Economists highlight that resolving domestic policy bottlenecks, particularly through land reforms and improving the ease of doing business, will be critical for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'next-generation reforms' and India's economic transformation towards its 'Viksit Bharat' vision for 2047.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expressed support for the Centre's decision to levy charges on UPI transactions, citing the cost of maintaining the digital payment infrastructure. However, he emphasised the need to protect retail consumers from these fees. Abdullah also discussed the upcoming seven-day Assembly session, highlighting the government's commitment to smooth functioning and addressing MLAs' concerns, and touched upon efforts to tackle drainage issues affecting water bodies.
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council is set to discuss proposals aimed at transforming the complex indirect tax system into a more business-friendly regime, focusing on simplifying compliance, reducing administrative burdens, and potentially raising the prosecution threshold.
Over 160 Irish sports personalities, including Olympians and former professionals, have signed an open letter urging the Ireland national football team to boycott upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel.
France secured a late 1-0 victory over Belgium in the Nations League thanks to a goal from substitute Michael Olise, marking a winning start for coach Zinedine Zidane. Meanwhile, Italy bounced back from an earlier defeat to thrash Turkey 4-1, with goals from Bastoni, Frattesi, Kayode, and Esposito. Other Nations League results saw Bosnia beat Romania and Sweden overcome Poland.
Google Cloud services in major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai are experiencing network disruptions and elevated latency due to a fire at a third-party data centre in Delhi. The incident led to an emergency power shutdown, reducing network capacity and causing intermittent latency spikes despite Google's efforts to reroute traffic. The company is investigating further mitigations to restore full service.
Nasscom President Rajesh Nambiar stated that artificial intelligence is not making India's Business Process Management (BPM) industry obsolete but is instead driving its significant reinvention. He highlighted that the sector has an opportunity to become the world's "intelligent operations and transformation hub" by leveraging AI, analytics, and cloud-based operations, moving beyond traditional call centres. Nambiar outlined three key priorities for the industry, including reimagining processes, building hybrid human-AI operating models, and redefining India's global BPM representation.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has accused the Centre of orchestrating a political conspiracy through the CBI's FIR in the Disha Salian death case. Raut claims the probe is designed to tarnish the Thackeray family's reputation and target Aaditya Thackeray, linking it to broader political manoeuvres and an ongoing Supreme Court case.
A 52-year-old woman in Korba, Chhattisgarh, allegedly died by suicide after becoming upset over repeated internet connectivity issues that disrupted her mobile phone reels. The woman, identified as Manglo Bai Sarathi, consumed pesticide and succumbed during treatment. Police are investigating the incident.
World-record holder Alison dos Santos secured victory in the men's 400m hurdles, while Djamel Sedjati surprisingly won the men's 800m on the final day of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship. Other winners included Jasmine Jones (women's 400m hurdles), Rumesh Pathirage (men's javelin), and Likina Amebaw (women's 5,000m) at the event in Budapest, which featured a record $10 million prize pot.
Hardik Pandya's comeback has suffered another setback after a fresh right-shin injury, ruling him out of New Zealand tour and forcing the all-rounder into another rehabilitation phase.
A trade body in Jharkhand, FJCCI, has urged the Union Finance Minister to withdraw the proposed 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 for merchants. The body argues that this charge will significantly increase operating costs for businesses, especially MSMEs and retailers, who rely on the current zero-MDR regime for digital payments.
BSP chief Mayawati has criticised the Centre's decision to introduce a 0.4 per cent fee on UPI merchant transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, effective October 15. She termed it a "capitalist profiteering attitude" that burdens the common people, while the government clarified that the charge is on merchants and not customers for person-to-person transactions.
Defending the law for regulating appointment procedures of the chief election commissioner and the deputies, the Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it would be wrong to assume that the prime minister and the other ministers would act in "bad faith" and against "democracy" because they have a numerical majority in the selection procedure.
Apple has removed the offline messaging app Bitchat from its India App Store following a demand from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Developed by Jack Dorsey, Bitchat faced scrutiny under Section 69(A) of the IT Act, 2000, due to concerns about its potential misuse by anti-national elements and for evading lawful surveillance, especially during public disorder. This marks the second time the app has faced government action in India.
A girl was allegedly molested in public in Darbhanga, Bihar, by two motorcycle-borne individuals. Police apprehended both accused, including a minor, within five hours. The incident has drawn political comparisons to a similar case in Jamui, leading to a blame game between the RJD and Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.
The Union health ministry has deployed a National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) to Gujarat and Rajasthan to strengthen the response to the ongoing Chandipura Virus Disease (CHPV) outbreak.
Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and other members for allegedly trespassing into the Jantar Mantar area, which was recently denotified as a protest site. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has condemned the detentions as 'kidnapping' and questioned the legality of preventing lawyers from meeting the detained members.
Large office leases in Mumbai and Delhi-NCR are commanding premium rentals in key micro-locations, driven by a scarcity of quality Grade-A space and sustained occupier demand, according to real estate consultants.
Researchers have developed a new atomic clock using the element lutetium, which they claim is the most stable and accurate in the world. This clock can measure a trillionth of a second precisely and is highly resilient to environmental changes like temperature and magnetic fields, making it a significant advancement in timekeeping technology.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has stated that the recent suspension of eight IT firms, including itself, from a US green card programme will not impact its workforce strategy or customer engagements, citing its low number of applications and focus on local hiring.
The Sports Authority of India's National Centre of Excellence in Guwahati is hosting the Nepal boxing team for a high-performance training camp. This camp, running until September 15, provides Nepalese athletes access to India's elite sporting facilities and coaching ahead of the Asian Games, fostering stronger ties between the two nations.
Hanuman Ansh has made a spectacular entry into the Rs 200 Crore Club, with Mirzapur also set to achieve the same milestone.
Indian rowers Satnam Singh and Salman Khan have made history by securing the nation's first-ever men's double sculls medal at the Asian Games, finishing third.
Canadian author Anne Carson has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature for her "bold and inventive oeuvre" that blends classical tradition with contemporary forms. The Swedish Academy highlighted her distinctive work spanning poetry, translation, and literary scholarship, noting her unique approach to language and ancient texts. Carson's career is marked by her ability to create new literary forms by placing classical authors alongside modern writers and transforming mythological figures into contemporary narratives.
Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara announced that over 200 taluks are likely to be declared drought-affected after phased assessments. The state has convened a special legislative session to discuss the crisis, farmer assistance, and seek significant financial relief and loan waivers from the Union government, while also alleging a "step-motherly attitude" from the Centre regarding fund releases.
Kumkum Mohod, a 17-year-old archer from Amravati, has achieved significant success at the Asian Games, securing a gold and a silver medal. Her father and coach highlight her journey from a bamboo bow to international competitions, overcoming financial challenges, and her ultimate dream of representing India at the Olympics. Her performance, particularly against South Korea, has brought pride to her family, hometown, and the nation.
Nana Patekar's anger and intensity were as real in life as they were in his performances. He was as brutally honest as the characters he portrayed.
An IIT Madras study reveals that financial cybercrime victims in India are often highly educated professionals, challenging the notion that only careless or financially unaware individuals are targeted. The research highlights that digital literacy doesn't guarantee protection, as fraudsters exploit stress and emotional vulnerabilities.
The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at 15 locations connected to former West Bengal minister Indranil Sen and others, probing alleged financial irregularities in Durga Puja preview shows organised by massArt, an organisation headed by Sen's wife. The investigation under PMLA focuses on the alleged collection and diversion of Rs 50-60 crore and potential links to a private art gallery.
A Sikh truck driver was brutally stabbed multiple times in a Wyoming rest area, an incident occurring amidst a reported rise in anti-South Asian rhetoric in the US. The attacker has been arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder.
Mumbai captain Siddhesh Lad has stated that he respects the selectors' decision to exclude Suryakumar Yadav from the Ranji Trophy season opener, emphasising that players who have prepared well will always be considered.
Salman Khan, a 28-year-old farmer's son from Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, has won a historic bronze medal in men's double sculls rowing at the Asian Games in Nagoya. This marks India's first-ever podium finish in this event, bringing pride to his hometown and inspiring young athletes.
A Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the Centre's decision to impose a 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI person-to-merchant transactions exceeding Rs 2,000. The plea argues that the levy was introduced without adequate statutory safeguards, transparency, or public consultation, and questions its constitutional validity and potential adverse effects on merchants and consumers.
A Bain & Company report projects the global AI market must reach nearly USD 6 trillion annually by 2031 to sustain massive infrastructure investments. This growth will largely depend on new innovations beyond productivity gains, with a significant gap needing to be filled by emerging revenue streams like autonomous vehicles, physical AI, and new AI-driven products. The report also highlights the surge in hardware and semiconductor industries due to AI compute demand and the importance of AI absorption for Indian companies.
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has pledged support for promoting sporting talent and improving infrastructure in Mizoram, particularly for boxers. This assurance came during a meeting with BJP youth wing leaders who highlighted the state's sporting potential and the need for modern facilities, including a boxing hall, especially with India's 2036 Olympic bid in mind.
The Centre has appointed two directors and a joint director to the National Testing Agency (NTA) amidst ongoing reforms and scrutiny over issues like the NEET paper leak. These appointments are part of a broader overhaul of the NTA's examination system.
HCLTech, India's third-largest IT services company, announced plans to establish a global technology centre and an AI-optimised data centre in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, with a total investment of approximately Rs 15,000 crore, marking its entry into the AI infrastructure business.
The Supreme Court has strongly criticised the exorbitant markup on cancer drugs by hospitals, calling it "carnage" and "broad daylight dacoity." The court highlighted a case where a cancer drug was marked up ten times its retail price and urged the Centre to implement a uniform 16% margin on all medicines. It also raised concerns about hospitals forcing patients to buy medicines from their in-house chemists.
China's communist party has expelled two senior military officials, including General Zhang Youxia, the highest-ranking People's Liberation Army officer, for serious discipline and law violations.
