The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has announced its seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections to be held in two phases. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest 68 seats, while its key allies, AJSU Party, Janata Dal-United (JDU), and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (LJP), have been allotted 10, 2, and 1 seats respectively.

The details were revealed during a joint press conference held here at the BJP's state office on Friday.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Jharkhand BJP President Babulal Marandi, and AJSU Party President Sudesh Mahto were among the leaders present at the press meet.

The AIDS Society of India (ASI) on Friday urged the government to include HIV self-testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medicine, taken to prevent from HIV, in its policies and programmes without much delay.

One in five people living with HIV in the country do not know their HIV status. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended HIV self-testing as part of HIV care cascade as it is an important approach to address gaps in HIV diagnoses, especially among key populations, in 2019.

“We need to ensure that 100 per cent of people living with HIV know their status so that they can receive full cascade of HIV care services and stay virally suppressed (undetectable viral load) – which is essential for them to live full and healthy lives – as well as to end AIDS,” said Dr Ishwar Gilada, President-Emeritus, AIDS Society of India (ASI).

Filmmaker Kiran Rao, whose ‘Laapataa Ladies’ (Lost Ladies), has been submitted as India’s official entry for the Oscars 2025, recently attended a fireside chat at London School of Economics (LSE).

Kiran engaged in an insightful conversation with Professor Shakuntala Banaji, Professor of Media, Culture and Social Change, and Sanam Arora, Founder and Chairperson of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU). Kiran shared her thoughts on pushing the boundaries of storytelling in Indian cinema.

World no. 1 tennis player Danielle Collins postponed her retirement plans as the American announced that she will be back on tour next year.

At the start of this year, Collins had said 2024 would be her final season on tour but has now decided to return to tour in 2025.

"So, the DANIMAL story has not reached its conclusion. I will be back on tour in 2025," Collins posted on Instagram.

"While there are no guarantees in life, I hope to build on my 2024 momentum and keep playing until there is more certainty around my personal fertility journey. The only guarantee for now will be some more epic matches," the post read.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol's approval rating fell 1 percentage point to 22 per cent this week, compared with the previous survey in the fourth week of September, a weekly poll showed on Friday.

The negative assessment of Yoon's conduct of state affairs added 1 percentage point to 69 per cent, according to local pollster Gallup Korea.

Support for the ruling conservative People Power Party dived 3 percentage points to 28 per cent in the cited period.

The main liberal opposition Democratic Party's popularity rating slipped 2 percentage points to 30 per cent, news agency reported.

In a historic step in the fight against the deadly disease that has killed thousands of children under the age of five in Africa's most populous nation, Nigeria has rolled out a new malaria vaccine that will be given free of cost.

Nigerian Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, on Thursday said that 846,200 doses of the vaccine have been procured in partnership with global vaccine group Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Some 153,800 more doses are expected for delivery before the end of this month, totalling 1 million doses of the vaccine, he added.

The Philippines continues to log more leptospirosis cases and deaths, data from the country's Department of Health (DOH) showed on Friday.

From January to October 5, the DOH recorded 5,835 cases, 16 per cent more than in the same period last year. Meanwhile, 509 deaths have been reported across the country.

"As we expect more rain to come, we must always be mindful of what to do especially if there is flooding. Avoid floodwaters as much as possible," Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said.

Real estate remained the most preferred asset class for investment among 59 per cent of Indians in the first half this year, as 57 per cent of investors said they are buying premium properties to earn rental income, driven by surging rental rates in cities, according to a report on Friday.

About 51 per cent of respondents prefer 3 BHK units, showing increased demand for larger home, as 67 per cent of buyers seek property for end use, while 33 per cent the investment purpose, said the report by FICCI and Anarock Property Consultants.

The report highlighted significant shifts in homebuyer preferences and market dynamics in India's real estate sector.

“Investor confidence is vital for the industry's long-term success, and SEBI’s focus on transparency and governance has been key in building this trust,” said Pramod Rao, Executive Director, SEBI. He emphasised that strong compliance and better disclosures will be crucial in attracting institutional investments.

Rachin Ravindra became the first New Zealand batter since 2012 to score a Test century on Indian soil during the first Test against India at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday.

Though New Zealand lost four wickets in the morning session, Ravindra, whose family hails from Bengaluru, got up the tempo through a breezy century filled with eye-catchy 11 fours and two sixes. The 21-year-old's century was his second in Test cricket, having scored his maiden hundred against South Africa earlier this year.

His hundred was the first by a Kiwi batter in India since Ross Taylor’s Test hundred at the same venue in 2012. With this innings, Ravindra became the 21st New Zealand player to notch up a Test century in India.

The West Bengal Health Department has decided to direct the administration to remove all unlicensed shops on the premises of state-run R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital, amid pressure from protesting doctors and the public agitating against the gruesome rape and murder of a woman doctor in the health facility.

Previously, there had been several complaints against the former and controversial principal of R. G. Kar for allowing unlicensed shops on the hospital premises against hefty commissions.

The junior doctors, protesting against the rape and murder, complained that these unlicensed shops were mainly the assembly point of anti-social elements from outside which vitiated the ambience within the hospital premises.