Gen Z isn't saving chikankari, kundan for weddings: It is turning Indian wear into everyday fashion

Gen Z is making Indian fashion everyday wear, pairing kurtas, chikankari, ajrakh and heirloom jewellery with jeans, sneakers and blazers rather than saving them for festivals or weddings. The shift blends comfort, cultural pride and fashion independence, not just an Instagram trend. Designers say cuts and styling change context, while lockdown and social media revived heritage styles.

Review: The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout

Elizabeth Strout’s novel follows teacher Artie Dam, whose question—why people never say anything real?—exposes silence around him. The article links his experience to pluralistic ignorance: private doubts masquerade as consensus, especially amid political division and post-pandemic anxiety. His family ties show intimacy cannot ensure understanding, while the story asks what makes honesty possible.

Arijit Singh’s ₹11.8 lakh concert package sells out; Diljit Dosanjh keeps ticket prices at ₹18K

Arijit Singh’s 2027 India tour will offer premium packages reaching ₹11.8 lakh, sharply contrasting with Diljit Dosanjh’s Aura World Tour, whose costliest tickets are capped at ₹18,000. Arijit’s nine-city run begins in Ahmedabad on January 9, while Diljit’s India leg starts in Delhi-NCR on November 1. Both singers have built careers in music and film.

MacBook Neo is back in stock, and this could be the right time to buy one

Apple’s MacBook Neo is back in stock in both storage variants as Amazon’s festival discounts and bank offers may bring prices closer to launch levels. Its A18 Pro chip, macOS and 16-hour claimed battery life make it an affordable first Mac for iPhone users, though 8GB memory and limited connectivity may constrain demanding workloads.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s fragrance brand hits ₹120 crore revenue, records 8-fold growth

Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s fragrance brand Secret Alchemist has crossed ₹120 crore in revenue, recording eightfold growth in eight months alongside Maa Inti Bangaaram’s ₹100-crore box-office success. Co-founded with Ankita Thadani and Akash Vali, the brand is gaining traction for its formulations in India’s fragrance market. Samantha’s other ventures span fashion, activewear and supplements.

Sony debuts ECM-AX10 microphone to make smartphone videos sound more real

Sony’s ECM-AX10 smartphone microphone, priced at Rs 17,990 in India and arriving October 21, 2026, captures spatial audio through four omnidirectional capsules and connects via USB-C to compatible phones. Weighing 24g, it offers ambisonic, binaural and stereo modes, with Sony’s app for recording, editing and YouTube export. Designed for mobile creators, it is Eclipsa Audio-certified.

Grap 1 in Delhi-NCR as AQI turns ‘poor’; Rubio reaffirms US commitment to India ties | Top News

Delhi-NCR imposed Grap I measures after air quality entered the “poor” category. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said ties with Pakistan would not come at India’s expense. The Delhi High Court told two CJP leaders they were “not Gen Z”; jeweller Vummidi Ethiraj died aged 99, while Palash Sen alleged Salman Khan was involved in paid negative PR.

Hindon airport to operate six flights to six cities under winter schedule till mid-April

Hindon airport’s proposed winter schedule will cut services from 10–11 flights to six connections serving Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Varanasi, Nanded and Adampur, officials said, with the timetable running from late October to mid-April 2027. They attributed the reduction to winter weather and the West Asia conflict; the airport, operational since 2019, uses the adjoining airbase runway.

'Don't meddle with powers of other agencies': SC to ED in case against ex-Kerala CM

The Supreme Court stayed further investigation for seven days in the CMRL-Exalogic payoff case, allowing Pinarayi Vijayan and relatives to challenge High Court orders, while clarifying the FIR remains active. It warned the Enforcement Directorate not to exceed statutory powers or intrude on agencies. The case concerns alleged ₹278-crore payments to his daughter’s firm without services.

Amy Acton reacts as Vivek Ramaswamy takes credit for ad featuring her estranged mom: ‘Disgusting’

Vivek Ramaswamy acknowledged his campaign made an ad featuring Amy Acton’s estranged mother, who called the Ohio gubernatorial Democrat a liar and urged voters to reject her. He defended it as a response to Acton’s attacks and refusal to debate, saying Arthur was unpaid. Acton and her brother condemned it, citing childhood abuse; she leads by 3.7 points.

Why India is winning global entrepreneurial talent

India is emerging as a credible base for founders, including returning Indians and foreign entrepreneurs, as domestic risk capital, government-backed innovation funding, stronger public markets and startup talent reduce the case for building elsewhere. AI further lowers costs and helps teams serve complex local markets. Once a place founders left, India is increasingly a choice.

Why enumeration matters for disability inclusion

India’s 2027 Census must count persons with disabilities more accurately through accessible self-enumeration and trained enumerators, reducing stigma-driven underreporting. Questions reflecting the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act’s 21 categories and functional difficulties could reveal needs missed by 2011’s narrower approach. Screen-reader access and multilingual guidance can broaden participation; 2011 counted 2.68 crore people with disabilities, 2.21% of the population.

In the age of AI, what should higher education still teach?

With 90% of employees using generative AI, higher education must teach what machines cannot: depth, judgment, practical application and continual learning. Institutions should restore foundational problem-solving, assess reasoning through live business challenges and connect study with work. The shift is urgent: MBA employability is falling, while workers’ skills are expected to change substantially by 2030.

Bullet removed from Mumbai vlogger injured in attack on Tiger Shroff’s car: KEM hospital dean

Doctors at Mumbai’s KEM Hospital removed the bullet lodged in vlogger Umesh Chouhan’s chest during Wednesday’s surgery; he is stable and expected to leave within days but remains in intensive care with a liver injury. He was shot when gunmen fired seven rounds near Tiger Shroff’s car in Juhu. Shroff was discharged; his driver remains hospitalized.

Why India and Sri Lanka must build energy interdependence

Sri Lanka and India should build energy interdependence to blunt oil shocks, pairing Sri Lankan renewable power with India’s grid, capital and technology. A proposed 1,000-megawatt subsea link, storage, Trincomalee’s oil tanks and maritime security could anchor cooperation, but policy volatility and stalled projects threaten progress; the push follows Hormuz disruption and Sri Lanka’s 2022 crisis.

As crowds fill streets from France to Albania, the science of how protests take off and spread

Protests over school funding and living costs have spread from France across Europe, as students respond to pressures and draw inspiration from demonstrations abroad. Research shows movements grow when participation encourages others, news and networks carry protest tactics, and organizations connect groups; such waves often reflect either imitation or simultaneous reactions to the same conditions.

Horoscope Tomorrow, October 22, 2026

Tomorrow’s horoscope emphasizes reflection, trusted guidance and choices, with Aries urged to step back, reconsider priorities and move at a pace that feels right. Across the zodiac, patience, self-awareness and balanced boundaries can help navigate uncertainty, relationships, finances and ambition, while practical plans turn fresh ideas into progress. These readings provide sign-by-sign advice from tarot reader Kishori Sud.

Diesel diplomacy: The American rush for black gold

Trump’s October 2026 “diesel diplomacy”—waiving sanctions on Russian oil and sending Marco Rubio to India—aims to curb US diesel prices by pairing Russian crude with India’s refining and export capacity, especially Reliance’s Jamnagar refinery. The strategy could stabilize supplies and deepen energy ties, while giving India leverage; its 5.4-million-barrel daily capacity underpins that role.

Cafe owner’s death: Model Shraddha Dubey, 2 others sent to UP on transit remand

A Nagpur court granted Uttar Pradesh police transit remand until October 24 for model Shraddha Dubey, her sister Rashmi and driver Tanveer Ali, arrested over cafe owner Shiva Sharma’s death; officers left for Lucknow Wednesday. The trio fled across several cities before being traced. Initially deemed accidental, Sharma’s death prompted a murder complaint; Dubey denies involvement.

Locking in the India-Canada reset

India and Canada’s rapid diplomatic thaw has revived trade talks and business ties, with both governments targeting a year-end agreement and C$70-billion trade by 2030. But separatist activity, the Nijjar trial and political change could undo progress; a durable partnership will require a trade pact, security cooperation and engagement with mainstream Sikh communities, after years of diplomatic rupture.

Australian Zoo celebrates its 1st cassowary egg since 1992, featuring green shell made for survival

Adelaide Zoo’s 34-year cassowary-egg drought ended when supervisor Erin discovered a fluorescent-green egg laid by 10-year-old Martina, paired with 13-year-old Jeffrey. Its color comes from biliverdin, which camouflages eggs among rainforest leaves. The zoo last welcomed cassowary chicks in 1992; males incubate eggs and raise young, while females leave them in their care.

US Treasury yields hold steady as investors await economic data ahead of Fed rate decision

U.S. Treasury yields were little changed Wednesday as investors awaited mortgage-rate and jobless-claims reports for clues to economic strength and the Federal Reserve’s October 28 rate decision. The 10-year yield held at 5.1211%, the two-year at 4.7889%, and the 30-year at 5.4320%. Rising oil prices amid supply concerns added inflation uncertainty; bond prices and yields move inversely.

No tandoor at eateries, open burning of waste: List of curbs under Grap-1 in Delhi

Delhi recorded a minimum of 18°C on Wednesday, with a high of 31°C forecast, as air quality reached the “poor” category, with an AQI of 233 at 9 a.m.; authorities enforced Stage-I GRAP restrictions after readings climbed from 179 to 244. Measures target dust, waste burning, dirty fuels, generators and polluting vehicles, while the November–February winter plan adds construction curbs, monitoring and cleaner transport.

Stephen Hubbard, retired Michigan teacher detained in Russia since 2022, released

President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg Wednesday, thanking him for releasing Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American detained since 2022. The meeting coincided with negotiations to free detained U.S. citizens. Hubbard, a retired Michigan educator living in Ukraine, was sentenced on mercenary charges that his family and U.S. officials reject.

Jeweller who crafted 'Sengol' installed in Parliament dies at 99. PM Modi condoles loss

Jeweller Vummidi Ethiraj, who helped craft the historic Sengol presented to Jawaharlal Nehru, died in Chennai Wednesday aged 99, drawing condolences from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan. Modi noted its 2023 placement in the new Parliament building. Ethiraj headed the family behind 125-year-old Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers, leaving a legacy in Indian jewellery craftsmanship.

Guwahati woman found dead in rented flat, insurance company senior officer held: Police

Guwahati police arrested Biswanath Das, state head of a private insurance company, for alleged abetment of suicide after a 29-year-old employee was found dead in her Hengrabari apartment. Police said a suicide note accused Das of mental and physical torture; he is currently being questioned, with autopsy results pending. The woman’s family suspects foul play.

Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif flags ‘exodus’ of top officials in country

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif alleges senior bureaucrats arranged overseas moves while serving, questioning their commitment to the country; he says Portugal is a favored destination and claims a residency facilitator took money, but named no one and offered no evidence. Former intelligence official Tilak Devasher said the alleged exodus signals concerns about Pakistan’s future.

Takeaways from AP’s report on the taxpayer-funded growth of classical Christian schools

Conservatives plan to build 5,000 classical Christian schools for 1.5 million students within a decade, using scholarships making half of U.S. children eligible for aid. The Association of Classical Christian Schools calls public funding an opportunity; critics warn it could drain public schools and raise church-state concerns. Founded in 1994, its network has 500 schools.

GRAP Stage 1 invoked later this year thanks to govt’s preventive measures: Sirsa

Delhi-NCR entered Stage I of GRAP after air quality fell to “poor,” later than in previous years, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, citing readiness to curb winter pollution. Measures include vehicle curbs, staggered office hours, remote work and construction restrictions. The government’s 11-point plan involves nearly 30 agencies, addressing pollution that largely crosses Delhi’s borders.

Celebs bid adieu to Maa Durga in festive style in Mumbai

Bollywood stars gathered in Mumbai on October 20 to bid farewell to Maa Durga, closing Dussehra’s Durga Puja festivities with traditional dress and rituals. Soha Ali Khan performed the dhunuchi dance in an orange saree, while Juhi Chawla, Kajol, Tanishaa, Neelam Kothari and Seema Sajdeh wore festive looks. Karan Johar, Manish Malhotra and Ayan Mukerji attended.