Top Stories: India-US defence pact, Maruti Suzuki Q2 in-line, Lenskart D-street debut & more

From geopolitics to the boardroom, and markets to the pitch — this week had it all. India and the US took a major step forward in strategic cooperation, signing a landmark 10-year defence pact aimed at deepening military and technology ties. On the leadership front, Kumar Mangalam Birla shared his philosophy of empowering others at the Jury Round of India Business Leader Awards 2025, reminding us that true leadership is about creating leaders, not followers.

In business, a wave of corporate action kept the Street buzzing — Maruti Suzuki’s Q2 results came in largely on expected lines, Apple projected record holiday sales, and Lenskart opened its much-anticipated ₹7,278 crore IPO.

Meanwhile, Ford announced a fresh ₹3,250 crore investment to restart India operations, and Tata Trusts are set for a crucial board meet post-Mehli Mistry’s exit.

Beyond markets, politics and sports made headlines too — with the NDA unveiling its Bihar election manifesto and Jemimah Rodrigues’ heroics steering India into the Women’s ODI World Cup final.

India and US sign 10-year defence pact to deepen strategic ties



In a major step towards enhancing defence and security cooperation, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his US counterpart Pete Hegseth on Friday (October 31) signed a new 10-year Defence Framework Agreement on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

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IBLA 2025: Kumar Mangalam Birla says true leadership is about creating leaders, not followers



Leadership, says Kumar Mangalam Birla, isn’t about command but about cultivation. The Aditya Birla Group Chairman believes great leaders inspire teams to aim higher — and build more leaders in the process.

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Maruti Suzuki Q2 Results: Revenue beats expectations, margins narrow on expected lines



Shares of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., India's largest passenger car maker, are fluctuating between gains and losses in response to the earnings announcement made by the company on Friday, October 31.

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Apple predicts record holiday sales after modest earnings beat; Stock gains



Apple Inc. the iPhone manufacturer, is banking on its core product to deliver a blockbuster holiday season, the management said during its earnings call on Thursday, October 30. The stock gained 2.5% in extended trading.

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Tata Trust board meets on November 11 — first session after Mehli Mistry’s exit to test internal cohesion



The Tata Trust will hold its first board meeting on November 11, 2025, following the exit of trustee Mehli Mistry, marking a key moment for the trust’s leadership under Chairman Noel Tata.

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Lenskart IPO opens for subscription today: Should you bid for the ₹7,278 crore issue?



The initial public offering (IPO) of SoftBank-backed eyewear startup Lenskart Solutions will open for subscription on Friday, October 31, and remain open until November 4. The company is looking to raise up to ₹7,278.02 crore via the IPO.

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Ford to resume India operations with ₹3,250 crore plan focused on engine manufacturing



American automaker Ford has confirmed that its Chennai facility will be repurposed to manufacture all-new, next-generation engines, marking a major step in its renewed manufacturing presence in India.

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Bihar Elections 2025: NDA's Sankalp Patra promises 1 crore jobs, focuses on infra, women — Key details



The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Friday, October 31, released its 'Sankalp Patra' or manifesto for the Bihar Assembly election, focusing on providing jobs, improving infrastructure, and women and youth.

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Xi set to meet Canadian, Japanese leaders after Trump trade truce



China’s Xi Jinping took centre stage at an annual gathering of Pacific Rim leaders in South Korea on Friday, expected to hold talks with Canadian, Japanese, and Thai counterparts after securing a fragile trade truce with US President Donald Trump.

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Jemimah Rodrigues masterclass helps India beat Australia to qualify for Women's ODI World Cup 2025 final



India qualified for the ICC Women's World Cup 2025 final after defeating Australia by five wickets at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.

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