Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged on Sunday that the BJP had forcibly shut shops in Connaught Place, causing losses to traders. He stated that the INDIA bloc had encouraged rally attendees to shop locally, but the BJP's actions prevented this. Gandhi had previously urged supporters to shop for Diwali, countering BJP's "rumours" about the rally affecting businesses. The INDIA bloc's mega rally at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday aims to protest alleged electoral irregularities.
Rishabh Pant has been ruled out of the first two India A matches against New Zealand due to a left side strain, with Kumar Kushagra named as his replacement.
A Mumbai court has ordered the release of two Chhattisgarh residents arrested in a cryptocurrency investment fraud case, declaring their arrest "illegal" due to police not following mandatory procedures. The magistrate also directed the DCP to take action against the investigating agency for lapses, highlighting violations of BNSS sections and the failure to obtain transit remand.
The BJP is increasingly integrating its digital outreach with on-ground mobilisation, using social media attacks, political songs, marches, rallies, and public meetings to amplify its political messaging and counter opposition narratives. This evolving strategy, exemplified by the 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao' campaign, aims to take political contests beyond online platforms to streets and campuses, especially in response to the INDIA bloc's recent rally and accusations against the Election Commission.
'In 2013-2014, Modi was asking for regime change. In fact, the words he used were, they should be pulled out and thrown away; ughadke phekna hai. That is part of democracy.'
Saba Haider, an Indian-origin Democrat elected to the Illinois General Assembly, believes her victory signifies a shift in US voter priorities towards everyday concerns like affordability, healthcare, education, and environment, moving away from divisive politics. She highlighted the challenges of campaigning and the scrutiny faced by women in politics, while also encouraging young South Asian Americans to engage in local campaigns.
The Defence Ministry invoked national security to deny information regarding the appointment process of the Chief of Air Staff, including names of officers considered and policy guidelines. This denial, upheld by the Central Information Commission, came after multiple defence offices were unable to identify the authority holding such records, highlighting transparency issues.
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has informed the Supreme Court that merchants are prohibited from passing on Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges to customers under the new UPI pricing framework. This clarification comes in response to a petition challenging the imposition of MDR on UPI person-to-merchant transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, with NPCI defending the revised framework as crucial for the sustainability of the UPI ecosystem.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, stated that Starlink's services in India must be affordable for widespread adoption and that competition would benefit consumers, despite potentially reducing Reliance Jio's profits. He criticised Reliance Jio as a 'de facto monopoly' in India, alleging that certain business conglomerates were blocking Starlink's entry.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has successfully extradited Sourabh Chandrakar, the alleged mastermind behind the Rs 6,000-crore Mahadev online betting app scam, from Oman. Chandrakar, wanted in multiple cases by the CBI and ED, will be produced before a special court in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. This extradition marks a significant step in India's efforts to bring fugitives operating transnational criminal enterprises to justice.
The Samosa Caucus, an informal group of Indian-American lawmakers, is set to expand its presence in the US House of Representatives following the recent elections. With Democrats gaining control of both the House and Senate, re-elected members like Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, Suhas Subramanyam, and Pramila Jayapal will be joined by newcomers Pia Dandiya and Amish Shah, significantly increasing Indian-American representation on Capitol Hill.
Artisans across India are putting the finishing touches on towering effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad ahead of the Dussehra festival. From Nagpur, Bhopal and Kanpur to Patna, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Jammu, craftspeople were seen preparing, displaying and selling the effigies in the days leading up to Vijayadashami. The figures will be burnt on the festival's final day, symbolising the victory of good over evil.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir visited the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain to offer prayers ahead of the team's third T20 International against the West Indies in Indore, with the five-match series currently level at 1-1.
Mitchell Starc has returned to the top of the ICC Test bowling rankings after his stellar performance against South Africa. India's Shreyas Iyer also made significant gains, moving to seventh among T20I batters following India's series win over New Zealand. The latest ICC rankings update reflects shifts across Test, ODI, and T20I formats, with several players making notable progress.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi encouraged attendees of the INDIA bloc's rally in Delhi to shop locally for Diwali, countering BJP's "rumours" about business disruption. The rally, scheduled for Sunday at Ramlila Maidan, aims to protest alleged electoral irregularities and demand the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation, drawing support from various groups across the country.
'I don't want to stay in my comfort zone. I want to take risks.'
Indian boxers secured a remarkable victory at the 46th International Tammer Boxing Tournament in Tampere, Finland, clinching four gold, two silver, and eight bronze medals to top the overall medals tally. Gold medalists included Aarti Dhariyal, Ankushita Boro, Arundhati Chaudhary, and Pawan Bartwal, showcasing India's strong presence in international boxing.
Analysts predict that the US midterm election results, which saw Democrats gain control of Congress, will primarily influence Indian markets through changes in global financial conditions, trade policy expectations, and geopolitical developments, with a keen focus on the US administration's actions in West Asia and their potential impact on crude oil prices.
Indian para swimmers Ravi Budigina, Himanshu Nandal, and Rohit Kumar have secured multiple medals at the Asian Para Games. Budigina won a silver in the men's 100m backstroke S13, his second silver of the current edition. Nandal clinched his second bronze in the men's 100m breaststroke S11, while Rohit Kumar added another bronze in the men's 100m breaststroke SB4 event.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu discusses the critical role of recovery in an athlete's performance, advocating for monitoring parameters like sleep and heart rate variability. She also highlights the importance of interactions with athletes from different sports, citing how conversations with Virat Kohli and Neeraj Chopra have provided her with inspiration and helped her navigate challenging phases in her career.
World champion Lando Norris says he would love to race in India as the government pushes to bring Formula 1 back to the country after a 13-year absence.
India's central cyber security agency, I4C, has issued a critical warning to banks, NBFCs, and fintech firms regarding a surge in financially motivated cyberattacks leveraging artificial intelligence agents. These AI-driven attacks enable hackers to compromise systems and execute fraudulent transactions at machine speed, making investigations complex due to record deletion. The advisory, issued in collaboration with CERT-In, urges financial institutions to implement robust security measures, align with CERT-In's blueprint, and report incidents promptly to mitigate the escalating threat.
An Indian sailor was killed in an attack on a commercial vessel near Limah, Oman, last evening, prompting India to strongly condemn the strike and call for immediate de-escalation of tensions in West Asia. This incident brings the total number of Indian nationals killed in the region's conflict since February to 23, including 15 seafarers. India is pushing for a diplomatic solution to restore peace and stability.
Atomic Energy Commission chairman Ajit Kumar Mohanty stated that India is on the verge of a significant technological transformation, driven by advancements in AI, quantum technologies, and other fields. Speaking at BIT Mesra's convocation, he emphasised the need for strong indigenous capabilities, skilled professionals, and interdisciplinary collaboration to achieve a developed India. Other speakers, including BIT Mesra's Chancellor and Vice Chancellor, echoed the importance of continuous learning and contributing to national progress.
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested international drug trafficker Salim Ismail Dola, who was deported from Turkiye earlier this year. Dola is implicated in the December 2022 seizure of mephedrone worth Rs 438.64 crore from a Vadodara factory. Allegedly a close aide of Dawood Ibrahim, Dola is accused of supplying chemicals for drug manufacturing, buying and selling the finished product, and operating a transnational network that concealed narcotics in legal exports. The ATS is currently interrogating him to uncover further details about his operations and associates.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini met double Olympic medallist and World Champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra in Chandigarh, extending Diwali greetings and expressing confidence in his continued success. Chopra, currently recovering from an ankle ligament injury, provided an update on his improved condition and plans to resume training soon.
India firmly dismissed the concerns raised by the United Nations human rights body on Sunday regarding the security measures implemented ahead of the proposed Cockroach Janta Party demonstration in Delhi, branding the remarks as "unwarranted" and an "unacceptable interference" in domestic matters.
Indian cricket captain Shubman Gill and star batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma met New Zealand rugby legend Keven Mealamu before the first ODI against New Zealand, receiving personalised jerseys from the All Blacks great.
Cathy Li, Head of the Centre for AI Excellence at the World Economic Forum, advocates for integrating AI literacy into India's education curriculum and incentivising AI companies to prioritise child safety. She stresses the need for localised solutions that account for India's linguistic and cultural diversity, as well as varying levels of connectivity and digital literacy, to ensure AI systems are safe and beneficial for children.
India's team management is considering pairing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with Abhishek Sharma for the second T20I against West Indies due to Sanju Samson's poor form. While the middle-order has performed well, Samson's consistent low scores are a concern. The article also discusses potential changes in the pace bowling combination and the West Indies' need for a higher total.
Sanju Samson smashed 56 off 22 balls to join India's 100-six T20I club as the team became the second nation to cross 2,000 sixes in the format.
Virat Kohli surpassed Sachin Tendulkar to become ODI cricket's highest run-scorer in chases with 8,741 runs, while equalling Ricky Ponting and breaching 13,000 runs at number three.
Japan secured a 2-1 victory over Asian Games silver medallists Malaysia in their final round-robin match of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament, finishing third in the standings. Kentaro Fukuda scored both goals for Japan. Earlier, China and Bangladesh drew 1-1, eliminating them from semi-final contention.
B B Nimbalkar is the only one in the 400-plus club never to have played Test cricket. Will Chinmay Sutar have better luck?
Adani Enterprises and US-based Jabil have signed a non-binding agreement to establish a 50:50 joint venture in India. This JV will manufacture artificial intelligence and data centre equipment, including AI racks, servers, storage, networking gear, and cooling systems, targeting both Indian and global markets. The collaboration aims to capitalise on India's accelerating data centre demand and the surging global investment in AI compute infrastructure.
Fintech firm Razorpay has secured approval from markets regulator Sebi for its proposed initial public offering (IPO) of Rs 5,000-6,000 crore, targeting a valuation of around USD 5 billion. The company, founded in 2014, offers various financial services and attained unicorn status in 2020. This development follows its confidential IPO filing in June, while rival PhonePe's IPO is currently on hold.
Several Indian-Americans have achieved significant victories in the US midterm elections, with five securing seats in the House of Representatives and Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller winning re-election. The article profiles these successful candidates, highlighting their backgrounds and contributions to American politics.
The Enforcement Directorate has arrested four more individuals in connection with an ongoing money laundering investigation into a call centre scam that defrauded US nationals. The scam involved callers posing as US agency officials to intimidate victims into transferring money or assets, with proceeds laundered through cryptocurrency and hawala channels.
Gold prices increased by nearly 3 per cent following the US midterm election results, with analysts divided on whether this marks a sustained rally or a temporary relief bounce. While some experts foresee gold reaching $4,200 in the near term, others caution against fresh buying, expecting a potential correction.
Vaishnavi Adkar, India's top-ranked woman tennis player, has made significant progress, climbing nearly 400 places in world rankings over the past year. Her coaching team, including M Balachandran and Maria Gaidano, is focusing on enhancing her physical strength, endurance, and tactical game to help her consistently compete at higher levels. Adkar aims for a top-250 ranking soon and a long-term goal of reaching the top 100.
