Narendra Modi on 8 November 2025 inaugurated four new Vande Bharat Express trains from Varanasi, connecting key routes: Banaras–Khajuraho (Uttar Pradesh-Madhya Pradesh), Lucknow-Saharanpur (UP), Firozpur-Delhi (Punjab-Delhi) and Ernakulam-Bengaluru (Kerala-Karnataka). The Banaras–Khajuraho train cuts travel time by around 2 hours 40 minutes and links major cultural and heritage cities. The Ernakulam-Bengaluru route reduces journey time by over two hours, enhancing connectivity between major southern tech and commercial hubs. Modi described the new services as symbols of India’s infrastructure and developmental leap, aiming to boost regional mobility, tourism and economic growth. (PC: HT)

A nine‑year‑old Class 4 student at a private school in Jaipur, named Amaiyra, died by suicide after jumping from the fourth floor of the school building. Her parents say she had repeatedly told them over the past year “I don’t want to go to school… don’t send me,” citing persistent bullying and verbal abuse with sexual connotations that they claim the school ignored despite multiple complaints. CCTV footage shows her walking to the teacher and then climbing the railing moments before the incident; audio surveillance required by guidelines was missing. (PC: NDTV)

In a decisive overnight operation on November 8, 2025, security forces foiled an infiltration attempt in the Keran sector of Kupwara district, Jammu & Kashmir, killing two terrorists during a swift encounter. The troops, acting on intelligence about suspected movement along the Line of Control (LoC), engaged the terrorists as they attempted to cross from the Pakistani side. The eliminated militants were armed, though exact details on recovered weapons or affiliations remain under investigation. Officials say the operation underscores heightened vigilance ahead of winter when infiltration risks rise. (PC: PTI)

On Saturday morning, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in New Delhi stood at 355, marking a shift into the “very poor” category. In specific areas, the situation was even graver: at Anand Vihar the AQI soared to 403, entering the “hazardous” range. Other localities recorded high levels too — Jahangirpuri 365, Rohini 361 and Wazirpur 378. The deterioration follows Friday’s AQI of 311, which had already marked a decline from earlier “poor” readings. The city also woke up to a shallow layer of fog amid dropping temperatures — a combination that tends to trap pollutants and further degrade air quality. (PC: PTI)

The US Department of Labor has opened 175 investigations into possible misuse of the H-1B visa program. The move is part of Project Firewall, launched in September to ensure companies hire qualified American workers first. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said she is personally certifying these probes to stop visa abuse and protect US jobs. The department also released a social media ad accusing firms of replacing Americans with foreign workers, naming India as the largest beneficiary. The Trump administration recently introduced a $100,000 one-time fee for H-1B applications as part of its crackdown on immigration. (PC: HT)

More than 2,000 flights across the United States were delayed or cancelled on Friday after the government shutdown hit air traffic control operations. The Federal Aviation Administration said staff shortages forced airlines to reduce flight numbers at 40 major airports. Many air traffic controllers are working without pay or calling in sick during the shutdown. The FAA plans to cut flights by up to 10% next week if the crisis continues, which could affect as many as 4,000 flights per day. Airlines like United and Delta have promised full refunds to passengers whose flights were cancelled. (PC: BBC)

India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a deal with GE Aerospace to buy 113 F404 engines for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft. The engines will be delivered between 2027 and 2032. They will power 97 Tejas Mk1A jets ordered by the Indian Air Force. The agreement comes amid easing trade tensions between India and the US. The Tejas Mk1A made its first flight last month in Nashik. The deal will boost India’s fighter jet strength as older MiG-21s are retired. HAL said the new engines will support faster rollout of aircraft in the coming years. (PC: India Today)

To fight rising winter pollution, the Delhi government will begin staggered office timings from November 15. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said government offices will work from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm, while municipal offices will run from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm till February 15, 2026. The move aims to reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions that worsen Delhi’s air during winter. Officials said the plan will help spread vehicle movement through the day and improve air quality. This comes as Delhi’s Air Quality Index crossed 400 in several areas, touching the “severe” category this week. (PC: NDTV)

Flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport returned to normal after a major technical fault in the Air Traffic Control system caused delays to nearly 800 flights on Friday. The issue was traced to the Automatic Message Switching System, which helps manage flight plans. Air traffic controllers had to handle flight data manually, slowing down operations. IndiGo and other airlines said normal services are being restored. The Airports Authority of India confirmed that the system is now “up and functional,” though some minor delays may continue until all backlogged data is cleared. (PC: HT)

Elon Musk secured a record-breaking $1 trillion Tesla pay package after 75% of shareholders voted in favor at the Texas annual meeting, bringing him closer to becoming the world's first trillionaire. Currently worth $491 billion, Musk celebrated by dancing with Tesla's humanoid Optimus robot on stage. To cash in, he must grow Tesla's market value from $1.4 trillion to $8.5 trillion, sell 20 million cars, and deploy a million robotaxis and robots over the next decade. Despite opposition from Norway's sovereign wealth fund and CalPERS citing excessive compensation, supporters view it as betting on Musk's vision to transform Tesla into an AI and robotics empire.