On October 22, 2024, a 3-foot-wide asteroid, designated 2024 UQ, struck Earth’s atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean just hours after its discovery. The impact occurred about 1,000 km off the California coast, creating a bright fireball that was detected by NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) at 3:54 am PT. Surveys like ATLAS and Catalina are increasingly able to detect such space rocks before impact, although no sightings were reported from land. This marks the third time in 2024 that an asteroid was discovered mere hours before striking Earth, with no harm caused.

Alphabet’s self-driving unit, Waymo, has raised $5.6 billion to scale its autonomous ride-hailing service across major U.S. cities, including San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta. The funding round saw investments from major firms such as Andreessen Horowitz and Fidelity, as well as existing investor Alphabet. Waymo plans to extend partnerships, including with Uber, despite challenges from regulatory scrutiny and public skepticism about driverless tech. Meanwhile, Tesla and General Motors’ Cruise are competing in the autonomous ride-hailing market, alongside Amazon’s Zoox, which recently expanded testing of vehicles without steering wheels or pedals.

The late Ratan Tata's will has named his trusted assistant Shantanu Naidu, along with family, staff, and his cherished dog, Tito, as beneficiaries. Tata’s ₹10,000 crore estate includes assets like an Alibaug bungalow, a Juhu property, and Tata Sons shares, which will go to the Ratan Tata Endowment Foundation. Naidu, who managed Tata’s companionship venture Goodfellows, received Tata’s share of the company and educational loan forgiveness, underscoring their close bond. Tito, Tata’s beloved German Shepherd, will receive "unlimited care" from Tata’s longtime cook, Rajan Shaw, a rare gesture in Indian inheritance practices.

A lorry fire carrying hazardous chemicals closed the M5 motorway's southbound lanes in Somerset, UK, between junctions 22 (Burnham-on-Sea) and 23 (Puriton) around 9:35 BST. Drivers have been advised to stay in their vehicles as fire services work to extinguish the flames. National Highways South West reported about four miles of congestion and diversions via the A38 and A39. Northbound lanes have reopened, though delays persist. Mole Valley, the agricultural supplier, confirmed the truck carried milk powder, with a likely wheel or tyre failure causing the blaze. Traffic remains temporarily halted for safety.

Cyclone Dana has caused significant disruption in West Bengal and Odisha, leaving one person dead in Bengal and severe flooding across Kolkata. Waterlogged streets halted transportation, and floodwaters entered key facilities, including SSKM Hospital and Kolkata Municipal Corporation headquarters. In Odisha, uprooted trees blocked roads, but no casualties were reported due to preemptive evacuations of 600,000 residents. The IMD forecasts continued heavy rain across Bengal through Saturday, with rainfall intensity expected to decrease by nightfall. Authorities are working to clear roadblocks and restore airport services in Odisha. Emergency measures remain active in affected districts.

In a significant move for India-Germany relations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Germany’s decision to increase the annual visa quota for skilled Indian professionals from 20,000 to 90,000. The announcement came after Modi’s meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, where they discussed trade, defense, and technology partnerships. Scholz highlighted Germany's openness to skilled Indian workers, noting a 23,000 increase last year in Indian employees in Germany. Digitized and expedited visa processes are also planned. Scholz clarified Germany’s stance on irregular migration, focusing on streamlined entry for skilled laborers only.

The Supreme Court granted significant relief to actress Rhea Chakraborty in the Sushant Singh Rajput case by upholding the Bombay High Court’s decision to cancel the CBI's lookout notice against her and her family. Maharashtra’s appeal to reinstate the notice faced Supreme Court scrutiny, questioning the rationale for targeting Rhea due to her “high-profile status.” The case originated from a 2020 FIR filed by Sushant’s family, leading to CBI and ED investigations. Justice B.R. Gavai cautioned CBI against unwarranted harassment, emphasizing fair and unbiased inquiry practices.

Ratan Tata, renowned industrialist and former Tata Sons Chairman, allocated shares not only to his siblings but also for his German Shepherd, Tito, and longtime butler Subbiah. Tata’s estate, valued at around Rs 10,000 crore, includes "unlimited care" provisions for Tito, to be managed by his cook, Rajan Shaw. Additionally, Tata waived loans for his assistant Shantanu Naidu and assigned his Tata Sons stake to the Ratan Tata Endowment Foundation. Known for his empathy, Tata’s will reflects his care for close associates and animals, underscoring his legacy of generosity and compassion.

After nearly eight months on the International Space Station (ISS), four astronauts—three Americans and one Russian—returned to Earth on Friday. The SpaceX capsule carrying the crew landed safely in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida. Originally scheduled to return two months ago, the mission faced delays due to Boeing's Starliner capsule issues and Hurricane Milton. NASA’s Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, along with Russia's Alexander Grebenkin, finally undocked mid-week. Their replacements include Starliner test pilots Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, along with two others, ensuring the ISS returns to its regular crew of seven.

India and China have commenced disengagement along the Ladakh Line of Actual Control (LAC), set to complete by October 29. Following the dismantling of temporary structures, troops from both nations are retreating to positions held pre-April 2020. Patrolling is expected to resume by month-end. Each day, military commanders coordinate actions via hotline and meet at set points. This follows a recent India-China agreement, aimed at de-escalating the four-year border standoff. The agreement, confirmed by both governments, signals a potential step toward normalized relations, endorsed by leaders Modi and Xi during the recent BRICS summit.