NOIDA: A 23-year-old woman was shot dead in front of her sisters by her ex-boyfriend who pumped a bullet into her chest when she refused to marry her on Friday night.Originally from Amroha, Soni, the victim, had been working as a clerk at a private company. She stayed in a modest one-room house in Yakubpur village with her two younger sisters, Kusum (17) and Pushpa (14), and a younger brother, Rupesh (15), who was away attending a relative’s wedding at the time of the attack.According to police, Soni met Krishna (25) three years ago while both were employed as domestic workers at a high-rise society in Sector 142. Their friendship soon blossomed into a relationship, but Soni grew increasingly unhappy with Krishna’s aggressive behaviour.

Broke up with accused 4 months ago

“The woman was not happy with Krishna as he was very aggressive. A few times, he had even slapped her over trivial issues,” a senior police officer said.Four months ago, Soni decided to end the relationship and moved to a new building, hoping to escape Krishna’s persistent advances. For the past 15 days, she had even stopped taking calls from him. Undeterred, Krishna tracked her down and arrived at her house on Friday evening, just as she returned from work.Kusum recounted the terrifying moments leading up to the shooting. “It was surprising that Krishna came to the house. Soni didn’t allow him to come home because of his bad behaviour towards her. Krishna knocked on the door, and when we opened it, he pushed us inside, barged in and locked the gate. He said he just wanted to talk,” she told TOI.The conversation quickly escalated into a heated argument. “Soni tried to throw Krishna out, but he overpowered her. When she started dialling the cops, he snatched her phone and threw it away. He fired three rounds into the wall as he tried to force her to accept her marriage proposal. When Soni tried to open the door to run to the police station, he placed his gun on her chest and pulled the trigger,” Kusum sobbed.Neighbours, alarmed by the sound of gunshots, rushed to the scene. “People started knocking on our door. But Krishna opened the door and threatened them with the gun before escaping from the building,” Kusum said.Neighbours called police, who took Soni to a nearby hospital. She, however, succumbed to her injuries.Shakti Mohan Avasthy, DCP (central Noida), confirmed that an FIR had been registered against Krishna under Section 103 (murder) of the BNS. “Five teams have been formed to nab the accused. Police are checking CCTV cameras and trying to trace the accused with the help of surveillance,” he said.

A United Nations report has found that Israel maintains “a de facto state policy of organised and widespread torture,” documenting abuses over the past two years and warning of continued impunity for Israeli security forces accused of war crimes.The report, released on Friday as part of the committee’s routine review of countries that have signed the UN Convention Against Torture, stated that Palestinian detainees were subjected to humiliation, including “being made to act like animals or being urinated on,” and were routinely denied medical treatment, as cited by the Guardian.It further noted that detainees faced excessive use of restraints, “in some cases resulting in amputation,” according to the findings.The Committee said it is deeply concerned “over allegations of repeated severe beatings, dog attacks, electrocution, waterboarding, use of prolonged stress positions [and] sexual violence”, highlighting a pattern of grave abuse reported by detainees.The UN committee of 10 independent experts also raised alarm over Israel’s extensive use of its unlawful combatants law, saying it was being applied to justify the prolonged detention of thousands of Palestinian men, women, and children without trial. According to the latest figures from Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, the Israel Prison Service was holding 3,474 Palestinians in “administrative detention”, meaning detention without trial, as of the end of September.The UN report highlights a surge in the detention of Palestinian children since the Gaza war began in October 2023, noting the “high proportion of children who are currently detained without charge or on remand” and pointing out that Israel’s age of criminal responsibility is 12, with even younger children reportedly held. It states that minors classified as security prisoners “have severe restrictions on family contact, may be held in solitary confinement, and do not have access to education,” urging Israel to ban solitary confinement for children. The committee, which monitors compliance with the UN convention against torture, warns that the cumulative impact of Israeli policies in the occupied territories “may amount to torture.”The report said 75 Palestinians have died in custody since the Gaza war began, noting that detention conditions for Palestinians had undergone a “marked deterioration.” It described the death toll as “abnormally high” and affecting only Palestinian detainees, adding that “to date, no state officials have been held responsible or accountable for such deaths.”Israel has consistently denied using torture. The UN committee heard from officials of the foreign ministry, justice ministry and prison service, who maintained that detention conditions were adequate and subject to oversight, as reported by the Guardian.Meanwhile, a report by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warns that two years of Israeli military operations and longstanding restrictions have driven the occupied territory into an economic freefall, now ranked among the 10 worst collapses globally since 1960. The UN says the occupied Palestinian economy is experiencing its most severe downturn on record, fuelled by the scale of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and ongoing curbs on movement and trade, as cited by Al Jazeera.

Representative image (Photo credit: AP)

Nasa has, for the first time, found signs of ‘mini-lightning’ on Mars after its rover accidentally recorded tiny “zaps” during the planet’s frequent dust storms. Scientists have argued for years about whether electrical sparks could happen in Mars’ dusty atmosphere, but they never had solid proof.Now, a study titled “Detection of triboelectric discharges during dust events on Mars” published in Nature reports that NASA’s Perseverance rover, on Mars since 2021, recorded these sounds inadvertently while conducting other experiments.“ Its microphone picked up faint crackles of what appear to be dust-driven electrical discharges, offering the clearest evidence yet of electrical activity on the red planet.” These are unlike the dramatic bolts seen on Earth, are faint, centimetre-scale zaps generated by the planet’s constant dust storms.Researchers from the Institute for Research in Astrophysics and Planetology in France analysed 28 hours of microphone data captured by Perseverance’s SuperCam instrument over two Martian years (1,374 Earth days). According to Reuters, the team found that the electrical discharges were typically associated with dust devils and dust-storm fronts, caused by fast-moving grains of dust and sand rubbing together and generating charge.The Times reported that the breakthrough was made not through a camera but through a microphone. Perseverance’s microphone picked up 55 unusual events: each began with a sharp electronic disturbance detected by the microphone’s circuitry, followed milliseconds later by a faint acoustic pulse. In several cases, researchers could estimate the spark’s distance by measuring the delay between the electromagnetic and acoustic signatures. One strong event was recorded when an intense dust devil passed directly over the rover, possibly causing the rover itself to build up static and then discharge it into the ground.According to The New York Times, the phenomenon resembles the tiny static shock you might feel after walking across a carpet, rather than Earth-style lightning. Kenneth Chang wrote that lead researcher Dr Baptiste Chide described the centimetre-scale sparks as “mini-lightning”, noting that one event occurred roughly six feet from the rover, while other smaller discharges happened within inches of the microphone. It further quoted Dr Chide saying, “What we are seeing are tiny sparks — but on Mars, even tiny sparks can tell us a lot about the atmosphere.”However, the Nature commentary noted some scientific caution. Particle physicist Dr Daniel Pritchard wrote that while the recordings “provide persuasive evidence of dust-induced discharges”, the fact that they were heard but not yet seen means “some doubt will inevitably remain as to whether this really was Martian lightning”.While the tiny shocks would not endanger astronauts, they could disrupt or damage electronic equipment or spacesuits over time. Reuters added that the researchers hope future Mars missions will carry more sensitive cameras and dedicated instruments to confirm and further study these discharges.

Airbus has issued an urgent global alert to A320-family operators, instructing them to immediately fix a newly identified software problem that could affect flight-control systems on thousands of aircraft. The directive which takes effect Saturday evening (US Eastern time) was triggered after Airbus determined that “intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls.” The warning follows a JetBlue A320 incident on October 30, when the jet “unexpectedly pitched downward without pilot input.”

India to ground over 350 jets for 2–3 days

In India, more than 350 A320-family aircraft operated by IndiGo and the Air India group will be grounded for the required fix. The upgrade is expected to be completed within 2–3 days, with normal operations likely by Monday or Tuesday.“Inspection and/or Modification on the following subject is mandatory. Please make necessary amendment in below mentioned Mandatory Modification List. This is to be ensured that no person shall operate the product which falls under the applicability of this Mandatory Modification except those which are in accordance with the compliance to requirement of Mandatory Modification (s)/ applicable Airworthiness Directive(s)…” the DGCA said in a notification issued on Saturday.Globally, the issue affects around 6,000 aircraft, although Airbus says not every A320 is impacted. Most jets can be repaired quickly by reverting to an older software version. About 1,000 older planes will need hardware changes, which will take longer, the company said.The grounding is significant because Airbus and its main rival Boeing together control over three-quarters of the world’s commercial aircraft fleet, meaning any large-scale recall has an immediate and widespread impact on global air traffic.

Why Airbus issued the emergency update?

The rare safety directive on Friday follows an October 30 incident involving a JetBlue A320 that “unexpectedly pitched downward without pilot input” while flying from Cancun to Newark. The aircraft suffered a sudden, uncommanded drop in altitude, forcing an emergency diversion to Tampa, where 15–20 passengers were taken to hospitals. The un-commanded drop in altitude prompted a Federal Aviation Administration investigation.The US National Transportation Safety Board said the sudden drop “likely occurred during an ELAC (flight control computer) switch change.” Airbus has since disclosed that a recent incident showed solar flares can corrupt flight-control data, a risk that prompted the company to rush out immediate repair instructions.

What is intense solar radiation risk?

Investigators have found that ELAC B hardware running software version L104 may be vulnerable to intense solar flares. In extreme cases, this interference could cause the aircraft’s elevators to move unexpectedly, potentially pushing the jet beyond its structural limits, according to Aerospace Global.Solar radiation refers to the stream of energetic particles and electromagnetic waves emitted by the sun, including visible light, ultraviolet rays, and charged particles such as protons and electrons.In aviation, heightened solar activity — such as solar flares or coronal mass ejections — can interact with an aircraft’s electronic systems. This can disrupt sensitive components, including navigation, communication and flight-control data, making solar radiation an important factor in aircraft design, system hardening and overall airspace safety.

List of disrupted A320 operators

Airlines worldwide brace for disruptions

The sweeping recall, one of Airbus’ largest, mandates immediate repairs to 6,000 A320-family jets, affecting more than half the global fleet. The timing has rattled airlines during one of the busiest US travel weekends of the year and is causing disruptions worldwide.Earlier, a Finnair passenger reported nearly an hour’s delay as pilots verified their aircraft’s software version. American Airlines, the largest A320 operator, initially identified about 340 of its 480 jets for the update. “Though we expect some delays as we accomplish these updates, we are intently focused on limiting cancellations, especially with customers returning home from holiday travel,” the airline said in a statement.“Still, our overriding priority will always be the safety of our operation. It’s all hands on deck across our airline to address this Airbus software issue and take care of any customers whose flights are affected” it added.Delta, the fifth-largest A320 operator with 305 aircraft, said it will fully comply with the directive and anticipates only limited impact, with fewer than 50 A321neos requiring the fix. These updates are expected to be completed by Saturday morning. easyJet, meanwhile, has already finished its software upgrades.Colombian carrier Avianca, which has over 70% of its fleet impacted, has paused ticket sales through December 8. Air France is cancelling 35 flights, while Air New Zealand and Volaris are also expecting delays and cancellations.Europe’s aviation regulator, EASA, has instructed airlines to implement the fix “before their next flight,” warning that “These measures may cause short-term disruption to flight schedules and therefore inconvenience to passengers.” “However, as is always the case in aviation, safety is paramount,” it added.

Airlines race to complete fixes that takes hours but…

According to airlines and maintenance experts, the update takes roughly two hours per aircraft, but repair shops are already strained due to ongoing engine-related groundings and labour shortages.The order has triggered one of the biggest software-related recalls in Airbus’s history and arrives at the height of the US holiday travel season, with Sunday and Monday expected to be among Thanksgiving’s busiest flying days. Still, many aircraft are expected to be updated during overnight checks or between scheduled flights.Despite the pressure, many carriers are expected to complete the fix during overnight maintenance windows or in the gaps between scheduled flights. The update itself is straightforward, essentially a rollback to an earlier software version, but must be installed before the aircraft can return to service, except when repositioning to repair centres, according to a bulletin shared with airlines, Reuters reported.Airbus said a recent incident revealed that solar flares can corrupt data essential to flight-control operations, prompting the urgent recall. Industry sources warn that temporary groundings could stretch longer for some carriers, as more than 1,000 affected jets may also require accompanying hardware replacements.Introduced in 1984, the A320 was the first major commercial jet to adopt “fly-by-wire” computerised flight controls. Its closest rival, Boeing’s 737 MAX, was grounded worldwide for an extended period after two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 linked to flawed flight-control software.Globally, about 11,300 A320-family jets are currently in service, including 6,440 of the mainline A320 model, which has been flying since 1987.This latest setback is shaping up to be one of the largest recalls in Airbus’ 55-year history. When the company issued the bulletin to more than 350 operators, about 3,000 A320-family aircraft were airborne, underscoring the scale and urgency of the update.

NEW DELHI: Air travel will get majorly impacted in India and across the globe with the world’s largest selling single aisle — Airbus A320 family of planes — going to be grounded this weekend for a software upgrade. In India, over 350 A320 family planes of IndiGo and Air India Group will be grounded for this upgrade that is expected to be over in 2-3 days. They are expected to resume flying by next Monday or Tuesday. Globally about 6,000 aircraft are likely to be impacted.The upgrade is in wake of an American low cost carrier JetBlue’s A320 operating from Cancun to Newark on Oct 30, 2025, “unexpectedly pitch(ing) downward without pilot input.” The uncontrolled descent “likely occurred during an ELAC (flight control computer) switch change,” according to the National Transportation Safety Board. The aircraft diverted to Tampa, where some passengers were hospitalised.Tackling this issue requires a software upgrade. For the new A320 family planes, the work requires about half an hour on each plane through “loading facility.” On older A320s, some hardware upgrade will also be required and hence the overall work will take longer.In India, almost all IndiGo A320 family planes are the new variants. The older A320s are in single digits. So IndiGo, which has over 350 A320 family planes in its fleet, upgrade on the required 250 aircraft should be over by Monday or Tuesday, said sources. Air India, which has about 120-125 A320 family planes, should also have the same situation, with over 100 impacted, sources added.Airbus said in a statement: “Analysis of a recent event involving an A320 Family aircraft has revealed that intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls. Airbus has consequently identified a significant number of A320 family aircraft currently in-service which may be impacted. Airbus has worked proactively with the aviation authorities to request immediate precautionary action from operators via an alert operators transmission (AOT) in order to implement the available software and/or hardware protection, and ensure the fleet is safe to fly. This AOT will be reflected in an emergency airworthiness directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).”Airbus “acknowledges these recommendations will lead to operational disruptions to passengers and customers” and apologised “for the inconvenience caused”. The European airspace major said it “will work closely with operators, while keeping safety as our number one and overriding priority.”

Dana White drops big UFC 324 announcement as major title fights land in Las Vegas (Image Via Getty)

Dana White surprised fans on Thursday night when he announced a huge lineup for UFC 324, which will take place on January 24, 2026, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. He revealed the matchups during half-time of the Chiefs vs Cowboys Thanksgiving game on CBS, sharing the full card live on national television.The interim lightweight title bout between Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje grabbed most headlines. Dana White also affirmed that Amanda Nunes will return from retirement to face Kayla Harrison, while Sean O’Malley will battle Song Yadong in a critical bantamweight bout. The news came only a few hours after lightweight champion Ilia Topuria quit the sport to pay attention to a family issue.Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett headline UFC 324 as Amanda Nunes and Sean O’Malley join the cardOn January 24, 2026, in Las Vegas, Dana White said during the CBS broadcast that Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett would compete for the interim lightweight title.He said, “This event starts our new deal with Paramount, and it is packed with champions.” As part of the new deal, the main card will now begin at 9 p.m. ET, one hour earlier than past events.This fight became possible after Ilia Topuria announced on Thursday afternoon on X that he will not compete in the first quarter of 2026. Topuria wrote that he is “going through a difficult moment” and wants to “focus on my children.” With the champion out, Gaethje and Pimblett were the clear choices to compete for the interim title. Pimblett is on a strong win streak after beating Michael Chandler, while Gaethje last fought when he defeated Rafael Fiziev.The card grows even stronger with Amanda Nunes returning to face Kayla Harrison for the women’s bantamweight title. Nunes has not fought since she retired in June 2023, shortly after her win over Julianna Peña. Dana White called her “the greatest female fighter ever” and said this is “the biggest women’s fight we have seen.”Sean O’Malley will return to the cage two losses to Merab Dvalishvili, including a unanimous decision at UFC 306 and a submission loss in June, would help. He will meet Song Yadong, still among the most active competitors in the category. As the victor of Gaethje versus Pimblett meets Topuria once he returns to action, lightweight stars Arman Tsarukyan, Charles Oliveira, and Max Holloway will watch carefully.Also Read: Dana White’s Bold UFC White House Choice Sparks Questions As MMA Icon Gets Sidelined

NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing leadership crisis in Karnataka over the chief ministerial post, veteran Congress leader M Veerappa Moily on Friday launched a broadside against the party high command, saying that “discipline” has to be brought into the party.Talking to news agency IANS, the former Union minister said that the high command representatives should have foreseen some of these developments in the state.“If you want to turn it into a political turmoil, yes, it can happen, but the leaders of the Congress party who are in responsible positions, and also our high command representatives, whoever they may be, should have foreseen some of these developments. It’s not a sudden development,” Moily said.“I will not comment on who should continue, whether he should continue or whether a new Chief Minister will come or not. I am not on that. First, discipline has to be brought into the party,” he added.This comes amid the ongoing tussle between Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar over the top job in the state.The deliberation over the issue has now shifted to Delhi, as both DKS and Siddaramaiah are likely to meet Mallikarjun Kharge along with Sonia and Rahul Gandhi on November 30.Earlier, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge played down the “internal conflict” within the party and said that the “high command” will sit together and deliberate on the issue.“Only the people there can say what the government is doing. But I would like to say that we will resolve such issues,” Kharge said.“People in the high command — Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and I — will sit together and deliberate on this… We will give the medicine when required,” he added.This was the first acknowledgment by Kharge that there is indeed a power struggle between Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar in Karnataka.As soon as the Congress government in Karnataka completed its halfway mark on November 20, reports quoting Congress sources suggested that MLAs and MLCs from Shivakumar’s faction had camped in Delhi to push the party high command to make him the next chief minister.DK Shivakumar added to the speculations after he claimed that there had indeed been “a confidential understanding on leadership transition among five-six leaders” soon after Congress won a landslide in the 2023 elections.The deputy chief minister made the first reference to the power pact but stopped short of divulging more details. “This is confidential. I don’t want to speak publicly on this,” he said.