The Economic Times

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, the Pentagon's top military planner, amid escalating tensions with Iran. This dismissal is part of a broader trend of military leadership changes under Hegseth, including multiple generals. President Donald Trump is considering new military operations against Iran following the upcoming midterm elections. Additional troops and an aircraft carrier are being sent to the region in preparation.

Abhijeet Wanjari of the Congress party secured victory in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections from Nagpur. He defeated BJP candidate Sudhakar Kohale by a margin of 3,271 votes. The counting process extended over 40 hours and concluded in the early hours of Thursday. This win is significant as it reflects a setback for the BJP in their stronghold.

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.

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.

Heavy rainfall eased in Odisha's Rayagada district as Cyclone Arnab weakened, though authorities remained on high alert over possible further showers. The cyclone caused widespread damage in Andhra Pradesh, inundating crops across more than 70,000 hectares and uprooting trees.

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

The United States and Japan have decided to establish a facility for joint missile production in a strategic partnership. Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi highlighted the importance of this venture in addressing regional security concerns. Both nations aim to enhance their defense cooperation against rising threats, particularly regarding China's assertiveness in Asia. Additionally, discussions emphasized the significance of maintaining a rules-based international order in the region.

Crude oil price : In light of recent diplomatic talks surrounding potential U.S. military engagements with Iran, oil prices have taken a dip. These crude prices remain sensitive to the fluctuating situation marked by ongoing regional conflicts and the threat of further military interventions. Despite Iran's openness to negotiations, escalating hostilities from the Houthi faction targeting Saudi Arabia add to the uncertainty.

'They were treated very unfairly: Trump defends Flavio Bolsonaro after his family reaching in Miami

Jio Platforms made its public listing in India, achieving a market cap of $137.3 billion. This valuation positions it as the fifth-largest telecom company worldwide, surpassing Deutsche Telekom. Global competitors like China Mobile and Verizon continue to lead in market capitalization. Jio's valuation reflects its advanced 4G and 5G networks, which differ from legacy infrastructures of global giants.

Persistent Systems plans to raise more than

A U.S. District Judge dismissed the Trump administration's bid to halt ballot processing in California. This decision followed claims that some voters might not be U.S. citizens. The ruling aims to prevent disenfranchisement and election uncertainty. More than 3.7 million Californians have already cast their votes ahead of Election Day. Similar actions have been attempted by the administration in Washington and Alaska over electoral processes.

The Patna Municipal Corporation is set to launch

Jio Platforms made a remarkable entrance in the stock market, soaring 21.4% above its IPO price on the first day of trading. Closing at

Major American and foreign airlines have urged the CDC to reconsider upcoming travel rules concerning Ebola. They argue that the requirement for attestations from travelers is unreasonable so soon. The new regulations will begin next week and aim to prevent potential exposure to the virus. Airlines express concerns regarding the logistics involved in implementing these requirements. This situation highlights the ongoing challenges associated with managing public health threats during travel.

US Vice President JD Vance has reached out to Mohsen Rezaei in hopes of opening negotiations with Iran. This initiative comes as President Trump considers military strikes after the upcoming midterm elections. While trying to facilitate dialogue, Vance navigates internal conflict regarding the ongoing war. Rezaei has stated that Iran will not negotiate until its core demands are met.

Several mutual fund houses have temporarily stopped accepting fresh investments in gold fund-of-funds, impacting investors. These changes affect new lump-sum investments, SIP registrations, and switch-ins, leading to uncertainty. Gold fund-of-funds invest in Gold ETFs rather than physical gold, providing easier access for retail investors. For those unable to invest in gold fund-of-funds, Gold ETFs remain a viable option with no current restrictions.

The Reserve Bank of India has increased the cut-off yields for treasury bills after canceling a prior auction. Yields of the 91-day, 182-day, and 364-day bills experienced a significant rise. While system liquidity has dropped compared to last month, it still remains in a positive state. Traders are bracing for additional hikes as they face liquidity constraints and high oil prices, with the 10-year yield standing at 7.

Indian equity markets took a hit on Wednesday, primarily due to declines in the IT sector and escalating crude oil prices. Both the Sensex and Nifty closed lower, showcasing investors' cautious mood amidst significant intraday drops. Key downturns were influenced by Reliance Industries along with various IT stocks, but the auto sector and select banking stocks sparked some buying activities that alleviated part of the losses.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India is set to release a consultation paper aimed at refining compliance requirements for foreign portfolio investors. Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey highlighted the progress in the onboarding of international funds while pointing out the heavy compliance burden in India. Sebi is also considering the possibility of self-listing for stock exchanges despite the challenges that may arise.

In their latest meeting, Federal Reserve officials decided to keep interest rates steady, reflecting a measured approach towards inflation concerns. Not all agreed, however; two officials pushed for an increase to counteract growing prices. Current economic indicators reveal robust growth, driven by increased consumer spending and investment. Analysts are keenly awaiting upcoming inflation data to better gauge the Fed's policy direction, which aims for a 2 percent inflation target.

Hindustan Unilever posted a turnover of

The Government of India is willing to consider suggestions from news organisations about the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that journalistic freedom is guaranteed by the Constitution and will not be affected. Concerns have been raised about the Act's provisions potentially infringing on press freedom and the Right to Information Act. The Digital News Publishers Association argues for exemptions for journalism activities within the DPDP Act.

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.

Heck of a family fight: Kevin Warsh signals dissent in FOMC committee as Fed holds rates steady

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman responded to Rahul Gandhi's comments on the Tata group, accusing him of politicisation. She emphasised the government's support for Indian industry as key to economic growth and job creation. Sitharaman challenged Gandhi's remarks regarding legal matters connected to Tata Trusts and Tata Sons. In turn, Gandhi questioned the appropriateness of the political involvement in corporate conflicts.

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.

Kristen Wiig has reduced the asking price of her midcentury modern home in Pasadena, California to $5.495 million after initially listing it for nearly $6.3 million in May 2026. The actor purchased the property for $5.5 million in February this year. The property is located in San Rafael. The 1965 residence is spread in 5,559 square feet.

Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises minister Jitan Ram Manjhi announced the release of 1,000 crore in subsidy. This funding aims to support 11,333 new micro enterprises while facilitating bank credit of 3,260 crore. The initiative is anticipated to create over 1.02 lakh sustainable employment opportunities, primarily in rural areas. The subsidy is part of the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme, designed to boost grassroots entrepreneurship.

The Landscape of Green Finance in India, now in its fourth edition, maps actual finance flows or disbursements across sources, instruments, sectors, and subsectors for financial years 2022-23 and 2023-24. According to the report, while green finance has increased substantially between 2016-17 and 2023-24, financial flows remain concentrated in established sectors and technologies.

Israel's president expressed hope for avoiding another election following the recent vote with no decisive outcome. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc remains ahead but lacks a majority. Meanwhile, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot leads a broad opposition bloc seeking coalition opportunities. Israeli Arab parties may play a crucial role in determining the next government. Both political factions are actively looking to form alliances in this uncertain political landscape.

Party leaders said Puri's diplomatic experience has proved valuable in handling the petroleum portfolio at a time when global conflicts and geopolitical tensions have put pressure on energy supplies. His continuation also ensures senior Sikh representation in the Union government ahead of the Punjab assembly elections.

In the first eight months of 2026, countries aligned with the US purchased a net total of $174.3 billion in Treasuries. This amount represents a significant decline, reflecting a drop of over 60% from the previous year. It marks the lowest investment level recorded for this period since 2021. The data highlights a shift in fiscal relationships between the US and its partners.

Starting November 1, small online sellers will have a new option for GST registration. They can use ecommerce warehouses as local bases in other states, promoting nationwide sales. This initiative is part of a broader effort to simplify regulations and reduce expansion costs for small traders. Eligible sellers must meet specific conditions, including tax liability limits and operator consent.

The CBI's recent decision to withdraw its petitions for relocating the trials of post-poll violence in West Bengal marks a pivotal moment in the state's political dynamics. With BJP's Suvendu Adhikari now at the helm post-2026 elections, initial fears of unfair trial conditions seemed less pressing.

Prediction markets are actively trading Anthropic contracts following the company's IPO filing earlier this week. Traders are making binary bets on various elements of the IPO, such as its valuation and listing exchange. Anthropic's IPO could potentially value the company between $1.5 trillion and $2 trillion, offering a keen financial interest. Platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi are facilitating these bets and generating excitement among investors.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh cautioned that the transfer of sensitive technology to Pakistan was fraught with risks, including the possibility of weapons-related know-how leaking to third nations. The recent clearances to sell F-16 fighter jet sustainment packages to Pakistan were also raised during the meeting.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. has informed Asian refiners about future crude supply via a new pipeline. The pipeline aims to circumvent the strategic and vulnerable Strait of Hormuz, enhancing oil delivery security. Adnoc plans to initiate some supplies from Upper Zakum crude to customers at Fujairah terminal early next year. This move follows the UAE's decision to leave the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, allowing for more production flexibility.

Qatar and Pakistan are leading efforts to mediate a peace deal between Iran and the US. A new draft has been proposed, which addresses concerns of both Tehran and Washington. Iran is expected to respond to this draft by the end of the week. The deal proposes a seven-day timeline for confidence-building measures between the two nations.

Yemen's Houthis launched an attack on the Aden airport after issuing evacuation warnings due to escalating violence. Residents reported hearing explosions near the facility, leading to a halt in air traffic operations. An aid source indicated that some UN staff had left just before the attack occurred. There were also reports of explosions heard in other parts of the city during the incident.

Justice Joymalya Bagchi said Forms 6, 7 and 8 are statutory forms whose prescribed formats cannot be altered by ECI although it can seek additional particulars from applicants. The observation came amid concerns over requiring previously enrolled voters to seek fresh enrolment instead of providing an appropriate mechanism to restore their names to the roll.

Terrestar Solutions Inc. has entered into a partnership with Space42 Plc and Viasat Inc. to enhance mobile satellite connectivity. This collaboration aims to create an open standard for sharing satellite infrastructure globally. The parties signed a memorandum of understanding in Ottawa during an important diplomatic visit. Terrestar plans to develop a low-Earth orbit satellite system to improve coverage in underserved areas.

Moon is aligning with Mars on October 29 and its astrological interpreation means this is a time to have patience. You need to focus on difficult sitaution and resolve it without making a big deal out of it.

Cyclone Arnab weakened after making landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast and is expected to affect weather conditions. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecasted in various states including Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. Thunderstorms, hailstorms, lightning, and strong winds are likely across several regions of India. The India Meteorological Department is monitoring the cyclone's movement and updates accordingly. Residents are advised to stay vigilant and prepared for harsh weather.

Vedanta reported significant financial growth, achieving record revenue and net profit in the September quarter. The company's consolidated revenue increased by 57% year-on-year to 25,812 crore while Ebitda doubled to 9,938 crore. After a recent demerger, Vedanta plans to eliminate debt, nearing completion in the upcoming quarter. The company has successfully reduced its debt by nearly 10,000 crore in recent months. Shares of Vedanta closed 3.