India

State Bank of India has been named World’s Best Consumer Bank 2025 and Best Bank in India 2025 by Global Finance, New York. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal lauded SBI’s role in driving financial inclusion and strengthening India’s growth story

Actor Ram Charan and wife Upasana Konidela are expecting their second child. Upasana shared a celebratory video with family and friends, calling it “double the celebration, double the love and double the blessings” this Diwali.

The Special Investigation Team arrested former Travancore Devaswom Board officer B. Murari Babu in the Sabarimala missing gold case. Accused of forwarding proposals linked to gold removal, Babu will be produced before court as SIT seeks custody for interrogation

Music director Ilayaraaja informed the Madras High Court that two of his compositions were used in the Tamil film *Dude* without consent. The court asked him to file a separate plea and scheduled the main copyright case for November 19

Andhra Pradesh will establish India’s first Artificial Intelligence University, Minister Nara Lokesh announced during his Australia visit. The state is also introducing AI curriculum from high school and setting up AI and Robotics Labs in government schools to boost tech education.

The portals of Shri Kedarnath Dham were closed on Thursday morning for winter as Baba Kedar’s ‘doli’ began its journey to Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath. With this, three of the four Char Dham shrines have closed for the season.

US President Donald Trump claimed India would reduce Russian oil imports to “almost nothing” by year-end, crediting talks with PM Modi. He also said he plans to persuade China to follow suit, while defending his controversial tariff policies.

A Bhadohi woman has accused her husband of selling her jewellery, encashing her insurance policy, assaulting her, and pronouncing ‘triple talaq’ to expel her from their home. Police have filed a case under BNS and the Muslim Women’s Protection Act.

India denounced Pakistan at the UN for defending terrorists as “freedom fighters,” calling it the “epicentre of terrorism.” New Delhi said Islamabad was twisting international law to legitimise cross-border attacks and obstructing a global anti-terrorism treaty for nearly two decades.

Delhi Toofans edged out Kolkata Thunderbolts 18-16, 11-15, 12-15, 15-11, 15-12 in the Prime Volleyball League, helping Goa Guardians qualify for the semi-finals. Delhi captain Saqlain Tariq was named Player of the Match after a spirited comeback win.

Four wanted Bihar gangsters, including kingpin Ranjan Pathak, were killed in a late-night encounter with a joint Delhi-Bihar Police team in Rohini. The accused allegedly opened fire at police before being shot dead. An investigation is underway.

Daily Horoscope: Your stars are bringing good tidings for you. Check out your astrological predictions for October 23, 2025. May the day bring you happiness

The post-Diwali toxic haze in India’s national capital should serve as a stark reminder to authorities of the failure of anti-pollution measures

The rising burden on Family Courts reflects not just marital discord, but the erosion of ethics, empathy, and values that once held families together

The Indian government has proposed amendments to the IT Rules, 2021, to address the growing threat of AI-generated deepfakes and synthetic media. The draft mandates clear labelling, traceability, and metadata embedding for such content, with stricter obligations for large social media platforms.

Saudi Arabia has abolished the Kafala system and introduced sweeping labour reforms to protect expatriate workers. Through platforms like 'Qiwa' and the 'Wage Protection Programme', employment contracts are now digitised, transparent, and regulated. Workers can switch jobs or return home after contract expiry, and wage delays can trigger job mobility.

The EC is intensifying preparations for the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists, which aims to map current electors with past rolls. This method could exempt over half the electorate from providing documents. The EC plans a phased rollout, prioritising States with 2026 Assembly elections

A brief scare occurred in Pathanamthitta when an IAF helicopter carrying President Droupadi Murmu got its wheels stuck in wet concrete at a temporary helipad built just hours earlier. Officials denied any security lapse, calling it a landing deviation.

Singaporean researchers discover that sialokinin, a peptide in Aedes mosquito saliva, binds neurokinin receptors to suppress early inflammation, facilitating chikungunya virus spread. Targeting salivary proteins could offer novel therapeutic strategies against CHIKV and other mosquito-borne viruses.

President Droupadi Murmu’s helicopter wheels got stuck in soft concrete at a newly built helipad in Pathanamthitta. The last-minute change from Nilackal to Pramadam due to weather caused the issue. She continued her Sabarimala journey by road

A senior Bangladeshi adviser disclosed recruitment and training of 8,850 recruits for an alleged "Islamic Revolutionary Army" across multiple centres, prompting Indian alarms that the Yunus government, Jamaat and Pakistan’s ISI aim to radicalise forces and heighten tensions with India

Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna’s horror comedy *Thamma* earned ₹25.11 crore on day one at the domestic box office. As the fifth film in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, it blends supernatural thrills with romance and franchise expansion plans

Winners will receive cash prizes and the best movie will be rewarded a sum equivalent of US $1million dollars. Finalists will be presented with a “Diamond Butterfly” statue containing 5,000 diamonds made by the famous artist Yuri Kuper

Actor Adivi Sesh reassured fans after reports of delays in his films *Dacoit* and *Goodachari 2*, citing injury and weather challenges. Promising quality over speed, he affirmed dedication to delivering impactful pan-Indian cinema with emotional depth and global appeal