The INDIA bloc is escalating its protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, planning further actions and seeking an urgent meeting with President Droupadi Murmu.
'We are ready to help Prime Minister Modi achieve his vision of 100 per cent connectivity throughout India -- a vision all of our company, including Elon, shares,' Lauren Dreyer, vice-president of Starlink business operations at SpaceX, said at the pre-business day of the India Mobile Congress in New Delhi.
Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has dismissed criticism against blending 20 per cent ethanol in petrol fuel as a 'paid campaign'. He highlighted that millions of vehicles are already running on E19-20 blends without widespread issues. Gadkari also addressed concerns about highway quality, promising improvements within two years and detailing plans for monitoring and penalising contractors. He further elaborated on the economic impact of infrastructure development and the expansion of India's highway network.
IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the Indian government will release a consultation paper on AI regulations within a month. This framework will address critical aspects like AI safety, deepfakes, and a human-first approach, emphasising the industry's primary responsibility in ensuring safe AI deployment. The move comes amidst growing global concerns over AI risks and the need for robust safeguards.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, stated that Starlink's services in India must be affordable for widespread adoption and that competition would benefit consumers, despite potentially reducing Reliance Jio's profits. He criticised Reliance Jio as a 'de facto monopoly' in India, alleging that certain business conglomerates were blocking Starlink's entry.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has upgraded the International Cricket Council (ICC) to Tier 1 under its prioritisation policy, primarily due to cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Meanwhile, India continues to be placed in the top tier of signatories, facing the strictest scrutiny in WADA's Compliance Monitoring Program.
India's foreign exchange reserves have surged by $12.42 billion, reaching a new all-time high of $729.33 billion for the week ended August 21, driven by increases in foreign currency assets and gold reserves.
India's Asian Games campaign looked bleak in Nagoya. A slow medal start saw the country slip to around 12th, before a late surge took India back to fourth with 85 medals.
Pranav Adani's visit to the Singapore Grand Prix has intensified speculation about Formula 1's return to India. The Adani Group, which owns the Buddh International Circuit, is actively pursuing the revival of the Indian Grand Prix, with support from the Indian government. However, significant financial and logistical challenges, including tax clarity and substantial upgrade costs, must be overcome amidst increasing global competition for hosting races.
India's foreign exchange reserves experienced a substantial drop of USD 18.343 billion, settling at USD 747.557 billion for the week ending September 25, according to the Reserve Bank of India.
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer wants Mohammed Shami back in India's ODI team, backing a Bumrah-Shami-Siraj pace attack ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
Cathy Li, Head of the Centre for AI Excellence at the World Economic Forum, advocates for integrating AI literacy into India's education curriculum and incentivising AI companies to prioritise child safety. She stresses the need for localised solutions that account for India's linguistic and cultural diversity, as well as varying levels of connectivity and digital literacy, to ensure AI systems are safe and beneficial for children.
Indian hockey defender Jarmanpreet Singh has dismissed reports of his impending retirement, stating his strong desire to continue playing and target the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Despite Hockey India's reported plan to phase out senior players after the Asian Champions Trophy, Jarmanpreet, a key member of medal-winning teams, remains focused on contributing to the team's success, a sentiment echoed by captain Harmanpreet Singh who called the reports "rumours".
Alpine managing director Steve Nielsen, a veteran of Formula 1 since 1985, shares insights into his four-decade career, the sport's evolution from a niche interest to a global powerhouse, and the roles of Bernie Ecclestone and Liberty Media in its growth. He also discusses the potential return of the Indian Grand Prix, highlighting India's significant F1 fanbase.
Union minister Chirag Paswan criticised the Opposition for playing politics with protests against the Election Commission, particularly regarding the Cockroach Janata Party's planned demonstrations and the resulting train cancellations. He asserted that such disruptions cannot deter India's youth and urged the Opposition to seek solutions rather than merely protesting.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Surya Kant has rejected the INDIA bloc leaders' request for a meeting to submit a representation over alleged electoral irregularities, stating that they should approach the court by filing a petition as the matter is already sub judice.
Uruguay defeated India 6-1 in an international friendly, marking another heavy loss for the Indian team against a two-time world champion. Despite an early equalizer from Anirudh Thapa, Uruguay dominated the second half with goals from Maximiliano Araujo, Rodrigo Zalazar, Juan Manuel Sanabria, and Rodrigo Aguirre, following an initial penalty by Darwin Nunez. This defeat concludes a challenging international window for India, which also included a 0-4 loss to Brazil.
Net office space leasing in India's top eight cities declined by 20 per cent in the January-September period to 36.7 million sq ft, primarily due to limited fresh supply of quality workspaces and a high base effect from the previous year, according to a report by Cushman & Wakefield. Despite this, gross leasing saw a 1 per cent increase, reaching a record 64.6 million sq ft, indicating strong underlying market activity.
Harmanpreet Kaur, former India captain, has rediscovered her batting form through intense training, including three sessions a day. Her dedication led to an unbeaten 91 in a T20I and a match-winning 126 in an ODI against Zimbabwe, helping India secure a series lead.
Jio Platforms Ltd's Rs 30,213-crore initial public offering (IPO) achieved full subscription within 100 minutes of opening, making it the fastest among India's mega issues, surpassing previous records set by companies like Reliance Power.
India's vice-captain Tilak Varma emphasised the need for an aggressive, wicket-taking approach against the West Indies' powerful batting lineup in the upcoming fourth T20I. With India leading 2-1, Varma highlighted the visitors' deep hitting prowess and the team's adjusted strategy after a defensive lapse in the second match. He also discussed his adaptable batting role and the team's approach to the re-laid pitch in Hyderabad.
'There should have been more transparency in the process which even today we don't know.'
The Bombay High Court has granted interim relief to Bollywood actor and US citizen Imran Khan, keeping a Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) notice in abeyance until November 2. The notice had directed Khan to leave India by October 28, failing which deportation procedures would be initiated. The court deferred the hearing after the Solicitor General sought time, with an assurance that no coercive action would be taken against Khan until the next hearing.
India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is actively courting Sri Lanka's Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a Marxist party with strong Sinhalese nationalist roots, marking a significant shift in bilateral relations despite ideological differences. This engagement, highlighted by a recent high-profile visit by JVP leader Tilvin Silva, aims to foster cooperation on economic projects and address New Delhi's concerns over slow progress in India-aided initiatives in the island nation.
The retail portion of Jio Platforms' initial public offering (IPO) was fully subscribed within two hours on the second day of bidding, with overall subscription reaching 3.47 times by 11:00 am on Thursday.
Indian cricketers, including Suryakumar Yadav and Shardul Thakur, participated in the inaugural MLBx Mumbai 3-on-3 baseball event, teaming up with former MLB stars like Nick Swisher and Jake Arrieta to promote the sport in India.
The second season of the Archery Premier League (APL) is set to begin in Hyderabad on Thursday, featuring Olympic medallists and recent Asian Games stars. The six-team franchise competition will host leading recurve and compound archers from India and abroad, running from October 8 to 18 with a unique faster shooting format.
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.
Shreyas Iyer celebrated India's thrilling T20I victory over New Zealand with an emotional hug for his parents after Sanju Samson and Namn Dhir powered a successful 226-run chase.
The Indian government has ordered the removal of Jack Dorsey's Bitchat app from app stores in India, citing law-and-order concerns. The Bluetooth messaging app, which allows offline communication, was previously scrutinised during protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and has now been pulled from both Apple's App Store and the Play Store following the IT Ministry's directive.
India opener Abhishek Sharma, after scoring a match-winning century against New Zealand in the third T20I, addressed Yuvraj Singh's playful challenge of scoring a half-century in 12 balls. Sharma stated that such feats are "not that easy" and batters focus on winning games rather than chasing individual milestones. He also credited coaching staff and practice for his performance.
The India U17 women's team secured a dominant 2-0 victory over Syria in their second Group E match of the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers. Anushka Kumari scored both goals, bringing her qualifiers tally to seven. This win gives the Young Tigresses six points ahead of their final group encounter against hosts Malaysia on October 11, with only group winners qualifying.
Pune has been confirmed as the host city for the 2032 UCI Road World Championships, a decision that the Cycling Federation of India believes will significantly enhance the country's bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games and change global perceptions of India as a sporting host.
Following the Indian men's hockey team's historic Asian Games gold and direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, Head Coach Craig Fulton revealed plans to 'build a new team afresh' after the Hockey India League, emphasising the need for meticulous planning for the upcoming Games.
The Indian men's hockey team is set to face Malaysia in the Asian Games final, aiming to defend their gold medal and secure a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. After a challenging semifinal win against Pakistan, India will need to tighten their defence against an unbeaten Malaysian side. The match holds significant personal milestones for Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh and veteran Manpreet Singh, with high stakes for both nations.
'If you ask Prime Minister Modi prove you are Indian, as per the Election Commission's criteria, he may not be able to prove that he is an Indian.'
Jio Platforms Ltd's (JPL) public offer, valued at Rs 30,213 crore, was fully subscribed within 100 minutes of opening, making it the fastest-ever subscribed IPO in India, driven by strong institutional demand.
India's men's hockey team secured their fifth Asian Games gold medal, and second consecutive, by defeating Malaysia 5-1. This victory also guarantees them a direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The women's team also achieved gold, marking a double triumph for Indian hockey.
India is set to host five-time world champions Brazil in a historic invitational football friendly in Kolkata. The match, while offering invaluable exposure for the Indian team, has also drawn criticism over its cost and the decision to withdraw from the FIFA ASEAN Cup. The event carries political significance and marks a key step in Brazil's rebuilding process.
India's women's and men's kabaddi teams both secured dominant victories over Nigeria at the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship in Ahmedabad on Monday, advancing to the semifinals. The women's team won 38-10, while the men's team triumphed 50-23, marking their fourth consecutive wins in the tournament. Other matches saw Singapore, Malaysia, and Uganda also register wins.