The Economic Times

India's retail inflation accelerated to 5.54% in September 2026, a notable rise from August's 4.83%. This jump is particularly linked to rising food prices, predominantly in vegetables. Rural inflation hit 6.08%, outpacing urban inflation at 4.88%. In response, the Reserve Bank of India increased the benchmark repo rate by 25 basis points on October 7, 2026, and revised its inflation outlook for the fiscal year 2027.

Nepal Flash Floods Reason: Nepal has witnessed another flash flood after a landslide blocked the Budhi Gandaki River in Gorkha district. Here's why repeated floods are hitting the Himalayan country, how climate change and unstable mountain slopes contribute to the risk, and why India needs to monitor downstream rivers.

India secured a 14-run victory in the third T20 International against West Indies, leading the series 2-1. Arshdeep Singh played a crucial role by taking three wickets, effectively resigning Shai Hope for just five runs. The bowlers executed their strategy successfully, limiting West Indies to 209 after batting first. Arshdeep also contributed with the bat, scoring 11 runs including a six.

A Shimla consumer commission has ordered a lender to pay a borrower the market value of around 103 grams of pledged 22 carat gold, plus Rs 50,000 as compensation and costs. It found the lender did not follow RBI rules on consent and notice for surprise verification of pledged gold.

Amenhotep III's tomb has been reopened to the public after undergoing significant restoration in Egypt. Initially unearthed during Napoleons expedition in 1799 and thoroughly excavated in 1915, the tomb still showcases remarkable wall paintings and hieroglyphs, despite extensive looting. Amenhotep III, who ruled for an impressive 38 years, was responsible for erecting numerous grand monuments. His mummy is currently housed at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Cairo.

Control of the US Senate will hinge on a small group of closely watched races, with Democrats defending seats in Georgia, Michigan and New Hampshire while targeting Republican-held contests in Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, Alaska, Iowa, Texas and Kansas. Democrats need a net gain of four seats for a 51-49 majority, making breakthroughs in several states Trump carried in 2024 crucial to their chances.

Alexander Dobrindt emphasized the need for enhanced intelligence capabilities to address emerging threats facing Germany. He believes the current 'shadow war' surpasses the intensity of the Cold War. The German government is reviewing a reform bill to empower its intelligence agencies. This bill arises from concerns following a recent failed attack linked to Russia. Officials assert that Germany must not lag behind in intelligence development amidst these challenges.

The Delhi High Court sought the city police's stand on a plea by activist Natasha Narwal seeking permission to travel to the United Kindom for an academic conference. The plea follows Narwal's bail in connection to 2020 northeast Delhi riots. Her counsel sought an speedy decision to apply for her visa release, release her passport and purchase tickets.

Democrats enter the November 3 midterms with favourable conditions, including Trumps low approval ratings and voter concern over prices and the Iran war, but several structural factors could limit their gains. Fewer competitive House seats, a difficult Senate map, turnout risks, Republicans financial advantage, polling uncertainty and GOP attacks portraying Democrats as socialists could all keep the election from becoming a sweeping Democratic wave.

Economists Robert E. Hall and Michael Woodford won the Economics Nobel, known formally as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, the prize committee announced on October 12.

Chief Minister VD Satheesan, who moved the resolution, called for the restoration of voting rights for eligible voters who were allegedly removed from electoral rolls. The resolution also sought proceedings to remove Kumar and proposed changes to the committee responsible for appointing the CEC and Election Commissioners.

Robert E. Hall and Michael Woodford have been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for their research. Their work focuses on improving macroeconomic models that aid policymakers in stabilizing the economy. The research demonstrates how fiscal and monetary measures can effectively reduce economic fluctuations and downturns. Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee previously won the prize in 2019 for their work on poverty alleviation.

Naman Dhir performed well in his debut T20I series, taking important wickets against the West Indies. He utilizes his batting skills to anticipate batters' intentions while bowling, enhancing his performance. Dhir emphasizes the importance of line, length, and pace variations as an off-spinner. He identifies himself as a batting all-rounder, flexible in his batting position based on the match situation.

Rahul Gandhis direct message to CEC Gyanesh Kumar: I get messages, he is watching this

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has addressed the rumors regarding the India-Sri Lanka ODI match. According to BCCI Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia, the match remains scheduled in Delhi. He emphasized that no decision has been made to shift the venue to Ahmedabad. Saikia urged the media to rely solely on official BCCI communications for updates.

Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, criticized the denotification of Jantar Mantar as a protest site. He stated that it might lead to nationwide protests resembling the previous protests at Jantar Mantar. Dipke emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi could potentially denotify democracy as well. He claimed that the issue lies not in the protest site itself but in the concept of protests.

Jantar Mantar sits 1.5 km from Parliament and spent over three decades as Delhis main protest ground. Now Delhi Police has replaced it with three new sites spread across the city. This slideshow covers how far those sites are from Parliament and what made the original venue so historically significant.

Chinas passenger car exports jumped 64% year-on-year in September to about 919,000 units as automakers increasingly looked overseas to offset weak domestic demand. Chinese brands are expanding rapidly across Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa, but tariffs and geopolitical pushback are pushing companies such as BYD to manufacture more vehicles locally in foreign markets.

The landscape of India's office market is evolving as demand shifts with a notable increase from global capability centres and flexible workspace operators. Traditional IT service firms are experiencing a downturn in leasing activity. While Bangalore retains its status as the top destination for global capability centres, Hyderabad is surging in leasing growth.

Airbus has successfully conducted a test flight of the Valkyrie drone in Europe, demonstrating the potential for military drone integration. The flight showcased the drone's capabilities as it reached speeds of Mach 0.8 during various maneuvers. A partnership with Kratos Defense aims to equip the German Air Force with combat drones by 2029. Expected costs and specifications are under evaluation, with a focus on European production possibilities.

The Gujarat government has classified 268 talukas across 34 districts into two categories for future investment prospects. This initiative intends to promote balanced development, focusing on new entrepreneurs and industrial expansion. The revised classifications will help businesses understand applicable incentives based on their project's location. The industrial policy also emphasizes supporting MSMEs, startups, and green initiatives. Overall, the government aims to accelerate industrial inve

Mumbai's water supply is presently unable to meet the increasing demand, which is expected to rise substantially. By 2041, the anticipated deficit could exceed 2,300 million litres daily, posing critical challenges. Current water projects are encountering delays, which hampers timely resource delivery and management. Additionally, a recent monsoon shortfall has complicated the city's water situation even further.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant said the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has grown into a trusted institution for the number of cases it decides and being accessible to the most under-voiced groups. He referred to the NHRC's interventions to protect the underprivileged. The judge hailed the human rights institution for the credibility that it has built over the years and emphasised the need for water conservation.

Donald Trump, who imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports to pressure New Delhi to stop buying Russian oil, has agreed to bring Russian diesel into global markets as US fuel prices rise ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

The AIADMKs vote share fell sharply in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram bypolls, pushing the party to third place behind the ruling TVK and DMK and raising fresh questions over its leadership and electoral strategy. The setback was particularly severe in its traditional Kongu stronghold of Dharapuram, where its vote share dropped from 40.56% in April to 25.08%, prompting Edappadi K Palaniswami to promise a structural overhaul and stronger youth outreach.

Siddharth Kapur's new initiative, InsynQ by Quantum, serves as a growth advisory platform geared toward startups and family businesses. This venture concentrates on aiding companies in scaling up via strategic operations and market development. Employing a hands-on partnership model, InsynQ collaborates with leadership to ensure seamless execution, assisting firms in overcoming hurdles associated with growth transitions, and tapping into Quantum's rich data insights and research.

Piyush Goyal stated that automakers in Europe may consider manufacturing in India due to stringent regulations. He remarked that India is on the path to becoming a global car manufacturing hub. Goyal referenced challenges faced by Tata Motors after acquiring Jaguar, highlighting the need for re-engineering. The ministry has set an ambitious target of $1 trillion in exports this fiscal year.

Justice V Ramasubramanian, speaking at the NHRC anniversary, commented on the pressures faced by the Chief Justice of India. He described the office as powerful, vibrant, and vulnerable to constant scrutiny and challenges. Ramasubramanian expressed gratitude to CJI Surya Kant for accepting the invitation amid high demand for his presence. The NHRC commemorated 33 years since its establishment, emphasizing its progress in human rights.

The Supreme Court was on Monday urged to urgently hear contempt petitions alleging that the Centre violated its 2024 judgment on genetically modified (GM) crops, following the alleged approval of herbicide-tolerant GM basmati rice for cultivation.

This is Shivas Tandav, no planning..: Rahul shares discussion with sister Priyanka over protest

'They bury their heads in the sand...': Hakeem Jeffries accuses Republicans of enabling corruption

Delhi Police has removed Jantar Mantar from the list of designated protest sites and named Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in East Delhi as alternatives. A revised SOP for organising demonstrations at the three venues is expected. Check where these three locations are located in Delhi and how far they are from central Delhi.

'Want 20,000 police on the streets of Delhi': Rahul Gandhi challenges centre

Gerrymandering has become an important factor in the 2026 US House elections as Republican- and Democratic-led states redraw congressional boundaries outside the usual post-census cycle to improve their chances. The new maps may not guarantee victory, but by packing or cracking voters they can reduce the number of competitive districts, influence control of the House and intensify legal fights over partisan advantage and minority voting rights.

Rahul Gandhi: More Gyanesh Kumar is protected, closer we get to his controller

State Bank of India (SBI) has warned customers about the Jumped Deposit Scam, in which fraudsters use unexpected bank credits and urgent refund calls to pressure people into approving larger UPI payments. The bank has advised customers to verify transactions, avoid suspicious payment requests, block suspected callers and report incidents promptly.

Pakistans teenage wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist has gone viral after scoring 117 runs in a school cricket tournament in Karachi. Named after Australian cricket legend Adam Gilchrist, the youngster revealed that his favourite wicketkeeper is former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara.

The European Union (EU) has agreed to restrict the import of Chinese hybrid cars to 3,50,000, with an annual increase of 6 per cent. The initial phase of the measures are expected to be implemented from early December this year.

SpaceXs move to acquire low-band spectrum licences has intensified concerns about disruption in the US telecom industry, sending shares of Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile lower. The company plans to combine satellite connectivity with terrestrial infrastructure to expand Starlink Mobile coverage. The deal, alongside regulatory approval for its next-generation satellite constellation, signals an escalation in SpaceXs challenge to established wireless operators.

Jantar Mantar has been officially denotified as a venue for protests in Delhi. Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground, and CBD Ground will now serve as designated sites for demonstrations. This change follows recommendations from a Committee set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs. A detailed Standard Operating Procedure will be issued by Delhi Police for these new venues. This notice modifies a previous Standing Order related to protest organization procedures.

Indian industries and households are grappling with power shortages due to reduced coal supplies and extreme weather conditions. The weak monsoon has limited hydropower generation while demand for electricity has surged. Many factories, including small steel mills, are facing lengthy outages, impacting production and increasing costs. Consumers in states like Uttar Pradesh are experiencing significant blackouts, prompting investments in backup systems.

In July and August, India faced significant curtailment of renewable electricity despite rising power demand. Nearly 1.8 billion units of electricity were turned away due to infrastructure challenges in absorption. Approximately 4.2% of total solar generation could not integrate into the grid during this period. Coal remains the primary electricity source, supplying two-thirds of total demand despite increases in renewable energy.

The Supreme Court addressed the ongoing concerns about Bihar's electoral rolls on Monday, stating that no judgment has been made on the new Form 6. Justice Bagchi highlighted that this form was not a matter of consideration in past hearings related to the Special Intensive Revision petition. The Election Commission had earlier suggested that their approval existed, making this clarification crucial for electoral procedures nationwide.