Nitesh Tiwari's 'Ramayana', starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash, has received positive reactions from viewers after its theatrical release on November 5. Many praised the film's visual effects, grand scale and climax. Yash emerged as a major highlight for his performance as Ravana. Ranbir Kapoor also received praise for playing Lord Rama, while Sai Pallavi impressed viewers as Sita. Several viewers compared the film's visuals to Hollywood films like 'Avatar' and 'The Lord of the Rings'. However, some criticised its slow pace, lengthy scenes and music. The film is planned as a two-part series.  

The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the 24-hour deadline for producing an arrested person before a magistrate starts from the time of actual detention, not formal arrest. A bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Atul S Chandurkar said police cannot delay recording an arrest to avoid the constitutional deadline. The court said anyone held beyond 24 hours without being produced before a magistrate must be released immediately. Necessary travel time to the court can be excluded. The ruling came in a drug smuggling case involving alleged delayed recording of an arrest.  

Hundreds of garment factories in Bangladesh have shut following days of protests over demands for higher wages, as clashes between workers and police spread across industrial areas. Police fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse demonstrators in Fatullah, Narayanganj, where dozens were reportedly injured and several protesters arrested. Workers are demanding a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 takas, up from the current 12,500, citing rising living costs and inflation. Around 100 factories remained closed in Ashulia, while workers blocked a major highway in Gazipur. The garment industry employs nearly four million people. The government has formed a wage board, with revised salaries expected from January. (PC: Reuters)  

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has accused PepsiCo India Holdings of misleading consumers by marketing its high-caffeine beverages, Adrenaline Rush and Sting Energy, as “energy drinks”. In its response to the Delhi High Court, the regulator argued that the company knew its products were required to meet standards applicable to caffeinated beverages but continued promoting them under a category without specific food safety regulations. FSSAI also pointed out that PepsiCo complied with mandatory labelling requirements for caffeinated beverages, demonstrating awareness of their regulatory classification. The regulator alleged that the energy drink branding created a misleading impression about the products’ nature. PepsiCo had not responded to the allegations. (PC: AP)  

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has awarded US First Lady Melania Trump the Order of Princess Olha, First Class, the country’s highest honour for women, recognising her humanitarian efforts. A presidential decree cited her “significant personal contribution to humanitarian support for Ukraine” and her efforts concerning Ukrainian children affected by the war. The recognition comes days after a temporary ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, in Kherson, enabled the evacuation of several hundred people. The White House credited Melania with independently initiating engagement between Moscow and Kyiv and securing the ceasefire. Representatives from both countries are scheduled to meet her at the White House. (PC: X)  

Democrats won 84 of the 100 US congressional districts with the largest Indian-American populations in the 2026 midterm elections, according to an analysis of election results and Census data. The party also flipped six seats previously held by Republicans, whose tally fell to 15. Democratic dominance was strongest in California, where the party secured 19 of the 20 districts on the list. It also won every qualifying seat in New York, Illinois, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, while Republicans retained nine of 13 such districts in Texas. The results broadly reflected Indian-American voters’ reported preference for Democrats, with an October survey finding 62% planned to support Democratic House candidates. (PC: AP)  

India’s LPG imports from West Asia have risen sharply over the past two months as Gulf suppliers increasingly use ship-to-ship transfers to move cargoes through the Strait of Hormuz. Imports from the UAE averaged 565,315 tonnes monthly in September-October, up 240% from March-August, while Kuwait’s supplies rose 248%. Qatar’s average monthly shipments also more than doubled. Meanwhile, US LPG imports fell 36% as Gulf deliveries recovered. However, India’s overall LPG imports remain below pre-war levels, with October volumes at 1.52 million tonnes against 2.03 million tonnes in February. Analysts warn that renewed conflict could disrupt supplies, increasing reliance on costlier imports and domestic production. (PC: X)  

Former Indian hockey captain MM Somaya’s Bengaluru home was burgled on October 28, with thieves stealing his 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal and other international sporting medals. The 67-year-old Olympian was away with his family in Kodagu when two unidentified men allegedly broke into the house around 2:34 am. The stolen medals also included a silver from the 1982 Asian Games, a bronze from the 1986 Asian Games and another bronze from the 1982 Champions Trophy. Other valuables worth an estimated Rs 3.53 lakh, excluding the medals, were also taken. Bengaluru Police have registered a case and formed two special teams to identify and arrest the accused. (PC: NDTV)

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday described the Democratic Party’s sweeping victories in the US midterm elections as a referendum on President Donald Trump’s policies and the country’s political establishment. Reacting to Democrats securing control of both the House and Senate, Mamdani called the results an “incredible” blue wave. He said voters had rejected politicians who dismissed working people’s demands as unrealistic while prioritising the interests of wealthy Americans. Mamdani also criticised Vice President JD Vance’s appeal for Republicans to be given two more years, arguing that Americans could not afford further delays in addressing their pressing concerns. (PC: AP)

The United States has imposed sanctions on Indian businessman Suniel Kumar Sharma, his wife Jaspreet Preeti Shahid and nine entities over alleged assistance to Iran in evading oil-related restrictions. The US Treasury accused the couple of operating an unauthorised maritime registration network since at least 2014, issuing fraudulent ship registrations and certifications that allowed vessels transporting Iranian petroleum to use flags without the concerned countries’ approval. Some vessels allegedly operated on behalf of Iran’s military and its proxies. The action falls under President Donald Trump’s Operation Economic Outcast, targeting Iran’s oil revenues. The sanctions freeze their assets under US jurisdiction and prohibit American entities from conducting business with them. (PC: NDTV)