Chef K Damodaran, popularly known as Chef Damu, a Padma Shri awardee who brought the joy of cooking into Tamil households through television and earned a special place in the hearts of the Tamil diaspora, died at a private hospital in Chennai on Sunday morning at the age of 72, following a brief illness. His demise leaves behind an irreplaceable void, along with the loss of his signature expressions, “top-notch” and “fantabulous”.

Damu appa. That is how a vast majority of the Tamil diaspora across the world affectionately refers to the chef, who set a Guinness World Record in 2010 for the longest cooking marathon by an individual. Yet, it was not his awards and accolades that earned him the endearing title of ‘appa’. It was his kindness, charm, mentorship and ever-smiling face, familiar to audiences through more than two decades on reality television.

Shabari Naturals, a Maharashtra government initiative to promote products associated with tribal communities and forest gatherers, has won the prestigious ‘G-Mark - Global Design Award’ for its attractive packaging inspired by traditional art forms, officials said.

In his monthly radio broadcast ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the global honour for the social enterprise managed by the Nashik-headquartered Shabari Tribal Finance and Development Corporation (STFDC) and lauded the global recognition for the initiative.

The brand packaging includes Warli, Gond and Chitrakathi art as well as various legends of tribal culture. It has given a premium look to the products and brought the richness and sustainability of tribal life to global consumers through the design, the officials said.

India’s top-ranked doubles player Yuki Bhambri captured his first ATP Tour title of the 2026 season on Sunday, teaming up with American Ryan Seggerman to overcome Austria's top seeds Lucas Miedler and Neil Oberleitner in a thrilling Almaty Open final.

The fourth-seeded Indo-American pair prevailed 7-6(3), 6-7(1), [10-2] in the final of the ATP 250 tournament, securing Bhambri's fifth career doubles title on the ATP Tour.

The victory added another title to Bhambri's steadily growing ATP trophy collection, having previously won ATP 250 crowns in Mallorca in 2023, Gstaad and Munich in 2024, and the ATP 500 Dubai tournament in 2025.

An Indian wildlife photographer has earned international recognition for an image that captures an easily overlooked moment in the desert: a scorpion digging into the sand to escape the rising heat.

Sitaram Raul wins ‘Oscars of Wildlife Photography’

Sitaram Dinkar Raul won the Behaviour: Invertebrates category at the 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, organised by London’s Natural History Museum. His photograph, titled Shifting Sand, was selected from more than 65,000 entries submitted from around the world.

Former Japanese prime minister Yasuo Fukuda, known for trying to build stable ties with China, has died at the age of 90, a ruling party official said on Monday.

Fukuda passed away on October 22, the official from the Liberal Democratic Party told AFP.

He led Japan for a year from September 2007 after replacing the late premier Shinzo Abe, who's first term ended after just 12 months.

During his stint in power, he sought to improve relations with China and invited then-Chinese president Hu Jintao to visit Japan.

Hu's trip in May 2008 made him the first Chinese head of state to visit the country in a decade.

Pavani Pasumarthi, a Carnatic music faculty member at Acharya Nagarjuna University (ANU), has received the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar from the Sangeet Natak Akademi for her contribution to Kuchipudi music.

The award was presented by Union Minister for Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at a ceremony held at Rabindra Bhavan in New Delhi on October 19, 2026.

Less than a month after she became the youngest Woman Grandmaster (WGM) in history, 11-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan became the youngest woman to earn the International Master (IM) title. In becoming the youngest female International Master at the age of 11 years, seven months, and 16 days, Bodhana broke the female age record held by chess legend Judit Polgar since 1988.

In overall charts, the Indian-origin British chess prodigy is now the seventh youngest player (male or female) to become an International Master. In terms of ranks of youngest International Masters in chess history, Bodhana (ranked 7th) is behind Javokhir Sindarov (ranked 6th) by a month while pipping Gukesh (ranked 9th) in the youngest IM ranks.

The Assam Cabinet has approved a Rs 300 crore investment proposal by the Welspun Group to establish an industry at Rangia in Kamrup district, a project expected to generate employment for 300 people, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Thursday.

Addressing the press conference, sharing key decisions and important developments from today’s cabinet meeting, he said, "The Assam cabinet has today approved an investment proposal. Welspun Group will establish an industry at Rangia in Kamrup district with a cost of Rs 300 crore. 300 people will get recruitment in this industry."

The Chief Minister also announced that the state government will institute the Dr Bhupen Hazarika National Award, with singer Usha Mangeshkar selected as its first recipient.

India’s Paralympic and World champion Sumit Antil added another feather to his cap as he defended his Asian Para Games gold medal by clinching the top prize in the Men’s Javelin Throw F42–F44/F61–F64 at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, Nagoya on Friday.

Antil won his second gold at the continental showpiece with a huge 72.46m throw in the final, while India swept the podium places. Mahendra Gurjar (F42) and Sandip Sargar (F44) brought the silver and bronze medals.

Mahendra hurled the spear to 59.03m and collected 1066 Raza points, while Sandip achieved a distance of 64.48m and accumulated 1006 Raza points. Both the athletes broke the Games record in their categories.

The Raza point system is a mathematical way to compare and rank athletes from different disabilities on a fair and level playing field.

Lionel Messi received Spain's most prestigious sports award on Friday in recognition of his glittering career and his work for disadvantaged children's access to health and education.

The Argentine forward, 39, was named winner of the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports in June, with the jury hailing "the most successful footballer of all time" and his social work.

Dozens of fans wearing Argentina football shirts cheered and chanted Messi's name as he arrived to the sound of bagpipes and drums at the ceremony in Oviedo, capital of the northern Spanish region of Asturias.

Messi collected a formal roll of parchment from Princess Leonor, the heir to the Spanish throne after whom the awards are named, who lauded his "unique career".