Times of India

Nato's Mark Rutte confirmed North Korea has sent troops to Russia to assist in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. North Korean units are being deployed in Russia's Kursk region, a move seen as escalating the war and threatening global security. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy indicated that approximately 10,000 North Korean soldiers may soon be involved.

Dhanteras marks the beginning of Diwali with traditions of buying gold, silver, and other auspicious items. Celebrated on Oct 29, 2024, it involves worshipping deities for health and wealth, lighting diyas, and cleaning homes to invite prosperity for the upcoming year.

Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers may face NFL punishment for making a political statement by wearing a 'Make America Great Again' hat during a post-game interview. This act appears to violate NFL rules against political messages. Bosa's past conservative actions and comments create further controversy.

Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad criticized the PCB's management after Gary Kirsten suddenly resigned as the white-ball head coach. Kirsten, who was appointed in April, left after just six months, hinting at internal issues. Jason Gillespie will now lead the team for the Australia tour. Reports suggest tensions over voting powers influenced Kirsten’s departure.

Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar, in an emotional outburst, accused uncle Sharad Pawar of dividing the family. Ajit Pawar filed the nomination on Monday for Maharashtra assembly elections from Baramati assembly and is fielded against nephew Yugendra Pawar.

President Joe Biden will celebrate Diwali at the White House, lighting a traditional Diya lamp and speaking at a reception for the Indian American community. This year marks Biden's final such event as he won't seek re-election. A video message from astronaut Sunita Williams will also be featured.

The Centre is set to start the delayed census by early 2025, with data release in 2026. No caste census decision yet. Census delays due to Covid-19, with public data last collected in 2011. Congress calls for all-party meet to discuss caste enumeration and delimitation concerns.

Comedian Kunal Kamra has highlighted issues with Ola Electric's service, tagging ministers for intervention. He responded to a video showing neglected Ola scooters in Solapur and called out the company's accountability. Kamra has humorously agreed to accept Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal’s job offer, provided the company meets specific commitments he outlined.

BJP's Amit Malviya questions the acceptance of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's nomination affidavit for Wayanad bypolls, alleging incomplete asset disclosure. Earlier BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia claimed that she violated Supreme Court directives by omitting key information about her and her husband Robert Vadra's assets. Priyanka's declared assets total over Rs 12 crore, with significant liabilities noted.

India's first private military aircraft manufacturing facility, inaugurated by PM Modi in Vadodara, marks a shift towards self-reliance in defense. The facility will assemble Airbus C-295 aircraft to enhance the Indian Air Force's capabilities. The project is expected to generate significant employment and strengthen India's aerospace supply chain, aligning with the 'Make in India' initiative.

Elon Musk, the world's wealthiest man, has significantly influenced the 2024 US presidential elections by investing $132 million to support Donald Trump's re-election campaign. Musk's financial backing through America PAC focuses on voter mobilization in key swing states, raising ethical and legal questions about his involvement and potential conflicts of interest, especially given Musk’s business ties with the government.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced the inauguration of a Tata Aircraft Complex to manufacture C-295 aircraft, aimed at bolstering India-Spain relations and advancing the 'Make in India, Make for the World' mission. The factory is expected to aid India's defense manufacturing ecosystem and facilitate exports of locally assembled aircraft.

The BCCI's exclusion of Ruturaj Gaikwad from the squads for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and T20I series against South Africa has sparked outrage. Despite Gaikwad's strong form and two first-class centuries, the selectors chose Abhimanyu Easwaran. Former cricketer Krisnamachari Srikkanth criticized the decision, questioning the selection committee's inconsistent approach.

The 2023/24 Ballon d'Or awards in Paris see Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior and Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati as frontrunners. Vinicius had a standout season with Real Madrid, winning La Liga and the Champions League. Bonmati led Barcelona to a historic quadruple. Winners will be decided by an international jury of football journalists.

India's cricket fans express concern over Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's poor form in Tests against New Zealand, questioning their absence from domestic cricket. Former selector Sunil Joshi emphasizes the need for top players to participate in domestic matches to improve their performance against spin.

During his Mann ki Baat address, PM Narendra Modi cautioned against rising digital arrest scams, revealing Indians lost Rs 120.3 crore in Q1 2024 alone. He shared a three-step strategy to combat these frauds: 'stop, think, act', and urged victims to report incidents via helpline 1930 and cybercrime.gov.in.

The Iskcon temple in Tirupati received a bomb threat via email on Sunday, warning of potential attacks by Pakistan's ISI-related terrorists. Heightened security measures were promptly implemented, and thorough searches by the Bomb Disposal Squad revealed no explosives. This incident follows a series of recent hoax bomb threats in Tirupati.

Elon Musk marked the second anniversary of his $44 billion purchase of Twitter by sharing a throwback video of his entry into the headquarters, captioned 'Let that sink in!' This milestone highlights the turbulent acquisition journey, including significant executive changes and Musk's controversial reforms aimed at enhancing platform features and promoting free speech.

The ICC World Test Championship standings are highly competitive, with India and Australia leading. Both teams face crucial upcoming series that will determine their chances of making it to the 2023 title clash. Sri Lanka, South Africa, and New Zealand also remain in contention. England, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the West Indies are currently out of contention for the final, but they will be looking to finish the cycle on a positive note with strong performances in their remaining matches.