Finance
India’s Plan For “World-Class Banks”: FM Sitharaman Sets Growth Agenda
India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the government is working with the Reserve Bank of India and banking institutions to build “world-class” banks and foster a dynamic ecosystem where more large-scale banks can grow. She said considerable groundwork has already begun and emphasised that mergers alone are not the only route; structural reforms and regulatory environment play key roles.
India
Supreme Court Orders Removal of Stray Dogs from Bus Stands & Railway Stations
The Supreme Court of India has issued a nationwide directive requiring municipal authorities to remove stray dogs from locations such as bus stands, railway stations, hospitals and sports complexes within eight weeks. The order mandates sterilisation of dogs prior to relocation and regular inspections of premises. Animal rights activists argue the move contradicts the Animal Birth Control Rules and raise concerns over feasibility and animal welfare.
Science & Tech
Sridhar Vembu Pushes For Cross-App Chat: WhatsApp To Talk With Arattai Soon
Home-grown messaging app Arattai, developed by Sridhar Vembu’s Zoho Corporation, may soon enable chats directly from WhatsApp users to Arattai users. WhatsApp is reportedly testing a feature in Europe for cross-platform messaging. Vembu had earlier advocated for “interoperability like UPI and email”. If realised, this would mark a major shift in app-ecosystem dynamics in India’s messaging space, signalling potential disruption of closed-platform models and greater user freedom.
India
59% Of Bihar’s Unrecognised Parties Skipped 2023-24 Financial Disclosure: ADR
A report by the Association for Democratic Reforms shows that 59 per cent of unrecognised political parties in Bihar failed to submit their mandatory financial disclosure for the fiscal year 2023-24. The lapse raises concerns about transparency, hidden funding and electoral accountability at grassroots level. The findings may push regulatory reform and stricter oversight of smaller political outfits.
India
British National Facing Deportation Escapes From Delhi Airport, Probe Launched
In a significant aviation-security breach, a British national slated for deportation evaded immigration at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi after arriving from Bangkok. The individual slipped past check-ins on 28 October and remains at large as authorities launch a major manhunt. The case has strained oversight of deportation procedures at one of India’s busiest transit hubs.
India
Vote Chori: Rahul Gandhi Says PM Modi, EC Undermining The Constitution
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Election Commission of India (EC) of attacking India’s constitution by orchestrating widespread vote manipulation, dubbing it “vote theft”. The claim came amid electoral-roll revisions and protests in Haryana, escalating tensions over democratic integrity. Gandhi stated that his party possessed substantial evidence pointing to mass deletions and fraudulent entries, and pledged to expose the issue to India’s youth.
Sports
Kaif On Samson: Gill Being Groomed For Captaincy, So Samson Lost His Spot
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif claimed that the national team’s selectors are grooming Shubman Gill as the future captain, which he believes is why Sanju Samson lost his place in the playing XI. Kaif highlighted that despite Samson’s good form, the team opted for Gill’s inclusion and Jitesh Sharma’s finishing role, shifting team strategy around leadership succession rather than pure performance metrics.
India
Hyderabad Bypolls Heat: Bandi Sanjay Targets Revanth Reddy’s Skullcap Rally
Ahead of the Jubilee Hills by-poll, Telangana Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar slammed Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and the Congress for using a skullcap in campaign events, claiming religio-political posturing. He challenged AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi to perform ‘arti’ at a prominent Hindu temple to prove his credentials. The remarks have stirred heat ahead of the November 11 election and deepened communal undercurrents in the campaign.
Movie Reviews
Maharani Season 4 Review: Huma Qureshi Returns With More Ambition But Less Sharpness
Season 4 of the political thriller series brings back lead Huma Qureshi as Rani Bharti, escalating from Bihar to Delhi’s high-stakes politics. While the production value and cast expansion raise expectations, critiques focus on the series’ lack of brevity, familiar tone and uneven pacing. The narrative adds new players and stakes, but stretches its runtime and repeats its patterns rather than delivering a sharper evolution of the story.
Movie Reviews
Mass Jathara Review: Ravi Teja’s Energy Carries The Film, But Story Lacks Substance
Mass Jathara features high-octane performances by Ravi Teja and Sreeleela, filled with fight sequences, flashy visuals and mass-hero style moments. However, critics say the film falters in narrative coherence and character development, relying heavily on formulaic tropes instead of innovative storytelling. For fans of the actor and style-action genre it may deliver, but for broader audiences the script’s weaknesses are harder to ignore.