The Economic Times

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced that the Trade Facilitation Portal has received about 3,500 registrations. This portal aims to facilitate greater trade opportunities for Indian businesses, especially among micro, small, and medium enterprises. Goyal emphasized that the initiative will help first-time exporters establish partnerships and access new markets. The encouraging response to the portal indicates its potential to expand the global reach of Indian businesses.

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation is working on guidelines for investing in alternative investment funds for better portfolio diversification. The proposed allocation could be up to 3% of fresh annual accretions to these funds. This decision follows recommendations for EPFO's participation in the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0. Proposed safeguards will include limits on individual fund exposures and minimum corpus requirements.

Maruti Suzuki India reached a significant milestone by exporting more than 50,000 electric vehicles since August 2025. The company dominates India's electric passenger vehicle export market, holding nearly 93% of the total share. Its Hansalpur facility has achieved an annual production capacity of 1 million vehicles, boosting its export capabilities.

Sydney Sweeney's latest lingerie campaign with SYRN showcases her in iconic childhood character costumes, including a controversial turn as Cindy Lou Who. This choice has incited a flurry of reactions on social media, with some suggesting it's a calculated effort for publicity. Conversely, defenders assert that her attire leans more towards adorable than provocative.

Ranbir Kapoor recently shared that he proposed to Alia Bhatt in 2022 during a memorable trip to Kenya. With careful planning alongside their guide, he arranged a picturesque moment captured from afar. Now, the actor is gearing up for the release of Ramayana.

New identity reinforces the companys focus on innovation, customer partnerships and pharmaceutical drug containment and delivery solutions

Bihar Museum in Patna has ranked ninth globally and first in Asia in The Worlds 100 Best Museums 2026, published by Worth a Journey. Anand Mahindra called the recognition a new gold standard, crediting former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Bihar government. He hopes the achievement sparks a museum renaissance across India.

Engineer and content creator Nidhi Kunwar lost her parents at 10 and faced nine months of unemployment after college. Following a Google interview rejection, she began posting videos online, gaining over one million Instagram followers in a year. Today, she supports her brothers education, helps her grandparents and enjoys financial independence through content creation.

Sai Pallavi recently shared her expectations for a future husband during her recent appearance on Kaun Banega Crorepati 18. She emphasised the importance of qualities such as kindness, self-awareness, and accountability in a partner. While discussing her role as Goddess Sita in Ramayana, she opened up about what she could learn from the experience.

The Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has extended its New Amnesty Scheme, 2025, by three months until December 31, 2026, allowing eligible employers and insured persons more time to settle disputes out of court. The one-time scheme covers court cases filed up to March 31, 2025, and offers relief from damages in certain cases, subject to specified conditions.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed state-sponsored terrorism and Indias commitment to regional security during the ADMM-Plus forum. He emphasised the need for sharing practical counter-terrorism experience with partners to strengthen collective capabilities.

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has warned that AI could allow one skilled person to do the work of 10, triggering a painful economic shift. While he does not predict mass unemployment, his remarks sparked debate online, with users discussing universal high income, India's AI infrastructure, growing small businesses and the need to embrace technological change.

US President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama stepped up campaigning ahead of next Tuesday's congressional elections, which could shift control of Congress. Obama rallied support for Democrats in Georgia, criticising Trump's policies and leadership, while Trump campaigned for Republicans in Ohio amid protests and declining approval ratings.

In a bid to boost revenue in Jammu and Kashmir, Nazir Ahmad Ganai has proposed a green cess targeting tourists with the aim to fund horticulture research through a suggested research cess levied on orchardists. Leading experts gathered to explore ways to capitalise on Kashmiri apples, emphasising advancements in branding and cold-chain logistics.

Spain is in three days of mourning following a train collision that resulted in 68 fatalities. The crash involved a state-operated train colliding with a stationary service run by a private operator. An automatic control system failure is believed to have led to the tragedy as traffic was resumed inexplicably. Emergency crews worked tirelessly to search the wreckage and assist injured passengers during chaotic scenes.

Janhvi Kapoor recently opened up about the heartwarming emotional support she found in Shikhar Pahariya following the loss of her mother. To be there for her during this challenging period, he paused his studies in London and settled at a friend's place in Juhu. She recalled these memories while appearing on Koffee With Karan Season 9 alongside Varun Dhawan. Read on!

Karwa Chauth is being celebrated on October 29, 2026, with traditional fasting and worship rituals. Married women observe a day-long fast for the long life and good health of their husbands. The rituals include a pre-sunrise meal called Sargi and evening puja with offerings to deities. The Karwa Chauth vrat katha highlights the importance of devotion for married life.

Hayden Panettiere spoke candidly about her past struggles with addiction and mental health in a podcast interview. She shared her hopes for a brighter future, feeling as if she had moved past her pain. Unfortunately, she was found dead days before her 37th birthday, with her death classified as an accident. The investigation revealed that toxic substances contributed to her passing, including fentanyl and alprazolam.

Sachin Tendulkars niece, Dr. Karishma Tendulkar, received the Bell Pharma Award for Best Surgical Research Paper by a Young Ophthalmologist at MOSCON 2026 in Mumbai. A vitreoretinal surgeon and founder of NAMAH Superspeciality Eye Care in Pune, she trained at Narayana Nethralaya and topped her ophthalmology course at Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College.

Seoul: Massive demand for AI chips delivered record quarterly profits to South Korea's Samsung Electronics on Thursday, but shares fell as investors questioned the resilience of the global tech boom.Samsung is the world's largest maker of memory chips -- components in short supply as advanced types are snapped up for use in data centres powering artificial intelligence.Also read: South Korea fines Google, Apple a combined $47.6 million over app store payment practicesThe company posted July-Sept

Rajinikanth's Jailer 2 hit theaters on October 15 and has already made waves at the box office. With an impressive domestic collection nearing Rs 500 crore within just two weeks, the film has captivated audiences. Its global earnings have soared to Rs 755.50 crore. Read on to know how much Jailer 2 earned on day 14.

In the latest episode of Koffee With Karan 9, Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor took the stage, giving candid glimpses of their lives. Varun reflected on how fatherhood transformed his mornings since the arrival of his daughter, Lara. He shared the joy of seeing her dance to her favourite Michael Jackson hit, Beat It, even as he looks forward to introducing her to more of the legends music.

Barbara Barrie, the Oscar-nominated actress known for her roles in Breaking Away and Barney Miller, has passed away. Her daughter confirmed that Barrie chose medically assisted death following her battle with terminal cancer. New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act allowed her to make this decision legally. Barrie previously struggled with rectal cancer and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, sharing her journey in two books.

New week, new releases and new plans for what to watch this weekend. Well, we are back with another list of OTT releases this week. From gripping thrillers to action-packed movies, the list has something for everyone.

NEW YORK - Nike unveiled on Wednesday its first-ever running shoe designed specifically for India, marking the sportswear giant's latest bid to reach shoppers in the world's most populous country as it grapples with a sales slump in other key regions including China.The shoe, dubbed Vegam Run, follows Nike's announcement earlier this month that it plans to open a new campus in India, where it is seeking to make inroads amid a running boom.The running shoe is set to be released on India's e-comme

Tractor sales are projected to fall by up to 10% year-on-year, while vehicle dealers in some markets are also seeing sharp declines in sales of entry-level cars and two-wheelers. Tractor sales were up 8% to 610,000 units in the first half of the current year from a year-ago period, according to Tractor and Mechanisation Association. The pressure is also visible in entry-level motorcycles and cars, which have a large rural market.

Hindustan Unilever posted a turnover of

Recent cyberattacks have inflicted an estimated loss of 300 crore on India's non-banking financial companies, with around 150 fraud cases reported. Focus has shifted towards identifying Chinese hacking platforms and AI toolkit involvement in these incidents. Exploiting operational weaknesses, these cybercriminals persistently launch their attacks, leading to urgent calls for NBFCs to bolster their cybersecurity frameworks to fend off further threats and safeguard their operations.

Jio Platforms became the 3,138th company to list on the NSE after a significant public offering. The listing resulted in a notable 21.36% increase, making Jio the second most valuable Indian company. Mukesh Ambani expressed strong emotions as he witnessed his children outline their vision for the future. Following the listing ceremony, the family visited a temple and celebrated with a drone show.

The Union Cabinet has approved significant schemes to enhance India's manufacturing infrastructure and capacity. The 10,000 crore Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme aims to increase container production substantially by 2040. Additionally, the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana will be implemented from 2026-27 to 2030-31, providing crucial funding. The Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme will also support sports equipment production from 2026 to 2034.

The government has announced an extension of the Production Linked Incentive scheme for the textiles sector until 2034. This change aims to encourage more companies to participate by relaxing eligibility norms for investment. The textiles ministry has reduced the minimum turnover requirement for certain manufacturers from 200 crore to 100 crore. A reopened application portal will accept submissions for manufacturing various textiles from November 1 to December 31.

On Wednesday, the Union cabinet approved a 3% increase in dearness allowance for employees and pensioners. This increase is expected to benefit over 11.6 million individuals ahead of the festive season. The change will take effect retrospectively from July 1, costing the exchequer 10,016 crore. Additionally, the government revised dearness allowance rates for employees under the Fifth and Sixth Pay Commissions.

A meeting on Wednesday between Adani Airports that controls both Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports and foreign carriers ended without an agreement after around 90 minutes of discussions. About 50 executives representing almost all the 45 airlines in Mumbai's Airline Operators' Committee attended the meeting, people familiar with the matter said. Airlines sought further details before committing to the move.

Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh said on Wednesday that the US economy is not running too hot despite some demand pressures from the boom in AI investment, adding