DK Shivakumar says no funds for sugarcane farmers
Hundreds of farmers from Haveri, Dharwad, and nearby districts converged at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha on Monday, briefly blocking the Pune–Bengaluru National Highway to demand Rs 5,500 per tonne for sugarcane alongside a State Advised Price of Rs 1,000 per tonne. Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar held discussions with sugar factory owners and growers at the Soudha, declining immediate cane pricing decisions due to severe financial strain. Highlighting multi-thousand-crore liabilities, drought-related impacts on power generation and state revenues, and a decade of stagnant sugar prices, Shivakumar stated that public spending requires existing funds rather than unbacked promises. Appealing for patience, he assured farmers that his administration seeks a permanent resolution to the long-standing pricing conflict.
UAE honours Indian pilot for mid-air heroism
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan awarded the First-Class Order of Zayed II to Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar and the flydubai crew members, honoring their bravery in protecting passengers during an in-flight attack last month. Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum presented the award on Tuesday. The President also welcomed the crew alongside Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The incident occurred on September 30 on flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv carrying over 170 people. The co-pilot attacked Captain Smit Machchhar in the cockpit using an emergency crash axe, inflicting severe injuries. Reports indicate the aircraft plummeted 14,000 feet in under thirty seconds. Israeli officials confirmed the co-pilot is a national while the motive remains unclear. Captain Smit Machchhar told The National that he sustained blows before managing to open the cockpit door. Crew members, off-duty pilots, and passengers then intervened, securing the situation and ensuring the survival of everyone on board. While Captain Smit Machchhar was recovering from his injuries, Sheikh Hamdan visited him to praise his bravery, duty, and dedication to human life, stating he felt proud that Captain Machchhar shares in the “story of our nation.” The Order of Zayed II ranks among the UAE’s most prestigious civilian decorations.
Cyclone Arnab hits Andhra Pradesh, lashes North Chennai
Cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast early Wednesday as a very severe cyclonic storm. North Chennai already experienced rough seas and flooded coastal roads. High waves surged onto the Ennore Expressway on October 27 evening. The water disrupted traffic, pushed vehicles off the road, and swept away roadside stalls. Social media videos showed cars, autorickshaws, and two-wheelers drenched in water. The National Highways Authority of India closed the affected stretch. Port-bound trucks and local residents use this expressway between Ennore and Kasimedu harbour. Police and the Greater Chennai Corporation diverted traffic through Ernavur Bridge, Murugar Kovil Road, Kathivakkam Beach, and Kathivakkam Bridge. This diversion prevented accidents. Coastal settlements like Bharathiyar Nagar, Burma Nagar, Nettukuppam, Thalankuppam, and Chinnakuppam suffered impacts. Seawater entered Thalankuppam before receding away from homes. Fishing families in Kasi Kovil Kuppam and Thiruvottiyur reported water inside their houses. Local MLA N Senthil Kumar visited the area and urged residents to stay calm. Police dispersed youths who climbed coastal rocks for selfies and videos despite the danger. The Indian Coast Guard spent two days ensuring fishing boats returned to shore. Very rough seas can generate four to six-metre waves. North Chennai features a narrow shoreline with some stretches measuring only 20 to 30 metres wide. Engineers built groynes along parts of the coast to blunt the waves. Officials in Odisha’s Gajapati district identified 15,000 vulnerable people ahead of the storm. They also set up 281 temporary shelters.
Latur principal arrested after weeks on the run
For weeks he stayed one step ahead of the police. On Wednesday night the founder and principal of a school in Latur, who is accused of sexually harassing minor girl students was finally taken into custody. The 54‑year‑old man had been missing since October 4 the day the police registered a case against him at the MIDC police station under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the strict Protection of Children from Sexual Offences or POCSO. He hid after and police have been looking for him ever since. Several police teams spread out across Maharashtra to find him checking places like Udgir, Omarga, Pune, Panvel and Palghar an official said. Their hard work paid off when he was caught late on Wednesday. Police persistence finally succeeded. POCSO is the law India uses to protect children under 18 from abuse and exploitation. It sets penalties for offenders and requires investigators and courts to treat young victims with care. It also keeps their identities secret, which is why no details about the students have been shared. The case has hit a nerve because the accused ran the school himself. Parents trust schools to keep children safe. Students need to know they can speak up if something goes wrong. The allegations have not yet been examined by a court. The accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Police have not said anything, about the complaint.
Netanyahu and Opposition Locked in Political Standoff After Israel Election
Netanyahu and Opposition in Political Standoff
CNN reveals emails linking NewsClick, Singham, Prashad
Recent CNN reports reveal three recovered emails involving American-born businessman Neville Roy Singham, NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha, and Tricontinental Institute executive director Vijay Prashad. This correspondence revives scrutiny over allegations that NewsClick operates within a network promoting Beijing’s political agenda. Investigators flagged messages between Singham and Purkayastha concerning coverage of China’s COVID-19 pandemic response. These findings fuel an ongoing investigation into NewsClick’s funding sources and editorial direction. The controversy intensified in August 2023 when The New York Times exposed an international funding network linked to Singham, which allegedly amplifies Chinese state narratives. Indian authorities subsequently accused NewsClick of channeling funds from this network to publish pro-China content. NewsClick and Prabir Purkayastha strongly reject the allegations, maintaining that the organization produces independent journalism and denies acting as a mouthpiece for foreign propaganda. Previously, Singham asserted that he operates independently of any government or political party. Legal experts note that establishing contact between individuals does not automatically prove a coordinated propaganda operation. Investigators must analyze the exact content and context of the messages to determine their significance.
YouTuber with 2.1 million followers gets 33 Votes
A huge online following does not always translate into votes, as self-styled astrologer and YouTuber Omprakash Bishnoi found out in the sarpanch election of Indon Ki Dhani-II gram panchayat, in Osian tehsil of Jodhpur district. Bishnoi has about 2.1 million followers across social media, including roughly 1.4 million on Instagram, 2.32 lakh on Facebook and five lakh on YouTube. He campaigned heavily online, yet managed only 33 votes in a village with around 1,600 eligible voters. Another 10 voters chose NOTA. Three candidates were in the race. A teacher came second with 527 votes, while the winner is a businessman who runs a car business. The result stunned the villagers and his followers, and by his own account, Bishnoi himself. He said he entered the contest because people in the village urged him to, promising him a comfortable win. His agenda included schooling for every child, care for stray and abandoned animals, and making sure residents receive the benefits of government schemes. Bishnoi also said he runs a cow shelter that houses about 1,500 cows, and that he has given around 30 bighas of his own land for it. Despite this, the ballot boxes told a very different story from the one he had expected. The outcome has become a talking point about the gap between online popularity and real support on the ground, especially in local elections where voters tend to back candidates they know personally.
Mbappé Apologises After Chinese Brands Drop Him Over Mao Zedong Remark
Kylian Mbappé has found himself in hot water in China after a video of the football star referring to Mao Zedong as a “Chinese dictator” sparked backlash online. The controversy has reportedly cost the Real Madrid forward several sponsorship deals. The video featured Mbappé discussing a popular internet meme that edits his face onto Mao’s body. But the remark quickly became controversial in China, where the former leader remains a politically sensitive figure. Three Chinese companies — Dongpeng, Mengniu and Milkground — subsequently ended their partnerships with the French footballer. Spanish La Liga broadcasts were also suspended, while advertisements featuring Mbappé were removed. As the backlash grew, Mbappé apologised on October 27, saying he had not intended to offend the Chinese people. “I have deep respect for the Chinese people and their history, and I am sincerely sorry,” he said. The incident is another reminder of how quickly a celebrity’s comments can turn into a commercial crisis, particularly in a market as important as China.