Crypto News, Markets & Live Updates
The latest crypto and markets news on ripr — breaking stories, market updates, and coverage connected to live coins and creators.
Gulf business leaders rally behind Nvidia's Jensen Huang as board weighs his futureGulf business figures have rallied behind Jensen Huang as Nvidia's board weighs whether to remove its co-founder and chief executive over two alleged affairs. "If he is forced to depart, it will be big loss for the world, not for America, for the world. This guy has done a great job," Hussain Sajwani, founder and chairman of Damac Properties, said at Bloomberg Invest in Dubai on Thursday. Saudi investor Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed, founder of KBW Ventures, was more blunt.The National (UAE)
Two sisters of jailed former Pakistan PM Imran Khan released from prisonLAHORE: Two sisters of jailed Pakistani former prime minister Imran Khan were released from prison in Lahore on Thursday, their lawyer and Khan's political party said. Noreen Niazi and Uzma Khanum "were released from Kot Lakhpat at 2:00 pm (0900 GMT)", their advocate Rana Mudassar told AFP over the phone, explaining that the government had withdrawn their joint detention order, while a third sister, Aleema Khan, remained in prison.The New Indian Express
Anthropic IPO: What it Clcould mean for AI stocks and the wider marketAs of November 4, 2026, the Anthropic IPO is among the most closely watched stock market debuts of the year. Anthropic, the company behind the Claude AI model, has publicly filed to list on Nasdaq under the ticker ANT, and reports suggest trading could begin this month, subject to regulatory approval and market conditions. The company has not yet set a share price or the size of the offering.Khaleej Times
Manchester United sack manager Carrick with club in relegation zoneManchester United dismissed manager Michael Carrick on Thursday after a prolonged winless Premier League run culminated in a 4-4 draw against Aston Villa at Old Trafford last weekend, leaving the struggling team mired in the relegation zone. United have won only three of their 15 matches in all competitions under Carrick this season – including one league victory – leaving them 18th in the table on eight points after 10 games, one point from the bottom. “After a disappointing start to the season, the club has come to the extremely difficult conclusion that a change is necessary in order to achieve our ambitions,” United said in a statement on their website. Carrick came under mounting pressure after a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth and the former United midfielder carried the air of someone awaiting the inevitable after the defeat when fans chanted his name but booed the players off the pitch. He had dropped captain Bruno Fernandes to the bench against Bournemouth and did not bring him on even when United were desperate for inspiration in midfield, but the struggling club gave Carrick another chance to revive their season. Ten Hag says relegation a real possibility for Man Utd Although he restored the playmaker to the starting lineup against Chelsea following clear-the-air talks and spoke of the team’s determination to put things right, little changed as they were comprehensively outplayed in a 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge. A 3-2 comeback win over AS Roma in the Champions League briefly eased the pressure on Carrick, but United’s familiar defensive frailties were exposed again in the 4-4 draw with Aston Villa, despite two injury-time goals salvaging a point. Carrick’s tenure Carrick was appointed on an interim basis following Ruben Amorim’s sacking in January before being handed a contract until 2028 after overseeing a turnaround in the side’s fortunes. United won 11 of their first 16 matches under Carrick, including victories over Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea, to climb to third in the Premier League and secure qualification for the Champions League. The 45-year-old proved unable to carry that momentum into the new season, however, with United notching wins only against promoted Ipswich Town and Champions League debutants Sabah FK before embarking on a nine-match winless run. Manchester United expects higher fiscal 2027 revenue on Champions League boost The club praised Carrick for his professional conduct during his managerial tenure, and said they were working towards appointing a permanent successor as soon as possible. He ultimately became another managerial casualty at Old Trafford after the reigns of David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Erik ten Hag and Amorim. What next for united? Carrick is likely to be replaced by Mauricio Pochettino, the US men’s national team coach, who has agreed to take over the newly vacant post, according to reports in British media. The former Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea manager is one of the Premier League’s most highly regarded former coaches. United have not won the English league title since lifting the trophy for the 20th time in 2013 when Alex Ferguson left the club following a trophy-laden 27-year stint as manager. A daunting trip to Anfield to face rivals Liverpool awaits United after the international break. Pochettino is expected to remain in charge of the US for their upcoming CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final matches, which would leave the Argentine little time to prepare for his first game in one of English football’s most demanding jobs. (Reporting by Rohith Nair and Suramya Kaushik in Bengaluru; Additional Reporting by Karan Prashant Saxena; editing by Ed Osmond, Toby Chopra and Ken Ferris)Business Recorder
Pakistan's Punjab govt releases two sisters of Imran Khan from jailLahore: Two sisters of Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Imran Khan were released from prison on Thursday after the Punjab government withdrew their detention order, the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders said. "Finally, some good news.Deccan Herald
China's Xi says Taiwan 'reunification' must happen as history cannot be stoppedThe tide of history cannot be stopped, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday, while urging peaceful “ reunification ” with Taiwan and making no mention of using force, though he still drew a firm rebuff from Taipei. China views democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory, despite Taipei’s strong rejection of that claim, and has repeatedly offered a “one country, two systems” model of autonomy not supported by any major Taiwanese political party. Resolving the Taiwan question is an “unwavering historical mission” of China’s Communist Party, Xi said in a speech in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. “The tide of history cannot be stopped,” Xi added. “The complete reunification of the motherland must be realised, and it will certainly be realised.” Taiwan’s government dismissed the remarks. Its Mainland Affairs Council said neither the government nor Taiwan’s people could accept “one country, two systems,” which would ultimately mean submitting to the Communist Party’s authoritarian rule. “As for the wording on Taiwan unification, it isn’t much different from the past,” council spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh told reporters. Xi’s comments came in a speech on the 160th birthday of revolutionary hero Sun Yat-sen, who helped lead a 1911 revolt that ended centuries of rule by emperors and empresses and ushered in the Republic of China. Xi said China adheres to “peaceful reunification and the policy of ‘one country, two systems’” and is willing to talk to Taiwan while upholding the “ one-China principle ”, or Beijing’s position that both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one country. All Chinese, including those in Taiwan, should join hands to jointly oppose Taiwan independence “separatist” forces and strive for peaceful development of cross-Strait ties, Xi added. Despite Xi not mentioning the use of force, which China has never renounced for Taiwan, its military operates around the island on a daily basis and is extending its reach further into the Pacific. Taiwan’s defence ministry said it had detected 29 Chinese military aircraft, including J-16 fighter jets and drones, carrying out a “joint combat readiness patrol” around Taiwan in conjunction with Chinese warships, starting on Thursday. Taiwan tells people to stay away Xi’s speech comes a week ahead of the APEC summit in China’s southern tech hub of Shenzhen, where he is due to again meet US President Donald Trump , and also a little more than two weeks before important local elections in Taiwan. Last month, Taiwan called on its people to steer clear of any of China’s events to mark the Sun anniversary, saying China had a distorted view of him and his legacy. Beijing calls Sun a great national hero and patriot, as well as the forerunner of the 1949 communist revolution that forced the defeated Republic of China government to flee to Taiwan, where it remains to this day. Xi said Sun was a great national hero, a great patriot and a “great pioneer of China’s democratic revolution”. “Mr Sun Yat-sen consistently upheld the unity of the country and the solidarity of the nation, and he firmly opposed all words and actions that split the country or the nation,” he added. ‘Father of the nation’ In Taiwan, Sun is officially considered the “father of the nation” and his portrait hangs in the presidential office, though his political philosophy, “Three Principles of the People”, is no longer a required text for schoolchildren. While Taiwan President Lai Ching-te and his ruling Democratic Progressive Party champion Taiwan’s separate identity from China, they have been striking a tougher tone with Beijing on the role of the Republic of China. Taiwan has been particularly upset by Beijing’s effort to claim credit for the victory in World War Two, saying it was the Republic of China government that fought alongside the allies, as the People’s Republic of China did not exist at the time. China says Lai is a “separatist” and has refused to speak with him. Lai says only Taiwan’s people can decide their future.Dawn
India October inflation tops RBI's 6% limit, strengthens case for rate hikesNEW DELHI: India’s retail inflation surged in October to 6.09%, breaching the central bank’s upper tolerance limit for the first time under the new series, as rising food prices drove up household costs and bolstered bets of further rate hikes. Economists had expected inflation to rise to 5.93% in October, according to a Reuters poll, from 5.54% in September. It has now remained above the Reserve Bank of India’s 4% medium-term target for five consecutive months. India’s headline retail inflation last breached the RBI’s 6% limit in October 2024, when it rose to 6.2%, according to the previous CPI series with a 2012 base year. The acceleration was driven largely by food prices, which account for nearly 40% of India’s consumer price index. Food inflation rose to 8.94% in October from 7.74% in September as prices of staples such as onions, garlic and ginger climbed. Rising inflation prompted the RBI to join its global peers in raising its benchmark repo rate last month for the first time in nearly four years, citing elevated inflation expectations and broadening of price pressures. India inflation jumps to 5.54% in Sept, strengthening case for further rate hikes Minutes of the rate-setting committee’s meeting indicated that further rate hikes may be needed to contain inflation but policmakers stopped short of endorsing an aggressive tightening cycle, citing risks to economic growth. The RBI now expects inflation to average 6% in the October-December quarter and has raised its forecast for the current financial year to 5.2% from 5% earlier. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra warned that a weak monsoon and strong El Nino conditions pose risks to agriculture and rural demand, although ample foodgrain stocks and government measures are expected to cushion the impact. Brent crude futures have fallen to around $92 a barrel, offering some relief to the inflation outlook as markets weigh hopes of de-escalation in the US-Iran war against concerns over attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Transport inflation accelerated to 5.84% in October from 5.01% a month ago.Business Recorder
Chinese vloggers no longer seen in Uttara, what were they doing?Chinese nationals used to roam various areas of the capital’s Uttara livestreaming from morning until night. Alleys, people’s homes, streets—nothing was spared by their cameras. In these videos, they introduced various locations in Uttara as New Delhi, the capital of India, while also making various negative remarks about the lifestyle of local residents. However, since 7 November, they have no longer been seen livestreaming in different parts of Uttara.Prothom Alo English
Israel's war on Lebanon threatens climate goals, minister saysLebanon ’s climate targets are being threatened by the environmental destruction wrought by Israel's military campaigns and occupation of the south, Tamara El Zein, Lebanon's Environment Minister, has said. “If we don't take environmental recovery into consideration, some of our targets will not be reached,” Ms El Zein told The National in an interview at the Cop31 climate summit in Turkey. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is to address the talks on Thursday.The National (UAE)
Weak death records and poor health data systems threaten timely healthcare in Africa – WHOOnly 19 of 40 countries assessed notify authorities of at least 80% of deaths, raising concerns about the ability of health systems to identify preventable mortality and respond to emerging health risks.MyJoyOnline
Democrats are ready to fight Trump on immigrationDEMOCRATIC lawmakers are gearing up to fight President Donald J. Trump’s immigration crackdown when in control of Congress…BusinessWorld
Kenya calls for African-led health data systems as 51 countries gather in NairobiMore than 300 participants are attending the First Africa Health Data Forum, where African governments and partners are discussing how to strengthen health information systems, improve data use and accelerate progress towards universal health coverage.MyJoyOnline
Carrick sacked as Manchester United head coachCarrick departs less than six months after signing a two-year contract having overseen the club's worst-ever start to a Premier League season with United in the relegation zone after picking up one win in 10 matches.MyJoyOnline
Taiwan is taking part in APEC China summit on an ‘equal basis,’ president saysTAIPEI — Taiwan is participating in this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit in China on the…BusinessWorld
Millions of Spanish Workers Stage First General Strike in 14 YearsOpposition politicians accused Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of encouraging the strike for political gain, weeks ahead of Spain’s elections.TIME
'False narratives': Bangladesh steps up surveillance of Chinese vloggers accused of defaming IndiaChinese nationals accused of filming poor Dhaka neighbourhoods and falsely portraying it as scenes from India have reduced their activities amid heightened surveillance by the Bangladeshi local law enforcement agencies. This came after New Delhi's raised concerns over the use of Bangladesh's territory to defame it.Deccan Herald
Michael Carrick sacked as Man United manager with Mauricio Pochettino set to take overManchester United have sacked manager Michael Carrick after the Premier League club suffered their worst start to a campaign in 40 years. Carrick was only given the job full-time during the summer after guiding United to a third-place finish last season and back into the Uefa Champions League while interim manager.The National (UAE)
Kia India to invest USD 2 billion in setting up new facility in Andhra PradeshSouth Korean carmaker Kia India and its supply partners will invest $2 billion to set up a second manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh. The facility will add 2 lakh units of annual manufacturing capacity, taking Kia India’s combined capacity across both plants to 6.30 lakh units. Spread across a combined 465 acres for Kia and its suppliers, the proposed facility located in Anantapur is expected to generate approximately 12,000 more direct and indirect job opportunities.The New Indian Express
Kareena Kapoor Khan served legal notice for wearing Quran-carved pendantKareena Kapoor Khan ’s Diwali look has landed her in legal trouble. Bollywood’s Heroine was slapped with a legal notice for accessorizing her festive outfit with a centuries-old royal heirloom engraved with a verse from the Quran. In a legal notice dated November 11, Bhopal Congress leader Abbas Hafeez accused the star of hurting religious sentiments. He has demanded that the photos featuring the pendant be deleted from social media, alongside an unconditional public apology.Deccan Herald
UP Polls 2027: Chandrashekhar Azad, Owaisi Announce 'Samajik Parivartan Morcha' For UP Polls; Nagina MP Named CM FaceAzad Samaj Party-Kanshiram president and MP Chandrashekhar Azad and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday announced an alliance between their parties ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections scheduled for next year.Free Press Journal
'She has a right to tell her story': Priyanka defends Sonia's memoir amid BJP criticismCongress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday accused the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of spreading falsehoods about her mother, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, for most of her adult life in India, saying they were now dismissing her account in her recently released memoir as false.The New Indian Express
Indonesia VP hands resignation to parliament as Jokowi backs PrabowoJAKARTA — Indonesia’s vice president handed his resignation to parliament’s upper house on Thursday, ending days of speculation…BusinessWorld
US withdraws from U17 World Cup in Qatar over security fearsLOS ANGELES: The United States withdrew Wednesday from the upcoming Under-17 soccer World Cup in Qatar due to concerns about security in the Middle East. Players were informed of the decision just over a week before the tournament is due to begin on November 19, in a letter sent by the sport's US governing body. "We are writing to inform you of the difficult decision to cancel our World Cup pre-camp and our planned participation in the World Cup," said the letter, seen by AFP.The New Indian Express
'From The Era Of Press Releases To The Age Of Instagram Reels': PM Modi Recalls Media Evolution, Shares Memories Of His Early Days At BJP During Deepawali Milan | VideoNew Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday acknowleged the developments in the media sector, saying he has witnessed an evolution from the "era of the press release to the age of the Instagram reel." #WATCH | BJP National President Nitin Nabin hosts Deepawali Milan in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BJP central office in New Delhi Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda also… pic.twitter.Free Press Journal
Australian Teen With Autism Found Alive After 6 Days Missing In Wilderness As Police Helicopter Rescues 17-Year-Old Near Melbourne | WatchMelbourne: A 17-year-old boy with autism was found alive Thursday after six days lost in eastern Australian woodlands. The boy, whom police identified only as William, had begun camping with a teenage friend when he disappeared last Friday near Walhalla, a former gold-mining town 185 kilometers (115 miles) east of Melbourne, police said. Police find teenager alive six days after he disappeared in dense Gippsland bush!Free Press Journal
Mirra Andreeva reaches WTA Finals semis, Svitolina fights back to beat MuchovaINDIAN WELLS: World number three Mirra Andreeva booked her place in the semi-finals of the WTA Finals with a 6-4 6-0 win over Aryna Sabalenka on Wednesday, while Elina Svitolina battled back to beat Karolina Muchova and keep her hopes alive. Andreeva, the 19-year-old French Open champion, won her second straight Group 2 match and advanced as group winner after Svitolina earlier defeated Muchova 3-6 6-2 6-2. The result eliminated Muchova from semi-final contention, while Svitolina will face Sabalenka in Friday’s final group match with the remaining place in the last four at stake. Sabalenka, the world number two and US Open runner-up, made the stronger start and broke Andreeva in the fourth game of a closely fought opening set to move 3-1 ahead. Andreeva responded immediately, however, winning three consecutive games to draw level at 4-4 before breaking Sabalenka again and serving out the set. The Russian maintained the momentum in the second set, capitalising on Sabalenka’s errors to break early and race into a 3-0 lead. Andreeva did not allow Sabalenka another game, sealing a dominant victory on her WTA Finals debut, in just 62 minutes, netting 16 winners and making only six unforced errors. “I’m even happier than I was after my first match. I feel like I could play another two matches. Sabalenka’s slump continues with Wuhan Open exit to Li I’m so full of energy. I’m so pumped up. I’m so happy,“ Andreeva said. Earlier, Svitolina recovered from a set down to overcome Muchova in their third consecutive meeting to go the distance. Both players had lost their opening matches in straight sets, but Muchova edged a competitive first set before Svitolina raised her level. The Ukrainian broke twice in the second set and served it out to force a decider, before carrying that momentum into the final set with another two breaks of serve. “I got a bit angry at myself. I tried to hit the ball. Tried to let everything out. Happy I could win those two sets and get a win here. I didn’t really expect it to be fair,” Svitolina said. “It means the world to me (to be here). At the beginning of the year I tried to set a goal for myself to finish here… For me it’s just an amazing thing. After pregnancy, surgery, injuries on the way, it wasn’t easy. I’m very pleased and really proud of the effort,” added the 32-year-old, who won the WTA Finals in 2018.Business Recorder
Akhilesh Yadav accuses CM Yogi Adityanath of insulting Lord Krishna, says BJP will lose Uttar Pradesh polls in 2027Luckno: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday accused Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of insulting Lord Krishna through his alleged remarks about cowherds, and said the BJP would face defeat in the 2027 Assembly elections.Deccan Herald — India
Bulldozer rolls up outside TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee's Kolkata residence as civic body clears footpathKolkata: A bulldozer was deployed outside TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee's residence here on Thursday as civic workers demolished a temporary bamboo shed erected over the footpath and removed an iron gate allegedly obstructing pedestrian movement. A large contingent of Kolkata Police personnel and central forces was deployed outside the TMC national general secretary's residence at 121, Kalighat Road, as municipal workers were seen using a bulldozer to pull down the temporary structure.Deccan Herald — India
Who Is Kimberly Powell? All About Nvidia Executive At Centre Of Alleged Affair With CEO Jensen HuangKimberly Powell, who is a senior executive at American technology giant chip company Nvidia, has come into the spotlight following allegations surrounding her personal relationship with the company's CEO, Jensen Huang. The claims have attracted attention online after Huang emailed his entire company and admitted he had been unfaithful to his wife. View this post on Instagram That email named no one, but earlier reports tied him to Alice Huang, a businesswoman U.S.Free Press Journal
Bulldozer rolls up outside Abhishek Banerjee’s Kolkata house; footpath shed, gate razedA bulldozer was deployed outside the residence of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday as civic workers demolished a temporary bamboo shed erected over a footpath and dismantled an iron gate allegedly obstructing pedestrian movement, reported PTI . A large contingent of Kolkata Police personnel and central forces was deployed outside Banerjee's residence at 121, Kalighat Road, as municipal workers used a bulldozer to pull down the temporary structure.The New Indian Express
Indonesia Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka Steps Down Amid Controversy Over Educational Credentials And EligibilityJakarta: Indonesia's vice president resigned Thursday as questions grew over his eligibility for the office after recent court rulings disputed his educational credentials. Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has reportedly submitted his resignation to President Prabowo Subianto amid mounting scrutiny over his educational credentials and eligibility to hold office. The development comes after around 120 lawmakers petitioned for his… pic.twitter.Free Press Journal
Oil falls over $1 on easing geopolitical fears and oversupply worriesTOKYO/SINGAPORE: Oil prices fell more than $1 per barrel on Thursday as easing concerns over an escalation of conflict in the Middle East reduced the risk premium in crude markets, while rising OPEC+ output and growing US inventories fed worries about oversupply. Brent futures were down $1.47, or 1.58%, to $91.29 a barrel by 0426 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures slipped $1.24, or 1.43%, to $85.29. The declines reversed Wednesday’s gains, when Brent rose 1.4% and WTI added 0.6% after both benchmarks hit two-month lows the previous day. “Markets are falling on expectations that behind-the-scenes efforts are underway to secure a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and that it is unlikely the Iran war will escalate ahead of the US-China summit next week,” said Hiroyuki Kikukawa, chief strategist of Nissan Securities Investment, a unit of Nissan Securities. “However, given the uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, the markets are unlikely to suffer a significant collapse,” Kikukawa said. Russian and Ukrainian negotiators agreed to a major prisoner exchange at two days of peace talks in Abu Dhabi that ended on Wednesday, although US mediators said differences remained on other major issues, including territory. Trump thinks he will meet Xi and Putin at China APEC summit Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv hoped to achieve concrete results on resolving the war this year. Meanwhile, Iran will not allow even a single particle of enriched nuclear material to leave the country and there will be consequences if the US launches new strikes, Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei said in televised remarks. Washington has said nuclear issues must be part of any initial negotiations with Iran aimed at ending the eight-month-old war, while US officials downplayed the need for further military strikes. Adding to bearish sentiment in oil markets, OPEC+ crude production rose in October, driven by higher Saudi Arabian output despite ongoing shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz. US crude stocks rose by 9 million barrels in the latest week, market sources said, citing data from the American Petroleum Institute. Official data from the US Energy Information Administration is due on Thursday, delayed a day due to a US national holiday on Wednesday.Business Recorder
Israeli strike on Gaza hospital kills six, including surgeonAn Israeli airstrike on a building at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza killed at least six people, including a surgeon, and wounded 20 others early on Thursday, a spokesman for Gaza’s civil defence service told Reuters. The Israeli military later said it had targeted a senior Hamas militant and other members of the group’s armed […]Cyprus Mail
Israeli strike on Gaza hospital kills surgeon and at least five othersAn Israeli air strike on a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip killed at least six Palestinians, including a surgeon, and wounded about 20 others early on Thursday. Gaza Civil Defence spokesman Mahmoud Basal said the early morning strike hit the surgery department on the second floor of Al Yasin building inside Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, causing extensive damage. The Israeli military did not immediately comment.The National (UAE)
Famed ship 'SS United States' heads for afterlife as artificial reef in deliberate sinking off FloridaFamed ocean liner SS United States, the largest passenger ship ever built in America and the world's fastest, headed for the sea floor near Florida on Wednesday in a deliberate sinking designed to transform the vessel into the world's biggest artificial reef.Deccan Herald
Two missing SPOs found shot dead in J&K's Kishtwar, service weapons missingTwo Special Police Officers (SPOs) were found shot dead in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Thursday, a day after they went missing while travelling from their camp to an Army post in the remote Dachhan belt. The bullet-riddled bodies of Babi Chand (57) and Rashpal Kumar (45), who were attached to the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the local police at Kiyar village, were recovered early Thursday, officials told news agency PTI.The New Indian Express
Pat Cummins Spotted In Heated Conversation With Wife Becky In First Public Appearance After Usman Khawaja's Explosive Sandpaper-Gate Claims | VideoAustralian Test captain Pat Cummins has grabbed headlines after being spotted having what appeared to be an animated conversation with his wife, Becky, on a street in Sydney. The incident marked his first public appearance since former Australian batter Usman Khawaja reignited the infamous 2018 ball-tampering controversy, popularly known as Sandpaper-gate.Free Press Journal
Navi Mumbai leads Centre’s cleanliness rankings as Indore exits top city categoryNEW DELHI: Maharashtra's Navi Mumbai ranked as the cleanest city in India in the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025-26, the Central Government's annual cleanliness survey. It was followed by Surat in Gujarat and Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, while Madhya Pradesh's Rewa was declared the cleanest riverfront town and Uttarakhand's Rudrapur emerged as the cleanest Himalayan city.The New Indian Express
Pete Hegseth And Staff Reprimanded By Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier Guard At Arlington National Cemetery After Veterans Day Ceremony | WatchWashington: A soldier guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier issued a verbal reprimand to a group of advisers and staffers with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth following a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Pete Hegseth’s group had to be reprimanded by an Army guard for laughing outside the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. At Arlington National Cemetery. On Veterans Day. #DemsFightForVeteransCare pic.twitter.Free Press Journal
Punjab govt insists smog ‘not a political issue’ as Lahore, New Delhi gasp for air• Marriyum says situation much better than previous years, thanks to concerted efforts • Indian monitors criticised for ‘under-reporting’ pollution over Diwali; authority claims toxicity levels ‘too high’ to record LAHORE: The Punjab government insisted on Wednesday that there should be no politics over smog, environmental protection and public health, as these issues concern the lives, health and future of millions of people. “Smog is not a political issue. It is a scientific, environmental and public health challenge,” senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb told a press conference on Wednesday, even as Lahore, Multan and other major cities and towns in the province remained blanketed under a thick layer of smog. On Wednesday night, Lahore remained on top of the global ranking of major polluted cities, recording an air quality index (AQI) reading of 358. Meanwhile, the toxic smog in second-placed New Delhi — with an AQI reading of 248 on Wednesday — was so severe this week that air pollution monitors in the country were overwhelmed after pollutant concentrations exceeded the upper measurement limits on their instruments. This meant that official data failed to capture the full extent of the smog for several hours overnight Sunday into Monday, just as pollution surged with a barrage of fireworks for Diwali. A few days ago, Ms Aurangzeb had blamed Diwali fireworks in India for the smog persisting over Punjab. On Wednesday, the Punjab Environment Protection Agency (EPA) — in its assessment for the Diwali period — found that pollution-laden air from India travelled deep into Punjab, contributing to increased particulate matter (PM) concentrations. According to the agency, around 50pc of Punjab was affected by the air originating in India during the preceding 24 hours. Forward-trajectory modelling indicated that air released across the border on Diwali night could reach Lahore from Amritsar in approximately two hours, Faisalabad in 12 hours and Multan in around 11 hours, demonstrating the potential for trans-boundary pollution to affect cities located far inland from the international boundary. Readings from Punjab’s air quality monitoring network showed a marked geographical variation in particulate pollution across Lahore. The Wagah Border monitoring station recorded a 275pc increase in PM2.5 concentrations, reaching its peak between 3am and 4am. In comparison, Safari Park, situated on the western side of the city, recorded an increase of only 15pc. The EPA says the east-to-west variation in particulate matter concentrations was consistent with the movement of pollution carried by easterly winds from across the border. During this time, Lahore’s overall AQI increased from 366 on Nov 8 to 440 on Nov 9, reaching its highest recorded value at 9am, the agency’s analysis showed. The findings suggest that cross-border pollution contributed significantly to the deterioration in air quality during the period. However, they do not establish it as the sole source of pollution, as local emissions and meteorological conditions also influence air quality across the province. The heavy smog had also forced motorway closures earlier this week. On Tuesday evening, the section from Shamkot to Abdul Hakeem was closed to all traffic, while heavy traffic on the Sher Shah-Multan section towards Khanewal was also suspended, a motorway police spokesperson told Dawn. The India Gate monument is hardly visible through the toxic smog hanging over New Delhi ‘Visible improvement’ In her remarks, Ms Aurangzeb pointed out that before 2024, there was no integrated system for smog mitigation, monitoring, management and enforcement. “Today, under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Punjab has established an evidence-based, technology-driven system that identifies pollution sources, monitors emissions, predicts environmental conditions and ensures immediate enforcement action,” she said. She insisted that environmental protection had been institutionalised for the first time in the province through 24/7 monitoring, scientific forecasting, technology-enabled surveillance, rapid response mechanisms and coordinated action across industries, transport, agriculture, brick kilns and other major pollution sources. She said that the results of this transformation were becoming visible in improved air quality indicators across Lahore and other parts of Punjab. “On November 11, 2024, Lahore’s Air Quality Index had exceeded 2,000 and reached alarming levels of approximately 2,400. On November 11, 2026, the AQI is below 450. This significant improvement reflects the impact of scientific planning, sustained mitigation measures, modern monitoring systems and strict enforcement,” she claimed. She said that Punjab had introduced an advanced air quality forecasting system capable of predicting pollution trends five to seven days in advance, enabling authorities to take preventive action before conditions deteriorate. The senior minister said that air pollution indicators across different areas had improved by 23 to 64 per cent, reflecting the impact of sustained government interventions. pedestrians walk down a street in Lahore on a smoggy morning Breaking the equipment Meanwhile in India, toxic smog concentrations were so high — equivalent to 66 times the World Health Organisation’s recommended daily maximum — that they could not be captured by air pollution monitoring equipment. Particulate matter analysers, installed when the National Air Quality Index (NAQI) was introduced in 2015, were calibrated to measure concentrations of up to 1,000 micrograms per cubic metre. The WHO recommends a daily maximum of 15 micrograms per cubic metre for PM2.5, fine particles small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and linked to cancer. Consequently, opposition politicians accused the BJP-led government of deliberately deactivating monitoring around Diwali to hide the full extent of the issue. “The government which shuts down air quality monitoring stations on the night of Diwali, the government that does data fraud, how will you trust such a government?” Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj said in a video posted on X. “If Diwali night’s PM2.5 (toxic particulates) is not in the record, who will answer for that air?” senior Congress party lawmaker Ajay Maken said in a social media post. However, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) rejected accusations of deliberate under-reporting. “The designed system of automated data validation treats hourly readings beyond the calibrated range as outside range, and such readings are not used in the computation,” it said in a statement late Tuesday. Although choking clouds filled the streets early Monday, the scale of the pollution was only captured when monitors resumed reporting, around eight hours after the fireworks peaked. Readings then hit 879 micrograms per cubic metre in the Mandir Marg locality, according to monitoring organisation IQAir, which cited data from a city government station. That is more than 58 times the WHO daily limits. With input from AFP Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026Dawn