Category Archives: GENERAL

125,000-Year-Old Archaeological Site in Saudi Arabia Reveals How Early Humans Lived During a Greener Era

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Archaeological discoveries at an ancient lakeside settlement in southern Saudi Arabia are offering new insights into how early humans hunted, processed plants and adapted to their surroundings around 125,000 years ago. Fossils, stone tools and preserved plant residues recovered from Uruq al-Julaybah near the ancient Mundafan lake provide an unusually detailed picture of human activity during a period known as Green Arabia.

The research was jointly conducted by the Saudi Heritage Commission, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and Griffith University. Published in Science, the study brings together archaeological and environmental evidence to reconstruct life in the Arabian Peninsula during the last Interglacial period, when the region experienced warmer and wetter conditions.

Ancient Lake Mundafan supported a diverse ecosystem

Researchers used satellite-based terrain modelling to map the ancient lake, which covered approximately 340 square kilometres and reached a maximum depth of 29 metres. Analysis of sediments, landforms and aquatic remains indicated that it was a relatively stable freshwater body surrounded by vegetation and open grasslands.

The team documented more than 500 fossil specimens of plants and animals across over 130 locations. The animal remains included hippopotamuses, extinct long-horned buffaloes, camels, Arabian oryx, gazelles and ostriches.

These discoveries suggest that the lake supported a diverse ecosystem, providing early human populations with access to freshwater, vegetation, animals and raw materials.

Thousands of stone tools reveal hunting and plant-processing techniques

The archaeological survey recovered 5,511 stone tools measuring more than two centimetres from the main study area. Over 98% were made from flint, and researchers identified the use of Levallois techniques, a method of stone tool production involving carefully prepared cores.

Microscopic and chemical residue analyses revealed traces of various plants on the tools, including species containing toxic compounds. Residues of resin and woody tissue also suggested that some tools were used as hafted weapon tips, potentially attached to wooden shafts.

Other plant traces indicated that early humans processed tubers, bushes and palm leaves. These findings point to a range of activities involving food preparation, hunting equipment and everyday materials.

One particularly significant discovery was the potential use of toxic plant compounds in hunting technology. According to the researchers, this represents some of the earliest evidence of such practices recorded in Saudi Arabia. The site also contains some of the earliest evidence of palm-related vegetation in the region.

Evidence offers a detailed picture of daily life in Green Arabia

The researchers combined systematic archaeological surveys with two dating techniques applied to sand and fossil teeth. They also used three-dimensional stone tool refitting, alongside microscopic and chemical examinations of tool surfaces.

What makes Uruq al-Julaybah particularly important is that animal remains, stone tools and plant material were recovered together within a single dated archaeological context. This allowed researchers to connect environmental conditions with specific human activities.

The evidence indicates that people living near Lake Mundafan engaged in stone tool production, hunting equipment preparation, animal and plant resource processing, and fibre working. The availability of freshwater, vegetation and animal resources appears to have supported a variety of activities during the humid period.

Professor Frans van Buchem, KAUST Professor of Geology and co-lead scientist, said, “It is very exciting to see how the collaboration of so many different specialists allows to reconstruct this uniquely complete picture of life, behavior and the environment in the distant past.”

Dr Faisal Al-Jibreen, a Saudi Heritage Commission researcher and professor of Paleolithic archaeology, described the discovery in the sands of Lake Mundafan in the Empty Quarter as an important archaeological find that sheds light on the ancient environment and its relationship with humans and animals in southern Saudi Arabia’s early prehistory.

Discovery adds to understanding of early human movement across Arabia

Professor Chris Clarkson, co-lead scientist and Professor of Archaeology at Griffith University’s Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, highlighted the significance of finding different forms of archaeological evidence together.

“This site gives us a rare and richly detailed view of how people lived in a landscape that looks nothing like Arabia today,” he said. “The combination of animal remains, stone tools and plant material in a single, dated context is what makes this discovery so significant.”

The research also contributes to wider efforts to understand how early human populations occupied and moved through the Arabian Peninsula as environmental conditions changed.

Professor Laurence Hapiot, co-author and Head of Heritage Research at KAUST, said, “Saudi Arabia has an exceptional archaeological heritage. Building Heritage Science capabilities in the Kingdom will enable us to turn the smallest traces into the biggest stories.”

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Delhi Overtakes Lahore as World’s Most Polluted City, AQI Hits 403

Linköping University Develops Organ-on-a-Chip Model to Study How Cancer Interacts With Its Surroundings

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Researchers at Linköping University in Sweden, in collaboration with scientists from Politecnico di Milano in Italy, have developed an organ-on-a-chip model that recreates how head and neck cancer interacts with surrounding blood vessels, nerves and tissue.

The system, which fits on a plate roughly the size of a postage stamp, allows researchers to examine tumour growth, invasion and responses to chemotherapy under controlled laboratory conditions. The findings have been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Three-dimensional model recreates the tumour environment

Solid tumours do not consist solely of cancer cells. They interact with surrounding tissues, blood vessels and nerves, all of which can influence how cancer develops, spreads and responds to treatment.

To recreate these interactions, the research team built the model in three stages. The first involved developing a material that imitates the extracellular matrix (ECM), the network of proteins and carbohydrates surrounding cells in the human body.

The researchers used hyaluronic acid, collagen and laminins, which are important components of the natural ECM. They found that changes in the matrix composition significantly affected cancer cell behaviour and their response to chemotherapy.

This suggests that the material surrounding cancer cells is an important factor when designing laboratory models intended to replicate human disease.

Blood vessels reveal how cancer cells spread

In the second stage, the researchers introduced blood vessel-like structures into the chip. Blood vessels supply tumours with oxygen and nutrients, provide a route for cancer cells to spread to other parts of the body and transport anticancer medicines to tumour sites.

The team observed that cancer cells responded to nearby blood vessels by moving towards them and eventually invading them, representing an early step in tumour spread. However, their behaviour varied depending on the composition of the surrounding extracellular matrix.

The researchers also used the blood vessel structures to administer cisplatin, a chemotherapy drug commonly used to treat head and neck cancer. The effectiveness of the treatment varied with the type of ECM material surrounding the cancer cells.

Pierfrancesco Pagella, Senior Associate Professor at Linköping University and lead researcher, said, “We saw that the cancer cells responded to the nearby blood vessel, moved rapidly towards it and invaded it, which is the first step in tumour spread. However, the cells behaved very differently depending on the material surrounding them.”

Nerve interactions influence tumour growth

To complete the model, the researchers used stem cells to recreate trigeminal ganglia, structures associated with nerves responsible for sensation and pain in the mouth and face.

Within a few days, the nerves had grown around the tumours, allowing the team to examine how nerve interactions affected cancer behaviour.

The researchers found that tumours in contact with nerves were less likely to invade blood vessels but grew larger. This suggests that nerves can influence tumour development in more complex ways than simply providing pathways for cancer spread.

Pagella said, “In our three-dimensional system, we saw that tumours in contact with nerves were less likely to invade blood vessels, but at the same time grew larger. Our model enables us to study nerves as an active component of the tumour microenvironment. This is particularly interesting in head and neck cancer, where nerves are involved both in regulating tumour behaviour and aggressiveness, and in cancer-related pain.”

Potential applications in drug screening and treatment research

The researchers believe the organ-on-a-chip approach could be adapted to other solid tumour types where interactions with surrounding tissues and structures play an important role.

By allowing scientists to study cancer cells, blood vessels, nerves and the extracellular matrix within one controlled system, the model could help improve understanding of tumour behaviour and treatment resistance.

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NPPA Orders Strict Monitoring of Revised Prices for 137 Anti-Cancer Drugs

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The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has directed State Drug Controllers to closely monitor the implementation of revised prices for 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs, with the aim of ensuring that patients receive the benefits of reduced medicine costs.

The revised prices, introduced under the Trade Margin Rationalisation (TMR) framework, came into effect on November 9, 2026, following a Gazette Order issued on October 17, 2026. The NPPA operates under the Department of Pharmaceuticals.

The latest revised price lists, prepared using company submissions received up to November 11, 2026, are available on the NPPA website and through the Pharma Sahi Daam app and portal.

The authority has directed manufacturers, retailers, dealers, stockists, hospitals and medical institutions to comply with the revised prices. They must also prominently display the updated price lists at their premises and on their websites.

State Drug Controllers to monitor compliance

State Drug Controllers have been instructed to monitor manufacturers, medicine dealers, hospitals and medical institutions to ensure that the revised maximum retail prices (MRPs) are being followed.

The NPPA has warned that violations may lead to proceedings for overcharging under the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO).

State Drug Controllers have also been asked to submit their Action Taken Reports to the NPPA by November 16, 2026.

Patients can report overcharging and medicine shortages

Consumers can report complaints involving overcharging, shortages or the non-availability of medicines through the following channels:

The monitoring directive is intended to ensure that the revised prices are implemented across the supply chain and that patients benefit from the price changes.

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Microsoft Outage Chronology: 24 Major Disruptions Since 2001 Reflect Vulnerability

CCPA Fines Ola ₹10 Lakh Over Pre-Ride Tip Prompts, Orders Platform to End Practice

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The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of ₹10 lakh on ANI Technologies Private Limited, which operates Ola, for asking passengers to make additional payments before their journeys were completed. The authority has directed the ride-hailing platform to immediately stop displaying pre-ride payment prompts, ruling that the practice amounts to an unfair trade practice and a dark pattern.

The order was issued by the CCPA, headed by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Anupam Mishra, following an examination of Ola’s in-app payment feature. Although the company renamed the option from ‘tip’ to ‘add-on’, the authority found that the underlying practice remained unchanged.

CCPA finds additional payment prompts misleading

The authority examined different versions of Ola’s app interface, which displayed messages such as “Adding a tip might help increase the chances of getting a ride faster”, “Tip now to boost the chances of getting a ride sooner” and “Improve your chances of quicker ride confirmation!”

These prompts appeared while the app was searching for a driver, directly above suggested payment amounts. According to the CCPA, the wording created the impression that passengers could improve their chances of securing a ride quickly by paying extra. The use of qualifying terms such as ‘might’ and ‘chance’ did not change the overall impression.

The authority also examined Ola’s booking data for June 1-15, 2026. The figures showed that ride requests carrying an add-on were accepted less frequently than requests without one.

City With add-on Without add-on
Delhi 38% 62%
Bengaluru 40% 68%
Mumbai 39% 68%

The CCPA noted that Ola’s position was contradictory. While the company maintained that add-on payments did not influence ride allocation, its app suggested that paying extra could improve the likelihood of faster confirmation.

Passengers were also not informed about the lower acceptance rates recorded for requests carrying add-ons or how the suggested payment amounts were calculated. The authority held that withholding this information amounted to concealment of material information under Section 2(28)(iv) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

Pre-ride tipping held to be an unfair trade practice

The CCPA observed that a tip is generally a voluntary payment made after a service has been delivered. Requesting it before a journey is completed effectively turns a voluntary gratuity into an additional pre-service payment.

The authority also identified several concerns with the feature:

  • Passengers had already booked rides at an upfront fare that accounted for factors such as peak pricing and the driver’s distance from the pickup location. Seeking another payment for the same supply constraints amounted to an additional premium.
  • Suggested add-on amounts were generated using an undisclosed method. They increased from ₹10-₹40 in May 2025 to as much as ₹140, while the interface allowed payments of up to ₹499.
  • Passengers could not independently verify whether an additional payment was necessary because information about driver availability remained under the platform’s control.
  • The prompts raised concerns about unfair contract terms by suggesting that an additional payment was needed for timely acceptance of an already-booked ride.

The authority further found that the practice violated Clause 14.15 of the Motor Vehicles Aggregators Guidelines, 2025, which provides for a tipping feature only after a journey has been completed.

The CCPA noted that Ola continued displaying the prompts even after the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways clarified on August 11, 2026, that such requests could not be displayed before the completion of a ride.

Under Section 2(47) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, unfair trade practices include deceptive methods and misleading representations about the benefits or usefulness of a service. The authority held that Ola’s payment prompts fell within this definition.

CCPA identifies ‘Confirm Shaming’ as a dark pattern

The authority also examined Ola’s interface under the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023.

It found that displaying payment prompts while passengers were waiting for driver confirmation could create anxiety about whether their ride would be accepted. By suggesting that paying extra could improve the chances of securing a vehicle, the interface implied that passengers who declined might face delays or fail to get a ride.

The CCPA classified this practice as ‘Confirm Shaming’ under Clause 3 of Annexure 1 to the dark patterns guidelines.

Other interface elements that contributed to the finding included:

  • Pre-set payment amounts that anchored passengers to suggested figures.
  • The message “Generous Add On!” encouraging additional payments.
  • The absence of an option to close the prompt.
  • The timing of the prompt, which appeared after booking when passengers had limited information about driver availability.

The authority also noted that such payment requests appeared in bookings originating from hospitals, railway stations, inter-state bus terminals and airports. It identified patients, elderly passengers, travellers carrying luggage, people travelling alone and those travelling at night as potentially vulnerable to these prompts.

Ola ordered to remove pre-ride payment prompts

The CCPA has issued the following directions to ANI Technologies:

  1. Immediately discontinue all prompts, messages, pre-set payment amounts and interface designs that solicit payments beyond the upfront fare before completion of a journey. This prohibition applies regardless of whether the payment is described as a tip, add-on, additional fare or another term.
  2. Ensure compliance with the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023, and the Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022.
  3. Pay a penalty of ₹10 lakh.

The authority has also initiated suo motu proceedings against other cab aggregator platforms over similar practices. It previously imposed a ₹10 lakh penalty on Rapido’s operator, Roppen Transportation Services Pvt. Ltd. Proceedings against Uber and Namma Yatri remain under investigation.

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Microsoft Outage Chronology: 24 Major Disruptions Since 2001 Reflect Vulnerability

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A Microsoft 365 outage disrupted Outlook, Teams and Copilot on Thursday and continued into Friday business hours across Asia-Pacific, including India. Microsoft reported a partial recovery as it worked to stabilise affected servers.

The chronology below covers 24 major disruptions from 2001 to 2026, spanning Microsoft’s websites, email, gaming and cloud services. The incidents ranged from a router configuration error that took company websites offline in 2001 to failures in Azure and Microsoft 365 that disrupted work for businesses and government agencies. Microsoft reported a partial recovery on Friday as it worked to stabilise servers.

Here are selected major outages across Microsoft’s cloud, workplace and consumer services, most recent first.

Nov. 13, 2026 — A Microsoft 365 outage disrupted Outlook, Teams and Copilot on Thursday and continued into Friday business hours across Asia-Pacific, including India. Microsoft reported a partial recovery as it worked to stabilise affected servers.

Here are selected major outages across Microsoft’s cloud, workplace and consumer services, most recent first.

Nov. 12–13, 2026 — The Microsoft 365 outage disrupted access to Outlook mailboxes and affected Teams calendars, invitations and meeting scheduling. Most Teams calls, meetings and group chats remained available, Microsoft said. An earlier Teams chat outage affecting users routed through North and South America lasted 68 minutes.

Sept. 30–Oct. 1, 2026 — Azure customers in multiple regions experienced intermittent connectivity and network management failures affecting services including Azure Firewall, VPN Gateway and ExpressRoute Gateway.

Jan. 22–23, 2026 — Microsoft 365 users reported problems sending and receiving Outlook email and creating Teams chats and meetings. Microsoft said on Jan. 23 that it had restored access to its productivity suite.

Oct. 29, 2025 — A configuration change in Azure Front Door, Microsoft’s global traffic delivery service, caused errors and timeouts for Azure customers and disrupted Microsoft 365. Microsoft said it restored services later that day.

Nov. 25, 2024 — A Microsoft 365 outage disrupted Outlook and Teams, prompting thousands of user reports to outage tracker Downdetector.

Sept. 12, 2024 — Microsoft said its productivity suite recovered after a disruption that generated more than 90,000 U.S. reports for Microsoft 365 on Downdetector. The tracker also recorded a rise in reports for Azure, Teams and Xbox.

July 30, 2024 — Azure Front Door and Microsoft’s content delivery network suffered connection errors and timeouts across multiple regions. Microsoft said a network misconfiguration following its response to a denial-of-service attack caused congestion and disrupted some Microsoft 365 services.

July 18–19, 2024 — An Azure Storage failure disrupted cloud services in Microsoft’s Central U.S. region. In a separate incident on July 19, a faulty update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike crashed an estimated 8.5 million Windows devices.

June 5–9, 2023 — Denial-of-service attacks disrupted Microsoft services including Outlook webmail. U.S. prosecutors later alleged that members of the group Anonymous Sudan were behind the attacks.

Jan. 25, 2023 — A network outage disrupted Azure, Teams and Outlook worldwide. Microsoft said it restored its cloud services that day.

July 21, 2022 — A global Teams outage disrupted the workplace messaging app for several hours. Microsoft said it restored access for most users.

April 1, 2021 — A Domain Name System (DNS) problem caused intermittent access failures for Azure, Dynamics and Xbox Live for about an hour.

March 15, 2021 — An Azure Active Directory outage prevented some users from signing in to Teams, Office, Dynamics, Xbox Live and the Azure portal.

Sept. 28–29, 2020 — An Azure Active Directory failure disrupted sign-ins to Microsoft and third-party services that relied on it, including Teams and OneDrive.

May 2, 2019 — A DNS configuration problem disrupted Azure connectivity and affected cloud computing, storage and database services.

Sept. 4, 2018 — Severe weather knocked out cooling at an Azure data centre in Texas, disrupting dozens of cloud services.

March 21, 2017 — Users reported problems with Outlook.com, Azure, Office 365, Skype and Xbox Live during a disruption across Microsoft’s online services.

Nov. 18, 2014 — An Azure Storage performance update reduced capacity and interrupted services including Azure Virtual Machines.

Feb. 22, 2013 — An expired security certificate disrupted secure connections to Azure Storage worldwide.

Feb. 29, 2012 — A leap-day software bug prevented parts of Windows Azure from generating valid security certificates, disrupting cloud computing services.

Sept. 8–9, 2011 — A DNS problem disrupted Office 365, Hotmail and SkyDrive for several hours, less than three months after Microsoft launched Office 365.

October 2009 — A server failure at Microsoft’s Danger unit disrupted T-Mobile’s Sidekick service. T-Mobile warned that some customers could lose contacts, calendar entries and photos stored on the servers.

December 2007–January 2008 — Xbox Live users experienced intermittent sign-in, account recovery and matchmaking problems over the holiday period. Microsoft cited record sign-ups and usage.

Jan. 24, 2001 — A router configuration change disrupted Microsoft’s domain-name infrastructure, making Microsoft.com, MSN.com and other company websites unreachable.

Delhi Overtakes Lahore as World’s Most Polluted City, AQI Hits 403

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Delhi emerged as the world’s most polluted major city Friday morning, with air quality deteriorating to hazardous levels as a dense layer of smog enveloped the Indian capital, exposing millions of residents to dangerous concentrations of airborne pollutants.

The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 403 on India’s official pollution monitoring scale, placing it in the “severe” category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The reading indicates pollution levels that can affect even healthy individuals and pose particularly serious risks to children, older adults and people with existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.

Swiss air quality monitoring company IQAir separately recorded an AQI of 334, classified as “hazardous” under the U.S.-based scale it uses. That reading placed Delhi ahead of Lahore, Pakistan, in IQAir’s live ranking of major cities worldwide.

The two readings are not directly comparable because the Indian and U.S. AQI systems use different calculation methods, pollutant breakpoints and health classifications.

Friday’s conditions offered another stark illustration of northern India’s recurring winter pollution crisis, which has become a major public health challenge despite years of government restrictions, emergency measures and investments in pollution-control infrastructure.

Delhi, home to roughly 20 million people, was covered in a thick gray haze that reduced visibility along major roads. Video footage released by Indian news agency ANI showed cars and motorcycles emerging from the smog, with streetlights appearing faint against the polluted skyline.

Mist-spraying systems installed along roads were operating as authorities attempted to suppress airborne dust and improve local conditions. Such measures, however, have limited effectiveness against the fine particulate pollution responsible for much of Delhi’s winter smog.

Why Delhi’s Air Pollution Has Reached Dangerous Levels

Delhi’s latest pollution episode reflects a combination of seasonal weather conditions, local emissions and pollution transported from surrounding regions.

As temperatures decline across northern India in November, cooler air near the ground can become trapped beneath warmer layers above it, creating what meteorologists call a temperature inversion.

This atmospheric condition restricts the vertical movement of air, allowing pollutants from vehicles, industrial facilities, construction sites and other sources to accumulate close to the ground.

Weak winds can further intensify the problem by preventing pollutants from dispersing.

Agricultural burning in parts of northern India also contributes to seasonal pollution. Farmers sometimes burn leftover crop residue after harvesting to prepare fields for the next planting season, releasing smoke and fine particles that can travel considerable distances.

However, the relative contribution of agricultural fires, traffic, road dust, industry and other sources changes from day to day. Friday’s AQI readings alone do not establish which source was responsible for the largest share of the pollution.

Vehicle exhaust remains an important contributor to Delhi’s air pollution, particularly emissions from diesel-powered vehicles and congestion on heavily traveled roads.

Construction activity, resuspended road dust, industrial emissions, waste burning and household fuel combustion add to the pollution burden.

The crisis is not confined to India.

Across the border, Lahore faces many of the same seasonal challenges, including stagnant winter air, traffic emissions, industrial pollution and smoke from agricultural burning.

The two cities frequently feature among the world’s most polluted major urban centers during the colder months, underscoring the regional nature of the problem.

Delhi’s move ahead of Lahore in Friday’s ranking reflects conditions at the time of measurement rather than a permanent change in their relative pollution levels. Live rankings can change throughout the day as weather conditions and pollutant concentrations fluctuate.

Severe Pollution Raises Health Risks for Millions

The most immediate concern is the health impact of prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter, particularly PM2.5, which consists of airborne particles measuring 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter.

These particles are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs, with some components capable of entering the bloodstream. Exposure is associated with respiratory and cardiovascular disease, while repeated exposure over longer periods increases the risk of serious health complications.

Unlike ordinary fog, which consists primarily of suspended water droplets, smog contains a mixture of particles and gaseous pollutants. Its presence can signal dangerous breathing conditions even when the air appears relatively clear at street level.

India’s AQI classification system illustrates the severity of Friday’s conditions.

AQI range Indian classification
0–50 Good
51–100 Satisfactory
101–200 Moderate
201–300 Poor
301–400 Very Poor
401–500 Severe

Source: Central Pollution Control Board.

At an AQI of 403, Delhi crossed into the highest category of India’s standard index, where official health guidance recommends avoiding outdoor physical activity.

Children, pregnant women, older adults and people with asthma, chronic lung disease or heart conditions face particularly elevated risks.

Health authorities advise vulnerable residents to remain indoors where possible, reduce physical exertion and limit exposure to outdoor air. Properly fitted N95 respirators can help reduce exposure to fine particles when outdoor travel is unavoidable, while effective indoor air filtration can offer additional protection.

The implications extend beyond respiratory health. Severe pollution can affect daily commuting, outdoor employment, school activities and productivity, particularly among people who must spend long hours outside.

For traffic police officers, delivery workers, street vendors, construction laborers and other outdoor workers, avoiding exposure may not be practical.

Delhi’s deteriorating air quality therefore presents both a public health problem and an economic challenge.

The pollution crisis has also exposed the limitations of short-term interventions. Roadside misting and dust suppression may address some localized sources, but sustained improvements require reductions in emissions across transportation, industry, construction, waste management and agriculture.

The Commission for Air Quality Management’s Graded Response Action Plan provides a framework for escalating restrictions as pollution worsens. However, an AQI reading alone does not establish which restrictions were in force Friday, and no new emergency order was confirmed in the Reuters report.

Delhi’s return to the top of the global pollution ranking also highlights the difficulty of addressing an environmental problem that extends across administrative and international borders.

Air pollution does not stop at state boundaries or national frontiers. Emissions generated hundreds of miles away can contribute to deteriorating conditions when atmospheric circulation carries pollutants into densely populated urban areas.

The latest readings are a warning of what northern India and neighboring Pakistan may face as winter advances.

Whether Delhi’s air quality improves in the coming days will depend partly on wind speed, temperature, atmospheric mixing and the volume of emissions entering the region’s air.

For now, the capital’s 403 AQI reading marks a serious deterioration in air quality and renews questions about whether existing pollution-control measures can deliver lasting improvements.

New Book Examines How the Vatican Opposed Nuremberg Trials and Helped Nazi War Criminals Evade Justice

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A new book by University of Nebraska–Lincoln historian Gerald J. Steinacher examines how the Vatican responded to the Allied prosecution of Nazi war criminals after World War II, revealing efforts by Catholic officials to protect former Nazi perpetrators from postwar justice.

Titled The Pope Against Nuremberg: How the Vatican Helped Nazis Escape Postwar Justice, the book was published by NYU Press in early November 2026. It draws on recently accessible Vatican records, intelligence documents, and material from more than 60 archives across Europe and the Americas.

Although the Nuremberg Trials have been extensively studied, the Vatican’s opposition to war crimes prosecutions and denazification has received comparatively little historical attention.

Newly Accessible Vatican Archives Reveal Postwar Activities

Steinacher’s research draws on Church records from the pontificate of Pope Pius XII, alongside intelligence files and other archival material.

The documents reveal how papal diplomats and individual bishops sought to influence Allied decisions on the prosecution of Nazi war criminals. According to the book, Catholic officials submitted petitions to Allied leaders, supported defence efforts, organised press campaigns against the trials, and opposed the extradition of suspects.

Some members of the clergy also reportedly provided hiding places for Nazi and fascist war criminals on Church premises.

The research challenges the perception of the Vatican’s postwar position as primarily one of silence. While Pius XII has frequently faced criticism over his public response to the Holocaust, Steinacher’s findings highlight the Vatican’s more active involvement in defending Nazi perpetrators after 1945.

Vatican Opposition Grew During the Early Cold War

According to Steinacher, the Vatican criticised the Nuremberg proceedings from their beginning, with its opposition increasing as war crimes trials and denazification continued.

Church leaders eventually advocated a broad amnesty and called for forgiveness of Germany’s wartime crimes, alongside efforts to rebuild the country.

The book examines these developments within the context of the emerging Cold War. As concerns about communism gained prominence, the Vatican increasingly prioritised political considerations over continued efforts to hold Nazi perpetrators accountable, Steinacher argues.

The research also explores how these efforts intersected with the wider postwar debate over punishment, reconciliation, and Germany’s place in the international community.

Book Revisits the Legacy of the Nuremberg Trials

The publication comes 80 years after the Nuremberg verdicts and examines the trials’ role in establishing principles of international criminal accountability.

Steinacher argues that the proceedings were intended not only to punish individuals responsible for Nazi crimes but also to educate the public about the atrocities committed by the regime.

“World War II and the Holocaust left behind immense suffering, and there was no simple way forward,” Steinacher said. “The Allies chose punishment. War crimes trials and denazification were meant to break with the Nazi past and to show people what crimes the regime had committed. Nuremberg was as much a classroom as a courtroom. Not every perpetrator could be tried, and Allied crimes never came before the court. But simply forgetting and pardoning ignored the victims. For many of them, justice was done at Nuremberg, even if it was imperfect.”

The book also examines the ambitions of American policymakers who sought to establish international legal standards capable of preventing future aggression and holding political and military leaders accountable.

“Instead of a jungle where the strongest rule, the Americans behind Nuremberg envisioned an international order grounded in the rule of law,” Steinacher said. “It was not a perfect project, but its standards were meant to apply to everyone in the future, victors as well as vanquished. The lesson from Nuremberg is clear: the international order must rest on the rule of law, with no one above it. Even the most powerful heads of state and military leaders must be held accountable for their crimes.”

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India Bans Export of Lithium-Ion Battery Black Mass to Boost Critical Mineral Recycling

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India Bans Export of Lithium-Ion Battery Black Mass to Boost Critical Mineral Recycling

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The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has prohibited the export of lithium-ion battery black mass to increase the domestic availability of critical minerals and strengthen India’s battery recycling industry.

The restriction, announced through Notification No. 49/2026-27 dated November 10, 2026, changes the export classification of lithium-ion battery black mass under ITC(HS) Code 85491400 from ‘Free’ to ‘Prohibited’.

The ban takes effect immediately and will remain in force until further orders. Transitional arrangements under Paragraph 1.05 of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), 2023, will continue to apply.

The government said the decision aims to reduce dependence on imported critical minerals, improve the utilisation of domestic recycling facilities, and support the country’s growing electric vehicle and energy storage industries.

What Is Lithium-Ion Battery Black Mass?

Black mass is a powder-like material produced by shredding used lithium-ion batteries and waste generated during battery manufacturing.

It contains recoverable quantities of valuable minerals, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese. These materials are essential for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries, energy storage systems, electronic devices, and renewable energy technologies.

The relevant ITC(HS) classification covers certain waste and scrap from batteries and accumulators, including unsorted material that does not contain lead, cadmium, or mercury. The DGFT notification specifically identifies lithium-ion battery black mass as the prohibited export item.

Recovering critical minerals from discarded batteries provides an alternative to extracting them through conventional mining operations.

Export Ban Aims to Address Raw Material Shortages for Indian Recyclers

According to the government, India’s battery recycling and critical mineral refining capabilities have expanded considerably in recent years. However, some domestic facilities remain underutilised because of insufficient availability of recyclable battery material.

Exports of black mass generated within India have contributed to this shortage, with some domestic recycling companies having to import battery waste to meet their processing requirements.

By restricting exports, the government intends to retain domestically generated black mass for processing and mineral recovery within the country.

The measure is expected to improve the availability of raw materials for recycling and refining facilities, increase capacity utilisation, and encourage additional investment and employment in the sector.

Higher domestic recovery of lithium, cobalt, nickel, and other minerals could also reduce India’s reliance on imports and the associated expenditure of foreign exchange.

Ban to Support ₹1,500 Crore Critical Mineral Recycling Scheme

The export restriction complements the government’s National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), which aims to strengthen domestic supply chains for minerals essential to emerging technologies.

In September 2025, the Union Cabinet approved a ₹1,500 crore incentive scheme to develop recycling capacity for recovering critical minerals from secondary sources, including battery waste and electronic waste.

The scheme focuses on expanding facilities capable of separating and producing critical minerals from recyclable materials.

Retaining black mass within India is expected to ensure that recycling facilities developed under the scheme have access to sufficient domestic feedstock.

The government also expects the policy to support battery manufacturing, electric mobility, energy storage, and clean-energy technologies under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Government Seeks to Promote Circular Economy and Urban Mining

Beyond strengthening mineral supply chains, the restriction is intended to encourage the development of a circular economy through the recovery and reuse of valuable materials.

The government highlighted the role of ‘urban mining’, which involves extracting useful resources from discarded products and waste rather than relying exclusively on newly mined materials.

Greater recovery of minerals from used batteries could reduce the need for primary mining while supporting more sustainable resource management.

The government also emphasised that recycling and processing of battery waste must comply with applicable environmental regulations, given the hazardous nature of the material.

According to the DGFT, the restriction is consistent with measures introduced by several major economies to retain critical mineral-bearing battery waste for domestic processing.

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NHAI Bars Bijwasan Toll Collection Agency From Tenders for One Month, Imposes ₹15 Lakh Fine

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The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has barred M/s Riddhi Siddhi Associates from participating in its ongoing and future tenders for one month and imposed a penalty of ₹15 lakh following an incident of alleged misconduct involving the agency’s personnel and road users at the Bijwasan Fee Plaza.

The incident occurred on November 5, 2026, at the toll plaza located on National Highway 248BB. The authority announced the disciplinary action on November 11, citing the agency’s failure to ensure appropriate conduct among its employees.

NHAI Issues Show Cause Notice for One-Year Debarment

In addition to the one-month debarment and financial penalty, NHAI has issued a show cause notice proposing a longer restriction against the agency.

The notice proposes barring M/s Riddhi Siddhi Associates, along with its owners and directors, from participating in future NHAI tenders for one year.

The proposed one-year debarment has not yet been imposed and remains subject to the show cause proceedings.

NHAI has also instructed the agency to hand over operations at the Bijwasan Fee Plaza to a new collection agency on November 14, 2026.

Agency Held Responsible for Conduct of Toll Plaza Personnel

According to NHAI, the contractual agreement places responsibility on user fee collection agencies to maintain discipline, ensure proper supervision, and regulate the behaviour of personnel deployed at toll plazas.

The authority stated that the November 5 incident demonstrated a serious failure by the agency to meet these contractual obligations.

The agency was expected to ensure that its employees maintained appropriate standards of conduct while interacting with national highway users.

NHAI cited the incident as grounds for imposing the financial penalty and restricting the agency’s participation in its tendering process.

NHAI Reiterates Zero-Tolerance Policy on Toll Plaza Misconduct

Following the disciplinary action, NHAI reaffirmed its commitment to providing a safe and secure commuting experience for people travelling on national highways.

The authority stated that it maintains a zero-tolerance approach towards misconduct and indiscipline at toll plazas.

The action against M/s Riddhi Siddhi Associates includes an immediate one-month tender restriction, a ₹15 lakh penalty, and a proposed one-year debarment, while the transfer of toll collection operations is scheduled for November 14.

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Fossils of 30-Kilogram Prehistoric Rodent Discovered in Southern Thailand

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Paleontologists have discovered fossils of a giant prehistoric rodent in southern Thailand, providing new evidence that large-bodied rodents evolved earlier and across a wider geographical area than previously understood.

The newly identified species, named Yakamys sirindhornae, lived approximately 34 million years ago. Researchers estimate that it weighed around 30 kilograms, making it roughly twice as large as other known rodents from the same period.

The discovery was made at the Bang Mark Pit of the Krabi lignite mine in Krabi Province by an international research team involving scientists from McGill University, Thailand’s Department of Mineral Resources, and French research institutions.

The findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Giant Rodent Fossils Reveal Southeast Asia’s Evolutionary Significance

The researchers identified fossilised teeth, including a lower second molar and a lower incisor, belonging to the previously unknown species.

The discovery offers new insights into the evolution of rodent gigantism, the process through which rodents develop significantly larger body sizes.

Although giant rodents are commonly associated with South America’s evolutionary history, the findings suggest that Southeast Asia also played an important role in the early development of large-bodied species.

“Today, the largest living rodent is the capybara, but very large rodents are not restricted to recent ecosystems,” said Virginie Millien, study co-author and Professor of Biology at McGill University.

“Giant rodents evolved repeatedly during the later history of the group, mostly in South America. This discovery suggests that Southeast Asia also played an important role in the early evolutionary history of large-bodied rodents.”

The researchers named the new genus Yakamys by combining the Thai word “yak”, meaning giant, with the Greek word “mys”, meaning mouse or rat.

The species name sirindhornae honours Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in recognition of her longstanding support for scientific and paleontological research in Thailand.

Prehistoric Species May Have Weighed Around 30 Kilograms

To estimate the animal’s body mass, the research team applied seven established methods based on measurements of fossilised teeth.

Their calculations suggest that Yakamys sirindhornae weighed approximately 30 kilograms. This would make it about twice the size of other known rodents from the same geological period, including Hulgana.

However, the researchers cautioned that the estimate carries considerable uncertainty because it is based on limited fossil material.

“This is only a ballpark figure, as there is substantial uncertainty associated with fossil body-mass estimation,” Millien said.

Despite these limitations, the estimated size indicates that unusually large rodents existed in Southeast Asia much earlier than previously recognised.

Further Fossil Discoveries Needed to Understand Its Evolution

The discovery emerged from a collaborative research project investigating fossil mammals in Thailand’s Krabi Basin. The initiative involves McGill University, the Department of Mineral Resources of Thailand, and French institutions including the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and Université de Poitiers.

Although the fossilised teeth have helped researchers identify the species and estimate its size, the limited remains make it difficult to reconstruct its complete anatomy, biology, and ecological role.

Further fossil discoveries will be necessary to establish how Yakamys sirindhornae evolved and how it relates to other prehistoric rodent groups.

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Drivers Willing to Pay 10% More for Salmon-Safe Tires, WSU Study Finds

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A new study led by Washington State University (WSU) suggests that consumers may be willing to pay around 10% more for vehicle tyres designed to reduce harm to salmon populations.

The research found that the median willingness to pay for tyres carrying a hypothetical “salmon-safe” label was approximately $76 extra for a set of four tyres. The findings indicate that environmentally conscious consumers could provide a potential market for less harmful tyre alternatives.

Published in the journal Marine Resource Economics, the study examined consumer preferences in California, Oregon, and Washington.

Tyre Chemical Linked to Coho Salmon Deaths

The research builds on earlier findings by WSU scientists, who identified a chemical compound called 6PPD as a major contributor to the deaths of adult coho salmon in urban streams.

Tyre manufacturers use 6PPD to prevent rubber from deteriorating too quickly. However, when tyres wear down, particles containing the chemical can enter roads and eventually wash into freshwater streams.

Exposure to the compound can be toxic to coho salmon, raising concerns about the environmental impact of conventional tyre formulations.

Manufacturers are now exploring alternative formulations that could eliminate the chemical. Against this background, WSU economists investigated whether consumers would voluntarily pay more for tyres designed to protect salmon.

“The tire doesn’t exist yet, but we wanted to know how the general population might value the tire after it’s been developed,” said Joe Cook, a professor in WSU’s School of Economic Sciences and lead author of the study.

“As the tire industry explores reformulation, we hope this demonstrates there is a potential market for ‘eco-labeled’ tires.”

Survey Finds Consumers Willing to Pay an Additional $76

The researchers surveyed nearly 700 people living in California, Oregon, and Washington to assess how much they would be willing to pay for tyres carrying a salmon-safe label.

The study found that the median premium was 10% above the price respondents had most recently paid for their tyres. This translates to approximately $76 more for a set of four.

The median represents the point at which half of the respondents were willing to pay more than the estimated premium and half were willing to pay less.

The researchers also found that a substantial group of consumers would consider paying considerably more for environmentally safer tyres.

“Approximately 25% of people said they would pay a premium of $225 for a set of four salmon-safe tires,” Cook said.

“This shows that protecting salmon is very important for a sizeable group of consumers in the three states.”

The study was funded by the nonprofit organisation Salmon Safe, which provides environmental certifications for products and organisations, including wineries, farms, and construction contractors.

Researchers Highlight Potential Market for Eco-Labelled Tyres

The findings suggest that voluntary environmental labelling could influence purchasing decisions and create demand for products designed to reduce ecological damage.

However, the researchers cautioned that the survey examined a hypothetical product rather than tyres already available in the market. Actual consumer behaviour may differ once manufacturers introduce reformulated products and establish their prices.

Cook also clarified that the findings should not be interpreted as evidence that removing 6PPD from tyres through regulation would automatically increase prices by the same amount.

“This study is about voluntary eco-labeling for a hypothetical product,” Cook said. “We aren’t saying that prices would go up this amount if 6PPD is regulated out of tires — that ultimately would depend on what it costs for tire manufacturers to reformulate and how competitive the tire industry is.

“Our results couldn’t be used in a benefit-cost analysis of a state or federal regulation,” he continued. “That would require a different survey approach, but we would be excited to look at that and well-placed to do that work.”

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Wildlife Imports Associated With Increased Risk of Zoonotic Disease Outbreaks, Study Finds

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Wildlife Imports Associated With Increased Risk of Zoonotic Disease Outbreaks, Study Finds

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A new global study has found that countries importing larger volumes of wildlife face a higher likelihood of emerging infectious diseases spreading from animals to humans. The findings suggest that wildlife imports, rather than exports, may play a more significant role in zoonotic disease emergence.

Published in the peer-reviewed journal One Health, the study was conducted by researchers at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). It provides the first global assessment of the relationship between wildlife trade and zoonotic disease outbreaks across countries and over time.

Zoonotic diseases have emerged as a major public health concern following outbreaks of SARS, MERS, and COVID-19. Wildlife is linked to at least 70% of emerging zoonotic diseases, highlighting the importance of understanding how international wildlife trade contributes to pathogen transmission.

Researchers Examine Wildlife Trade Across 214 Countries

The research team analysed data from 214 countries spanning 39 years to investigate whether wildlife trade volumes were associated with emerging infectious disease (EID) occurrences.

The researchers used two statistical approaches. The first examined whether countries with higher wildlife trade volumes were more likely to report zoonotic disease occurrences and whether they experienced more such events. The second investigated whether unusually high wildlife trade volumes coincided with extreme disease outbreak events.

Both approaches separately assessed wildlife imports and exports.

Dr Lingyun Xiao, a corresponding author from XJTLU’s Academy of Life and Natural Sciences, explained that earlier research had examined factors such as economic conditions, population growth, and climate without directly assessing wildlife trade volumes.

“While previous papers have identified the spatial link between EID occurrences with other factors such as population growth rate, GDP, and climatic conditions, wildlife trade volumes remain untested,” Dr Xiao said.

The researchers also examined non-zoonotic emerging infectious diseases to determine whether the observed relationships could be explained by differences in disease surveillance or general trade activity.

“If wildlife trade were simply a proxy for general trade or reporting bias, we would expect it to be associated with non-zoonotic EIDs too,” Dr Xiao said. “The fact that the strongest and most specific signal was for zoonotic EIDs strengthens the case that this is not just reporting noise.”

Higher Wildlife Imports Linked to 23% Greater Odds of Disease Emergence

The findings revealed a significant association between wildlife import volumes and the likelihood of zoonotic emerging infectious disease occurrences.

The researchers reported an odds ratio of 1.23, indicating that a one-unit increase in the study’s wildlife import volume measure was associated with approximately 23% higher odds of a zoonotic EID occurrence.

However, wildlife exports showed no statistically significant association with zoonotic disease emergence.

Kai Wang, a PhD student at XJTLU’s Academy of Life and Natural Sciences, explained that importing wildlife could introduce unfamiliar pathogens into a country, increasing the possibility of transmission to humans.

The researchers also distinguished between the likelihood of disease emergence and the frequency of reported occurrences. Although wildlife imports were associated with an increased probability of zoonotic EID emergence, they were not significantly associated with the number of occurrences once an EID had emerged.

Other factors, including surveillance systems, containment measures, and public health responses, may influence the subsequent number of reported disease events.

Extreme Disease Outbreaks More Likely During High Wildlife Import Activity

The study also identified a relationship between unusually high wildlife import volumes and extreme zoonotic disease outbreak events.

According to the researchers, extreme zoonotic EID events were 40% more likely to coincide with high wildlife import volumes. The corresponding relationship for wildlife exports was substantially weaker.

Dr Chengxiu Ling, another corresponding author from XJTLU, highlighted the importance of these findings for understanding rare but potentially severe public health emergencies.

“This reveals a critical import-driven risk profile: wildlife importation is associated with both the probability of zoonotic EID occurrence and extreme outbreak events,” Dr Ling said.

The researchers also identified mammalian species richness, population density, and population growth as additional factors associated with elevated emerging infectious disease risks.

The findings indicate that wildlife imports may be particularly relevant to pandemic preparedness because rare, extreme outbreaks can have disproportionately large consequences for public health.

Study Calls for Stronger Wildlife Import Screening and Surveillance

Based on the findings, the researchers recommended strengthening disease prevention measures at wildlife import checkpoints.

These measures include improved quarantine procedures, pathogen screening, and public health surveillance targeting imported live wildlife.

The researchers explained that imported animals may introduce pathogens unfamiliar to local human populations, potentially increasing the risk of disease emergence.

Dr Ling also emphasised that the risks associated with wildlife imports appear to differ from those associated with exports.

“Exportation may reflect broader wildlife exploitation and increased human–wildlife encounters. But our findings suggest that zoonotic risk is more likely associated with the intensity of wildlife importation than with overall trade activity. That is why the policy focus should be on importation points.”

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Cannabis Used for Its Intoxicating Effects as Early as 2,800 Years Ago, Study Finds

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Cannabis was used for its psychoactive properties nearly 2,800 years ago, according to new archaeological research conducted in southern Siberia. An international team led by researchers from the University of Bern and the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology discovered evidence of cannabis use in a princely tomb belonging to members of the ancient Scythian society.

Published in the journal Science, the study combines the analysis of preserved cannabis seeds and molecular traces found in human hair. The findings provide the oldest directly dated archaeological evidence currently available of cannabis being used for its intoxicating effects.

Ancient Scythian Tomb Reveals Evidence of Cannabis Use

The research focused on a burial site in the Republic of Tyva in southern Siberia, associated with high-ranking members of the Scythians, a horse-riding culture that inhabited the Eurasian steppe.

Archaeologists recovered approximately 1,000 cannabis seeds from the tomb. Researchers directly dated six of these seeds using radiocarbon analysis, with the results, alongside other dating evidence, indicating that they were placed in the grave during the early eighth century BC.

The discovery suggests that cannabis held significance in the burial rituals of the Scythian elite.

“The seeds show that cannabis played an important role in the rituals surrounding the burial,” says Dr Gino Caspari, an archaeologist at the University of Bern and the study’s lead author.

However, the presence of cannabis seeds alone could not establish whether the plant was consumed for its psychoactive effects. Cannabis has historically served several purposes, including the production of fibre and oil, making it difficult to determine its specific use from archaeological remains.

To investigate further, the researchers examined preserved human hair recovered from the central burial chamber.

Human Hair Analysis Identifies Traces of Cannabis Compounds

The analysis revealed molecular traces consistent with cannabinol (CBN) in several hair samples. CBN can form through the oxidation of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary intoxicating compound in cannabis.

Researchers also detected weaker chemical signals consistent with THC. These findings were obtained using high-resolution mass spectrometry and other analytical techniques.

The combination of cannabis seeds and chemical traces in human hair provided stronger evidence that the plant was used for its intoxicating properties rather than exclusively for practical purposes.

“This study is particularly insightful because it combines the analysis of plant remains with molecular traces in the human body,” says Caspari.

Nevertheless, the researchers caution that the findings cannot establish how much cannabis was consumed or how its active compounds entered the body. The evidence does not confirm whether the individuals inhaled cannabis smoke or consumed the plant through ingestion.

Later archaeological discoveries in Central Asia have revealed cannabinoid residues in vessels and on heated stones, providing clearer evidence of inhalation practices at other sites.

“The molecular traces in the hair and the cannabis seeds come from the same grave and suggest that cannabis was used for its intoxicating properties,” says Caspari.

Cannabis Appeared in Elaborate Scythian Burial Rituals

The researchers also examined the wider archaeological context of the burial. The princely tomb contained evidence of elaborate funerary practices involving numerous animal sacrifices and possible human sacrifices.

In earlier research, the team identified the remains of 18 horses that had been arranged on the burial mound. Subsequent excavations uncovered several dozen additional horse sacrifices, along with scattered human bones.

The discovery of cannabis seeds and molecular traces in human hair adds another dimension to understanding the rituals and practices of the Scythian elite.

Researchers believe the findings demonstrate the importance of combining different scientific methods to investigate how ancient societies used plants that rarely survive in the archaeological record.

DNA Research Could Reveal More About Cannabis Domestication

Although the study establishes early evidence of cannabis use for its intoxicating effects, several questions remain unanswered. Researchers have not determined the THC concentration of the ancient plants or whether Scythian communities deliberately selected or cultivated varieties with higher levels of psychoactive compounds.

The team has begun sequencing DNA from some of the recovered plant samples. The researchers report that the genetic material has been exceptionally well preserved, potentially allowing them to investigate the history of cannabis domestication and its spread across different regions.

“We have already begun sequencing some of the plant samples,” says Caspari. “DNA preservation is excellent in this case. This will help us learn more about the history of the domestication and spread of this crop soon.”

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Revised Prices of 1,364 Anti-Cancer Medicine Formulations Take Effect

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Revised maximum retail prices (MRPs) of 1,364 anti-cancer medicine formulations came into effect across India on November 9, 2026, following a decision by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) to cap trade margins on selected cancer medicines. The price reductions are expected to generate annual savings of approximately ₹3,540.38 crore for consumers.

According to the Department of Pharmaceuticals, 85 pharmaceutical companies had reported revised prices for 1,364 formulations covering 121 drugs as of November 8, 2026. Among the reported brands, 679 recorded price reductions exceeding 50%, with the highest reported reduction reaching 96.45%.

NPPA Caps Trade Margins on 137 Anti-Cancer Drugs

The NPPA, operating under the Department of Pharmaceuticals within the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, introduced the revised pricing framework based on recommendations from an Expert Committee constituted by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The committee was established by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on October 17, 2026, to examine pricing measures for anti-cancer medicines.

Under the revised framework, trade margins on the MRP of 137 anti-cancer drugs have been capped. The changes took effect on November 9, 2026, resulting in lower reported prices across a range of cancer medicine formulations.

The price revisions cover 1,364 formulations across 121 drugs reported by 85 pharmaceutical companies.

The revised prices are expected to reduce the financial burden of cancer treatment for patients and their families. With 679 brands reporting price cuts of more than 50%, the estimated annual savings for consumers stand at ₹3,540.38 crore.

The highest reported reduction in MRP is 96.45%, reflecting the extent of price changes across the affected medicine brands.

Consumers can check the revised MRP printed on medicine packaging and verify individual medicine prices through the Pharma Sahi Daam mobile application or the official NPPA website at nppa.gov.in.

How to Report Overcharging at Pharmacies

Under the revised pricing provisions, chemists and hospital pharmacies cannot charge consumers more than the applicable revised MRP.

Patients who encounter overcharging or other medicine pricing-related issues can register complaints through the Pharma Jan Samadhan portal or contact the NPPA helpline.

NPPA consumer helpline: 1800-111-255

The revised pricing measures aim to improve the affordability of essential cancer medicines and provide consumers with greater transparency in pharmaceutical pricing.

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Delhi to Launch First Recreational Cruise Service on Yamuna River

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Delhi is preparing to introduce its first recreational river cruise service along the Yamuna, adding a new attraction to the capital’s tourism offerings. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal will inaugurate the service on November 10, 2026, at Sonia Vihar, in the presence of Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

The cruise service will operate along the Sonia Vihar-Jagatpur stretch of the Yamuna. The initiative aims to promote river-based tourism, provide residents and visitors with a new recreational experience and explore the potential of inland waterways for sustainable urban transport.

The inauguration ceremony will be attended by several Union and Delhi government representatives, including Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and Harsh Malhotra, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways.

Delhi ministers Parvesh Sahib Singh, who handles the Public Works Department and Irrigation and Flood Control, and Kapil Mishra, Tourism Minister, will also attend. Member of Parliament Manoj Tiwari and senior officials from the Central and Delhi governments are expected to be present.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), operating under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, is spearheading the project. Trial runs of the cruise vessel were successfully conducted last month in the presence of senior officials from IWAI and the Delhi Government.

Opens Opportunities for River Tourism

The Yamuna has been designated as National Waterway-110 under the National Waterways Act, 2016. The development of the cruise service along the Sonia Vihar-Jagatpur stretch marks an effort to utilise this waterway for recreational navigation and tourism.

The project is expected to encourage greater public engagement with the river while creating an additional tourism experience in the National Capital Region.

The initiative will also use electric-powered cruise vessels, demonstrating the potential of cleaner inland water transport. By incorporating electric vessels into recreational navigation, the project aims to promote sustainable mobility while expanding Delhi’s tourism infrastructure.

The recreational Yamuna cruise service is being developed by IWAI under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways in collaboration with several Delhi government agencies.

The partner organisations include the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC), Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and the Irrigation and Flood Control Department of the Delhi Government.

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Sacred Relics of Shakyamuni Buddha Reach Bomdila Monastery for Public Darshan Until November 13

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The sacred relics of Shakyamuni Buddha arrived at Thubchog Gatsel Ling (TGL) Monastery, also known as Lower Gompa, in Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh, on November 8, 2026. The relics have been enshrined at the monastery and will remain open for public darshan until November 13, giving devotees an opportunity to offer prayers and pay their respects.

Around 4,000 people visited the monastery on the first day of the exposition. The programme is being organised by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the National Museum, New Delhi, the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC).

Around 4,000 Devotees Attend First Day of Relic Exposition

The opening day of the exposition witnessed participation from Buddhist monks, dignitaries, senior citizens and persons with disabilities, who gathered to seek blessings and pay homage to the sacred relics.

From November 9 to 13, devotees from the Bomdila constituency and neighbouring constituencies are scheduled to visit the monastery to offer prayers.

The relics were transported from Tawang to Bomdila aboard an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter. The delegation accompanying them included Shri Bhikkhu Khemachara, Deputy Secretary General of the International Buddhist Confederation, along with officials from the Ministry of Culture, the National Museum and the IBC.

At the Army Helipad in Rupa, the relics were received with official protocol by Pasang Dorjee Sona, Minister for Education, Tourism, Rural Works Department and Public Libraries in the Arunachal Pradesh government. A Guard of Honour was also presented.

The procession then continued towards Bomdila, with a ceremonial halt at Upper Gompa before the relics were taken to TGL Monastery for enshrinement.

Special Exhibitions Showcase Buddhist Heritage

Following the enshrinement ceremony, two special exhibitions were inaugurated at the monastery by Pasang Dorjee Sona in the presence of Padma Shri awardee and the 12th Guru Trulku Rinpoche.

Organised by the International Buddhist Confederation and the National Museum, New Delhi, the exhibitions explore the historical, spiritual and cultural significance of Buddhism and the sacred relics of Shakyamuni Buddha.

The exhibitions provide visitors with an opportunity to learn more about India’s Buddhist heritage alongside the public exposition.

Sacred Relics to Travel to Golden Pagoda in Namsai

The Bomdila exposition follows the conclusion of a seven-day public display at Gaden Namgyal Lhatse, popularly known as Tawang Monastery, on November 7, 2026. Thousands of devotees from different blocks of Tawang and neighbouring areas attended the event to offer prayers and pay homage to the relics.

After the Bomdila programme concludes on November 13, the sacred relics will travel to the Golden Pagoda in Namsai, where public darshan will be available from November 14 to 20, 2026.

The relics are scheduled to return to the National Museum in New Delhi on November 21, 2026.

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TRAI Introduces New Port Charges for IP-Based Telecom Interconnections From January 2027

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The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has introduced a revised framework for port charges applicable to IP-based interconnections between telecom service providers. The changes, notified under the Telecommunication Interconnection (Port Charges) (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2026, extend the existing regulatory provisions beyond legacy E1/TDM-based connections.

The amended regulations will come into effect on January 1, 2027. They establish annual charge ceilings for IP ports, provide flexibility in interconnection agreements and introduce financial disincentives for violations of specified regulatory provisions.

TRAI Sets Annual Charge Ceilings for IP Ports

The new regulations revise the definition of a telecommunications port to cover both traditional E1 ports, operating at 2.048 Mbps, and IP ports, with bandwidth measured in Mbps or Gbps.

TRAI has prescribed the following annual ceilings for IP-based interconnection ports:

  • 1 Gbps IP port: ₹5.6 lakh per year.
  • 10 Gbps IP port: ₹42.3 lakh per year.

Telecom service providers can mutually agree on charges below these prescribed limits. They can also negotiate IP-port capacities other than 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps, provided the applicable charges are calculated transparently using the same methodology established for the specified capacities.

The revised charges will apply uniformly across fixed-line, mobile, national long-distance and international long-distance services. Existing port charges will continue to apply exclusively to E1-based interconnections.

New Regulations Follow Stakeholder Consultation

The amendments follow TRAI’s review of the existing regulatory framework governing telecom interconnections. The authority initiated the process through a pre-consultation paper titled Review of the Existing TRAI Regulations on Interconnection Matters, issued on April 3, 2025.

The consultation sought stakeholder feedback on several regulatory provisions, including the Telecommunication Interconnection (Port Charges) Regulation, 2001. TRAI subsequently issued a consultation paper on November 10, 2025, incorporating background information and feedback received during the initial consultation.

After extending the submission period, TRAI set December 15, 2025, as the deadline for written comments and December 29, 2025, for counter-comments.

A total of 17 stakeholders submitted comments, while nine submitted counter-comments. TRAI also conducted an Open House Discussion on January 28, 2026, before finalising the amendments based on stakeholder feedback and its own analysis.

The original 2001 regulations prescribed charges payable by an interconnection seeker to an interconnection provider for terminating interconnection links at a point of interconnection. Those provisions were designed around legacy E1/TDM technology, with the prescribed charges last revised in 2012.

Graded Financial Disincentives for Regulatory Violations

The amended framework also introduces a graded system of financial disincentives to encourage compliance with the revised regulations.

Under the provisions, the financial disincentive will be capped at ₹15 lakh per service area for each instance of contravention of specified regulatory requirements.

The changes are intended to bring telecom interconnection rules in line with technological developments while providing greater clarity to service providers. TRAI expects the revised framework to support efficient network connectivity and seamless communication between different telecom operators.

The regulations also seek to uphold transparency, non-discrimination, effective interconnection and fair competition across the telecommunications sector.

The complete text of the Telecommunication Interconnection (Port Charges) (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2026, along with its Explanatory Memorandum, is available on the official TRAI website at www.trai.gov.in.

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PM Modi Holds Telephone Conversation With Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the phone on November 9, 2026, to discuss the ongoing conflict and developments surrounding the situation. During the conversation, Zelenskyy shared his assessment of recent developments, while Modi reiterated India’s position that the conflict should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.

The two leaders also discussed opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation between India and Ukraine across various sectors, with a focus on advancing mutual interests.

During the telephone conversation, President Zelenskyy briefed Prime Minister Modi on recent developments related to the ongoing conflict. Modi reaffirmed India’s human-centric approach and reiterated its consistent position in favour of a peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy.

The Prime Minister also conveyed India’s readiness to contribute to all efforts aimed at bringing about a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

India and Ukraine Discuss Stronger Bilateral Cooperation

Apart from the ongoing conflict, the two leaders discussed measures to expand cooperation between India and Ukraine in various sectors.

Their discussion focused on strengthening bilateral ties and identifying areas of mutual benefit for the people of both countries. The conversation reaffirmed the leaders’ engagement on both international developments and the future of India-Ukraine relations.

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Japanese backpacker shares what his 30-day India trip costs, triggers row after viral post

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In the dusty alleys of Varanasi and the blue-washed lanes of Jodhpur, a Japanese backpacker’s blunt verdict has landed like an unexpected monsoon.On November 3, 2026, shortly after touching down back in Japan, the X user known as @YAMAMOTOPEN (バックパッカーの山本!), or “Backpacker Yamamoto”—posted a terse, emoji-laced summary of his 30-day odyssey across India.

“Finally back in Japan! India was the worst hell-like country! I’ll never go to India again!” he declared. “Days: 30 days Travel distance: 5000km within India Money spent: 95,000 yen within India, 80,000 yen for airfare Average temperature: 35°C Times I got sick: 1 time (cut fruit) Times I snapped and yelled at Indians: 3 times Weight lost: 3kg.”

The accompanying stats were clinical in their bleakness: 5,000 kilometres travelled, an average temperature of 35°C, one bout of severe diarrhoea from cut fruit (later clarified as the peak of near-constant stomach trouble), three shouting matches with locals, three kilograms lost, and roughly 81,000 yen—about ₹48,400—spent inside the country, plus airfare.

The post, which also included short videos and photos from the road, exploded. Within days it racked up millions of views, hundreds of thousands of engagements, and blanket coverage in Indian media from Moneycontrol to News18. What began as one traveller’s private frustration became a public referendum on budget tourism, hospitality, and the gap between expectation and the lived reality of northern India’s most visited circuits.Yamamoto is no polished influencer.

His account, active since 2017 and followed by a modest 3,000-plus people before the storm, is a diary of ultra-frugal backpacking. A Google Local Guide Level 9 who also plays mobile games, he had previously traversed Southeast Asia with a heavy pack. For India he deliberately lightened the load to a 30-litre bag weighing just 5.5 kilograms. His original plan, floated in September, was ambitious: enter through Kolkata in the east, sweep through the north, push south, and exit via Sri Lanka over two to three months. He asked followers for tips and treated the middle of the country as optional.

Shoe-string budget travel

Reality compressed the itinerary into a hard month. He arrived in early October and moved largely by long-distance buses—some lasting 15 hours overnight. Stops included Bodh Gaya, where he stayed one night at a Japanese-linked temple guesthouse and noted both the spiritual weight of the place and the presence of Japanese-speaking touts and child beggars. In Varanasi he photographed the Ganges and its ghats. In Jodhpur, the “Blue City,” he referenced the One Piece manga’s Alabasta inspiration, replaced broken shoes with cheap sandals, and eyed a bargain camel safari. Transport frustrations peaked in the Delhi region when a booked long-distance bus simply drove past the meeting point; the RedBus app offered no help and no refund.

By the time he reached Goa he was exhausted. The cleaner beaches, milder people, cheaper beer, and non-spicy southern food felt like relief. Northern tourist hotspots, he later said, had worn him down with heat, dirt, constant approaches from scammers, and the sheer intensity of crowds. He quit early and flew home.The detailed expense sheet he posted the next day only fuelled the fire: food under ₹15,000 yen equivalent, accommodation around ₹24,000, buses the biggest internal cost. He framed the budget as intentional—the joy of backpacking, he insisted, is living roughly as locals do. Indian social media was largely unpersuaded.

“This isn’t travelling; you’re challenging the limits of survival,” one widely shared reply read. Others calculated that ₹48,000 for a month of cross-country movement bought the experience of the poorest travellers, complete with floor-sleeping stray dogs, aggressive touts, and unreliable services. “You spent what we spend on a long-weekend getaway and expected five-star treatment?” became a common refrain.

Some voices, particularly those familiar with the pilgrimage and heritage circuits of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan, pointed out that the same low-budget path amplifies every friction: the press of bodies at the ghats, the persistent sales pitches in Rajasthan’s desert towns, the heat that turns every bus ride into an ordeal.The reverberation in northern India has been more layered than pure outrage.

Spiritual grandeur

In places Yamamoto visited, conversations among guides, guesthouse owners, and frequent travellers have mixed defensiveness with reluctant recognition. Tourist-facing businesses in Varanasi and Jodhpur have long navigated the dual reputation of spiritual grandeur and everyday hassle. Yamamoto’s post crystallised a familiar complaint, scams, hygiene gaps, overwhelming density, while the microscopic budget made it easy to dismiss him as unprepared.

At the same time, it has prompted quieter discussions about how the northern circuit presents itself to independent, low-spending visitors who do not travel in air-conditioned packages. Japanese pilgrims continue to arrive in Bodh Gaya with messages of peace; the contrast between organised religious tourism and one solo backpacker’s grind is hard to ignore.

Yamamoto’s follow-up posts doubled down on the dirt, the smells, the curry monotony, and the “useless” people he encountered, though he acknowledged kind individuals existed. He remains in Japan, posting about local noodle pots and snacks, the India chapter closed with a defiant laugh emoji. For India’s tourism corridors, the “hell-like” label may fade, but the questions it raised are likely to linger longer than any single viral post.

India’s 2027 Haj Quota Stays at 2026 Level of 175,025 Under New Saudi Deal

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India and Saudi Arabia signed their 2027 Haj agreement in Jeddah on Monday, confirming 175,025 places for Indian pilgrims. The figure matches the 2026 quota. India’s Ministry of Minority Affairs had said in June it would seek an increase.

Indian Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju met Saudi Hajj and Umrah Minister Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah at the Jeddah Superdome before the signing on Nov. 9. The ministers reviewed preparations and discussed how to improve coordination and logistical support. They reaffirmed their commitment to a “safe, smooth and comfortable pilgrimage,” India’s ministry said.

India’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia and the ministry’s joint secretary for Haj took part in the talks. The chief executive of the Haj Committee of India was also part of Rijiju’s delegation on the Nov. 6–9 visit. Rijiju praised Saudi Arabia’s handling of the 2026 pilgrimage and pledged India’s cooperation for the coming season.

What the Quota Means for Pilgrims

India’s June policy projected a 70–30 split, with 122,518 places through the Haj Committee of India and 52,507 through registered private operators known as Haj Group Organizers. Saudi rules require an operating entity to handle at least 2,000 pilgrims. India’s private-operator policy groups individual organizers into combined entities to meet that threshold.

Applications through the Haj Committee opened June 22 via its website and the Haj Suvidha app. By Nov. 5, the committee had released its third waiting list and issued a separate circular calling for a second installment of 125,000 Indian rupees from provisionally selected pilgrims. The committee publishes selection, payment and document notices on its website.

The 2027 policy retains the 20-day Short Haj Package and adds Kolkata as a departure point for it. The committee’s guidelines give priority to applicants aged 65 and older, followed by women under 65 traveling without a mehram, or qualifying male companion, then applicants in the top 20% of their state’s 2026 waiting list, before the general category. Where applications exceed a state or territory’s allocation, the committee uses a computerized draw under its priority rules.

The policy also calls for one state Haj inspector for every 135 pilgrims, up from one per 150, and closer alignment with Saudi medical screening rules. India plans to phase in multilingual voice and text support for pilgrims, including help with applications, payments and flight information, and to link its services with Saudi Arabia’s Nusuk platform. The ministry outlined those changes in June as part of its own Haj policy.

Hajj Conference, Consular Review and Diwali Outreach

Rijiju attended the opening of the sixth Hajj Conference and Exhibition on Nov. 8 and joined a ministerial session chaired by Al-Rabiah. He thanked the Saudi leadership for its work on pilgrim welfare and joined other visiting ministers in a meeting with Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, deputy governor of the Makkah region.

Saudi organizers said the Nov. 8–11 event, themed “From Makkah to the World,” brings together more than 520 government, private-sector and nonprofit organizations, with participants and attendees from more than 150 countries. The program gives pilgrimage offices and providers a place to work on contracts and discuss transport, lodging, catering and health services for the coming season.

At India House in Jeddah, Rijiju attended the Noor-e-Diwali celebration and credited members of the Indian diaspora with strengthening ties between the two countries. He also chaired a review with officials from India’s consulate, the minority affairs ministry and the Haj Committee, urging them to stay in close contact over pilgrim welfare. He visited Haj-related and cultural sites in Jeddah. The two ministers also pointed to longstanding ties between the countries and their communities as a basis for continued cooperation on the pilgrimage.