The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), representing nine unions of officers and workmen across public sector banks (PSBs) on Friday strongly opposed the Centre’s recent move to open up top management positions in PSBs, the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), and non-life insurance companies to private sector candidates. Calling it “an attack on the public character of national institutions”, the UFBU has demanded immediate withdrawal of the revised consolidated guidelines issued by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).

AstraZeneca PLC is expected to announce a deal with President Donald Trump to slash drug prices, people familiar with the plans said, making it the second pharmaceutical company to strike an agreement to advance one of Trump’s key health priorities.

While details about the pact weren’t immediately clear, the accord stems from a major push by the administration to lower drug prices in the US and ensure other wealthy countries shoulder a larger share of the cost of developing breakthrough new medicines.

Amid developments within Tata Trusts, the Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) group, which owns an 18.4 per cent stake in Tata Sons, said it was “both timely and necessary” to reiterate its longstanding position of listing Tata Sons — a stand rooted in transparency, fairness, public interest, and adherence to good corporate governance.

In a statement, the SP group expressed full faith in the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), describing it as a constitutional and autonomous body guided by the principles of equity, justice, and public interest.

The Supreme Court on Friday announced that the sale and bursting of firecrackers in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) will be allowed for five days during Diwali on a trial basis. The decision marks a potential first festival season with legal fireworks in years, amid concerns over enforcement and the risk of worsening air pollution.

Mobility aggregator Uber has rolled out a nationwide subscription-based model for its driver partners across all form factors — cars, autos, and bikes.

The move brings Uber in line with other major aggregators, including Rapido and Ola, which have already adopted subscription structures.

US President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose an additional 100 per cent tariff on Chinese goods and introduce export controls on all critical software from November 1, 2025, a move that could sharply escalate trade tensions with Beijing.

The announcement, made in a lengthy Truth Social post, accused China of taking an “extraordinarily aggressive position on trade” and sending what Trump described as a “hostile letter to the world.”

US President Donald Trump held a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Thursday morning, a day after announcing that the "first phase" of the Gaza ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas would begin soon.

At the meeting, he highlighted his administration's role in addressing global conflicts, claiming that seven wars had been ended during his tenure and referring to the signing of the first phase of Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas as "number eight."

India's Bharti Telecom, the holding company of Bharti Airtel, will launch the largest bond sale of the current fiscal year next week, aiming to raise funds at significantly lower rates than last year, according to three merchant bankers.

The company is looking to raise ₹15,000 crore ($1.7 billion) through the sale of bonds maturing in two years and in three years and two months.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted search operations at six locations in Kolkata, including a property belonging to West Bengal minister Sujit Bose, in connection with its probe into the alleged irregularities in the recruitment of a civic organisation, a senior official said.

The ED teams raided the minister's residence-cum-office in Salt Lake, and the houses of former officials of the Dum Dum Municipality, he said.

SpiceJet has received three new aircraft to its operational fleet, including an Airbus A340 wide-body and two Boeing 737s, kicking off its winter expansion plan designed to meet the surging demand for air travel this holiday season, the airline said.

These new planes will join operations between October 10 and 11, marking the start of a major fleet ramp-up.

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