World number one Aryna Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 to secure her place in the US Open final, expressing her desperation to regain control of her season and her strong desire to complete a 'three-peat' at the hardcourt major.
Refusing to travel to India citing "sensitive bilateral situation", Pakistan on Wednesday asked the Asian Hockey Federation to shift its Asian Champions Trophy matches to a neutral venue.
Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar has urged the 30-member Indian shooting contingent for the Asian Games to prioritise individual medals over team events. He also highlighted the need for significant improvements in coaching, advocating for more former international medallists in the system, and stressed the importance of better grassroots talent identification, drawing comparisons with China. Kumar also commented on the void left by coach Jaspal Rana's death and questioned recent selection policies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a gala dinner for BRICS Summit leaders and delegates at Bharat Mandapam. The menu featured a range of Indian delicacies, including starters like 'khandvi mille' and 'khumb galouti', main courses such as 'paneer lababdar' and 'gucchi marmik', and desserts like 'shahtoot phirni'. The dinner was accompanied by a cultural performance.
Putin has issued a stark warning to European nations, declaring that any deployment of troops to Ukraine would be met with 'war with Russia'.
India needs to move beyond ease and cost of doing business and focus on the "speed of doing business" as the next leg of reforms to sustain economic growth and private investment, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) President R Mukundan said.
An Indian firm, Bharat Forge, and US defence major Pratt & Whitney Canada have announced a collaboration to develop India's high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This partnership will focus on integrating advanced turboprop engines into the DRDO-designed HALE UAV, bolstering India's indigenous defence capabilities under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The collaboration aims to enhance India's strategic self-reliance in surveillance and reconnaissance technology.
Sumit Nagal, India's top singles player, believes sheer desire will be crucial in the Davis Cup qualifier against Korea, especially on the slow Seoul courts.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and actor-racer Ajith Kumar, known as 'Thalapathy' and 'Thala' respectively, shared a warm, lingering hug at the iconic Silverstone circuit in the UK.
Olympic medallist Swapnil Kusale highlights the growing respect and "fear factor" Indian shooters command internationally due to their consistent performances. He expresses confidence in the Indian contingent for the upcoming Asian Games, despite some notable absences, and discusses challenges like range maintenance.
'The greatest love story of my life was with this man. He cured me of the spiritual question and threw me back into the real world.'
Temba Bavuma will lead South Africa against Australia, with Gerald Coetzee recalled, Kagiso Rabada injured, and Dewald Brevis omitted as the Proteas strengthen World Cup preparations.
Shares of fintech firms, particularly Paytm, saw significant movement after the Indian government introduced a 0.4 per cent fee on UPI transfers exceeding Rs 2,000 made to merchants, effective October 15.
Brazil has announced a 26-member squad, featuring stars like Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, and Marquinhos, for their historic first-ever football match against India on October 3 in Kolkata. Coach Carlo Ancelotti is overseeing a significant rebuild, integrating young talent with experienced players, with an eye on future tournaments like the 2028 Olympics and 2030 World Cup. The squad includes several debutants and a focus on current form, marking a new strategic direction for the Selecao.
The Indian government has introduced a 0.4% fee on UPI transfers above Rs 2,000 made to merchants, effective October 15, ending nearly six years of free merchant payments. This move led to initial rallies in fintech stocks like Paytm and Mobikwik, though some later pared gains. Person-to-person transactions and small payments remain free for customers, with the fee being a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR).
Pakistan has requested the Asian Hockey Federation to move its Asian Champions Trophy matches from India to a neutral venue, citing a "sensitive bilateral situation" and security concerns. Hockey India has rejected this demand, stating there will be no change in venue for the tournament scheduled in Mohali and Jalandhar from October 27 to November 5. Pakistan's participation remains uncertain, with potential replacements like Bangladesh and Oman being considered.
Ben Shelton defeated Frances Tiafoe in an electric U.S. Open semi-final, setting up a title clash with Alexander Zverev. Shelton's victory marks a significant moment for American men's tennis, as he aims to become the first American Grand Slam champion since 2003 and the first Black American man to reach the U.S. Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972.
For the first time since 1998, no Indian umpire or technical official will be present at the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, a situation that has left former international officials disappointed and calling for a structured pathway to develop and support Indian officiating talent.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi cautioned against the 'weaponisation' of technology and critical minerals at the BRICS summit, advocating for cooperation to foster shared prosperity. Concurrently, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced plans for an open-source AI ecosystem for BRICS nations, positioning Beijing as a key technology partner amid global AI competition.
Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association have strongly criticised the International Cricket Council's decision to implement significant structural changes to the 2027 ODI World Cup qualification pathway and tournament format, stating it 'risk weakening the integrity and credibility of international cricket'.
Indian squash player Anahat Singh was defeated by Malaysia's Sivasangari Subramaniam in the women's quarterfinals of the London Squash Classic. Despite her loss, the reigning world junior champion had previously overcome a higher-ranked opponent to reach this stage and is now preparing for upcoming tournaments, including the Qatar Classic and the Asian Games.
Indian hockey teams will return to their traditional blue jerseys for the Asian Games after a controversial shift to saffron kits sparked widespread criticism and internal discord within Hockey India. The decision to revert to blue was confirmed by HI president Dilip Tirkey, who had previously questioned the saffron kit's adoption without proper approval.
Amrit Mathur, Commissioner of PGTI's 72 The League, lauded the Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar as the world's most stunning and spectacular.
The Indian government has confirmed there will be no rollback of the 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, effective from October 15. Despite opposition, officials state the decision aims to make the UPI ecosystem self-sustainable and secure, with charges applying only to merchant payments, not person-to-person transactions.
Indian javelin thrower Rohit Yadav is determined to secure a podium finish at the upcoming Asian Games, stepping in after Neeraj Chopra's withdrawal due to injury. Yadav, who recently achieved a personal best of 87.68m, is focused on his rhythm and mindset to deliver his best performance and make the nation proud.
Cape Verde's veteran goalkeeper Vozinha, who gained social media fame during the World Cup, has arrived in Chile to join Colo-Colo on a six-month contract, with an option for a one-year extension.
Cricket South Africa CEO Pholetsi Moseki expressed excitement as the brand identity and 12 host venues for the 2027 ODI Cricket World Cup were unveiled, marking the tournament's return to Africa after 24 years with a new three-stage format.
Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan has expressed strong confidence in Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's ability to contribute significantly to India's 2027 ODI World Cup campaign, stating they will 'add great value to the team and help India win the World Cup'.
Elena Rybakina, World No. 2, outlines her aggressive strategy to defeat World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open 2026 women's singles final. Rybakina aims to control rallies and prevent Sabalenka from dictating play in their 18th career meeting. Despite battling a foot injury and tough earlier rounds, Rybakina is determined to perform her best against Sabalenka, who is seeking a historic third consecutive US Open title.
Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy emphasises the importance of focusing on the 'process' rather than 'results' to maintain consistency and mental fortitude in cricket, especially after a period of mixed performances.
Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has been appointed as a Specialist Mentor for the England men's white-ball teams, aiming to bolster their preparations for the upcoming ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
Robin Raikkonen, the 11-year-old son of former Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen, has been accepted into Red Bull's prestigious driver development programme, aiming to nurture his karting talent towards a potential F1 career.
India's total goods trade with BRICS nations more than doubled from FY21 to FY26, reaching USD 417.5 billion, but a significant surge in imports, particularly from China and Russia, has caused India's trade deficit with the bloc to more than triple, reaching USD 226.1 billion.
Eighteen-year-old Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi delivered a commanding performance on his first start for Manchester City, helping them secure a 2-0 Champions League victory against Porto.
The Saudi-led coalition issued a stern warning to Yemen's Houthi rebels after intercepting a drone targeting Mecca, Islam's holiest city. Describing it as a "hostile and terrorist act," the coalition declared the security of holy sites a "red line" and vowed deterrent measures. This incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, with both sides exchanging accusations of military operations and civilian targeting.
Thousands gathered on the banks of the River Thames in London for the first-ever Ganga Aarti, a traditional Hindu ceremony of light and thanksgiving. Organised by Chinmaya Mission UK as part of the 'Totally Thames' festival, the event symbolised gratitude for nature and knowledge, while also celebrating 75 years of the Chinmaya Mission. The ceremony was conducted on land to ensure environmental responsibility.
United States coach Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to extend his contract, leading the men's national team through the 2030 World Cup, following their last-16 finish at this year's finals.
Indian athlete Basant Kumar Meghwal clinched a silver medal in the men's high jump event at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, USA. Achieving a personal best of 2.21m, Meghwal contributed to India's growing medal tally, which also includes a silver from Ashish Yadav in javelin throw.
Indian Grandmasters Arjun Erigaisi and Nihal Sarin concluded their campaign at the Esports World Cup Chess tournament in the quarterfinals, securing top-eight finishes. Erigaisi was eliminated by Hikaru Nakamura in an Armageddon tiebreak, while Sarin lost to defending champion Magnus Carlsen. Their performance marks India's strongest showing in the event, with both players earning USD 75,000 each from the substantial prize pool.
