Delhi's air quality deteriorated, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 421, categorizing it as 'severe.' Several monitoring stations, including Anand Vihar, recorded alarming AQI levels, with Anand Vihar hitting a hazardous 999 before Diwali. The Supreme Court reprimanded states, urging them to halt stubble burning, while emphasizing the ban on certain firecrackers applied nationwide. Delhi authorities implemented measures, including water spraying and bans on construction, to mitigate pollution.          

Israel's Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, declared Israel's intention to maintain "complete freedom of action" in Gaza after the ongoing conflict with Hamas ends. He emphasized that Hamas, both as a military organization and a governing body, would cease to exist. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed the sentiment, stressing Israel's need for long-term security responsibility in Gaza. However, US President Joe Biden cautioned against reoccupation, emphasizing the importance of the Palestinian Authority and a path to a Palestinian state, urging for a comprehensive solution beyond eliminating Hamas. The conflict has resulted in over 1,400 deaths in Israel and more than 10,000 in Gaza.  

Punjab witnessed a surge in stubble-burning incidents, with over 1,500 reported in a day, raising the total to 20,978. Sangrur had the highest cases, exacerbating air quality issues in Haryana, where several cities recorded 'severe' pollution levels. The worsening situation prompted the Commission for Air Quality Management to enforce Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan in the National Capital Region. Authorities are urging farmers to refrain from burning crop residue to mitigate the severe air pollution crisis affecting both states. [ Representative Image ]      

In a nail-biting encounter at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, Australia's Glenn Maxwell staged a remarkable fightback, smashing a record-breaking 201* to secure a thrilling victory against Afghanistan in the Cricket World Cup 2023. Maxwell's heroics came after Afghanistan's Ibrahim Zadran's historic century set a challenging target of 292. Despite early setbacks, Maxwell's partnership with Marnus Labuschagne proved decisive. Australia's win, taking them to 12 points, guarantees them a spot in the semifinals, while Afghanistan remains in contention, banking on future matches for a spot in the semis.          

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's explicit comments on population control, emphasizing the impact of girls' education on fertility rates, have ignited controversy in the state assembly. While some, including Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, defended Kumar, several women BJP legislators condemned his remarks as vulgar and demanded a ban. The comments were made in the context of a released caste survey report detailing economic conditions. Despite calls for restraint, the Chief Minister's statements have triggered a heated debate on social norms and public discourse.

India, as the current G-20 president, is set to host a virtual meeting of G-20 leaders on November 22, following the earlier G-20 Summit in Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has focused on promoting Global South interests, evident in their emphasis on climate financing, clean energy, and digital innovation. The meeting's agenda includes discussions on the ongoing Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts, along with challenges faced by the Global South, such as climate financing and clean energy initiatives. India's presidency highlights its commitment to addressing vital issues affecting developing nations.

After a manipulated video of Rashmika Mandanna created a stir earlier this week, a deepfake image of Katrina Kaif from 'Tiger 3' has emerged. The original picture shows the Bollywood star fighting a Hollywood stuntwoman clad in a towel. However, in the now-viral edited version, Katrina could be seen wearing a low-cut white top and a matching bottom instead of the towel. Social media users expressed outrage, condemning the misuse of AI. Amitabh Bachchan demanded legal action after the Mandanna outrage, highlighting the urgency to combat this digital deception. The Centre issued warnings to social media platforms, emphasizing the need to address AI-driven disinformation. As concerns rise, the film industry faces a growing battle against misleading content and its potentially harmful consequences.

ISRO's Aditya-L1 mission made a significant breakthrough in solar research by successfully recording the impulsive phase of solar flares. During its first observation period on October 29, 2023, the High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS) on board Aditya-L1 recorded the impulsive phase of solar flares. The captured data is consistent with NOAA satellite measurements. This marks progress for India in studying explosive energy release during solar flares. Commissioned on October 27, 2023, HEL1OS, developed by the Space Astronomy Group of the U. R. Rao Satellite Centre, ISRO, Bengaluru is currently undergoing fine-tuning of thresholds and calibration operations. The instrument is set to monitor the Sun's high-energy X-ray activity with fast timing and high-resolution spectra. HEL1OS data enables researchers to study explosive energy release and electron acceleration during impulsive phases of solar flares.

Former India player Mohammad Kaif blasted Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan, contrasting his 'Time Out' appeal against Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews with Rohit Sharma withdrawing a run-out appeal earlier this year against Sri Lanka's Shanaka. Kaif had praised Rohit for letting his 'heart' decide what was right. In a re-shared post, Kaif said Shakib should learn from Rohit. Though legal, dismissing a non-striker backing up is considered unsporting by many. While Shakib took an uncompromising approach, Kaif and others say Rohit embodied cricket's spirit versus exploiting rules. Sri Lanka veteran Angelo Mathews was controversially dismissed 'Timed Out' before his knock against Bangladesh on Monday, becoming the first player ever dismissed this way internationally. Mathews refused to shake hands after the match, calling Shakib Al Hasan "disgraceful."

Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews launched a scathing attack on Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan for not withdrawing the appeal of his unprecedented 'Timed Out' dismissal in Delhi, calling it a "disgraceful" act that stooped to a low level. Mathews said no other team apart from Bangladesh would have refused to retract the appeal in that situation when his helmet broke before the deadline. He alleged he still had 5 seconds left and has video proof against the decision. Umpires asked Shakib twice to withdraw the appeal considering Mathews' broken helmet but he refused. Mathews' unsparing criticism centered on Bangladesh and Shakib's lack of "common sense" and sportsmanship comes after he became the first cricketer internationally to be timed out.