NecroShell: A Haunted Retro Terminal Powered by On-Device Open-Source AI

NecroShell is an interactive retro-style terminal emulator that imagines a CRT shell possessed by an ancient machine spirit. It blends 1980s computing aesthetics, Halloween horror, and Día de los Muertos traditions, and was built for the Hacktoberfest Open-Source AI Challenge's "Ghost in the Machine" theme. The project runs entirely offline using open-weight models served locally, with no cloud dependencies, telemetry, or network requests. Its creators argue that local open models offer privacy, zero recurring cost, creative freedom, and long-term availability compared with closed proprietary APIs. The project was developed with the help of an agentic AI coding tool.

Choosing between AI video effect templates and text-to-video prompts

Creators generating short AI videos typically begin either with a pre-built effect template or with a blank text prompt. Templates fix the motion, style and pacing once you supply an input such as a photo, offering speed and consistency but little room to customize. Text-to-video prompts allow original scenes but require the user to handle creative decisions and often need several attempts to get consistent results. The article suggests templates suit specific photos, repeated looks, or tight deadlines, while prompts suit exploration and unique concepts. It also advises naming one subject and action, specifying camera behavior, and changing one variable at a time when prompting. Outputs from either route can contain artifacts and should be reviewed, with attention to consent when real people appear.

Diwali travel alert for Delhi railway passengers

Sam Altman Says AI Boom Offers Young Professionals a Rare Chance to Build

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has argued that the rapid growth of artificial intelligence is opening a rare window for young professionals to create something new. The remarks reflect his view that the current AI wave is more than a passing trend for those entering the workforce. The source article's headline also refers to his "chronic disappointment" in MBA students, though the supplied text does not expand on that point. Because only a brief excerpt was provided, the full context of Altman's comments is limited in this summary.

India to gain a big edge after US trade deal: Goyal

Sanrio Apologises and Cuts Ties With Japanese Spy Drama After China Backlash

Hello Kitty maker Sanrio has issued an apology following criticism of its merchandise line tied to the Japanese TV series Vivant. The backlash, which came from China, led the company to end its partnership with the spy drama. The article notes the controversy centred on the merchandise collaboration rather than the series itself. Further details about the specific objections raised were not included in the source text.

Cuba to Remain on Daylight Saving Time Until November 2027

Cuba has decided to skip its scheduled clock change on November 1, 2026, keeping daylight saving time in effect. The country will therefore stay on DST until the next scheduled change in November 2027. The announcement was reported by timeanddate.com, a site that tracks time zone and daylight saving changes. The source material provided is limited to the article link and basic discussion metrics, so details about the official reasoning are not included here.

New York Passes Law Restricting AI Chatbot Use for Minors

New York has enacted legislation that places limits on how AI chatbots can be used by minors. Under the law, chatbots are barred from producing outputs that could lead a user to believe the bot has a personal relationship with them, a professional relationship, or an authority-figure role. The provision aims to prevent young users from forming misleading impressions about the nature of AI systems. The source article provides only limited detail on the law's full scope, so further specifics such as enforcement mechanisms and effective dates are not covered here.

69-year-old Kannan N Ramakrishnan has drafted over 5,000 free petitions since 1995

Kannan N Ramakrishnan, now 69, has spent nearly three decades helping people with their grievances. He turns residents' concerns into formal written petitions for government officials. Over this period he has filed more than 5,000 such petitions. The issues have ranged from local civic problems to access to welfare benefits. Many of these petitions have not produced results, yet he continues the work out of a sense of service to others.

Swami Sarvapriyananda Responds to NYT Over Coverage of Anthropic AI Summit

Swami Sarvapriyananda, a religious leader, was among those invited by Anthropic to its San Francisco headquarters for discussions on artificial intelligence, ethics and morality. He has publicly hit back at The New York Times over its coverage of the event. The NDTV report frames his remarks as a direct rebuttal to the newspaper's reporting. The article provides limited detail beyond the swami's reaction and the nature of the summit. Further specifics of the criticism are not included in the available text.

Composer Sulaiman Merchant Recalls Gamble on Vodafone Shares and Beginner's Luck

Composer Sulaiman Merchant spoke about a stock market venture he undertook with his brother-in-law. The two bought roughly 50,000 to 1 lakh shares of Vodafone, which he described as a gamble. The decision later turned out favourably for them. Merchant attributed the outcome to what he called beginner's luck. The source article provides limited detail beyond these points.

Gold rate today: 24k vs 22k vs 20k vs 18k prices

Waqar Younis picks Tendulkar, Kohli and Dhoni over Pakistani rivals in rapid-fire segment

Former Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis took part in a rapid-fire round comparing players from India and Pakistan. He backed Sachin Tendulkar over Inzamam-ul-Haq, Virat Kohli over Babar Azam, and MS Dhoni over Javed Miandad. Among the comparisons, he chose Saeed Anwar over Virender Sehwag. He declined to pick between young cricketers Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sameer Minhas, citing insufficient observation of their play.

Congress calls Rahul's 'Sitarama' misspelling in Tata post 'typo marketing', mocks BJP

The Congress party has responded to criticism of a social media post by Rahul Gandhi in which the name 'Sitarama' was misspelled. Party leaders described the error as 'typo marketing' and mocked the BJP for making an issue of it. The episode drew attention online as political rivals and supporters traded remarks over the post. The Congress framed the criticism as a distraction from substantive debate. The dispute remains a minor flashpoint in the ongoing political exchanges between the two parties.

PM Kisan 24th instalment to reach 9.34 crore farmers before Diwali on October 30

The government will release the 24th instalment of the PM Kisan scheme to around 9.34 crore farmers ahead of Diwali, with the transfer scheduled for October 30. The direct benefit payment is part of the central government's income support programme for farmer households. The timing has been set so that beneficiaries receive the funds before the festival season. Officials have indicated that eligible farmers will receive the amount directly in their bank accounts.

Bitcoin traders eye a key chart as markets reach an inflection point

Markets are currently at an inflection point, according to the source article. The development could influence inflation trends. It may also affect the prices of risk assets, including bitcoin and tech stocks. The article directs traders' attention to a specific chart that reflects this moment. Further details about the chart's data and timing are not provided in the excerpt.

Google's Q3 Revenue Rises 25%, but Profit Misses Forecasts and Shares Fall Nearly 10%

Google reported its third-quarter 2026 financial results, showing revenue growth of 25% and an annual run rate approaching half a trillion dollars. The company's profit fell short of analyst projections, and its stock dropped by nearly 10% following the announcement. Parent company Alphabet posted negative free cash flow of $9.07 billion during the period. Heavy capital spending of $51.36 billion also heightened investor worries about the rate at which cash is being consumed.

Three siblings found dead in Virar flat; video recorded before deaths cites health and money troubles

The bodies of three siblings were found inside their flat in Virar, near Mumbai, and are believed to be a suicide. Before their deaths, the siblings recorded a video describing their health problems and financial strain. Neighbours reported a foul smell coming from the flat, prompting them to alert the police, who then discovered the bodies. One of the siblings had been left paralysed, while another was receiving treatment for cancer. Their combined medical and money problems are reported to have added to their hardship.

Study links JAK inhibitor anti-inflammatory drugs to greater viral spread risk

Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology report that JAK inhibitors, a class of anti-inflammatory medicines, may weaken the body's natural defenses. By dampening immune responses, these drugs can make people more susceptible to viral infections such as COVID-19 and influenza. The findings suggest the viruses may find it easier to multiply and move through the body in patients taking them. The researchers advise clinicians to exercise caution when prescribing these drugs during periods of viral outbreaks.

Scoring error costs Jharkhand Women's U19 a close T20 pre-quarter-final against Uttarakhand

Jharkhand's Women's Under-19 side lost a T20 championship pre-quarter-final by a single run to Uttarakhand. The defeat was linked to a scoring error in which a run was not recorded. A batter was run out while attempting to complete two runs, and the run that should have been credited on the first attempt was not counted. That mistake ultimately decided the outcome of the tight match.