Manisha Bhanwala made history on Friday by becoming the first Indian woman to win a world wrestling championship title. The 29-year-old defeated American wrestler A Elizabeth Nette 8-6 in the women's 59kg final in Astana. Although the 59kg category is not an Olympic weight class, her victory marks a landmark achievement for Indian women's wrestling. India's campaign also saw Neelam Sirohi (50kg) and Kajal Dhochak (76kg) reach finals in Olympic weight categories, winning silver medals. Before Bhanwala, Anshu Malik was the only Indian woman to reach a world championship final, claiming silver in 2021. Vinesh Phogat and Antim Panghal have each won two world championship bronze medals. (PC: HT)

China’s stock market has lost an estimated $2.4 trillion since May amid growing concerns over the profitability and sustainability of its artificial intelligence boom. The STAR 50 Index has fallen 40 per cent since June, while other major indexes declined around 20 per cent. Weak domestic demand, thin profit margins, rising US interest rates and potential Western restrictions on Chinese technology have fuelled investor anxiety. Despite heavy state investment, including a 60-billion-yuan AI fund, robotics companies struggle to generate mass-market profits. Shares in leading robot-maker Unitree have halved since August. Meanwhile, Beijing faces pressure to stimulate investment, but major policy measures appear unlikely before politically significant party meetings. (PC: Getty Images)

Hackers stole $6.3 billion from cryptocurrency exchange Binance in a record-breaking attack that unfolded largely within 20 minutes, with analysts expressing high confidence that North Korea was responsible. Binance halted withdrawals, assured users their funds were safe and pledged to cover losses. Stablecoin issuers and other partners froze approximately $3 billion in stolen assets, while the remaining $3.3 billion had not been accounted for. An initial investigation suggested a compromised laptop belonging to a Binance engineer may have provided access to the system. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies fell following the breach. Binance said it expected withdrawal services to resume within 48 hours as investigations continued. (PC: Reuters)

Veteran actor Patrick Stewart has died at 86 at his Los Angeles home, following a brief journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, his publicist announced. Known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men franchise, Stewart amassed more than 150 screen roles during a career spanning theatre, Broadway and cinema. His death prompted tributes from co-stars and colleagues, including Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Romijn, William Shatner and George Takei. Marvel Studios also honoured the actor, praising his portrayal of Professor X. Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010, Stewart leaves a lasting legacy across stage and screen. (PC: Getty Images)

Muhammad Yunus was reportedly approached by protesting students to lead Bangladesh’s interim government two days before Sheikh Hasina’s ouster on August 5, 2024, according to his former press secretary Shafiqul Alam. In a Facebook post, Alam claimed AFP journalist Qadaruddin Shishir acted as a secret intermediary, first contacting Yunus and facilitating initial talks with student leaders. He alleged that only a few trusted individuals knew about the plan. Hasina fled Bangladesh following escalating student-led protests and violence. Yunus’s interim administration took office on August 8, 2024, and governed for around 18 months. The BNP won the February 2026 parliamentary election, and Tarique Rahman became prime minister. (PC: X)

Pakistan detained British Labour councillor Daalat Ali, deputy leader of Rochdale Borough Council, during an October visit. Although released, Ali was reportedly prevented from boarding a flight at Lahore airport on October 28 to return to Britain. He was allegedly told his name appeared on an immigration control list. Ali had travelled with a delegation led by Rochdale ceremonial mayor Faisal Rana to Sahiwal, a Pakistani city twinned with Rochdale since 1998. Rochdale Council suspects the detention was linked to Ali’s activism on Kashmir. British Labour MP Imran Hussain has sought ministerial intervention, while human rights activists have also called for the UK to intervene over the reported travel restrictions. (PC: India Today)

Israel’s final election results have left no bloc with a majority in the 120-member Knesset, putting President Isaac Herzog’s constitutional role in focus. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc secured 53 seats, down from a peak of 68 in the previous parliament, while the opposition alliance led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot won 48. Arab-led parties secured the remaining 19 seats. A government requires 61 seats. Herzog will decide who gets the first opportunity to form the next government. The results must be formally certified and submitted to him by November 4. The final tally leaves both blocs short of the 61-seat threshold, making Herzog’s decision pivotal in the government-formation process. (PC: AFP)

India lifted an estimated 496 million people out of extreme poverty between 2011 and 2023, according to the World Bank’s October 2026 Poverty and Equity Brief. The share fell from 27.1 per cent to 2.6 per cent, while poverty under the lower-middle-income threshold of $4.20 a day declined from 57.7 per cent to 16.1 per cent. The World Bank attributed the improvement to consumption growth, rising employment, particularly among women, and expanded social transfers, including food subsidies. It projected poverty at the $4.20 threshold could fall to 12.1 per cent by 2028, while cautioning that estimates may change. Multidimensional poverty indicators improved, though regional and employment-related challenges remain. (PC: X)

A helicopter operated by private company Trans Bharat Aviation crashed near Chai village in the Joshimath area of Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Friday, killing all six people onboard. The aircraft was travelling from Badrinath to Dehradun when it crashed into a hillside near the JP Power House, around 2:20 pm. Those onboard included one pilot and five passengers. District officials said rescue teams rushed to the crash site following the incident. The helicopter was reportedly returning to Dehradun from Badrinath, although authorities had not confirmed whether it had been operating a flight from the Badrinath shrine. The circumstances surrounding the crash were not immediately known.

Israeli-American Rabbi Yossi Mizrachi has faced widespread criticism after a video of him mocking Hindu religious traditions and cow worship went viral on social media. Mizrachi made sweeping remarks about Indians consuming cow urine and ridiculed Indian doctors, alleging they also used it to treat patients. He further joked about cows blocking roads and causing traffic delays in New Delhi. His comments triggered angry reactions from people in India and Israel, with several social media users accusing him of racism and insulting Hindu beliefs. Mizrachi has previously courted controversy over remarks concerning Holocaust deaths, Muslims and people with disabilities, according to the report. (PC: X)