Suryakumar Yadav worships at Mumbai's iconic Lalbaugcha Raja.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced a series of significant educational reforms, including a proposed ban on face coverings like burqas and niqabs in schools, a legal cap on the number of foreign students per classroom, and a requirement for parents of foreign students with integration issues to learn Italian. Meloni stated these measures aim to ensure immigrants learn Italian language and culture, and respect national rules, emphasising gender equality as non-negotiable. Additionally, she revealed plans to scrap the multiple-choice entrance test for medical school admissions.
The 20th Asian Games have officially commenced in Nagoya with a high-tech opening ceremony. India's 501-member contingent is led by flag bearers Manu Bhaker and Pawan Sehrawat, with some events already underway, including India's women's cricket team reaching the semifinals and a teqball bronze medal opportunity.
Tata Trusts, the majority shareholder of Tata Sons, has stated its firm opposition to the holding company's public listing, revealing that the Tata Sons board will meet again to explore all available alternatives to listing.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has delivered LCA Tejas FOC twin-seater trainers and HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force, and Dhruv next-generation helicopters to Pawan Hans. This significant handover, witnessed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, marks a crucial step in India's journey towards self-reliance in the aerospace sector, showcasing HAL's capabilities across military, civil rotary-wing, and pilot training aviation.
State-run defence major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has delivered LCA Tejas Final Operational Clearance twin-seater trainers and HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force, along with Dhruv next-generation helicopters to Pawan Hans. This significant handover, witnessed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, marks a crucial step in India's journey towards self-reliance in the aerospace sector, showcasing HAL's diverse capabilities in military, civil, and training aviation.
The 20th Asian Games have officially commenced in Nagoya with a high-tech Opening Ceremony. India's 503-member contingent is being led by Manu Bhaker and Pawan Sehrawat. Early events have seen India's women's cricket team reach the semifinals and a medal opportunity in debutant sport teqball, building on India's record performance at the previous Games.
Congress's Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan has been sent to judicial custody until October 3 on charges dating back 19 years, effectively ending his campaign for the October 6 by-election.
Oxford United withdrew its "United 93" clothing line and apologised after recognising its association with the 9/11 hijacked flight, accepting responsibility and promising stricter merchandise approval processes.
The CBI has registered a case against USA-based Christian missionary group The Timothy Initiative (TTI) and its associates for allegedly misusing Rs 92.55 crore in foreign funds for missionary activities, violating the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. The case, based on a Union Home Ministry complaint and ED investigation, highlights the alleged use of foreign debit cards and attempts to conceal identities.
The Indian women's table tennis team achieved a remarkable 3-2 comeback victory against Singapore in their Group F match at the Asian Games. After trailing 1-2, Sreeja Akula and Yashaswini Ghorpade secured crucial wins to clinch the tie. Both the men's and women's teams also started their campaigns with dominant 3-0 wins over Indonesia.
Satish Salian, father of the late celebrity manager Disha Salian, has served a Rs 500-crore defamation notice to Aaditya Thackeray.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met World Aquatics president Husain Al-Musallam to discuss strengthening cooperation, developing aquatic sports in India, and exploring India's readiness to host Asian-level championships. India is also targeting to host the 2038 Asian Games and 2036 Olympics.
The state-run Pakistan Sports Board is only funding a fraction of the country's 248-member Asian Games contingent, with many athletes and officials relying on federations, the POA, or self-financing. The Pakistan Olympic Association secretary, Khalid Mahmood, confirmed that self-funded medal winners would be compensated and highlighted Pakistan's medal hopes across various disciplines.
Property insurance premium rates are increasing by 25-30 per cent, primarily due to a reduction in discounts, following substantial claims from natural calamities like the Gujarat floods, which caused an estimated 5,000 crore in losses.
Former Pakistan captain Muhammad Rizwan has contacted the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit for clarification on procedures related to corruption investigations, as he faces questioning by Pakistan's National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) over alleged links to illegal betting and gambling sites. This development follows the confiscation and forensic examination of his mobile phone, alongside Imam-ul-Haq's, during a recent tour, highlighting concerns about the PCB's compliance with ICC anti-corruption protocols and Pakistan cricket's history with such scandals.
Delhi Police arrested Sanju Mishra alias Tuntun Mishra from Ranchi, Jharkhand, in connection with a financial cheating case. Mishra, who runs a power tools business, is accused of fraud involving his business partner, Anup Garg. An FIR was registered in Delhi, and his bail plea was rejected by the Delhi High Court. Police are investigating his bank accounts and the fraud's modus operandi.
Indonesian hockey players, particularly Ferdian Fathur Rahman and Firdaus Muhammad, are deeply inspired by the Bollywood film "Chak De! India" as they prepare to face India at the Asian Games.
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 Kerala High Court has affirmed the conviction and life imprisonment of a former state government employee found guilty of raping a 14-year-old schoolgirl over 45 days in 2009. The court dismissed the accused's appeal, stating the victim's testimony was "sterling quality" and corroborated by medical evidence, rejecting claims of false implication.
Customs officials in Palakkad seized over 51 kg of ganja, valued at Rs 25.88 lakh, from unattended backpacks at Palakkad Junction railway station. The seizure, made on September 17, followed intelligence about narcotic movement via trains. An investigation is underway to identify those responsible for abandoning the drugs.
Mamata Banerjee's faction of the Trinamool Congress announced support for the Congress candidate in the Nandigram assembly bypoll after its own candidate withdrew. This decision comes amidst a bitter dispute with the Election Commission over the freezing of TMC's traditional symbol and name, which Banerjee termed "arbitrary" and accused the BJP of trying to destroy opposition parties.
The Indian men's chess team, seeded second, is set to face sixth-seeded Holland in the fifth round of the 46th Chess Olympiad after a mixed start. While players like D Gukesh and Nihal Sareen have performed well, top board players R Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi are looking to find their form. The Indian women's team, with a perfect score, will play Poland, with B Savitha Shri being a standout performer.
BJD MP Santrupt Misra has voiced strong concerns over the Centre's decision to impose a 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, arguing that the government or large financial institutions could easily absorb the costs of maintaining the digital payment network instead of burdening merchants and consumers.
The BRICS New Delhi Declaration condemned the April 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, advocating for zero tolerance towards state-sponsored cross-border terrorism. The declaration also addressed global terror, illegal financial flows, cyber fraud, and emphasised accountability for those involved in terror activities.
Fintech company BharatPe has expressed strong support for the government's new Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework for UPI merchant transactions, which introduces a 0.4% fee on transfers exceeding Rs 2,000. The company explicitly distanced itself from critical remarks made by its former co-founder Ashneer Grover, clarifying that his views do not represent BharatPe's stance. BharatPe CEO Nalin Negi highlighted that the framework aims to strengthen digital payment economics, protect consumers and small merchants, and expand adoption in underserved markets, with most transactions remaining unaffected.
A woman in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, has accused her husband of biting off her nose during an argument, with her in-laws allegedly assisting. Police have detained the husband. The incident occurred after the woman, who had reportedly left her husband previously, returned unexpectedly. The husband's family, however, presents a conflicting account, alleging the woman attacked her husband and injured herself. Police are investigating both sides of the story.
A Delhi court has granted default bail to US national Matthew Aaron Van Dyke, who was arrested in connection with an NIA case involving a drone warfare training camp linked to ethnic armed groups in Myanmar. The bail was granted on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh, with conditions to remain in Delhi and cooperate with the investigation. The NIA's chargesheet did not invoke UAPA provisions, instead citing the Immigration and Foreigners Act, leading to the default bail.
A bar owner in Pune's Shirur tehsil, Harish Dadabhau Gangawane, was shot dead following an escalation of a six-month-old dispute over a bill payment. Three individuals, Rohit Ravindra Sonawane, Aniket Vilas Gavhane, and Aditya Pawar, have been booked in connection with the murder. The incident occurred after a heated argument and a subsequent attack on Gangawane.
India has stated its commitment to protecting its economic interests and ensuring energy security after the US House of Representatives passed a bill allowing the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries, including India and China, for purchasing Russian crude oil. The Ministry of External Affairs affirmed India's resolve to maintain diversified energy sourcing and has articulated its concerns to US interlocutors regarding the bill's potential implications.
Indian and US Army personnel conducted a live-firing demonstration involving the M777 Ultra Light Howitzer at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan as part of the ongoing bilateral Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026, showcasing artillery capabilities, operational coordination and exchange of battlefield practices between the two forces.
The flag-hoisting ceremony for the Asian Games, involving India and five other contingents, was significantly delayed due to "miscommunication" between the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the local organising committee (ANAGOC). The disruption, which lasted over an hour, initially caused confusion and speculation about political issues, but organisers later clarified it was a communication breakdown, adding to existing organisational challenges for the event.
Indian chess teams, both open and women's, secured victories in the second round of the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, maintaining their top positions with four match points. While the open team faced some challenges, including draws for D Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa, Nihal Sarin's win was crucial. The women's team achieved a more dominant performance with wins from Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, and B Savitha Shri.
Marnus Labuschagne remains confident he is Australia's best No. 3 Test option, despite facing criticism for a prolonged century drought and a recent average of 25.43 since the 2023 Ashes.
Mohun Bagan secured their 31st Calcutta Football League Premier Division title, their first since 2018, with a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Mohammedan Sporting despite being down to 10 men. Sahal Abdul Samad scored a brace, and Sayan Banerjee netted the winner, ending an eight-year title drought for the Mariners.
Pakistan boycotted its Chess Olympiad opening round match against Israel in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to express solidarity with Palestine, resulting in a 4-0 walkover for Israel.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rebounded on Wednesday, driven by value buying in banking stocks and select heavyweight counters, with the Sensex climbing 332.63 points and the Nifty ending above 23,200.
The CPI and CPI(M) have announced they will contest one Assembly segment each in the upcoming Tamil Nadu bypolls, while continuing their outside support for the ruling TVK. This decision creates a five-cornered contest and highlights the Left parties' independent stance, aimed at preventing indirect BJP influence and addressing public issues.
A 31-year-old woman in Kolkata has been arrested for allegedly extorting money by threatening individuals with false rape and sexual harassment charges. Police state she filed 11 false cases against at least 14 people, often introducing herself as a model. Her modus operandi involved implicating victims, including a dentist and even her own father, in fabricated cases to demand money.
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.
