The Czech Republic secured their 12th Billie Jean King Cup title by defeating Ukraine 2-0 in the final. Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova delivered dominant singles victories, with Muchova sweeping Anhelina Kalinina and Noskova overcoming Elina Svitolina. This victory marks the Czechs' first title since 2018, solidifying their position as the second-most successful nation in the competition's history.
A cultural festival at Badrinath Dham has ignited a major controversy due to a loud music and dance event, leading the Chamoli district administration to issue a show-cause notice to the Garhwal Scouts. Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi and the Shankaracharya Math have strongly condemned the event, citing violations of cultural and religious decorum and the sanctity of the holy shrine.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) net purchased a record $18.65 billion in July, driven by inflows from its concessional swap facility, leading to a significant increase in India's foreign exchange reserves.
On Thursday, September 17, two suspected Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists were killed and a suspect was detained during an anti-terror operation in Jammu's Udhampur district.
Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat on Saturday demanded punishment for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid an ongoing political row over the SIR exercise, declaring that "Kala Pani" is the appropriate punishment for Kumar based on the magnitude of his position and the alleged gravity of his misconduct.
The FBI has placed gangster Satinderjeet Singh, known as Goldy Brar, on its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, offering a USD 1 million reward for his alleged involvement in the Lawrence Bishnoi Organized Crime Group's violent activities across North America.
'The issue appears to be less about Chandrasekaran personally and more about the direction Tata Sons should take.'
Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde highlighted ethanol's potential to protect India from volatile petroleum markets and geopolitical risks, advocating for its widespread production and use. He, along with other officials, emphasised ethanol's role in strengthening the rural economy, ensuring timely cane payments, and combating carbon emissions, while also discussing its historical context and current government support.
The US military has refuted Iran's Revolutionary Guards' assertion that an oil tanker struck a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command stated the Panama-registered vessel, El Gaia, was previously hit by an Iranian missile and then a drone, highlighting ongoing Iranian attempts to impede commercial vessels in the crucial maritime trade route.
The Supreme Court has agreed to examine a plea challenging the Bombay High Court's decision to uphold the acquittal of 22 accused in the alleged fake encounter killings of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi, and aide Tulsiram Prajapati. The apex court expressed concern over 92 witnesses turning hostile during the trial and will review selected witness statements to ensure a fair and just process.
If India's medal tally ultimately falls significantly short of Hangzhou, the conversation should not stop with the athletes or coaches. It should extend to a much more uncomfortable institutional question: After years of increased investment, programmes, infrastructure and policy attention, where exactly is the system failing to convert that investment into medals, champions and depth across sports? asks Jaydeep Ray.
Banking services across India, particularly at public sector banks, are set to be disrupted for three days starting Monday due to a nationwide strike by bank unions. The strike, called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), is primarily to press for a five-day working week and other demands, despite the finance ministry's appeal for dialogue.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) flagged the proposed screening of an uncertified documentary on jailed activist Umar Khalid at IIIT-Hyderabad, citing violations of the Cinematograph Act. IIIT-Hyderabad subsequently distanced itself from the event, stating no recognised student bodies had organised it. The screening, titled "Prisoner No. 626710 is Present," was reportedly cancelled by students, following a similar postponement at NLSIU Bengaluru due to opposition.
The CBI has registered an FIR in the Disha Salian death case, following a Bombay High Court order that criticised Mumbai Police for its six-year delay and "glaring discrepancies" in the investigation. Salian, former manager of Sushant Singh Rajput, died in June 2020, a week before Rajput's own death, which led to speculation about a connection. The High Court had expressed concerns over the Mumbai Police's handling of the case, which was initially treated as an accidental death.
171 IIT student deaths by suicide or other unnatural causes have been recorded between January 2006 and September 2026. Of these, 120 were recorded between 2016 and September 2026, compared with 51 in the preceding decade.
The Supreme Court has stayed the execution of a man sentenced to death for the repeated sexual assault of three minor girls. The apex court's decision comes after the Madras High Court confirmed his conviction and death penalty. The Supreme Court has sought reports from probation officers, jail authorities, and a psychological evaluation of the appellant, posting the matter for hearing after 20 weeks.
Karnataka Health Minister U T Khader announced the busting of a major interstate counterfeit drug racket, leading to an arrest and an ongoing investigation into the suspected supply of fake medicines to hospitals. The racket involved procuring cheap drugs, refilling them, and relabelling them as premium brands, with seizures worth Rs 5 crore. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the widespread network.
The three-month long outreach will be closely monitored by senior government officials.
A forensic examination of a mobile phone seized from former MP Prajwal Revanna's prison cell revealed numerous explicit videos, while a pen drive contained movies and web series. Revanna, who was found using a smartphone in prison, denied ownership of the device and downloading explicit content, despite call logs showing unauthorised communication. Five individuals have been arrested for allegedly smuggling the phone and SIM card into the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison.
In a high-profile POCSO case, Chennai police have discovered more minor victims of sexual harassment allegedly by granite businessman R Veeramani, with investigators suspecting the abuse spans over two decades. Additional victims' statements have been recorded, and the case involves charges under POCSO, IT, and SC/ST Acts.
The Bharatiya Janata Party received nearly Rs 1,473 crore at its central headquarters alone during the last five state assembly elections, more than seven times the Rs 207 crore in net receipts reported by the Congress across its central and state units, according to expenditure statements filed with the Election Commission.
Zoho cofounder Sridhar Vembu dismisses exaggerated fears about AI's catastrophic potential and global development pauses. He advocates for India to adopt an independent AI strategy, fostering partnerships while avoiding entanglement in US-China tech rivalry. Vembu stresses extensive investment in foundational R&D across sectors, distinguishing it from costly frontier AI model development. He also highlights concerns about AI's impact on human judgment, skill erosion, and job disruption, particularly in software engineering, while remaining optimistic about new economic opportunities.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has debarred Aditya Motegaonkar, son of NEET-UG paper leak accused Shivraj Motegaonkar, from the examination for two years and withheld his result, following alleged irregularities in the May 3 exam and a retest.
The NSUI's performance in the DUSU elections has highlighted significant internal issues regarding ticket distribution, with rebel candidates outperforming official nominees. This trend, observed across various university elections, points to growing dissent within the Congress's student wing under Kanhaiya Kumar's tenure, despite some recent successes.
CDSCO has warned consumers against using two unauthorised Pakistani whitening creams after finding excessive heavy metals and regulatory violations.
Students at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara, Punjab, protested alleged rape claims, leading to a 15-hour blockage of National Highway-44 and clashes with police. The university suspended classes and postponed exams. BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu accused the AAP government of instigating the unrest to disrupt an upcoming Amit Shah rally, while police registered a rape case and formed an SIT despite LPU calling the claims "rumours."
Typhoon Dujuan is approaching East Japan's Pacific Coast, bringing warnings of heavy rain, strong winds, and landslides. The typhoon has already caused transportation disruptions and led to the postponement of an equestrian event at the Asian Games venue.
Panama's coach, Thomas Christiansen, suggests India can learn from Panama's football growth despite baseball's dominance, highlighting the need for league improvement, better facilities, and attracting top players to boost football's popularity and global standing. Midfielder Carlos Harvey also advocates for bringing in star players to increase visibility.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has refused to apologise to Satish Salian, father of late celebrity manager Disha Salian, after receiving a Rs 500 crore defamation notice. Thackeray dismissed the allegations as "frivolous," stating his social media posts did not mention Salian and were aimed at political actors linking his name to the tragic case without evidence. He reiterated he never knew Disha Salian and highlighted inconsistencies in Satish Salian's past statements, calling for an independent CBI probe.
The Central Crime Branch in Chennai has uncovered evidence suggesting that granite businessman R Veeramani's alleged sexual harassment of minors may span over two decades, predating 2003. The investigation, which began with a 2019 video clip, has identified multiple survivors, leading to charges under the POCSO Act, IT Act, and SC/ST Act against Veeramani and two accomplices. The Child Welfare Committee is also monitoring the case for further action.
The CBI has registered a case against Reliance Capital Limited (RCAP), its former chairman Anil Ambani, and others for an alleged Rs 2,684.57-crore fraud. The case stems from a complaint by the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) regarding investments in RCAP's non-convertible debentures, alleging criminal conspiracy, misrepresentation, and fraudulent diversion of funds causing significant loss to LIC.
Western Australia Premier Roger Cook emphasised cricket's pivotal role in enhancing India-Australia relations, fostering business development, economic ties, and trade. He highlighted the upcoming Big Bash League match in Chennai and the opening of the University of Western Australia campus in Mumbai as key initiatives strengthening bilateral cooperation and cultural exchange.
Mumbai resonated with 'Ganpati Bappa Morya' chants and dhol-tasha beats as devotees immersed Ganesh idols on Anant Chaturdashi, the final day of the 12-day festival. Over 430 idols were immersed by noon, with no untoward incidents reported, as elaborate arrangements by police and BMC ensured smooth proceedings.
Police in Kanpur have arrested Subrat Manocha, son of pharmaceutical dealer Vineet Manocha, in connection with his father's murder. The arrest follows allegations by an alleged contract killer, Vishal Gautam, who claimed Subrat hired him for Rs 6 lakh to commit the crime. Investigators are verifying evidence, including call records, as Subrat denies the charges.
India's Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare announced that cab aggregators have been ordered to cease advance tipping options, deeming the practice misleading and unfair. This follows the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) imposing a Rs 10 lakh penalty on Rapido for unfair business practices, including advance tipping and "dark patterns" that pressure users to pay more. Investigations into Uber and Ola are ongoing, with the government emphasizing that tipping should be voluntary and post-ride.
India's apex drug regulator cautioned against antibiotic self-medication and their use for conditions where antibiotic treatment is not clinically indicated, particularly viral infections, the common cold and fever.
Microsoft has officially launched its fourth cloud region in India, located in Hyderabad, as part of its USD 20.5 billion investment in the country's digital and AI infrastructure. This new facility, which became available on August 6, features zero-water cooling technology and aims to enhance capacity and resilience for organisations in India and Asia, supporting the nation's rapid digital growth and projected increase in data centre capacity.
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.
A member of the National Traders' Welfare Board (NTWB) has urged the central government to withdraw its decision to impose a 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, effective from October 15. He warned that the new charge, which will be borne by merchants, could negatively impact business growth and lead to higher prices, contradicting the government's 'ease of doing business' policy.
The Supreme Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to comply with its previous order to identify land for establishing Navodaya Vidyalayas in each district of the state, emphasising cooperative federalism and urging a change in mindset regarding the central government's education policy.
