India and the UK are carrying out intensive discussions for a free trade agreement as both sides are keen to conclude it at the earliest, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Oct 6 amid indication that the previously-set Diwali deadline for the ambitious deal could be difficult to meet.

The MEA's comments came in the backdrop of UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman expressing reservations over the proposed pact on the grounds that it could increase immigration to the UK and go against the goals of Brexit.

The Diwali deadline for the FTA was set by the then British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April when the former visited India.

Iran's judiciary has denied reports that security forces killed a teenage girl at a protest last month against the death of Mahsa Amini, saying instead that she committed suicide.

A wave of unrest has rocked Iran since September 16 over the death of Amini, 22, after morality police arrested her in Tehran for allegedly failing to observe the Islamic republic's strict dress code for women.

Rail traffic on a bridge linking Crimea to the Russian mainland resumed after a blast damaged the structure on Oct 8 , its operator said in a statement.

Grand Service Express, which operates services between Crimea and Russia, said two trains left the peninsula in the early evening for Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

A pink diamond was sold for $49.9 million in Hong Kong on oct 7, setting a world record for the highest price per carat for a diamond sold at auction.

The 11.15-carat Williamson Pink Star diamond, auctioned by Sotheby’s Hong Kong, sold for $392 million Hong Kong dollars ($49.9 million). It was originally estimated at $21 million.

The Williamson Pink Star draws its name from two legendary pink diamonds. The first is the 23.60-carat Williamson diamond which was presented to the late Queen Elizabeth II as a wedding gift in 1947, while the second is the 59.60-carat Pink Star diamond that sold for a record $71.2 million at auction in 2017.

Suzlon Energy announced the appointment of Vinod R Tanti as its Chairman and Managing Director with immediate effect for the next three years.

The announcement came after the demise of Suzlon Energy founder Tulsi Tanti, who was holding the position of Chairman and Managing Director, on October 1, 2022.

The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), which comes under the Ministry of Finance has  invited expression of interest (EoI) for the strategic sale of IDBI Bank.

The government will dilute its 30.48% shareholding in the bank, while LIC will sell its 30.24% stake, as per the preliminary information memorandum. The management control will also be transferred to the potential buyer.  The last date for submission of EoI is December 16.

The Reserve Bank of India would select the qualified interested parties and decide on the amount of equity stake such entities would hold in IDBI Bank. The banking regulator would do the ‘Fit and Proper’ assessment.

The government and LIC collectively hold 94.72% stake in IDBI Bank. While LIC has 49.24% stake in IDBI Bank, the government holds 45.48% of the shares. Public shareholders hold 5.2% stake in the bank. Post stake sale, LIC and the government’s shareholding in the bank would come down to 34%. Based on the current share price of IDBI Bank (`43), the government and LIC would together fetch Rs 26,000 crore from the stake sale.

The successful bidder will have to make an open offer to the public shareholders of IDBI Bank and will be required to put in escrow, in cash, the entire consideration payable under the open offer assuming full acceptance of the open offer, as per the EoI.

People will have to cough up at least Rs 10,000 more to buy a good 5G smartphone, according to industry experts. The experts are of the view that a decent 5G smartphone would cost anything above Rs 20,000 to consumers.

As telecom operators have started rolling out 5G services in the country, the sale of 5G smartphones is going to increase manifold.

India defeated Bangladesh by 59 runs in a Women's Asia Cup match  in Sylhet , Bangladesh on Oct 8.

Opting to bat, Shafali Verma smashed a quickfire 55 off only 44 balls while in-form Jemimah Rodrigues used the long handle to good effect with an unbeaten 35 as India managed a par 159 or 5.

Shafali and stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana (47 off 38 balls) added 96 for the opening stand while Jemimah and Deepti Sharma (10) added 29 runs in just 2.3 overs.

The Indian bowlers then defended the target easily, restricting the hosts to 100 for 7. Captain Nigar Sultana top-scored with 36 while Fargana Hoque made 30.

For India, Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma picked up two wickets apiece.

Brief Scores: India 159 for 5 in 20 overs (Shafali Verma 55, Jemimah Rodrigues 35 not out; Rumana Ahmed 3/27) vs Bangladesh 100 for 7 in 20 overs (Nigar Sultana 36; Shafali Verma 2/10, Deepti Sharma 2/13).