In a bold royal decision seen as both symbolic and strategic, King Charles III has stripped his younger brother, Prince Andrew, of his remaining royal titles and honours, while also ordering him to vacate the Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate. This highlights the monarch’s determination to protect the integrity of the British Crown amid lingering controversy surrounding the Duke’s associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

According to palace sources, Andrew will no longer be referred to as “His Royal Highness” or “Duke of York” in any official capacity. He will now be styled simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, effectively severing his remaining formal ties to the monarchy. This follows his earlier removal from royal duties in 2019, and the withdrawal of his military affiliations and patronages in 2022.

The King’s order also ends Andrew’s long-standing lease at the Royal Lodge, his residence on the Windsor estate for more than two decades. The Duke is expected to relocate to a smaller, privately funded property, marking his full withdrawal from royal privileges. Reports suggest that Prince William, the heir to the throne, may assume control of the Windsor property in due course.

Prince Andrew, who stepped back from public life following a BBC interview in 2019 that was widely criticised, continues to deny all allegations linked to the Epstein scandal. However, his settlement of a civil lawsuit in the United States in 2022 without admission of guilt effectively ended any prospect of a return to public duties.

The firm step is being interpreted by royal watchers as part of King Charles’ broader effort to modernise and streamline the monarchy, focusing on transparency and public accountability. It also signals a clear message: royal blood no longer shields anyone from consequence.

Palace insiders say the decision, though painful within the family, was taken in the interest of “upholding the dignity of the monarchy.” Buckingham Palace has declined to issue an official statement beyond confirming the King’s approval of the measures.

Also Read: US Gives India Six-Month Waiver on Chabahar Port

In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, the United States has granted India a six-month exemption from its sanctions on Iran, allowing New Delhi to continue developing and operating the Chabahar Port.

Located along Iran’s southeastern coast, Chabahar provides India with a vital gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan. The waiver restores India’s access to a project considered key to its regional connectivity and trade strategy.

The decision follows sustained diplomatic engagement by New Delhi, which argued that the port supports humanitarian aid and regional stability. The US had earlier revoked the exemption as part of its “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran.

Officials said the temporary waiver offers India breathing space to deepen its development partnership in the Gulf of Oman while balancing ties with both Washington and Tehran. Analysts see it as a reaffirmation of India’s strategic autonomy and its role as a stabilising regional power.

Also Read: India Ready to Aid Afghan Hydropower Projects

Former India cricket captain and Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin will be sworn in as a Telangana minister on October 31.

Nominated to the Legislative Council under the Governor’s quota, his induction restores Muslim representation in the cabinet.

The move also comes ahead of the crucial Jubilee Hills by-election on November 11.

India has expressed its readiness to assist Afghanistan in developing hydroelectric and water-management projects, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) affirming that New Delhi stands prepared to support all Afghan efforts aimed at the sustainable management of water resources.

The statement comes after Afghanistan’s Ministry of Water and Energy announced plans to build a series of dams on the Kunar River, a transboundary river flowing into Pakistan. The move has raised concerns in Islamabad over the impact on downstream water flows.

Jaiswal reaffirmed India’s “full commitment to Afghanistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence,” particularly in the wake of recent border clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces.

Officials recalled that India has a long record of supporting Afghanistan’s infrastructure development, including the construction of the India-Afghanistan Friendship (Salma) Dam in Herat Province, a symbol of bilateral cooperation in water management and clean-energy access.

Analysts view India’s renewed offer as both a humanitarian and strategic gesture to strengthen regional stability, promoting sustainable growth, and deepening ties with a neighbour facing acute power shortages.

If implemented, the new hydroelectric projects could transform Afghanistan’s power landscape, bringing electricity and irrigation to rural communities that have long depended on diesel generators and seasonal streams.

Also Read: Google, Reliance Announce Free AI Pro Access

Google and Reliance Jio have announced a major partnership to offer free access to Google’s premium AI Pro plan, worth ₹35,100, to millions of Jio users across India. The offer provides 18 months of complimentary access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, Google’s most advanced AI model, along with premium tools for image and video generation, Notebook LM, and 2 TB of cloud storage.

The rollout begins with Jio’s 18–25-year-old users on unlimited 5G plans, and will later expand to other customers. Eligible users can activate the offer directly through the MyJio app upon receiving a notification.

The partnership aims to accelerate digital empowerment and make artificial intelligence accessible to every Indian. Beyond consumer access, Reliance Intelligence Limited, which is Reliance’s AI arm, will work with Google to introduce Gemini Enterprise solutions and bring AI computing hardware like Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) to India.

Industry leaders see the collaboration as a pivotal move that could redefine India’s AI landscape by combining Google’s innovation with Jio’s massive reach, enabling millions to experience the next generation of intelligent tools without any cost.

Also Read: PM Modi Offers Unity Day Tributes to Sardar Patel

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 150th birth anniversary at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat. The nation observed Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) to honour Patel’s pivotal role in uniting India after Independence.

After offering floral tributes at the 182-metre statue which is also the tallest in the world, PM Modi witnessed the Ekta Diwas parade, featuring contingents from the Indian Army, paramilitary forces, and state police. Addressing the gathering, Modi described Patel as “the architect of a united and strong India,” whose vision of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat continues to guide the nation’s development.

He further added that every Indian draws inspiration from Sardar Patel’s resolve and courage. All throughout his life he preached and practiced unity as the greatests strength of mankind.

He also administered the Rashtriya Ekta Pledge, reaffirming the collective commitment to national unity, security, and integrity. The ceremony included cultural performances celebrating India’s diversity, as well as displays by NCC cadets and police contingents.

Across the country, unity runs, exhibitions, and school events were organised to mark the occasion. In Delhi, President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar also paid floral tributes to Patel.

Remembered as India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Patel’s leadership was instrumental in bringing together the nation’s princely states post-Independence. His words, “Manpower without unity is not a strength unless it is harmonised and united properly,” were echoed throughout the celebrations.

Also Read: Powai Hostage-Taker Shot Dead by Mumbai Police

Oxford Languages has crowned ’67’ as the 2025 Word of the Year, spotlighting the rise of numerical slang in online culture.

The term, born on social media, conveys feelings of exhaustion and disconnection in the digital age.

Linguists say the choice mirrors how younger generations use numbers to voice emotion in the age of algorithm.

A man who held 17 children hostage inside a dubbing studio in Mumbai’s Powai area on Thursday was shot by police and later died in hospital, bringing a tense two-hour standoff to a dramatic end.

The accused had stormed into RA Studios in the Chandivali area around noon, where children aged between 6 and 14 years were attending a recording session. He locked the premises from inside, refusing to release the children.

Arya later uploaded a video declaring, “Instead of dying by suicide, I have made a plan and am holding some children hostage here.” He claimed he wasn’t after money but had “moral and ethical demands,” insisting he was not a terrorist.

Police received a distress call around 1:45 pm and quickly launched a rescue operation involving the Powai Police, Crime Branch, and Quick Response Team (QRT). Negotiations were attempted, but Arya allegedly threatened to set the studio ablaze and later fired at officers. Police returned fire, wounding him. He was taken to hospital, where he succumbed to bullet injuries.

All 17 children were safely rescued and reunited with their families, none sustaining injuries. Police recovered an air gun and chemical cylinders from the site. Investigators are probing Arya’s motive and whether mental instability played a role. The incident has sparked concern over safety protocols at private studios hosting minors for auditions and shoots.

Also Read: Pakistan Airspace Ban Costs Air India ₹4,000 Crore

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson on Thursday said the ongoing closure of Pakistan’s airspace has cost the airline an estimated ₹4,000 crore, as flights to Europe and the US continue to take longer, costlier routes.

The restriction, imposed amid regional tensions earlier this year, has forced Indian carriers to bypass Pakistani airspace by flying over the Arabian Sea and West Asia. Wilson said, calling the losses material and ongoing and that they have been forced to operate on routes that are significantly longer, which has a major impact on costs.

The detours have sharply increased fuel burn, crew hours, and operational costs, disrupting schedules and straining resources. The airline, currently in the midst of a major transformation under Tata Group ownership, has been juggling crew rotations and rising global fuel prices while maintaining service standards.

Wilson’s comments came as the airline continues to deal with the emotional aftermath of the June 12 Ahmedabad–London crash, which claimed 260 lives. Describing the tragedy as “absolutely devastating,” he said Air India has been extending all possible support to affected families, first responders, and employees.

The prolonged airspace closure and a major safety tragedy have tested Air India’s resilience as it works to rebuild itself into a competitive global carrier. Despite the turbulence, Wilson said the airline remains focused on safety, learning, and continuous improvement.

A preliminary probe by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) found no technical fault in the aircraft or its engines, though a final report is awaited.

Also Read: Trump, Xi Finalise Tariff, Rare Earths Deal in Busan

After six years apart, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met face-to-face on Thursday in Busan, South Korea, in a high-profile encounter aimed at easing escalating trade tensions.  The new tariff level will drop from 57% to 47%, with fentanyl-related tariffs cut in half to 10%.

The meeting, held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, marked the first in-person encounter between the two leaders since Trump’s return to office this year and took place amid growing concerns over the global economic impact of the US-China trade conflict.

Speaking from Air Force One after nearly two hours of discussions, Trump described the encounter as “amazing” and rated it “12 out of 10.” He announced that, in addition to the tariff cuts, both sides had reached a one-year agreement to resolve a long-standing dispute over rare earth mineral exports—a key resource for high-tech industries. China has agreed to maintain the flow of rare earths, while the US will refrain from imposing a proposed 100% tariff on Chinese goods.

The deal also includes China’s commitment to resume large-scale purchases of US soybeans, signaling a partial thaw in the strained trade relations. Trump praised Xi Jinping as “a great leader” and expressed optimism about a “fantastic relationship” moving forward.

Experts have characterized the agreement as a tactical truce rather than a comprehensive resolution to the broader, deep-rooted trade issues. The summit, held at a South Korean military facility near Busan airport, signaled the leaders’ willingness to manage tensions and pursue dialogue amid complex geopolitical challenges.

This breakthrough comes as both countries seek to stabilise their economic engagement after months of retaliatory tariffs and export restrictions that have disrupted global markets. While core disagreements persist, the meeting represents a notable step toward de-escalation and cooperation between Washington and Beijing.

The Busan meeting also highlighted South Korea’s role as a diplomatic bridge in the region, with President Lee Jae Myung aiming to foster dialogue between the two powers. The outcome of this pivotal encounter will influence the trajectory of US-China relations and the wider global economy in the months and years ahead.

This development offers a hopeful turning point in one of the world’s most consequential bilateral relationships, potentially easing economic uncertainty and promoting cooperative global leadership.

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