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Airport Scare: Air India Ground Bus Erupts in Flames Near Aircraft at Delhi T3; No Injuries Reported

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Airport Scare: Air India Ground Bus Erupts in Flames Near Aircraft at Delhi T3; No Injuries Reported

NEW DELHI: A significant scare unfolded at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport’s Terminal 3 (T3) on Tuesday afternoon when a ground-handling bus, operated by Air India SATS, suddenly caught fire near a parked aircraft.

​The incident occurred near Bay 32 in the apron area of Terminal 3. Eyewitness reports and visuals shared online showed the bus engulfed in a fierce blaze, positioned just metres away from a large aircraft.

​Crucially, airport officials confirmed that no passengers were onboard the bus at the time of the fire. The vehicle, used for ground operations, was reportedly empty except for the driver, who managed to escape unharmed.

​Fire tenders and airport emergency services immediately rushed to the spot and were able to bring the fire under control swiftly—reportedly within minutes—preventing the flames from spreading to the nearby aircraft, fuel trucks, or other essential airport equipment.

​There were no reported injuries and no damage to the nearby plane. Airport operations at T3 continued without major disruption. Authorities, including Delhi Police and the Airport Investigation team, have launched an inquiry to determine the exact cause of the fire, with initial suspicion centring on a technical fault in the vehicle

Exclusive: Ruling CPM Deploys ‘CID’ Team to Unearth Congress Candidate in Vattiyoorkavu; K Muraleedharan Factor Spurs Panic

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Exclusive: Ruling CPM Deploys ‘CID’ Team to Unearth Congress Candidate in Vattiyoorkavu; K Muraleedharan Factor Spurs Panic

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) has reportedly deployed its own private intelligence or “CID” team to uncover the identity of the Congress candidate for the crucial Vattiyoorkavu Assembly constituency. The secret operation was triggered by strong speculation that sitting MP K. Muraleedharan might contest from the seat.

​To ensure accuracy, the CPM bypassed its usual confidential sources and engaged this specialized CID squad, which is now operating across Thiruvananthapuram. Sources indicate that a former Congressman with significant influence in Delhi is also part of this intelligence unit.

​K. Muraleedharan’s Mark: Focus on Vattiyoorkavu

​The Congress party has recently handed over the key responsibility of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation elections to K. Muraleedharan, replacing P.C. Vishnunath. Under Muraleedharan’s leadership, a former MLA of Vattiyoorkavu, focused preparatory work is underway, including finalizing candidates for the 10 wards under the Corporation’s jurisdiction.

​Muraleedharan, who won from Vattiyoorkavu in both 2011 and 2016, contested and won the Vadakara Lok Sabha seat in 2019 following a directive from the party leadership. This necessitated a by-election in Vattiyoorkavu, which was won by the CPM’s V.K. Prasanth, who retained the seat in 2021.

​Threat to Prasanth’s Hold?

​Despite his move to Vadakara, Muraleedharan continues to share a strong connection with the Vattiyoorkavu electorate. Political observers believe that if Muraleedharan, who enjoys cross-political goodwill in the constituency, decides to contest, the incumbent MLA V.K. Prasanth faces a high risk of defeat.

​However, Prasanth’s supporters argue that Muraleedharan is unlikely to contest from Vattiyoorkavu. If his candidacy is confirmed, there is speculation that Prasanth might shift to the Kazhakootam constituency, where sitting CPM MLA Kadakampally Surendran is unlikely to be given a ticket this time. If Muraleedharan stays out, Prasanth is expected to remain the Left Front candidate in Vattiyoorkavu.

​The CPM’s unusual ‘election strategy’ of deploying CID teams to determine the Congress candidate has become a major talking point in Thiruvananthapuram’s political circles.

Major Split: Tata Trusts Trustees Reportedly Vote to Oust Ratan Tata Confidant Mehli Mistry

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Major Split: Tata Trusts Trustees Reportedly Vote to Oust Ratan Tata Confidant Mehli Mistry

Mumbai: In a dramatic turn that further escalates the internal power struggle at Tata Trusts, a majority of the trusts’ influential trustees have reportedly voted for the ouster of Mehli Mistry. This decision effectively denies the renewal of Mistry’s term, ending his tenure at the charitable bodies that control a majority stake in Tata Sons.

According to a report in The Economic Times, Mistry—once regarded as one of Ratan Tata’s closest confidantes—now faces removal after a key faction of trustees declined to approve his term renewal.

The majority vote was secured by the opposition of three prominent trustees: Chairman Noel Tata, Vice Chairman Venu Srinivasan, and trustee Vijay Singh. With these three votes cast against the renewal, Mistry’s non-renewal constitutes a majority decision within the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT).

The Stakes and Board Composition

The significance of this internal tussle cannot be overstated, as the Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) and the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) together hold 51% in Tata Sons, the holding company of the entire Tata Group.

While trustees Darius Khambata, Pramit Jhaveri, and Jehangir Jehangir reportedly gave their approval for Mistry’s continuation, the three dissenting votes appear to have sealed his fate. The report adds that the non-renewal is also considered a majority decision at SRTT, given that trustee Jimmy Tata does not typically participate in such crucial votes.

The current composition of the boards is:

  • SDTT Trustees: Noel Tata, Venu Srinivasan, Vijay Singh, Mehli Mistry, Pramit Jhaveri, and Darius Khambata.
  • SRTT Trustees: Noel Tata, Venu Srinivasan, Vijay Singh, Jimmy Tata, Jehangir HC Jehangir, Mehli Mistry, and Darius Khambata.

Deepening Tensions and Conditions

The current vote is the culmination of ongoing tensions and internal disputes that have plagued the Trusts.

Just last week, Mehli Mistry had attempted to set a challenging condition for future renewals, demanding that all trustee renewals must receive unanimous approval from the board. He sent this requirement via email on October 21, stating his own continued service hinged on the application of this strict rule. This stipulation gained particular prominence as Mistry himself was the first to be directly impacted by the renewal process following this proposed change.

The Trusts had previously initiated a policy, following the passing of Ratan Tata, where reappointments are generally for life, provided the trustee’s current term renewal is approved unanimously. This precedent was set in January with the unanimous renewal of Noel Tata’s term for life.

Tensions first flared back in September when a faction including Mistry, Khambata, Jhaveri, and Jehangir voted to remove Vijay Singh as a board nominee for Tata Sons, breaking established practice. This group subsequently proposed Mistry as a board member, but that move was successfully blocked by votes from Noel Tata, Venu Srinivasan, and Vijay Singh.

Who is Vishal Shah, the Veteran Executive Now Steering Mark Zuckerberg’s AI Drive?

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Who is Vishal Shah, the Veteran Executive Now Steering Mark Zuckerberg’s AI Drive?

Menlo Park, CA: Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg has promoted veteran executive Vishal Shah to a pivotal leadership position within the company’s surging Artificial Intelligence (AI) division, according to a report by the Financial Times. This move marks the latest step in Zuckerberg’s aggressive push to secure top talent and resources for AI development.

Shah will take charge of Product Management within the AI team, reporting directly to Nat Friedman, Meta’s overall AI product chief, the FT reported, citing an internal memo. While a Meta spokesperson confirmed the development to Reuters, they declined to offer specifics on Shah’s new responsibilities.

From Engineering to Executive VP

Vishal Shah brings a robust technical and product background to his new role. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Business from the University of California at Berkeley in May 2004.

His early career included brief stints as an engineer at Redi2 and an analyst at Accenture. Shah then spent seven years at Turn, a digital marketing company, where he served as director of engineering before moving into a senior director role for product management.

Shah’s tenure at Meta began in 2015 when he joined Instagram as Director of Product Management. He quickly moved up, serving as Vice-President (VP) of Product until August 2021. Following this, he was transitioned to VP of Metaverse, where he served until his recent promotion.

Bridging the AI-Metaverse Divide

The internal memo reviewed by the FT highlighted Shah’s ability to solve “ambiguous technical problems” and his “deep relationships across Meta.”

Shah’s new role is strategic: he will be central to integrating Meta’s artificial intelligence capabilities directly into its Reality Labs division, which focuses on augmented and virtual reality, including the smart glasses initiative. This integration is vital to Zuckerberg’s vision of pursuing what he calls “superintelligence.”

Shah plans to “remain very involved in building bridges between Meta’s Superintelligence Labs and Reality Labs that will enable us to shape how we deliver personal superintelligence to billions of people across all devices,” the FT report added, quoting his internal post. This statement confirms that Shah’s deep understanding of Meta’s future in AR/VR will now be directly applied to its AI development strategy.

Meta Shifts Top Metaverse Executive Vishal Shah to Lead AI Products Amid Tech Resource Race

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Meta Shifts Top Metaverse Executive Vishal Shah to Lead AI Products Amid Tech Resource Race

Menlo Park, CA: Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg has appointed veteran insider Vishal Shah to a prominent new role overseeing the product management for the company’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) division, the social media giant announced Monday.

The move, which was first detailed in an internal memo and reported by the Financial Times, underscores the rising competition among Big Tech firms to pivot top talent and resources toward the rapidly accelerating AI sector. Shah, a long-time executive with a deep product background, previously served as Vice President of Metaverse after a six-year tenure leading product management for Instagram.

Meta is aggressively positioning itself in the global AI race, competing fiercely against industry heavyweights like Microsoft, and leading generative AI startups such as OpenAI and Anthropic, to develop and deploy the most sophisticated AI models. The internal memo indicated that Shah will report to Nat Friedman, Meta’s overall head of AI product.

Leadership Reshuffle in Reality Labs

The shift has triggered a subsequent leadership reorganization within Meta’s Reality Labs (Metaverse) division:

Gabe Aul will now take over all core metaverse work, including avatars and content experiences. He will build on his existing responsibilities leading product efforts for Meta Horizon, the company’s virtual world product.

Ryan Cairns, who currently leads the Quest virtual reality hardware and Meta’s VR operating system, will now report directly to CTO Andrew Bosworth. This streamlined reporting structure aims to accelerate development in the critical VR hardware segment.

Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth emphasized that while AI resources are expanding, the metaverse remains a core priority for the company. He noted that Meta has made significant progress in developing VR hardware, creating the Horizon engine, and building out AI-centric tools to support both initiatives.

This organizational shift closely follows a management shake-up announced just last week, which included the cutting of approximately 600 roles within the company’s Superintelligence Labs unit. That prior announcement was framed as an effort to make Meta’s AI development unit more flexible and responsive to the rapidly evolving technological landscape, positioning the company for its next phase of growth.

US Navy Suffers Double Loss in South China Sea; Jet and Helicopter Crash Within 30 Minutes

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US Navy Suffers Double Loss in South China Sea; Jet and Helicopter Crash Within 30 Minutes

WASHINGTON D.C. – The U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet has reported the loss of a fighter jet and a helicopter from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, both crashing into the South China Sea within a swift 30-minute period on Sunday.

​The two incidents involved an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet and an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter. Despite the rapid sequence of mishaps, all five crew members involved were recovered safely and reported to be in stable condition, according to a Navy statement.

​The three crew members aboard the MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter were rescued Sunday afternoon. Shortly after, the two aviators piloting the F/A-18F Super Hornet successfully ejected and were also recovered.

​The Navy has stated that the causes of both crashes are currently under investigation. Commenting on the unusual incidents, then-President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, suggested that “bad fuel” could have been the cause, stating there was “nothing to hide.”

​The USS Nimitz was concluding its deployment to the Middle East, having supported U.S. efforts responding to attacks on commercial shipping by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The carrier is currently on its final deployment before its scheduled decommissioning.

Megastar Mammootty Joins ‘Marco’ Team: Is He The New ‘Lord Marco’? Fans Erupt Over Sequel Buzz

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Megastar Mammootty Joins ‘Marco’ Team: Is He The New ‘Lord Marco’? Fans Erupt Over Sequel Buzz

Kochi : Malayalam superstar Mammootty has sent shockwaves through the film industry with a cryptic announcement hinting at a massive new project, sparking intense speculation that he is set to star as the titular character in the highly-anticipated sequel, ‘Lord Marco’.

​The veteran actor recently confirmed a collaboration with the team behind the 2019 action film ‘Marco’, which originally starred Unni Mukundan. However, new developments suggest a major shift in the franchise’s direction, fueling the excitement among fans.

​Sources indicate that the title ‘Lord Marco’ has been officially registered by the makers. Crucially, the registration of this distinct title—excluding the original lead’s involvement—has led the industry to conclude that Megastar Mammootty will be stepping into the powerful and iconic character’s shoes.

​The announcement, though light on details, was enough to ignite social media, with the hashtag #LordMarco trending nationwide. Fans are eagerly anticipating an official confirmation, speculating on the film’s plot and the magnitude of Mammootty taking on a dark, potentially antagonist-centric role.

​If the speculation proves true, ‘Lord Marco’ would mark one of the most exciting casting decisions in recent Malayalam cinema, promising a high-octane spectacle and a fresh take on the character established in the first film. The move also signals the producers’ intent to elevate the sequel to a grander scale with the inclusion of one of Indian cinema’s biggest names.

​Official updates from the production banner are awaited, but for now, all eyes are fixed on whether Mammootty will indeed don the mantle of the formidable ‘Lord Marco’.

Double Standards Row: Kerala Hikes DA for IAS, IPS Officers to 58%, State Employees Awaiting 18% Arrears

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Double Standards Row: Kerala Hikes DA for IAS, IPS Officers to 58%, State Employees Awaiting 18% Arrears

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: All India Civil Service Officers (IAS, IPS, and IFS) serving in Kerala have received a major financial boost following a directive from the State Finance Department, but the move has instantly sparked a controversy over alleged double standards in financial policy.

​Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal approved a three percent increase in the Dearness Allowance (DA) for All India Service officers, revising the rate from the existing 55% to 58%, effective from July 1, 2025. This decision, conveyed through an official order (G.O.(P) No.127/2025/FIN dated October 23, 2025), is in line with the revised DA rates announced by the Central Government.

​The arrears for the months of July, August, September, and October are sanctioned to be paid in cash. The hike also extends to retired All India Service officers, whose Dearness Relief (DR) has also been increased by three percent, with arrears also being disbursed in cash.

​The Double Standard Controversy

​However, the timely and cash disbursement of benefits to the elite bureaucratic class has ignited sharp criticism regarding the neglect of state government employees and pensioners.

​State government employees and pensioners are currently due arrears equivalent to 18 percent of their Dearness Allowance. While the government regularly announces DA hikes for All India Service officers, often ensuring the arrears are paid promptly in cash, state employees and pensioners are consistently denied both the announced DA and the cumulative arrears.

​Critics argue that the Finance Minister’s decision to immediately release the arrears in cash for one group, while ignoring the substantial and long-pending dues of the larger state workforce, highlights a stark ‘double standard’ in the state’s financial management and policy application. This disparity is likely to escalate existing tensions between the government and various service organizations representing state employees.

TVK Chief Vijay Meets Karur Stampede Victims’ Families a Month After Tragedy

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TVK Chief Vijay Meets Karur Stampede Victims’ Families a Month After Tragedy

CHENNAI: A month after the stampede at a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally in Karur claimed 41 lives, actor and party president Vijay on Monday met with the families of the victims at a private resort in Mamallapuram near Chennai.

In a closed-door interaction held a month to the day after the September 27 tragedy, approximately 37 families, comprising over 230 members, were brought by the party from Karur to the Poonjeri resort. The party cited security and logistical concerns for bringing the families to Chennai, rather than the actor-politician visiting them in Karur, a decision that drew some prior criticism.

Condolences and Pledge of Ongoing Support

During the meeting, which was not open to the media, Mr. Vijay reportedly met each family individually to offer condolences and express his deep regret over the tragic incident.

“You can consider me one among your family members. I share your pain and will stand by you in every way possible,” Vijay was quoted as telling the grieving relatives.

Reports indicate that Vijay actively sought details regarding the families’ financial conditions, debts, and children’s education, assuring them of continued additional financial assistance beyond the ₹20 lakh ex-gratia compensation already disbursed by the party earlier this month. The compensation amount was previously announced, along with ₹2 lakh for the injured.

The former Supreme Court judge Ajay Rastogi-led committee continues to monitor the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the stampede incident.

Kerala Lottery Result Today: Bhagyathara BT 26 Winner Scoops ₹1 Cr

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Kerala Lottery Result Today: Bhagyathara BT 26 Winner Scoops ₹1 Cr

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, October 27, 2025 — The Directorate of Kerala State Lotteries today announced the results of the Bhagyathara Lottery (BT-26) draw, confirming a major windfall for a ticket holder from Thrissur, who won the grand first prize of ₹1 Crore.

The draw was held at 3:00 PM at Gorky Bhavan, near Bakery Junction, Thiruvananthapuram, bringing immediate joy to winners across various prize categories. Winners are advised to verify the results with the official government gazette and submit their tickets to the relevant authorities within 30 days of the draw date.

Prize Winning Numbers

Here are the complete details of the winning tickets from the Bhagyathara Lottery BT-26 draw:

First Prize (₹1,00,00,000)

  • BZ 435969 (THRISSUR)

Second Prize (₹30,00,000)

  • BR 588600 (MALAPPURAM)

Third Prize (₹5,00,000)

  • BT 520493 (GURUVAYOOR)

Consolation Prize (₹5,000)

The following numbers won the consolation prize of ₹5,000:

BN 435969, BO 435969, BP 435969, BR 435969, BS 435969, BT 435969, BU 435969, BV 435969, BW 435969, BX 435969, BY 435969

Fourth Prize (₹5,000) – End Numbers

0011, 1737, 1895, 2000, 2077, 2085, 2104, 2150, 2381, 2388, 2422, 2427, 2453, 2859, 2868, 3151, 3209, 3336, 3354, 3455, 3595, 3608, 3666, 3720, 3787, 3798, 3805, 3864, 3865, 4004, 4152, 4181, 4262, 4295, 4297, 4392, 4460, 4505, 4507, 4583, 4604, 4633, 4663, 4728, 4768, 4789, 5015, 5019, 5070, 5122, 5206, 5257, 5519, 5624, 5798, 5920, 6044, 6061, 6084, 6226, 6271, 6420, 6422, 6500, 6563, 6720, 6767, 6807, 6937, 7033, 7129, 7156, 7306, 7354, 7508, 7551, 7644, 7701, 7750, 7780, 7856, 7886, 7943, 8049, 8105, 8116, 8139, 8251, 8352, 8431, 8467, 8560, 8603, 8683, 8769, 8820, 8838, 8847, 8976, 9151, 9170, 9225, 9355, 9553, 9631, 9660, 9811, 9897, 9993

5th Prize (₹2,000) – Matching the Last 4 Digits

1021, 3322, 4357, 6242, 8418, 9258

6th Prize (₹1,000) – Matching the Last 4 Digits

0452, 1587, 1757, 1996, 2017, 3046, 3175, 3234, 4010, 4787, 5685, 5884, 5981, 6803, 6854, 6948, 7200, 7266, 7560, 7669, 7997, 8243, 8330, 8475, 8807

7th Prize (₹500) – Matching the Last 4 Digits

0134, 0160, 0163, 0342, 0799, 0981, 1226, 1298, 1489, 1560, 1611, 1828, 1984, 2033, 2265, 3003, 3020, 3025, 3077, 3601, 3677, 3739, 3753, 3760, 3833, 3993, 4002, 4134, 4283, 4290, 4351, 4452, 4508, 4665, 4666, 4684, 4742, 5132, 5285, 5533, 5781, 5804, 5869, 6115, 6118, 6122, 6145, 6206, 6400, 6542, 6594, 6661, 6690, 6706, 6809, 7027, 7099, 7173, 7233, 7255, 7309, 7324, 7387, 7448, 7606, 7809, 8253, 8312, 8592, 8605, 8609, 9295, 9423, 9529, 9599, 9963

8th Prize (₹200) – Matching the Last 4 Digits

0033, 0060, 0074, 0174, 0217, 0346, 0397, 0442, 0488, 0496, 0606, 0673, 1148, 1155, 1268, 1345, 1460, 1607, 1787, 1829, 2256, 2465, 2528, 2556, 2681, 2710, 2784, 3118, 3199, 3363, 3495, 3504, 3604, 3617, 3676, 4166, 4270, 4324, 4354, 4450, 4579, 4643, 4700, 4712, 4741, 4830, 4907, 4965, 5003, 5008, 5244, 5323, 5389, 5755, 5876, 6059, 6066, 6198, 6367, 6434, 6522, 6740, 6757, 6926, 6981, 7024, 7154, 7265, 7276, 7308, 7316, 7390, 7628, 7763, 7895, 7951, 7996, 8104, 8274, 8275, 8395, 8448, 8561, 8763, 8815, 8925, 8954, 9010, 9038, 9095, 9316, 9693, 9779, 9934

9th Prize (₹100) – Matching the Last 4 Digits

0008, 0057, 0064, 0113, 0197, 0200, 0279, 0307, 0620, 0627, 0629, 0741, 0789, 0858, 0910, 0993, 0996, 1019, 1064, 1085, 1096, 1117, 1159, 1246, 1256, 1296, 1344, 1405, 1531, 1559, 1585, 1703, 1711, 1737, 1895, 2000, 2077, 2085, 2104, 2150, 2381, 2388, 2422, 2427, 2453, 2859, 2868, 3151, 3209, 3336, 3354, 3455, 3595, 3608, 3666, 3720, 3787, 3798, 3805, 3864, 3865, 4004, 4152, 4181, 4262, 4295, 4297, 4392, 4460, 4505, 4507, 4583, 4604, 4633, 4663, 4728, 4768, 4789, 5015, 5019, 5070, 5122, 5206, 5257, 5519, 5624, 5798, 5920, 6044, 6061, 6067, 6158, 6205, 6396, 6465, 6523, 6634, 6808, 6888, 6898, 6933, 6939, 6969, 7106, 7184, 7404, 7497, 7527, 7658, 7816, 7834, 8005, 8022, 8115, 8143, 8171, 8222, 8427, 8552, 8556, 8578, 8698, 8730, 8812, 8827, 8833, 8896, 8962, 9057, 9272, 9321, 9354, 9388, 9425, 9516, 9602, 9608, 9609, 9763, 9808, 9810, 9856, 9918, 9927

Next Draw: The next Bhagyathara Draw will be held on 03/11/2025 at Gorky Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram.

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