Kolkata, Oct 28 (PTI) TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday attacked the BJP and the EC over the announcement of the SIR (Special Summary Revision) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, alleging that the exercise was designed to exclude genuine voters and tilt the political balance ahead of the 2026 state polls. Banerjee alleged that the EC was rushing through a mammoth task that took two years in 2002, with the intent of bringing the state administration under its control so that the elected gov

Patna, Oct 28 (PTI) The INDIA bloc on Tuesday released its manifesto for the Bihar assembly polls, promising, among other things, a government job to one member of every household, restoration of old pension scheme and 200 units of free power. The 32-page-long Bihar ka Tejashwi Pran (Tejashwis resolve) was released at a crowded press conference where the 35-year-old RJD leader was joined by alliance partners. The INDIA bloc manifesto for the Bihar polls has 25 major points assuring practical sol

New Delhi, Oct 28 (PTI) Gold prices dropped by Rs 4,100 to Rs 1,21,800 per 10 grams in the national capital and slipped below USD 4,000 an ounce in the global markets on Tuesday as easing US-China trade tensions dampened safe-haven appeal. According to the All India Sarafa Association, the precious metal had closed at Rs 1,25,900 per 10 grams on Monday. In the local bullion market, gold of 99.5 per cent purity also tumbled by Rs 4,100 to Rs 1,21,200 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes) from its

New Delhi, Oct 28 (PTI) The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the 8th Pay Commission, which will be headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai. The panels award is likely to come into effect from January 1, 2026. The recommendations of the 8th Pay Commission will benefit about 50 lakh central government employees and 69 lakh pensioners, a government statement said after the meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Commi

New Delhi, Oct 28 (PTI) The Congress slammed the Centre on Tuesday over a purported home ministry notification that said retiring Agniveers may be absorbed in the countrys top 10 private security agencies and asked when a promise was made that pensionable government jobs would be given to them, why are they being sent to such agencies. There was no immediate reaction from the government to the Congresss claims. Congresss ex-servicemen department chairman Colonel (retired) Rohit Chaudhry said if

Mumbai, Oct 28 (PTI) Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended lower on Tuesday amid profit-taking and weak trends in Asian markets. The 30-share BSE Sensex declined 150.68 points or 0.18 per cent to settle at 84,628.16. During the day, it fell by 559.45 points or 0.65 per cent to 84,219.39. The 50-share NSE Nifty dipped 29.85 points or 0.11 per cent to 25,936.20. The Nifty-50 traded within a narrow 25,80026,000 range for most of the day, reflecting cautious sentiment ahead of key global e

New Delhi, Oct 28 (PTI) The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the 8th Pay Commission, which is likely to be implemented from January 1, 2026. The recommendations of the pay panel will benefit about 50 lakh central government employees and 69 lakh pensioners. The commission will comprise of one chairperson; one member (part time) and one member-secretary. It will make its recommendations within 18 months of the date of its constitution. The panel, to be chaired by form

Ottawa, Oct 28 (The Conversation) Last month marked the third anniversary of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran, an uprising that has been described as the countrys most significant movement since the establishment of the Islamic Republic. Though authoritarian powers and patriarchal systems continue to oppress, women journalists in the Middle East have combined reporting and activism. Many of these professionals operate under regimes that criminalize dissent. For them, reporting isnt just

Melbourne, Oct 28 (The Conversation) Most people have heard of stem cells. They are often described as miracle cells ones that can grow into any other type of cell in our bodies, promising revolutionary medical treatments. However, not all stem cells are the same, and not all of them can become treatments equally well. To appreciate what stem cells actually do and cant do we need to understand their different types. Each comes with its own strengths, limitations, and challenges. Stem cells alr

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], October 28 (ANI): After the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced to conduct the second phase of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across 12 States and Union Territories, including West Bengal. Trinamool Congress leader and State Minister Shashi Panja said that her party would fight within the purview of the Constitution and law if the voting right of any genuine voter is snatched. Speaking to reporters, Shashi Panja said, On behalf of the

Mumbai, Oct 28 (PTI) Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty were trading with gains early on Tuesday, driven by hopes of rate cut by the Federal Reserve and prospects of a US-China trade deal. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 125.93 points to 84,904.77 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty went up by 39.8 points to 26,005.85. From the Sensex firms, State Bank of India, Tata Steel, Larsen & Toubro, Adani Ports, Titan and Maruti were among the major gainers. However, ICICI Bank, Bajaj Finance,

Washington, October 28, 2025 (AP) Plan on a glorious extra hour of sleep as most of America falls back into standard time. But make sure to get outside for some morning sun, too itll help your body clock reset faster. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. local time Sunday, which means you should set your clock back an hour before you go to bed. Standard time will last until March 8 when we will again spring forward with the return of daylight saving time. Theres a lot of grumbling about the twi

TOKYO, October 28, 2025 (AP) President Donald Trump began one of his busiest days of his Asia trip on Tuesday by warmly greeting the new Japanese prime minister, with plans to later speak to U.S. troops aboard an aircraft carrier and mingle with business leaders. Although Trump is visiting one of Americas most steadfast allies in Asia, theres no shortage of uncertainty while hes there. Sanae Takaichi, who became the countrys first female prime minister only days ago, must solidify her relations

New Delhi, Oct 27 (PTI) The Election Commission will conduct phase two of the SIR (special intensive revision) of electoral rolls in 12 states and Union Territories between November and February, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced on Monday. The states and Union Territories are: the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Among these, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Ke

New Delhi, Oct 27 (PTI) Gold prices declined by Rs 700 to Rs 1,25,900 per 10 grams in the national capital on Monday, tracking weak global trends as easing US-China trade tensions dented safe-haven demand. According to the All India Sarafa Association, the yellow metal had climbed Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,26,600 per 10 grams on Saturday. Gold of 99.5 per cent purity also fell by Rs 700 to Rs 1,25,300 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes). It had settled at Rs 1,26,000 per 10 grams in the previous sessio

Mumbai, Oct 27 (PTI) Benchmark BSE Sensex jumped by nearly 567 points and broader Nifty closed above 25,900 on Monday following a sharp rally in global markets, as softer-than-expected US inflation reignited hopes of Fed rate cuts this year. The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 566.96 points or 0.67 per cent to settle at 84,778.84. During the day, it surged 720.2 points or 0.85 per cent to 84,932.08. The 50-share NSE Nifty climbed 170.90 points or 0.66 per cent to 25,966.05. Prospects of a US-China tr

Sydney, Oct 27 (The Conversation) Right now, more than 311,000 Australian Facebook users can apply for a slice of a A$50 million compensation fund from tech giant Meta the largest ever payment for a breach of Australians privacy. But the clock is ticking. Even if youre eligible, you only have until December 31 2025 to make your claim. Similar payouts have already begun in the United States. From whos eligible, to how to make a claim, to how much the eventual payout might be: heres what you need

New Delhi, Oct 27 (PTI) Gold and silver fell sharply in the futures market on Monday, tracking weakness in global bullion markets as growing optimism over a potential US-China trade deal and a strong dollar weighed on the safe-haven asset. On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), gold futures for December delivery dropped by Rs 1,546, or 1.25 per cent to Rs 1,21,905 per 10 grams in a business turnover of 12,428 lots. The yellow metal lost Rs 3,557, or 2.80 per cent, during the holiday-shortened we

Windsor, Oct 27 (The Conversation) We all want closure. A breakup, a sudden job loss, or the death of someone we love can leave us desperate for answers. Wars, natural disasters and shared tragedies stir the same kind of longing. Our need for closure runs so deep, its echoed everywhere in movies, novels, songs about heartbreak and loss, even in everyday phrases like moving on or getting over something. However, closure is easier said than done. Sometimes it never fully arrives. When it doesnt,

Oct 27 (Reuters) Gold prices fell on Monday, as a stronger dollar and signs of easing U.S.-China trade tensions weighed on the safe-haven metal, while investors awaited major central bank meetings due later this week for monetary policy cues. Spot gold was down 1% at $4,072.65 per ounce, as of 0504 GMT. U.S. gold futures for December delivery lost 1.3% to $4,085.60. The U.S. dollar rose to a more than two-week high against the yen, making gold more expensive for other currency holders. On Sunda

Mumbai, Oct 27 (PTI) Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rebounded in early trade on Monday, mirroring a sharp rally in global markets, as softer-than-expected US inflation report has reignited hopes of Fed rate cuts. Prospects of a USChina trade deal and fresh foreign fund inflows also added to the markets optimism. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 272.7 points to 84,484.58 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty went up by 88.55 points to 25,883.70. From the Sensex firms, Tata Steel, Bharti Airte

Coriander seeds regularly used in curries and stews could help cut your risk of developing serious health conditions. Studies indicate that coriander seeds may help lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure. This might also reduce your risk of associated issues such as heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Research published in Current Cardiology Reviews showed that the seeds could decrease low-density lipoproteins (LDL) often called bad cholesterol as well as fats called triglycerides. T

BENGALURU, Oct 27 (Reuters) The Indian economy will grow slightly faster than previously expected this fiscal year, a Reuters poll showed, as economists raised their forecasts for a second straight month following a surprise 7.8% expansion in the April to June quarter. That unexpected boost, along with a cut to the countrys Goods and Services Tax (GST) timed around the festive season to spur consumer demand, has led most economists in the October 15-24 survey to revise up their full-year foreca

Mumbai, Oct 17 (PTI) Benchmark Sensex spurted by 484 points and Nifty closed above 25,700 on Friday, extending their winning run to the third consecutive day on buying in blue-chip banking and oil shares and foreign fund inflows. In a volatile session, the 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 484.53 points or 0.58 per cent to settle at 83,952.19. During the day, it surged 704.58 points or 0.84 per cent to 84,172.24. The 50-share NSE Nifty climbed 124.55 points or 0.49 per cent to 25,709.85. Among Sensex f

Mumbai, Oct 17 (PTI) The rupee pared initial gains and settled for the day lower by 6 paise at 88.02 against the US dollar on Friday, weighed down by trade tensions and global uncertainties. Forex traders said renewed foreign fund inflows and lower crude oil prices boosted investor sentiment further and restricted the downfall. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened below the 88-mark at 87.91 against the greenback, and touched an intraday high of 87.75. The domestic unit also touche

MUMBAI, Oct 17 (Reuters) Indias gold reserves crossed the $100 billion mark for the first time, according to the RBI (Reserve Bank of Indias) latest foreign exchange reserves data, buoyed by a global price rally even as the central banks purchases slowed sharply this year. Indias gold holdings rose by $3.595 billion to $102.365 billion in the week through October 10, RBI data showed on Friday, while overall foreign exchange reserves declined $2.18 billion to $697.784 billion. The share of gold

New Delhi, Oct 17 (PTI) Gold prices surged by Rs 3,200 to touch a new lifetime high of Rs 1,34,800 per 10 grams in the national capital on Friday, buoyed by strong festive buying by jewellers and retailers ahead of Dhanteras, according to the All India Sarafa Association. The precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity had ended at Rs 1,31,600 per 10 grams in the previous session. In tandem, gold of 99.5 per cent purity also jumped by Rs 3,200 to scale an all-time high of Rs 1,34,200 per 10 grams (in

Patna, Oct 17 (PTI) CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya has charged the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar with serving its people a cocktail of crime, corruption and communalism, the three Cs on which the Chief Minister had promised not to compromise. In an interview with PTI here, the Left leader described as scary the situation in the state, where the longest serving Chief Minister claims to have ended jungle raj that allegedly prevailed under the rule of RJD, an ally of

Mumbai, Oct 17 (PTI) Golds glittering rally is expected to continue, with prices likely to climb towards Rs 1.35 lakh/10 gram (USD 4,500 per ounce) in overseas markets, supported by sustained global central bank purchases, persistent geopolitical tensions, and strong Asian demand, according to a report by Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd. Silver, which has outperformed gold in terms of returns so far this year, is projected to climb to around Rs 2,30,000 per Kg (USD 75 per ounce), aided by r

MUMBAI, Oct 17 (Reuters) The RBI (Reserve Bank of India) sold U.S. dollars through state-run banks before the spot market opened on Friday, traders said, repeating its midweek pre-market intervention and underscoring its intent to support the rupee. The RBIs intervention helped the rupee open firmer against the U.S. dollar despite pre-market signals of weakness. Quotes in the interbank order-matching system had pointed to a possible dip past the 88 level before state-run banks stepped in to sel

WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI, Oct 16 (Reuters) The United States and India have held productive trade talks, and Indian refiners are already cutting Russian oil imports by 50%, a White House official told Reuters on Thursday. However, Indian sources said the cut was not visible yet, though it could be reflected in import numbers for December or January. Refiners had already placed orders for November loading that included some cargoes for December arrival as well, the sources said. The Indian governmen

WHO (Community Oriented Programme for Control of Rheumatic Diseases) had presents findings from the largest-ever multi-site community survey covering more than 56,000 people across rural and urban India, which shows 195.29 million Indians or one in six suffer from arthritis-related pains, with women accounting for nearly two-thirds of the total burden. The study was recently published in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases (Mar 2025 online). As per the research, arthritis pains emerg

New Delhi, Oct 16 (PTI) The Attorney General on Thursday granted his consent for initiating criminal contempt proceedings against a 71-year-old advocate who recently hurled a shoe towards Chief Justice of India B R Gavai during court proceedings. Venkataramni gave his consent on a plea submitted by Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) for initiating criminal contempt proceedings against advocate Rakesh Kishore for reprehensible conduct on October 6 within the premises of the apex court and his d

Mumbai, Oct 16 (PTI) Benchmark BSE Sensex jumped by 862.23 points while Nifty closed near the 25,600 mark on Thursday, following across-the-board buying by investors triggered by a global stocks rally and US Fed rate cut hopes. The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 862.23 points or 1.04 per cent to settle at 83,467.66 with 28 of its constituents ending higher and two with losses. During the day, it zoomed 1,010.05 points or 1.22 per cent to 83,615.48. The 50-share NSE Nifty surged 261.75 points or 1.03

New Delhi, Oct 16 (PTI) Gold prices retreated from their record levels on Thursday, declining by Rs 200 to Rs 1,31,600 per 10 grams in the national capital amid profit booking by traders, according to the All India Sarafa Association. The precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity had climbed by Rs 1,000 to hit a lifetime high of Rs 1,31,800 per 10 grams in the previous trade. In the local bullion market, gold of 99.5 per cent purity also dipped by Rs 200 to Rs 1,31,000 per 10 grams (inclusive of al

New Delhi, Oct 16 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Thursday said it expects the Election Commission to look into typographical errors and other mistakes in the final Bihar electoral roll prepared after the Special Intensive Revision exercise as a responsible authority and come out with remedial measures. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said it will hear on November 4 the legal issues pertaining to the Bihar SIR exercise. The poll panel said that since its publication of the final el

New Delhi [India], October 16 (ANI): Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that he is frightened of Donald Trump, after the US President claimed that India had assured him of stopping the purchase of oil from Russia. Rahul Gandhi objected to Donald Trumps claim and listed allegations against the Union Government to bolster his point. PM Modi is frightened of Trump, Rahul Gandhi said as he li

Melbourne, Oct 16 (The Conversation) The rate of unemployment in Australia is on the rise again. Official labour force data released on Thursday shows that in the month to September, Australias seasonally adjusted unemployment rate jumped from 4.3% to 4.5%. Thats the highest rate since November 2021. The surprise jump strengthens the case for the Reserve Bank of Australia to cut the official cash rate in November. Jobless rate climbs to 3.9% in November (highest since April 2022) but main story

October 15, 2025 (AP) Heres a simple way to switch up your walking routine: try walking backward. Taking a brisk walk is an exercise rich in simplicity, and it can have impressive mental and physical benefits: stronger bones and muscles, cardiovascular fitness and stress relief, to name a few. But like any workout, hoofing it for your health may feel repetitive and even boring after a while. Backward walking, also known as retro walking or reverse walking, adds variety to an exercise routine. T

New Delhi, Oct 15 (PTI) Rising for the third straight session, gold prices on Wednesday rallied by Rs 1,000 to scale an all-time high of Rs 1,31,800 per 10 grams in the national capital on continuous buying by retailers and jewellers amid the ongoing festive season. According to the All India Sarafa Association, the precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity had closed at Rs 1,30,800 per 10 grams on Tuesday. In the local bullion market, gold of 99.5 per cent purity appreciated by Rs 1,000 to hit a r

Queensland, Oct 15 (The Conversation) You look so great! Have you lost weight? Wow, youre looking so healthy now! Good for you. As fat people, weve heard comments like this for most of our lives. At the times when our bodies were smaller, these comments made us feel proud and accepted. We felt like we were finally good enough. But when we regained the weight, as happens for most people, we felt like our bodies were no longer good enough and that these well-intentioned comments were in fact harmf

New Delhi, Oct 15 (PTI) Gold prices on Wednesday surged by Rs 1,244, reaching a new all-time high of Rs 1,27,500 per 10 grams in domestic futures trade, while the yellow metal breached the USD 4,200 per ounce level in global markets, fuelled by strong safe-haven demand. Analysts said traders rushed to safe-haven assets after renewed geopolitical and trade worries clouded the global economic outlook. The sentiment was further buoyed by remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, hinting at

New Delhi [India], October 15 (ANI): The Congress partys Central Election Committee (CEC) has approved a list of candidates for the Bihar Assembly elections and has gotten some clarity on the quality seats they want to contest, partys Bihar president Rajesh Ram said on Tuesday. After atleast a 2-hour-long meeting held at the partys office in Delhi, the party has made strong decisions on the quality faces for the Vidhan Sabha seats Congress plans to contest. However, Congress has not announced th

Islamabad, Oct 15 (PTI) Pakistan and the IMF on Wednesday reached a staff-level agreement (SLA) on the countrys loan programmes, paving the way for Islamabad to access USD 1.2 billion, pending approval from the global lenders board. The Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) will provide Pakistan with USD 1 billion under its Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and USD 200 million under its Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) after approval from the funds board. Last week, an IMF mi

Patna, Oct 15 (PTI) Expressing dissatisfaction over the seat-sharing arrangement within the ruling NDA in Bihar ahead of the assembly polls, Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief and Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha on Wednesday said, This time, nothing is well in NDA. Kuswaha, who left for Delhi on Wednesday to meet senior BJP leaders, told reporters at the airport that Everything will be fine. With this hope and belief, we are going to Delhi. According to party insiders, Kushwaha is not happy with t

NEW DELHI, October 15, 2025 (AP) A suspected short circuit sparked a fire on a passenger bus in Rajasthan on Tuesday, rapidly engulfing the vehicle in flames and burning at least 20 people to death, authorities said. The bus with 35 to 50 passengers aboard was minutes from starting its journey between the towns of Jaisalmer and Jodhpur when the fire broke out, local ruling party lawmaker Mahant Pratap Puri told The Associated Press. Passengers didnt get time to deboard the bus as the fire sprea

Mumbai, Oct 15 (PTI) Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty were trading higher in early trade on Wednesday, tracking a rally in Asian markets amid hopes of a US Federal Reserve rate cut later this month. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 354.57 points to 82,384.55 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty edged higher by 109.55 points to 25,255.05. From the Sensex firms, Asian Paints, NTPC, Bajaj Finance, Bharat Electronics, Bajaj Finserv and Power Grid were among the major winners. However, Tech

Mumbai, Oct 15 (PTI) The rupee recovered 88 paise from its all-time closing low to 87.93 against US dollar in early trade on Wednesday, on easing dollar index after the US Fed indicated more rate cuts in the current year. Forex traders said all decline in crude oil prices and reports of RBI intervention supported the domestic currency. At the interbank foreign exchange market the rupee opened at 88.74 against the US dollar, then gained momentum and touched 87.93, registering a gain of 88 paise f

Patna, Oct 14 (PTI) Members of the opposition Mahagathbandhan were discussing every assembly constituency in Bihar carefully, and the seat-sharing arrangement might be announced by Wednesday morning, a Congress leader said. Speaking to reporters in Patna on Tuesday, Congress national spokesperson Abhay Dubey claimed that the BJPs announcement of its partial candidates list clearly indicated friction within the NDA camp. Nitish Kumar is neither meeting journalists nor his own party leaders. One o

New Delhi, Oct 14 (PTI) Gold prices on Tuesday surged by Rs 2,850 to breach the Rs 1.3 lakh per 10 gram-mark for the first time in the national capital, driven by heavy festive buying by retailers and jewellers ahead of Dhanteras. According to the All India Sarafa Association, the precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity jumped Rs 2,850 to a record of Rs 1,30,800 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes) against the previous close of Rs 1,27,950. Gold of 99.5 per cent purity also advanced by Rs 2,850