India

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a two-year plan to transform Pune and its metropolitan region, focusing on infrastructure and mobility. He said projects including ring roads, tunnels and metro expansion would make Pune a sought-after urban destination by 2029

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on becoming Italy’s longest continuously serving postwar premier. Meloni thanked Modi, saying India-Italy ties are stronger than ever, while highlighting cooperation on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor

Chhattisgarh Congress staged a statewide ‘Chini Satyagraha’ against rising sugar prices, blaming BJP governments for inflation. The party claimed sugar shortages at PDS shops were burdening families and demanded immediate restoration of supplies, warning of intensified protests if unresolved

Air India has terminated the pilot of a Phuket-Delhi flight after a confirmatory test detected a psychoactive substance following an August 4 in-flight incident. The AAIB flagged the result as a serious concern and recommended priority regulatory action

Air India terminated the pilot-in-command of its Phuket-Delhi flight after he tested positive for a psychoactive substance. The action followed an AAIB preliminary report flagging drug use as a serious safety concern after the flight suffered an altitude upset

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal urged India and Belgium to collaborate on lab-grown diamonds, focusing on technology and certification. He also highlighted cooperation in semiconductors, green hydrogen, ports, defence and advanced manufacturing while discussing the India-EU FTA and global trade

The Supreme Court-appointed Aravalli High-Powered Committee has sought six more months to submit its final report, citing the need for comprehensive scientific assessment. The panel proposed an Aravalli Ecosystem Landscape framework after field visits and receiving around 680 public representations

Four people were arrested in Indore for allegedly buying and selling bank accounts used in cyber fraud. Police said the accounts facilitated fraudulent cryptocurrency transactions, with one linked to complaints in Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Another suspect remains absconding

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman invited global companies to explore investment opportunities in India’s rapidly expanding digital infrastructure sector during meetings in New York. She highlighted growth in AI, cloud computing, digital services, financial markets and the country’s reform-oriented business environment

Kerala's Cabinet is participating in a two-day IIM Kozhikode workshop focused on the state's long-term development. Discussions cover artificial intelligence, ageing, climate resilience, healthcare, employment, migration, fiscal pressures and ways to build a knowledge-driven, technology-enabled economy

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari reviewed the flood situation following heavy rainfall, assuring residents there was no need to panic. Authorities are evacuating vulnerable people, arranging relief supplies and monitoring rising river levels across inundated areas of the state

Rajasthan has recorded a 21.16 per cent rainfall deficit this monsoon, with 21 districts receiving deficient rainfall. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has urged the government to prepare for drought-like conditions, while fresh rain is forecast over several regions

At least nine flights were diverted from Delhi airport on Friday due to bad weather, with four each diverted to Jaipur and Lucknow and one to Ahmedabad. Heavy rains also caused over 400 flight delays at the capital's busiest airport

Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh urged communities to collectively bridge the trust deficit, reject violence and promote harmony. During his visit to Kangpokpi, Singh highlighted the shared suffering of Meitei and Kuki communities and called for creating a peaceful future

At HDFC Bank, the succession process assumes greater significance after managing director and chief executive Sashidhar Jagdishan opted out of the reappointment process last month

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Giorgia Meloni after she became Italy’s longest-serving postwar Prime Minister. He praised her role in strengthening the India-Italy Special Strategic Partnership and expressed readiness to continue cooperation between the two countries.

The Cockroach Janta Party said Delhi Police has assured it that Swatantra Bharadwaj, accused of assaulting student activist Nishu Azad’s father during a Jantar Mantar protest, will be arrested within 72 hours and face additional charges

World Bank Executive Director Neelkanth Mishra said India need not worry about repaying FCNR(B) deposits at maturity, as they can be rolled over if global financing conditions remain tight. He described the deposits as relatively cheap capital and called India’s external debt position healthy

APSEZ has launched a dedicated Empty Container Yard with integrated warehousing at Mundra, offering storage, maintenance, inspection and movement services. The facility aims to improve container turnaround, reduce unnecessary movements and optimise logistics costs for exporters

A newlywed woman was found dead in a water tank outside her Indore home, 25 days after her love marriage. Police suspect murder after finding injury marks. Her husband and brother-in-law were detained, while post-mortem findings will determine the cause

Volkswagen plans to cut 1 lakh jobs by the end of the decade, halve its model range and consider closing four German plants. The restructuring aims to reduce costs, simplify operations and strengthen competitiveness amid shifting demand and technology

Nine US lawmakers held talks with an Indian American advocacy group on strengthening Washington-New Delhi ties, discussing trade, defence, China, the Quad and Indo-Pacific security. The meetings also covered supply-chain resilience, maritime security, space cooperation and diaspora engagement

An IndiGo aircraft struck a Visual Docking Guidance System pole while parking at Srinagar Airport on Friday. All passengers and crew were safe, with no injuries reported. Authorities will investigate the incident, while airport operations continued normally with scheduled flights

Indian equity markets rebounded sharply in early trade Friday after four consecutive sessions of losses, tracking gains across Asian markets. Sensex rose 531 points while Nifty advanced 78 points. Institutional buying, positive US cues and Asian rallies supported investor sentiment