Weekend Drive by Hormazd Sorabjee: Falcon in the desert

Saudi Arabia’s first home-grown car brand, Ceer, has unveiled two electric Exobot flagships, aiming to build a domestic auto industry. Backed by sovereign wealth and Foxconn, the sedan and SUV promise 1,111 horsepower, 670-kilometre range and desert-ready cooling. Production begins in 2027, though only 18% of components are locally sourced; Ceer targets 45% by 2034.

‘Can't replace Americans with foreign servants': Why the axe fell hard on Microsoft

The US suspended Microsoft and IT firms from new and pending labour certification processing for green cards after JD Vance questioned whether they replaced laid-off Americans with foreign workers. Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini are also targeted. Officials cite nearly three million foreign-worker requests since 2009; Indians, prominent H-1B workers, could be affected.

Drishyam 3 box office collection day 7: Ajay Devgn film beats Drishyam 2 lifetime haul in first week

Drishyam 3 has collected ₹245.50 crore net in India after seven days, including ₹13 crore on day seven, surpassing Drishyam 2’s lifetime total of ₹239.67 crore and putting Ajay Devgn’s thriller within reach of Tanhaji’s ₹279.59 crore record. After a career-best ₹66.75 crore opening, collections declined through the week. The sequel reunites Devgn with returning cast members, with Abhishek Pathak directing.

Spectator by Seema Goswami: The scent of something new

The first shiuli buds herald Durga Puja, stirring enduring joy and childhood memories of Kolkata, where dazzling pandals, new clothes, shopping and rituals made the festival magical. Now living in Delhi, the writer visits a modest neighbourhood pandal each evening to absorb its atmosphere and reconnect with the cherished celebrations of her past.

Rude Food by Vir Sanghvi: Cooking up a storm

Western reports exaggerated Bangkok’s flooding, portraying the city at a standstill, but the journalist found central areas functioning normally, with dry roads, smooth airport arrivals and sunshine. Reassured by local contacts, he attended Anantara’s packed World Gourmet Festival and sampled acclaimed chefs’ dishes. Heavy rains flooded suburbs, while Thai Airways staffing problems disrupted flights.

Job hop: How docs, lawyers and other pros became Instagram superstars

Professionals across fields are turning expertise and personality into social-media personal brands amid job insecurity and AI anxiety. To stand out, creators recommend original, niche content, authentic delivery, useful advice and careful professional boundaries, while sharing personal details selectively. Once associated with public figures, personal branding now attracts everyday workers seeking visibility, clients and career security.

No attack on Iran before November 3 mid-term elections: Trump

President Donald Trump said no U.S. attack on Iran would take place before the November 3 midterm elections, making the vote a clear timing boundary for any potential military action. The announcement links possible escalation with the domestic political calendar, while leaving unanswered what would happen after the elections or what prompted the pledge.

Comic relief: Six authors pick graphic novels that reinvent the form

Graphic novels can be intimate, wordless, surreal or analytical—not just superhero adventures, fantasy or linear fiction, these recommendations show. Picks range from Joshy Benedict’s Kerala gambling tale *The Pig Flip* and Shaun Tan’s silent story of migration, *The Arrival*, to memoir, comic theory and Sarnath Banerjee’s fragmented portrait of India, illustrating a medium whose possibilities extend far beyond familiar conventions.

Too chatty, GPT: Why AI should talk less and just give us the info we need

Today’s chatbots frustrate users with relentless pleasantries, repetition and false empathy, while confident answers can be unreliable or reinforce harmful delusions. Experts say models are optimized to sound helpful and certain, not recognize when they are wrong; post-training encourages responsiveness and sycophancy. With isolated users seeking companionship, efficient, concise AI remains a Hollywood fantasy.

Ranji Trophy: 42-time champions Mumbai are not taking any team lightly

Ranji Trophy has become competitive, Mumbai captain Siddhesh Lad says, warning that no opponent can be taken lightly as the season begins October 11. Champions beyond traditional powers—including Jammu & Kashmir, Vidarbha, Saurashtra and Madhya Pradesh—reflect stronger infrastructure, scouting and preparation. Mumbai, 42-time winners, aim to uphold their standards amid selection pressure and international call-ups.

The Brunch round-up for October 10: The week and how it made us feel

Netflix’s *East of Eden* reimagines Cathy sympathetically, while Namjoon opens his 142-work collection at SFMOMA and Audible develops AI conversations with audiobook characters. The roundup also covers Sonakshi Sinha’s romantic thriller, a revisionist Native American Western, Netflix’s bizarre reality TV, wired earphones’ return and Hinge’s contested safety changes in India, amid wider debates over representation and trust.

UP FSDA suspends 73 food licences over safety lapses

Uttar Pradesh’s Food Safety and Drug Administration suspended 73 food-establishment licences after inspections uncovered expired products, pests, dirty kitchens, poor sanitation and unsafe handling, while restoring 56 licences after corrections. Since launching its ‘Shuddh Hi Shubh Hai’ campaign on September 17, the department inspected 253 establishments and issued 152 improvement notices; further inspections will monitor compliance.

We need to listen to new generation’s views: Nabin

BJP president Nitin Nabin called young people India’s “driving force of change,” urging leaders to hear them and protect their opportunities as they help build a developed nation by 2047. Citing Uttar Pradesh’s jobs, startups and technology growth, he urged the government to make Kashi an IT hub. He also criticized Gandhi’s Election Commission remarks.

Thai actor Fourth Nattawat apologises after Bollywood hero gestures draws backlash from Indian fans

Thai actor Fourth Nattawat apologised to Indian fans after exaggerated gestures during a game-show clue for “Bollywood Hero” drew criticism as cultural stereotyping; co-star Gemini Norawit also faced backlash for laughing. Fourth said he meant no offence but acknowledged causing hurt. The actors rose to fame through *My School President*, later reuniting in several GMMTV projects.

Codeine racket: Allahabad HC allows pleas of alleged kingpins, quashes detention

Allahabad High Court on Thursday quashed detention orders against alleged cough syrup trafficking kingpins Vibhor Rana and Vishal Singh, allowing their habeas corpus petitions under the NDPS Act. They argued authorities had not established a likelihood of release followed by renewed offending. The case concerns Phensedyl diversion; petitioners say codeine formulations meeting specified limits are exempt.

Meerut woman, lover kill husband; body exhumed: Police

Meerut police say beautician Ilma confessed to involvement in husband Talib’s suspected murder after she and alleged lover Aman were booked; authorities exhumed Talib’s body in Muzaffarnagar Thursday for a post-mortem, with findings to guide further action. His family doubted her heart-attack explanation after finding messages with Aman, whom Talib had warned against contacting her.

After IndiGo, Air India and Akasa raise fuel costs amid ATF spike

Air India and Air India Express will raise fuel surcharges on domestic and selected international routes from October 9, joining Akasa Air and IndiGo in passing higher aviation turbine fuel (ATF) costs to passengers. Air India’s domestic fees will range from ₹400 to ₹1,200, while international charges reach USD 215, amid fuel-price and geopolitical pressures.

Bihar EOU recovers ₹52 lakh cash, ₹35 lakh ornaments from executive engineer’s premises

Bihar’s Economic Offences Unit recovered about ₹52 lakh in cash, jewellery worth ₹35 lakh and documents linked to assets worth ₹2 crore while searching executive engineer Narad Kumar Das’s properties. Investigators allege he accumulated ₹83.53 lakh beyond known income; raids covered five locations across four districts. Das joined service in 2014 and is posted in Munger.

US to probe J-1 student visa fraud in 9 top universities; Harvard Yale, MIT on the list

The US Labor Department launched a probe into alleged J-1 visa fraud at nine top universities nationwide, serving subpoenas, as Vice President JD Vance accused them of undercutting American graduate-student and researcher wages. Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito said visa holders would get no special treatment. J-1 visas permit temporary study, work and exchange visits.

Now, Ram temple trust decides to appoint both spokesperson and media in-charge

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust plans to appoint a spokesperson and media in-charge at its December 2 meeting, professionalising outreach after the alleged donation-theft controversy. Its CEO is vetting Sangh- and VHP-linked candidates; one role will address sensitive issues, the other daily press, social media and visitor queries. The move follows growing coverage and construction.

Akhilesh Yadav challenges Yogi Adityanath to contest assembly polls from Ayodhya

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav challenged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to contest the Assembly election from Ayodhya, claiming BJP surveys show it trailing and it cannot find a candidate. Yadav said the SP’s nomination of Pawan Pandey unsettled BJP, promised development and aid to women, as rivals criticised his visit amid temple-donation allegations.

Mayor visits Faizullaganj amid Oppn’s criticism over delay

After more than a week of flooding, Lucknow Mayor Sushma Kharkwal finally visited Faizullaganj on Thursday, facing criticism for her absence from the hard-hit area. She reviewed relief operations, inspected a health camp and food distribution, and directed officials to ensure prompt treatment and quality supplies as river levels receded. Political parties had already distributed aid.

CAPF Act notified two days before SC special bench hearing pleas against it

The Centre has brought the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Act, 2026, into force from October 8, a week before the Supreme Court hears officers’ challenge alleging it circumvents a 2025 order to reduce IPS deputation and improve cadre promotions. The law reserves DG and special DG posts for IPS officers; Parliament passed it in April, after decade-long litigation.

Cricket Australia CEO’s 12-team WTC idea finds few takers

Cricket Australia’s Todd Greenberg says the 2028-29 World Test Championship may expand to 12 teams, but ICC sources say no proposal is planned and boards offer little support. Financial constraints make expansion difficult: many nations cannot afford Test series, while broadcast revenue fails to cover production costs. The next FTP may otherwise change little, with ODI bilaterals largely limited to pre-tournament scheduling.

Four CRPF personnel injured in accidental blast while disposing explosives in Chhattisgarh

Four CRPF personnel, including two assistant sub-inspectors, were injured Thursday when an explosive fragment detonated during disposal of explosives near Elarmadgu camp in Sukma, Chhattisgarh. Two were seriously hurt and two suffered minor injuries; all were taken to Konta hospital after first aid. A Jagdalpur team was clearing unserviceable explosives at camps in the Konta range.

Harmanjot Singh, Lili Das to headline Indian Elite Field at Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon

Harmanjot Singh and Lili Das headline 42 runners (22 men, 20 women) at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon on October 18, with Singh bringing the field’s fastest personal best, 1:01:46. Kiran Matre and Kartik Karkera challenge the men, while former champion Kavita Yadav and steeplechaser Ankita Dhyani strengthen the women’s contest; top-three prizes reach ₹3.5 lakh.

MCG flags 1,625 illegal PGs operating across Gurugram

Gurugram’s civic body identified 1,625 unauthorised paying-guest accommodations lacking licences, registrations or fire clearances, citing overcrowding and safety risks. Of these, 856 are in MCG areas, 492 in licensed colonies, 276 in HSVP sectors and one under HSIIDC; officials plan tax penalties and enforcement. A fire survey found 666 PGs without clearances, despite safety requirements.

SP, Congress take to streets across UP, demand CEC’s exit

SP and Congress workers protested across Uttar Pradesh Thursday, demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities. Police detained Congress chief Aradhna Mishra in Lucknow and blocked SP marches in Agra; demonstrations and effigy burnings occurred statewide. SP’s democracy campaigns provided the backdrop, while Congress observed “Black Day” over alleged Delhi mistreatment.

Mamata Banerjee may join CJP protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar on Oct 10

Mamata Banerjee said she may join the Cockroach Janta Party’s October 10 Jantar Mantar protest demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s removal, as INDIA bloc lawmakers plan a Friday march to Rashtrapati Bhavan and seek President Droupadi Murmu’s intervention over alleged mass disenfranchisement. Banerjee’s participation in the protest is unconfirmed; Trinamool supports the outfit despite Congress suspicions.

How to survive a 14-hour flight without feeling drained: Tips to stay comfortable and well-rested

Long-haul flights can disrupt sleep, hydration and comfort, but planning and onboard habits ease travel and jet lag, says Wego’s Bernard Corraya. Choose a seat for rest or movement, adjust to destination time, hydrate, limit alcohol and caffeine, move often, dress comfortably, eat lightly, keep essentials and entertainment in carry-on, and seek advice about clot risks.