President Trump faced backlash for throwing a lavish Great Gatsby-themed party on Halloween while millions of low-income Americans faced the threat of losing their food stamp benefits. Many compared the party to the extravagant events in Hunger Games, criticizing its tone-deafness.
The Prime Minister's Office discussed the impact of the US's additional 50% duties on exports with various sector representatives. Measures to aid exporters and a potential trade deal with the US were also discussed, which could lower tariffs to 15-20%. The government is also developing an Export Promotion Mission and credit guarantee schemes for small and medium exporters.
PM Modi launched the Rs 1 lakh crore RDI scheme to boost India's science and technology. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation and RDI Scheme will fund high-risk projects. India is focusing on improving research and development, patents, and startups.
The Indian two-wheeler industry experienced a 2% rise in domestic sales in October, following the GST rate cut. Honda and TVS saw an 8% growth, while Bajaj Auto and Royal Enfield also showed improvement. However, Hero MotoCorp and Suzuki Motorcycle faced a decline, highlighting the competitive market. Despite this, the industry remains hopeful for continued growth in the future.
The Income Tax Department has dropped a Rs 8,500-crore transfer pricing case against Vodafone India Services, dating back to 2008. The case involved the sale of Vodafone's call centre business to Hutchison Whampoa Properties. The Bombay High Court ruled in favor of Vodafone, stating that transfer pricing laws do not apply to domestic transactions. The Supreme Court has upheld this decision.
The Women in Blue's World Cup victory is predicted to increase endorsement fees for top players by 50%, including Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana. Young talents like Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, and Richa Ghosh are also expected to see a rise in brand interest. The win has brought attention to women's cricket and is expected to lead to new sponsorship deals.
Summer placements at IIMs are showing signs of recovery after a slowdown in hiring activity in the past two years. The number of recruiters has increased, with consulting and finance firms leading the way. Stipends have remained steady at record levels, and the trend is expected to continue due to improving business sentiment and rising corporate hiring budgets.
Rabi crops such as wheat, pulses, oilseeds, and coarse cereals have been sown at a fast pace, covering 12% of the normal sown area. The above-normal monsoon and developing La Nina conditions have improved soil moisture and water reservoirs, leading to a 15% increase in the sown area of winter crops. Urea imports have doubled to ensure adequate supply for the upcoming rabi season.
Oyo has decided to withdraw its current bonus resolution plan after receiving feedback from shareholders. Instead, a new, simplified structure will be introduced to include all shareholders, regardless of their holding size. The revised plan will not require any application process and reflects the company's commitment to fair and transparent governance.
Delhi's air pollution has reached 'very poor' levels and is expected to last for 5-6 days, affecting other North Indian cities. However, Beijing successfully reduced pollution levels by one-third a decade ago through measures like clean energy use and promoting non-motorised transport. They also set up air quality monitoring stations, resulting in a significant drop in PM2.5.
India and the EU have resumed negotiations on their Free Trade Agreement, aiming to resolve remaining differences and finalize the deal by the end of the year. Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal visited Brussels for discussions, with both sides finalizing 10 chapters and making progress on others.
Peak XV, an early investor in fintech company Pine Labs, is poised to earn a 40x return on its investment through the company's IPO. Other backers like Madison India Capital, Sofina Ventures, Actis, PayPal, and Macritchie Investments are also expected to profit.
The government is optimistic about offsetting the projected tax revenue shortfall and increased subsidy spending in 2025-26 through scheme savings and strong non-tax revenues. Despite a potential GTR shortfall of Rs 1-1.3 lakh crore, the fiscal deficit is expected to decrease to 4.4% of GDP due to higher consumption from tax cuts.
The government aims to sell a record 10 million tonnes of rice in the current fiscal year, with an additional 1.75 million tonnes allocated for ethanol production. Despite record sales, the central pool stock of rice remains at over 44 million tonnes, causing concerns for rising carrying costs and food subsidy expenses.
Bharti Airtel's net profit rose by 14.2% in the July-September quarter, driven by lower finance costs and growth in premium users. Revenues increased by 5.4%, led by strong performance in India and Africa. The company's focus on premiumisation and digital services led to a rise in ARPU and postpaid subscribers.
In October, Russia was still India's biggest crude oil supplier, but annual imports decreased by 8%. Iraq and Saudi Arabia were also top suppliers. However, there was a significant increase in imports from the US, reaching a high not seen since March 2021. But with new US sanctions on Russia, India's import strategy is expected to shift to other countries.
Tata Consumer Products saw a strong performance in the second quarter of FY26, with an 11% increase in net profit and significant revenue growth. The demand for salt and tea, as well as the success of domestic and international branded businesses, contributed to this success.
Jewellery and watch maker Titan reported a 59.1% rise in consolidated net profit for Q2FY26, beating street estimates. Revenue also exceeded expectations, with strong demand during Navratri contributing to a 21% growth in the jewellery portfolio. The company's focus on growth and the appointment of a new MD for 2026 signals optimism for the upcoming festive and wedding seasons.
The Enforcement Directorate has attached properties worth Rs 3,084 crore, including the Ambani Family residence and Reliance Centre, in a money laundering probe against the Reliance Anil Ambani Group. The agency discovered that over Rs 10,000 crore of public funds were illegally transferred to group companies through a complex network involving Yes Bank and Reliance Nippon Mutual.
Kerala-based start-up Accubits Invent has patented a breath-based sensor technology called VolTrac, which can detect diseases like cancers, diabetes, liver disorders, neuro-degenerative disorders, and respiratory infections within 90 minutes. By analyzing VOCs emitted through breath and sweat, the device can achieve a 98.5% accuracy rate.
India and Bahrain have started talks for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and are also discussing a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA). This comes after the Fifth High Joint Commission (HJC) between the two countries.
India and New Zealand are in the fourth round of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement, with a focus on goods, services, and rules of origin. Both countries aim to boost bilateral trade by 10 times in the next decade and have a history of failed attempts at an FTA, with dairy being a major issue. Currently, their bilateral trade stands at $1.3 billion.
Bank of Baroda plans to boost its fee-based income from 7-8% to 11-12% of total income and expand its corporate loan book while focusing on retail, agri, and MSME sectors.
Pine Labs, a Noida-based fintech company, is set to go public and expand its global reach. According to CEO B. Amrish Rau, the company has been profitable for the past five years and has seen a 30% increase in merchant partnerships. With a 58% growth in revenues and strategic acquisitions, Pine Labs is making a mark in the global market.
The 8th CPC will revise the compensation structure for 4.7 million central government employees and 6.8 million pensioners. The fitment factor will be based on inflation, productivity indices, and fiscal considerations. Performance-linked pay, Old Pension Scheme demands, and allowances will also be addressed. However, this may cause short-term inflation and increase in salary and pension.
Banks are prioritizing low-cost CASA deposits to maintain margins in a highly competitive deposit market. The average CASA ratio has slightly increased in the July-September quarter, with expectations of continued growth. Private sector banks have seen a slight rise in CASA ratio, while PSBs have experienced a slight decline.
The Supreme Court has clarified that the government can reassess all AGR dues of Vodafone Idea up to 2016-17, ending confusion over its earlier order. This allows the government to review additional demands and reassess all dues, considering equity holding and public interest. This provides relief to the heavily indebted telecom operator, with total liabilities of Rs 2 lakh crore.
Pine Labs, a digital payment solutions firm, is raising Rs 3,900 Cr through an IPO with investors like PayPal and Mastercard. The funds will be used to repay debt, invest in technology, and expand globally. With a focus on fintech, Pine Labs aims to compete with Paytm and Razorpay in India, despite being capex-heavy in the past.
Ajay Devgn, a Bollywood actor, has a growing collection of luxury watches which he spoke about on a podcast. He treasures each watch for its sentimental value. His collection boasts of rare and expensive pieces like the Rolex Daytona Ice Blue dial in Platinum, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore in stainless steel, Panerai Luminor PAM00438, and Rolex Day Date 40.
OMCs are predicted to maintain their profitability in the upcoming quarters of fiscal 2025-26, thanks to robust refining and marketing margins. Government compensation for LPG losses and a decrease in LPG losses will further support this growth. However, the recent sanctions on Russian crude exports may affect OMCs' sourcing mix.
Purple Finance, a growing NBFC in India, offers secured loans to small businesses in towns with less than 300,000 people. Their average loan size of Rs 7 lakh is lower than other housing finance companies. They aim to become a Small Finance Bank by 2028 and have a low NPA rate due to their regional expertise and focus on financial inclusion. They expect to break even in Q3.
Sundaram Finance's Q2 saw a 16% increase in net profit due to higher disbursements during the festive season. Revenue and AUM also rose by 18% and 15% respectively. However, asset quality faced some pressure with gross Stage 3 assets rising to 2.03%.
Swiggy's Instamart has launched a fee waiver initiative in response to Zepto's elimination of handling and surge charges on all orders. The waiver is applicable for orders above Rs 299 and is part of their "Mega Savings Festival" until November 7. However, Zepto remains the most aggressively priced player, with a significant advantage in low and mid-value baskets.
After almost a decade and many iconic moments, Stranger Things is coming to an end. Fans who grew up with the show and aged with the cast will experience an emotional finale. Season 5 will feature a time jump and explore the Upside Down, while the main cast is expected to return and earn hefty pay checks. The final season will be released in three parts, starting on November 27, 2025.
Bharti Airtel reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 6,791.7 crore in Q2FY26, an 89% increase from the previous year. Revenue also rose by 25.73% to Rs 52,145.4 crore. The India business saw a 22.6% growth in revenue and a 10% increase in mobile ARPU. The company's EBITDA stood at Rs 29,919 crore with a margin of 57.4%.
Delhi's air quality remains 'very poor' days after Diwali, with a 30% increase in respiratory distress cases. The toxic haze has caused a health emergency, affecting those with chronic respiratory illnesses and even those without. Experts urge people to wear masks and limit outdoor exposure.
A recent report by The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change reveals that air pollution in India has caused a 38% increase in deaths, with over 17 lakh people dying in 2022. The economic cost of these deaths is estimated at $339.4 billion, but the government has questioned the figures despite mounting evidence.
Vodafone Idea's share price closed up nearly 10% after the Supreme Court clarified that it can consider relief for both additional and reassessment of AGR dues. The telecom operator's total AGR demand stands at over Rs 83,500 crore, with additional dues amounting to Rs 9,450 crore.
Former US President Barack Obama has reportedly endorsed New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, but officials have denied the claims, stating that Obama is sticking to his post-presidency rule of not publicly endorsing local candidates. The alleged endorsement has sparked controversy and speculation that Obama is trying to protect other Democrats from being associated with Mamdani.
The Supreme Court dismissed a petition filed by GV Sarvan Kumar seeking appointment as a judge of the Telangana High Court. The Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran criticized the plea, stating it was a mockery of the system. CJI Gavai will be retiring on Nov 23, and newly appointed CJI Justice Surya Kant will take his place on November 24.
Earlier this year, an Air India flight crashed moments after take-off from Ahmedabad in June, claiming 241 lives. The world watched in disbelief as one man walked out of the burning wreckage alive. That man, Viswashkumar Ramesh, now calls himself the “luckiest man alive.”
Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, has been named the top-earning dead celebrity by Forbes for the third year in a row. His estate earned a massive $105 million in 2025, making him the richest deceased musician. His posthumous success is due to his ownership of the ATV catalog and successful ventures like Cirque du Soleil shows and a Broadway musical.
The family of Air India crash survivor Viswashkumar Ramesh has claimed that the airline “ignored or turned down” their invitation to meet them, despite repeated requests, BBC reports. Ramesh, the only survivor of the tragic June crash that killed 241 passengers on board, spoke to the UK media for the first time since returning to the country.
Tata Consumer Products reported a 10.49% increase in net profit in Q2FY26, with consolidated revenue standing at Rs 4965.90 crore, up 17.8% from the previous year. CEO Sunil D’Souza highlighted the company's strong topline growth and steady profit growth, with double-digit growth in the India core business and steady growth in Capital Foods and Organic India.
Ambuja Cements recorded a significant increase in net profit and revenue in Q2FY26, with the highest-ever revenue for a second quarter. Cement sales volume also reached a record high, with a 20% year-on-year growth. The company expects further growth in demand due to GST rate cuts, investments, and improved consumer sentiment.
Larsen & Toubro's Heavy Engineering business has signed an MoU with Holtec International's Asia arm to offer design and build solutions for Heat Transfer Equipment. This strengthens their existing partnership and focuses on advanced thermal solutions for nuclear and conventional power plants. The companies aim to develop efficient technology to contribute to the global energy transition.
Congress has slammed the PM Modi government for allowing Trump to take credit for halting the India-Pakistan conflict through trade. Jairam Ramesh also shared a video of Trump reiterating his claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
Indian-origin truck driver Jashanpreet Singh will not face DUI charges, as confirmed by prosecutors. Toxicology reports showed no presence of substances in his blood during the fatal crash in Ontario. The 21-year-old suspect is now charged with three counts of vehicular manslaughter and one count of reckless driving on a highway causing injury.
DLF has sold 221 ultra-luxury flats in its project "The Dahlias" in Gurugram for Rs 16,000 crore. The project, launched last year, has an average price per apartment of Rs 72 crore. The company's total sales bookings for the project have reached Rs 15,818 crore. The project has 420 luxury apartments and penthouses, and has been a major contributor to DLF's record sales.
Zohran Mamdani sarcastically acknowledged Trump's supposed endorsement of his rival Andrew Cuomo for NYC mayor, while also congratulating Cuomo. Trump called Mamdani a "communist" and said he would rather support a "bad Democrat" than a "communist." Mamdani's dig at Cuomo follows the latter's remarks about Trump potentially "taking over" NYC if Mamdani became