The US Senate has overwhelmingly approved a bill, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which aims to punish Russia and its major petroleum product buyers, including China and India. The legislation allows the US President to impose 100 per cent tariffs on goods from the top five importers of Russian oil and gas, and also extends sanctions on Iran's energy sector. The bill, championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, now moves to the House of Representatives for further approval.
TVS Motor Company has launched the TVS Apache Junior Programme, a new initiative to identify and train young racing talent aged 10-14 years. The programme, conducted at the Madras International Karting Arena, provides structured training using purpose-built TVS Apache RR 200 Mini motorcycles, aiming to create a clear pathway for aspiring riders into professional motorsport.
Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran has stressed the urgent need for India's financial sector to proactively address the safety and security risks of artificial intelligence, stating that waiting for problems to materialise is not an option.
A think tank, GTRI, has urged India to resist US pressure regarding its UPI policies, advocating for competition, policy autonomy, and a sustainable payments ecosystem. This comes as the Lok Sabha passed a bill allowing charges on UPI, and the US has criticised India's digital payment systems, raising concerns about the future of India's digital payment landscape.
Christopher Wood, global head of equity strategy at Jefferies, warns that cheaper Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) models could lead to 'massive capital destruction' in US markets, highlighting the rapid growth of Chinese LLMs and the increasing debt funding for AI capex in the US.
'As long as the vehicle has a flex engine, it is irrelevant if the mixture is 15 per cent or 30 per cent; the performance is the same.'
'At the end of the day, it is just another technology produced by the human mind.'
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) India reported its highest-ever first-quarter retail sales for FY27, with 1,665 vehicles retailed, an 11 per cent year-on-year increase, largely due to sustained demand for premium SUVs and the benefits of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement.
Analysts predict that the Reserve Bank of India's interest rate decision, the evolving situation in West Asia involving the US-Iran conflict, and crude oil prices will be the primary factors influencing investor sentiment in the Indian stock market this week.
Alphabet has announced a significant leadership reshuffle within its artificial intelligence division, appointing Google DeepMind co-founder Demis Hassabis as Chief Scientist to intensify its focus on artificial general intelligence (AGI). Koray Kavukcuoglu will become Senior Vice President of Google DeepMind, overseeing Gemini development and frontier AI research. Additionally, Google veterans Jeff Dean and Sanjay Ghemawat are launching a new public benefit corporation for ML and science discoveries, supported by Google.
India's manufacturing sector activity growth declined to a five-year low in July, with the HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) falling to 53.5 from 54.2 in June, driven by a slower rise in new business orders and challenging market conditions.
Sri Lanka Cricket XI's batters made India's bowlers toil as they piled up 363/8 on Day 1 of the Warm-up match at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo on Friday.
The CPI(M) has strongly opposed the Union government's proposal to levy charges on UPI transactions, calling it a "breach of public trust" and demanding the immediate withdrawal of the legislation. The party highlighted that the government had previously promoted UPI as a free public utility, encouraging widespread adoption, and now seeks to monetise this infrastructure. They also linked this move to a broader trend of increasing banking charges.
Sridhar Vembu, Zoho Corporation Founder, states that the IT industry is not generating new jobs due to funds being redirected towards the escalating costs of AI and data centre infrastructure. He highlights a structural economic challenge where advanced technology, while making goods affordable, creates income distribution issues and suggests that solutions like Universal Basic Income might gain traction, especially in countries like India.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman clarified that the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on digital transactions applies to merchants, not customers, and aims to support banks and fintech in infrastructure investment. She countered Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's claims, stating that a committee will decide on MDR only after Parliament passes the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, a process currently stalled by parliamentary disruptions.
Bharti Airtel, India's second-largest telecom operator, reported a 37.3 per cent rise in consolidated net profit to 8,167 crore for Q1 FY27, driven by the addition of high-paying premium customers, despite missing Bloomberg consensus estimates.
Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) reported a 3.17 per cent year-on-year decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 2,680 crore for the June quarter, even as revenue from product sales surged by 10.26 per cent to Rs 17,149 crore, marking its highest growth in 13 quarters.
The Payments Council of India has confirmed that Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services will continue to be free for consumers and small merchants, despite a recent Lok Sabha Bill. This clarification addresses concerns about potential charges, emphasising that while a sustainable financial model for UPI infrastructure is being developed, transaction charges will not be passed on to users or small businesses.
A new report by ADP reveals that one in two Indian companies plan to adopt AI-powered payroll systems within the next 12 months, driven by the need for automation in workforce management, compliance, and compensation decisions. However, firms are increasingly cautious about data protection risks, especially with the implementation of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023.
The Delhi High Court has ordered the winding up of Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) following the Reserve Bank of India's cancellation of its banking licence due to non-compliance and concerns over depositor interests.
Hyundai Motor India Ltd reported a 35 per cent decline in consolidated profit after tax to Rs 888.62 crore in the first quarter ended June 30, impacted by lower revenue and higher expenses, with MD & CEO Tarun Garg noting it was a "challenging quarter".
WhatsApp is testing new ways for users in India to confirm their age as it prepares to comply with upcoming legal requirements, including those related to the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, the Meta-owned messaging platform said on Tuesday.
Flipkart-backed Scapic Innovations, operating as super.money, has launched splitStore, a credit-linked e-commerce platform targeting Gen Z. It allows customers to split payments into interest-free installments, with the goal of contributing 20% to total revenue by December and transforming how India shops by providing instant access to products for new-to-credit users.
A Thane court has granted transit remand for Huzaifa Farooque Ahmed Hashmi, arrested for alleged links to a D-Company operative and Pakistan's ISI. Investigators presented evidence of his contact with a Pakistan-based operative and his association with Mumbai underworld figure Munna Jhingada, as agencies probe the alleged underworld-ISI nexus.
The US is reportedly considering a USD 100,000 fee for Optional Practical Training (OPT) visas, which allow international students to work in the US after graduation. This move by the Trump administration follows a rejected H1-B visa fee proposal and could significantly impact foreign graduates and tech companies. The Department of Homeland Security is also exploring a USD 100,000 bond for green card applicants.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is holding a crisis meeting with top officials in Morocco to address the fallout from his failed attempt to sell commercial rights to the World Cup, a move that has led to widespread criticism and calls for his removal.
Researchers have successfully demonstrated the transmission of quantum information over commercial fibre-optic infrastructure, a significant step towards building practical quantum networks. This breakthrough addresses the challenge of cost and maintaining fragile entangled states outside laboratory settings.
Nirmal Purja, the Nepali-British climber famous for scaling all 14 of the world's 8,000-metre peaks in record time, has been confirmed dead after an avalanche on Broad Peak, located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's Gilgit-Baltistan.
Moroccan-French model-turned-actress Soundous Moufakir is set to bring her fierce competitive spirit and strategic mind to The Traitors Season 2.
Former India cricketer Rajesh Chauhan has been booked for allegedly cheating a man of over Rs 15 lakh by promising a transport contract with a steel company, a case registered on court orders under Section 316(2) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.
The Indian government has clarified that consumers will not be charged for UPI transactions, and most merchant transactions will also remain free. This comes amidst speculation following an amendment to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. Any future merchant discount rate (MDR) would be nominal, threshold-based, and aimed at ensuring UPI's long-term sustainability and infrastructure development.
An 11-year-old rape survivor in Yamunanagar, Haryana, has given birth to a baby girl at the District Civil Hospital. Both the mother and baby are in stable condition. The minor's pregnancy was discovered in May, leading to the arrest of the accused under the POCSO Act. The family has consented to hand over the newborn to the Child Welfare Committee.
In a world where celebrity relationships often play out on social media, Tom Holland and Zendaya have quietly built one of Hollywood's most-loved romances.
Discover the top OTT releases this week, featuring a compelling mix of Hindi dramas like Imtiaz Ali's Main Vaapas Aaunga and Manoj Bajpayee's Governor, alongside regional and international titles.
Mobile payments pioneer Paytm reported significant growth in its UPI payments business for Q1 FY27, driven by app simplification, AI investments, and a focus on attracting Gen Z customers. The company saw a 45% year-on-year increase in Consumer UPI Gross Transaction Value and a rise of 60 lakh in Monthly Transacting Users, outpacing the industry. Paytm's strategy prioritises customer retention and product innovation, leading to a profitable quarter with strong revenue and EBITDA growth, further supported by AI-led operational efficiencies and an India-focused language model.
Make the most of the monsoon with these hatke experiences.
New players like Maruti Suzuki, VinFast, and Tesla are significantly expanding India's electric passenger vehicle (e-PV) market, capturing an 8.1 per cent share and contributing 18 per cent of incremental registrations in the first half of 2026, according to Fada Research data.
Shahneel has 450,000 followers on Instagram, and her account is mainly focused on travel and lifestyle.
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.
Several popular rum and whisky brands, including variants of Old Monk Rum and McDowell's No 1, have been prohibited from sale after laboratory tests found their samples did not conform to prescribed standards, primarily due to the addition of artificial flavouring substances.
