The NCP (SP) has demanded a complete rollback of the 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, effective October 15. The party termed the move a "direct assault" on small traders and shopkeepers, accusing the Modi government of "double standards" by burdening small merchants while large industrialists benefit from loan write-offs.
Former chief selector Ajit Agarkar's departure from the BCCI was primarily driven by disagreements over Rohit Sharma's future in white-ball cricket and policy differences with Centre of Excellence head VVS Laxman, culminating in his absence from a crucial review meeting.
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has dismissed concerns about organisational chaos at the Asian Games, attributing criticisms to attempts to "politicise" the event. Despite widespread issues like accommodation scarcity, lengthy check-ins, and athlete complaints, OCA officials insist challenges are normal and are being handled effectively. They also addressed a diplomatic complaint from South Korea regarding a historical figure at a welcome ceremony and defended cost-saving measures like container-style accommodation.
Japan inaugurated the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya with a vibrant opening ceremony that seamlessly blended advanced technology and rich cultural traditions, despite earlier organisational challenges.
The Indian men's and women's hockey teams are set to compete at the Asian Games in Kakamigahara, Japan, with the primary goal of winning gold to secure direct qualification for the Paris Olympics. The men's team aims to defend its title and overcome recent World Cup disappointment, while the women's team, buoyed by a strong World Cup performance, seeks only its second Asian Games gold. Both teams face tough competition, with the men needing to prove their dominance against regional rivals and the women confronting a strong Chinese side.
Lust Stories 3 continues its tradition of offering attractively-wrapped pieces of provocation in a box. Only this time, it doesn't dwell too deep into the emotions of sex and enjoys it for what it is, discovers Sukanya Verma.
Alexander Isak scored the only goal, securing a 1-0 Premier League victory for Liverpool against AFC Bournemouth. Despite the win, Liverpool's attack, featuring Gakpo, Wirtz, and Barcola, struggled to create chances, managing only six shots on goal. Captain Virgil van Dijk acknowledged the team's need to improve but highlighted the importance of the three points and a clean sheet.
The Indian women's hockey team secured a dominant 17-1 victory over Indonesia in their second Pool B match at the Asian Games.
Suchika Tariyal secured India's first-ever medal in mixed martial arts at the Asian Games, winning a bronze in the women's traditional 60kg event.
Warren Buffett has stepped down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, a role he held for over 50 years, transitioning to chairman emeritus while his son, Howard Buffett, takes over as the new chairman.
This year's Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort uniquely featured the national song 'Vande Mataram', marking 150 years of its profound legacy and historical significance in India's freedom struggle.
'Modi had his own cricket team in his school days. He was a good cricketer.'
A CNN reporter was denied entry to the White House and had her press pass seized on Saturday (local time), as the Trump administration began enforcing President Donald Trump's announced ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House premises.
Suchika Tariyal has made history by becoming India's first Asian Games medal winner in Mixed Martial Arts, securing a bronze in the women's traditional 60kg event. The 36-year-old fighter, who hails from Haryana, expressed immense joy and dedicated her medal to her family, acknowledging the financial struggles and personal sacrifices made throughout her career. Despite initially considering retirement, her performance has inspired her to continue her professional fighting journey.
The Indian women's hockey team secured its second consecutive Pool B victory at the Asian Games, defeating Indonesia 17-1. Deepika Sehrawat, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, and Navneet Kaur each scored a hat-trick, contributing to the dominant performance. Coach Sjoerd Marijne expressed satisfaction but highlighted the upcoming match against Japan as the real challenge for topping the pool and securing direct Olympic qualification.
Shah Rukh Khan offered a rare glimpse into his family's private Ganpati celebrations at Mannat, revealing his wife Gauri Khan performs the aarti, followed by a simple family visarjan.
'You cannot stop these models from getting better. There is competitive and business pressure and if the US stops then maybe China will go ahead.'
Prachiti Nagpurkar, a former chartered accountant, has made history as the first Indian to referee a mixed martial arts (MMA) bout at the Asian Games in Nagoya. She left her lucrative profession to pursue her passion for MMA, where she also owns a gym and trains fighters. Nagpurkar advocates for women in male-dominated sports, expressing pride in her role as a female official in the cage.
Salesforce executives, including South Asia CEO Arundhati Bhattacharya, predict a significant shift in India towards wider enterprise AI adoption, moving from experimentation to production deployments. The company plans to invest in physical infrastructure and talent upskilling in India. Salesforce's vision for the "agentic enterprise" involves a four-layer architecture, emphasising the need for robust security and governance for autonomous agents. Executives also highlighted the evolving nature of jobs, with AI handling repetitive tasks and creating new specialised roles, positioning India as a potential leader in agentic innovation by 2030.
Ladakh's own Stanzil Dolkar leveraged her mountain running expertise to win the Ladakh Marathon, overcoming an early deficit against Saraswati Rai. Despite facing physical challenges during the race and running in her home region for the first time competitively, Dolkar finished with a time of 3 hours, 32 minutes, and 58 seconds, highlighting the advantage of local acclimatisation.
Dhruv Jurel on Sunday said he was not under any "pressure" despite failing to notch up a fifty in his last seven innings, and thanked head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill for giving him confidence during the lean phase.
'Gurmmeet Singh was extremely sure in his head that the canvas should be bigger. The movie should look big on screen. It should look like the Mirzapur world but at the same time, much bigger.'
A comprehensive schedule outlines the participation of Indian athletes across various disciplines at the Asian Games on September 23, including key events in badminton, boxing, shooting, hockey, and weightlifting, with several athletes vying for qualification and medal rounds.
Trinity Rodman raced 200 miles from Washington to New York after her match to support boyfriend Ben Shelton, arriving just in time to witness his US Open final defeat.
Foreign institutional investors have withdrawn nearly $40 billion from Indian equities in the last two years and, according to Bernstein analysts, have 'little reason' to invest for the long-term, though they may 'return to trade'. The brokerage highlights challenges such as struggling large-caps, disruption from new technologies, and difficulties accessing small- and mid-caps (SMIDs) at an institutional scale.
Indian Olympic Association president P T Usha has voiced strong objections to the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games organisers' decision to forgo a conventional Athletes Village, opting instead for dispersed accommodation including a cruise ship. Usha, a former Asian Games athlete, highlighted the importance of a centralised village for athlete interaction and expressed concerns about logistical challenges and venue distances. She believes the traditional village system will endure despite this experiment and shared her excitement for India's performance and future hosting ambitions.
Manchester United suffered a historic 3-2 home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in the League Cup, despite taking a two-goal lead. This loss marks the first time in nearly 50 years United have lost at home after being two goals up, adding to their recent struggles including a Premier League loss to Manchester City and a poor start to the season.
UST, a California-based technology company, highlights India's unique opportunity to build an AI-native semiconductor ecosystem, bypassing older models. Speaking at SEMICON India 2026, UST COO Gilroy Mathew emphasised India's advantage in investing in infrastructure and talent at the right time, enabling it to create AI-native manufacturing and supply chains for future competitiveness.
Juventus secured a 2-0 victory over Atalanta, while AC Milan dominated Lecce with a 3-0 win in recent Serie A matches. Napoli, however, were held to a 1-1 draw by Fiorentina.
Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra announced plans to significantly scale up the company's chip assembly and testing facility in India, moving from "vision to execution" in the nation's semiconductor ambitions. He highlighted the success of the Sanand, Gujarat plant, which is already producing "Made in India" memory chips, and the company's substantial engineering contributions from its Indian centres. Mehrotra also emphasised the critical role of memory chips in the AI era, driving Micron's growth.
Hardik Pandya's return to cricket is contingent on him proving full fitness, specifically bowling his complete quota of 10 overs for India A, as selectors eye his potential role in the 2027 ODI World Cup amidst persistent injury concerns.
Disquiet has emerged within India's rowing camp at the Asian Games as some players claim they have been moved from their original events, with reserves taking their places. This has caused significant distress among the affected athletes just as competitions are set to begin.
Sri Lankan javelin thrower Rumesh Pathirage faces a significant setback for the upcoming Asian Games after five of his "winning" javelins were damaged during air travel from Budapest. Pathirage, a favourite for gold, had used these specific javelins for his record-breaking throws and recent victories, including beating Neeraj Chopra.
'They felt familiar and real. At the same time, people wanted to share this experience with their loved ones.'
Leg-spin all-rounder Vipraj Nigam has been named as the replacement for senior spinner Varun Chakravarthy in India's Asian Games cricket squad. Chakravarthy was ruled out due to a side strain, marking a setback after his recent return from injury. Nigam, a Delhi Capitals player, brings IPL experience to the team.
Rishi Panchami Bhaji, also known as Rushichi Bhaji, is a traditional Maharashtrian and Konkan festive preparation made during Rishi Panchami, observed on the second day of Ganesh Chaturthi. The dish brings together seasonal vegetables, leafy greens and tubers, reflecting the simplicity and abundance of traditional cooking.
Abhishek Sharma smashed a record-breaking 30-ball century, the fastest by a full member in T20Is, leading India to a massive 127-run victory over Afghanistan. Sharma's explosive innings and his comments on India's batting philosophy highlight the team's focus on dominance ahead of the T20 World Cup, despite recent setbacks. Captains Shreyas Iyer and Ibrahim Zadran also shared their perspectives on the match and team development.
Former Australia captain Steve Smith has revealed he felt 'thrown to the wolves' following the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, admitting he still experiences flashbacks to the media frenzy upon his return home.
Indian air rifle shooter Elavenil Valarivan secured a silver medal at the Asian Games, despite initially leading the final. She expressed contentment with the result, viewing it as a crucial learning experience focused on process over outcome. This marks her third consecutive individual silver at major Asian competitions, and she also contributed to India's team silver. The medal holds personal significance as her first at the Asian Games, achieved after eight years, and she credits her coach's guidance.
Thailand women's team batter Natthakan Chantham is attempting to incorporate Suryakumar Yadav's unique 'Supla shot' into her T20 game, despite initial difficulties, and also admires India's Shubman Gill for his effortless batting.
