Eutelsat OneWeb, backed by Bharti Enterprises, believes it is "significantly ahead" of Elon Musk's Starlink in the Indian satcom approval queue, according to chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal. The company has secured licenses but awaits security clearances to launch commercial operations. India's communications minister has rejected Musk's claims of discrimination, stating the country's satcom framework is fair and non-discriminatory.

American singer Mary Millben has publicly criticized CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, accusing him of being bankrolled by US-based donors. Millben defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating he doesn't need American support, citing the 1.5 billion Indian citizens who support him. The online feud began over CJP's protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Mumbai Police have issued a Leave India Notice to actor Imran Khan, directing him to leave the country by October 28, after he participated in a protest at August Kranti Maidan demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Imran Khan, an American citizen, had attended the protest despite not being an Indian citizen, sparking concerns about his participation violating OCI rules and visa conditions.

Zoho's CEO Sridhar Vembu has stated that the software industry is facing a grim outlook due to increasing AI costs and server prices. He claims that his company has chosen a different approach to cost management, focusing on retraining employees to deploy on new products or help customers better. Vembu predicts a 3-5 year timeline for Zoho's reinvention, which will determine its future success.

The Union Cabinet has approved the sale of a 60.72% stake in IDBI Bank to Canada-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd for ₹52,878 crore. The deal, valued at over ₹52,000 crore, is India's largest foreign direct investment in the financial sector. The government expects to receive ₹26,300 crore from the sale, with the Canadian firm set to acquire a majority stake in the bank.

AI stocks, including TCS, Tech Mahindra, and Infosys, surged as concerns over US inflation and potential rate hikes boosted investor sentiment. The US inflation rate jumped to 3.7%, sparking fears of further monetary tightening, leading to a sharp correction in the tech-heavy Nasdaq. This trend also impacted South Korean and Japanese markets.

Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, a Congress MP and former JNU professor, is under investigation after 11 women students accused him of sexual harassment. An FIR was filed against him on Tuesday, and he has denied the allegations, calling them a "blatant lie". The Delhi Police have served a formal notice to Akoijam, asking him to join the probe.

The Supreme Court on Thursday sought responses from the Election Commission on a petition filed by Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders alleging large-scale voter deletions and electoral roll irregularities. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant also issued notices to Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav over their march to the top court. Objecting to the petitioners' conduct, the court remarked that nobody can browbeat the judiciary.

The Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) is making progress in modernizing its rating infrastructure, Chairman Gaurav Banerjee said. Banerjee acknowledged the challenges faced by the television ecosystem but emphasized the importance of building a sustainable industry with a predictable policy environment. He advised investors to have a sharp differentiated strategy to achieve a good return on investment.

India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a new template for bilateral investment treaties, aiming to provide sharper protection for investors from both countries. The new template, being finalized over the past 1.5 years, seeks to address shortcomings in the 2016 model and has been concluded with several countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Negotiations with Canada and Russia are underway, with the goal of concluding agreements by December.

Anant Ambani, founder of Vantara, a 3,500-acre animal rescue and rehabilitation center, received the CineKind Heart of Gold Award. Established by Reliance Foundation, Vantara houses over 150,000 animals across 2,000 species, providing specialized care and nutrition. Ambani credits Maneka Gandhi with inspiring his early animal rescue efforts, and his initiative aims to promote animal welfare and conservation, with support from companies like Godrej Agrovet.

Funskool, a Chennai-based toy maker, expects to post a 20% growth in revenue to ₹400 crore in the financial year ended March 2027, driven by robust double-digit growth in its export businesses. The company credits a growing network of licensing and manufacturing deals with global brands for the growth. Funskool plans to invest ₹30 crores to expand capacity and is developing STEM toys to build problem-solving skills.

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said negotiations on the India-US trade deal are progressing, with both sides working to resolve outstanding issues. The minister noted that the US has changed its approach to engaging with the world, requiring countries to reassess their bilateral relationships. Discussions are ongoing between trade officials, with a strategic partnership between the two countries remaining unchanged, despite Washington's changing approach to tariffs and industrial base development.

US President Donald Trump announced a diesel deal with Russia to release fuel into global markets and combat soaring domestic prices. However, the move triggered fierce bipartisan outrage, with Republicans and Democrats uniting to slam it as a "gift to our adversary," a betrayal of allies, and a dangerous lifeline funding Russia's war machine.

CropLife India has issued a four-point advisory to farmers for the Rabi 2026-27 season, urging judicious use of crop protection products and sowing precautions due to the weakest monsoon in over a decade. The advisory recommends treatment before sowing, termite treatment in fields, and regular field monitoring to control pests. The industry body also cautions against illicit products and calls for firm enforcement against unauthorised trade.