Hilarious moments unfolded during India's practice session ahead of the first Test against Australia in Perth. Sarfaraz Khan dropped an easy catch during slip-catching drills, triggering uncontrollable laughter from Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Dhruv Jurel. Pant fell down laughing, while Kohli and Jurel struggled to keep calm. The light-hearted moment highlighted team camaraderie before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy clash starting Friday. Jurel, likely to play his maiden Test in Australia, impressed in past matches. With Kohli and Pant pivotal to India's batting and no Rohit Sharma, the focus shifts to India's final practice and team selection.

A 47-foot female fin whale, the world's second-largest whale species, was found dead near a coastal trail in Anchorage, Alaska. Hundreds gathered to view the massive carcass, which NOAA experts say was likely 1-3 years old. Biologists collected tissue samples, including heart, urine, and blood, to investigate the cause of death. Challenges like decomposition and lack of visible injuries make determining the cause difficult. Fin whales, reaching up to 85 feet, face threats like ship strikes, fishing gear entanglement, and climate change. These endangered whales migrate between Arctic feeding grounds and tropical breeding areas.

Delhi's air quality worsened to the 'severe' level, with an AQI of 422 recorded on Wednesday. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has ordered 50% of its employees to work from home to combat pollution. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced the decision, with implementation discussions scheduled at the Secretariat. Additionally, staggered office timings have been mandated for government offices. Stage IV pollution curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) are in effect, banning non-essential vehicles and halting construction at public projects. Rai also urged the Centre to approve artificial rain measures to mitigate the hazardous conditions.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 13-year-old batting sensation from Bihar, has become the youngest player ever to feature in the IPL auction list. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced his inclusion among 574 players for the IPL 2025 mega auction, scheduled for November 24-25 in Jeddah. Despite modest First-Class stats (100 runs in 5 matches), Suryavanshi's stellar century in the India U19 vs. Australia U19 series showcased his immense potential. Occupying the 491st spot in the uncapped category, he is also part of India’s squad for the U19 Asia Cup, starting November 30, against Pakistan.

On the 1,000th day since Russia’s invasion, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky called for Europe to intensify efforts against Moscow, warning that the longer the war continues, the more dire the situation becomes. Speaking at a European Parliament session, Zelensky emphasized the need for a "just peace" and condemned Russia's escalating actions, including the deployment of North Korean troops. Ukraine's military chief marked the milestone by highlighting the ongoing "fierce battle" for survival. Meanwhile, the Kremlin’s updated nuclear doctrine now views attacks on Russia or Belarus as grounds for a nuclear response.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has suspended seven police officers in Uttar Pradesh after complaints from the Samajwadi Party about unlawful checks of voter IDs and Aadhaar cards during the ongoing bypolls. The suspension affects officers from Kanpur, Muzaffarnagar, and Moradabad. The ECI vowed strict action against biased voting practices and emphasized prompt investigation of complaints. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav criticized the violations, urging voters to return to polling booths. In response, the BJP urged the ECI to intensify checks, particularly on burqa-clad voters. The bypolls saw incidents of violence, prompting police intervention.

The UK Met Office has issued a Yellow warning for snow and ice, predicting temperatures to drop below freezing this week. Sub-zero temperatures, including -11.2°C in Aberdeenshire, have already caused significant disruption. The cold Arctic air is expected to bring further snow showers, particularly affecting East and West Midlands, Northern Ireland, and Wales. Train services were canceled, and more than 200 schools closed. Panic buying of essentials like milk, bread, and eggs has been reported. Travel disruptions are expected, particularly on national highways and train routes due to heavy snow accumulation.

The US Embassy in Kyiv has temporarily closed after receiving information about a possible significant air attack on November 20. The US Department of State advised embassy staff to shelter in place as a precaution. In a post on X, the embassy urged US citizens in Ukraine to be ready to shelter immediately if an air alert is announced. This comes days after the Biden administration approved the provision of anti-personnel mines and allowed US-made ATACMS missiles to be used against Russian targets, escalating tensions between the US, Ukraine, and Russia.

Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman announced that the Argentina football team, including Lionel Messi, will visit Kerala next year for an international match. The match will be organized under the state government’s supervision, with financial backing from local merchants. Messi, who last played in India in 2011, enjoys a huge fanbase in Kerala, a state known for its strong football culture. The match will be a historic occasion for Indian football fans, particularly in Kerala, where Messi’s popularity continues to soar after his move to Major League Soccer (MLS).

Elon Musk's SpaceX successfully launched its Starship rocket in front of President-elect Donald Trump in Texas, but the mission faced a setback. The massive 400ft rocket, intended for future lunar and Mars missions, saw its first stage, Super Heavy, splash down in the Gulf of Mexico instead of landing on the launchpad. SpaceX called off the booster catch after four minutes, citing unmet criteria. Despite the failure, the sixth test flight demonstrated progress in reusable rocket technology, with NASA set to use Starship for its upcoming lunar missions, securing SpaceX over $4bn in funding.