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White House Diwali: Trump Lights Lamp, Reveals Call with PM Modi on Trade and Pakistan Tensions

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White House Diwali: Trump Lights Lamp, Reveals Call with PM Modi on Trade and Pakistan Tensions

Washington D.C.: The White House glowed with festive light on Tuesday as US President Donald Trump hosted a Diwali celebration, marking the Hindu festival of lights. During the event, President Trump lit a traditional diya (lamp) and delivered remarks, revealing that he had spoken earlier in the day with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

​The conversation between the two leaders reportedly focused on strengthening economic ties and addressing regional stability. Trump specifically told the audience that he and PM Modi discussed trade, an area currently subject to ongoing negotiations and recent tariff imposition by the US on Indian goods.

​In a moment of diplomatic reflection, the US President also highlighted the need for peace in South Asia. “We talked about let’s have no wars with Pakistan,” Trump stated, adding that he considers PM Modi “a great person, and he’s become a great friend of mine over the years.” The reference to “no war with Pakistan and India” was noted as a significant positive outcome of their dialogue.

​The event underscores the growing political significance of the Indian-American community and the increasingly strong bilateral relationship between the United States and India, even as both nations navigate complex issues like trade and regional security. The President’s comments signal a continued effort to resolve trade differences while utilizing the strong personal rapport between the two leaders to foster stability in the region.

Cyclone Watch: Red Alert Issued as Intensified Monsoon Triggers Heavy Rain Across Tamil Nadu

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Cyclone Watch: Red Alert Issued as Intensified Monsoon Triggers Heavy Rain Across Tamil Nadu

Chennai: Tamil Nadu is on high alert as the northeast monsoon intensifies, bringing extremely heavy rainfall to coastal areas and raising the specter of a developing cyclone. A low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, approximately 400 km from the Chennai coast, is currently under close observation by the regional weather office for potential intensification into a deep depression or a full-fledged cyclone.

​In response to the escalating weather threat, a Red Alert—indicating the possibility of over 20 cm of rain in 24 hours—has been issued for at least eight districts, including Villupuram, Cuddalore, and Nagapattinam. The state capital, Chennai, while currently under an ‘Orange Alert,’ is bracing for very heavy downpours.

​Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has convened meetings to review the state’s preparedness, ensuring that rescue and relief plans are fully activated. Shelters are being readied across the coastal belt to manage any large-scale displacement. As a precautionary measure, schools and colleges remain shut in several districts, and neighboring Puducherry has also declared a holiday.

​Officials confirmed that water is being released from the Chembarambakkam reservoir in Kanchipuram district to mitigate the risk of urban flooding in Chennai, a critical step following past flood events.

​The heavy rains have already begun to take a toll. Reports from Tirunelveli district indicate that thousands of acres of ripe paddy crops are affected, causing distress among farmers. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a stern warning to fishermen, advising them to avoid sailing into the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and South Andaman Sea from October 23 to 26 due to anticipated squally winds reaching up to 65 kmph. District monitoring officers have been deployed to coordinate urgent relief work as the state hunkers down for the approaching system.

OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Atlas Browser with AI at its Core; Redefining Web Experience

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OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Atlas Browser with AI at its Core; Redefining Web Experience

SAN FRANCISCO – OpenAI has officially launched ChatGPT Atlas, a new web browser built with ChatGPT at its core, aggressively entering the AI-powered browser arena. This new offering significantly expands OpenAI’s product lineup beyond its flagship products like ChatGPT and Sora, signaling a move to become a central part of users’ daily digital lives.

OpenAI positions Atlas not just as a browser, but as a “true super-assistant” designed to rethink the way users interact with the web, promising a more seamless and smart browsing experience through deep AI integration.

Who Can Use Atlas Now?

  • Availability: ChatGPT Atlas is currently available only for macOS users globally (Free, Plus, Pro, and Go users).
  • Future Plans: OpenAI has confirmed that experiences for Windows, iOS, and Android are “coming soon,” but no fixed timeline has been provided.
  • Agent Mode: While the browser is free to download, its major selling point, Agent Mode (for automating multi-step tasks), is available only in preview for Plus, Pro, and Business/Enterprise users.

How to Get Started with Atlas

Users can begin using the new AI browser with a few simple steps:

  1. Navigate to chatgpt.com/atlas to download the application.
  2. Log in with an existing ChatGPT account to integrate existing ‘memories’ and conversation history.
  3. Users will be prompted to import bookmarks, passwords, and history from browsers like Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.
  4. Atlas can be set as the default browser via Settings → General → Set default.

Key AI Features Redefining Browsing

Atlas incorporates several cutting-edge AI features, moving beyond traditional browsing functions:

  1. ChatGPT as a Companion: ChatGPT resides in a sidebar, accessible via an “Ask ChatGPT” option. It can draft emails, generate code, autofill forms, summarize content directly from the webpage, and answer context-specific questions—all without switching tabs.
  2. AI-Powered Search: Searches conducted from the status bar are routed through ChatGPT instead of traditional engines like Google or Bing. Atlas provides a similar experience to a search engine with support for contextual tabs (images, videos, news) and displays search results in a split view alongside the chat sidebar.
  3. Agentic Mode (Preview): The standout feature allows the AI to perform complex, multi-step actions on the user’s behalf. This includes tasks like booking reservations, ordering groceries, creating purchase lists, and planning events, by working with the user’s browsing context.
  4. Memory-Based Personalization: Atlas is built with memory, allowing ChatGPT to recall sites visited and activities performed to personalize its responses. Users can ask complex queries like: “Find all the job postings I was looking at last week and create a summary of industry trends so I can prepare for interviews.” Users retain full control and can view or archive these browser memories.
  5. In-Line Editing: This feature simplifies text revision. Users can select text (e.g., in an email) and click the ChatGPT icon directly to refine it or change its tone, eliminating the need for constant copying and pasting.

The launch of Atlas signifies a major step toward creating a truly intelligent, context-aware “super-assistant” that seamlessly integrates into the user’s workflow.

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh Unveil Daughter Dua’s Face on Diwali 2025

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Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh Unveil Daughter Dua’s Face on Diwali 2025

MUMBAI – Bollywood’s power couple, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, gifted fans a special surprise this Diwali, finally revealing the face of their baby daughter, Dua Padukone Singh.

The couple, who married in 2018, welcomed Dua on September 8, 2024. The long-awaited reveal came on the occasion of Diwali 2025, thrilling fans across social media.

The sweet family photos, shared in a joint Instagram post, captured an adorable festive moment. Deepika and her daughter Dua were seen twinning in matching red outfits, while proud father Ranveer held them close, radiating joy.

The simple caption accompanying the adorable family pictures read, “Happy Diwali.”

The images, which instantly went viral, marked the first time the couple officially unveiled their daughter’s face, fulfilling a wish that fans have held since Dua’s birth over a year ago.

Deepika Ranveer Daughter Dua Face Reveal

Chess World Mourns: US Grandmaster and Beloved YouTuber Daniel Naroditsky Dies Unexpectedly at 29

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Chess World Mourns: US Grandmaster and Beloved YouTuber Daniel Naroditsky Dies Unexpectedly at 29

UNITED STATES : The global chess community is reeling from the “unexpected” death of US Chess Grandmaster and hugely popular online commentator, Daniel Naroditsky, who has died at the age of 29.

Naroditsky’s death was announced on Monday in a statement released by his club, the Charlotte Chess Center. The statement did not provide a cause of death for the Grandmaster, who was widely known to his fans as “Danya.”

“It is with great sadness that we share the unexpected passing of Daniel Naroditsky,” the club’s statement read, highlighting that he was a “cherished member of the chess community, admired and respected by fans and players around the world.”

An Online Chess Pioneer

Naroditsky was a pivotal figure in popularizing chess online. His YouTube channel boasted nearly 500,000 subscribers, and his Twitch stream commanded 340,000 followers. Through his video tutorials, livestreams, and engaging speed runs, he inspired hundreds of thousands globally to take up the game.

Chess World Number Two, Hikaru Nakamura, a close friend of Naroditsky, described the passing as a “massive loss for the world of chess.” Nakamura praised his late friend’s dedication, stating, “He inspired hundreds of thousands of people to play chess. When it came to making chess content to help beginners, his was the best.” Nakamura added that for Naroditsky, content creation “wasn’t about money… He had a true passion for the game.”

A Career of Early Triumphs

Naroditsky’s talent was evident early on, having taken an interest in the game at the age of six. He first gained international attention in 2007 by winning the under-12 Boys World Youth Championship in Turkey.

He earned the prestigious title of Grandmaster—the highest title awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE)—while still a teenager, after winning the 2013 US Junior Championship.

At just 14, he published the book, Mastering Positional Chess, showcasing his deep strategic insights. Naroditsky later graduated from Stanford University and contributed as a chess columnist and puzzle creator for the New York Times starting in 2022.

Tributes have poured in from fellow Grandmasters and amateur players alike, all praising his kindness, passion, and unique ability to make chess fun and accessible.

Vijay’s ‘0277’ Plate Reveals Touching Personal Tribute to Late Sister

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Vijay’s ‘0277’ Plate Reveals Touching Personal Tribute to Late Sister

Chennai: Tamil superstar Thalapathy Vijay, recently making headlines for launching his political party ‘Tamizhaga Vetri Kalagam,’ has long fascinated fans with his consistent use of the number ‘0277’ across his extensive fleet of luxury vehicles and even his new campaign bus. The mystery behind this unique vehicle registration has now been revealed as a deeply personal and emotional tribute to his late younger sister, Vidya.

​Sources close to the actor confirmed that the number ‘0277’ is derived from his sister’s date of birth: February 14, 1977 (14-02-77). Vidya passed away at a young age, and the number serves as an enduring memorial and an expression of his lifelong affection for her.

​The number ‘0277’ can be found on several of the ‘Jana Nayagan’ actor’s prized possessions, including his BMW electric car (e.g., TN 14 AH 0277), Lexus LM (TN 14 AL 0277), and the Toyota Vellfire (TN 14 AM 0277). The same sequence also appears on his newly acquired bus dedicated to political campaigning across Tamil Nadu, signaling the personal significance he attaches to the number as he embarks on his new political journey.

Vijay’s decision to engrave this date into his professional and personal life, even as he pivots from cinema to full-time politics, showcases a deeply affectionate and sentimental side to the usually private superstar. Fans have responded with an outpouring of praise, celebrating the actor’s unique and heartfelt way of honoring his sister’s memory.

CPM’s Policy Paradox: Kerala Govt. Executes U-Turn on Modi’s PM SHRI Scheme

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CPM’s Policy Paradox: Kerala Govt. Executes U-Turn on Modi’s PM SHRI Scheme

Thiruvananthapuram: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPM] in Kerala, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has come under intense scrutiny for a dramatic policy reversal, approving the implementation of the Central government’s PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) scheme after a period of firm opposition.

​The decision marks the latest in a series of “U-turns” by the CPM on major educational policies, prompting widespread criticism regarding the party’s historical stance of opposing central initiatives only to adopt them later.

​Financial Constraint Drives the Shift

​The Pinarayi Vijayan government has justified its abrupt change in policy, arguing that the decision was necessary to secure crucial Central funding. The government stated that approving the PM SHRI scheme was the only viable path to release an estimated ₹1,466 crore in Central funds, which includes ₹1,148 crore in arrears owed to the state’s Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK) project.

​This move was reportedly made to secure the money that the Centre was allegedly withholding, forcing the state’s hand despite staunch initial resistance and opposition from its own coalition partner, the CPI. Critics, however, point out that states like Tamil Nadu chose to legally challenge the Central government’s pressure tactics rather than concede.

​A History of Policy Reversals

​The political landscape in Kerala is rife with examples of the CPM’s policy shifts, often initiated after its student wing, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), has led massive protests against the same projects.

  • ​Plus Two (Pre-Degree Separation): In the 1980s, the CPM and SFI launched widespread, often violent, protests against the Congress government’s move to implement the Plus Two system. Yet, upon gaining power in 1987, the LDF government went ahead and implemented the exact same system.
  • ​Self-Financing Colleges: The CPM vehemently opposed the introduction of self-financing educational institutions, with senior party leaders, including Mr. Vijayan, publicly stating their commitment to a policy of no private colleges. However, the LDF later authorized a wide range of self-financing institutions upon assuming office, including ones established under the cooperative sector by party affiliates.

​The decision to adopt PM SHRI—a flagship scheme of the Modi administration—is viewed by many as the newest chapter in the CPM’s policy paradox, fueling accusations that the party prioritizes political expediency over consistent ideological commitment, potentially at the cost of educational reform stagnation in the state.

‘Political Oracle’ Obsessed with Money: Vellappally Natesan Slams Minister Ganesh Kumar

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‘Political Oracle’ Obsessed with Money: Vellappally Natesan Slams Minister Ganesh Kumar

KOLLAM: Kerala Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar is a “political oracle who only desires money and backstabs people,” declared SNDP Yogam General Secretary Vellappally Natesan. The influential Ezhava community leader launched a scathing personal and political attack on the Minister while addressing a branch leaders’ meeting of the Yogam’s Kottarakkara and Kadakkal unions in Kottarakkara.

​Natesan did not mince words, comparing the Minister to a “contemporary Ganesha” who would invite divine punishment, in contrast to the deity Lord Ganesha, whose name is believed to bring merit.

​He questioned the legitimacy of the Minister’s current political fortunes, asking if the “good fortune” was merely a reward for having “used Saritha against the innocent Oommen Chandy.” He went on to invoke a warning of divine retribution for this act.

​The SNDP leader escalated the attack into the personal realm, criticising the Minister’s marital life and character. “How many wives does he have? Is that our culture? His eyes are on the assets of others. He took all the assets of a film actress,” Natesan alleged. He further accused the Minister of disowning his own sister or brother-in-law for wealth.

​Challenging the Minister’s authority, Natesan asserted that the Ezhava community would not remain silent while he “dances in a frenzy.” He rubbished the Minister’s political standing, stating he is merely the leader of a party that once consisted only of a father and son.

​Natesan also brought up historical caste politics, asserting that “casteists like Ganesh’s father” were responsible for the downfall of former Congress leader R. Sankar. Concluding with a strong assertion of community pride, Natesan stated that the Ezhava community would demand the power and rights they deserve, dismissing the notion held by some “Thamprans” (feudal lords) that the Ezhava faction is a mere ‘floor mat’.

Unseen Creatures and High Octane Thrills: Trailer for Mathew Thomas’s ‘Nellikkampoyil Night Riders’ Unleashes Fantasy Horror Comedy

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Unseen Creatures and High Octane Thrills: Trailer for Mathew Thomas’s ‘Nellikkampoyil Night Riders’ Unleashes Fantasy Horror Comedy

KOCHI – The official trailer for ‘Nellikkampoyil Night Riders,’ the highly anticipated fantasy-horror-comedy-thriller starring Mathew Thomas, has been released, giving audiences a thrilling glimpse into a world of unseen creatures and unexpected events. The film, which marks the directorial debut of renowned editor Noufal Abdulla, is set for a global theatrical release on October 24, 2025.

The trailer strongly suggests a high-octane cinematic experience, blending elements of fantasy, comedy, suspense, and action. It has generated significant buzz among cinephiles, promising a rollercoaster ride that will keep audiences hooked from start to finish with its captivating visuals and music.

The story unfolds in the village of Nellikkampoyil, centering on a series of unpredictable and thrilling incidents. The trailer hints at a mysterious entity, raising the question of an “unseen creature” that the characters must confront.

A Promising Team

The screenplay for the film was penned by Jyothish M and Sunu A.V., the writers behind the hit film ‘Pranaya Vilasam.’ This collaboration adds to the high expectations surrounding the project.

The production is helmed by Abbas Thirunavaya, Sajin Ali, and Hamsa Thirunavaya under the banner of A & H.S. Productions. Vimal T.K., Kapil Javeri, and Gurmeet Singh serve as co-producers.

In addition to Mathew Thomas and Meenakshi Unnikrishnan, the ensemble cast features a lineup of talented actors, including Abu Salim, Ronnie David Raj, Vishnu Agasthya, Roshan Shanawas (of Aavesham fame), Sharath Sabha, Merin Philip, Sinil Sainudeen, Naushad Ali, Nazeer Sankranthi, and Chaithra Praveen.

The film has already gained traction with its previously released teaser and super-hit songs, including ‘Fight The Night,’ ‘Kaathal Ponmaan,’ ‘Bhootha Ganam,’ and ‘Kulire.’ T-Series South has acquired the film’s music rights.

The technical crew includes Abhilash Shankar (Cinematography), Yaksan Gary Pereira and Neha S. Nair (Music), Kalai Kingston (Stunt Choreography), and M.R. Rajakrishnan (Final Mix).

Election Buzz: Kerala Govt to Grant 4% Dearness Allowance, ₹104 Crore Monthly Outlay

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Election Buzz: Kerala Govt to Grant 4% Dearness Allowance, ₹104 Crore Monthly Outlay

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a move widely seen as addressing employee concerns ahead of upcoming elections, the Kerala government has in principle decided to grant a 4% Dearness Allowance (DA) hike to its vast contingent of state government employees.

​Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is scheduled to make the official announcement in the State Legislative Assembly on November 1. The decision pertains to the Dearness Allowance installment due from January 2023.

​The financial implications of the hike are significant. State Finance department estimates suggest that a 1% increase in DA costs the exchequer approximately ₹26 crore per month. The approved 4% DA hike will thus entail a substantial additional monthly expenditure of ₹104 crore.

​Sources indicate that the government’s decision to sanction this installment comes as six installments of DA are currently pending. Once the January 2023 installment is disbursed, the total number of pending DA installments will be reduced to five. The timing, just before a major electoral cycle, is being closely watched by political observers and employee unions.

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