Indian benchmark indices closed mixed, with the Sensex gaining 113.61 points to 78,079.96 and the Nifty falling 40.10 points to 24,395.85, as elevated crude prices and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East made investors cautious.
Indian Grandmasters Arjun Erigaisi and Nihal Sarin concluded their campaign at the Esports World Cup Chess tournament in the quarterfinals, securing top-eight finishes. Erigaisi was eliminated by Hikaru Nakamura in an Armageddon tiebreak, while Sarin lost to defending champion Magnus Carlsen. Their performance marks India's strongest showing in the event, with both players earning USD 75,000 each from the substantial prize pool.
Indian shuttler Ashmita Chaliha has advanced to her maiden BWF World Tour singles final at the Korea Masters Super 300, defeating compatriot Rakshitha Ramraj. Chaliha, returning from injury, will now face China's Han Qianxi for the title, marking a significant achievement for Indian badminton.
Indian shuttler Ashmita Chaliha defeated compatriot Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj to reach her first-ever BWF World Tour final at the Korea Masters Super 300. Chaliha, returning from a knee injury, continued her impressive run, having previously upset the top seed.
Police are investigating the mysterious death of Asish Banerjee, former deputy speaker of the West Bengal Assembly and a prominent TMC leader, who was found hanging in a party office with a purported suicide note expressing regret over entering politics and denying corruption.
This year's Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort uniquely featured the national song 'Vande Mataram', marking 150 years of its profound legacy and historical significance in India's freedom struggle.
Twenty rebel Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MPs have merged with the obscure Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), a move seen by political observers as a strategic way to support the BJP-led NDA without immediately joining the saffron party and bypassing legal complexities.
China has cancelled drone shows and suspended drone flights across several provinces following a small plane crash in Beijing that raised significant security concerns, especially near top leadership compounds. This move signals a tightening of low-altitude aviation regulations, impacting the burgeoning "low-altitude economy" and civilian drone use, with new laws classifying illegal drone use as a public security threat.
Argentine football legend Lionel Messi has reportedly suspended his professional career indefinitely following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, at 68 after a prolonged illness.
The Akali Dal Waris Punjab De has announced Satwant Singh, son of Kehar Singh (convicted in Indira Gandhi's assassination conspiracy), as its candidate for the Bassi Pathana constituency in the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. This move highlights the party's 'Panthic' principles and focus on families who sacrificed for the Sikh Panth.
Indian pharmaceutical companies are not rushing to relocate manufacturing to the United States despite former President Donald Trump's renewed threat of tariffs up to 200 per cent on imported generic drugs. Instead, they are leveraging existing US plants, contract manufacturers, and making selective investments in complex products while maintaining India as their primary production hub.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced a significant overhaul of its national team under party president Nitin Nabin, introducing numerous new faces and promoting prominent leaders like former Union minister Smriti Irani to general secretary and former RSS functionary Ram Madhav to vice president. The revamp aims to balance youth and experience while preparing for upcoming assembly and general elections.
Change of guard in some states and evolving El Nino dynamics are triggering fresh actions on raging water-sharing disputes in several states.
Cristiano Ronaldo was impressed by his 16-year-old son's dedication in training for Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr youth team.
Underlining that students are the "architects of India's future," President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said the government is taking comprehensive steps to reform public examinations to completely curb paper leaks and unfair means, making the system transparent, secure, and trustworthy.
Moroccan-French model-turned-actress Soundous Moufakir is set to bring her fierce competitive spirit and strategic mind to The Traitors Season 2.
The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 is set to begin on August 15, with India featuring in both the men's and women's tournaments. Here is the complete India schedule, fixtures and squad details for the World Cup.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 80th Independence Day address, expressed strong confidence that India will achieve developed nation status by 2047, urging citizens to embrace big dreams and unwavering resolve to realise 'Viksit Bharat'. He highlighted India's economic transformation and significant growth in various sectors, including defence production, electronic manufacturing, and mobile phone production.
Anupama Parameswaran has opened up about enduring two years of 'narcissistic abuse' in a past relationship, sharing her journey of healing and her commitment to raising awareness about this issue.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India's strong bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games and detailed plans for a nationwide talent hunt for children aged 5 to 15 to ensure significant participation and success in the event. He highlighted the success of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and India's growing presence in global sports.
Pakistan's Olympic gold-medallist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem will skip the upcoming Diamond League meet in Lausanne to concentrate on his preparation for the Asian Games and another international event. He will undergo a training camp in South Africa under coach Terseus Liebenberg, aiming to improve his performance after recent struggles.
Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra has issued an apology to law students, particularly those from NALSAR, for any hurt caused by the recent controversy surrounding their convocation and enrolment, urging them to make independent decisions.
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa suffered a defeat against Germany's Vincent Keymer in the Sinquefield Cup, part of the Grand Chess Tour, causing him to slip to joint fourth spot. Meanwhile, Wesley So of the United States emerged as the sole leader after a significant victory over Fabiano Caruana.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's daughter, Anita B Pfaff, has approached the Supreme Court seeking directions for the return of her father's "ashes" from Tokyo's Renkoji temple. The apex court has issued a notice to the Centre, seeking its response on the plea. This follows a previous plea by Netaji's grand-nephew which was withdrawn after the court indicated that Bose's heir should be the one to petition.
The All India Football Federation has extended the deadline for Jamshedpur FC to reconsider its decision to withdraw from the Indian Super League until August 12. This move comes as the AIFF reviews preparations for the upcoming ISL season, while Jamshedpur FC maintains its exit is a strategic decision focused on grassroots development, unrelated to the league's commercial future.
India launched 'Suryapath Tiranga', a unique initiative involving over 50 Indian missions globally, to digitally relay images of the tricolour across multiple time zones, starting from Fiji, to mark the country's 80th Independence Day.
Indian golfer Rayhan Thomas finished Tied-71st at the Pinnacle Bank Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour, while Indian-American rookie Mahanth Chirravuri secured a Tied-19th finish, his best on the tour. Frankie Harris won the title with a remarkable 59 and a playoff victory.
India has formally identified 27 places and features in Arunachal Pradesh by their standard names on the official Indian map, a move aimed at countering China's repeated attempts to rename locations in the state. This action reinforces India's stance that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of the country, despite China's "fictitious names" for the region it calls Zangnan.
Manappuram Finance has announced the appointment of Ashish Singh as its new managing director and chief executive officer, effective January 1, 2027, marking a significant shift from its family-led governance structure.
The Jharkhand government is holding fresh discussions with student aspirants protesting alleged recruitment exam irregularities, even as the health of key protest leader Devendra Nath Mahto has significantly deteriorated after being on an indefinite hunger strike for about a week.
Scientists discover tiny whirlpool-like swirls on the Sun that could explain solar activity, improve space weather research and solve a decades-old solar mystery.
A new UN Security Council report has 'officially attributed' the November 2025 Red Fort terror attack in New Delhi, which killed about 15 people, to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). The report highlights AQIS's evolution into a regional terrorist entity and its efforts to establish networks.
The move comes days after the Delhi police said false information linked to the recent students' protest was being circulated through fake social media posts.
Chandigarh is set to launch the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), or digital rupee, for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) on August 14. This initiative makes Chandigarh the first Union Territory to fully roll out CBDC-based DBT for food subsidy, enhancing transparency and efficiency in welfare delivery. The digital rupee, issued by the RBI, will be purpose-bound for purchasing foodgrains from authorised merchants.
Shillong Lajong FC secured their place in the Durand Cup quarter-finals by topping Group E after a 3-3 draw with Langsning FC, while East Bengal and Jamshedpur FC also advanced as the best second-placed teams.
Tata Steel has confirmed that Jamshedpur FC will honour all existing player contracts and assist footballers in finding new clubs following its withdrawal from the Indian Super League. The company also clarified that its commitment to grassroots football and youth development in Jamshedpur remains strong, with no plans to relocate the club's operations.
Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh attributes his illustrious career, including over 400 Test wickets and India's first Test hat-trick, to divine will and the sacrifices of his family, stating, 'To think that I am important was such a big illusion. Because whatever I became was Waheguru's blessing'.
Bangladesh savoured their first taste of Test cricket in Australia for 23 years on Thursday as they skittled the world's top-ranked side for less than 200 and went to stumps in command at 96 for one on the first day of the series-opener in Darwin.
'Frankly, I'm in that zone for another Olympics.'
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra stated it is "premature" to discuss the implementation of Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for digital payments, advising a "wait-and-watch" approach. He emphasised that investment in public payment infrastructure is necessary and someone must bear the cost, whether through taxes or MDR. The government is currently working on amendments to relevant statutes, and the RBI is focused on strengthening this infrastructure.
