Emami Group has officially concluded its role as an investor and manager in East Bengal Football Club, transferring all shares and voting rights back to the club. The group will, however, continue its association with East Bengal FC as a sponsor, reaffirming its commitment to Indian football. This transition follows a successful period for the club under Emami's ownership, marked by significant victories for both men's and women's teams.
The second round of the Asian Junior Open and Girls Classical Chess Championships in Mumbai saw significant upsets, with Guru Prakash defeating Asian Junior Rapid champion FM Vivaan Vishal Shah. Several other higher-rated players were also challenged or defeated, while top seeds maintained their winning streaks.
A new study by MIT and Boston University found that the brain region responsible for language remains active and similar in older adults compared to younger adults. However, the brain system for decision-making, known as the 'multiple demand network', shows significant differences with age. This suggests that specialised brain functions like language processing may be more resilient to ageing than general-purpose cognitive functions.
GM-elect Mayank Chakraborty defeated Jaiveer Mahendru to join IM Artem Pingin and FM Sharnarthi Viresh in the lead at the Asian Junior Open Classical Chess Championship. In the Girls' Championship, WCM Shohradova Leyla and WFM Pratitee Bordoloi maintained their joint lead after a draw, with the tournament heading for an exciting finish.
=The investigation is examining the circumstances surrounding the aircraft's sudden altitude variation and the actions of the flight crew.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will chair a two-day meeting of BRICS Sports and Youth Ministers in Visakhapatnam, aiming to strengthen cooperation in youth affairs and sports, with a focus on sports manufacturing, indigenous disciplines, and youth development.
Egyptian squash players Seif Refaay and Sohayla Hazem secured the men's and women's titles, respectively, at the HCL Squash PSA Challenger Tour. Refaay, the third seed, overcame top seed Mohamed Gohar, while third seed Hazem defeated second seed Menna Walid in their respective finals.
National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) Director-General Anant Kumar highlighted the need for a collective effort from all stakeholders in the Indian sports ecosystem to reduce doping incidents. He made these remarks during a National Roundtable on Doping Prevention in Sports, which discussed various factors contributing to doping and strategies for prevention.
The BRICS Youth Ministers' Meeting, organised by India's Sports Ministry, successfully concluded in Visakhapatnam. Presided over by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, the meeting built upon previous youth engagements, focusing on developing young leaders and promoting youth cooperation among BRICS nations.
Fintech firm PhonePe has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to integrate its enterprise data intelligence platform, PulsePro, into the PM GatiShakti framework. This collaboration aims to provide granular, hyperlocal insights for national infrastructure planning, economic analysis, and holistic urban and rural development.
IIT Madras has launched "Phiball," a new three-team basketball game designed to be faster, more accessible, and tactically demanding. Inspired by Omegaball, Phiball is played on a circular court, forcing players to adapt to new strategies and constant defense, making it an intense experience with low setup costs.
IIT Madras has launched "Phiball," a new three-team basketball game designed to be faster, more accessible, and tactically demanding. Inspired by Omegaball, Phiball is played on a circular court, forcing players to adapt to new strategies and constant defense, making it an intense experience with low setup costs.
A Goldman Sachs report indicates that US and Indian equity markets are becoming less attractive due to lower free cash flow (FCF) yields as valuations rise, while European markets offer significantly higher yields. Concurrently, India's top-listed residential real estate developers experienced a moderation in pre-sales in Q1FY27, attributed to delayed project approvals, limited launches, and high year-ago bases, though underlying housing demand remains healthy.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that the 'Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan' annual sports festival will commence on September 5 in Bathinda, expecting around 10 lakh participants across 38 sports. The event, now in its fourth edition, aims to promote sports at block, district, and state levels, with competitions running until November 29.
Indian banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) are undertaking a comprehensive review and reset of their engagement terms with fintech firms, driven by the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) draft Guidance on Regulatory Expectations for Data Governance and the stringent compliance requirements of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, and its 2025 Rules.
Investors are keenly awaiting clarity on Reliance Jio Infocomm's IPO, the company's AI and data centre strategies, and next-generation leadership structure at Reliance Industries Ltd's (RIL's) 49th annual general meeting (AGM).
Haryana is institutionalising drone technology as a key governance tool, deploying AI-powered surveillance and high-resolution geospatial mapping. This initiative aims to detect illegal constructions, monitor mining activities, map civic infrastructure, and track pollution across the state. The Chief Secretary reviewed progress on various projects, including an AI-powered Change Detection Application and digital mapping of municipal assets, highlighting the state's commitment to evidence-based governance and improved public service delivery.
Bajaj Finance reported a strong Q1 FY27 performance with 24 per cent year-on-year AUM growth and a 28 per cent rise in consolidated profit after tax, driven by significant increases in consumer financing, gold loans, and commercial vehicle loans, alongside a strategic focus on digital transformation and AI.
Indian squash player Sanya Vats was defeated by Australia's Rachael Grinham in a closely contested five-game semifinal match at the Bendigo Open, a PSA Challenger event. Vats, the top seed, had previously advanced by beating England's Zoe Tanner in the quarterfinals.
BRICS Sports Ministers adopted a Joint Declaration in Visakhapatnam, reaffirming their commitment to strengthen sports cooperation through dialogue and mutual respect. The meeting, held under India's 2026 Chairship, saw Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya call for a BRICS Sporting Partnership and introduce three key initiatives: a Working Group on Sports Technology, a Sports Manufacturing Conclave in Udaipur, and Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games in Ahmedabad in 2026.
Ahmedabad's Chief Fire Officer, Amit Dongre, reflected on the Air India flight AI-171 crash a year ago, describing the 10-hour rescue operation as the most challenging in his 22-year career, despite the tragic loss of 260 lives.
China has deployed 72 "robot employees" across Beijing's municipal parks to perform various tasks like cleaning, patrolling, guiding visitors, and pest control. This initiative is part of China's "Robot Plus" strategy, driven by an ageing population and labour shortages, and showcases the growing domestic service robot market. These AI-powered robots enhance efficiency and visitor experience in popular attractions like the Summer Palace and Zizhuyuan Park.
Former Asian silver medallist and Olympian javelin thrower Shivpal Singh has been suspended for 10 years by NADA for a second doping offence involving methandienone, potentially ending his career. This follows a previous ban in 2022 which was reduced to one year after he claimed contaminated supplements.
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has received approximately Rs 15 crore in funding from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for six biomedical research projects. These projects aim to address critical national health priorities, including cancer detection, antimicrobial resistance, and pediatric septic shock, fostering advanced research and improving patient care.
Japanese badminton prodigy Tomoka Miyazaki, despite an early exit from the World Championships, is leveraging the experience to refine her game and challenge the sport's top players. Mentored by Akane Yamaguchi, the 20-year-old aims for consistent quarter-final appearances to test her skills against the world's best, while also appreciating her growing global fan base.
The Rajasthan high court, Jodhpur, has taken suo motu cognisance of issues concerning Gen Z, Gen Alpha and Gen Beta, expressing concern over junk food, excessive screen time, paper leaks, inadequate infrastructure in rural schools and the possible erosion of basic learning skills in the age of artificial intelligence.
Former Pakistan hockey players have expressed deep concern over the national team's poor performance at the World Cup, advocating for an immediate injection of fresh talent and a focus on the upcoming Asian Games. They attribute the sport's decline to cricket's dominance and a failure to adapt to modern hockey, urging the federation to prioritise competitive success to regain public interest.
The Asian Junior Classical Championship in Mumbai saw top seed Mayank Chakraborty win his opening match, while other leading contenders Vignesh Advaith Vemula and Akhilbay Imangali were held to draws. The girls' section witnessed several upsets, with lower-rated players securing draws or victories against higher-rated opponents. The tournament features a strong field of 85 players from nine federations, including International Masters and FIDE Masters.
FC Goa has been drawn into a challenging group for the AFC Challenge League 2026-27, Asia's third-tier men's club competition. They will face Qadsia SC of Kuwait, Fortis FC of Bangladesh, and FC Regar-TadAZ of Tajikistan in Group C, with matches hosted in Kuwait. This follows their recent exit from the AFC Champions League 2 preliminary stage.
The Bombay High Court humorously questioned if cricketers were consuming "non-vegetarian tea" due to unhygienic conditions at Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) eateries. The court ordered the MCA to clean its premises before a fresh FDA inspection, following the suspension of licenses for five restaurants due to severe food safety violations like cockroach infestations and dirty kitchens.
India's UPI system continues its rapid growth, dominating retail payments. Recent amendments to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act allow for targeted Merchant Discount Rates (MDR) on high-value merchant transactions, aiming to create a self-sustaining revenue model for the ecosystem while keeping P2P and low-value payments free. This move could generate significant revenue and encourage ecosystem participation.
The Bombay High Court has directed the FDA to conduct a fresh inspection of the Mumbai Cricket Association's kitchens after serious food safety and hygiene violations were found, including insects. The court also humorously questioned if cricketers were aware they were consuming "non-vegetarian tea" due to the unhygienic conditions. The MCA has been asked to clean its premises before the inspection.
Tata Sons has the balance sheet to support them, for now.
International table tennis player Swastika Ghosh, a Commonwealth gold medallist, was felicitated by the University of Mumbai for her role in India's gold-winning campaign at the 2026 Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships. She has also been selected for the Shri Shiv Chhatrapati State Sports Award and the 2026 World Table Tennis Championships.
The inaugural Esports Nations Cup, initially planned for November this year, has been postponed to November 2027 by the Esports Foundation. This decision was made following an assessment of the wider regional situation and to ensure stability for participating national teams, publishers, partners, and fans. Despite the postponement, Saudi Arabia remains capable of hosting events, and existing development fund commitments will be maintained.
An Indian student sustained minor injuries in a drone attack in Ufa, Russia, and is receiving treatment. The Indian Embassy in Moscow is providing assistance. The incident occurred amidst escalating drone strikes between Russia and Ukraine, with Ufa experiencing attacks on an oil refinery.
Gujarat's Vivaan Dave and Maharashtra's Divyanshi Bhowmick have secured the Youth Boys' and Youth Girls' U-17 titles, respectively, at the UTT National Ranking Table Tennis Championships. Dave won a five-game thriller against Atharva Nawarange, while Bhowmick defeated Ananya Muralidharan 3-1.
Indian chess players Vignesh Vermula and Saranya Devi secured gold medals in the Open and Girls blitz sections respectively at the Asian Junior Chess Championship, marking a strong start for the nation. Vermula, a 23rd seed, won on tie-breaks, while Saranya, seeded ninth, displayed tactical precision to claim her title.
India's Rayhan Thomas and Indian-origin Mahanth Chirravuri delivered impressive opening rounds at the AdventHealth Championship, a key Korn Ferry Tour event. Thomas shot an 8-under 64, placing him fifth, while Chirravuri's 9-under 63 put him in fourth, both in strong contention.
Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have injected Rs 16,621 crore into Indian equities during the first half of August, continuing a buying spree driven by improving relative valuations, resilient corporate earnings, and expectations of softer US interest rates.
