Ayodhya's Deepotsav 2025 illuminated the city with millions of diyas, marking the ninth edition of the festival celebrating Lord Ram's life. The event set two Guinness World Records for the most people performing simultaneous diya rotations and the largest display of oil lamps. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the festivities, which also featured Ramayana-themed tableaux, folk performances, and drone shows.
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US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent labelled a senior Chinese trade official 'unhinged' and a 'wolf warrior' for aggressive behaviour during what he claimed was an uninvited visit to Washington. China's Commerce Ministry refuted the claims, stating the visit aimed for discussions following presidential talks.
The BJP mocked the Mahagathbandhan after a press conference poster featured only RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, suggesting Rahul Gandhi and Congress were sidelined. The INDIA bloc appeared ready to announce Tejashwi as its chief ministerial candidate, with leaders meeting to resolve alliance stalemates and clear confusion ahead of Bihar Assembly elections.
A whirlwind Instagram romance turned deadly when a 25-year-old electrician allegedly murdered his 32-year-old wife, a single mother. He attempted to stage her death as an accidental electrocution, but a postmortem revealed strangulation. The husband confessed to the crime, citing infidelity suspicions, after a nine-month marriage.
A 21-year-old Indian national, Jashanpreet Singh, faces charges after allegedly causing a fatal crash on Interstate 10 while driving an 18-wheeler under the influence. The incident, which claimed three lives and injured others, highlights concerns over commercial driver licensing for non-citizens. Singh had reportedly entered the US illegally in 2022.
Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed accused India head coach Gautam Gambhir of religious bias in team selection after Sarfaraz Khan's exclusion from the India 'A' squad. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla strongly refuted the allegations, calling them divisive. Sarfaraz Khan has a strong first-class record and recently scored a century in his last international series.
The UK government has launched a digital ID scheme, initially for former armed services members, with plans to expand it for all citizens to verify their right to work. This app-based system aims to reduce illegal immigration by making it harder to use stolen or borrowed National Insurance numbers for employment.
Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed Israel's Gaza mission continues until all hostages' remains are recovered, declaring the "fight is not over yet." He rejected genocide accusations, calling the October 7th attack the real atrocity. Netanyahu stressed national unity for achieving war objectives and expanding regional peace, while aid deliveries resumed to Gaza.
A new AACTE analysis reveals a two-decade decline in US education degrees, signalling a shrinking teacher pipeline. Bachelor’s and master’s awards have dropped sharply, while enrolments in traditional programmes continue to fall. Alternative certification routes, however, are growing, alongside greater diversity among graduates. Experts warn that inadequate investment in teacher preparation could worsen America’s teacher shortage.
Twitch streamer Emiru has accused fellow streamer Mizkif of sexual assault, abuse, stalking, and threats. Her decision to speak out follows a recent fan assault at TwitchCon, which she says highlighted her lack of safety. Emiru detailed a past unwanted intimate encounter and Mizkif's alleged attempts to contact her contacts and threaten her, prompting calls for Twitch to ban him.
Southern and eastern India are bracing for a week of intense rainfall and thunderstorms, with the IMD predicting widespread showers and heavy downpours through October 26. Northeast monsoon activity is surging, prompting flash flood warnings for several districts in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh. Residents are urged to exercise caution.