The Meghalaya high court has strongly criticised authorities for the continued imprisonment of a Bangladeshi national for nearly a year after he completed his six-month sentence, warning that such detention could be deemed illegal confinement and lead to compensation.
The Congress party has criticised the government's recent notification regarding UPI transactions, alleging it paves the way for users to be charged fees, particularly for transactions above Rs 2,000. The party claims the government lacks transparency and questions if the move is to benefit American firms. The government, however, states that charges are necessary for the system's sustainability and infrastructure upgrades, with the Finance Minister clarifying that Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) applies to merchants, not customers.
Tiger Woods agreed to a five-year driving licence suspension in an impaired-driving plea deal, with the judge warning that any violation could result in immediate imprisonment.
India may have a vast coastline and a strategic location, but it will become a true maritime nation only when its people understand, value and actively participate in the maritime ecosystem, asserts Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).
'...in which our names are written with our phone numbers.'
Indian stock markets, including the Sensex and Nifty, experienced a significant tumble in early trade, driven by escalating tensions in West Asia that pushed crude oil prices close to the USD 100-per-barrel mark, alongside selling in IT stocks and fresh foreign fund outflows.
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.
Central Delhi Kings successfully chased a massive target of 210 against North Delhi Strikers in the Delhi Premier League 2026. Captain Yash Dhull lauded the team's collective effort and the crucial partnership between Jonty Sidhu and Aditya Bhandari, which was instrumental in their victory.
The Congress party has criticised the Modi government over a notification regarding UPI transactions, alleging it paves the way for imposing fees, especially on transactions above Rs 2,000. Rahul Gandhi claimed the government is surrendering to American pressure, while Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted the potential burden on common citizens amidst inflation. The government's notification prohibits charges on UPI transactions up to Rs 2,000 but remains silent on higher amounts, sparking fears of a "Digital Payments Tax."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused the Modi government of quietly paving the way for imposing fees on UPI transactions, alleging it's a surrender to American pressure. The government's recent notification exempts charges only up to Rs 2,000, sparking concerns that higher value transactions and eventually all UPI payments could incur fees. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, however, clarified that Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) applies to merchants, not customers, and supports digital infrastructure.
The highlight of the successful BRICS Summit was its ability to deliver a joint statement that all members, including Iran and the United Arab Emirates, embroiled in the war in West Asia, signed.
With NEET-PG 2026 scheduled for August 30, online postponement rumours are causing chaos. The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) slammed social media users spreading fake news, warning that circulating misleading exam updates could trigger strict legal action. They advised candidates to trust official announcements only.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is set to chair a crucial TVK alliance coordination meeting in Chennai. The meeting aims to formalise the ruling coalition's structure, common minimum programme, and joint steering committee. However, the absence of key Left allies and a public rift between TVK and Congress over national leadership aspirations threaten to destabilise the alliance, highlighting a significant test for CM Vijay's political management.
Arunachal Pradesh MP Tapir Gao underscores the critical importance of heeding local warnings regarding alleged Chinese incursions along the Line of Actual Control, amidst ongoing border tensions and official denials.
An Air India Airbus A320 experienced a near-simultaneous loss of all three hydraulic systems mid-flight, causing an altitude upset and injuring 24 people. A preliminary investigation revealed the pilot-in-command tested positive for a psychoactive substance post-flight, leading to their termination, while the technical aspects of the incident are still under scrutiny.
Muhammad Yousuf branded Pakistan's coaches "poison for the game", blaming their lack of vision for neglected batting flaws that worsened over years and contributed to the team's decline.
Former India captain Viren Rasquinha warns that an Asian Games gold could paper over deeper problems in Indian men's hockey after their disappointing World Cup campaign.
The Gujarat high court on Monday dismissed as withdrawn a plea of former India cricketer and Lok Sabha MP Yusuf Pathan's appeal against a single judge order passed in August last year, calling him an "encroacher" on a piece of government land in Vadodara.
The Gujarat high court on Monday dismissed as withdrawn a plea of former India cricketer and Lok Sabha MP Yusuf Pathan's appeal against a single judge order passed in August last year, calling him an "encroacher" on a piece of government land in Vadodara.
Japan's national cricket team, led by Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, will play a historic one-off T20 International against India on September 22 in Sano.
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has issued a swell surge warning for coastal areas of Kerala, south Tamil Nadu, and Lakshadweep islands for August 19-20. High period swells from the southern Indian Ocean are expected to cause surging waves and inundation in low-lying regions, prompting advisories for fishermen and coastal residents to exercise caution and suspend recreational activities.
The Indian government has introduced a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, effective October 15. This move ends nearly six years of fully free UPI payments, though person-to-person (P2P) transfers and small P2M payments remain free. The charges aim to bolster investment in UPI infrastructure, with specific exemptions and caps for essential sectors.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange has accused the Maharashtra government of conspiring to kill him and suppress his agitation, following Mumbai police's denial of permission for his indefinite hunger strike from September 19. Jarange stated he would proceed with the march to Mumbai despite the ban.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has accused the opposition DMK of organised corruption and illegal collection of "party funds" during its previous regime, citing Enforcement Directorate documents. The allegations, which named former CM M K Stalin and his deputy Udhayanidhi as beneficiaries, led to a major ruckus in the Assembly.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Supreme Court that an appeal would be filed against an Allahabad High Court decision that quashed the detention of Delhi University student Akriti Chaudhary under the National Security Act. The High Court had also awarded Rs 5 lakh compensation to Chaudhary and criticised the "despotic" conduct of the Gautam Buddha Nagar DM. The Supreme Court also expressed displeasure over a Greater Noida executive magistrate's notice to another student for protest participation.
'I will never say never to a sequel.'
Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered extensive rescue operations following devastating flash floods and mudslides near the China-Nepal border in Tibet. The disaster has caused heavy casualties, left nearly 400 people missing, including 105 Indians and 37 NRIs, and damaged infrastructure. Emergency teams have been deployed, and efforts are underway to evacuate residents and provide medical aid.
A Delhi court has rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Shubham Tyagi, an accused in the Satya Niketan building collapse that killed seven people. Tyagi was allegedly co-running a paying guest facility in the collapsed building and failed to disclose a crucial rent agreement, which weighed heavily against his plea. The court noted a "joint venture" with co-accused Sudhanshu and the need for further investigation into their roles and the money trail.
Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport experienced waterlogging at its Terminal 2 and 3 approach roads and forecourts due to heavy rainfall. While the accumulated water was cleared, the severe weather conditions led to the diversion of at least nine flights to other cities like Jaipur, Lucknow, and Ahmedabad. The India Meteorological Department had issued a red alert for intense rainfall in the national capital.
Following a tragic building collapse in Satya Niketan that claimed five lives, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has ordered the immediate sealing of all illegal constructions with more than four floors and vowed strict action against negligent officials.
Villages along the Uttar Pradesh-Bihar border are on high alert following devastating flash floods in Nepal, with authorities monitoring the Gandak River for potential downstream surges and the NDRF deploying 20 teams for preparedness.
Fighting in Yemen has intensified as Houthi rebels advance on strategic government-held areas like Marib and Taiz, putting pressure on Saudi Arabia to respond. The conflict is also linked to wider US-Iran tensions affecting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, with former US President Trump commenting on the situation.
A senior Geological Survey of India official warns that the Himalayas are vulnerable to cascading disasters, where one high-altitude event can trigger a chain of destructive events downstream, as evidenced by Nepal's recent floods. He stresses the need for integrated monitoring using satellite data and ground investigations to identify high-risk areas and improve preparedness in the Indian Himalayas.
Indonesia's main airport in Jakarta, Soekarno-Hatta international airport, has resumed operations after a two-day closure caused by volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau, with winds pushing the ash away from the airport's airspace.
'Maybe Sobers was upset that he could not touch Gavaskar, and when he came out to bat, he got dismissed off the first ball by me.'
Jacob Coxon, an AI researcher, resigned from Anthropic, accusing leading tech firms like OpenAI and Anthropic of irresponsibly racing towards superintelligence without adequate safeguards. He warned of existential dangers, a sentiment echoed by Anthropic's Evan Hubinger, who admitted the company lacks a plan for superintelligence alignment.
India's women's cricket team secured a commanding 94-run victory over Thailand in their Women's T20 Asia Cup opener. Despite a batting collapse after a strong start by Shafali Verma, India posted 159-9, then bowled out Thailand for just 65, with Deepti Sharma delivering a record-breaking spell. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur acknowledged the win but cautioned against complacency.
Ebrahim Azizi, Head of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Committee, warned the US against interfering with the Strait of Hormuz, asserting Iran's sovereignty after former President Donald Trump threatened to 'take over' the strategic waterway. Despite the heated rhetoric, Iran and the US have established a direct communication line to prevent incidents during a 60-day negotiation period.
Sanjay Dutt's confession about his inability to learn Marathi, even after six years in Yerwada jail, has inadvertently sparked controversy and put Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik in an awkward position, given Sarnaik's stringent policy on Marathi proficiency for auto and taxi drivers.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor Rohit Jain has warned that financial institutions' increasing reliance on a small number of common technology providers, including cloud and AI model providers, could create a new source of systemic risk. He highlighted 'speed, concentration and opacity' as key risks, noting that a disruption at one provider could rapidly spread across multiple institutions, amplifying existing financial risks.
