October 19: Who and what made news today? Here's a quick wrap before you hit the hay

New Delhi,UPDATED: Oct 19, 2025 22:02 IST

Ayodhya illuminated over 26 lakh diyas to mark Chhoti Diwali, setting two Guinness World Records as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath received the honours. In sports, India’s comeback stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma faltered against Australia, dismissed cheaply by Starc and Hazlewood. Ahead of Diwali, gold prices dropped Rs 2,400 and silver Rs 7,000 per kg despite heavy Dhanteras shopping.

Delhi-NCR’s worsening air quality triggered GRAP-2 curbs, restricting construction and industrial emissions. Meanwhile, US forces destroyed a suspected drug-carrying submarine in the Caribbean, with Donald Trump claiming it could have killed 25,000 Americans if it reached shore.

Here is a quick wrap of the top news of the day. Tune in before signing off for today.

River of diyas, chorus of aarti, 2 world records: Ayodhya's Diwali makes history

Ayodhya, the city of Lord Rama, beamed with the glittering lights of earthen lamps and created history once again, bathing the holy city in a river of over 26 lakh diyas and registering two Guinness World Records in the process on the occasion of chhoti Diwali on Sunday. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath received the certificates for the Guinness World Records. Read here

How Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma failed against Australia, once again

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli endured a difficult return to international cricket against Australia on Sunday, 19 October. The Indian top order crumbled against the pace and bounce of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were the first to depart, falling for 8 and 0 runs respectively. Read here

Gold falls Rs 2,400, silver drops Rs 7,000 as Dhanteras shoppers rush in

Gold prices retreated from record levels and dropped by Rs 2,400 to Rs 1,32,400 per 10 grams in the national capital on Saturday, even as buyers flocked to jewellery stores across the country on Dhanteras, marking the start of the Diwali festival.
According to the All India Sarafa Association, the precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity had surged by Rs 3,200 to touch an all-time high of Rs 1,34,800 per 10 grams on Friday. Read here

GRAP-2 anti-pollution curbs in Delhi-NCR as air quality worsens before Diwali

Delhi’s air pollution levels surged on Sunday, inching closer to the “very poor” category just a day before Diwali, prompting authorities to invoke GRAP-2 (Graded Response Action Plan) restrictions across the National Capital Region. These measures include curbs on construction activity, regulation of industrial emissions, and stricter enforcement of pollution control norms, aimed at reducing particulate matter ahead of the festive season. Read here

25,000 Americans would die, says Trump as US bombs 'drug-carrying submarine'

The US military has destroyed a suspected drug-carrying submarine navigating towards American shores on a well-known narcotrafficking route in the Caribbean, President Donald Trump announced on Saturday. A video posted by the Pentagon on X showed black-and-white footage of the strike. In the clip, the semi-submersible vessel could be seen gliding through the waves with its front portion submerged just below the surface before a series of explosions struck, one detonating over the vessel's rear. Read here

Basket lift, disc cutter: How Louvre robbers carried out brazen 4-minute heist

Paris was stunned on a balmy Sunday morning as three or four chainsaw-wielding robbers made their way to The Louvre Museum unscathed and made off with nine pieces of 'priceless' Napoleon-era jewellery collection, in just four minutes. The shocking, yet brazen daylight heist, carried out at the world's most visited museum, had stunned even authorities who were caught off-guard.

Pregnant woman stabbed by lover in Delhi; husband snatches knife, kills attacker

An extramarital affair turned fatal on the streets of Delhi when a pregnant woman was stabbed to death by her lover in front of her husband. In a desperate bid to save his wife, the husband intervened and fatally injured the attacker, who was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. According to police, the pregnant woman, Shalini, was attacked multiple times with a knife by her former live-in partner, Aashu, in Delhi's Nabi Karim area late on Saturday night. Read here

Akhilesh Yadav suggests not to spend on diyas in Diwali, BJP calls him 'Anthony'

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav sparked controversy with his comments on Diwali celebrations, drawing parallels with Christmas festivities across the world. While addressing a gathering, Yadav said, "I don't want to give a suggestion. But I will give one suggestion in the name of Lord Ram. Across the world, all cities get illuminated during Christmas, and that goes on for months. We should learn from them. Why do we have to spend money on lamps and candles and put so much thought into it? What can we expect from this government; it should be removed. We will make sure that there are more beautiful lights." Read here

- Ends