India

The GST Council, led by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, slashed taxes on daily essentials and packaged foods ahead of the festive season. UHT milk, paneer, parathas, biscuits, chocolates, dry fruits, and dairy products now attract lower or nil GST, boosting consumption outlook

With the Jhelum River crossing the danger mark of 21 feet, authorities in Srinagar have advised Dal Lake residents and houseboat owners to take safety measures. The opening of Ram Munshi Bagh gate may raise Dal water levels further.

Kashmir Valley was cut off from the rest of India after heavy rains triggered multiple landslides and road washouts, closing all major highways, including Jammu-Srinagar. Over 3,500 vehicles are stranded, while restoration work continues to restore essential connectivity and supplies

Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty surged sharply after the GST Council approved a major overhaul of the tax regime, lowering rates on daily-use items and insurance. Investors cheered the reform, boosting consumption outlook, though concerns over tariff issues remain

India’s Ambassador Vinay Kwatra met US lawmaker Gregory Meeks amid escalating trade tensions. Discussions focused on bilateral ties, tariffs, and Indo-Pacific cooperation, as Trump’s steep duties on Indian imports drew criticism from Democrats.

Floods in Jammu killed three, cut off highways, and damaged infrastructure. Hundreds are stranded as rivers flow above danger levels. Rescue and evacuation operations continue, though weather is expected to improve today.

Daily Horoscope: Your stars are bringing good tidings for you. Check out your astrological predictions for September 4, 2025. May the day bring you happiness

The Yamuna River in Delhi remained at 207.48 metres, flooding several areas including markets and colonies. Over 14,000 people have been evacuated as rescue efforts, relief camps, and monitoring continue.

Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan welcomed the GST reforms approved by the Council, calling them a “true Diwali gift” to the nation. Leaders including CM Chandrababu Naidu and Union Ministers Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay also praised the reforms.

Two security personnel were killed and another injured in a gunfight with members of the banned Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC), a CPI (Maoist) splinter group, in Jharkhand’s Palamu district. The encounter broke out during an operation in Kedal village.

Puneri Paltan defeated Bengal Warriorz 45-36 in Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 at Vizag. Skipper Aslam Inamdar, Aditya Shinde, and Vishal Bhardwaj shone, neutralising Devank Dalal’s 17-point effort

Hyderabad’s Akshaya Reddy Varakantham won gold in set two and overall silver at the CISCE Archery Nationals in Kochi. The Future Kids School archer has consistently finished on the podium since childhood

India face Afghanistan in a decisive CAFA Nations Cup 2025 clash in Hisor, Tajikistan, on Thursday, with playoff qualification at stake. Coach Khalid Jamil insists India are focused only on winning

Nitin Sai Yadav’s superb seven-wicket haul (7/44) powered Hyderabad to a 90-run win over Haryana in the semifinal of the All India Buchi Babu cricket tournament

With the implementation of a new indirect tax system (5% and 18% slabs) essential items, from milk and dry fruits to footwear and fertilisers, will become cheaper starting September 22. Meanwhile, sin goods like tobacco and sugary drinks face a steep 40% GST, with stricter valuation norms.

In a sweeping reform, the GST Council has rationalised India's tax structure by reducing four tax slabs to two—retaining only the 5% and 18% rates. While essential items like snacks and personal care products have seen a steep drop in GST, the rates on tobacco and sugary goods have been raised to 40%.

The BFS frontline staff face a perfect storm: attrition at historic highs, stagnant wages, and rising pressures from digital shift. Time RBI created a Productivity and Attrition Task Force for them

With just 1 per cent of the global vehicle count, India accounts for nearly 11 per cent of worldwide road fatalities, making its roads among the most perilous globally

Lovlina Borgohain and Nikhat Zareen will lead a 20-member Indian boxing contingent at the World Boxing Championships 2025 in Liverpool, following a strong performance at the World Boxing Cups earlier this year

The FIFA Capacity Building Workshop for women administrators, held in New Delhi, features sessions from FIFA experts and prominent Indian football figures, with a focus on developing women's football in India

A 12-day training camp in Hyderabad for kabaddi officials focused on preparing for PKL Season 12's new tiebreaker format, enhancing skills for critical decision-making in high-stakes matches

A high-level medical team has been deployed to Turkapalem village in Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur district after nearly 30 unexplained deaths in five months. Initial tests confirmed two cases of melioidosis, prompting a 15-day medical camp and intensified investigation

A 17-year-old boy in Kerala has become the world’s first known survivor of simultaneous infections by amoebic meningoencephalitis and Aspergillus flavus. After two surgeries and three months of treatment, the patient made a full recovery, Kerala Health Minister Veena George announced

Gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli was released from Nagpur Central Jail after 17 years following Supreme Court bail in a 2007 murder case. The former MLA, convicted under MCOCA, had challenged the Bombay High Court’s 2019 verdict upholding his life sentence