The Economic Times

Former Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja Committee general secretary Jayanta Banerjee has expressed anguish over the stampede that killed 19 people in north Kolkata, saying this year's shift in the idol's position went against long-followed community practices. He said he had repeatedly cautioned organisers against the change but did not link it to the tragedy.

Punjab National Bank reported a record quarterly net profit of Rs 5,532 crore for September 2026. The bank's core operating profit grew by around 29 percent year-on-year despite treasury losses of Rs 1,000 crore. PNB aims to achieve Rs 6,000 crore in net profit in the upcoming quarters due to steady operational performance. Loan growth is being supported by retail, agriculture, and MSME segments during the festive season.

The fatal Lake Apopka alligator attack in Florida has raised concerns about the state's large alligator population. Florida has an estimated 1.3 million alligators, with Lake Okeechobee, Lake Jesup, Lake Kissimmee and Orange Lake among the waterways known for their large populations. Here's what to know about these alligator hotspots and the safety precautions recommended by wildlife officials.

Authorities in Pakistan have secured a historic Hindu temple following protests by local residents and civil society members against its demolition. The Ram Leela Temple in Dera Ismail Khan faced demolition attempts to develop a commercial plaza, leading to community intervention. Local activists and the Hindu community requested an investigation regarding the temple's ownership and construction legality.

Rahul Gandhi addressed Congress workers in Margao, South Goa during the party's 'Goy Rakhon Yatra'. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others of undermining the Constitution through vote theft. Gandhi emphasized that this action represents an attack on democratic principles and the sacred duty of citizens. He stated that the Congress party would not accept these alleged actions. The remarks highlight ongoing tensions regarding electoral integrity in the country.

Schools closed on October 19: Schools in several Indian states will remain closed on Monday, October 19, 2026, due to festive holidays, including Durga Puja, Maha Navami, Ayudha Pooja and Vijayadashami. Schools in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand will also remain closed, while Telangana schools covered by the Dasara vacation will continue their break. Students and parents should check state-wise holiday schedules and official announcements for the latest updates.

Namo Bharat's premium coach ridership has tripled to nearly 6,000 passengers daily from around 2,000 before the full corridor opened. Offering reclining seats, separate lounge access and additional amenities, the premium service charges about 20% more than standard coaches, with commuters citing seat availability and comfort during peak-hour journeys.

Five individuals, including an 11-year-old boy, were killed in a car collision with a bus in Beed district. The accident occurred while the car swerved to avoid potholes on the highway. Victims were residents of Majalgaon and were en route to Tuljapur during the incident. Locals protested the poor road conditions, alleging that substandard maintenance caused the dangerous potholes.

The Central Industrial Security Force is set to reorganize its administrative structure beginning November 1. This restructuring aims to improve specialized security management across various industries and installations. Key sectors like power, coal, and petroleum will receive enhanced operational oversight and sector-specific expertise. The changes follow consultations with senior officers and aim to strengthen coordination with relevant authorities.

DIIs increased their holdings in several NSE midcap stocks during the September 2026 quarter. Swiggy, One97 Communications, Meesho, Cochin Shipyard, Lenskart Solutions, Piramal Finance, APL Apollo Tubes and SBI Cards and Payment Services saw DII shareholding rise by more than 200 basis points quarter-on-quarter, based on StockEdges shareholding scan.

India's services trade surplus has declined as imports grew faster than exports, leading to concerns about foreign exchange earnings. In September 2026, net services exports fell by 10 percent to USD 16.9 billion. Despite strong growth in merchandise exports of 23 percent, the services sector faces challenges. While cumulative net services exports increased during the first half, their sustainability is uncertain.

Bajaj Finance is projecting a remarkable 29% increase in net profit for the July-September quarter, driven by robust loan demand and a boost in interest income. With a significant rise in assets under management, the demand for its lending products appears strong. Yet, analysts caution about potential pressure on lending margins owing to escalating borrowing costs.

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal restored an appeal from Walchandnagar Industries against Swaraj India Agro. This restoration followed a Supreme Court order canceling a previous dismissal of Walchandnagar's insolvency petition. The NCLAT issued a notice directing Swaraj India to respond within four weeks. The dispute involves operational debts related to a sugar plant project initiated in 2013. The NCLT earlier dismissed both companies' petitions citing pre-existing disputes.

Mumbai: Career decisions are not driven by salary alone; rather, factors like poor management or workplace culture also play a key role for employees considering a job change, a report said on Sunday.End-to-end workforce staffing and HR solutions provider Genius HRTech Limited's September 2026 report revealed that 47 per cent of respondents cited poor management or workplace culture as a key reason for considering a job change, while 30 per cent pointed to compensation below market expectations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi criticized the United States for its aggressive actions against Iran and emphasized the need for credible guarantees. He stated that Iran remains open to dialogue, rejecting coercion and threats from the US. Furthermore, the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister highlighted the importance of ending regional hostilities to achieve lasting peace.

Krishnamurthy V Subramanian has criticized Pakistan's claim of returning to global financial leadership. He clarified that the IMF and World Bank chair is ceremonial and rotates annually among member countries. Pakistan is set to assume this position for the first time since 1953 in 2027. The country's economy has been dependent on loans from the IMF to address financial challenges.

The Election Commission of India informed the Delhi High Court about two voters whose names were removed from electoral rolls. These voters could not complete the enumeration process for Special Intensive Revision due to a change of address. They sought to restore their names without using Form 6, but the court clarified their options. The court dismissed their plea and stated their concerns about false declarations were misplaced.

Flight operations at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport will be suspended for five hours on October 20 to allow the traditional Arattu procession of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple to pass across the runway.Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd (TIAL) said on Sunday that flight services would remain suspended from 4 pm to 9 pm to facilitate the temples Alpassi Arattu procession. Passengers have been advised to check revised flight timings with their respective airlines.Also read: Vietna

Foreign portfolio investors pulled out over Rs 52,000 crore from Indian equities in October, surpassing September outflows. Despite persistent FPI selling driven by rising US Treasury yields and elevated crude oil prices, benchmark indices Nifty and Sensex rebounded sharply, supported by robust domestic institutional buying and IT sector gains.

FMCG companies are experiencing increased margin pressure as input costs continue to rise. Rising inflation is affecting profitability, forcing firms to consider price hikes after the festive season. Companies are currently absorbing some costs to maintain consumer demand in urban and rural markets. The expectations for the second half of FY27 remain cautious amidst fluctuating commodity prices. Consumer purchasing behavior may shift if food prices increase or rural incomes decline.

Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda will make their appearance on Koffee With Karan's second episode. The couple will discuss their marriage and the playful dynamics of their relationship. Vijay will share a humorous marriage rule during the episode. Their recent film Ranabaali is currently running in theatres.

Delhi has introduced a draft scheme to limit the number of e-rickshaws to 2.5 lakh. The scheme addresses issues such as traffic congestion, road safety, and pollution concerns related to e-rickshaws. It requires all e-rickshaws to be registered as transport vehicles and obtain an E-Rickshaw Compliance Certificate. Owners will face limits on how many e-rickshaws they can operate based on their residency status.

BJP MP Kangana Ranaut on Sunday criticised Opposition parties over calls for regime change, saying their actions reinforce the need for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong leadership. Citing unrest in France and global conflicts, she also condoled the deaths of 19 people in a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata.

Jefferies Chris Wood is urging investors to diversify beyond AI as earnings growth for global AI stocks is expected to slow sharply and valuations remain elevated. His Asia portfolio retains exposure to semiconductor companies while avoiding heavy AI capex spenders, with India, China and other Asian markets featuring prominently in the allocation.

Hoardings portraying several individuals as Ravana were placed at various locations in Lucknow before Dussehra. The Sanatan Raksha Sangathan was responsible for putting up these hoardings in prominent areas. Featured figures included Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, and Elon Musk, among others. Following this, Samajwadi Party workers took down the hoardings in response. The event drew significant attention from passersby and raised various reactions in the city.

Vedanta Ltd has doubled its zinc production capacity in South Africa with an investment of $600 million, the company said in a statement.Further details are awaited.

India needs to maintain policy credibility and continuity to sustain foreign investment inflows, as strong economic growth alone may not be enough to reassure global investors about the country's long-term business environment, highlighted Kyunghoon Kim, Head of the India and South Asia Team at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP).

I never did that with a man before: Trumps bizarre remark about senator Husted at Kentucky rally

Nani's film The Paradise is gearing up for digital debut. Marking Raghav Juyal's debut in Telugu cinema, the movie is directed by Srikanth Odela and delves into the struggles of a tribal community seeking justice. Despite receiving mixes reactions from critics, it achieved massive success at the box office. Read on to know where to watch the movie online.

A nine-year-old boy was attacked by a leopard in Chandrapur district while walking with a neighbour. The incident occurred as the child was part of a pilgrimage to the Mata Mahakali temple. Local residents, police, and forest department teams conducted a search for the injured boy. He was subsequently found in nearby bushes with a deep neck wound and taken to the hospital.

Foreign portfolio investors have withdrawn Rs 52,100 crore from Indian equities as of October this year. This follows a net withdrawal of Rs 35,861 crore in September, indicating ongoing financial retreat. Elevated crude oil prices, higher US bond yields, and a stronger dollar have affected investor sentiment. Despite temporary buying by foreign investors on October 16, selling in certain sectors continues.

Nine of the top ten most valued firms saw a substantial increase in market valuation last week. The BSE Sensex surged over two thousand points while the Nifty experienced significant growth. TCS, Bharti Airtel, and Infosys led the gains alongside other major firms like Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank. In contrast, Larsen & Toubro was the only firm to report a decline in market valuation.

Jio Platforms is preparing to launch its IPO, poised to enhance its market presence substantially. This listing will disclose critical metrics like its subscriber figures and independent data usage rates. With substantial growth in its customer base and revenue, Reliance Jio Infocomm is on course for what is anticipated to be India's largest IPO.

The NYC Wine and Food Festival recently featured an event highlighting Indian cuisine with renowned chefs. Maneet Chauhan and Chef Vijaya Kumar hosted 'Flavours of Bollywood', showcasing various regional dishes and street food. Guests enjoyed diverse offerings like idlis, butter chicken, and malai ice cream, emphasizing the depth of Indian culinary heritage. The event attracted attendees from various states and celebrated the upcoming Diwali festival.

Hanuman Ansh has exceeded expectations at the box office, grossing over Rs 449.38 crore worldwide. Despite competition from newer releases, it maintains strong theater occupancy and continues to attract audiences. Discussions about the film's OTT release are ongoing. Read on to know when and where to watch the movie online.

Two crew members died after a Saudi AH-6i helicopter crashed in the Najran region near the Yemen border due to a technical malfunction, the Saudi-led coalition said Sunday. The Houthis had claimed a day earlier that they shot down a Saudi Apache helicopter in the area, leaving it unclear whether both accounts concerned the same aircraft.

Around 19 companies including LTIMindtree, Tech Mahindra, IRFC, HDB Financial Services, and Angel One have fixed their record dates for dividends, stock splits, and bonus issues during the week of October 19-23. Investors must hold shares in their demat accounts by the record date to qualify.

Consumer durable demand is showing an uneven festive recovery, with premiumisation and weather-led sales supporting select categories. Siddhartha Khemka picks LG Electronics and Polycab, citing their growth prospects, infrastructure demand and premiumisation. LG has a target price of Rs 2,075, while Polycab has a target of Rs 10,600.

Indias primary market is set for a busy week, led by Reliance Jio Platforms Rs 30,213 crore IPO and Paras Healthcares Rs 1,450 crore issue. Both IPOs open on October 21. Nine companies are also scheduled to list, including six on the mainboard and three on SME platforms.

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari criticized supporters of violent protests, asserting their goals are often related to regime change. He emphasized that such actions are forceful and undemocratic, urging believers in democracy to resist anarchists. Bhandari's comments followed remarks from various public figures discussing regime change amid ongoing protests. The protests were sparked by allegations concerning electoral roll irregularities.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit India next week to strengthen bilateral relations and discuss trade issues. His meetings will take place in Mumbai and Jamnagar, focusing on investment and energy. The two countries have faced considerable delays in finalizing a trade agreement due to several ongoing challenges.

Sensex and Nifty extended gains for a second straight session on Friday, led by IT stocks, which rose for a fourth consecutive session, along with buying in auto, metal and PSU banking stocks. Niftys recovery could continue as long as it holds above the crucial 22,75022,800 support zone.

ICICI Bank reported a 20% rise in second-quarter net profit, helped by an 18% increase in core net interest income. However, core profitability edged lower as FCNR(B) deposits weighed on margins. NIM fell to 4.18%, while treasury operations swung to a loss amid higher government bond yields.

Orionids meteor shower peaks in mid-October and is known for bright meteors visible in the night sky. The meteors originate from comet 1P/Halley, which sheds debris when it approaches the Sun. Observers are advised to find dark locations away from city lights to view the meteors effectively. The radiant for this shower is located just north of Betelgeuse in the constellation Orion.

HDFC Bank reported a 4.7% rise in standalone net profit for the second quarter, while margin pressure weighed on core profitability. Net interest income rose 9.7% as loans and deposits grew. The lender is also set to welcome a new chief executive this month, ending prolonged succession uncertainty.

Paras Healthcare has fixed the IPO price band at Rs 660-693 per share for its Rs 1,450 crore issue, which opens on October 21. The offering includes a fresh issue of Rs 500 crore and an offer for sale worth Rs 950 crore. Proceeds will be used mainly to repay borrowings.