Sensex, Nifty closed today for Dussehra, trading to resume on Wednesday

Sensex and Nifty are closed Tuesday for Dussehra, with trading resuming Wednesday, October 21; equity, derivatives, currency and SLB segments are suspended, while MCX opens for its evening session. The holiday follows Monday’s losses, driven by private-bank weakness, disappointing earnings and rising crude prices. Investors will monitor results, oil and global cues when markets reopen.

Ten states and UTs became fully literate since 2024: Ullas, the scheme behind the declarations

Jammu and Kashmir declared itself fully literate, becoming the 10th state or Union territory under Ullas, which defines full literacy as at least 95% of people aged 15 and above able to read, write and compute. Declarations rely on state door-to-door surveys, unlike national surveys. Launched in 2022, Ullas targets 50 million adults by 2027.

Yash urges fans not to nitpick VFX in Ramayana, watch film with open mind

At Ramayana’s pre-release event, Yash urged fans to support the film and avoid nitpicking its effects, saying India must protect filmmakers taking its cinema global. He said Namit Malhotra’s commitment inspired him to join as Ravana and producing partner. Despite VFX criticism, the trailer impressed fans; Nitesh Tiwari’s two-part epic adapts Valmiki’s Ramayana and opens November 5, 2026.

Yami Gautam to perform Ravan Vadh at Delhi's Luv Kush Ramleela on Dussehra

Actress Yami Gautam will perform Ravan Vadh at Delhi’s Luv Kush Ramleela on October 20, 2026, as the Red Fort Ground hosts Dussehra celebrations promoting women’s empowerment and the victory of good over evil. Organizers say the “Respect for Women” theme presents her as a symbol of courage against injustice. The event continues a tradition of Bollywood-star appearances.

India’s Red List assessment of 1,211 birds underway; initial review of 100 birds complete

India has begun an IUCN-framework Red List assessment of 1,211 bird species, with reviews completed for 107 and proposals listing the Great Indian Bustard as critically endangered and the Indian Roller as vulnerable. Preliminary work is due by year-end, with final results expected late next year. The effort supports India’s goal of assessing 11,000 species by 2030.

Ethiopia’s Prosopis tree was meant to help; researchers link land changes to $602 million in losses

Prosopis has taken over 1.17 million hectares—12.3% of Ethiopia’s Afar region—while land changes cost $602 million in ecosystem services over 31 years, threatening pastoralists’ grazing and livelihoods. It spread 31,127 hectares a year from 1986 to 2017, replacing grassland and woodland. Introduced in the 1970s–80s for fuel and soil protection, it began invading in the 1990s.

TSA-approved liquids rule explained: 3 leak-proof travel bottles under ₹999 that pass security

After testing three refillable travel-bottle sets, the writer finds no universal winner: MAYCREATE suits short trips, DEPOZA longer holidays and fuller skincare routines, while Lyrovo’s squeezable silicone bottles handle thicker products best. Mixing sets suits different trips. The article advises leaving space in bottles and keeping liquids accessible, noting that refills replace bulky bottles and disposable minis.

Fuel costs, fewer flights, West Asia crisis: What is driving airfares higher

New airfare rules are finalised for publication within two weeks, after the Supreme Court sought fare rationalisation and passenger relief. Yet tickets are climbing as West Asia’s conflict lifts jet-fuel costs, longer detours raise operating expenses, and fewer flights limit seats, especially in peak periods. Since 1994 deregulation, airlines set fares, with exceptional government intervention.

Dugga Dugga! Never mind long queues, pandal hopping @CR Park is a must!

Durga Puja crowds have filled Delhi’s Chittaranjan Park, with Maha Saptami videos showing queues stretching for kilometres outside pandals, but devotees say the wait heightens the excitement. Noida resident Soumya Roy said mantras and dhaak make visitors forget the long wait. CR Park, Delhi’s mini Bengal, is brightly glowing with festive lights and food stalls.

Vance sidesteps Netanyahu's endorsement ahead of Israel polls: ‘I’m focused on midterms'

Vance declined to endorse Netanyahu for re-election, saying he focuses on American candidates and will not intervene in Israeli politics, unlike President Donald Trump, who emphatically backed the prime minister. Trump praised Netanyahu as a “Great Warrior Prime Minister.” Israel’s October 27 election, its first since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, could determine Netanyahu’s political future.

KPop Demon Hunters star Ejae ties the knot in Seoul dressed in traditional hanboks, dreamy gowns

Ejae, the KPop Demon Hunters singer-songwriter, married Samuel Kim in Seoul on October 17, combining a Christian ceremony with the Korean Paebaek ritual. She wore Danielle Frankel and Zac Posen gowns plus two hanboks, while Samuel wore a tuxedo. The festivities honored her heritage at Stage 28, her grandfather’s home; they reportedly met in 2017.

India, Saudi Arabia discuss proposed electricity link, explore wider power cooperation

India and Saudi Arabia reviewed progress on a proposed electricity transmission link and discussed steps to advance it, while exploring cooperation on grids, renewables and rising power demand. Riyadh sought India’s expertise in extra-high-voltage networks, data-centre demand and grid-code modernisation. The initiative builds on a 2023 energy cooperation pact; costs, design and completion dates remain undecided.

400+ Indian-origin students, alumni abroad sign ‘Spare India from Anarchy’ appeal

More than 400 Indian-origin students, researchers and alumni signed “Spare India from Anarchy,” warning that election denial and protests erode confidence in constitutional institutions. Invoking B.R. Ambedkar, they urge disputes be resolved constitutionally while acknowledging dissent’s democratic role. The statement names no parties or incidents, offers no evidence for its claims, and says signatories span 27 countries.

Enrique plays down Yamal comparisons with Messi: ‘Nobody is going to come out on top’

PSG manager Luis Enrique has rejected comparisons between Barcelona teen Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi, calling the Argentine the greatest and urging Yamal to build his legacy. He praised Yamal’s progress but said no one can match Messi. Ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash, Enrique said PSG must contain Barcelona; he previously coached Messi.

In 2021, Ted Turner turned nearly 80,000 acres of prairie into a classroom for wetlands and bison

Ted Turner’s 2021 transfer of nearly 80,000 Nebraska prairie acres to the Turner Institute created a living laboratory for wetlands and bison. Tests found wet-meadow soils held more organic carbon than dunes, while Kansas research linked bison grazing to richer plant communities and drought resilience. As Sandhills wetlands decline, findings inform restoration, though results cannot be directly generalized.

Kansas man arrested for repeated threats against Trump; ‘mapped out roofs’ to shoot POTUS

Authorities arrested 24-year-old Jaden Read and charged him with threatening to kill President Donald Trump after investigators found violent posts about Trump’s Wichita rally, including claims he obtained ammunition and mapped nearby rooftops. A Crime Stoppers tip uncovered the comments, prompting a multiagency investigation; the attorney warned that political threats are not constitutionally protected speech.

In the early 1900s, Hawaii brought in gorse to feed sheep, and it spread across over 35,000 acres

Hawaii’s sheep industry faded, but gorse imported to feed its flocks persisted, covering more than 35,000 acres on Maui and the Big Island by the 1980s. Cattle grazed it little, and seeds remained viable for 30 years; officials planned fungus releases in 2000. Introduced from Europe, gorse was once valued as sheep forage and hedging.

Marco Rubio to arrive in India today; trade, security and technology on agenda

India and the US will seek to sustain ties and advance cooperation in defence, trade, energy, technology and critical minerals when S Jaishankar meets Marco Rubio in Mumbai Tuesday, amid strains over tariffs and Russian oil. They will address Ukraine, West Asia, food security and upcoming summits. Trump’s sanctions waiver comes as trade talks stall.

Mumbai air pollution: What are BMC’s construction ban rules, and when can work be suspended?

Mumbai’s BMC may halt construction if citywide or local AQI stays above 200 for three consecutive days under Stage IV of its GRAP procedure. Builders must follow dust-control rules, install real-time AQI monitors and face ward-level enforcement; violations can prompt closure. Excavation, demolition and debris transport generate dust, while stoppages threaten timelines and raise costs.

Deepthi Jeevanji wins gold, sets Asian Para Games record in women’s 400m T20 event

Deepthi Jeevanji won India’s first gold of Day 2 at the 2026 Asian Para Games, setting a Games record of 56.36 seconds in the women’s 400m T20 and taking India’s fifth gold overall. Japan’s Niina Kanno and Akane Kato won silver and bronze. Bhavina Patel earned bronze, while India’s para-badminton pair advanced to the semifinals.

Trump thanks ‘legendary friend’ Elon Musk for pledging SpaceX stock to American children

Musk pledged one SpaceX share next year to every child in Trump Accounts, prompting President Trump’s thanks. The program provides $1,000 for children born 2025–2028, allows annual contributions up to $5,000, and unlocks funds at 18. The pledge echoes SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell’s share donation and follows Musk and Trump’s reconciliation after a policy feud.

Behind bars, beyond borders: Inside Bishnoi’s crime empire

Social media helped transform Lawrence Bishnoi’s jailed gang into an internationally connected criminal brand, enabling recruitment, threats, claims of responsibility and extortion while amplifying violence. Investigators say aides used Facebook and Instagram to publicize attacks and cultivate notoriety, while young shooters recruited online served distant handlers. The gang’s roots lie in university politics and violence from 2008 onward.

Manipur’s rare 48 hours: How all five communities got caught in violence

Manipur plunged into crisis over 48 hours as violence crossed community lines, killing five people, injuring others, burning homes and prompting a Thoubal curfew. Rare Meitei-Pangal clashes coincided with renewed Meitei-Kuki violence and Naga-Kuki gun battles; an IED attack injured three CRPF officers. Escalation imperils reconciliation amid conflict that has killed 350 since 2023.

In 1916, Alaska likely planted a roadside fix; it spread to rivers, and native seedlings suffered

A removal study on two Alaskan rivers found sweetclover patches had 50% greater native-seedling mortality and 25% fewer recruiting species than cleared areas, with less light. Greenhouse tests suggested prolonged shade raised winter mortality, though it may not be the sole cause. Introduced for roadside revegetation, sweetclover spread to riverbanks, prompting calls to protect native diversity.

India seeks global vigilance regarding transfer of sensitive weapons technology to terror-linked actors

India urged UN members to guard against sensitive and dual-use technology reaching terrorists or states with proliferation records, warning that weapons of mass destruction could fall into non-state actors’ hands. MP Alok Kumar Suman’s remarks appeared to allude to Pakistan and A.Q. Khan’s network. India cited its UN resolution and commitment to chemical and biological weapons conventions.

Princeton PhD whose work was cited by Nobel committee can't find a job after 2,300 applications

Princeton chemical-engineering PhD Jack Weis, 30, has applied for more than 2,300 jobs since graduating in 2024, but remains without stable employment despite research cited by the Nobel committee. Rejections across fields and the end of an AI-training contract have pushed him to consider law school and develop an AI-powered weed-removal drone. He graduated from Rice.

In the 1930s, US agencies planted a shrub to stop erosion; now it covers 115,550 forest acres

Bicolor lespedeza, widely planted across the South for erosion control and wildlife, now covers an estimated 115,550 acres and may endanger native vegetation, forest regeneration and habitat in heavily invaded areas. Evidence of harm remains largely anecdotal, but its history warns that mass planting can have consequences decades later, making scrutiny essential for today’s restoration projects.

Career & Finance Horoscope, October 20, 2026

Today’s career and financial outlook calls for patience, practical planning, and thoughtful decisions, with each zodiac sign encouraged to adapt its approach, manage pressure, and avoid impulsive commitments. Collaboration, clear priorities, and disciplined action can open opportunities, while reviewing budgets and agreements supports stability. The daily guidance also pairs every sign with a crystal remedy, from Labradorite for Aries to Sunstone for Pisces.

Greater Noida pushes to fast-track 2 power substations

Greater Noida authority has ordered officials to expedite construction of 33kV substations in Badalpur and Astauli, with six months remaining before their March 2027 deadline, to strengthen electricity supply. Badalpur’s facility will serve villages including Achheja and Sadopur; Astauli’s will support a waste-disposal site and surrounding areas. Other works include farmer-plot infrastructure and streetlighting in 17 villages.

Four-yr-old boy dies after being run over by SUV in Noida; driver held

A four-year-old boy died Monday morning after an SUV allegedly ran him over near a temple in Noida’s Barola, while he played with his mother and two-year-old sister. Police arrested the driver at the scene and seized the vehicle; doctors declared him dead. His mother was seeking alms when he ran onto the road.