Prime Minister Narendra Modi met India's Asian Games medal-winners, including the gold-winning cricket teams, on Thursday. He praised their achievements, highlighting India's growing strength in sports and its ambition to become a credible host for major international events, including a bid for the 2036 Olympics. Modi also emphasised the government's support for athletes and urged medallists to mentor the next generation.
US states, including Delaware, New York, and New Jersey, are issuing proclamations to commemorate August 15 as 'India Day', recognising India's independence and the significant contributions of the Indian American diaspora to the American fabric.
The US announced a 60-day pause on sanctions against Russia and tariffs on other countries, including India, to analyse the global economic impact. This decision, made via an executive order by Trump, has drawn significant criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, who had previously passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. US officials stated the waiver allows for assessment of global energy pressures and European allies' refusal to impose secondary sanctions on Russian oil buyers.
India is set to host New Zealand's U-20 rugby teams for a historic series starting October 23 in Rajgir. This event celebrates a century of sporting ties and marks the first time New Zealand's U-20 rugby teams have visited India for such a series. The series will include joint training sessions and cultural exchanges.
Hockey India has announced free entry for fans to all matches of the men's Asian Champions Trophy, scheduled from October 27 to November 5 in Jalandhar and Mohali. This initiative aims to attract more spectators and promote the sport.
A British Conservative Party MP, Bob Blackman, has tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons to reaffirm India's sovereignty and territorial integrity over Jammu and Kashmir. The motion, timed for Jammu and Kashmir Accession Day, also expresses concern over terror incidents and targeted killings in the region and calls for constructive dialogue.
Nitish Kumar Reddy's crucial late burst with the bat and an important wicket with the ball helped India secure a thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand, moving them 2-0 ahead in the five-match T20I series and strengthening his credentials as a pace-bowling all-rounder.
Australian umpire Ben Treloar will officiate in two Ranji Trophy matches in India, while India's Parashar Joshi will travel to Australia to stand in two Sheffield Shield matches and one One Day Cup fixture as part of an exchange programme between Cricket Australia and the BCCI.
The advisory, issued on Wednesday, urges Indian nationals to avoid large gatherings and crowded places where protests are occurring and to follow local authorities' instructions.
Marco Rubio will visit Mumbai and Jamnagar to discuss energy cooperation as S Jaishankar says India-US trade talks are nearing a landing point, with a few issues unresolved.
Indian pacer Renuka Singh Thakur has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match women's ODI series against Zimbabwe due to fitness concerns, with uncapped Jintimani Kalita named as her replacement. Renuka is currently focusing on building bowling volume at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
US President Donald Trump has issued a waiver from sanctions under the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, citing national interest. This move comes after a deal with Russia for diesel supply and ahead of a US official's visit to India, where concerns about the act's impact on India's oil imports were raised.
Seven players from the Kabaddi Champions League, including Naveen Goyat and Surjeet Narwal, have been selected for the Indian men's squad participating in the Commonwealth Championship in Ahmedabad from October 23 to October 31, highlighting the league's role in national team development.
Indian Greco-Roman wrestler Lalit failed to secure a bronze medal at the World Championships in Astana, losing by technical superiority to Kazakhstan's Iskhar Kurbayev. Three other Indian wrestlers, including Asian Games silver medallist Nitesh Siwach, also exited early from the competition.
India has strongly asserted that human rights should not be weaponised for political pressure or selective targeting of nations, pushing back against attempts to negatively characterise the world's largest democracy based on unverified allegations and incomplete statistics.
The objective should be clear: Energy security without abandoning environmental responsibility; water security without ignoring local concerns; and strategic resilience without sacrificing public confidence, notes Varun Arya.
The real victory in New Zealand is not about winning every match but returning from it knowing exactly what kind of team India should have for the future, points out K R Nayar.
Aditya has become the first Indian male boxer to secure a medal at the World Boxing U-19 Championships by reaching the semifinals in the men's 55kg category. He defeated Italy's Tommaso Orlando and will now face Nihat Gasimov of Azerbaijan. Two Indian women boxers, Megha Sheokand and Prachi Tokas, have also reached the semifinals.
Amitabh Kant, former NITI Aayog CEO, and PGTI CEO Amandeep Johl express strong confidence in India's potential to become a global golf powerhouse within the next decade. Kant specifically predicts a woman golfer will achieve a breakthrough moment for the country. They highlight India's demographic advantage, rising youth participation, and the need for university-level talent development and private investment in infrastructure to achieve this goal.
India has strongly rejected a report by a UN human rights expert, Gina Romero, which claimed that young people in India face retaliation or stigmatisation for discussing mental health or gender justice. India's First Secretary Anuj Swarup labelled the report as "hearsay" based on "anonymous and unverified claims," asserting that it does a disservice to the expert's mandate. Swarup highlighted India's constitutional freedoms, independent judiciary, and government's proactive engagement with youth, citing examples like the amendment to the Public Examinations Act and the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue.
IBM India and South Asia MD Sandip Patel stated that India is at a defining moment with a unique opportunity to shape exponential technologies like artificial intelligence, emphasizing that "when India builds, it builds for billions," leading to scalable impact. Speaking at the IBM Think 2026 event, Patel highlighted that the AI revolution is still in its early stages, requiring enterprises to redesign their operations around agents, real-time data, automation, hybrid architecture, and trust. He also introduced the concept of "digital swaraj" or sovereignty in the Indian context, stressing the importance of control over operating environments, data, technology, and AI execution. IBM also announced an MoU with MeitY Startup Hub to accelerate India's deep tech innovation and startup ecosystem, providing startups access to IBM's technology expertise and platforms like watsonx and Sovereign Core.
Global smart logistics provider DP World has confirmed its title sponsorship of the DP World India Championship will continue until 2035. This extension, part of a larger partnership, highlights India's growing importance in elite golf and as a strategic market for DP World, aiming to foster the next generation of Indian golfers.
The Union Home Ministry's High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes has requested states and Union Territories to provide detailed data on "visible changes" in religious demography over the last 15 years. This includes information on birth registrations, religious structures, vehicle registrations, property transfers in tribal areas, and educational institutions, aiming to assess demographic shifts and recommend policy measures.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Secretary Chanchal Kumar outlined the critical factors for the media and entertainment sector's next growth phase, including robust intellectual property, sustainable revenue models, and disciplined investments. Speaking at the CII Big Picture Summit, he emphasised the government's role in fostering an environment for creative enterprises and addressing challenges posed by digital platforms and AI. The CII White Paper also projected a USD 100 billion Indian M&E sector, advocating for stronger IP and regulatory reforms.
Schaeffler India CEO Harsha Kadam has been arrested in connection with a fatal gas leak at the company's Pune facility in June, which resulted in the deaths of two workers. Kadam is the eighth person arrested in the case, facing charges including culpable homicide. The incident occurred during unauthorised maintenance work on a CO2 fire suppression system.
India opener Sanju Samson discussed the team's strategy of "killing games in the powerplay" after his explosive 67-run knock led India to a record-breaking T20I chase against New Zealand. He highlighted the team's consistent aggressive approach, especially after their 2024 T20 World Cup victory.
India contributes 31.24 per cent of the global coconut output and 17.90 per cent of the worldwide cultivation area.
Indian javelin thrower Sukhchain secured a bronze medal in the men's F55 event at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya. His throw of 29.94m placed him behind China's Zhou Feifei, who set a new world record, and Iran's Zaker Zafar.
India's track and field contingent delivered a stellar performance at the Asian Para Games, securing 22 medals, including five gold, and propelling the nation to fifth in the overall standings. Sprinter Simran, high-jumper Praveen Kumar, and shot-putter Sachin Khilari notably set new Games records, contributing significantly to India's medal tally across various para-sports.
Asian Games medallists Aman Sehrawat and Antim Panghal have withdrawn from the World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. Sujeet Kalkal, an Asian Games gold medallist, will lead the Indian contingent. The article also details the full Indian squads across men's freestyle, women's freestyle, and Greco-Roman categories, alongside a controversy regarding a selection bout.
China has announced new export controls on key machinery, including tunnel boring machines, walking excavators, and dredger components, citing national security. These restrictions, effective November 18, could significantly impact India's infrastructure projects, such as metro systems and high-speed rail lines, as China has previously limited such exports to India.
Cortex DC, a company of The Chatterjee Group (TCG), announced its entry into the data centre market with plans to develop 2 GW of AI-ready capacity across India over the next seven years. The initiative aims to meet the growing demand for high-performance computing, targeting hyperscalers, cloud service providers, and advanced AI workloads with a focus on speed, scale, and sustainable power.
A century on, India has adopted the Left's welfare ideas, but not the Left. Why do people borrow the promises, then vote for the temple? questions Binu Alex.
Apple's highly anticipated and most expensive foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, has completely sold out its first week's stock in India through pre-bookings, ahead of its official sale date of October 23. This strong demand, particularly at Apple Stores in Mumbai and New Delhi, signals a significant entry into the premium foldable market.
India's Sandeep won a gold medal in the men's 400m T64 final at the Asian Para Games, setting a new world record. Compatriot Ajay Kumar secured a bronze in the same event. Additionally, Nimisha Chakkungalparambil and Parmod Bijarnia each claimed silver medals in women's long jump T47 and men's 1500m T46, respectively, contributing to India's strong performance.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will host US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Mumbai on October 20 for talks aimed at strengthening the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Discussions will cover energy, trade, defence, and critical technologies. The visit also includes celebrations for the 250th anniversary of US Independence. This meeting follows earlier confusion regarding Rubio's visit and will also touch upon the India-US bilateral trade agreement, which both sides are close to concluding. The MEA clarified that hosting foreign dignitaries outside Delhi is a common practice.
India's Asian Para Games campaign saw a remarkable performance, particularly in athletics, securing five gold medals on Tuesday. Nishad Kumar and Deepthi Jeevanji were standout performers, both setting new Games records and clinching multiple golds. The nation's overall medal tally reached 35 by the end of day two, with significant contributions from shooting, powerlifting, swimming, table tennis, archery, and badminton, promising further success.
India's Praveen Kumar clinched a bronze medal in the men's shot put F11 event at the Asian Para Games with a personal-best throw of 13.86 metres. Iranian athletes Amirhossein Alipour and Mahdi Olad secured gold and silver respectively. The F11 category is for athletes with significant visual impairment.
A new Rs 6,000 crore integrated phenol and acetone plant, India's largest, has been inaugurated in Haldia, West Bengal. Developed by Adperma Private Limited, a subsidiary of Haldia Petrochemicals Limited (HPL), the facility aims to reduce India's reliance on imported industrial chemicals and boost the domestic specialty chemicals sector. West Bengal's Chief Minister announced a new industrial policy following the inauguration.
India's men's blind football team suffered a significant 1-6 defeat against hosts Japan at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya on Saturday. Despite a 1-1 score at half-time, India's defence collapsed in the second half, leading to their second consecutive loss in the tournament.
