Capital of Maharashtra, financial hub of India
Festivalgoers in Buñol throw tomatoes in a crowded melee that lasts about an hour, with police dispersals using pepper spray briefly. The event traces back to a 1945 food fight and has evolved into a major international attraction, drawing participants from around the world. Attendance exceeds 20,000 as tourists from India and beyond participate.
Smriti Mandhana has become the all-time leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket after a 124-run century for India against Hong Kong in the Women's Asia Cup, lifting India to 193-5 before dismissing Hong Kong for 56 and sealing a 137-run victory. Raj calls her a legend and role model; Mandhana’s 18th international century surpasses Meg Lanning’s 17.
Climate patterns have intensified this year, driving heatwaves, droughts and floods across multiple regions. Governments are mobilising finance, strengthening resilience, and adjusting policies as temperatures and rainfall shift. Aid budgets face pressure while activists warn of rising humanitarian needs.
The president has repeated a personal story that he was at the World Trade Center site after the 2001 attacks, saying firefighters lifted him from the U.S. Steel Building as it "creaked." First responders who were on the scene have said they never saw him there. He has continued to insert himself into anniversary remembrances while praising the country's strength.
Salman Rushdie has been named the 39th recipient of the National Book Foundation’s Distinguished Contribution to American Letters award. The ceremony in Manhattan on Nov. 18 will also honor Perri Klass with the Literarian Award. Rushdie, who has built a career across South Asia, London and New York, has published more than 20 works and survived the 2022 stabbing attack.
OpenAI has launched ChatGPT for Financial Services, integrating data from Daloopa, PitchBook and LSEG News into GPT-6 Astra to assist analysts with research, data analysis and pitchbook creation. The offering is designed for banks and financial institutions and ties into the company’s IPO drive.
A collection of reports shows political leaders and scientists urging rapid, deployable climate solutions as El Niño intensifies extreme weather. The UK’s aid cuts and new energy projects are framed within a push for scalable, community-driven climate action.
Pantheon Regeneration plans to restore peatlands from Virginia to Florida, blocking ditch networks to raise water levels, reduce carbon emissions, and sell credits to fund conservation; the project seeks to protect biodiversity and defend large coastal and inland peat systems from degradation.
The National Payments Corporation of India has announced a 0.4% merchant fee on UPI payments over ₹2,000 for merchants, with caps and exemptions for smaller transactions. The move funds digital-infrastructure and security while sparking debate on adoption costs for businesses.
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a co‑pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and tried to crash the plane. The injured captain, identified as Indian national Smit Machchhar, has been taken to hospital in Tabuk. Passengers and on‑duty crew have overpowered and restrained the attacker; all passengers have returned to Tel Aviv.
A Flydubai captain, Smit Machchhar, has been injured after a cockpit attack on a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight, forcing an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Israeli PM Netanyahu praises his bravery for saving 174 lives amid ongoing investigations. Machchhar has more than 9,750 flying hours and previously worked at SpiceJet.
Thousands of protesters, led by opposition politicians and the youth-led Cockroach Janata Party, have marched in multiple Indian cities to demand Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation after a nationwide voter-roll revision removed about 130 million names. Authorities have detained demonstrators, closed metro stations and deployed large security forces while the Election Commission and the government deny wrongdoing.
Thousands of police have sealed central New Delhi and detained leaders and hundreds of demonstrators as the Gen‑Z "Cockroach Janta Party" and allied student and opposition groups have tried to force Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to quit over a Special Intensive Revision that removed about 130 million names from voter rolls.
The Reserve Bank of India has raised the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50% in a calibrated tightening move as inflation remains on an upward path and growth stays resilient. Policymakers signal no near-term cuts while watching global rate moves and weather-driven risks.
Jio Platforms has launched a 302 billion-rupee IPO at a price band of 1,065–1,119 rupees per share to repay telecom debt and fund cloud, satellite and AI plans. Global funds and 212 anchor investors have backed the float, and institutional bids have far exceeded allocated shares as India’s equity market has been weak this year.
Renowned Indian actor Patekar has died at the age of 75 from a suspected cardiac arrest. His career spanned five decades across Hindi and Marathi cinema, with national awards and a Padma Shri to his name. He was active in theatre and social causes, and is mourned by Prime Minister Modi and others in the industry.
Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been released from Tihar jail after a special magistrate accepted sureties and ordered their discharge. The two CJP organisers were jailed for entering a restricted Delhi protest site; their detention has fuelled near-daily youth-led protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over a contested voter-roll revision that removed roughly 130 million names.
Gen Z-led protests across Indian cities have intensified, calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid allegations of electoral-roll irregularities. Leaders including Neha Bora and Rahul Gandhi are mobilising, with police detentions and park closures highlighting a widening crackdown as opposition forces seek broader political reform.
Fairfax Financial has secured a 60.7% stake in IDBI Bank, valuing the lender at about 871 billion rupees. The sale marks the largest foreign direct investment in India’s financial sector as regulators review credentials.
Jio Platforms has set an IPO price band and is raising up to 302 billion rupees ($3.2 billion). The anchor book has seen bids worth 2.5 trillion rupees, more than 30 times the anchor allocation, with investors including BlackRock and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority participating. The listing values Jio at about $108 billion, underlining a broader push by Reliance Industries to expand beyond traditional telecom into tech and satellite services. The IPO opens for public bidding later this week.
Zelensky and US envoys are in Oslo with Finnish President Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Støre to push for a constructive diplomatic path amid strained US-Ukraine ties. Talks focus on early-warning intelligence, Starlink access, and Patriot missiles as Washington weighs its broader role in ending the Ukraine conflict.
Rubio’s India visit has focused on energy and trade, highlighting coordination on refining capacity and diversifying energy portfolios. He has met India’s foreign minister in Mumbai and will visit Jamnagar’s Reliance refinery as part of efforts to steady fuel markets ahead of US midterms.
The Jamnagar refining complex in Gujarat, a focal point for Reliance Industries, is at the center of renewed U.S.-India energy discussions. U.S. Secretary of State Rubio is visiting to assess how large-scale refining capacity can influence energy security amid geopolitical tensions and shifts in Venezuelan oil supply.
Prince William has spoken on Earthshot Prize origins and optimism in addressing climate issues on UK TV; he reveals family love for The Celebrity Traitors and his film tastes, including Christopher Nolan’s work. The interview emphasizes urgency paired with hope as the prize expands its global reach.
A round-up of fashion campaigns and premieres from the tail end of Dubai Fashion Week and related campaigns. The week features Miu Miu, Gap, and Saint Laurent campaigns, with Hadid, Al-Jasmi, Abdelnour, and other designers in focus.
A stampede near a pavilion during Durga Puja in Kolkata has claimed 19 lives and injured dozens. Police say a sudden downpour triggered fear among worshippers, prompting a rush for exits. Authorities have ordered investigations into crowd-control and safety lapses, with security personnel and event organizers detained.
The United States is weighing new military actions as Iran vows an immediate, impactful response to threats, and Tehran updates its military targeting lists. Discussions among US officials have underscored a preference for a diplomatic path, even as midterm politics heighten the risk of renewed conflict.
Opposition parties led by Rahul Gandhi have held a mass rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a voter-roll revision that has removed more than 130 million names. Authorities have deployed thousands of security personnel and set up extensive surveillance; the Election Commission and the government deny wrongdoing.
India has freed 20 crew members from the fishing vessel Azini, intercepted off Somalia after a piracy surge in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean. The operation involved naval ships, reconnaissance aircraft, and MARCOS commandos, with no casualties. The hijacking raised concerns about attacks on shipping routes and mounting costs amid regional tensions.
Mumbai’s citywide air quality index has surged to 379, in the “very poor” range, with PM2.5 levels around 277—over 18 times the WHO’s 24-hour guideline. The spike marks a reversal from October’s cleaner air, driven by a combination of weather patterns and pollutant sources.
Diwali celebrations are underway as communities celebrate across India and the diaspora, while air quality deteriorates in northern cities ahead of the festival. Authorities are permitting limited green-fireworks to curb emissions and celebrations include prayers, light, and family gatherings.
Delhi faces its worst pre-Diwali air quality in years as AQI readings soar to very poor and hazardous levels. Officials urge online classes, work-from-home, and masks as residents confront prolonged smog amid weather that traps pollutants. Authorities promise restrictions and long-term plans to curb emissions.