Row Over TN CM Vijay's Gesture Mocking MK Stalin As DMK, CPI Slam Assembly Remark

Indian equity markets opened on a cautious note as the Nifty index fell below the 23,700 mark during range-bound trading. Precious metals including gold and silver recorded gains due to global tensions, while Brent crude oil remained near 97 dollars per barrel. In corporate updates, Samsung India reduced its workforce by 80 to 100 executive positions following declines in smartphone sales and rising chip costs. Shiprocket narrowed its quarterly net loss to 13.7 crore rupees, reporting a revenue increase of over 33 percent year-on-year. Sector analyses showed input cost pressures and high base effects affecting growth in automobile and consumer durables, alongside order inflows for defence, aerospace, and shipbuilding companies. Metropolis Healthcare outlined a three-year strategy to expand its collection network to 7,500 centres and increase margins. Meanwhile, food safety officials in Bengaluru conducted surprise inspections at Swiggy Instamart and Lio Mart outlets in Lingarajapuram, temporarily seizing a facility after discovering expired food products on the premises.

The Allahabad High Court rejected the bail plea of the prime accused in the Bareilly violence case pertaining to the incident on September 26, 2025. A single bench observed that slogans inciting violent rebellion, taking up arms, and threatening beheading challenge the rule of law and the sovereignty and integrity of the country. The court noted that freedom of speech cannot protect threats to the authority of law, distinguishing such chants from religious slogans expressing devotion. In view of the gravity of the matter and the allegations, the bail plea was declined.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Vadodara, Gujarat, to launch rail and road infrastructure projects worth approximately 35,000 crore rupees and inaugurate three new sections of the dedicated freight corridor. The visit includes inaugurations and project launches spanning national highways and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, as well as an address to youth and young professionals at MSU University. The public event saw significant response after free online registrations opened on BookMyShow, with all initial seats fully booked within an hour and around 42,000 people placed on the waiting list. Organisers subsequently worked to expand capacity to accommodate the high volume of incoming requests. The Bharatiya Janata Party highlighted the rapid registration numbers as a demonstration of public enthusiasm, contrasting it with a recent Pune event held by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.

For the first time in over seven decades, the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony is moving out of the national capital and will be held in Kevadia, Gujarat, at Ekta Nagar near the Statue of Unity. President Droupadi Murmu will honour the awardees at the end of the month, celebrating artists including Mammootty, Kartik Aaryan, Yami Gautam, Randeep Hooda, and Sanjay Mishra, alongside filmmaker Aanand L. Rai, who won Best Direction in the Non-Feature category for 'Statue of Unity: Ekta Ka Pratik'. The surprise relocation from New Delhi has triggered debate, with opposition parties alleging political favouritism towards Gujarat. Critics have drawn parallels to previous landmark events, such as the Cricket World Cup final and the proposed Commonwealth Games bid in Ahmedabad, questioning why significant national events are repeatedly shifted to the state. Authorities and the concerned ministry remain tight-lipped, offering no official clarification on the reasons behind the venue shift or whether it represents a permanent change.