India

FM Sitharaman: Government will not levy MDR charges on UPI transactions

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has clarified that the government will not impose any Merchant Discount Rate on UPI transactions. For transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, the MDR will be borne by merchants and banks, not consumers. NPCI CEO Dilip Asbe noted that 75 percent of UPI transactions remain unaffected by MDR charges. The bulk of fees are associated with larger businesses that already face higher credit card processing costs.

US Regulator Recalls 51,000 Blue Cactus Lithium-Ion Battery Packs Over Fire Risk

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall of around 51,000 lithium-ion battery packs manufactured by Blue Cactus Company. The packs, which were sold through Amazon, have been reported to overheat, smoke, and catch fire. Owners of the affected products are advised to stop using them immediately. Customers should reach out to Blue Cactus directly to obtain replacement units. Due to the fire hazard involved, specific disposal guidelines must be followed when discarding the recalled batteries.

Fresh Landslides Threaten Homes in Sikkim's Rimbi Village Amid Heavy Rain

A series of landslides has been battering Rimbi village in Sikkim since September 12, putting several houses at risk. The mudslides have brought large boulders and debris into the area, causing significant concern for residents. The situation has been worsened by a fresh spell of heavy rainfall across the state. The recurring nature of the slides suggests ongoing geological instability in the region.

Google to Launch AI Satellite on SpaceX Mission to Test Space-Based ML Infrastructure

Google plans to send a prototype satellite called MVP into orbit aboard SpaceX's Transporter-18 mission, scheduled for October 1. The launch is part of Project Suncatcher, an initiative aimed at building scalable machine learning infrastructure in space. The project seeks to anticipate the processing requirements of next-generation artificial intelligence technologies. Google CEO Sundar Pichai has highlighted the importance of this research in meeting future computing demands. Ultimately, the effort is geared toward exploring the feasibility of establishing data centers in space.

Power bank sold for $27 recalled after 9 fires; one caused $2m damage

IAF to induct indigenous satellite-guided anti-airfield weapon in Rs 811 crore deal

The Indian Air Force is set to induct a new satellite-guided variant of the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon, boosting its long-range precision strike capability. The weapon has been specifically engineered to neutralize hardened ground targets such as bunkers and airfield runways. A contract for 160 units of the system has been signed at a value of Rs 810.79 crore. The procurement underscores India's push toward self-reliance in defense manufacturing under its indigenization drive. The induction is expected to significantly strengthen the IAF's offensive ground-attack capabilities.

Punjab Woman and Lover Poisoned Her 3 Children, Staged It as Food Poisoning

A woman in Punjab, along with her lover, allegedly poisoned and killed her three children by feeding them contaminated sweets. The children died on August 26, and the deaths were initially made to appear as a case of accidental food poisoning. Authorities grew suspicious and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths. The woman and her lover are believed to have conspired together to commit the crime. Police have since uncovered the alleged plot and are pursuing the case further.

Selena's Brother Sues Sister for $1M+ Over Disputed Estate Profit Shares

A.B. Quintanilla III has filed a lawsuit against his sister Suzette over profits from the estate of late singer Selena. He claims a 1995 agreement entitles him to 25% of certain earnings from the estate. Quintanilla alleges he has not received full payments owed to him over the past several years. Suzette and their mother have denied any wrongdoing in connection with the management of Selena's legacy. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions over how the iconic singer's estate has been handled.

Chirag Paswan urges Election Commission to uphold public trust amid SIR row

Union Minister Chirag Paswan has called on the Election Commission of India to take a firm stance amid growing controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Paswan stressed the importance of the commission maintaining public confidence in the electoral system. The issue has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders, who have questioned the integrity of the process. Opposition members have gone further, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the reported disputes.

IITs to ban 22 firms for 2 years over 150+ reneged campus job offers

A group of 22 companies is set to be barred from campus recruitment at IITs for two years after failing to honour more than 150 job offers. The cases span all 23 IITs, with some firms individually withdrawing between 10 and 15 offers. The decision was announced by John Jose, convenor of the Association of IIT Placement Committees (AIPC) and an associate professor at IIT-Guwahati. The ban is intended to protect students from last-minute offer withdrawals and hold recruiting firms accountable for their commitments.

Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet Win Mixed Team Gold at Asian Games

Indian shooters Suruchi Inder Singh and Kamaljeet claimed the gold medal in the mixed team final at the Asian Games. The pair dominated the competition from the outset, posting strong scores across both stages of the event. They recorded 103.0, 202.4, and 303.5 in Stage 1, before continuing their momentum into Stage 2 with a score of 364.7 in the opening series. South Korea and Iran were unable to close the gap as the Indian duo maintained a comfortable lead throughout. Suruchi's coach had expressed confidence ahead of the final, saying she would return with nothing less than gold.

Trump orders US Navy to revert to steam catapults despite ongoing EMALS upgrades

President Donald Trump has instructed the US Navy to abandon electromagnetic launch technology and return to traditional steam catapults on new aircraft carriers. The directive conflicts with active contracts already awarded to improve the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS). Significant construction work is already underway on the USS Doris Miller, making a mid-course design switch technically and logistically complex. The move is seen as a step backward by some, particularly as China equips its newest carriers with electromagnetic launch systems. Critics warn the reversal could affect the operational capabilities and modernization trajectory of future US carrier fleets.

Six Men Assault Woman With Slippers at Bihar Tourist Site, Video Goes Viral

A disturbing incident was caught on camera at a tourist site in Bihar, where six men physically assaulted a woman using slippers. The attack took place on September 3, though the video surfaced and went viral only recently. The footage clearly shows the men misbehaving with and assaulting the woman. The viral spread of the video has drawn widespread attention to the incident.

Nationwide protests from Oct 2 if CEC doesn't resign by Saturday: CJP's Dipke

Lost US Army Ring Found After 20 Years Returned to Veteran Owner

A silver US Army ring belonging to veteran Terry Sheppard Jr., lost for approximately two decades, has been successfully returned to him. The ring was discovered by a woman named Mary Thelen inside her son's footlocker. Thelen took the initiative to track down the rightful owner rather than keep the item. Sheppard, who served in Iraq, is believed to have misplaced the ring during his time stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

In Bihar, third harassment video in a week

CJP says nationwide protest on October 2 if Gyanesh Kumar doesn’t resign

Tarun Tejpal challenges rape conviction, SC seeks Goa govt response

Locked iPhone Hinders Investigation Into IIT Bombay Student's Suicide

Investigators probing the suicide of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode are facing a key obstacle in their inquiry. The student's iPhone is secured with a pattern lock, preventing authorities from accessing its contents. As a result, investigators have been unable to determine who Wakode had called or who had contacted him prior to his death. Retrieving this call data is considered critical to understanding the circumstances surrounding the case.

Saudi Grand Mufti Warns Soldiers May Die in Fight Against Houthis

Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti has issued a statement acknowledging that soldiers fighting the Houthi movement may lose their lives in the ongoing conflict. The warning comes amid weeks of intensifying hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi group. The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Saudi Arabia with barrages of missiles and drone strikes during this period. The religious leader's remarks appear directed at Saudi troops engaged in operations against the Yemeni armed faction.