Times of India

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has identified irregularities in gold loan disbursements. Lenders are now developing EMI options and term loan alternatives for gold-backed lending, moving away from the traditional bullet repayment method.

Australian spinner Nathan Lyon recounted a lighthearted sledging battle with Virat Kohli during the 2014 Adelaide Test, where Kohli scored centuries in both innings. Despite Kohli's dominance in Australia, he enters the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy seeking to regain form after a lean run. India aims to secure a World Test Championship final berth with a strong showing.

BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde was caught in a huge row after Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) chief Hitendra Thakur on Tuesday accused him of distributing money to voters in Palghar on the eve of the Maharashtra assembly polls. The saffron party denied the claims, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) accused it of misusing government machinery and engaging in corrupt practices. Tawde, however, asserted that he was in Nalasopara to provide guidance regarding election procedures and challenged the opposition parties to verify his activities.

Former Australian cricketer Shane Watson has cautioned the Australian team about Virat Kohli's intensity on the field. Despite Kohli's recent struggles to regain his peak form in Test cricket, Watson believes that if Kohli rediscovers his trademark intensity, he could pose a significant challenge to Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.

Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on 7 October 2023, Berlin police have launched over 6,200 investigations, most of which relate to online hate speech or anti-Semitic graffiti. Around 1,300 cases involve violent incidents, although Slowik clarified that most of these were attacks on police officers during protests against Israel. She noted that while violent crimes against Jewish individuals remain relatively low, even a single incident is one too many. "I understand the fear and concern that persist," she added.

The ASHE 2024 report highlights Delhi's progress in higher education, with female Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) nearly doubling over five years and surpassing males in 2021-22. Female students outnumber males in enrolment and out-turn across most courses, showcasing significant gender equity strides. While undergraduate enrolment has grown consistently, Ph.D. enrolment has declined. The report also underscores Delhi’s favourable pupil-teacher ratio and challenges, such as resource distribution and inclusivity, requiring focused intervention.

Russia has updated its nuclear doctrine, now classifying any conventional attack supported by a nuclear-armed ally as a joint assault. This change comes in response to increased Western military aid to Ukraine, particularly the US decision to provide long-range missiles, which Moscow views as a direct provocation.

Pakistan is refusing to host the Champions Trophy under a hybrid model that would allow India to play at neutral venues. The Pakistan Cricket Board insists all teams are willing to play in Pakistan, but former player Basit Ali suggests an ICC tournament not involving India is impossible considering the power the Indian board wields in the cricket world.

The Samajwadi Party has accused Uttar Pradesh police of forcing Muslim women voters to remove their veils for identification during the Lok Sabha elections, deterring many from voting. While Congress echoed these concerns, Union Minister Giriraj Singh defended the practice, deeming it legally permissible for voter verification. By-elections in nine Uttar Pradesh constituencies are scheduled for November 20.

Team India are gearing up for a crucial five-match Test series against Australia, aiming to secure a historic hat-trick of series wins Down Under. A 4-0 or 5-0 victory would guarantee India a spot in the 2025 World Test Championship Final. But India go into the series on the back of a demoralising whitewash at home against New Zealand.

Former AAP leader and Delhi MLA Kailash Gahlot joined the BJP after accusing his former party of abandoning its founding principles. Gahlot expressed disappointment with the AAP, stating that the values that attracted him and many others to the party had been compromised, leading to his departure.

Indian opener Shubman Gill has been ruled out of the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to a fractured thumb. Former cricketer Kirti Azad has backed Virat Kohli to fill the No. 3 slot, despite Kohli's recent struggles in the position. Azad believes Kohli's experience and ability to perform under pressure make him the ideal candidate.

Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai has called for an emergency meeting with his federal counterpart to address the capital's severe pollution levels. Rai is demanding immediate approval for cloud seeding and criticized the central government for inaction, urging Prime Minister Modi to intervene.

The Himachal Pradesh high court ordered the attachment of Himachal Bhawan in Delhi due to the state government's failure to pay outstanding electricity bills. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated he is yet to review the order, while the BJP criticized the government's financial management, expressing concern over potential auctioning of state assets.

A 19-year-old Walmart employee, Gursimran Kaur, was tragically found dead inside a walk-in oven at a Halifax store last month. Initially treated as a sudden death, police investigations, including interviews and video footage review, have ruled out foul play. The heartbreaking discovery was made by Kaur's own mother, who also worked at the store.

Around 50 postgraduate Mass Communication students at Jadavpur University were given marks for an exam paper on Media Law and Ethics without their answer scripts being evaluated. The revelation came to light when students approached the university administration about discrepancies in their results, prompting an internal investigation into the matter.

Australian batters are bracing for a challenging summer against India's bowling spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, in the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy. Bumrah's awkward action, deceptive pace and ability to swing the ball both ways can instil fear in the hearts of Australian batsmen, who are gearing up to face the right-arm pacer in the first Test beginning November 22 in Perth.

Virat Kohli is back in Perth, the venue where he first announced himself as a Test great in 2012. Now, after a lean patch, the Indian batting maestro will be hoping to rediscover his form in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting Friday. India's arrival in Australia was announced with glowing full-page write-ups on Kohli in some of the leading Australian publications with Hindi and Punjabi headlines.

During the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met to discuss strengthening the strategic partnership between their two nations. The leaders announced a Joint Strategic Action Plan for 2025-2029 focusing on collaboration in trade, investment, and technology.