India

New Zealand trade pact to take effect on Oct 20, to give duty-free access

MrBeast defends $10M Ghana village project amid overseas spending criticism

YouTube creator MrBeast has spoken out in defense of his $10 million philanthropic project in Ghana, which was met with criticism over the decision to spend abroad. The initiative targets child labour by providing communities with homes, a school, clean water infrastructure, and farms. In response to the backlash, MrBeast pointed to his existing local charity work in his hometown of Greenville, North Carolina. He argued that supporting international communities does not come at the expense of domestic philanthropy.

Odisha Trims Electoral Roll, Over 20 Lakh Voters Removed After SIR

Odisha has removed more than 20.12 lakh voters from its electoral rolls following a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Officials stated that approximately 8.32 lakh of the deleted entries were deceased voters. Another 8.08 lakh voters were removed because they had permanently shifted from their registered constituencies. The revision aims to ensure the electoral roll accurately reflects the current eligible voter population in the state.

Lockheed ready for tech transfer of some parts of Super Hercules to India

Air Traffic Control Failure Disrupts Hundreds of Flights at Newark, Philadelphia

A malfunction in air traffic control systems triggered widespread flight disruptions across major US airports. Newark Liberty International Airport, a key hub serving the New York City area, recorded 168 cancellations and 97 delays. Philadelphia International Airport also faced significant disruption, with 63 flights canceled and 189 delayed. The figures were reported around 1900 GMT, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware. The incident highlights the vulnerability of air travel to technical failures in critical aviation infrastructure.

Washington family protects nearly 40 acres of 70-year-old farm from development

Stanford study finds human brain evolved from two separate ancient nervous systems

A new study from Stanford Medicine has upended the conventional view of how the human brain develops. Researchers discovered that the forebrain and hindbrain originate from distinct progenitor cells, rather than a single unified system. This two-system pattern was traced across 550 million years of evolutionary history, with evidence found in species including chickens, zebrafish, and acorn worms. The findings could advance scientific understanding of brainstem diseases and improve the development of laboratory brain models.

California Island Foxes Recover from Near-Extinction, Removed from Endangered List

The island fox population on San Miguel and Santa Rosa islands in California once teetered on the brink of extinction due to heavy predation by golden eagles. Conservation efforts focused on removing the golden eagles from the islands to eliminate the primary threat to the foxes. Authorities also implemented captive breeding programs and restored the foxes' natural habitat to support population growth. These combined measures proved highly effective, enabling the fox subspecies to recover in significant numbers. The recovery was so successful that the subspecies were officially removed from the endangered species list.

Delhi PG Building Collapse: Court Extends Judicial Custody of 6 Accused

A court has extended the judicial custody of six individuals accused in connection with a building collapse at a paying guest accommodation in Delhi. The property had been leased to PG operators Shubham Tyagi and Sudhanshu in August 2025. The two then ran the premises as a paying guest facility under the name 'Hostel Daze'. The collapse has led to legal proceedings against the accused, who remain in judicial custody as the case progresses.

No median cuts, surface intersections on future high-speed NH corridors: NHAI

Massachusetts Town Converts Downtown Parking Lot Into Wetlands by Restoring Buried Brook

The town of Athol, Massachusetts, has completed the Mill Brook Crossing project this month, restoring a previously buried stream in its downtown area. The initiative converted over 53,000 square feet of paved surface into a green space featuring wetlands, trees, and native vegetation. The redesigned area incorporates natural stormwater management systems to better handle rainfall and reduce urban runoff. The project also improves pedestrian safety and transforms a former parking lot into a climate-resilient public space for the community.

Two Workers Die in Tyre Oil Factory Fire in Uttar Pradesh

A fire broke out at approximately 5:30 PM at the Om JVRD tyre oil factory near Jariha village in Gajner, Uttar Pradesh. The factory is located around 44 kilometres from the district headquarters. At the time of the incident, six workers were loading tyres into a tank when the fire erupted. Two of the workers lost their lives as a result of the blaze, according to officials.

UP Man Surrenders at Police Station After Killing Wife

A man named Manish from Abdulapur village in Uttar Pradesh walked into Bhawanpur police station and confessed to killing his wife. He told police that he had slit the throat of his 25-year-old wife, Kavita. Manish turned himself in voluntarily rather than fleeing after the incident. Police are investigating the case following his surrender and confession.

Flights grounded at major US airports after construction workers cut backup cable

Woman abandoned as newborn in 1994 reunites with man who rescued her

April Paul was found as a newborn in a phone box in 1994, with her umbilical cord still attached. She was discovered by a man named Joe Campbell, who alerted authorities and effectively saved her life. Decades later, in 2016, April was reunited with Campbell and the two have since formed a close bond. She regards him as family and refers to him as her guardian angel. April acknowledges that she may never learn the reasons why her birth mother chose to abandon her.

US Media Outlets Sue, Boycott After Trump Bars Them From White House

Several major US news organisations, including CNN, MSNBC, and Politico, have boycotted coverage of the White House following a ban imposed by President Donald Trump. Trump ordered the outlets to be barred from White House access, escalating his longstanding conflict with mainstream American media. The affected networks also took legal action, filing a court case to challenge the exclusion. The move is seen as part of a broader pattern of hostility Trump has directed toward certain press organisations throughout his political career.

Muhammad Ali's 1915 Los Angeles mansion sells for $8.5 million

A historic Los Angeles mansion once owned by boxing legend Muhammad Ali has been sold for $8.5 million. Built in 1915, the property features Italian Renaissance architecture with preserved original details. The home, located in the Fremont Place neighborhood, includes nine bedrooms and seven bathrooms. The sale marks a new chapter for the century-old estate.

IIT Bombay Dean Placed on Leave After Student Death Amid Protest, Family Demands

IIT Bombay has placed its administrative dean on leave as an investigation gets underway following the death of a student on campus. The institute has walked back an earlier statement regarding the circumstances of the student's examination. Students are staging protests, calling for stronger institutional action and the formation of an independent inquiry committee. The deceased student's family has accused the institute of abetment and harassment, urging that a CID-led probe be conducted. Campus tensions continue to rise as two opposing groups debate accountability versus support for the professor involved.

Gurgaon Fake Apple Centre Scammed Elderly US Victims of Up to $20,000 Each

Gurgaon police dismantled a fraudulent Apple service centre operating out of Palam Vihar. The operation targeted elderly Americans by displaying fake virus and privacy alerts on their devices. Scammers posed as officials and used bogus Federal Trade Commission notices to extort payments of up to $20,000. Investigators have traced transactions totalling approximately two crore rupees linked to fifteen victims. Eleven suspects have been arrested, while the alleged mastermind remains on the run.

Diesel Prices Rise Faster Than Crude Amid Strait of Hormuz Disruption

Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz initially cut off approximately 20 million barrels of oil per day from global supply. The disruption has had an outsized impact on diesel prices, which have surged more sharply than crude oil in global markets. Saudi Arabia has responded by rerouting some of its oil exports through the Red Sea to mitigate supply losses. Additionally, some tankers have gradually resumed transits through the affected waterway, offering partial relief to strained supply chains.