The US State Department has paused visa appointments worldwide to conduct a 'global training initiative' for consular officers, aiming to ensure applicants are not likely to become a 'public charge' and are comprehensively evaluated, intensifying President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that India is likely to sustain economic growth of 7 per cent or more in 2026-27, continuing the pace recorded since the Covid-19 pandemic, despite geopolitical uncertainties and supply-chain disruptions.
India has exhausted 58.04 per cent of its FY27 fertiliser subsidy budget in under five months, primarily due to a significant surge in global urea prices following the conflict in West Asia, necessitating potential additional government expenditure.
Indian chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh, an Arjuna Award recipient, is set to make her debut in the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League Season 4 with defending champions Alpine Pipers. She will join a star-studded team including Magnus Carlsen, Anish Giri, and Vidit Gujrathi, expressing excitement for the rapid chess format and playing in front of a home crowd.
Bengaluru is set to host a FIDE-rated Rapid Chess tournament featuring up to 1000 players, serving as a prelude to Season 4 of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League (GCL). The tournament offers a Rs 4 lakh prize purse and a chance for participants to experience the build-up to the GCL, which will feature top chess stars like Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu highlighted that the success of UPI, which handles nearly half of the world's real-time digital transactions, stems from a collaborative ecosystem including financial inclusion, digital identity, and affordable internet. He attributed this digital payments revolution to the vision of PM Narendra Modi.
World Cup-winning Spanish footballer Gerard Pique has become a strategic shareholder in the Global Chess League franchise American Gambits. Pique, known for his illustrious football career, expressed his long-standing fascination with chess and his ambition to elevate the sport's global appeal. The fourth edition of the Global Chess League, featuring top grandmasters, is scheduled for September 3-13.
Indian benchmark equity indices, Sensex and Nifty, traded marginally higher in early deals despite cautious global cues stemming from elevated crude oil prices due to geopolitical uncertainties and a sharp fall in US markets. Track Sensex, Nifty on August 21, 2026.
S&P Global Ratings has affirmed India's sovereign credit rating at 'BBB' with a stable outlook, citing the country's dynamic and fast-growing economy, strong external balance sheet, and stable institutions that ensure policy predictability.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) turned net sellers in the first week of September, withdrawing Rs 7,443 crore from Indian equities, driven by rising crude oil prices, increasing US bond yields, and a strong dollar.
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.
The Reserve Bank of India has marginally increased its GDP forecast for the current fiscal to 6.7 per cent while slightly lowering the inflation projection to 5 per cent. The central bank noted that while domestic economic activity shows resilience, global turbulence, particularly re-escalating conflicts and volatile oil prices, continues to pose risks to the inflation outlook.
A new study reveals that the impacts of invasive species on biodiversity are most severe in the Global South, challenging previous assumptions. Factors like rapidly developing economies, weak governance, and limited management capacity make these regions particularly vulnerable, leading to higher ecological and economic damages.
Mike McCabe, COO and Deputy CEO of the Esports Foundation, believes India has "more potential than any country on the planet" for esports, citing its enormous fan base, improving competitive ecosystem, and evolving policy environment as key drivers for rapid acceleration in the sport.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty closed lower, with the Sensex dropping 388 points and Nifty declining 112 points, as a sharp rally in crude oil prices, driven by geopolitical uncertainties and concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, dampened investor sentiment and reignited inflation fears.
Indian stock market investors are closely monitoring crude oil prices, geopolitical developments in West Asia, and the implications of the US Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which could impose tariffs on countries, including India, that purchase Russian crude.
'India should hold several high-level chess tournaments that would attract the world's top players so that the country will have a say in the game.'
Willie Walsh, former IATA Director General and CEO of British Airways, has officially taken charge as the CEO of IndiGo, India's largest airline, with a mandate to drive global expansion and operational excellence.
'For Indian institutions this year, global peers are outpacing in key areas such as RoI, entrepreneurship, and alumni outcomes.'
Bengaluru-based deep-tech company RayVector Technologies is demonstrating its advanced multi-sensor module and wafer-handling technology at SEMICON India. This innovative solution uses sensing, imaging, and AI to detect minute irregularities in semiconductor wafers, helping manufacturers prevent costly production losses. The technology is already being utilised by major global players like Samsung, Intel, and TSMC, highlighting India's growing contribution to the global semiconductor ecosystem.
NeoGeoInfo Technologies, a spatial intelligence solutions provider, has secured a Series A investment of approximately USD 20 million from Neev II Fund and Aavishkaar Capital. This funding will fuel the company's R&D, expand its international presence in the Middle East and Americas, and strengthen its team for complex projects.
Meta's global team met with top Indian IT Ministry officials following government summons regarding the temporary restriction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook post and ongoing concerns about child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on its platforms.
Tavengwa Mukuhlani, Chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket, has been appointed as the new Deputy Chairperson of the International Cricket Council (ICC) until November 2027, succeeding Singapore's Imran Khwaja. This significant appointment is expected to bolster African cricket, especially as Zimbabwe prepares to co-host the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.
Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi's movement has launched the Satyarthi Fellowship, a year-long global leadership programme designed to train young leaders in compassionate action and drive social change. The fellowship focuses on immersive learning, grassroots engagement, and mentorship, building on the Satyarthi Summer School model.
The Nifty and Sensex outperformed Asian peers in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and China.
International Hockey Federation (FIH) President Tayyab Ikram has commended India's professional approach to hockey, urging other Asian nations to adopt similar strategies to improve their global standing. He highlighted India's journey from past Olympic glory to recent bronze medals, positioning it as a model for development in the sport.
Global indoor fitness race organisation Hyrox has changed its rules after women's World record holder Joanna Wietrzyk soiled herself during an event in Beijing but was allowed to continue and win the race, prompting an apology from co-founder Moritz Fuerste.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has maintained its benchmark policy rate at 5.25 per cent for the fourth consecutive meeting, prioritising clarity on inflation trends, particularly concerning energy costs and geopolitical developments.
Climate scientist Tapio Schneider advocates for expanding early warning systems beyond rainfall events to include other disaster triggers like flash floods, citing the recent Nepal floods. He highlights the inevitability of 1.5 degrees Celsius global warming and discusses the role of advanced climate modelling and AI in improving predictions and research, particularly for regions like India.
The Brics proposal for a Grain Exchange, aimed at challenging the dominance of Western trading firms, faces significant operational and implementation hurdles, including settlement currency, regulatory frameworks, and limited participation from key members like India, according to experts.
President Donald Trump is set to sign the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which includes tariffs on countries buying Russian oil and gas, such as India. India has voiced concerns over the potential impact on its ties with the US and the global energy market.
China has called for stronger global governance of artificial intelligence, advocating for international cooperation to develop the technology for humanity's benefit while preventing it from getting out of control. This comes amidst warnings from leading AI researchers in the US about potential existential risks, with China emphasizing both rapid development and robust safeguards, including its new AI Safety Governance Framework 3.0. The issue is expected to be a key topic in upcoming US-China talks.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday discussed with a group of senior ministers the prevailing global security situation and how to maintain supply chain uninterrupted despite conflicts in different zones, including the Strait of Hormuz, the Black Sea, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.
An electrocution incident near a Ganapati pandal in Mumbai's Lalbaug area resulted in the deaths of an eight-year-old girl and another woman, with several others sustaining injuries. The tragedy occurred early Sunday amidst massive crowds during the ongoing Ganapati festival, prompting a swift response from emergency services.
A member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal, Mines & Steel, Sasmit Patra, highlighted the transformative potential of AI and digital technologies in making India's mining and metals sector more productive, transparent, and globally competitive. He emphasised their role in enhancing efficiency, safety, sustainability, and community engagement.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council's October 7 meeting will focus on 'GST 2.0' process reforms, including e-invoicing and input tax credit rules, while also addressing complex issues surrounding the taxation of the digital economy and cryptocurrency.
Samsung India has launched an Innovation Campus in Karnataka, in partnership with Nrupathunga University, to train 2,000 young individuals in industry-relevant AI skills. This initiative aims to support Karnataka's goal of building an AI-native ecosystem and developing a future-ready technology workforce, expanding access to practical AI education.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, saw an early rebound after significant losses, driven by value buying, though elevated oil prices and anticipation of the US Federal Reserve's policy decision tempered gains. Track Sensex, Nifty on September 16.
French football superstar Kylian Mbappe has ended his long-standing partnership with Nike to join the rapidly expanding Swiss sportswear brand On, a move that provides On with a high-profile figure for its entry into football and marks another significant defection for the US giant.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi cautioned against the 'weaponisation' of technology and critical minerals at the BRICS summit, advocating for cooperation to foster shared prosperity. Concurrently, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced plans for an open-source AI ecosystem for BRICS nations, positioning Beijing as a key technology partner amid global AI competition.
