President Biden To Celebrate Diwali With Indian-Americans At White House Today

by Argus News

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

US President Joe Biden would celebrate Diwali on Monday evening with a large number of Indian-Americans from across the country at the White House, his last as the President, the White House said in a statement.

Washington, Oct 28: US President Joe Biden would celebrate Diwali on Monday evening with a large number of Indian-Americans from across the country at the White House, his last as the President, the White House said in a statement.

The day promises to be a memorable tribute to Indian heritage and culture, emphasising the growing bond between the US and the Indian-American community.

Continuing a tradition from previous years, the President will light a Diya lamp in the Blue Room before his remarks, the White House said.

After this, he would deliver remarks before a gathering of Indian-Americans, for whom he is hosting a reception.

This would be President Biden's last Diwali reception at the White House as he is not running for the presidential election.

Among the President's introductions will be a video message from Sunita Williams, a decorated NASA astronaut and retired Navy Captain.

She recorded a video greeting from the International Space Station (ISS), where she took over as Commander in September, the White House said.

Sunita Williams is a practising Hindu and has previously sent Diwali greetings from the ISS to people across the globe.

She has also brought multiple Indian/Hindu cultural items, including samosas and copies of Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita with her to space in celebration of her heritage, it said.

Nootana, a classical South Asian dance and music ensemble based in Washington, DC, will provide musical entertainment for guests, in addition to the Marine Corps Band, the White House added.

Last year after the Diwali celebration, the US President shared a video of the festivities on microblogging platform X in which he was seen lighting a diya with US First Lady Jill Biden at the White House.

"Today, Jill and I lit the diya to symbolise Diwali's message of seeking the light of wisdom, love, and unity over the darkness of hate and division. May we embrace the enduring spirit of this holiday and of our nation – and reflect on the strength of our shared light," he posted.

--IANS

PM Modi, Spanish Prez Inaugurate Tata-Airbus C295 Facility, Pave Way For 'Make In India' In Aviation

by Shambhu Datta Mishra

Vadodara, Oct 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside Spanish President Pedro Sanchez, inaugurated the TATA Aircraft Complex in Vadodara, Gujarat, Monday, marking a major milestone for the "Make in India" initiative in the aviation sector.

The leaders unveiled the Final Assembly Line (FAL) Plant for the C295 military aircraft, developed by Tata Advanced Systems in collaboration with Airbus Spain.

As part of the C295 program, a total of 56 aircraft will be manufactured, with 16 to be delivered by Airbus from Spain and the remaining 40 to be built within the TATA Aircraft Complex, located on the Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) campus in Vadodara. This facility represents the first private-sector FAL for military aircraft in India.

Ahead of the inauguration, PM Modi and President Sanchez participated in a 2.5 km roadshow from the airport to the Tata facility, engaging with the public and witnessing cultural performances along the way.

At the event, PM Modi highlighted India's rapid development, noting, "This is my friend Pedro Sanchez's first visit to India. Today, we are moving in a new direction to the India-Spain partnership with the production factory of the C295 aircraft. This facility will enhance India-Spain relations and the 'Make in India, Make for the World' mission."

Reflecting on the recent loss, he remarked, "Recently, we lost a great son of the nation, Ratan Tata. If he were here today, he would have been very proud."

PM Modi also recalled his tenure as Gujarat's Chief Minister, where he oversaw the setup of a train coach factory in Vadodara.

"Today, we export metro coaches made in that factory to other countries. I am confident the future holds the same for this aerospace facility," he said.

Speaking on the broader goals, he added, "We are aiming to make India a hub for aviation and aerospace, creating a path for 'Made in India' civil aerospace products."

He emphasised the government's strides in defence manufacturing over the past decade, including expanding private sector participation, restructuring the Ordinance Factories, and establishing defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

PM Modi also paid homage to Spanish missionary Father Carlos G. Valles, who contributed to Gujarat's culture, stating, "Father Valles enriched our culture, and we honoured him with the Padma Shri award."

The leaders also announced the 2026 celebration of the India-Spain Year of Culture, Tourism, and AI, as PM Modi remarked, "Our partnership is vibrant, like a prism, continuously evolving."

President Sanchez expressed admiration for PM Modi's industrial vision, saying, "Prime Minister Modi, your vision of India as an industrial powerhouse and investment magnet is inspiring. This partnership between Airbus and TATA will bolster India's aerospace industry and pave the way for more European companies."

"This project not only strengthens our industrial ties but also demonstrates Spain's commitment as a strategic and reliable partner, highlighting the Spanish defence industry's capabilities and reputation. Spain, like India, has an ambitious roadmap to modernise its economy," he added.

President Sanchez's three-day visit marks the first by a Spanish leader in 18 years. He was welcomed at the Vadodara airport by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and will also visit Mumbai.

His engagements include the fourth Spain-India Forum, hosted by the Spain-India Council Foundation and the Observer Research Foundation, along with interactions with industry leaders, think tanks, and prominent figures from India's film industry to encourage Indo-Spanish media collaboration.

(IANS)

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Indian Stock Market Opens Positive, ICICI Bank And BPCL Top Gainers

by Shambhu Datta Mishra

Mumbai, Oct 28: The Indian stock market opened in green Monday as buying was seen in auto, IT, PSU bank and pharma sectors in the morning trade.

The Sensex was trading at 79,675.78 after gaining 273.49 points or 0.34 per cent. At the same time, Nifty was trading at 24,255.15 after climbing 74.35 points or 0.31 per cent.

The market trend remained mixed. On the National Stock Exchange (NSE), 1003 stocks were trading in green, while 1,124 stocks were trading in red.

Nifty Bank was at 51,103.35 after rising 315.90 points or 0.62 per cent. The Nifty Midcap 100 index was trading at 55,385.65 after gaining 107.70 points or 0.19 per cent. At the same time, the Nifty Smallcap 100 index was at 17,873.55 after gaining 25.65 points or 0.14 per cent.

ICICI Bank, SBI, NTPC, Tata Motors, Bajaj Finserv, Infosys, Asian Paints and Sun Pharma were the top gainers in the Sensex pack. At the same time, L&T, ITC, Tech Mahindra, JSW Steel, Power Grid and Bharti Airtel were the top losers.

ICICI Bank, BPCL, Asian Paints, Nestle India and Sun Pharma were the top gainers in the Nifty pack. At the same time, JSW Steel, L&T, Apollo Hospital, Tata Steel and Trent were the top losers.

In Asian markets, Jakarta, Hong Kong and Bangkok were trading in the red. At the same time, the markets of Tokyo, Shanghai, and Seoul were trading in green. The US stock market closed in the red on the previous trading day.

According to market experts, after a positive opening, the Nifty can find support at 24,150, followed by 24,050 and 23,900. On the higher side, 24,300 can be an immediate resistance, followed by 24,400 and 24,500.

The charts of Bank Nifty indicate that it may get support at 50,600, followed by 50,400 and 50,200. If the index advances further, 51,000 would be the initial key resistance, followed by 51,200 and 51,400, they said.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold equities worth Rs 3,036 crore on October 25, while domestic institutional investors bought equities worth Rs 4,159 crore on the same day.

The market outlook this week depends upon the next set of July-September quarter results, the scheduled monthly derivatives expiry, FII activities, geopolitical tensions, the US Presidential election polls and global and domestic macroeconomic data, as per experts.

(IANS)

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Formula 1: Sainz Leads Ferrari To Victory In Mexico As Norris Calls Verstappen ‘Dangerous’

by Shambhu Datta Mishra

Mexico City, Sep 28: Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz cruised to a commanding victory, marking a third win in five races and intensifying the constructor’s battle as Ferrari leapfrogged Red Bull into second place at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

It also brought the championship battle to a fever pitch as McLaren’s Lando Norris called Red Bull’s Max Verstappen “dangerous” after a series of on-track clashes led to two time penalties for Verstappen.

The reigning champion, who still managed a sixth-place finish despite his infractions, faced criticism over aggressive manoeuvres that underscored a turbulent season’s most contentious moments.

The Norris-Verstappen showdown unfolded on lap 10 after a safety car restart following a crash involving Alex Albon and Yuki Tsunoda, which had forced both drivers to retire.

As Norris, running side-by-side with Verstappen at Turn Four, took an outside line, Verstappen pushed him off-track—a move deemed too aggressive by race stewards who later penalised Verstappen. A second incident at Turn Eight, where Verstappen once again failed to give room, earned him another penalty.

Norris was visibly frustrated over the radio, saying, “I was ahead the whole way through the corner. This guy is dangerous. I have to avoid a crash.”

In contrast to the tension surrounding Verstappen, Ferrari’s Sainz delivered a flawless performance, winning from pole position and marking Ferrari’s third victory in the last five races. His teammate Charles Leclerc added to Ferrari’s triumph by finishing third, securing an extra point for the fastest lap and propelling Ferrari to second place in the constructors’ championship standings.

Despite losing the lead to Verstappen on the first lap, Sainz quickly reclaimed it after the restart, breezing past his Red Bull rival into Turn One. Leclerc initially chased down his teammate but ultimately fell back, allowing Norris to gain ground in the closing laps. Leclerc ran wide on lap 62, and Norris seized the chance to secure a second-place finish.

Ferrari’s strong performance in Mexico has reignited their fight in the constructors’ standings, placing them just 29 points behind McLaren and 25 ahead of Red Bull. The outcome reflected Ferrari’s recent surge, with Sainz’s win helping the team build on their newfound momentum. McLaren remains in the lead, but the narrowing gap has intensified a season already marked by high-stakes drama.

Behind the frontrunners, Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell engaged in a thrilling duel of their own. Russell initially overtook Hamilton on lap 14 but lost the position after pit stops, with Hamilton ultimately reclaiming fifth place in the closing laps.

Meanwhile, Verstappen’s penalties and lack of pace relegated him to a solitary sixth-place finish, and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez had a race to forget, finishing last after a series of setbacks, including a false start and a collision with Liam Lawson.

With Ferrari’s resurgence and Norris cutting Verstappen’s lead to just 47 points, the season heads into its final stretch with both driver and constructor championships still up for grabs.

(IANS)

President Biden To Celebrate Diwali With Indian-Americans At White House Today

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