HT Morning Brief October 4: India women rule Asian Games hockey again; IIT-B director quizzed over suicide

Your daily briefing is here, covering politics, world news, sports and entertainment.

Good morning, readers. Your daily briefing is here, covering politics, world news, sports and entertainment.

44 years later, India’s women are Asian Games hockey champions again

Forty-four years is an eternity in sports, and here it represents an interminable period of waiting and unfulfilled dreams. On Friday night in Kakamigahara at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, that agonising wait dissolved into unbridled joy as the Indian women’s hockey team achieved glory by defeating defending champions and Paris Olympics silver medallists China 1-0 in an intense final. Click here to read more.

Government, NTA officials may not be named in CBI charge sheet over NEET-UG paper leak

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is set to file its second and final charge sheet in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate 2026 paper leak case within a week but is unlikely to implicate any official from the central government or the National Testing Agency (NTA), officers familiar with developments said. The CBI probe has only been able to establish the role of 13 individuals — including NTA-appointed subject experts, coaching centre operators, middlemen and candidates — raising questions about the investigation into a leak that affected the future of millions of students and triggered the largest street protests in years. Read more here.

IIT-B director Shireesh Kedare questioned for 10 hours over student suicide; cops ask about caste abuse, ChatGPT use

A day after IIT Bombay professor Suryanarayana Doolla was interrogated by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch for around eight hours, institute director Shireesh B Kedare was questioned for nearly 10 hours on Friday in connection with the suicide of the 22-year-old student on campus last month. A senior Crime Branch officer said Kedare was questioned about the alleged caste-based abuse, the procedure followed by the institute after the student was caught copying and using ChatGPT during the examination, and whether he had received any complaint from the student about alleged caste bias. Click here to read more.

‘One last fight left in me’: Capt Smit Machchhar's detailed account of flydubai ‘crash attempt’ in call with Netanyahu

Capt Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who was attacked by his co-pilot during the latter's attempt to crash a flydubai aircraft, described the incident in detail to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday. Recalling the attack inside the cockpit, Machchhar said he felt a “big blow to the back of the head” and that “the blows kept coming”. Read more here.

Salman Khan says he was reluctant to host Dus ka Dum amid negativity

Salman Khan is currently hosting Bigg Boss 20, and fans love his unfiltered and candid side when he interacts with the contestants during Weekend Ka Vaar. Recently, he spoke about how he was initially reluctant to host Dus ka Dum and went to his father, Salim Khan, for advice. Salim Khan told Salman, ‘Bharosa rakho, upbringing dikhao (Keep faith in yourself, show your upbringing).’ He told him that Salman need not worry and should go for it. Then the tables turned for him when the audience saw his true personality on Dus ka Dum, and that changed perceptions overnight. Read more here.

Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More