The Supreme Court on Thursday raised alarm over Delhi’s worsening pollution and advised lawyers to appear virtually. Justice PS Narsimha said, “Why are you all appearing here? We have a virtual hearing facility. Please avail it. The pollution – this will cause permanent damage.” He added, “Even masks are not enough. It will not suffice.” The court’s remarks came as Delhi remained shrouded in thick smog, with air quality in the ‘severe’ range for the third straight day. According to CPCB, Bawana recorded the highest AQI at 460, while NSIT Dwarka was the lowest at 216. (PC: India Today)

After finding two cars linked to the Delhi Red Fort blast, police are now searching for a third vehicle, believed to be a Maruti Brezza. Sources said the missing car may have been used by suspects for planning or escape. Earlier, a white Hyundai i20 exploded near Red Fort, killing ten people and injuring several others. A red Ford EcoSport connected to main suspect Dr Umar Un Nabi was later found at a farmhouse in Faridabad. Multiple security teams are now tracing the Brezza across Delhi-NCR and nearby states as the probe into the terror attack widens. (PC: HT)

US President Donald Trump’s new H-1B visa policy aims to bring skilled foreign workers to America for short stays to train US workers. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the plan is about “knowledge transfer,” not long-term jobs for foreign workers. He explained that the goal is to rebuild industries like semiconductors and shipbuilding that were lost to outsourcing. “Workers will train Americans for three to seven years, then return home,” Bessent told Fox News. He added that this approach supports Trump’s push to reduce import dependence and boost manufacturing jobs in the US. (PC: NDTV)

Exit polls for the Bihar Assembly elections 2025 predict a win for the ruling NDA. Most surveys, including Axis My India and Today’s Chanakya, gave the NDA 121 to 172 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan was projected to win 65 to 118 seats. The majority mark in the 243-member Assembly is 122. NDA leaders said the results show faith in Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav rejected the predictions, saying the NDA is “nervous and anxious.” Congress leaders also urged people to “wait for the real results” before believing the exit polls. (PC: HT)

Meghalaya’s Akash Kumar Choudhary made history by hitting eight sixes in a row in a Ranji Trophy match against Arunachal Pradesh. He also scored the fastest fifty in first-class cricket — in just 11 balls. The match, played in Surat, ended with Meghalaya winning by 725 runs. While Akash’s feat drew praise, former players say such records show how uneven the Ranji Trophy has become since weaker teams joined after 2018. Former BCCI official Saba Karim said it may be time to rethink the format and bring back separate tiers to maintain the quality of domestic cricket. (PC: X)

Investigators have uncovered a chilling plan involving 32 cars, including the Hyundai i20 that exploded near Delhi’s Red Fort, as part of a large-scale terror plot. Sources said the attacks were planned for December 6, the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition. The cars were fitted or prepared to carry explosives to target six locations in Delhi. Four cars, including a Brezza and EcoSport, have been found in Faridabad linked to Al-Falah University. The Red Fort blast killed 13 people after the bomb went off prematurely. The Jaish-e-Mohammed group is suspected of directing the terror module. (PC:  NDTV)

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday that his country is “ready for war on two fronts,” claiming Pakistan can face both India and Afghanistan. His statement came after a suicide blast in Islamabad killed 12 people and injured 36. Linking the attack to Kabul, Asif said, “This is a message from the Afghan Taliban, and Pakistan is fully prepared to respond.” The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the bombing. Asif also dismissed the Delhi Red Fort blast as a “gas cylinder explosion,” which Indian officials called a “desperate attempt to deflect attention.” (PC: India Today)

Leaked emails from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate show that Prince Andrew told Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, “I can’t take any more of this,” after learning in 2011 that a British newspaper was set to publish a story about them. The emails, released by the US House Oversight Committee, include messages mentioning Donald Trump and others. Andrew denied all wrongdoing and has not faced any charges. He settled a civil case with Virginia Giuffre in 2022 without admitting guilt. The latest release adds pressure on Andrew as US lawmakers seek his testimony in their ongoing Epstein investigation. (PC: BBC)

The ex-husband of Dr Shaheen Shahid Ansari, recently arrested along with her brother in a terror-module investigation, revealed that after their 2013 divorce, she left their two sons in his care and never contacted them again. A government hospital eye surgeon from Kanpur, he stated that during their marriage (2006–2013), he noticed no suspicious activities. The Uttar Pradesh ATS and Jammu and Kashmir Police are jointly probing the case, questioning the siblings’ family members to uncover links to a broader terror network.

A loud sound in Delhi’s Mahipalpur area on Thursday morning caused panic just days after the Red Fort blast. Police and fire officials rushed to the spot after a call reported a “blast-like” sound near the Radisson Hotel around 9:19 am. After checking, officials confirmed it was caused by the burst of a DTC bus tyre. No suspicious items or activities were found. The Delhi Police said the situation was normal and there was no threat. The city remains tense after the Red Fort explosion that killed 13 people and left over 20 injured earlier this week. (PC: HT)