A look at the headlines right now:

  1. Jayalalithaa's portfolios handed over to Finance Minister O Panneerselvam: The governor said the decision was made after orders from the chief minister, who has been in hospital since September 22.
  2. One militant killed as Pampore encounter enters third day: Security forces used surveillance drones to pinpoint the location of the infiltrators.
  3. More than 14 people killed in Kabul after gunman opens fire at Shia shrine: The militant was eventually killed by security forces. The attack took place on a religious day of mourning in the Afghanistan capital.
  4. Centre’s opposition to triple talaq goes against freedom of religion, says Jamaat-e-Islami Hind: Leaders of the Muslim body said the government should respect their position on the practice, instead of ‘conspiring to end it’.
  5. Those who shelter terrorists can't be spared, says Narendra Modi at Ramleela event in Lucknow: This is reportedly the first time a serving prime minister has attended the well-known festival in Uttar Pradesh.
  6. Jharkhand man dies in custody after he was arrested for a WhatsApp message on beef: Minhaj Ansari’s family has accused the police of torturing him, and a sub-inspector has been booked for murder.
  7. Ravichandran Ashwin's 13-wicket haul spins India to 321-run win in 3rd Test: The hosts won the series against New Zealand 3-0 with the off-spinner claiming figures of 13/140.
  8. India has a ‘serious’ hunger problem, ranks 97 out of 118 countries on the Global Hunger Index: A report released by the International Food Policy Research Institute said 38.7% of children under the age of five are stunted because of lack of food.
  9. Bad loans in India’s banking sector grew 15% in six months to $138.5 billion in June, says Reuters: Analysts say the country’s state-run banks will need a much higher capital infusion than the $10 billion pledged by the Centre.
  10. Vladimir Putin cancels visit to France after Francois Hollande says will only hold talks on Syria: The French president said he was ready to meet his Russian counterpart if the two could ‘advance peace, end the bombings and announce a truce’.