The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution, co-sponsored by India, to designate November 27 as the International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage. This global initiative aims to raise awareness and accelerate efforts to combat this harmful practice, which disproportionately affects women and girls, hindering their education, health, and overall human rights.
The BRICS summit in New Delhi brings together leaders from major emerging economies to address global challenges like trade disputes, geopolitical upheavals, and the economic impact of conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. India, as chair, aims to position BRICS as an economic growth engine, focusing on the Global South's food, energy, and supply chain security. The summit also highlights the grouping's expansion and its growing influence in global governance.
The challenge for India lies in navigating complex landscape to its best advantage. The BRICS Summit will test its navigation skills, asserts former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.
The University of Delhi and semiconductor major AMD have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to train up to 10,000 students and faculty in industry-relevant artificial intelligence skills over the next year. This collaboration will provide access to AMD's AI Engage Developer Programme, including its open-source ROCm AI software platform, learning resources, and developer GPU cloud credits, aiming to foster indigenous AI capabilities and bridge the gap between academia and industry.
Pakistan has formally requested the Asian Hockey Federation to move its Asian Champions Trophy matches from India to a neutral venue, citing a "sensitive bilateral situation" and security concerns. The tournament is scheduled for October 27 to November 5 in Mohali and Jalandhar. This request follows earlier claims of Pakistan's participation and past withdrawals from events in India.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir stated that all-rounder Hardik Pandya is not yet fit to bowl a full 10-over quota in ODIs and will not be rushed back. Gambhir also hinted at the possibility of playing both Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy once Pandya achieves full bowling fitness, emphasizing his return depends on his all-round contribution.
Jay Meena, once a mischievous schoolboy rusticated for a prank, has made history by winning India's first-ever Asian Games medal in soft tennis. His journey from a troubled youth to a bronze medallist at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games is a testament to destiny and the guidance of his coach. Meena hopes his achievement will boost the sport's profile in India and pave the way for its inclusion in future events like the Commonwealth Games.
Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association have strongly criticised the International Cricket Council's decision to implement significant structural changes to the 2027 ODI World Cup qualification pathway and tournament format, stating it 'risk weakening the integrity and credibility of international cricket'.
Former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan has joined the ownership group of Vancouver Anchors, a franchise in the Canada Super 60 league, reuniting with his former teammate Yuvraj Singh. Khan brings his extensive international cricket experience to the league, which features men's and women's competitions and aims to promote global cricket growth.
Refusing to travel to India citing "sensitive bilateral situation", Pakistan on Wednesday asked the Asian Hockey Federation to shift its Asian Champions Trophy matches to a neutral venue.
A tripartite agreement between SAI, BAI, and SAA will establish the first National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for swimming in the North Eastern Region, located at the Amingaon Sports Complex in Assam. This initiative aims to provide world-class training and nurture swimming talent across the region.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated he does not believe India and Iran are pursuing a trade deal, despite a recent meeting between their leaders. He acknowledged that many countries engage with the Iranian regime but reiterated President Trump's warning against helping Iran evade sanctions, threatening penalties for nations that do so.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has urged the Reserve Bank of India to accelerate its central bank digital currency initiatives, emphasising the need to sharpen capabilities with the digital rupee amidst rapid advancements in tokenisation, agentic AI, and quantum computing. She also highlighted critical concerns regarding cybersecurity, warning that autonomous AI systems are evolving rapidly and require robust safeguards. Sitharaman proposed a federated industry platform to give India's technology ecosystem a collective international voice.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced several new initiatives for Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), including Aadhaar-based devotee insurance for Rs 2 lakh, the establishment of an SV Museum by TCS Trust, and the introduction of electric buses donated by Reliance Foundation and Bharat Biotech. The plans also include global expansion of Srivari temples, improved Annadanam, integrated hospital services, and significant infrastructure development in Tirupati to make it a services and wedding destination with a Net Zero concept.
For the first time since 1998, no Indian umpire or technical official will be present at the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, a situation that has left former international officials disappointed and calling for a structured pathway to develop and support Indian officiating talent.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board hosted 'Koh-E-Zafar' in New Delhi to celebrate the strong cricketing friendship between India and Afghanistan.
Matthew Hayden says the European T20 Premier League can establish itself as a talent-development platform for Europe's associate nations, stressing that ETPL's strength lies in creating pathways to global franchise cricket rather than competing with the IPL.
Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi announced that revised NCERT textbooks for classes 10 to 12 are being prepared in "mission mode," while textbooks for classes 1 to 9 under the new National Curriculum Framework have already been released. He emphasised NCERT's role in building a 'Viksit Bharat' and highlighted the need for curricula to evolve with AI advancements and the importance of India's young population as a global asset.
Pakistan has requested the Asian Hockey Federation to move its Asian Champions Trophy matches from India to a neutral venue, citing a "sensitive bilateral situation" and security concerns. Hockey India has rejected this demand, stating there will be no change in venue for the tournament scheduled in Mohali and Jalandhar from October 27 to November 5. Pakistan's participation remains uncertain, with potential replacements like Bangladesh and Oman being considered.
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 Indian government has introduced a 0.4% fee on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 for merchants, effective October 15, sparking strong opposition from political parties and traders. Despite accusations of foreign influence and demands for a rollback, the finance ministry and top functionaries have stated there will be no reversal, citing the need for a self-sustaining digital payments ecosystem.
'Uranium supply is going to come under increasing pressure.'
Prince William and Kate have launched a sports-led suicide prevention initiative, urging organisations across Britain to foster open conversations, recognise warning signs and make support accessible.
Nepal has launched a diplomatic initiative to secure climate-related compensation from major greenhouse gas emitters, asserting that post-disaster assistance for recent deadly flash floods should be viewed as a moral and legal liability, not charity. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal highlighted Nepal's disproportionate suffering from global warming despite negligible emissions, citing rapid glacier melt and extreme mountain disasters. The country has formally approached the Loss and Damage Fund board for urgent financial aid following a catastrophic flash flood in the Bhotekoshi river basin.
Cricket legend Yuvraj Singh led birthday wishes for young India batter Abhishek Sharma, praising his explosive talent and personal growth, while his sister Komal Sharma also shared an emotional message.
The Saudi-led coalition issued a stern warning to Yemen's Houthi rebels after intercepting a drone targeting Mecca, Islam's holiest city. Describing it as a "hostile and terrorist act," the coalition declared the security of holy sites a "red line" and vowed deterrent measures. This incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, with both sides exchanging accusations of military operations and civilian targeting.
'It's A Cat And Mouse Game.'
Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula have lauded the U.S. Open's record prize money and the establishment of a Grand Slam player advisory council. These developments come after players, including Sabalenka, protested for a larger share of tournament revenue, indicating that their calls for improved compensation and a greater voice in the sport are finally gaining traction.
India is actively integrating payment system harmonisation into its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, especially with countries hosting a large Indian diaspora. This strategy aims to leverage India's growing fintech ecosystem, facilitate cross-border financial services, and position India as a global hub for financial services exports, particularly through platforms like GIFT City.
'How will this woman find her? And how does that affect her, because it's not a biological relationship.'
Indian air rifle shooter Elavenil Valarivan secured a silver medal at the Asian Games, despite initially leading the final. She expressed contentment with the result, viewing it as a crucial learning experience focused on process over outcome. This marks her third consecutive individual silver at major Asian competitions, and she also contributed to India's team silver. The medal holds personal significance as her first at the Asian Games, achieved after eight years, and she credits her coach's guidance.
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.
New research from the University of Sheffield indicates that greenhouse gas emissions from petrochemical production could increase by 50 per cent by 2050 under a business-as-usual scenario. The study, published in Nature Sustainability, provides the first detailed global map of these emissions, identifying key sources and highlighting the challenge of decarbonising the sector.
Nottingham Forest have signed Liam Delap from Chelsea for a reported club-record 45 million, with the striker agreeing to a five-year contract.
Former FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce has strongly criticised President Gianni Infantino's abandoned plans to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors, labelling the proposal 'ludicrous' and urging FIFA to prioritise the interests of fans over profit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the fintech sector to expand the global reach of India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI), connecting it with local systems in other countries to help the diaspora save on remittance costs.
Prasar Bharati Chairman Prasoon Joshi voiced concerns over AI's impact on India's cultural heritage, including music and endangered languages, advocating for human-AI collaboration. Meanwhile, a Spotify report revealed significant growth in royalties for Indian artists, with linguistic diversity driving economic strength in the creative industries, highlighting the platform's role in enabling talent across various Indian languages.
Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani stressed the need for India to develop population-scale tokenisation infrastructure capable of handling billions of transactions, rather than merely focusing on issuing tokens. He highlighted the importance of interoperability, liquidity, and high volumes for tokenisation to expand across various asset classes and use cases.
Danish FA President Jesper Moller has renewed calls for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to step down, citing FIFA's refusal to answer 'critical questions' regarding its abandoned proposal to sell commercial stakes in tournaments.
'She's kind, loving...but on the sets, she's a taskmaster.'
