The Congress party has criticised the government's recent notification regarding UPI transactions, alleging it paves the way for users to be charged fees, particularly for transactions above Rs 2,000. The party claims the government lacks transparency and questions if the move is to benefit American firms. The government, however, states that charges are necessary for the system's sustainability and infrastructure upgrades, with the Finance Minister clarifying that Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) applies to merchants, not customers.
The Allahabad High Court has strongly criticised the Uttar Pradesh government for the alleged misuse of the Goonda Act, stating it appears to be used as a tool of harassment. The court emphasised that the stringent law must be invoked with caution and only in clear cases to maintain public order, while quashing an order that declared a person a "goonda" based on acquitted cases and beat information reports.
A man seeking a second marriage was allegedly duped of Rs 1.6 lakh by a matchmaker and a 'bride' who vanished shortly after their wedding rituals. The groom was sent to buy sweets, and upon his return, found the bride and accomplices had fled. Police have arrested the matchmaker and another accused in connection with the fraud.
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.
Following a disappointing performance against Afghanistan, Sanju Samson's inconsistent form has once again put his place in India's T20I squad under intense scrutiny.
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.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar of Muzaffarnagar has publicly questioned the administrative recall of 97 serious criminal cases from his court. His remarks, made in an acquittal order, highlight concerns about judicial independence and the legality of withdrawing "part-heard" cases without proper procedure, especially after he had delivered 23 death sentences.
Bjorn Fortuin's four-wicket haul sparked Namibia's collapse before Jordan Hermann and Connor Esterhuizen powered South Africa's chase, sealing a commanding nine-wicket win and 3-0 ODI series sweep.
Sanju Samson smashed a quick 57 as India beat Afghanistan by seven wickets to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.
Sanjeev Sonwane, the 65-year-old founder of a prominent educational institute in Latur and nephew of a former Maharashtra minister, allegedly died by suicide by shooting himself, prompting a police investigation.
A quarrel between two student groups during college union election campaigning in northwest Delhi's Bharat Nagar area resulted in two Satyawati College students being injured and two vehicles damaged. Police are investigating the incident, which reportedly involved firing and assault.
Opening batter Abhishek Sharma blasted a record-shattering 30-ball century, powering India to a massive 221-7 and sparking a total bowling collapse that sealed a 127-run series sweep against Afghanistan.
Goan Grandmaster Leon Luke Mendonca won his second straight Global Chess League title as Ganges Grandmasters defeated defending champions Alpine SG Pipers.
Apple's latest flagship smartphones, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, have gone on sale across India, drawing massive queues and creating a 'festival' atmosphere among eager buyers at Apple Stores in Noida, Bengaluru, and Maharashtra.
Delhi Police have arrested Vinod Kumar Bhardwaj, a key accused in a Rs 1.75 crore cheating and forgery case. Bhardwaj allegedly duped a retired Tihar Jail pharmacist by selling him six plots using fake documents. The accused, who carried a Rs 50,000 reward and was a proclaimed offender, was apprehended in Dwarka. Investigations are ongoing to trace his associates and financial transactions.
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.
A 70-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death by his neighbour's family in Kharad village, Muzaffarnagar, while selling vinegar. Police have registered a murder case against five accused who are currently absconding. The incident led to local protests, and security has been heightened in the village.
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.
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.
Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana's explosive partnership propelled India to 183/5 in the Women's T20I Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka. Despite a late slowdown, their record-breaking fifties laid a strong foundation for India's innings.
'It is a blunt and dangerous attempt to pressure India to sign BTA on one-sided terms.'
Independents have secured nearly two-thirds of urban wards in Bharatpur and Deeg districts, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma's home turf, significantly outperforming the BJP and Congress in local body elections. This unexpected surge sets the stage for a political battle as both major parties vie for the support of these Independent councillors to form civic boards.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested seven individuals, including two foreign nationals, for their involvement in an interstate cocaine trafficking network operating between Bengaluru and Kerala. The operation, named 'Domino', led to the seizure of 33.1 grams of cocaine worth Rs 16.55 lakh and uncovered links to individuals previously deported from the UAE for drug offences.
The trophy is supposed to be the full stop to a tournament, not another comma in an India-Pakistan controversy, points out K R Nayar.
A 60-year-old cement trader, Gulzar Singh, was fatally stabbed inside his shop in Tanda by unidentified assailants. His wife discovered his body with multiple stab wounds. Police are investigating, using forensic teams, dog squads, and CCTV footage, but the motive remains unknown.
'An instruction came from somebody in Delhi saying, "don't go with the launch".'
An 18-year-old female student was stabbed and injured in a government college in Barwani, Madhya Pradesh, after she rejected a marriage proposal from a fellow student. The accused, Ganesh Thakur, first attempted to shoot her with a country-made pistol, which misfired, before attacking her with a knife. He has been arrested by the police.
The Congress party has criticised the Modi government over a notification regarding UPI transactions, alleging it paves the way for imposing fees, especially on transactions above Rs 2,000. Rahul Gandhi claimed the government is surrendering to American pressure, while Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted the potential burden on common citizens amidst inflation. The government's notification prohibits charges on UPI transactions up to Rs 2,000 but remains silent on higher amounts, sparking fears of a "Digital Payments Tax."
It is important to understand that the rupee's appreciation, driven by the 2013 special swap scheme, reduced India's import costs for petroleum, oil, and gold, points out Dr Ashwani Mahajan, National Co-Convenor, Swadeshi Jagaran Manch.
A Kottayam Vigilance Court has sentenced former Kerala DGP Tomin J Thachankary to four years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 30.84 lakh in a disproportionate assets case. This marks the first time a DGP-rank officer in Kerala has been convicted for such an offence, with the court finding him guilty of amassing wealth 135.80 per cent in excess of his known income between 2003 and 2007.
A Kishore Kumar song, a birthday cake, a prince's break from protocol to thank his driver, a Persian painting on the ceiling of the presidential residence -- the BRICS Summit had many memorable moments.
India failed to qualify for the Davis Cup Final 8 after losing 3-1 to Korea in the Qualifier Round 2 tie. Despite a fighting doubles victory by Dhakshineswar Suresh and N Sriram Balaji, Sumit Nagal's defeat in the reverse singles sealed India's fate, making Korea the first Asian team to reach the knockout stage under the new format.
Scientists are stunned by the discovery of a nine-million-year-old capybara tooth fossil in Chile's Atacama Desert, a region currently devoid of capybaras. This finding not only marks the oldest record of the semi-aquatic rodent in coastal Chile but also significantly challenges the long-standing scientific view that the Atacama Desert has been continuously dry for 40 million years, suggesting a much wetter past.
Virat Kohli impressed Eknath Shinde with his humility during their London meeting, while the duo discussed Maharashtra's development, sports, youth talent and the cricketer's upcoming ODI milestones.
The Finance Ministry has refuted allegations that US pressure influenced the decision to levy a 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select UPI payments. The ministry clarified that the NPCI guidelines prioritise RuPay credit cards on UPI to promote domestic alternatives and ensure a self-sustaining revenue model for smaller domestic companies, countering claims of favouring foreign payment providers.
A minor argument over a matchbox in northwest Delhi escalated into a fatal stabbing incident, leaving one man dead and another injured. Police have apprehended three individuals, including the main accused who allegedly used a knife, following the Tuesday night incident in Keshav Puram.
Quimcy Dsouza, a former Maharashtra footballer, made an unconventional journey to the Asian Games teqball semifinals after discovering the sport through Ronaldinho. Despite a defeat, she expressed pride in her performance and her role in pioneering teqball in India, highlighting the challenges of limited funding and her dedication to growing the sport.
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.
Around 200 SpiceJet passengers protested at Delhi airport after their flights to Dubai were repeatedly rescheduled and delayed since Monday. The airline cited operational reasons due to an aircraft grounding and is arranging alternate flights, while the Civil Aviation Ministry and DGCA are monitoring SpiceJet's operations.
'It is not about a place with fewer incidents of violence but a city where women have real agency in planning their daily lives.'
