Bangladeshi duo executed in Saudi over ‘immoral act’ inside Mecca mosque: Reports

Saudi Arabia reportedly executed Bangladeshi citizens Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Siti Akhtar in Mecca on October 14 after convicting them of alleged “immoral acts” inside a mosque, citing its sanctity. Bangladesh said its Jeddah consulate was not notified and sought confirmation. They were sentenced under ta’zir, a discretionary punishment, amid record executions in the kingdom.

‘My family and I were worshipping there’: US Congressman on foiled Hindu temple attack

US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said he and his family were worshipping at an Aurora Hindu temple when an alleged white supremacist’s planned mass shooting was foiled, warning that anti-Indian hatred and white supremacy threaten lives. 19-year-old Palatine man was arrested after coworkers alerted police; Krishnamoorthi praised responders and urged unity so Americans can worship safely.

Think big, stop in-fighting: Mandaviya tells sports federations

After India’s fourth-place Asian Games finish with 85 medals—down from 106 in 2023—Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya urged federations to end internal politics, improve medal forecasts and build long-term talent pipelines for Los Angeles 2028 and later events. He called for stronger athlete support, including sports science and psychology, as officials reviewed performance and Khelo India coordination.

52m viewers, 22% women, for ISL’s first round

Nearly 91% of Indian Super League viewers watched on mobile as its free YouTube broadcast drew 65 million views and 52 million viewers across the first five matches, adding 120,000 subscribers. Women comprised 22% of the audience, while 25-to-34-year-olds led age groups. YouTube distribution complements Sony Liv and directs 55% of ad revenue to clubs.

Tejas’ soft launch into politics raises prospect of bigger role

Tejas Thackeray, 31, made his first political appearance alongside brother Aaditya at a Mumbai protest, signaling a role in Shiv Sena (UBT) as it seeks to energize its base and attract younger voters. Party leaders welcome his potential, though he has not joined meetings or confirmed ambitions. A wildlife researcher, he has documented 116 species.

Indian OTT platforms expand overseas to tap diaspora audiences

Indian OTT platforms are accelerating overseas expansion, targeting diaspora audiences: Lionsgate Play launched Punjabi-Hindi service Tiger TV on October 15, pledging ₹500 crore for content over three years, while JioHotstar entered the UK, Canada, Singapore and MENA. Higher subscription revenues make expansion attractive; Hoichoi says international viewers contribute 40% of revenue, building on broadcasters’ long-standing television reach.

Railways rolls out tiger safari packages to Tadoba, Pench

IRCTC launches Vandarshan on November 19, combining rail travel, accommodation, local transport and confirmed safari permits at Maharashtra’s tiger reserves. Five four-night, five-day itineraries centre on Tadoba and Pench, with options including Bor, Navegaon-Nagzira, Umred-Paoni-Karhandla and Tipeshwar. Tours travel on Vidarbha Express, with 12 reserved berths per departure; safaris remain subject to forest rules.

Navi Mumbai police book 2 for iridium investment fraud

Navi Mumbai police booked two men for allegedly operating an unregistered scheme promising up to ₹28 crore on investments as low as ₹2 lakh, reportedly attracting about 500 investors. A decoy officer recorded a pitch claiming iridium found near Bangladesh would generate vast profits; investors allegedly paid into the scheme since 2018 without returns, while payouts were promised for November 2026.

Four workers killed in explosion at chemical manufacturing unit in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar

An explosion at Kovika Dyes and Intermediates in Chhatral GIDC, Gujarat, killed four workers Thursday when a pipe on a chemical pressure vessel burst as they fitted it, police said. The victims were three Jharkhand residents and a man from Udaipur. Investigators are examining pressure build-up, mechanical failure, chemical reactions and safety violations; cause remains unknown.

Yogi invokes Masuriyadin, hits out at Congress over freedom struggle legacy

Yogi Adityanath unveiled a statue of Dalit freedom fighter and four-time Congress MP Mahashay Masuriyadin Pasi in Prayagraj, presenting the tribute as outreach before Uttar Pradesh’s 2027 election and challenging Congress’s freedom-struggle legacy. He announced initiatives honoring Pasi icons Uda Devi and Bijli Pasi. Masuriyadin faced imprisonment for anti-colonial activism and opposed discriminatory colonial laws.

Over 6,000 cops on duty, 50,000+ protesters expected: Delhi gears up for CJP march

Delhi Police will deploy over 6,000 personnel around Lutyens’ Delhi for the Cockroach Janta Party’s October 16 Tiranga Yatra, which officials have not authorised. Section 163 restrictions are in force, Central Park will close, and CCTV cameras and barricades are being prepared. The march follows the arrests of two co-convenors for unfurling the national flag.

Maha forms task force to prepare blueprint for integrating mass transit systems

Maharashtra and Indian Railways have formed a 13-member task force to create an integrated transport blueprint for Mumbai Metropolitan Region and other state urban centres, with a report due within six months. It will assess expansion of rail, metro and rapid rail transit, and connections with other modes. The task force will be led by MRVC, a joint state-Railways venture.

Treesa-Gayatri enter quarterfinals, Srikanth's valiant effort goes in vain

Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand advanced to Denmark Open quarterfinals Thursday, beating fifth seeds Rachel Allessya and Rose Febi Setianingrum 21-16, 21-17. The August World Championships bronze medallists next face Hong Kong’s Yeung sisters or seeds Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan. Kidambi Srikanth fell to champion Alex Lanier despite winning the opener; Ashmita Chaliha exited.

Eugenio Chacarra’s enduring India love story

Despite a broken toe and a five-hour weather delay, Eugenio Chacarra shot five-under 67 to sit one off the clubhouse lead at DP World India Championship Thursday. He carded seven birdies and two bogeys, missing a six-foot putt at the last. The 26-year-old Indian Open winner is chasing a PGA Tour card through Europe’s rankings.

Ankita Bhandari’s parents picked up at 4am, Rahul Gandhi accuses Centre of silencing them

Gandhi accused Modi’s government of trying to silence Ankita Bhandari’s parents, reportedly detained in Delhi while protesting Gautam’s appointment as Sikkim Governor, and urged a pause until the CBI completes its probe into their daughter’s 2022 murder. Gautam denies links, and the CBI has named no one. Three men were convicted, but the family continues seeking answers about an alleged VIP angle.

2 state medical colleges move HC against ban on institute-level admissions

Maharashtra’s two private medical colleges are asking the Bombay High Court to restore institute-level counselling, arguing they should fill MBBS and postgraduate seats vacant after centralised NEET admissions; the challenge could affect admissions. Parbhani Medical College has filed, while Vedantaa Institute is preparing a case. The government requires online CET-cell counselling, amid concerns over transparency and merit.

Indian-American cancer researcher, 47, dies of disease she was trying to cure

Indian-American cancer researcher Rachna Shroff, a leading expert in pancreatic and bile duct cancers, has died at 47 from adenocarcinoma, the disease she sought to treat. Despite her diagnosis, the University of Arizona Cancer Center associate director continued research and trials. Known for cholangiocarcinoma work, she established a $1.35 million award for emerging biliary-cancer researchers.

US chip stocks fall: Nvidia drops 2%, AMD 4% as inflation and AI debt worries deepen sell-off

US chip stocks fell Thursday as inflation and borrowing-cost fears raised doubts that debt-heavy AI infrastructure spending can remain sustainable, outweighing strong demand and TSMC earnings. Nvidia fell 2%, AMD and Micron 4%, Sandisk 6%, and TSMC 4%; CoreWeave dropped 7%. Wholesale inflation rose fastest since 2022, clouding Fed rate-cut prospects, while Chinese competition pressured memory-chip makers.

ECI directs officers to provide political parties with searchable PDF voter rolls

India’s Election Commission has ordered officials across 17 states and Union Territories to provide recognised parties hard-copy and searchable PDF voter rolls, excluding photographs, plus records of additions, deletions and changes. The October 15 directive enables polling-station scrutiny amid Opposition concerns about transparency and voter exclusion. It follows years of disputes over machine-readable rolls and privacy concerns.

Atiq’s former stronghold to be renamed, developed as Shrikrishnapuri: UP CM Yogi

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that Prayagraj’s Kasari-Masari, once a stronghold of slain gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad, will be renamed Shrikrishnapuri, with homes for 1,200 poor families on reclaimed land. The Prayagraj Development Authority will develop the township in two phases: 602 families first, followed by 598. Ahmad and his brother were killed in 2023.

FBI probes ‘suspicious letters’ with white powder sent to election offices in multiple states

The FBI, Postal Inspection Service and Capitol Police are investigating suspicious letters sent to congressional and election offices, some containing an unknown substance; no injuries have been reported. Louisiana and Oklahoma evacuated election offices, while a letter intended for Ohio was intercepted. Officials seek to intercept mail and identify those responsible; similar threats preceded the 2024 election.

Dead fish in Yamuna near Burari raise alarm over Delhi river’s water quality

Thousands of dead fish have been reported along the Yamuna near Burari since Wednesday night, raising concerns over pollution and drinking water supplies. Experts suspect untreated industrial effluent or depleted dissolved oxygen, but the cause remains unconfirmed. September monitoring showed rising biochemical oxygen demand and faecal contamination, while similar incidents have repeatedly occurred in Delhi waterways.

Cognizant leases 6.45 lakh sq ft office space in Chennai for 10 years at a total rent of ₹303 crore

Cognizant India leased 645,172 sq ft at Embassy Splendid TechZone in Chennai’s Pallavaram for five years, with rent totaling about ₹303 crore, property records show. At ₹74 per sq ft monthly, rent is roughly ₹4.77 crore, alongside a ₹28.64-crore deposit and 15% escalation every three years. The company renewed a Navi Mumbai lease in 2025.

New Zealand is a frontier which most teams have not conquered: Sanjay Bangar

Former India assistant coach Sanjay Bangar says India’s New Zealand Test hopes hinge on first-innings runs, fit fast bowlers and depth at No. 7-8, with the two matches crucial to World Test Championship qualification. He said local conditions reduce spin’s impact and reward adaptation; India have lost six of their last eight Tests against New Zealand.

No place for mafia in UP, homes for poor to come up on reclaimed land: CM

Yogi Adityanath said land reclaimed from mafia in Prayagraj will be used for multi-storey homes for poor, Dalits and marginalised communities, declaring the mafia has no place in Uttar Pradesh. At a Varanasi event concluding a 76-day cleanliness campaign, he promised action against wage deductions and cited sanitation workers’ pay and welfare benefits.

Kuki woman killed, two missing after gunfight breaks out in Manipur’s Kamjong: Police

A Kuki woman was reportedly killed and two Kuki-Zo civilians went missing after a gunfight between Kuki and Naga groups in Manipur’s Kamjong district Thursday, police said; allegations blaming suspected NSCN-IM members remain unverified. The clash occurred near Myanmar amid escalating violence after killings and ambushes. Ethnic conflict began in May 2023, leaving 260 dead and displacing 60,000 people.

Cockroach effigy to burn alongside Raavan's at Ramlila Ground amid CJP protests

Delhi’s Pitampura Ramlila will burn a 30-foot cockroach effigy alongside Ravan, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad, with organisers saying it represents filth and promotes cleanliness under Swachh Bharat and Swachh Delhi. Committee president Ashok Goel called the decision apolitical, framing it as a message of good defeating evil. The plan coincides with Cockroach Janata Party protests over alleged electoral-roll irregularities.

Living in a rented home? Here's how to personalise your space without making permanent changes

Renters can personalise homes without permanent changes using portable décor, textiles, artwork and everyday accents, says designer Krsnaa Mehta. Cushions, rugs, tableware, lamps and planters add colour and character; removable strips let residents display art, while blending contemporary pieces with Indian influences creates individual style. These adaptable choices address rental restrictions and move with residents.

Massive fire breaks out at Los Angeles three-story apartment building, mass evacuation underway

A massive fire tore through a three-story residential building on Kingsley Drive in East Hollywood around 4:30 a.m. Thursday, prompting evacuations and sending an occupant to hospital; her condition was unknown. About 160 Los Angeles firefighters battled flames spreading from the basement through three floors and interior cavities. Traffic disruptions are expected, and investigators are determining the cause.

UP Congress chief slams BJP over VB G RAM G ‘attendance fraud’

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Aradhana Mishra accused the BJP-led government of attendance fraud under VB-G RAM G, alleging forged records and altered photographs cheated workers of wages. She cited alleged irregularities in nine districts, including Ayodhya, where 1,224 workers were allegedly marked present online during rains, and sought an impartial probe. The new scheme replaced MGNREGA.