FBI probes ‘suspicious letters’ with white powder sent to election offices in multiple states

The FBI, Postal Inspection Service and Capitol Police are investigating suspicious letters sent to congressional and election offices, some containing an unknown substance; no injuries have been reported. Louisiana and Oklahoma evacuated election offices, while a letter intended for Ohio was intercepted. Officials seek to intercept mail and identify those responsible; similar threats preceded the 2024 election.

Dead fish in Yamuna near Burari raise alarm over Delhi river’s water quality

Thousands of dead fish have been reported along the Yamuna near Burari since Wednesday night, raising concerns over pollution and drinking water supplies. Experts suspect untreated industrial effluent or depleted dissolved oxygen, but the cause remains unconfirmed. September monitoring showed rising biochemical oxygen demand and faecal contamination, while similar incidents have repeatedly occurred in Delhi waterways.

Cognizant leases 6.45 lakh sq ft office space in Chennai for 10 years at a total rent of ₹303 crore

Cognizant India leased 645,172 sq ft at Embassy Splendid TechZone in Chennai’s Pallavaram for five years, with rent totaling about ₹303 crore, property records show. At ₹74 per sq ft monthly, rent is roughly ₹4.77 crore, alongside a ₹28.64-crore deposit and 15% escalation every three years. The company renewed a Navi Mumbai lease in 2025.

New Zealand is a frontier which most teams have not conquered: Sanjay Bangar

Former India assistant coach Sanjay Bangar says India’s New Zealand Test hopes hinge on first-innings runs, fit fast bowlers and depth at No. 7-8, with the two matches crucial to World Test Championship qualification. He said local conditions reduce spin’s impact and reward adaptation; India have lost six of their last eight Tests against New Zealand.

No place for mafia in UP, homes for poor to come up on reclaimed land: CM

Yogi Adityanath said land reclaimed from mafia in Prayagraj will be used for multi-storey homes for poor, Dalits and marginalised communities, declaring the mafia has no place in Uttar Pradesh. At a Varanasi event concluding a 76-day cleanliness campaign, he promised action against wage deductions and cited sanitation workers’ pay and welfare benefits.

Kuki woman killed, two missing after gunfight breaks out in Manipur’s Kamjong: Police

A Kuki woman was reportedly killed and two Kuki-Zo civilians went missing after a gunfight between Kuki and Naga groups in Manipur’s Kamjong district Thursday, police said; allegations blaming suspected NSCN-IM members remain unverified. The clash occurred near Myanmar amid escalating violence after killings and ambushes. Ethnic conflict began in May 2023, leaving 260 dead and displacing 60,000 people.

Cockroach effigy to burn alongside Raavan's at Ramlila Ground amid CJP protests

Delhi’s Pitampura Ramlila will burn a 30-foot cockroach effigy alongside Ravan, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad, with organisers saying it represents filth and promotes cleanliness under Swachh Bharat and Swachh Delhi. Committee president Ashok Goel called the decision apolitical, framing it as a message of good defeating evil. The plan coincides with Cockroach Janata Party protests over alleged electoral-roll irregularities.

Living in a rented home? Here's how to personalise your space without making permanent changes

Renters can personalise homes without permanent changes using portable décor, textiles, artwork and everyday accents, says designer Krsnaa Mehta. Cushions, rugs, tableware, lamps and planters add colour and character; removable strips let residents display art, while blending contemporary pieces with Indian influences creates individual style. These adaptable choices address rental restrictions and move with residents.

Massive fire breaks out at Los Angeles three-story apartment building, mass evacuation underway

A massive fire tore through a three-story residential building on Kingsley Drive in East Hollywood around 4:30 a.m. Thursday, prompting evacuations and sending an occupant to hospital; her condition was unknown. About 160 Los Angeles firefighters battled flames spreading from the basement through three floors and interior cavities. Traffic disruptions are expected, and investigators are determining the cause.

UP Congress chief slams BJP over VB G RAM G ‘attendance fraud’

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Aradhana Mishra accused the BJP-led government of attendance fraud under VB-G RAM G, alleging forged records and altered photographs cheated workers of wages. She cited alleged irregularities in nine districts, including Ayodhya, where 1,224 workers were allegedly marked present online during rains, and sought an impartial probe. The new scheme replaced MGNREGA.

Akhilesh alleges BJP, ECI undermining democracy, manipulating voter rolls

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP and Election Commission of undermining democracy through voter-roll manipulation, alleging more than 1.92 million fake entries and demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. At a Lucknow press conference, he cited undisclosed applications and duplicate details, urging booth monitoring and Aadhaar-linked rolls. He also welcomed political defectors to the SP.

Trump halts livestream plan for Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan’s execution

President Donald Trump has cancelled plans to livestream the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan, barring the public from watching online. Hasan remains scheduled for execution by firing squad on December 3, while victims’ immediate families may attend in person. The decision reverses a livestream announcement issued last week by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Madhuri Dixit and Shriram Nene celebrate 27th anniversary with rare photos from their wedding

Dr Shriram Nene marked his 27th wedding anniversary with Madhuri Dixit by sharing rare wedding photos and a tribute celebrating their life, family, challenges and laughter. In Farah Khan’s cooking vlog, cook Dilip recalled feeling like a “prom king” at the celebrity-filled reception, where he knew only Amitabh Bachchan. The couple married in California in 1999.

Food safety lapses in 30 of 41 railway catering units inspected: UP FSDA

Uttar Pradesh’s food safety agency ordered a Lucknow railway catering kitchen closed after finding rodents and unhygienic conditions, while seizing 978 kg of unlabeled rice crumbs at a Kanpur caterer. The crackdown found deficiencies in 30 railway units across 11 districts; officials issued notices, pursued registration cancellation and collected 26 samples, including at airport caterers.

SC to issue orders on preventive steps taken by Centre to curb online child sexual abuse content

The Supreme Court will issue directions to prevent child sexual abuse material (CSEAM) online after the Centre submitted a draft SOP for intermediaries to detect, remove and report content via Sahyog. Calling the issue serious, the Court will revisit the case in a month. A petition invokes the Court’s 2024 ruling requiring platforms to report abuse to authorities.

Big pharma is pouring billions into a new class of ‘protein degrader’ drugs

Protein degraders hijack cells’ recycling systems to destroy disease-driving proteins conventional medicines struggle to target, and early cancer results—including Lisa Moore’s remission and FDA approvals for rare cancers—have attracted billions in investment. Their effectiveness across larger populations and safety remain uncertain, as researchers assess possible harm to healthy proteins while trials expand into blood cancers, Parkinson’s and autoimmune disease.

Khangurra advances to semis at the Cairo BWF World Junior Championships, assures India a medal

India’s Jagsher Singh Khangurra secured at least a bronze medal at the BWF World Junior Championships in Cairo, rallying past Chinese Taipei’s Yuan-Syue Jhuang 6-15, 17-15, 15-12 to reach the semifinals, where he will face Indonesia’s Radithya Bayu Wardhana. Ranked 18th among juniors, Khangurra trains in Bengaluru; Saina Nehwal remains India’s only junior world champion, winning gold in 2008.

Guwahati gets northeast’s first visa application centre, will ease travel hassles, says CM Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma opened the Northeast’s first visa centre in Guwahati, letting residents apply for visas to seven countries and 29 Schengen destinations without travelling to Delhi or Kolkata. VFS Global’s centre at Khanapara’s ISBT serves all eight states; embassies decide visa applications. Direct flights connect Guwahati with Dubai, Singapore and Bhutan.

SP, Congress prioritise own families over public welfare: Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused Congress and Samajwadi Party of favouring family interests, neglecting religious-site development and enabling mafias while campaigning for BJP candidates in Mirzapur. He defended the government’s record on jobs, security and infrastructure, citing the Vindhyavasini corridor and institutions, and said the opposition had obstructed projects. Earlier, he prayed at the temple.

Trump breaks silence on Kimberly Guilfoyle's resignation, ‘She dated my son, we didn’t like…’

President Donald Trump requested Kimberly Guilfoyle’s resignation as ambassador to Greece, distancing himself after reports alleged she sought $100,000 from a donor seeking access to pay an American Express bill; Guilfoyle denies the claims. Trump said he disliked the reports and stressed she was not family. She and Trump Jr. ended their engagement in 2024.

DP World India Championship: 'Surprised' Norgaard in sole lead after birdie blitz

Denmark’s Niklas Norgaard took a one-shot lead at the rain-delayed DP World India Championship, shooting six-under through accurate play on Delhi Golf Club’s narrow fairways. Om Prakash Chouhan was the leading Indian at four-under, while Rory McIlroy and defending champion Tommy Fleetwood shared 13th. Norgaard’s resurgence, including two runner-up finishes, restored confidence after his slump.

‘Couldn’t wait to kill Indians’: US teen told co-workers before foiled temple shooting

A 19-year-old man was arrested before an alleged attack on a Hindu temple in Aurora, after his rifle jammed and coworkers alerted police. Prosecutors say Alexandros Paporakis arrived armed with a rifle, ammunition, body armor and gasoline, and spent months researching the site and drafting a manifesto targeting groups. He faces charges; allegations remain unproven.

India vs West Indies: Sixes galore as series pushes for record

India and West Indies have hit 98 sixes in four T20Is, making the five-match series one of the most prolific and leaving the record within reach: 23 more in Bengaluru would surpass England-West Indies’ 120 in 2023. West Indies lead India 57-41, with most sixes coming after the Powerplay, reflecting T20’s shift toward aggression.

Assam University assistant professor booked for molesting woman researcher in Bengaluru: Police

An Assam University assistant professor was booked after a researcher accused him of molesting her at a Bengaluru academic conference, while police said the university’s Internal Complaints Committee inquiry would inform their investigation. She alleges he propositioned and threatened her, then obstructed her PhD progress. She filed her complaint on October 11 over an incident in September.

Oil shipping costs spike 9 times to $40.50 a barrel as US-Japan tanker trip hits $81 million

US-to-Japan crude shipping has surged ninefold, with one tanker voyage now costing $81 million and threatening higher fuel and consumer prices. Shipping costs pressure refiners and oil-importing nations, accounting for over 40% of US oil prices. War-related attacks, higher insurance, rerouted journeys and scarce tankers are driving freight rates up, while tanker owners reap substantial profits.

AI companies want to become frontier scientific researchers

AI rivals are catching DeepMind in scientific discovery: OpenAI solved hundreds of mathematical problems, Anthropic claims Claude revealed a potential CRISPR successor, and Sakana’s AI-written paper passed peer review. Labs seek prestige and profit, but science provides verifiable challenges that improve models. Frontier research may concentrate power among firms; DeepMind’s AlphaFold helped pioneer the field.

Travel Watch: Festive travel 2026 trends show which destinations top Indian travellers’ lists

Indian travellers are reshaping festive breaks around preferred experiences, with Bangkok, Phuket and Tokyo topping international searches and Goa, Puri and Udaipur leading domestic choices for October–November 2026. Agoda recorded standout year-on-year growth for Puri, Sri Lanka, Phu Quoc and Tokyo, reflecting rising interest in city, beach, heritage and hill escapes during India’s festive season.

International fans go gaga over new Ramayana trailer featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Yash's face off

Ramayana: Rise of a Legend is set for a two-part release, with its first instalment opening worldwide on November 5, 2026, during Diwali, and its sequel expected the following year. Its international trailer features Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, showcasing sweeping visuals in a large-scale retelling of the ancient epic.

Thieves break into Ambala government school twice, steal gas cylinders, food supplies, utensils

Thieves twice robbed a Dhurkada government school’s mid-day meal room, taking four gas cylinders, food supplies, 50 steel tumblers and utensils, police said Thursday. The first theft was discovered October 13, after staff locked the room the previous evening; two days later, an aluminium tub and three cooking pots were missing. Police registered a case against unknown suspects.

Woman can face gang rape charge without personally committing the act, says Delhi HC

Delhi High Court ruled that a woman can face gang-rape charges even without physically raping the victim, if she acted with others in furtherance of a common intention. The court rejected a mother’s challenge to charges in her minor daughter’s case, clarifying that a woman cannot be charged alone, and upheld the trial court’s order.