Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended Diwali and Gujarati New Year wishes to Congress leader Sam Pitroda and his wife, Anjana, addressing him as “Sam Bhai”. The greeting came after Pitroda described Modi as his “Gujarati friend” during an interview with news agency IANS. Pitroda said he respected the Prime Minister as a person and described him as warm, kind and hardworking. He also said the two had no personal differences despite their political disagreements. Modi responded on X, wishing the couple a joyful and healthy year ahead. The exchange drew attention amid their contrasting political positions.  (PC: NDTV)

Aarti Shah, an Indian-origin business executive, is drawing attention as Nvidia faces uncertainty over the future of its CEO, Jensen Huang. Shah has been a member of Nvidia’s board of directors since November 2020. She previously worked at pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly for 27 years, serving as its senior vice-president and chief information and digital officer before retiring in 2021. Born in India, Shah studied statistics and mathematics at Gujarat University before earning a PhD in Applied Statistics from the University of California, Riverside. At Nvidia, she serves on the audit and compensation committees, giving her a role in corporate oversight. (PC: X)

India's retail inflation rose to 6.09% in October from 5.54% in September, crossing the Reserve Bank of India's upper tolerance limit of 6% for the first time in two years. Government data released on Thursday showed that rising food prices were the main reason behind the increase. Food inflation climbed to 8.94% in October, compared with 7.74% in September. The latest figure also exceeded economists' expectations of 5.93%. The rise in inflation could put pressure on household budgets and complicate the RBI's efforts to control prices while supporting economic growth. (PC: India Today)

Stray dogs can recognise people who treat them kindly and those who threaten them, a study by researchers at IISER Calcutta has found. The researchers studied 54 groups of street dogs across Kolkata and Kalyani over five days. Some dogs were offered biscuits, while others were shown a stick to scare them away. Dogs threatened with a stick became wary of the person holding it but showed no similar fear towards strangers. Those given biscuits became more willing to approach unfamiliar people. Published in the Royal Society Open Science journal, the study offers fresh insights into human-dog relationships and street conflicts. (PC: The Telegraph India)

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Azad Samaj Party leader Chandrashekhar Azad on Thursday announced an alliance for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Named the Samajik Parivartan Morcha (SPM), the alliance has declared Azad as its chief ministerial candidate. The two parties said they would contest all 403 Assembly seats, aiming to challenge the BJP and strengthen Muslim-Dalit political representation. Owaisi said the alliance was formed to prevent the BJP from returning to power for a third term. The leaders also invited the Samajwadi Party and Congress to join their campaign against the ruling party. (PC: HT)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday highlighted India's poverty reduction while addressing journalists at a Diwali Milan event at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi. Taking a swipe at the Congress-era slogan 'Garibi Hatao', Modi said his government had lifted 50 crore people out of poverty over the past 12 years. Citing World Bank figures, he credited government welfare schemes and development programmes for the change. Modi also urged media organisations to focus on India's achievements and success stories. He expressed confidence that India would become a developed country, adding that poverty reduction remained a key achievement of his government. (PC: News18)

Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and his daughter Harshita have allegedly received death threats from a person claiming links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The caller reportedly demanded ₹7 crore and threatened to kill both if the money was not paid. AAP MLA Jarnail Singh brought the matter to the police after receiving a threatening phone call and WhatsApp message on November 6. Mohali Police have registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and IT Act. Investigators are examining call records, IP logs and location data to identify the person behind the threat.  (PC: NDTV)

Ukraine's electricity supply is nearing a critical level as intensified Russian attacks damage power stations and the national grid, raising fears of a difficult winter. Families in Kyiv are facing power cuts lasting up to 20 hours a day, disrupting heating, water supplies and daily life. President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine has enough electricity generation capacity, but damaged power lines and substations are preventing supplies from reaching homes. Energy company DTEK chief Maxim Timchenko warned that rebuilding a major damaged power station could take until next summer. Meanwhile, repeated air raids are slowing repair work and putting workers at risk. (PC: BBC)

Bangladesh is witnessing renewed violence, with crude bomb blasts, arson attacks and road blockades reported across Dhaka, Gazipur, Gopalganj and other districts. The unrest comes weeks before former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's planned return from India in December. Police have made hundreds of arrests, while authorities have blamed the banned Awami League and its supporters for several attacks. However, the allegations have not been independently established. Separately, garment factory workers have staged protests demanding an increase in the monthly minimum wage from Tk 12,500 to Tk 30,000. The unrest has also disrupted factory operations and raised security concerns. (PC: India Today)

Navi Mumbai has emerged as India's cleanest city in the Swachh Survekshan 2025-26 rankings, ending Indore's eight-year run at the top. The results were announced at an award ceremony in New Delhi on Wednesday, with President Droupadi Murmu presenting the awards. Gujarat's Surat secured the second position, followed by Andhra Pradesh's Vijayawada in third place. Indore was assessed separately in the newly introduced mentor city category under the Swachh Shehar Jodi initiative. The survey covered more than 4,700 urban local bodies and assessed cleanliness through 43 indicators, including waste management and sanitation. (PC: NDTV)