The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced the new season of the Indian Women's League (IWL) will commence in October, alongside IWL 2. The federation also revealed significant changes including higher coaching licence requirements, revised disciplinary rules, and an ambitious long-term expansion strategy aiming for 12 teams by 2032 to professionalise women's football in India.
Security forces in central Kashmir's Budgam district killed one terrorist, believed to be a Pakistani national, in a high-altitude encounter. The operation, involving the Indian Army, J&K Police, and CRPF, is ongoing as forces search for a second suspect.
Anxiety grips Mumbai families as a 61-member Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage group, including prominent doctor-mountaineer Milind Chitley, remains untraceable following devastating flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border.
Padma Shri awardee educationist Dinesh Singh advocates for teachers to embrace artificial intelligence, viewing it as a tool to elevate their role rather than a threat. Speaking at the 4th STTAR Global Education Conference, Singh urged educators to use AI to become "gurus." Other leaders, including Shishir Jaipuria, emphasised that the future of education lies in human-technology collaboration, with teachers remaining crucial for inspiring students.
US President Donald Trump is expected to sign the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 later on Friday (local time). A White House official confirmed the development to ANI without revealing further details.
India's U20 football team secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Bangladesh in their final AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers group match. Goals from Danny Meitei Laishram, Vishal Yadav, and Md Arbash sealed the win, bringing India's total to six points. The team's qualification for the main tournament, potentially after 20 years, now hinges on the outcome of the Syria-Uzbekistan match.
Chinese President Xi Jinping notably skipped a gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for BRICS leaders and other dignitaries, with sources suggesting he returned to his hotel to rest. Meanwhile, a grand cultural performance, 'BRICS Symphony - One Rhythm, Many Cultures', featuring artistes from member countries, was a highlight of the evening.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the BRICS summit, called for a fundamental shift in global governance, advocating for the replacement of the current 'pyramid of privilege' with a 'platform of partnership' where the Global South becomes a 'rule shaper' rather than a 'rule follower'.
'The Chinese military cannot advance much in Ladakh, even if they want to.' 'Similarly, in Arunachal Pradesh, they can rename a village or two, intrude here or there, but cannot do much more realistically.'
Rise and Fall Season 2 will feature Virender Sehwag as host, with 15 celebrities divided into Rulers and Workers, navigating power, money, alliances and shifting strategies.
Leeds United climbed to third in the Premier League with a 4-1 victory over Newcastle, while Inter Milan staged a comeback to beat Udinese 5-3, maintaining their perfect Serie A start alongside AS Roma, who won 2-0 at Torino. In LaLiga, Betis continued their strong run with a win over Villarreal.
A gym trainer, Vijay Kumar, was shot dead in south Delhi's Aya Nagar. Police suspect personal enmity and are investigating a possible link to a longstanding village rivalry. The incident involved multiple gunshots and occurred after the victim was called out of a gym.
India has been drawn into Group E of the AFC U-17 Men's Asian Cup Qualifiers, alongside hosts Malaysia, Palestine, Singapore, and Guam. The qualifiers will take place in Malaysia from November 11 to 20, with India aiming for their 11th appearance in the main tournament, scheduled for Uzbekistan in 2027.
India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, bringing together numerous world leaders including presidents from China, Russia, South Africa, Iran, and Egypt, along with prime ministers and foreign ministers from other nations. The summit will feature bilateral talks and highlights the expanded BRICS grouping's growing global influence and India's significant role as a founding member and current chair.
The Brics proposal for a Grain Exchange, aimed at challenging the dominance of Western trading firms, faces significant operational and implementation hurdles, including settlement currency, regulatory frameworks, and limited participation from key members like India, according to experts.
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, used a satirical "resignation" letter to criticise the Mohan Yadav government in Madhya Pradesh over the deaths of over 30 tribal children in Balaghat district. His letter, addressed to the Governor, highlighted failures in compensation, basic amenities like water and education, and tribal welfare, questioning the government's accountability. The issue has also drawn the attention of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which sought responses from state departments regarding the alleged deaths due to infectious diseases and inadequate facilities.
A 33-year-old gym owner, Kalyan Bainsla, has been arrested in Rajasthan for allegedly ramming his car into a woman biker, Shivani Chauhan, on Gurugram's Golf Course Road. The incident, captured on video, led to charges of attempt to murder and stalking after police investigation revealed alleged indecent comments and deliberate intent to harm. Bainsla's cousin and another friend have also been detained.
New Delhi was told it had given something up; in reality it had stopped talking about it, notes Dr Abhishek Puri.
The Staff Selection Commission has released the SSC CHSL 2026 notification, announcing the recruitment process for approximately 2,536 Group C vacancies across various central government ministries and departments.
Fourteen civil society organisations from Manipur have urged the Centre to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state before the completion of Census 2027. They argue this is essential to address concerns over demographic changes and alleged illegal immigration from Myanmar, which they believe has altered the state's population profile.
A gym owner has been arrested in Rajasthan for allegedly ramming his car into a woman biker in Gurugram, knocking her off her vehicle. The incident, captured on video, led to charges of attempt to murder and stalking after the victim claimed the accused made indecent comments and deliberately hit her. The accused, Kalyan Bainsla, along with a cousin, was apprehended after a two-day search.
Seven-time champions India are strong favourites against Bangladesh in the Women's Asia Cup semi-final. The match carries an underlying political subtext, adding to the intensity. India's dominant form, led by Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma in batting and Deepti Sharma and Renuka Singh in bowling, contrasts with Bangladesh's more resilient path to the semi-finals.
A rebel Trinamool Congress faction, led by Ritabrata Banerjee, has named candidates for two assembly bypolls in West Bengal, directly challenging the Mamata Banerjee-led camp. This move escalates the internal party battle, particularly over the 'twin flowers' symbol, which both factions claim. The Election Commission is currently reviewing the dispute, and the bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar will serve as a crucial electoral test for both sides.
Pakistan fast-bowling legend Wasim Akram has voiced his disappointment over the state of the country's cricket, particularly in Test matches. He attributes the team's struggles to a significant lack of quality batting talent emerging in recent years, despite the Pakistan Super League's existence. Akram also highlighted the need to revive club cricket and maintain consistency in team selections.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urged BRICS nations to expand trade in national currencies and build an inclusive global economic framework. He criticised "unilateral sanctions" by Western powers, stating they make emerging economies vulnerable and impact global food security. Pezeshkian emphasised BRICS' role in creating a balanced world order and highlighted Iran's geopolitical and energy capacities for cooperation.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced new features for India's digital payment ecosystem, including UPI tap-to-pay for PIN-less transactions up to 5,000 and multi-currency capabilities for forex on Bharat Connect, supporting Euro, British Pound, and other major currencies.
A gym trainer, Vijay Kumar, was shot dead in south Delhi's Aya Nagar. Police are investigating a possible link to a longstanding village rivalry and are verifying a social media post by gangster Himanshu Bhau claiming responsibility. This incident follows other violent deaths in the area, including a dairy businessman's murder, also linked to the Himanshu Bhau gang. Family members deny Vijay Kumar had personal enmity, suggesting he was caught in an ongoing family feud.
The Ministry of External Affairs stated that India's participation in the 2027 SAF Games in Pakistan will be guided by the sports ministry's policy, which permits Indian athletes to compete in events with Pakistani participants and vice-versa. Separately, the MEA also commented on the ongoing legal proceedings for seven foreign nationals, including a US citizen and six Ukrainians, who were recently chargesheeted by the NIA for illegal entry and movement, though not under UAPA at this stage.
Varthaman, who downed an enemy jet during an aerial combat with Pakistan in 2019 and was held captive for three days in that country, was honoured with the Vir Chakra award in 2021.
Ganges Grandmasters, led by Ian Nepomniachtchi, defeated defending champions Alpine APL Pipers to win their first Global Chess League title. Nepomniachtchi's crucial win against Magnus Carlsen in the final, coupled with Stavroula Tsolakidou's performance, sealed the victory. FYERS American Gambits secured third place in the tournament.
India's proposal to link BRICS payment systems, including central-bank digital currencies (CBDCs), was notably absent from the grouping's New Delhi Declaration, despite being a key agenda item for India's chairmanship. This omission leaves the 16-year effort for trade in local currencies without a settled payment architecture, with the declaration only 'acknowledging' the work of the BRICS Payment Task Force.
Pradhama Drishtiya Kuttakkar is a gripping cat-and-mouse game that benefits from smart writing.
'The large number of tariff lines in the 90-99 per cent band highlights how deeply embedded Chinese sourcing has become in India's electronics imports.'
Used-car financing has seen significant growth, but borrowers must be aware of higher interest rates, conservative loan-to-value ratios, shorter tenures, and the risk of owing more than the car's depreciated value. Understanding these factors is crucial for making informed decisions.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian concluded his visit to India for the 18th BRICS Summit, announcing that Iran and the UAE agreed to move past previous tensions. This diplomatic breakthrough occurred during talks with Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince on the summit sidelines. Pezeshkian also met with PM Modi to discuss bilateral ties and West Asia developments, with Modi emphasising dialogue for regional peace. The BRICS summit adopted the New Delhi Declaration 2026, calling for global governance reforms and de-escalation in West Asia.
The UK has announced a comprehensive sanctions regime against Israeli settlements in the West Bank, banning the import of goods and targeting entities involved in settlement expansion. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband condemned the "ethnic cleansing of Palestinians" and highlighted international support for the UK's stance, while Israel reacted strongly with counter-measures.
Young left-arm spinner Shree Charani discusses the Indian women's cricket team's strategy, particularly among slow bowlers, after their dominant seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Women's T20 Asia Cup. India bowled out Pakistan for their lowest-ever T20I total of 55, securing a semifinal spot and topping their group.
Ahead of Xi Jinping's visit, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held extensive talks in Beijing on August 25 on the boundary issue and reached an eight-point consensus.
The family of Chongtham Vikram Singh, a Manipuri musician beaten to death in south Delhi, has appealed for justice and an impartial probe, stating they seek accountability, not revenge, for his sudden loss.
The Indian government has expanded its Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan by signing agreements with four spiritual organisations. These partnerships aim to enhance grassroots awareness, prevention, recovery, and social mobilisation efforts against substance abuse, leveraging the extensive reach of these groups.
