India’s latest rate environment is unlikely to derail festive-season vehicle demand, but the cost of shielding buyers from higher EMIs could be substantial for automakers and financiers. Industry estimates suggest that preserving affordability across millions of financed vehicles may require support worth as much as ₹1,000 crore, underscoring the scale of the challenge behind a seemingly small monthly increase.
Eva Marie Saint, the Academy Award-winning actress whose performances helped define Hollywood’s classic era, has died at the age of 102. Her representative, Jeff Sanderson, said she died of natural causes at her home in Los Angeles, surrounded by family and loved ones.
European football leaders are gathering in Berlin for a previously scheduled UEFA summit that has taken on new significance amid efforts to reshape the leadership landscape at FIFA. The meeting comes as European federations weigh how to consolidate influence and identify a credible path toward replacing Gianni Infantino at the top of world football.
The Archery Premier League is preparing to return for its second season, signaling fresh momentum for a format that aims to package one of India’s oldest sporting disciplines for a modern audience. The league’s next edition is being watched closely as a test of whether archery can sustain commercial interest, attract wider viewership and deepen its professional ecosystem.
Consumer technology brand Lumio has raised $12 million in a funding round led by Blume Ventures, marking a significant vote of confidence in the company’s product-led strategy. The startup said it will deploy the capital toward research and development, brand building, and hiring as it seeks to strengthen its position in India’s competitive consumer electronics market.
Nearly half of India’s startup ecosystem is operating below a healthy wellbeing threshold, with employees emerging as the most affected group, according to the State of Mind: The Startup Ecosystem study. The findings point to a widening mental-health and workplace-pressure gap inside a sector long celebrated for speed, ambition and scale.
US equities ended lower on Thursday as a sharp jump in crude prices, driven by escalating Middle East tensions, unsettled investors and revived inflation concerns. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both retreated, with semiconductor shares adding to the pressure after a revenue target cut tied to OpenAI intensified weakness in the technology complex.
More than half of urban households in India said economic conditions deteriorated over the past year, according to the Reserve Bank of India’s latest consumer confidence survey. The share of respondents reporting worsening conditions rose to 54.5% in the latest reading from 50.5% in July and 40.9% in September last year, underscoring persistent household unease despite broader macroeconomic resilience.
Elon Musk has ignited a fresh political and corporate debate in India by asking whether Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani is the “real boss of India,” after the Centre rejected suggestions that Starlink’s authorisation was shaped by bias. The exchange has drawn in Akash Ambani, who declined to comment, and Rahul Gandhi, who added a pointed remark that intensified the public conversation around power, policy, and market access.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will convene a regional review meeting in Diu tomorrow, signalling a fresh round of administrative scrutiny over welfare delivery and implementation performance. The meeting is expected to assess field-level progress, identify bottlenecks, and reinforce coordination between the Centre and local authorities in a region where governance outreach remains critical.
Voice AI startup Desible.ai has raised ₹32 crore, or about $3.7 million, in a seed round led by Prime Venture Partners as it targets the banking, financial services and insurance market. The company plans to use the capital to build what it describes as an AI operating layer for BFSI, a category where customer engagement, collections and service workflows are increasingly being automated.
Infosys and Wipro American depositary receipts fell nearly 3% in U.S. trading as investors digested Tata Consultancy Services’ quarterly performance and a fresh tightening of U.S. immigration rules tied to employment-based green cards. The selloff reflected broader unease over slowing technology spending, the pace of AI-led disruption, and the policy risk facing Indian IT firms that rely heavily on global talent mobility.
S&P Global expects India’s financial sector lending to expand by 12-14% this fiscal year, supported by resilient economic activity and steady investment flows. However, the agency cautions that a weak monsoon could pressure rural incomes, slowing credit demand and repayment capacity in agriculture-linked markets and smaller towns.
Jefferies has reiterated a Buy rating on Kalyan Jewellers, assigning a base target of Rs 830 and a bull-case target of Rs 1,000, which implies as much as 76% upside from current levels. The brokerage said the company’s long-term growth case is supported by market-share gains, aggressive store additions, and a broader structural shift in India’s jewellery trade toward organised retail.
India Under-19 completed a commanding 2-0 series victory over Australia Under-19 after bowling the visitors out for 151 in a match defined by Baloda’s record-breaking 14-wicket haul. Australia’s resistance, led by Cattle’s lone stand, only briefly delayed an inevitable chase as Yashbardhan and his side maintained control throughout.
The death of veteran filmmaker Singeetham Srinivasa Rao at 94 has renewed attention on one of Kannada cinema’s most enduring creative relationships: his collaborations with Dr. Rajkumar and the wider Rajkumar family. From Halu Jenu and Chalisuva Modagalu to Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma, Rao helped shape films that remain central to the cultural memory of Karnataka.
Donald Trump reported buying more than $1 million in stakes across Meta Platforms, Microsoft and McDonald’s during August, while also adding SpaceX-related debt to his portfolio. The disclosures add fresh scrutiny to the financial activities of a sitting U.S. president, particularly as his trades touch sectors ranging from artificial intelligence to consumer spending and private space infrastructure.
A village in Agra remained tense after unidentified persons vandalised a statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, triggering anger among local residents and political condemnation. The Congress said the incident reflected an organised pattern of humiliation directed at the Dalit community, pointing to Agra’s large Scheduled Caste population and the symbolic weight of the attack.
PepsiCo said it will step up cost-cutting measures after weaker North America demand and higher input costs forced the company to trim its annual core earnings outlook. Chief Executive Ramon Laguarta said the group will soon unveil actions aimed at protecting margins while preserving investment in the business. The revised forecast points to only 1% to 2% growth in fiscal 2026 core earnings per share, with organic revenue now expected to rise about 3%.
The runaway success of 'Premada Oorali' has jolted the Kannada film industry, drawing packed audiences back to theatres in Karnataka’s smaller towns and forcing a fresh reckoning with what regional viewers now want. While exhibitors are celebrating the revival, filmmakers are left with a harder question: whether the film’s appeal signals a durable shift in storytelling tastes or a rare, hard-to-replicate cultural moment.
India A enter a decisive phase in the three-match series with Australia A leading 1-0, leaving the home batters under clear pressure to respond. The contest now hinges on whether India A can produce a disciplined, high-quality batting effort to force a winner-takes-all finale.
Actor Janhvi Kapoor has condemned the circulation of an AI-generated video that she described as “deeply violating” and “bordering on sexual assault,” adding her voice to a growing backlash over the misuse of synthetic media in Indian entertainment. The controversy has intensified debate over consent, digital impersonation and the speed at which manipulated content can spread before it is verified or removed.
A Reserve Bank of India survey has found a sharp rise in pessimism among urban households, with 54.5% of respondents saying economic conditions have worsened, up from 50.5% in July and 40.9% in September last year. The reading underscores persistent pressure on consumer sentiment even as policymakers seek to sustain growth and contain inflation.
Air India is preparing to offer branded travel SIM cards to passengers flying overseas, extending its services beyond air transport into the travel connectivity market. The product, called EasyRoam, has been developed with Tata Communications and is aimed at giving international travellers a simpler roaming option before departure.
India’s September-quarter earnings season is shaping up as a sharply uneven recovery, with at least 46 companies expected to post double-digit profit declines even as broader market estimates point to 22% earnings growth. The weakness is concentrated across autos, cement, healthcare, consumer and capital goods, suggesting that the headline earnings rebound is being driven by a narrower set of winners than the market’s recent optimism implies.
An Ambedkar University dean has called on students to keep pace with rapid technological change, framing digital fluency as essential to academic relevance and future employability. The remarks reflect a broader policy debate in India over whether higher education is adapting quickly enough to the demands of an economy being reshaped by automation, data, and artificial intelligence.
The Forest Department has organised a volleyball tournament for tribal youth in Jawadhu Hills, framing sport as a tool for engagement, confidence-building and community outreach in one of Tamil Nadu’s most remote hill regions. The initiative reflects a growing policy trend in which field agencies use recreational programmes to strengthen public contact and support youth participation beyond conventional welfare delivery.
Two emerging names, Earth and Mother’s Gift, have begun to attract attention in India’s sports and cricket conversation, reflecting the constant search for fresh talent and distinctive identity in a crowded domestic ecosystem. While the broader context remains fluid, the interest underscores how quickly unusual or memorable names can become talking points in a sport where visibility often begins long before a player becomes a regular headline act.
Veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar has died at his Goa residence in the early hours of Thursday, prompting an immediate outpouring of grief from political leaders, colleagues and admirers across the film industry. Known for his intense screen presence, uncompromising performances and distinctive voice, Patekar leaves behind a body of work that shaped several generations of Hindi and Marathi cinema.
Tata Consultancy Services has declared a second interim dividend of Rs 12 per share for FY27, underscoring its strong cash generation after reporting a 15% year-on-year rise in second-quarter net profit to Rs 13,884 crore. Revenue climbed 11% to Rs 73,188 crore, while operating margin held at 24%, reinforcing the company’s ability to balance growth, profitability, and shareholder returns in a challenging global technology market.
Electric car sales in India surged to 36,108 units in September, nearly doubling from a year earlier, according to the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations. The sharp rise reflects a combination of festive-season buying, improving ownership economics, a broader model lineup and continued policy support that is pushing electric vehicles closer to the mainstream. FADA said the market is increasingly treating EVs as a default option rather than a niche alternative.
Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the banking system’s liquidity surplus is expected to be absorbed within the current financial year, suggesting the central bank is in no rush to tighten conditions aggressively. He indicated that raising the cash reserve ratio would be one of the least preferred tools for withdrawing liquidity, underscoring the RBI’s preference for more measured operations.
The Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine will hold a public awareness walkathon on Friday as part of a broader push to spotlight the importance of critical care, early intervention, and emergency preparedness in India’s health system. The initiative is expected to draw clinicians, health workers, and citizens into a visible campaign for stronger recognition of intensive care services and the workforce that sustains them.
Smriti Mandhana’s elevation as India’s new captain marks a significant shift toward a more settled and form-driven leadership model. The 30-year-old left-hander arrives with rare dual credentials: she is the most experienced player in the squad after Harmanpreet Kaur and has already proved her tactical range by steering Royal Challengers Bengaluru to two Women’s Premier League titles.
The National Company Law Tribunal has admitted Kotak Mahindra Bank’s insolvency petition against Unity Realty and Developers over an alleged default of ₹68.49 crore, marking a significant escalation in a dispute tied to lending extended to Unity Infraprojects. The case underscores how corporate guarantees can pull related entities into insolvency proceedings when a borrower’s stress spills over into the wider group structure.
Police in Tirupattur have arrested a man accused of illegally extracting sand from the Palar river, a case that again highlights the persistent challenge of riverbed mining enforcement in Tamil Nadu. The arrest underscores the continuing pressure on local authorities to curb environmental damage, protect water resources, and disrupt the informal supply chains that sustain illegal extraction.
Karthik produced the day’s biggest upset at the Fenesta Open, toppling Kamboj in a result that reshaped the men’s draw and underlined the tournament’s growing depth. In the women’s competition, the top five seeds all progressed to the quarterfinals, with Vaidehee Chaudhari and Shruti Ahlawat delivering commanding straight-sets wins.
The first teaser for Mike Flanagan’s The Exorcist: Martyrs has arrived, offering an early look at Scarlett Johansson in a reboot that aims to reframe one of horror’s most enduring franchises. With the full trailer due later this week, the release is already drawing attention for its blend of legacy-brand recognition, prestige casting, and Flanagan’s signature psychological dread.
India briefly restored belief when Thapa levelled the contest in the 22nd minute, but the response proved fleeting as Uruguay seized control after the interval and overwhelmed the hosts with a six-goal finish. The match exposed India’s defensive fragility under sustained pressure, with the visitors’ superior structure and finishing turning a competitive opening into a lopsided defeat.
As household budgets tighten and credit costs remain a live concern, borrowers are looking for practical ways to bring down monthly personal loan EMIs without derailing repayment discipline. The most effective levers are often simple: choosing the right tenure, avoiding unnecessary borrowing, making selective prepayments and testing repayment scenarios before signing the loan agreement.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has announced the successful completion of its Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign, underscoring the government’s continued emphasis on cleanliness, public participation, and institutional accountability. The initiative, aligned with the broader national sanitation agenda, was carried out across ministry offices and affiliated bodies as part of a coordinated civic outreach effort.
The Reserve Bank of India has moved to make the Account Aggregator framework interoperable, allowing customers to share financial data across platforms without being locked into a single provider. The change is designed to simplify consent-based information flows between banks, lenders and consumers, strengthening convenience in digital finance while keeping customer approval at the centre of the system.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir has offered a pointed defence of chief selector Ajit Agarkar, saying history will be kinder to him than the immediate noise around team selection. The remark comes at a time when India’s cricket decisions are under intense scrutiny, with every omission and inclusion dissected through the lens of results, transition, and long-term planning.
Yashasvi Jaiswal has added a new layer to his already expanding cricketing profile by trying wicketkeeping, a move that underscores both his adaptability and the increasing premium on multi-skilled players in modern Indian cricket. The experiment, while not yet a confirmed positional shift, offers a glimpse into how selectors and team management may be thinking about long-term squad flexibility.
India needs to address valuation concerns, improve policy predictability and deepen market confidence if it wants foreign portfolio investors to return in force, according to market veteran Nilesh Shah. His remarks come as global capital remains selective, with investors weighing India’s growth premium against elevated prices and shifting risk appetite. The message is clear: strong macro fundamentals alone may not be enough without a more compelling entry point for overseas money.
Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has approached the Delhi High Court seeking protection of her personality and publicity rights against obscene and AI-generated material circulating online. Justice Vikas Mahajan issued summons in the matter, which was heard alongside a similar plea by Telugu actor Vijay Deverakonda, underscoring the growing legal challenge posed by synthetic media and digital impersonation.
Cochin University of Science and Technology has moved all classes on its Thrikkakara and Marine campuses online until October 16 after a sharp rise in chickenpox infections among students. The university has also asked infected students to leave hostels and postponed scheduled examinations as it moves to contain further spread.
Weekly US unemployment claims edged down by 2,000 to 197,000, keeping filings near a 57-year low for a fourth consecutive week and underscoring a labor market that remains unusually tight. But the resilience in claims contrasts sharply with weak payroll creation, after the economy added only 29,000 jobs in September and continuing claims rose by 17,000, suggesting that job security is holding while hiring momentum remains fragile.
The Indian Air Force marked its 94th Air Force Day at Hindon Air Force Station with a ceremonial observance that underscored the service’s operational readiness, institutional continuity, and expanding strategic role. The occasion comes as India continues to modernize its air power amid a more demanding regional security environment.
S&P Global expects India’s financial sector lending to expand by 12% to 14% this fiscal year, supported by resilient economic activity and steady credit demand. But the agency warned that a weak monsoon could pressure rural incomes, slowing loan growth in agriculture-linked and consumption-sensitive markets.
