A magnitude 6.7 earthquake off Mindanao island, Philippines, has claimed at least six lives. In General Santos City, three people died, including a couple crushed by a collapsing concrete wall and another woman in a mall. In Sarangani province, two fatalities are confirmed, with two missing due to a landslide. Davao Occidental province reported a 78-year-old man crushed by a rock. Despite power restoration and passable roads, the earthquake highlights the region's vulnerability within the Pacific "Ring of Fire," prone to volcanic activity and earthquakes.

Cyclone Midhili intensifies, bringing heavy rainfall to India's northeastern states as it approaches the Bangladesh coast. Alerts issued in Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, and Assam as the cyclonic storm disrupts Meghalaya's Cherry Blossom Festival. The India Meteorological Department warns of a north-northeastward trajectory with landfall near Khepupara, Bangladesh, anticipating winds of 60-70 kmph, gusting up to 80 kmph. A storm surge of up to 2 meters height is expected. Fishermen cautioned against venturing into the sea, and residents in low-lying areas urged to evacuate. The storm is forecasted to cross the Bangladesh coast on Friday night or early Saturday. [ photo courtesy: Zoom_earth/X ] 

At the concluding session of the Voice of Global South summit hosted by India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India is proud to have put the voice of developing countries on the G20 agenda. Modi stated the message from the summit, which had over 130 country participants, is that the Global South wants autonomy and is ready for big responsibilities in global affairs. He expressed confidence the priorities of the Global South will be advanced under Brazil's upcoming G20 presidency. Modi affirmed India will keep working towards the cause of the Global South.

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has ousted CEO Sam Altman, citing a loss of confidence in his leadership. The board's statement revealed a "deliberative review process" finding Altman inconsistently candid in communications, hindering board responsibilities. Altman gained prominence with ChatGPT's groundbreaking AI capabilities. Microsoft-backed OpenAI, a major player in the AI race, thanked Altman for contributions but emphasized the need for new leadership. Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati assumes the interim CEO role. Altman, a key figure in the AI industry, has yet to address the board's allegations publicly.

Following three days of 'severe' pollution, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) improved, entering the 'very poor' category at 398 according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data indicated varied pollution levels, with RK Puram at 396, New Moti Bagh at 350, IGI Airport at 465, and Nehru Nagar at 416, all falling under 'very poor.' The National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed stringent measures, citing inadequate progress, with a reassessment report due by November 20. Stubble burning contributed 3.45%, and IIT Kanpur's real-time study identified vehicles as the primary 44% contributor to PM2.5 levels, peaking at 90% at 9 am and reducing to 47% by 3 pm.

US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti posted a video with legendary Indian cricketers from the 1983 World Cup winning team, wishing the current squad success in the final against Australia. The special event at the US Embassy marked 40 years since India's first cricket World Cup triumph. Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Roger Binny, Jimmy Amarnath, Kirti Azad and Ravi Shastri shared stories that 'bowled over' Garcetti. He called them 'OGs of cricket' and said he is rooting for the 'Men in Blue' to bring the trophy home again. The clip shows Garcetti playing cricket with them, cutting a cake and autographed bat reading 'To the greatest champs ever'. Fans on Twitter appreciated the ambassador's cricket diplomacy initiative ahead of the high-profile match.

Mohammed Shami's ancestral village in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh has caught the attention of the district administration following the fast bowler's stellar performance at the ongoing ODI World Cup. The administration has decided to forward a proposal to the state government for constructing a mini stadium and opening a gymnasium in Sahaspur Alinagar village. Amroha District Magistrate Rajesh Tyagi said they identified suitable land in Shami's village during a visit. This follows Shami spearheading India's bowling attack at the World Cup as the leading wicket taker with 23 wickets from 6 matches, after having missed out originally in the playing XI. Shami joined the team after an injury ruled out Hardik Pandya. The planned sporting facilities will nurture talent in Shami's native village. 

Legendary Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger recently visited India and attended a cricket match in Kolkata. As he leaves, Jagger shared a thank you video singing a song from the band's new album. In a tweet, he expressed gratitude and happiness about getting away in India, adding a message in Hindi. Jagger revealed the iconic Rolling Stones tongue logo was inspired by an image of Kali's disembodied tongue that his brother, an early India traveller, had shown him. The 80-year-old rock icon, a sports fan, was reportedly a guest of the England team and watched their World Cup match against Pakistan at Eden Gardens. During his visit, he also wished Indians on Diwali and Kali Puja on social media. Jagger is one of the most celebrated musicians globally and his India trip shows his affinity for cricket and the country.

Addressing the Voice of Global South summit, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on developing nations to work towards self-reliance and mitigate vulnerabilities related to economic concentrations. He said the COVID-19 pandemic starkly revealed the dangers of relying on distant countries for basic necessities. Jaishankar highlighted India's G20 presidency achievements, especially bringing Global South issues to the forefront. He noted resistance remains towards greater involvement of the Global South in solving key global challenges. Jaishankar stressed amplifying shared interests of emerging economies in shaping the new world order. He advocated democratizing production, diversifying supply chains and promoting local solutions for the Global South to secure its future.

Pope Francis will separately meet next week with relatives of hostages held by Hamas and a delegation of Palestinians with family in Gaza, the Vatican confirmed on Friday. The meetings on Wednesday are "exclusively humanitarian" to show the Pope's spiritual closeness to suffering on both sides, said Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni. Earlier reports said 12 relatives of Israeli hostages will meet the Pope before his general audience. The Palestinian meeting is seen as a humanitarian gesture by the Pope to hear grievances from both sides.The humanitarian meetings come amid ongoing tensions between Israel and Hamas.