Phanishwar Nath Renu's novel Maila Aanchal is a powerful depiction of rural India's struggle with democracy. Set in Maryganj, it exposes the conflicting forces of the state and the countryside, revealing the complexities of democracy. Renu's use of language and realism make it a landmark in Hindi fiction, with its relevance still felt in Bihar's political landscape.
In "Alice Sees Ghosts," Daisy Rockwell follows protagonist Alice Ramsey as she faces her own ghosts while chasing them from America to India and back. She also discovers love with her Indian husband and explores taboo relationships and the dysfunction of high society. The novel uses clever translation to tell its story.
Parsis from Persia faced rejection in Gujarat, but sent a silver urn filled with milk to show their peaceful intentions. They added sugar to the milk and returned it, symbolizing their desire to coexist. Author Nandita da Cunha's book "The Dog With Two Names" is part of a new trend in Indian children's literature, addressing empathy, resilience, queerness, and illness.
A large number of international students in the US are running into the same painful line during their job hunt: “No international candidates.” Ever since Trump imposed the hefty $100 K fee on the new H-1B visa holders, recruiters across industries, especially in tech and biotech, have become hesitant to sponsor work visas.
SEBI warns investors against unregulated online platforms offering 'Digital Gold' or 'E-Gold' products, as they are not under its regulatory framework and may pose significant risks. SEBI-regulated options for investing in gold include gold ETFs and EGRs, which are governed by its regulatory framework and accessed through SEBI-registered intermediaries.
Liang Wenfeng, China's leading tech billionaire, made a comeback in 2023 with his AI model DeepSeek, surpassing US tech stocks and securing a spot on China's 100 richest list. With a degree in engineering and a Master of Science in Engineering, he co-founded High-Flyer Capital Management in 2015 and revolutionized investing with AI.
American media company Condé Nast has laid off four employees after a confrontation with HR head Stan Duncan over recent layoffs. A video of the confrontation has gone viral, showing employees questioning Duncan and urging him to speak with them about the layoffs. The company has since fired the employees involved, citing "extreme misconduct".
A few days after Zohran Mamdani’s won New York City’s mayoral election, an Illinois Department of Transportation worker found himself being stopped and questioned by ICE agents, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. The agents allegedly asked him about his immigration status and even about the new NYC mayor. The worker, who is Indian and a US citizen, was later released.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Wednesday he would order a 10 percent cut in flights at 40 major airports, citing serious safety concerns as the US government shutdown intensifies. Amid this, a video has gone viral on TikTok. Posted late Thursday, it shows a Delta flight attendant stepping up to the intercom and telling passengers what they might expect in the coming days.
President Droupadi Murmu has approved the Winter Session of Parliament from December 1 to 19, 2025, subject to parliamentary business. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju announced the dates on X (formerly Twitter), and added that he is looking forward to a constructive & meaningful Session that strengthens the country's democracy & serves the aspirations of the people.
Patanjali Foods announces an interim dividend of Rs 1.75 per share for the financial year 2025-26, to be paid on or before December 7. The record date for eligibility is November 13. The company's Q2FY26 net profit increased by 67%, with total income rising to Rs 9,850.06 crore. Strong demand for edible oils and a cut in import duty contributed to the growth.
A Delhi man built his own air purifier for just Rs 2,000. He used an exhaust fan and HEPA filter in it, and claimed that it reduced indoor AQI from 400 to 50 in 15 minutes. He also shared a video on YouTube explaining the process.
Delhi Airport has confirmed that all flight operations are normal, but advises passengers to stay in contact with their airlines for any changes. IndiGo Airlines has announced adjustments to some flight schedules due to a technical glitch, but assures that the situation will be normalized in a few hours.
Over the past week, US President Donald Trump has insisted that beef is the only grocery item that has become more expensive during his second term. Moreover, Trump has accused foreign-owned meat companies of inflating US beef prices and has ordered a new federal investigation. According to a CNN report though, government data and experts say the reality is far more complicated.
Global investment firm Think Investments has invested Rs 136 crore in edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah ahead of its upcoming IPO. This translates to 0.37% stake acquired from 14 employees at Rs 127 per share, 17% above the issue price. Think Investments has a diverse portfolio in India, including Swiggy and FirstCry.
Coal India Limited (CIL) signed a joint venture agreement with Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) to expand a thermal power project in Jharkhand. The project will have a capacity of 1600 MW and will be sourced from CIL's subsidiary. The estimated cost is Rs. 21,000 crore and the plants are expected to start operations by FY32.
At the EICMA 2025, India's top two-wheeler companies TVS, Royal Enfield, Hero MotoCorp, Honda, and Ultraviolette showcased their global ambitions and electrification plans. TVS dominated with six new products and a roadmap for expansion in Europe, while Royal Enfield celebrated its 125th anniversary with new models. Hero MotoCorp signaled its entry into the high-performance category.
Starbucks has launched its highly anticipated holiday merchandise, including the popular 'Bearista' cup priced at $29.95. The limited supplies and high demand have caused chaos and physical fights among customers, with some even comparing the cost to minimum wage. Despite issuing an apology, the brand has faced backlash for fueling consumer culture and creating a frenzy over a simple coffee cup.
HAL has secured a $1 billion deal with GE Aerospace for 113 jet engines to be delivered between 2027 and 2032 for Tejas fighter jets. Despite trade deal delays and tariffs, the deal was finalized. HAL also secured a deal with the defence ministry for 97 Tejas MK-1A jets. The multi-role fighter aircraft has seen a rise in HAL's share price, despite previous missed delivery deadlines by GE.
The Octavia RS is a limited edition sports car that offers the practicality of a family sedan and the performance of a sports car. Priced at Rs 49.99 lakh, it has four doors, space for five people, and a large boot. It has a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and can go from 0-100 km/h in 7 seconds. While it can't replace high-end sports cars, it offers 90% of the
Ashneer Grover, former MD of BharatPe, mocks tech founders chasing sky-high IPO valuations in a satirical skit posted on Instagram. He plays the role of an investment banker advising two founders - one running a loss-making tech startup and the other managing a profitable legacy business. Grover highlights the trend of glorifying losses in the name of growth.
PM Modi flags off 4 new Vande Bharat Express trains from Varanasi, boosting India's railway infrastructure. The new trains will operate on the Banaras-Khajuraho-Lucknow-Saharanpur, Ernakulam-Bengaluru, and Firozpur-Delhi routes, aiming to reduce travel time and promote tourism. PM Modi highlights the importance of infrastructure in a nation's development.
After Republicans failed to sweep key elections this month in three US states, President Donald Trump has decided to step into the 2026 Ohio governor’s race with a message that has instantly grabbed attention. Trump has publicly endorsed Indian-origin American politician and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
A technical glitch in the AMSS at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport disrupted 400 flights on November 6. The malfunctioning system caused delays and manual processing of data. Experts suspect GPS spoofing as the cause and the closure of the main runway's ILS worsened the situation.
LJP MP Shambhavi Chaudhary caused controversy by showing ink marks on both fingers after voting in the Bihar Election 2025. Social media accused her of "vote theft", and an inquiry was launched by the Patna administration. Shambhavi and her family posed for pictures. Initially, she showed the inked finger on her right hand, and moments later, she raised her left hand showing the poll ink mark
Indian Railways has implemented a new rule for online train ticket bookings, requiring Aadhaar verification during morning hours to prevent misuse by touts. The rule will be effective from Oct 28, 2025, and only Aadhaar-authenticated users can book tickets between 8-10 AM. This is part of the government's transparency and accountability efforts in the booking process.
India's push towards a greener and more sustainable future was highlighted at the Leadership Dialogue ahead of UTECH India - Sustainable Polyurethane & Foam Expo. The event, set to take place in November, will focus on transforming PU applications and cold storage solutions.
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards 2026 nominations have been announced, with Kendrick Lamar leading the pack with 9 nominations. Taylor Swift's absence from the list may pave the way for her to break records in 2027 with her latest album. Other top contenders include Lady Gaga and Bad Bunny. The full list of nominees includes categories such as Record, Album, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist.
Trump and Orban discussed Hungary's request for an exemption from Russian oil sanctions, with Trump praising Orban's leadership and immigration policies. They also talked about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Orban expressed gratitude for Trump's efforts to improve US-Hungary relations. A decision on the exemption has not been made yet.
DOL has opened at least 175 investigations into possible misuse of the H-1B visa programme, Fox News reported. The step comes after the Trump administration earlier launched Project Firewall and imposed a $100,000 fee on new H-1B applications, aiming to ensure employers don’t overlook qualified American workers and hire foreign workers only when they are genuinely needed.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis assures swift and transparent action in the Pune land deal involving Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's son. FIRs have been filed against the company and its signatories, and cancelling the registry will not affect the criminal case. An interim report has been submitted and the FIR is filed.
A massive fire broke out in a slum near Rithala Metro Station in New Delhi, injuring a child. The fire, which was declared to be of Medium category, required 29 fire tenders to be rushed to the spot. After hours of dousing, the blaze was brought under control and the injured child was sent to the hospital. No further casualties have been reported.
North Korea's defense minister warns of further aggressive actions against the U.S. amid escalating tensions. This follows a ballistic missile launch and U.S. sanctions related to cyber money-laundering. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command condemns North Korea's destabilizing behavior, while defense chiefs of the U.S. and South Korea hold security talks at the border.
President Trump has announced that no US officials will attend the G20 summit in South Africa due to the country's treatment of white farmers. Vice President JD Vance was scheduled to attend but will no longer go. Trump called the summit a "total disgrace" and cited abuses against Afrikaners. The Trump administration and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have both criticized South Africa.
Tata Group's retail arm, Trent, faced tough competition in the apparel industry, resulting in lower profits and revenue in the September quarter. The company plans to sell its stake in Inditex Trent Retail India and cited weak consumer sentiment and GST issues as reasons for the decline.
India's reliance on imported cooking oils is expected to remain high due to a decline in domestic production and increased demand for soybean oil. Despite government efforts to discourage crude oil imports, the country still imports 57% of its annual cooking oil requirement. While soybean oil imports may increase due to high palm oil prices, there is a potential upside risk in the future.
Billionbrains Garage Ventures, promoter of India's largest brokerage Groww, had a successful IPO with a float oversubscribed 17.6 times. QIB portion drew the most interest with 22.02 times the bids, NII portion was bid 14.20 times, and retail investors portion saw 9.4 times the bids. The issue saw participation from all categories, including three large sovereign funds.
Hindalco Industries, a major aluminium and copper company, reported a 21% increase in net profit to Rs 4,741 crore in the second quarter of FY26. Its revenue from operations also rose to Rs 66,058 crore, beating Street estimates. The company's India business and US subsidiary, Novelis, contributed to this strong performance.
FSN E-commerce Ventures, the parent company of Nykaa, reported a 154% increase in profit after tax and a 28% increase in revenue from operations in the second quarter of FY26. The company is planning to expand globally, with a particular focus on the UK market. Nykaa's customer base and physical store presence also saw significant growth.
UGRO Capital, led by Founder and Managing Director Shachindra Nath, is set to acquire Profectus Capital by the end of this month, adding Rs 3,000 crore to its asset base and surpassing its AUM target of Rs 15,000 crore. This will contribute to the company's expected consolidated AUM of Rs 16,500-17,000 crore.
India and New Zealand have successfully completed their fourth round of talks for a Free Trade Agreement, aiming to boost bilateral trade by 10 times in the next decade. The negotiations focused on goods market access, services, and investment opportunities, while also exploring potential areas of cooperation in agriculture, tourism, technology, and space collaboration.
Rakshit Hargave's exit from Birla Opus to join Britannia Industries as its ED & CEO caused a stir in the FMCG industry. With vast experience in companies like Beiersdorf, HUL, Domino's, and Nestle India, Hargave is expected to bring success to Britannia. His track record at Birla Opus, where he achieved the second position in the decorative paints market within two years, proves his capabilities.
Reliance Retail's beauty platform Tira has launched its first product, the Tira Lip Plumping Peptint, entering the competitive make-up segment. Priced at Rs 675, it offers both color and care, challenging established brands like Lakme and L'Oreal, as well as direct-to-consumer brands like Plum and Sugar Cosmetics.
RBI Deputy Governor Swaminathan J. urged boards to take ownership of outcomes and focus on substance rather than structure. He emphasized the need for genuine independence and empowering control functions. He also proposed three principles for regulators to balance entity- and activity-based regulation, apply proportionality, and strive for outcome-based rules.
India and the EU have concluded successful meetings to reach a balanced Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of this year. Key areas such as goods, services, investment, and sustainable development were discussed, with both sides agreeing to maintain continuous engagement and accelerate efforts.
Muthoot Microfin, a top microfinance company, reported a 50% drop in net profit in Q2 due to careful lending and reduced interest income. CEO is optimistic about the future, stating that the sector's difficulties have reached their peak and the company is rebounding. With a focus on growth and asset quality, they aim to disburse Rs 6,000 crore in the second half of the fiscal year.
DGCA has suggested new regulations to improve passenger experience, such as a 48-hour free cancellation and amendment window. This may put strain on airlines, but it will build consumer confidence and align India with international standards. Airlines will now be responsible for refunds, even for tickets booked through agents.
The finance ministry has approved Rs 7,000 crore for FCI, with the total food subsidy budget reaching Rs 2.1 lakh crore. Next year's food subsidy is expected to be around Rs 2.17 lakh crore. The increase in allocation will help FCI service loans and bridge the shortfall. Despite fiscal constraints, FM assures meeting fiscal deficit target.
Over 400 flights at Indira Gandhi International Airport were disrupted due to a malfunction in the automatic message switching system, leading to manual processing of flight plans and causing delays for arrivals and departures. The Airports Authority of India confirmed the technical fault and advised passengers to check flight updates.
Britannia Industries anticipates a boost in sales in the second half of FY26 thanks to GST rate changes. They have lowered prices and increased pack sizes for smaller units, and are entering the RTD protein drink market. The company is also implementing aggressive growth tactics, including investing in branding and targeting regional markets.