India

Punjab Congress Plans Protest at PSPCL HQ Amid Ongoing Power Crisis Dispute

The Punjab Congress party has announced a major protest scheduled for Monday outside the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited headquarters in Patiala. The demonstration comes in response to the state government's claim that the power crisis in Punjab has been resolved. Opposition leaders remain unconvinced by the government's assertions and are pushing back publicly. The planned protest signals a deepening political rift over the handling of the electricity situation in the state.

Trinamool Congress Announces Candidates for Nandigram and Rejinagar Bypolls

Trinamool Congress has announced its candidates for the upcoming bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar constituencies in West Bengal. The Nandigram bypoll became necessary after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's cabinet colleague Suvendu Adhikari vacated the seat. Adhikari chose to retain his Bhabanipur constituency instead of Nandigram. The bypolls are significant for Trinamool as the party seeks to consolidate its position in these constituencies.

9 Dead in Nagaland After Drinking Suspected Spurious Liquor in Three Days

Nine people have died at a hospital in Nagaland's Tuensang district over a span of three days. Their deaths are believed to be linked to the consumption of adulterated liquor, with victims reportedly experiencing breathlessness after drinking suspected contaminated rum. The incident has prompted a police alert, and authorities are actively investigating the source of the spurious alcohol and those responsible for its distribution. As a precautionary measure, residents have been advised to refrain from consuming liquor until the matter is resolved.

Arshdeep Singh sets unwanted T20I record with 51 career wides

Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh has set an unwanted record by bowling the most wides in T20 International cricket, reaching 51 during India's first T20I against Afghanistan. His 51 wides represent 7.4% of all deliveries he has bowled in the format. Zimbabwe's Richard Ngarava and West Indies' Jason Holder are the next on the list, each having bowled 38 wides. New Zealand's Jacob Duffy and West Indies' Romario Shepherd are also among the top offenders, with 36 wides apiece.

Woman loses 70kg to donate kidney, saves husband through paired exchange program

Rinat Kara undertook a significant weight loss journey, shedding 70 kilograms to become eligible to donate a kidney to her husband Meir, who suffered severe complications from diabetes. Through a paired kidney exchange program, Rinat's donated kidney went to a compatible stranger rather than directly to Meir. In return, Meir received a compatible kidney from another donor within the exchange, allowing him to discontinue dialysis. The couple's story highlights both the life-changing impact of organ donation and the serious health risks associated with diabetes.

San Francisco's Empress of China Building Secured by Asian American Nonprofits

A coalition of six Asian American nonprofit organizations has successfully acquired the historic Empress of China building in San Francisco. The purchase marks the culmination of a decade-long effort to bring the iconic site under community ownership. The groups plan to transform the property into an arts and cultural campus serving the local community. The restoration initiative is also tied to broader goals of economic and cultural revitalization in the area. Public sessions are planned to allow community members to shape the architectural direction of the project.

Hawaii restores rare coral to reef a decade after wild colonies disappeared

In 2015, marine biologists collected fragments of rare Hawaiian coral from Kaneohe Bay to save them from extinction. The fragments were cultivated into mature colonies through a land-based nursery program over several years. Once grown, the corals were reintroduced to their original habitat in Kaneohe Bay. Subsequent field assessments confirmed that the transplanted colonies had successfully adapted to the reef environment. The project highlights the potential of coral ark initiatives as a conservation tool against species loss.

Meta's Secret 'Project OT' Aimed to Cut Teams by 60% Using AI Agents

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg quietly ran an internal initiative called Project OT, aimed at making the company 'AI native' by drastically reducing team sizes using AI agents. Executives explored scenarios where some departments could be cut by as much as 60%. A first round of layoffs in May 2026 eliminated 8,000 jobs, but a planned second wave in November was cancelled following employee backlash over keystroke monitoring and insufficient evidence of AI-driven productivity gains. Meta has since reversed course on its flatter organisational structure, asking Applied AI staff to return to managerial roles.

Fed rate decision, crude oil, and geopolitics to drive gold prices next week

Gold and silver markets are expected to see continued volatility in the coming week. The US Federal Reserve's interest rate decision stands out as the most significant event likely to influence precious metal prices. Movements in crude oil prices and the strength of the US dollar will also play a key role in shaping market sentiment. Monetary policy decisions from other central banks, along with inflation data, will be closely monitored by investors. Broader geopolitical developments and macroeconomic indicators are expected to collectively determine the direction of gold and silver.

BJP Chief Ministers Attend BRICS Meet as Opposition-Led States Stay Away

Six Chief Ministers from BJP-governed states participated in a BRICS-related meeting, while leaders from several opposition-ruled states chose not to attend. Kerala's Chief Minister VD Satheesan, Tamil Nadu's CM Vijay, and Karnataka's DK Shivakumar were among those who skipped the event. Telangana's Revanth Reddy and Himachal Pradesh's Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also stayed away from the meeting. The absence of opposition Chief Ministers highlights the political divide in participation at the centrally organized diplomatic gathering.

Park City Mansion Sells for Record $37M After $6M Land Buy

A luxury mountain property in Park City, Utah has sold for $37 million, setting a new residential price record within the city. The sprawling 17,000-square-foot mansion was built on land originally purchased for $6 million. The home took four years to complete and includes premium ski-in, ski-out access along with high-end amenities. The record-breaking sale reflects a broader trend of surging property values in Utah's mountain luxury housing market, driven by limited supply and strong demand.

Ship With Indian Crew Attacked Near Oman, 13 Rescued and 1 Still Missing

A vessel named MT El Gaia carrying an Indian crew was attacked off the coast of Oman, according to India's Ministry of External Affairs. The ministry confirmed the incident and strongly condemned the attack on the ship. Rescue operations were carried out, with 13 crew members successfully recovered following the assault. However, one crew member remains unaccounted for as search efforts continue. The Ministry of External Affairs has officially acknowledged the situation and is monitoring developments closely.

'Act of terror’: Pregnant woman among four killed in attacks on Kuki villages in Manipur

Opinion: Opinion | Non-Alignment To All-Alignment: India's Rise As Global Power

Mamata's TMC faction names candidates for Nandigram, Rejinagar bypolls in Bengal

SpaceX sues Texas county to block release of Terafab project public records

SpaceX has filed a lawsuit against Grimes County, Texas, to prevent the disclosure of public records related to its Terafab project. The company contends that releasing these documents could cause significant competitive harm to its business. The records in question include tax abatement applications and sensitive technical project information. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office had previously directed the county to release most of the documents. SpaceX is seeking to protect what it describes as trade secrets and critical infrastructure-related information.

Pakistan Backs Saudi Arabia After Houthi Attacks, Defense Pact Under Renewed Scrutiny

Pakistan has expressed strong solidarity with Saudi Arabia following a series of recent Houthi attacks that have raised concerns over regional stability. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed the escalating situation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The strikes have heightened fears over potential disruptions to global energy supplies and Red Sea shipping routes. A trilateral mutual-defense pact involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye has come under renewed attention in light of these developments. However, no deployment of Pakistani troops has been announced despite the show of diplomatic support.

Russia Blamed for Drone Strike on Ukrainian Passenger Train Near Polish Border

Ukraine has accused Russia of carrying out a deliberate attack on its railway infrastructure. A drone struck the locomotive of a passenger train just two kilometres from the border with NATO member Poland. President Zelensky stated that Moscow targeted the train intentionally, describing it as part of a systemic assault. The incident raises concerns given its proximity to Polish territory, which falls under NATO's collective defence obligations.

India builds Brics without breaking up with US

75 Students Fall Ill at Surat Boarding School in Suspected Food Poisoning

At least 75 students at a boarding school in Surat fell sick with suspected food poisoning, experiencing symptoms including vomiting and diarrhoea. Twelve of the affected students required hospitalization due to the severity of their condition. Four of those hospitalized have since been discharged, with the remaining patients reported to be in a stable condition. Health authorities visited the school hostel to investigate the incident and collected food samples for laboratory testing. A mobile medical team has been deployed on-site to conduct health check-ups for all students.