SPECIFIC MEDIA
New Ramayana lacks 'divinity & devotion', says original 'Laxman' Sunil Lahri; calls Sita Ji's way of addressing Lord Ram inappropriate
Sunil Lahri, who played Lakshman in Ramanand Sagar's 'Ramayan', has shared his mixed review of Nitesh Tiwari's 'Ramayana'. While praising its grand visuals, cinematography and performances, he said the film lacked the divinity and devotional sentiment associated with the epic. He also criticised the missing Ahalya episode, the Parashurama sequence and certain dialogues.
New Zealand moves visitor visa applications online, changing the process for Indian tourists and business travellers
New Zealand has moved most visitor visa applications to its enhanced Immigration Online system, ending the use of several older online forms and selected paper applications. The transition, completed between September 24 and October 8, 2026, affects Indian tourists, business travellers and people visiting family. Applicants who started applications in the old system but did not submit them before the deadline must begin again using the new platform.
Greenjoules raises ₹150 crore in Series B funding, secures ₹100 crore TDB loan
Greenjoules has raised ₹150 crore in Series B funding from investors including Amazon’s Smbhav Venture Fund and Climate Pledge Fund, Rainmatter and Singularity, and secured another ₹100 crore loan from the government-backed Technology Development Board. The ₹250 crore financing will support a new Pune plant capable of producing 200,000 litres of biocrude a day from agricultural waste, with the company also planning to expand into sustainable aviation fuel and green hydrogen.
Google's expanding AI chip business opens new opportunities for Samsung, SK hynix beyond Nvidia
Google's strategy to boost its tensor processing units is likely to create greater demand for high-bandwidth memory from Samsung and SK hynix. With nearly 100 TPU clients, including Oracle ready to utilize Google's chips by 2024, both memory giants aim for long-term supply contracts as the need for HBM in custom AI chips accelerates. However, the transition from this potential to actual orders is hindered by current production obligations.
Secure exclusive visibility for B2B launches, new fund offers and rebrands
An ET Roadblock gives one advertiser exclusive share of voice across The Economic Times on desktop, mobile web and the ET app. See how it works, what ET reports from past campaigns, who it suits and how to plan your own.
Local partner wanted for Xiaomi ‘home’ coming
The proposal is in the exploratory phase, but the Chinese technology company is set to begin evaluating potential Indian suppliers, according to one of the persons who did not wish to be identified. “It marks a natural progression for Xiaomi as it has committed to expanding beyond air purifiers into categories such as air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines,” the person said.
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Bhai Dooj 2026 AI Photo Prompts: From traditional sibling portraits to royal festive photoshoots, Here are different prompts to try using ChatGPT and Gemini
Bhai Dooj AI Prompts: Bhai Dooj 2026 emphasizes the importance of sibling bonds through traditional celebrations and personalized photographs. Families engage in rituals involving tilak ceremonies and exchange of gifts. AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini are increasingly used to create custom festive images. Detailed prompts assist in generating portraits that retain original facial features while enhancing festive elements. This trend is transforming the way Bhai Dooj celebrations are visually captured and shared.

Disney taps Adobe to build custom AI for its theme parks, studios and ESPN
Disney has partnered up with Adobe on a multi-year deal in order to develop custom AI models trained on its characters, visual styles and fictional worlds. The technology will be explored across Disney’s theme parks, cruise line, film studios and ESPN, with applications ranging from concept art to sports content production.

Have incorrect details in your EPF account? 5 easy steps to update name, date of birth, date of joining & more online
EPF members now have the ability to rectify discrepancies in their account records using the newly introduced online joint declaration facility. This tool enables users to update personal information, such as names and dates of birth. Once a correction request is made, it requires verification and approval from the employer before the EPFO office finalizes the process.

AI innovation in sports: Technology driving the next phase of sports development
Artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities across the sports ecosystem, from performance analysis and sports administration to technology development and wider participation. The ET AI Awards 2027 recognises organisations, technology providers and initiatives advancing the application of AI in sports through its AI Innovation in Sports category.

Unexpected twist in Blue Angels dismissals as pilot and public affairs chief reportedly removed for separate reasons
In a surprising turn of events, the Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron has seen the exit of Marine Corps Major Scott Laux and Marine Captain Danielle Cribb under unclear circumstances. While Laux's departure is cited as a concern about meeting elite performance standards, speculation surrounding the connection between their dismissals remains unproven. As the team forges ahead with its performances, questions linger about the reasons behind these controversies.
DPIIT seeks Fillip for local mfg of 100 goods in budget
DPIIT has examined 500 heavily imported products to identify opportunities for boosting domestic manufacturing. The department plans to share its findings with the finance ministry for the FY28 budget recommendations. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met with Skoda Auto Volkswagen to promote electric vehicle manufacturing and increase localization. High import dependence is classified based on the percentage of domestic demand met by imports.

Trump says his deportation policy 'might have been too tough' for voters
Trump has suggested a potential collaboration with Democrats to reach an immigration agreement. He has also said that while deporting criminals is important, he is open to measures allowing some immigrants to stay.

Yemen urges Lebanon to curb Hezbollah's military support to Houthis, seeks joint action
Yemen's Foreign Minister Afrah Al-Zouba called on Lebanon to take action against Hezbollah's military support for Houthis. She emphasized the need for coordination between the two nations to protect their sovereignty and security. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned external military activities by Lebanese elements in Yemen's affairs. Salam stressed the importance of maintaining Lebanon's independence and avoiding involvement in foreign conflicts.

Rubio seeks to impose order at State as Republicans look ahead to 2028: Report
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently emphasized stricter oversight of the State Department amid growing controversies. Concerns arose following high-profile resignations linked to allegations of unethical behavior and conflicts of interest. Rubio instructed his team to adhere to specific guidelines, highlighting the need for coordination on significant decisions. Officials who do not comply with these directives may face dismissal under his management.

Tamil Nadu man breaks up with college girlfriend, later files 97 RTI pleas asking if she is still single or dating another man; commissioner warns of medical treatment
A Villupuram man filed 97 RTI applications containing 1,887 questions seeking information about his former college girlfriend, including her relationships, address, workplace and photograph. Police told the Tamil Nadu Information Commission that she had complained of harassment and attempted suicide in June 2025. The commissioner rejected the applications and warned the man would be sent to medical counselling.

EC gives voters left out of SIR draft rolls ‘one more opportunity’ to re-enrol; restores old EPIC numbers
The Election Commission has offered voters excluded from draft electoral rolls in seven states a fresh opportunity to re-enrol after being marked Absent, Shifted, Dead or Duplicate. Eligible applicants will have their original EPIC numbers restored in final rolls, while election officials have been directed to undertake door-to-door outreach.

Pakistan to deploy 30 Chinese Z-10ME attack helicopters in Himalayan region? Blogger reveals reported deal, features and weapon
A Chinese military blogger has claimed that Pakistan signed a contract for 30 Z-10ME attack helicopters with China, although neither country has officially confirmed the reported deal. The development comes as Islamabad looks to modernise its army aviation fleet. The upgraded helicopters feature high-altitude capabilities, advanced targeting systems, anti-tank missiles and electronic warfare equipment.

Dana White breaks silence on Ilia Topuria's UFC return after brutal Justin Gaethje defeat, reveals comeback timeline
After a brief hiatus stemming from his first professional loss, Ilia Topuria is gearing up for his UFC return. UFC president Dana White confirmed that Topuria's comeback is planned for early 2027. As he prepares to step back into the octagon, several contenders in the lightweight division are emerging as potential opponents.

Trump stops answering calls himself after midterm losses? Mystery woman screening president’s phone calls identified
Following lackluster midterm elections, President Donald Trump’s phone calls underwent a change, with aide Natalie Harp reportedly screening them. Live coverage revealed a woman answering instead of Trump, catching the eye of many journalists. This situation sparked debates about Harp's influence, leading to scrutiny from various politicians. In response to the backlash, the White House communications director stood up for Harp, emphasizing her valuable contributions to the president's office.
What is Polyamory? Inside California City's decision to legally recognize throuples and foursomes as domestic partners
In a significant step towards inclusivity, West Hollywood's new ordinance permits polyamorous relationships to be officially registered as domestic partnerships. This change provides legal safeguards for multi-partner families regarding hospital visitations and housing security. However, it does not extend full marriage benefits or inheritance rights. Following the lead of Somerville and Cambridge in Massachusetts, this ordinance showcases a growing acceptance of varied family dynamics while maintaining traditional marriage statutes.

AI shopping agents could threaten Amazon and Walmart's ad business
Retail powerhouses Walmart and Amazon are also the world's two largest retail media businesses, dominating the estimated $74.4 billion in US retail media spending with a combined 88% share of that market, according to projections from data firm Emarketer. But digital assistants could soon disrupt that business.

Delhi govt counsel gives consent to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against CJP leader Ratna Singh
Additional Standing Counsel Amol Sinha, in his opinion dated November 2, held that the specific imputations attributed to Singh prima facie struck at the independence and impartiality of the judicial process and disclosed sufficient grounds for invoking the criminal contempt jurisdiction of the Delhi High Court.

'We would have won a landslide': Trump claims Republicans would have won big if on ballot as Democrats on course for midterms rout
Donald Trump suggested that Republicans would have achieved a landslide victory in the midterm elections. He made this claim after the Democrats gained significant seats in Congress. Four Republican-held House seats flipped to Democratic control, aiding their efforts in the House. Election outcomes remained uncertain for the Senate, with key victories for Democrats in Georgia and North Carolina.

Sitharaman hits back at Rahul Gandhi over debate challenge, says Parliament is the right forum
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman responded to Rahul Gandhi's challenge for a debate by emphasizing the role of Parliament. She criticized Gandhi for not raising issues in the House and instead making them on social media. Sitharaman highlighted the frequent walkouts of Congress during discussions, questioning Gandhi's commitment to a real debate. The Finance Minister also noted a recent mock Parliament event, calling it a mockery of genuine parliamentary procedures.

Thieves enter home after birthday party, use leftover cake to cover CCTV and steal Rs 9 lakh worth jewellery after woman posts gifts on Instagram
Three burglars allegedly broke into a Kolkata businessman's home hours after his wife shared a picture wearing a Rs 5 lakh birthday necklace on social media. They spent around 50 minutes ransacking the empty house, using birthday cake to cover CCTV cameras and stealing cash, jewellery and imported liquor worth Rs 9 lakh.

Global survey finds mental health languishing 'here and now', especially in youth
A recent study indicates that global mental health is a pressing concern, particularly for younger populations. The research involved 50,000 participants across 92 countries and discovered lower mental health scores among youth. Older individuals showed improved mental health indicators and better perceptions of relationships. Respondents reported feeling positive about personal circumstances despite external stressors negatively affecting their well-being. Policymakers are urged to take specific actions to address these challenges effectively.

Reddit blasts Australia's 'inept' social media ban as court challenge begins
Australia's world-first teen social media ban was "ill thought out" and amounted to a "profound restriction on political debate", a lawyer for messaging platform Reddit told the country's top court in the first legal challenge to the law.

What does it take to become a Learjet 60 pilot? Nathalia Gadelha identified as co-pilot in fatal Florida crash; here's what US aviation rules say
The cause of the crash has not been established, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating. Nathalia Gadelha, 20, was identified by her mother and stepfather as the co-pilot in the crash, according to the New York Post. The FAA and NTSB had not publicly released the identities of those aboard in their initial statements.
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