Shady agents, human traffickers... horror stories of Indians who took the illegal route to US

Smoggy logic: India’s vastness is both its strength and its weakness. Chaos on one side and progress on the other—the nation balances on averages. Mid-day meals served on newspapers in Madhya Pradesh? No problem! Kerala has recently turned a dump yard into a stadium. So, when Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav was asked about Delhiites choking on polluted air, he responded: “Look at my constituency, Alwar (Rajasthan). The AQI is low there.” The minister’s message was clear: Whether the glass is half full or half empty just depends on where you’re breathing from | Illustrations by Jairaj T.G.

Real justice: On a plea seeking a framework to regulate artificial intelligence in the judiciary, Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai couldn’t resist a quip: “Yes, yes, we’ve seen our morphed pictures, too.” The courtroom burst into laughter. In an era where AI can help draft orders, translate judgments, and sometimes even fake a judge’s face, his parting line—“You want it dismissed now or after two weeks?”—landed with equal parts humour and irony. As he prepares to demit office, the moment felt like a gentle reminder that while technology may mimic efficiency, it can’t quite code the charm of human wit in justice.

Coconut crash course: In Kerala, breaking a coconut is a common ritual among Hindus, symbolising the removal of negativity before a new beginning. But BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s “beginning” needed some hands-on help. At the launch of the party’s local body poll campaign in Thiruvananthapuram, Chandrasekhar was handed a coconut topped with burning camphor. Unsure what to do, he gingerly placed it on the ground. After an awkward second, a party colleague took his hand and guided him through the ritual. Chandrasekhar looked visibly relieved on finishing the task. But, social media was merciless, pointing out that the BJP leader, who came to “save the Hindus”, did not even know the basics of a Hindu ritual.

New knight: ‘Bend it like Beckham’ got a whole new meaning recently when the former England football captain was formally knighted by King Charles III. He bent his knee as King Charles tapped his shoulders with the blade of a sword. He will henceforth be known as Sir David Beckham. The honour was in recognition of his services to football and British society. Beckham was joined by his wife Victoria and parents Sandra and David at Windsor Castle for the ceremony. “I couldn’t be prouder,” said Beckham. “People know how patriotic I am—I love my country.” | AFP

Love is in the algorithm: Instagram-official is the new official! Actor Jennifer Aniston confirmed her relationship with mental health and hypnotherapy coach Jim Curtis on his birthday, posting a photo of them hugging. The F.R.I.E.N.D.S star had soft-launched their relationship at the premiere of the latest season of The Morning Show in September. A few days after the ‘official’ confirmation, Curtis took to Instagram to share their never-before-seen photos, captioning them, ‘If this is a dream I don’t want to wake up.” | Getty Images

In Mom’s footsteps: Khushi Kapoor, it seems, will be taking forward her mother Sridevi’s legacy with Mom 2. As per reports, Khushi and Karishma Tanna will headline the sequel to Mom (2017); Sridevi posthumously won the National Award (best actress) for Mom. The sequel will be a fresh story with new characters but with the touch of the original film’s suspense and drama. Mom 2 will be produced by Khushi’s father Boney Kapoor and directed by Girish Kohli, who wrote Mom | AFP

Mr ‘Hot’shot: Jonathan Bailey has been crowned People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive 2025. When asked about how he felt about winning the coveted title, the British actor said, “I mean, I giggle. Obviously, incredibly flattered. And it’s completely absurd.” He reportedly becomes the first openly gay actor to join the club. Bailey, who will next be seen in Wicked: For Good, gained wider recognition with the Bridgerton series. With that, he became the object of all our (gay or not) desires | Getty Images