Daily Recap

Kolkata Durga Puja stampede kills at least 18 as Modi and Shah announce aid and visit victims

At least 18 people die in a crush at a Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata after heavy rain and surging crowds trigger panic at the entrance. People waiting to enter become trapped as others push forward. Police and emergency crews pull out the injured and take them to hospitals, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah announce aid and visit victims.

Reported by 8 outlets: India Today, The Hindu, Times of India and 5 more.

Israeli settlers attack European diplomats, beat French mayor in West Bank Taybeh

Israeli settlers attack a convoy of European diplomats in the West Bank village of Taybeh and beat a visiting French mayor during an olive-harvest visit. Diplomats from several European countries are among those targeted. Witness accounts and video show assaults in the area, with at least one vehicle damaged and injuries reported, adding to concern over settler violence in the territory.

Reported by 25 outlets: France 24 - Middle East, Jerusalem Post, The Independent and 22 more.

Fire at Bangladesh beach resort kills 10 including six family members

A fire at a beach resort in southeastern Bangladesh kills 10 people, including six members of the same family. Some children are among the dead and several others are injured. The blaze breaks out early on Saturday, turning a resort stay into one of the region’s deadliest incidents of the day.

Reported by 16 outlets: The Independent, Winnipeg Free Press (Canada), Times of India and 13 more.

16-year-old boy and 80-year-old instructor killed in light aircraft crash near Drymen

A light aircraft crashes near Drymen, north-east of Stirling, killing a 16-year-old boy and an 80-year-old man. Emergency services respond late Friday afternoon and both victims are pronounced dead at the scene. Police inform their next of kin, and air accident investigators begin work to establish what caused the crash.

Reported by 14 outlets: Daily Mail - News, The Mirror, Evening Standard and 11 more.

71-year-old fisherman killed by 12-foot alligator while fishing near Orlando, Florida

A 71-year-old fisherman is killed by a nearly 12-foot alligator near Lake Apopka in Florida while fishing at a public area by the shore. The attack happens on Friday near the Orlando area. Authorities later remove the animal after the fatal incident, which underscores the risks around wildlife in the state’s waterways.

Reported by 13 outlets: New York Post, CBS News, The Guardian - Main and 10 more.

Paul Whitehouse reportedly fights off mugger at London cashpoint while picking up wife’s medicine

British comedian and actor Paul Whitehouse fights off an attempted mugging at a London cashpoint while out to collect medicine for his wife. The attacker targets him as he withdraws cash, but the attempt is unsuccessful. The incident adds to concern over street crime in parts of the capital.

Reported by 8 outlets: Daily Mail - News, The Independent, Evening Standard and 5 more.

Ajay Devgn’s team clarifies BMC demolition at Juhu rental property after stop-work notice

Mumbai authorities demolish parts of a Juhu bungalow linked to actor Ajay Devgn, citing alleged unauthorised construction. The action follows a stop-work notice issued in September ordering building activity to halt and documents to be produced. The demolition turns a property dispute into a high-profile case involving a prominent Bollywood name.

Reported by 6 outlets: NDTV, Times of India, India Today and 3 more.

Trump issues waiver pausing new Russia sanctions under Lindsey Graham act

President Donald Trump pauses a new package of US sanctions and tariffs on Russia before it takes effect, using waiver authority in a law he signed last month. The White House says the move serves national interests and is also tied to efforts to contain diesel prices, linking the decision to wider US dealings over Russia and the war in Ukraine.

Reported by 57 outlets: Bloomberg - Politics, Times of India, Al-Monitor and 54 more.

Supreme Court rules internet access a fundamental right for children, rejects blanket bans

India’s Supreme Court rules that internet access is a fundamental right for everyone, including children, and rejects blanket age-based bans. The court says denying children access altogether is constitutionally disproportionate and does not inherently make them safer, setting a high bar for broad restrictions on digital access.

Reported by 9 outlets: The Hindu, Times of India, India Today and 6 more.

Sisi seeks parliament authorization to defend Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi says Egypt is ready to defend Saudi Arabia if asked, after a deadly Houthi strike on Riyadh airport and further attacks on Saudi infrastructure. The statement signals possible deeper Egyptian involvement as the kingdom faces escalating pressure from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement.

Reported by 11 outlets: Bloomberg - Politics, Al Jazeera - News, Free Malaysia Today and 8 more.

Sisi says his presidency ends in 2030 and will not be extended

Sisi also says his presidency will end in 2030 and that Egypt’s constitution will not be changed again, presenting the issue of succession as settled. The remarks are read as an effort to shut down speculation about any further extension of his rule beyond his current term.

Reported by 9 outlets: Middle East Eye, Al-Monitor, Jerusalem Post and 6 more.

John Swinney pledges Scotland bus network to return to public control by 2031

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney says bus services across Scotland will return to public control by 2031. He says franchising and regulation will be used to deliver the shift, making public transport ownership and oversight a central policy pledge tied to his wider political agenda.

Reported by 4 outlets: The Herald Scotland, Daily Record (Scotland), Belfast Telegraph and 1 more.

Reform activist suspended after undercover footage reports anti-Muslim, camp remarks

Reform UK suspends an activist after undercover footage reportedly captures anti-Muslim remarks and a call for asylum seekers to be put in “concentration camps.” The case brings renewed scrutiny to the party’s vetting and discipline as inflammatory language around identity and migration re-enters the political spotlight.

Reported by 6 outlets: The Independent, The Guardian - Main, Belfast Telegraph and 3 more.

Sule Lamido pledges PDP will reclaim Jigawa in 2027

Former Jigawa governor Sule Lamido says Nigeria’s Peoples Democratic Party will try to retake the state in the 2027 elections. He argues the ruling All Progressives Congress has mismanaged Jigawa and says the opposition will campaign on reversing what he describes as setbacks in public life.

Reported by 3 outlets: Daily Post Nigeria, Vanguard (Nigeria) and Nigerian Eye.

Trump jokes about the name Mohammad while mocking Iran’s presidency in Georgia

Trump draws criticism after joking about the name Mohammad while mocking Iran’s presidency during a campaign speech in Georgia. The remark comes as part of a broader attack on Iran’s political system and adds another flashpoint to rhetoric already sharpened by tensions over the Middle East.

Reported by 7 outlets: South China Morning Post, Al-Monitor, Jerusalem Post and 4 more.

Anthropic strikes chip-financing deal with Blackstone targeting double-digit returns

Anthropic secures a major chip-financing arrangement with Blackstone that ties debt funding to the AI company’s long-term lease payments for computing hardware. The structure reportedly channels about $9 billion into debt backed by five-year chip obligations, underscoring how demand for AI infrastructure is spawning new financing models built around access to scarce computing power.

Reported by 3 outlets: Financial Times - Companies, Channel NewsAsia (CNA) and Business Line - Home.

Government defends IDBI Bank stake dilution citing 2003 law and Delhi High Court ruling

The government pushes ahead in court with the planned strategic disinvestment of IDBI Bank, arguing that the IDBI Repeal Act of 2003 permits it to dilute its holding. The case is significant for India’s privatization agenda because it goes to the legal basis for reducing state ownership in a bank that has long sat at the center of policy and market scrutiny.

Reported by 3 outlets: Times of India, NDTV and Business Line - Home.

HDFC Bank Deputy MD Kaizad Bharucha to step down on Dec 31, ahead of CEO transition

HDFC Bank Deputy Managing Director Kaizad Bharucha is set to step down on December 31, 2026, after more than three decades at the bank. The board accepts his request, subject to Reserve Bank of India approval, making the move an important marker in the bank’s broader leadership transition ahead of a future CEO change.

Reported by 6 outlets: Times of India, NDTV, Free Press Journal and 3 more.

Goldman Sachs forecasts Brent crude falling to about $80 in 2027

Goldman Sachs forecasts Brent crude averaging about $80 a barrel in 2027, reflecting an expected shift from current supply tightness to oversupply by late 2026. The outlook matters well beyond energy markets, because softer oil prices would shape inflation, corporate input costs and planning assumptions across transport, manufacturing and consumer sectors.

Reported by 2 outlets: The Economic Times (India) and Business Line - Home.

Burma Burma operator Hunger Pangs files DRHP for ₹150 crore IPO with SEBI

Hunger Pangs, which operates the Burma Burma restaurant chain, files draft papers with SEBI for an IPO of up to ₹150 crore. The offer includes a fresh issue and an offer for sale, with fresh capital aimed mainly at expansion, signaling continued appetite among consumer-facing businesses to tap public markets to fund growth.

Reported by 4 outlets: Free Press Journal, Business Line - Home, Inc42 and 1 more.

Renault launches Duster Strong Hybrid E-Tech 160 at Rs 16.99 lakh, claims 29 kmpl

Renault launches the Duster Strong Hybrid E-Tech 160 in India at a starting price of ₹16.99 lakh, pairing a 1.8-litre petrol engine with two electric motors and a 1.4 kWh battery. With claimed fuel efficiency of 29 kmpl, the model is pitched as a lower-running-cost option in a market where buyers remain highly sensitive to ownership economics.

Reported by 3 outlets: India Today, NDTV and Business Line - Home.

Renault India CEO says hybrids and CNG will drive future growth

Renault says hybrids and CNG vehicles will be central to its recovery strategy in India, with management expecting those powertrains to account for a meaningful share of future sales. The plan reflects a pragmatic approach to the market, where carmakers are balancing electrification ambitions against price pressure, infrastructure limits and the need to rebuild volume.

Reported by 2 outlets: The Economic Times (India) and Business Line - Home.

Kalshi prediction markets face state-by-state licensing and gambling law challenges

Kalshi’s sports-related prediction contracts remain available in some states under a preliminary injunction, even as legal and regulatory fights continue over how the platform should be supervised. The dispute tests whether these markets fall mainly under federal derivatives oversight or whether states can treat them as gambling products subject to local licensing rules.

Reported by 2 outlets: ReadWrite and ReadWriteWeb.

Compromised ConnectWise Cloud Backup credentials used to access 173 Microsoft 365 tenants

Attackers use a compromised ConnectWise Cloud Backup credential to access 173 Microsoft 365 tenants, giving them unauthorized administrative entry across multiple customer environments. The incident highlights how a single stolen credential at a service provider can cascade across many organizations and turn backup or management tooling into a broad access point.

Reported by 3 outlets: The Hacker News, Bleeping Computer and Medium - Technology.

DeepSeek releases V4.1-Flash-1017 checkpoint with updated performance and new search API

DeepSeek releases its V4.1-Flash-1017 checkpoint with updated performance across its website, app, and API, while also adding access to a new Search API. The update expands both the model’s capabilities and the ways developers can build on DeepSeek’s platform, signaling a push to make its tools more broadly usable in products and services.

Reported by 3 outlets: Hacker News, Medium - Technology and MarkTechPost.

Starlink says it is ready for high-speed service in India amid satellite internet dispute

Starlink says it is prepared to launch high-speed internet service in India and points to government approvals as part of that readiness. The move comes amid a broader dispute over satellite broadband in India, where regulatory decisions and competition with domestic players are shaping how quickly the market opens to new entrants.

Mercedes-AMG unveils electric GT SUV with up to 1,153 hp and up to 710 kW charging

Mercedes-AMG unveils the all-electric GT SUV, its first ground-up SUV, with as much as 1,153 horsepower and charging capability up to 710 kilowatts. The model uses three axial-flux electric motors and targets the top end of the electric performance market, underscoring how legacy luxury brands are escalating the power and charging race in EVs.

Reported by 4 outlets: The Verge, Latest Content - Car and Driver, Jalopnik and 1 more.

TikTok permanently suspends ad account promoting Alex Gibney’s ‘Musk’ documentary

TikTok permanently suspends an advertising account used to promote Alex Gibney’s documentary “Musk” ahead of the film’s wider release. The move raises fresh questions about how major platforms police political or sensitive promotional content, especially when access to paid distribution can directly affect a project’s visibility at launch.

Reported by 5 outlets: Variety, Mashable, The Verge and 2 more.

MeshXFS uses AI-written code to adapt XFS into a shared clustered file system

MeshXFS emerges as an open-source effort to turn XFS into a shared clustered file system that multiple Linux servers can mount and write to at once. The project also serves as a test case for AI-generated systems software, with its clustering code reportedly produced without human line-by-line coding or review in a safety-critical domain.

Reported by 2 outlets: Dev.to and Phoronix.

Haaland double lifts Man City; Liverpool rally to beat Brentford as City face finance case

Manchester City keep their perfect Premier League start intact with a 3-2 win over Ipswich, led by two more goals from Erling Haaland. Phil Foden also scores as City build and then protect their advantage, surviving a late Ipswich penalty to preserve maximum points and maintain early pace at the top.

Reported by 13 outlets: The Guardian - Main, The Independent, Belfast Telegraph and 10 more.

Pedro Neto scores twice as Chelsea beat Everton 2-0, with Emiliano Martínez head injury

Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 with Pedro Neto scoring both goals, taking control after the break to hand Everton their first defeat of the season. The win also gives Chelsea their first Premier League clean sheet since January, adding defensive reassurance to an otherwise efficient away performance.

Reported by 14 outlets: BBC Sport, Channel NewsAsia (CNA), Vanguard (Nigeria) and 11 more.

Chelsea’s Emiliano Martínez taken to hospital after head collision with Everton

Chelsea’s win is overshadowed by a serious moment when goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez suffers a head injury in a collision with Jarrad Branthwaite. Martínez receives lengthy treatment on the pitch, including oxygen, before being stretchered off and taken to hospital, with Mike Penders coming on after a prolonged stoppage.

Reported by 15 outlets: The Independent, The Mirror, The Athletic (NYT) and 12 more.

Daniel Dubois beats Fabio Wardley again, TKOing in Round 2 to retain WBO heavyweight title

Daniel Dubois retains his WBO heavyweight title by stopping Fabio Wardley in the second round of their rematch in London. The quick finish underlines Dubois’s standing among Britain’s leading heavyweights, ending a much-anticipated second meeting decisively before the contest can develop into a longer battle.

Reported by 21 outlets: The Independent, Yahoo Sports, Times of India and 18 more.

Canada end England’s 41-game unbeaten run in women’s rugby with late try

Canada end England’s 41-game unbeaten run in women’s rugby with a 24-21 win in Toronto, sealed by a late try. The result stops one of the sport’s most imposing streaks and gives Canada a statement victory over the world champions in a dramatic WXV Global Series contest.

Reported by 10 outlets: Winnipeg Free Press (Canada), Yahoo Sports, BBC Sport and 7 more.

Tonga stun England 30-12 in Rugby League World Cup opener, threatening knockout hopes

Tonga open the Rugby League World Cup with a commanding 30-12 win over England, delivering one of the day’s clearest upsets. England are outplayed in a result that immediately puts pressure on their campaign, while Tonga make an emphatic start and announce themselves as serious contenders.

Reported by 11 outlets: Rugby World, TechRadar, Stuff.co.nz and 8 more.

Sonay Kartal beats Jelena Ostapenko to reach Wuhan Open final

Sonay Kartal reaches the Wuhan Open final by beating Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets, 7-6 7-6, after coming from behind in both. The British player handles two tight tie-breaks and another major test in her recent resurgence, earning the biggest final of her run with a composed display under pressure.

Reported by 9 outlets: BBC Sport, The Independent, Sky Sports - Football and 6 more.

Notre Dame vs. BYU: TV and live-stream options for top-10 college football game

Notre Dame’s trip to BYU stands out as the marquee college football game of the night, with No. 2 facing No. 8 in Provo. The top-10 matchup carries national weight, pitting an unbeaten contender on the road against a highly ranked home side in a game likely to reshape the weekend picture.

Reported by 6 outlets: Yahoo Sports, Fox Sports, Fox News and 3 more.

Europe expands “sponge city” projects to cut flood and drought risks

European cities are expanding “sponge city” projects that help manage both flooding and drought by absorbing and storing rainfall. The approach uses permeable pavements, parks, wetlands, green roofs, and other water-retaining features to slow runoff, reduce pressure on drains, and keep more water available for dry periods.

Reported by 2 outlets: Euronews and Nasha Niva.

Rare giant fan mussel discovered off Valentia Island in Co Kerry

Divers off Valentia Island in County Kerry discover a giant fan mussel on the seabed, a find notable because the species is critically endangered and one of Europe’s largest and rarest bivalves. The sighting adds to evidence of the species’ fragile presence in European waters and its conservation importance.

Reported by 2 outlets: RTE News (Ireland) and IrishExaminer.com.

New plant species named Salvia messii honours Lionel Messi

Researchers formally describe a newly identified plant species as Salvia messii, naming it in honor of Lionel Messi. The designation reflects a long scientific tradition of attaching prominent public figures’ names to species, while marking the addition of another documented member of the Salvia genus.

Reported by 2 outlets: The Athletic (NYT) and India Today.

Bangladesh battles worst measles outbreak after vaccination coverage drops

Bangladesh is facing a major measles outbreak after routine vaccination coverage falls, with suspected cases rising sharply and deaths concentrated among young children. Health agencies say treatment centers are under strain as they try to contain one of the world’s worst current outbreaks, underscoring how quickly measles returns when immunisation gaps widen.

Reported by 7 outlets: Sydney Morning Herald, The Age (Melbourne), Brisbane Times and 4 more.

FSSAI proposes banning added sucrose and fructose in infant foods for up to six months

India’s food safety regulator proposes banning added sucrose and fructose in foods intended for infants up to six months old. The draft amendment tightens standards for a critical stage of early nutrition and signals a broader push to limit unnecessary sugars in products aimed at very young babies.

Reported by 6 outlets: Mint (India), Business Line - Home, Swarajya and 3 more.

FSSAI launches prosecution against Priyagold maker and two other firms over food safety lapses

India’s food safety authority launches prosecution against Surya Food & Agro, which makes Priyagold biscuits, over alleged food safety violations including the reported use of cattle feed bran in production. The action follows an inspection tied to a consumer complaint that also found hygiene and process deficiencies.

Reported by 6 outlets: The Hindu, Times of India, NDTV and 3 more.

FSSAI proposes tighter pesticide residue limits for tea, including acetamiprid

India’s food safety regulator also proposes stricter pesticide residue limits for tea, including for acetamiprid. The plan aims to sharpen consumer protections and give growers, processors and inspectors clearer standards for testing and enforcement under existing food safety rules.

Reported by 3 outlets: The Hindu, The Economic Times (India) and Business Line - Home.

NHS dismisses 15 staff for accessing records of Nottingham attack victims

An NHS trust sacks 15 staff members for improperly accessing the medical records of victims of the 2023 Nottingham stabbing attack. The trust apologizes and says the access was inexcusable, highlighting the seriousness of patient confidentiality breaches inside healthcare systems.

Reported by 5 outlets: Metro, Sky News - UK, Daily Mail and 2 more.

Noise-cancelling headphones during gynecological surgery reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting

A randomized clinical trial finds that noise-cancelling headphones used during minimally invasive gynecological surgery reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting. Presented at a major anesthesiology meeting, the study suggests a simple, non-drug intervention could improve recovery for some surgical patients.

Reported by 2 outlets: New Scientist and Medical Xpress.

Scottish swimmer Archie Goodburn shares emotional update on inoperable brain tumour

Scottish swimmer Archie Goodburn shares an emotional update on life with three inoperable brain tumours, describing a stressful period as he continues to live with the disease. The 25-year-old has remained a public voice on the realities of serious illness since his diagnosis two years ago.

Reported by 2 outlets: The Mirror and Daily Record.

Thousands of foreign objects removed from patients’ rectums at UK hospitals

UK hospitals report removing thousands of foreign objects from patients’ rectums, with recorded items ranging from household objects to toys and food. The survey offers an unusual snapshot of emergency presentations that can require specialist care and operating theatre time.

Reported by 4 outlets: Belfast Telegraph, Evening Standard, Daily Mail - News and 1 more.

Tamil music composer Deva dies at 75; Vijay and Rajinikanth pay respects

Tamil film music loses one of its defining composers with the death of Deva in Chennai at 75. Known as “Thenisai Thendral,” he scores more than 400 films and becomes a major force in Tamil cinema, while also working in other South Indian languages. Actors including Vijay and Rajinikanth pay their respects to a musician whose work spans decades.

Reported by 7 outlets: Times of India, India Today, The Hindu and 4 more.

Harry Styles debuts unreleased ‘What Is Enough’ tribute to Liam Payne at MSG

Harry Styles uses the stage at Madison Square Garden to honor Liam Payne on the second anniversary of Payne’s death. He debuts an unreleased acoustic song, “What Is Enough,” written for his former One Direction bandmate, turning a major concert appearance into a personal act of remembrance that resonates beyond the performance itself.

Reported by 13 outlets: Billboard, NME, Metro and 10 more.

Miley Cyrus pays emotional Hollywood Bowl tribute to late godmother Dolly Parton

Miley Cyrus delivers an emotional tribute to her late godmother Dolly Parton at the Hollywood Bowl. She shares personal memories of seeing Parton perform at the venue and breaks down in tears before singing “Jolene,” linking one of country music’s most recognizable songs to a deeply personal moment of grief and gratitude.

Reported by 12 outlets: Hollywood Reporter, Daily Mail, Belfast Telegraph and 9 more.

Anirudh Ravichander to wed Sunrisers Hyderabad co-owner Kavya Maran in November 2026

Composer Anirudh Ravichander is set to marry Kavya Maran in November 2026, in a celebrity union that connects the film and sports-business worlds. The wedding is planned for Greece on 11 November, followed by a reception in Chennai on 21 November, placing one of Indian entertainment’s most prominent musicians at the center of a high-profile social event.

Reported by 5 outlets: Times of India, Free Press Journal, NDTV and 2 more.

BBC to rest long-running DIY SOS in 2027, replacing it with a more cost-effective spin-off

The BBC is putting DIY SOS on pause as part of cost-saving plans, with the long-running series due to return in 2027 in a more cost-effective spin-off form. The move affects a programme hosted by Nick Knowles that has run for 27 years, signaling another reset for legacy television brands under budget pressure.

Reported by 7 outlets: Daily Mail, The Mirror, Belfast Telegraph and 4 more.

Raj Babbar remembers Smita Patil on 71st birth anniversary

Raj Babbar marks Smita Patil’s 71st birth anniversary with an emotional public tribute, remembering her sensitivity and artistry and saying he misses her. The message revives attention to Patil’s enduring place in Indian cinema and to a life cut short in 1986, shortly after the birth of their son, actor Prateik.

Reported by 3 outlets: Free Press Journal, Times of India and NDTV.

Everest fashion winners steal the spotlight at Randwick’s Spring Carnival

Fashion becomes a central part of the entertainment spectacle at Royal Randwick during Sydney’s Spring Racing Carnival. Around The Everest, attention shifts from the track to the crowd as best-dressed contenders dominate the social scene, with bold outfits and live style competition turning the race day into a showcase for event fashion.

Reported by 3 outlets: Sydney Morning Herald, The Age (Melbourne) and Brisbane Times.

Bunnings launches WA Telethon barbecue to raise funds for sick children

Bunnings stores across Western Australia turn a familiar weekend barbecue into a charity event tied to the entertainment and broadcast calendar. The Telethon sausage sizzle runs from morning to afternoon to raise money for sick children, drawing shoppers into a statewide fundraiser linked to Channel 7’s annual appeal.

Reported by 2 outlets: The West Australian and PerthNow.