India

Kanpur Crorepati Murder: Daughter-in-Law Allegedly Guided Killers Remotely

A wealthy man in Kanpur was murdered under circumstances that have raised serious suspicions about his daughter-in-law. According to investigators, the daughter-in-law allegedly directed the killers remotely while she was attending a party on the evening of the incident. The murder took place on a Saturday, a night that combined social celebration with a deadly crime. Authorities are probing the alleged coordination between the accused and the perpetrators. The case has drawn significant attention due to the victim's status as a crorepati and the alleged role of a family member in the crime.

China Yet to Confirm Xi Jinping's India Visit as BRICS Summit Nears

China has not officially confirmed whether President Xi Jinping will attend the upcoming BRICS summit in India, with uncertainty persisting just 48 hours before the event. If Xi does attend, it would mark his first visit to India in seven years. The potential visit is seen as an opportunity for both nations to set aside bilateral disagreements and present a united front. The timing is also notable given ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran.

Daughter-in-law, ex-servant arrested for businessman's murder after 3-month plot

Police have arrested a daughter-in-law and a former domestic worker in connection with the murder of a businessman. Investigators found that the two suspects exchanged 330 calls over 21 days in the lead-up to the killing, suggesting coordinated planning. Evidence indicates the alleged conspiracy was in motion for approximately three months before the crime took place. The suspects reportedly gained entry to the victim's residence by posing as delivery personnel. CCTV footage and phone call records proved instrumental in helping police piece together the sequence of events.

Six Convicted With Life Imprisonment for 1995 Witchcraft-Linked Murder in Assam

A court in Assam has sentenced six individuals to life imprisonment for the murder of a woman that took place in 1995. The victim was killed based on suspicion of practising witchcraft. The convictions were handed under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including those related to rioting, trespass, murder, and destruction of evidence. The case, nearly three decades old, has finally reached its conclusion with the sentencing. The verdict highlights the continued legal pursuit of justice in witchcraft-related violence cases in India.

BJP and Congress Use ChatGPT '80s Photo Trend for Political Messaging

A viral ChatGPT image trend that recreates 1980s-style photos — featuring film grain, date stamps, faded backgrounds, and colorful clothing — has been adopted by Indian political parties. Both the BJP and Congress have used the aesthetic to craft and share politically themed posts on social media. The trend, originally popular as a nostalgic creative tool, is now being leveraged for political messaging and propaganda. The development highlights how mainstream AI image trends can quickly be repurposed for political purposes in India.

China's Social Media Fills With Posts on Unemployment, Low Wages and Falling Home Prices

Chinese social media platforms including RedNote, Douyin, and Weibo are seeing a surge in posts about financial hardship. Content related to job losses, poor wages, and declining property values is attracting thousands to millions of views. The trend reflects growing economic anxiety among ordinary Chinese citizens. The viral spread of such posts signals that personal financial distress has become a dominant and widely relatable topic across China's major online platforms.

Azerbaijan Reconsiders Its Stance Toward India After Years of Backing Pakistan

Azerbaijan, a long-standing ally of Pakistan, is showing signs of gradually warming up to India after a period of open opposition. The country had previously condemned India's Operation Sindoor and permitted Pakistan's Embassy to organize Kashmir Day events on its soil. These actions had placed Azerbaijan firmly in Pakistan's camp on sensitive bilateral issues with India. However, recent signals suggest Baku is reassessing the strategic value of its relationship with New Delhi. Analysts are now examining the geopolitical and economic factors driving this potential diplomatic shift.

Paytm CEO Compares Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT and Grok on iPhone Image Recognition

Paytm CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma conducted a hands-on test of four major AI assistants — Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, and Grok — using an iPhone Duo as the subject. The test evaluated each AI's ability to identify the device and provide its specifications from an image. Grok, Gemini, and Claude successfully recognized the iPhone Duo and returned relevant specs. ChatGPT, however, differed from the others by requesting additional information before providing an answer. The informal comparison highlights the varying capabilities of leading AI tools in visual recognition tasks.

Missouri volunteers install cedar brush piles to restore fish habitat at Truman Lake

Truman Lake in Missouri is receiving significant underwater habitat improvements through a community-led conservation effort. Volunteers have so far sunk 93 cedar brush piles into the reservoir to serve as shelter and feeding grounds for fish. The broader project aims to establish 450 such habitat structures across the lake in total. A $75,000 grant is funding the multi-year initiative, which is designed to enhance the overall fishing experience at the site. Multiple organizations and local volunteers are collaborating to carry the project forward.

Baltimore swaps invasive pear for native tulip poplar as official city tree

Baltimore has officially replaced the Chanticleer pear with the tulip poplar as its city tree, ending the pear's 52-year tenure since 1974. The change follows Maryland's ban on the sale of the callery pear, an invasive species. Six native tree species were in contention for the title, with Baltimore residents casting votes to determine the winner. The final announcement was made in a festive costumed tree race held at Cylburn Arboretum, drawing hundreds of attendees.

Why Apple Keeps iPhone Prices High in India Despite Low Affordability

Apple maintains premium pricing for iPhones in India, making them accessible to only around 5% of the population. However, that small percentage still represents approximately 70 million potential customers. This figure surpasses the entire population of several major European nations, including the UK, France, and Italy. The sheer size of India's aspirational consumer base gives Apple little incentive to reduce its prices in the market.

Kanpur Murder Case: WhatsApp Chats Link Daughter-in-Law to Father-in-Law's Killing

Investigators in Kanpur have uncovered WhatsApp messages suggesting that a woman named Shalu allegedly manipulated Vishal Gautam into murdering her father-in-law, Vineet Minocha. The chats, exchanged over several months, show Shalu complimenting Vishal and probing into his personal life, which police believe was part of a deliberate effort to influence him. Authorities suspect Shalu orchestrated the killing by exploiting her relationship with Vishal. Although Vishal attempted to delete the chat history, he failed to erase all WhatsApp call records, which investigators were able to recover as key evidence.

Vande Bharat food complaints, train water issues: Railways plans key changes to RailMadad portal

ChatGPT Prompts Fuel 1980s Kerala Retro Photo Trend on Social Media

A new social media trend is using ChatGPT to transform modern photos into images styled after 1980s Kerala and Malayali culture. Users are crafting specific prompts to generate portraits resembling family, wedding, college, and studio photographs from that era. The AI-generated images feature traditional Kerala clothing, jewellery, and home interiors authentic to the period. Facial features of the subjects are preserved while retro photographic qualities are layered over them. The trend reflects a growing interest in using AI tools to explore regional cultural aesthetics and nostalgia.

‘Four firms, same controller, and old computers at inflated prices’: Madhya Pradesh probes new ‘scam’

Mirzapur: The Movie nears Rs 139 crore in week one, targets Rs 150 crore mark

Mirzapur: The Movie, starring Pankaj Tripathi and Ali Fazal, has collected close to Rs 139 crore net in India by the end of its seventh day. The film enjoyed a strong opening weekend before settling into a slower but steady weekday pace. It has now entered its second week of theatrical release. The key question is whether the film can sustain screen count and audience turnout to cross the Rs 150 crore milestone.

Kentucky's 210-Year-Old Shaker Building to Get $1.5M Restoration by 2029

A historic Shaker building in Kentucky, over 210 years old, is set to undergo a major restoration project. The effort carries a budget of $1.5 million, sourced from a combination of federal grants and private donations. Once complete, the structure is planned to reopen as a community hub. The project is expected to be finished by 2029 and aims to highlight the building's significant historical heritage.

Family Alleges Forced Cremation After Man Named AAP Minister in Suicide Video

Gulzar Singh, a member of the Valmiki community, died allegedly after consuming poison. Before his death, he had publicly questioned Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the unchecked drug problem that had affected his son. His family has now alleged that his cremation was carried out forcibly without their proper consent. The case has raised serious concerns about accountability and the handling of the aftermath by authorities.

Russian aircraft land at Noida airport ahead of BRICS Summit in New Delhi

Three Russian transport aircraft have landed at Noida International Airport in the lead-up to the upcoming BRICS Summit. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to travel to New Delhi to attend the multilateral event. Putin is also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral relations and explore ways to deepen cooperation between India and Russia. Russia has also expressed support for expanding cooperation among BRICS member nations and for welcoming new members into the bloc.

New Zealand's Santner turns down T20 contract to prioritise India Test series

New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner has turned down a contract offer from the Adelaide Strikers in order to focus on international commitments. Santner chose to prioritise New Zealand's busy upcoming schedule over the domestic T20 league opportunity. New Zealand are set to host India in a full series, which includes two Test matches, running from October 22 to December 1. Following the India series, the Kiwis will travel to Australia for a four-Test series.