an ₹82.5-crore mechanical-sweeping contract, threatening protests if officials do not act. Councillor Sunil Modgil wants ward-wise duty lists matched against payroll and actual deployment, and the tender’s cost, necessity and process examined, with work paused pending review. The city has 1,208 permanent workers and temporary, outsourced staff.

Haris Rauf penalised by ICC for on-field altercation with Will Jacks

Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf was fined 20 per cent of his fee for misconduct during the one-run ODI win over England, after arguing with Will Jacks, raising his bat and brushing past an umpire. A demerit point took his total to five, putting him at risk of suspension, while England were fined for a slow over-rate.

Antilia bomb scare: Court to examine first witness on November 4

The Antilia bomb-scare and Hiran murder trial involving Sachin Waze and nine others enters the evidence stage November 4, with nine witnesses scheduled through December 14. Hiran’s son, brother and widow will testify about his movements and allegations against Waze; claims remain untested. The case follows explosives found near Ambani’s home and Hiran’s 2021 death.

Book Review | Jeffery Archer’s Adam & Eve is the perfect swan song for the late author’s legacy

Jeffrey Archer’s posthumous *Adam & Eve* follows an earl’s daughter and shepherd’s son, born hours apart, whose friendship and romance unfold amid England’s march toward World War II. Their lives cross social upheaval, royal abdication, Nazi infiltration and the Battle of Britain, in a brisk saga with humor. Spanning 1918–1940, it echoes *Kane and Abel*.

Chef Ranveer Brar shares how to make delicious mushroom pizza without an oven

Celebrity chef and MasterChef India judge Ranveer Brar shared an oven-free tawa mushroom pizza recipe, requiring about an hour of preparation and 15 minutes of cooking. It combines curd-based dough, tomato-garlic sauce, sautéed vegetables, mozzarella and basil, cooked covered in a flat pan until the cheese melts. HT.com notes this social-media recipe is not independently verified.

Akasa Air to hike pilot salaries by up to 20%, increase annual leave entitlements

Akasa Air will raise pilots’ salaries by up to 20 per cent from January 1, 2027, while guaranteeing 50 monthly flying hours and at least 42 annual leave days as it expands. Pilots will also get flexible work patterns and loyalty rewards. Launched in 2022, Akasa operates 45 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and has over 800 pilots.

Jailer 2 box office collection day 14: Rajinikanth film slows down midweek, crosses ₹420 crore

Rajinikanth’s *Jailer 2* has collected ₹422.95 crore in India by day 14, despite slowing to a lowest haul of ₹6.50 crore, while becoming the year’s highest-grossing Tamil film and second-highest Indian release, behind *Dhurandhar The Revenge*. Nelson Dilipkumar thanked audiences for their response. Released October 15, *Jailer 2* reunites Nelson and Rajinikanth, with music by Anirudh Ravichander.

Florida to investigate Chinese-owned yacht firm for operating base near US Coast Guard station

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier opened an investigation into Ferretti Group over its Florida property and operations near Coast Guard Station Fort Lauderdale, amid claims it may violate a 2023 law restricting Chinese entities’ property ownership. Officials have not detailed the inquiry or identified a violation. Founded in 1968, Ferretti has had a roughly 40% stake held by China’s Weichai Group since 2012.