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OpenAI’s big bet on India: Free ChatGPT Go access for 1 year starting Nov 4

New Delhi, Oct 28, 2025

OpenAI on Tuesday announced that it will offer free access to ChatGPT Go for one year to all users in India who sign up during a special promotional period starting November 4.

The offer comes as part of OpenAI’s celebration of its first DevDay Exchange event in Bengaluru, which will also be held on the same day.

ChatGPT Go is OpenAI’s recently launched subscription plan that gives users access to many of the platform’s advanced features, including higher message limits, more image generation, longer memory, and the ability to upload more files and images.

All these features are powered by OpenAI’s latest GPT-5 model.

The plan was first launched in India in August this year after users requested a more affordable way to use ChatGPT’s advanced tools.

Within just a month of its launch, the number of paid ChatGPT users in India more than doubled.

Following this strong response, OpenAI expanded ChatGPT Go to nearly 90 countries worldwide.

India is currently ChatGPT’s second-largest market and one of the fastest-growing.

Millions of users across the country — students, professionals, and developers — are already using ChatGPT daily to learn new skills, boost creativity, and build innovative projects.

The new offer reflects OpenAI’s continued “India-first” approach and supports the government’s IndiaAI Mission, which aims to expand access to artificial intelligence tools and encourage innovation across the country.

OpenAI is also working with civil society groups, educational platforms, and government-led initiatives to make AI tools more accessible and inclusive.

Existing ChatGPT Go subscribers in India will also be eligible for the free 12-month offer, with more details to be announced soon.

Nick Turley, Vice President and Head of ChatGPT, said the company has been inspired by how Indian users are using ChatGPT Go.

“Ahead of our first DevDay Exchange event in India, we’re making ChatGPT Go freely available for a year to help more people across India easily access and benefit from advanced AI. We’re excited to see the amazing things our users will build, learn, and achieve with these tools,” he said.(Agency)

Pakistan’s ISI hires global voices to wage propaganda war against India

New Delhi, Oct 28, 2025

After facing immense humiliation post Operation Sindoor, Pakistan has been trying to win a perception battle against India.

The ISI has been constantly looking for influencers it can buy so that they could put out Pakistan’s point of view, while also defaming India on the other hand. There is a dedicated cell run by the ISI, which handles these operations. The job of this cell is to identify influencers and get them to make videos that suit Islamabad’s narrative.

While the Indian agencies arrested several influencers, such as Jyoti Malhotra, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, it has now come to light that the ISI is now roping in foreigners to portray India in a poor light.

Several influencers from various parts of the world have been identified to create content in India and portray the country in a poor light. These influencers, suspected to be on the payrolls of the ISI, visit India on a tourist visa and then create videos. These videos speak ill of the country. They intentionally take up cheap hotels and portray that only such places are available in the country to live.

Further, they also eat food meant for the underprivileged and then put out a message through their videos that this is the condition of every Indian.

Further, there are also videos in circulation that paint a different picture of the Jammu and Kashmir issue. They travel to the Union Territory and then shoot videos. During the commentary, they intentionally refer to it as Indian occupied Kashmir. This is what Pakistan calls Jammu and Kashmir. India has condemned Pakistan’s take on numerous occasions and made it clear that the Kashmir issue is an internal one and Jammu and Kashmir is very much part of the country and belongs to no one else.

Intelligence agencies, which are looking into the activities of the vloggers, said that the ISI is very capable of indulging in such acts. At first, it hired scores of Indian influencers. The influencers are invited to Pakistan, where a good amount of money is given. Their job was to say good things about Pakistan. This is an image that the ISI wants to portray to the world.

In recent years, owing to poor or no infrastructure, Pakistan has been mocked around the world.

Making matters worse is the failing economy and the constant scrutiny by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Operation Sindoor and also the major embarrassment that the army has been facing at the Afghan border, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan have hurt the image of the country.

The Indian influencers and some others were picked up to change this image. The idea to pick up foreign influencers and get them to put out content that shows the country in a poor light is more of a strategy that is aimed at creating a negative image.

Many within Pakistan have started questioning the government about the lack of development and a failing economy. This content put up by these foreigners is circulated widely in Pakistan.

The idea is to tell the Pakistani people that all is not well in the neighbourhood as well. The influencer module that the ISI runs is a clear change in strategy. The influencers may not be exactly gathering and passing information from India. However, their job description is different, and that is to create a perception about Pakistan.

Following the arrest of Jyoti Malhotra and others, it came to light that the Pakistan High Commission is very much part of the racket.

Apart from identifying such persons, it also gives them visas very easily so that their travel to Pakistan is hassle-free. The agencies are also looking at whether some of the foreign influencers have been in contact with the high commission or have received their orders directly from Islamabad.(Agency)

ED raids house of business family in Kolkata

Kolkata, Oct 28, 2025

Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers conducted raids at the house of a business family in Kolkata on Tuesday.

The central investigation agency officials raided the house of the business family at 75 Hemchandra Naskar Road in the city’s Beliaghata area at around 7 a.m. About six ED officials carried out the raid.

According to ED sources, the house belongs to Biswajit Chowdhury and Ranajit Chowdhury, famous for their clothing business.

Biswajit Chowdhury, the elder brother, has a clothing business. On the other hand, Ranajit Chowdhury is involved in the construction business.

However, the investigators are also looking into any other business connections of the brothers or their financial activities.

The ED officials raided the house along with the central force personnel. Initially, the investigators faced some obstacles while entering the house.

According to sources, the iron gate was pushed for a long time, but it did not open. Later, the security guard arrived and opened the gate, and the ED officials entered the house.

It was learned that this operation may be related to a financial transaction or tax evasion case. Although the central investigation agency has not officially said in which case this search is being conducted.

The ED officials searched several rooms in the house. It is said that important documents and transaction-related statements are being examined. The agency suspects that there may be irregularities or money laundering in the financial transactions of the particular family.

Meanwhile, ED officials have not allowed anyone to go near the house for security reasons. The state administration is now looking into the outcome of the investigation.

Speaking to a section of media persons, Ranajit Chowdhury said, “I don’t know the exact reason for the raid, their investigation or in which case they have come here. They have not told us anything. I have been in the real estate and construction business since 1996. I have two hotels in Puri.”(Agency)

Chhath Puja festival witnesses trade worth over Rs 50,000 crore: CAIT

New Delhi, Oct 28, 2025

The grand festival of Chhath Puja generated trade worth more than Rs 50,000 crore nationwide, according to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Tuesday.

CAIT’s assessment, conducted after the festival, revealed that over 10 crore people across India participated in Chhath celebrations.

Bihar alone witnessed business activity worth about Rs 15,000 crore, followed by Delhi with Rs 8,000 crore and Jharkhand with Rs 5,000 crore.

The findings are part of CAIT’s ongoing research on India’s “Sanatan Economy,” which studies the spending patterns during major festivals and wedding seasons.

CAIT Secretary General and Member of Parliament Praveen Khandelwal said that Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh, particularly the Purvanchal region, remained the main centres of Chhath celebrations, where large congregations gathered along rivers and ponds.

However, Delhi and the NCR region also saw a major business boom due to the large Purvanchali population.

The Delhi government constructed around 1,500 ghats and spent significantly on infrastructure, sanitation, and security arrangements.

Khandelwal said that other states, including West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, also reported strong economic activity.

In metros and non-traditional states like Odisha, Karnataka, and Telangana, local markets saw brisk sales due to the presence of migrant communities who celebrated Chhath with great enthusiasm.

According to CAIT, the main items sold during the festival included bananas, sugarcane, coconuts, rice, grains, sweets such as thekua and laddoos, and essential puja materials like baskets, diyas, flowers, and clay utensils.

There was also a surge in demand for services related to ghat construction, lighting, sanitation, and boat rides.

Khandelwal added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to promote Swadeshi (indigenous) products and the recent GST rate reductions played a key role in driving this festive trade.

Local markets across India organised “Swadeshi Chhath” campaigns to promote traditional artisans, bamboo basket makers, and jaggery producers, boosting sales of locally made goods.

He further said that the momentum from the Prime Minister’s GST Savings Festival, which earlier spurred Diwali sales, continued during Chhath Puja. The twin festivals helped lift overall consumer demand across sectors.(Agency)

‘He’s stable and under supervision for few days’: SKY provides positive update on Shreyas Iyer

Canberra, Oct 28, 2025

India T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav shared an update on Shreyas Iyer, who was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a Sydney hospital after sustaining a spleen laceration, saying the batter is stable and was replying to the messages over phone.

Iyer suffered the injury while taking the catch of Australia wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carry during the third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He was immediately taken to the hospital for further evaluation and was later admitted there to the ICU.

‘We spoke to him. At least on the first day, when we got to know that he had an injury, I called him first. Then I got to know that he didn’t have a phone. Then I called my physio, Kamlesh. He told me that he is stable. On the first day, you cannot be sure of anything.

“We have been talking to him for two days now. He has been replying. If he is replying on the phone, it means he is stable. And the doctor is also there with him. But he will be under supervision for the next few days. So it’s looking good. But he has been replying, so that is good,” said Suryakumar ahead of the first T20I against Australia.

“He has been replying. If he is replying on the phone, it means he is stable. And the doctor is also there with him. But he will be under supervision for the next few days. So it’s looking good. But he has been replying, so that is good,” he added.

The injury, which was initially believed to be a rib cage issue, turned out to be more serious than first thought, as BCCI confirmed that the scans have revealed a laceration injury to the spleen, which prompted Iyer’s admission to the ICU in a Sydney hospital.

However, sources told IANS that Iyer has been moved out of the ICU, and team management remains in close contact with him and is keeping a constant watch on his recovery.

Moreover, Suryakumar also provided an update on Nitish Kumar Reddy, who missed the third and final ODI against Australia in Sydney due to a left quadriceps injury sustained during the second match in Adelaide.

“He is doing fine; yesterday he did some bit of running and batting also in the nets. Today he wanted to take a break, as it was an optional practice, but we came to the ground because we had a team meeting, and he wanted to stay with the group,” he said.(Agency)

Severe cyclone Montha comes hurtling towards Andhra coast

Amaravati, Oct 28, 2025

Cyclone Montha in the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a severe cyclone and is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada on Tuesday night.

Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDA) said in the morning that the cyclone moved at a speed of 15 km per hour during the last six hours and is currently centered 190 km from Machilipatnam, 270 km from Kakinada, and 340 km from Visakhapatnam.

ASDMA Managing Director Prakhar Jain said that at the time of the cyclone’s landfall, strong gales with a speed of 90-110 kmph are likely. Under the impact of the cyclone, very heavy rainfall is likely along the entire Andhra coast from Srikakulam to Nellore. Some areas may receive extremely heavy rainfall.

The APSDMA has advised people to remain indoors. It asked people not to panic and assured them that the state administration is with them.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for the coastal districts, which also face the threat of flash floods.

A storm surge of about one metre above the astronomical tide is also expected along the coast, which may inundate low-lying areas.

Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalle, Nellore, Konaseema, and Kakinada districts are already receiving heavy rain with strong winds. At least 95 places have recorded heavy to very heavy rainfall.

High tidal waves have damaged the Uppada-Kakinada beach road. Authorities have closed the road for traffic.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea for five days. All activities on the coast have been suspended. Authorities have closed the beaches for tourists.

According to officials, the cyclone is likely to impact 1,419 villages in 233 mandals and 44 municipalities. Authorities have already opened 2,194 relief camps in these areas.

The administration is ready to shift people to relief camps where necessary. Special attention has been paid to 3,465 pregnant women/nursing mothers for care.

A total of 558 control rooms have been set up, including one state control room, 19 district control rooms, and 54 revenue division control rooms.

Sixteen satellite phones, 35 DMR sets, and other equipment have been made available in the districts for the communication system.

As a precautionary measure, South Central Railway and East Coast Railway have announced the cancellation of over 100 trains for the next two days.

Eleven teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 12 teams of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have reached the coastal districts for relief operations, while some more teams are available at the headquarters.(Agency)

Amazon laying off about 30,000 corporate employees, starting Tuesday: Report

New Delhi, Oct 28, 2025

E-commerce giant Amazon is reportedly laying off about 30,000 corporate employees, starting Tuesday, that will impact several divisions at the company.

Although the company was yet to respond, reports surfaced, claiming that Amazon aims to pare expenses and compensate for over-hiring during the peak demand in the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to Reuters, affected Amazon employees were likely to be notified via emails starting Tuesday morning (US time).

The company employs more than 1.54 million people globally, including warehouse staff.

Amazon has already laid off more than 27,000 jobs since 2022 through smaller rounds of layoffs.

Its cloud, devices, communications, and retail divisions have all faced workforce reductions in recent months.

According to the report, the job cuts, beginning this week, may impact a variety of divisions within Amazon, including human resources, known as People Experience and Technology, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and devices and services.

The latest move follows a Fortune report that the company plans to cut up to 15 per cent of its human resources workforce, with further reductions expected across multiple divisions.

The new layoffs come as part of Amazon CEO Andy Jassy’s multi-year cost-cutting strategy, to “remove layers and flatten organisations” to make Amazon more agile.

As per Layoffs.fyi, the move would be the largest single round of tech layoffs since it began tracking industry job cuts in 2020.

More than 200 tech companies have already laid off approximately 98,000 workers this year, including key players like Microsoft, Meta, Google, and Intel. Microsoft has eliminated 15,000 roles in 2025 alone, while Meta last week cut 600 jobs from its AI unit.

Google slashed over 100 design roles in its cloud division, and Intel leads this year with 22,000 layoffs. Salesforce has also pointed to AI as a driver behind its recent staff reductions.(Agency)

Delhi Acid Attack Case : Police give Clean Chit to Main Suspect

New Delhi, Oct 28, 2025

The man accused of throwing acid on a 20-year-old girl near Laxmi Bai College in Delhi has been given a clean chit by the police after officials reviewed evidence showing that he was not present at the crime scene.

In her complaint, the acid attack victim had alleged that the accused was involved in the acid attack. However, during police questioning, the accused claimed that he was not present at the crime scene and was instead in Karol Bagh for work.

According to the police officials, CCTV footage from the Karol Bagh area shows the accused riding a motorcycle when the incident happened near the Laxmi Bai College. Based on this footage, the police have so far given a clean chit to the man.

Additionally, the acid attack victim’s father, Akil Khan, has been arrested for sexually assaulting the accused’s wife.

The arrest, confirmed late Monday evening by senior officials at Bharat Nagar police station, marks a pivotal shift in an investigation already mired in contradictions, family vendettas, and competing narratives of harassment and revenge.

Khan, a 45-year-old factory owner from Mukundpur, was located hiding in a relative’s residence in neighbouring Ghaziabad after a tip-off from local intelligence networks.

According to police sources, he is being transported back to Delhi under heavy escort for intensive questioning, expected to commence early Tuesday at the station’s interrogation cell.

Authorities suspect his involvement in orchestrating elements of the incident or fabricating details to bolster the initial complaint, though no formal charges have been filed against him yet in the acid attack FIR.

The case erupted on October 26 around 10:52 a.m., when the victim—a second-year Non-Collegiate Women’s Education Board student affiliated with Delhi University—was admitted to Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital with severe burns on both hands and minor splashes to her stomach.

Forensic analysis by the Forensic Science Laboratory confirmed the liquid as a potent acid, causing five per cent burns primarily from her instinctive shielding of her face with her bag.

A case under Sections 124(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered as FIR No. 605/2025, with crime scene teams scouring the area near the college gate for residue and eyewitnesses.(Agency)

Shreyas Iyer out of ICU, stable after spleen injury in Sydney ODI: Sources

Sydney, Oct 28, 2025

Indian cricketer Shreyas Iyer has been moved out of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and is now in stable condition after sustaining a spleen laceration during the third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Sources confirmed to IANS that the team management remains in close contact with him and is keeping a constant watch on his recovery.

The injury, which was initially believed to be a rib cage issue, turned out to be more serious than first thought, prompting Iyer’s admission to the ICU in a Sydney hospital. He has since shown good signs of recovery, and his family is expected to travel to Australia soon to be by his side.

A spleen laceration occurs when the spleen, a soft, blood-rich organ located beneath the rib cage on the upper left side of the abdomen, is torn or ruptured. Given the organ’s role in filtering blood, such injuries can lead to significant internal bleeding, requiring immediate and careful medical attention.

Earlier, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Iyer sustained an impact injury to his left lower rib cage while fielding in the third ODI on October 25.

“Scans have revealed a laceration injury to the spleen. He is under treatment, medically stable, and recovering well. The BCCI Medical Team, in consultation with specialists in Sydney and India, is closely monitoring his injury status. The Indian Team doctor will remain in Sydney with Shreyas to evaluate his day-to-day progress,” the board Had stated.

Iyer, who suffered the injury while taking the catch of Australia wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carry, was immediately taken to hospital for further evaluation and has been admitted there in the ICU.

The incident occurred in the 33rd over of Australia’s innings, Carey miscued a short ball from seam-bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana. Stationed at backward point, Iyer sprinted back with the ball swirling overhead and launched himself full length to complete a tumbling catch near deep third man.

With Iyer responding positively to treatment, both the team management and fans are optimistic about his full recovery in the coming weeks.(Agency)

Cyclone Montha: Chennai sets up relief centres, medical camps; field teams on high alert

Chennai, Oct 28, 2025

As the northeast monsoon intensifies across Tamil Nadu, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has stepped up its preparedness to prevent rain-related hardships and disease outbreaks in the city.

The civic body has established 215 relief centres across Chennai so far to provide immediate support to residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas. Each relief centre has been equipped with essential amenities such as food, sanitation, and clean drinking water facilities.

A network of 106 central kitchens has been set up to ensure an uninterrupted meal supply. Over four lakh residents from vulnerable areas were provided three meals a day during this period, underscoring the scale of the civic response.

To curb the spread of seasonal and waterborne infections during the monsoon, the corporation conducted 574 special medical camps, including 408 general health camps and 116 mobile camps, reaching out to 24,146 beneficiaries. These camps focused on fever screening, vector control awareness, and early medical intervention for monsoon-related illnesses.

On the infrastructure front, the GCC has readied over 2,000 motor pumps of varying capacities to drain rainwater from inundated zones. To handle emergencies caused by strong winds and falling trees, 457 trained tree surgeons have been deployed.

The civic body is also maintaining 22 key road tunnels round-the-clock to prevent water stagnation and ensure smooth traffic flow during heavy rain. A total of 22,000 personnel, including engineers, sanitary workers, and field staff, have been mobilised for flood-prevention and relief operations. Additionally, 2,149 field workers from the Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) are on standby to address drainage blockages and sewage overflows.

The GCC has urged residents to promptly report rain-related damages, flooding, or emergencies through the toll-free helpline 1913.

Officials said complaints received via social media platforms are also being actively monitored and acted upon.

With the city bracing for more showers in the coming days, the civic administration’s coordinated measures — combining relief operations, public health initiatives, and infrastructure readiness — aim to minimise disruption and safeguard citizens during the monsoon season.(Agency)

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