A look at the headlines right now:

  1. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman defends Rafale contract, calls Congress’ charges shameful: She said the deal was delayed by the Congress’ inaction when it was in power.  
  2. Those who doubted India’s economic reforms will now introspect, Arun Jaitley says after Moody’s upgrades India’s credit rating: Indian markets soared, and Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian said it was long overdue.
  3. Jammu and Kashmir Police say footballer who joined LeT has returned home: Majid Irshad Khan is believed to have joined the terror outfit after the funeral of a militant friend who was killed in an encounter.
  4. NGT lifts ban on construction activities in Delhi-National Capital Region: The High Court allowed the half-marathon scheduled for November 19 to go ahead after organisers said they can handle emergencies.
  5. BJP releases first list of candidates for Gujarat Assembly elections: Chief Minister Vijay Rupani will contest from Rajkot West in Saurashtra.  
  6. Vote for BJP or face difficulties, Uttar Pradesh party leader tells Muslims: Ranjeet Kumar Srivastava made the statement while campaigning for his wife Shashi, who is contesting the municipal elections.
  7. The education system is my biggest disappointment about India, says Bill Gates: On the Swachh Bharat campaign, the Microsoft co-founder said the challenge was to ensure that people use the toilets built for them.
  8. Sebi to investigate how company earnings were leaked on WhatsApp groups: The investigation comes after a Reuters report documented at least 12 cases of prescient messages about major Indian firms being circulated in chatrooms.
  9. Russia vetoes UN resolution to extend inquiry into Syria chemical attack: This is the 10th United Nations resolution on Syria that Moscow has rejected since the conflict began in 2011.
  10. Green court allows construction activities in Andhra Pradesh Capital Amaravati, but with riders: The tribunal stressed that the work cannot alter the micro-ecology, embankments or courses of rivers in areas proposed to develop the city.