Wilber Perez, Austin ICE shooting victim, indicted on federal assault charge

Wilber Perez, 28, a Venezuelan driver shot by ICE in Austin, has been indicted on a federal charge alleging he used his vehicle as a deadly weapon against officers; he remains in custody and is presumed innocent. Prosecutors cite body-camera footage, while Austin police say evidence is outstanding. September 20 shooting remains under investigation.

HT City Delhi Junction: Catch It Live on October 21, 2026 in Delhi, Noida and Gurugram

Delhi’s October 20–21 cultural calendar features art, dance, qawwali, crafts and comedy across Mandi House, Greater Kailash and Saket. Fanna-Fi-Allah performs Sufi qawwali at LTG Auditorium October 20–21, while a Diwali Glow Lab and Kaustubh Agarwal’s comedy show take place October 21. A free art exhibition runs through October 26, alongside a free dance showcase.

Mitchell Santner wary of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi threat despite India's opening conundrum

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner says his side has plans for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi if the teenager plays Thursday’s T20I opener, though India may stick with openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. Santner acknowledged Sooryavanshi’s threat, underscored by 776 IPL runs and a record 72 sixes this season, while noting Christchurch’s larger boundaries could aid bowlers.

Two charred bodies recovered after fire at scrap godown in Mumbai

Two people died and four were injured when fire swept a scrap godown in Mumbai’s Sakinaka, officials said; the dead remain unidentified, and the cause is unknown. Reported Tuesday, the blaze burned for six hours, spread across 4,000 square feet, and damaged commercial units and homes. It was the city’s third fire that day.

HAL hands over 3 HTT-40 trainers; Bhagwat says protests don’t bring change | Top news

HAL has handed over its first three HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the IAF, marking a milestone in India’s indigenous programme, but full training at the Air Force Academy may take up to two years as the service builds a fleet of 25–30 aircraft and trains instructors. The delivery took place in Bengaluru on September 18.

Brother-in-law among 3 held for suspected murder of 37-year-old woman in Sohna

Police arrested three men, including Neetu’s brother-in-law, for allegedly murdering the 37-year-old because she opposed selling land. Sandeep allegedly hired two accomplices, who tied and strangled her in her bathroom on October 16, then ransacked her home to stage a burglary. He had taken a buyer’s advance and was dismissed from the army in 2023.

K'taka govt to use private agencies for regulatory inspections to clear backlog

Karnataka uses authorised third-party agencies for inspections, audits and certifications in departments facing shortages, clearing backlogs and meeting deadlines. The focus is Legal Metrology, Food Safety and Drugs Administration, and Factories and Boilers. Government officials retain statutory enforcement powers; random checks and penalties ensure accountability. Departments must submit action plans under Administrative Reforms Commission-2 recommendations.

‘Informing isn’t seeking clearance’: Priyank Kharge tells RSS to seek police nod for Oct 25 marches

Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge said the RSS needs police permission for Bengaluru’s October 25 Vijayadashami marches; letters notifying authorities and seeking cooperation are insufficient. Citing logistics for large processions, he urged applications. BJP’s S. Prakash countered with a Madras High Court ruling permitting RSS marches in Tamil Nadu, amid state-RSS tensions over public property.

PARAKH proposes classroom interventions to address learning gaps found in 2024 survey

PARAKH urged states and districts to turn 2024 survey findings into targeted monthly teaching, identifying weak competencies, tailoring support and assessing progress. Its framework recommends play-based foundational learning, guided reading, concept-based mathematics and critical thinking in higher grades. Mathematics scores fell from 60% in Class 3 to 37% in Class 9; PARAKH is NCERT’s regulator under NEP 2020.

Sensex, Nifty open higher, Jio Platforms' record IPO in focus

Indian stocks were poised to rise Wednesday as investors focused on Jio Platforms’ record $3.2 billion IPO and optimism for a US-India trade deal within weeks, though Brent crude above $110 threatened to limit gains. GIFT Nifty signalled a positive open after Monday’s sell-off, while Jio’s anchor investment and Bajaj Finance’s quarterly profit supported sentiment.

Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi's Ramayana made tax-free in West Bengal ahead of release

Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Yash as Ravana, has been declared tax-free in West Bengal, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Dussehra ahead of its November 5, 2026 release. The two-part, reportedly ₹4,000-crore film features Sai Pallavi and Sunny Deol; Adhikari expressed condolences over a Kolkata Durga Puja stampede.

Outer space should remain realm for corporation, not conflict: MP Sudha Murty tells UNGA

India urged a binding, universally acceptable and verifiable agreement to prevent an arms race in space, insisting the domain remain one of cooperation, not conflict. At the UN, MP Sudha Murty said voluntary norms should complement, not replace, a treaty, warning against fragmented standards. India’s ambitions include lunar exploration and human spaceflight.

Yami Gautam serves ethnic fashion goals in an elegant purple saree for Ravan Dahan at Red Fort

Yami Gautam wore Anita Dongre’s royal-purple silk saree at the Red Fort’s Ravan Dahan celebration, where its gold border and matching blouse created a regal yet understated festive look. Gold earrings, wrist jewellery and a bindi completed the styling, balanced by loose hair and fresh makeup. Gautam began as a model before her Bollywood debut.

'Tired of spreading lies': BJP mocks Rahul Gandhi over foreign trip; Cong hits out

BJP criticized Rahul Gandhi over a purported Vietnam trip, accusing him of abandoning protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter-roll irregularities. Congress called the attack unnecessary, saying Gandhi was taking a brief break and INDIA bloc demonstrations would resume November 1 after a festive pause. The BJP has long targeted Gandhi over foreign travel.

In 1897, Yosemite began stocking fishless lakes with trout; now its rare frogs are rebounding

Introduced trout, followed by deadly chytrid fungus, devastated Yosemite’s yellow-legged frogs, but populations have rebounded sevenfold in 20 years, offering hope for a species still federally endangered. Ending fish stocking and removing trout from lakes aided recovery, while some frogs appear fungus-resistant. Once abundant in fishless high-elevation waters, the comeback remains limited to Yosemite.

Priyanka Chopra performs Dussehra puja at home with Nick Jonas and daughter Malti Marie

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas celebrated Dussehra with daughter Malti, sharing photos of their puja featuring Shivling abhishek, a hawan and Nick washing Malti’s feet in a gesture resembling Kanya Pujan. The family wore green, while Malti accessorised with bangles and a “Jai Mata Di” scarf. Priyanka’s next film is SS Rajamouli’s *Varanasi*, scheduled for 2027.

Brazil’s love affair with cellphones turns theft into an election flashpoint

Brazil’s cellphone theft problem has become a defining issue in Sunday’s tight presidential runoff, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and challenger Flávio Bolsonaro pledging tougher penalties. Although thefts are declining, about 830,000 phones were reported stolen last year, while fraud involving stolen devices more than quadrupled. High prices and few recoveries worsen the impact.

Tried and Tested the Beyond Quantum 4-burner gas stove for 45 days

After 45-plus days, Beyond Appliances’ Quantum four-burner stove proved practical, heating quickly, spacing all burners for simultaneous use, and extending the household’s LPG cycle from about 25 to 32 days. The reviewer cannot verify the claimed annual savings of two cylinders, but reports faster cooking and easy cleanup; steel rings blacken despite cleaning, a cosmetic drawback.

Brazil elections 2026: Lula, Bolsonaro seek each other's disqualification over social media row

Brazil’s rivals Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro seek each other’s disqualification before Sunday’s runoff: Lula will challenge Meta over alleged suppression of his content, while Bolsonaro’s campaign accuses him of abusing power with government WhatsApp posts. Meta says it complied with court orders; Flávio led the first round 47% to 45%, while polls show a tie.

Kate Middleton wears yellow Elie Saab dress with Princess Diana's famous Lover’s Knot tiara

At Windsor Castle’s October 20 banquet honoring Oman’s Sultan and UK-Oman ties, Princess Kate wore a butter-yellow Elie Saab gown with orders and heirloom jewels, while Prince William appeared in white tie. Kate’s accessories included Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot tiara, worn by Princess Diana; crafted in 1913, it is her favored headpiece for formal events.

Praveen Kumar shatters Asian Para Games record to clinch men's high jump gold

Praveen Kumar won India’s second gold and 11th overall at the Asian Para Games, clearing 2.05 metres for an Asian Para Games record in the men’s high jump T44/64. Banti claimed silver with 1.92m, while Uzbekistan’s Temurbek Giyazov took bronze. Kumar broke Giyazov’s 2018 mark of 1.95m; he had won silver at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

In 1969, Panama added peacock bass for sport fishing, and 60% of native fish in Gatun Lake vanished

An accidental 1969 release of 60–100 peacock bass into Panama’s Gatun Lake devastated native fish populations; coastal abundance fell 96 percent, while species richness fell 64 percent. Introduced for sport fishing, the Amazon predators remain dominant, and some native species may be locally extinct. A follow-up confirmed decades-old losses, highlighting lasting risks of fish stocking.

India opposes attempts to portray world's largest democracy negatively using unverified allegations at UN

India told the UN that human rights must not be tools of political pressure or selective targeting, rejecting portrayals based on unverified claims and incomplete statistics. Barkha Tamrakar said India supports transparent engagement and will address documented cases through established channels. She spoke after UN experts criticized police responses to Delhi youth protests, remarks New Delhi called interference.

Europe’s dependence on America in space is hard to escape

Europe’s space-autonomy drive has become urgent as uncertainty over American support for Ukraine exposes reliance on satellite internet, intelligence and launch capacity. Starlink outstrips OneWeb, while missile-warning systems and rockets remain years behind. IRIS 2, the EU’s €15bn satellite network, is not due until 2029; startups and partnerships help, but autonomy requires sustained investment and regular launches.

Alia Bhatt and Shefali Shah's Darlings co-star Divya Vinekar dies

Actor and content creator Divya Vinekar has died unexpectedly, her friend, RJ Rohini Ramnathan, announced on Instagram, asking people to avoid enquiries as family and loved ones grieve. Ramnathan remembered Vinekar as a kind professional and a pillar at Fever FM. Vinekar played a police constable in *Darlings* and appeared in *Jalsa*, both released in 2022.

With Rubio in India, Trump says trade deal ‘pretty close’, hints at ‘different kind of deal’

Donald Trump and Marco Rubio say the United States and India are close to finalising a bilateral trade deal, with Rubio citing just a few unresolved items and expecting an announcement soon. During his India visit, Rubio urged greater purchases of US energy and technology. The first tranche is undergoing legal drafting, following February’s interim framework.

AI-powered personal assistants could reshape the digital economy

Personal AI agents from startup Instinct and Meta are attracting users by proactively handling tasks including bookings, shopping and calendars, but security, reliability and business access remain barriers to mass adoption. Instinct’s service is growing, while Meta’s Muse has surpassed 10m downloads. This marks a sharp contrast with Siri, whose 2010 debut failed to deliver.

China’s universities are rich. But they're getting squeezed

China’s universities are tightening budgets as science-and-technology spending growth slows, intensifying competition for grants, jobs and promotions despite rising research funding. Local-government strains, a property slump and soaring graduate numbers squeeze campuses; companies increasingly fund research but favor commercial work and elite institutions. After decades of expansion, Beijing is steering programmes toward AI and favored fields.

Donald Trump, human wrecking-ball

Donald Trump’s wrecking-ball foreign policy has broken the once-reliable pattern of presidential overcorrection, giving successors choices and dividing Democrats. They could restore alliances, avoid reckless wars and put national interest first, while retaining popular elements such as border controls or industrial policy. Since Nixon, presidents typically swung against their predecessors; Trump swings unpredictably.

In the 1960s, Sweden stocked signal crayfish for anglers; their plague cut native crayfish fourfold

Sweden’s noble crayfish is critically endangered, with up to 97 percent of its population lost over the past century as signal crayfish introduced in the 1960s spread deadly plague. The newcomer boosted fishing but devastated stocks; pollution, acidification and water regulation compounded the decline. The plague has also affected nearly 1,000 Swedish waters since 1994.