IBTimes

Foreign tourist arrivals in Nepal increased by 12.1 per cent in September despite deadly August floods, with 88,248 visitors recorded.

India is rapidly advancing in space technology with missions like Chandrayaan-3, Gaganyaan, and plans for a space station and lunar sample return.

Mid-sized IT companies are expected to outperform larger firms in Q2 FY27 despite geopolitical and generative AI concerns, says a brokerage report.

Indian boxer Parveen Hooda clinched the gold medal in the women's 65kg category at the Asian Games 2026 after defeating Chinese Taipei's Nien-Chin Chen. Parveen prevailed 3-2 on the judges' scorecards in a hard-fought bout, holding her nerve against the experienced Chen to secure India's latest boxing gold at the continental event.

The Trump-Xi summit in Washington extended the trade truce but failed to address core disputes in US-China relations and Indo-Pacific security.

Salman Khan attended the screening of Veer Pahariya's Prem Keetanu, where several videos from the event went viral. Salman was seen asking paparazzi to focus on celebrities posing on the red carpet, while another clip showed security intervening when a fan approached him for a selfie.

The J&K Government has approved 15 crore for restoring the traditional pilgrimage route to the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine through Nagrota and Bamyal. Residents of around 25 villages have long sought the route's revival, saying it would ease pressure on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, provide pilgrims an alternative route to Katra, revive the historic Deva Mai Temple link and promote socio-economic development in villages along the stretch.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke wrote, Am I dreaming or what? on X after actor Naseeruddin Shah met and hugged him in Mumbai ahead of the group's planned protest. Dipke's video showed Shah saying he had come to hug, shake hands with and thank him.

Ladakh has launched a pilot project to cultivate premium saffron on reclaimed barren land in Leh, using around 800 kg of high-quality Iranian saffron corms. The initiative, undertaken under Project Him Sarovar, aims to diversify agriculture, explore new income opportunities for farmers, and assess the suitability of saffron cultivation in Ladakh's high-altitude agro-climatic conditions.

APEDA facilitated the export of 24 metric tonnes of frozen food from Sonipat to Canada, enhancing FPOs' access to global markets.

Mumbai Police have intensified security at Shivaji Park ahead of the CJP's planned jail-filling protest, which police said is being held without permission. Barricades have been placed, the ground cordoned off, and anti-riot, QRT and dog squads kept on alert.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to injured flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar on Friday and praised his courage during the mid-air emergency. Machchhar shared his experience and what gave him courage during the incident. Modi wished him a speedy recovery. The co-pilot allegedly attempted to crash the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight; authorities are investigating the incident and motive.

Nushrratt Bharuccha's team has confirmed that the actress met with an accident in Bali and is currently hospitalised. Following medical evaluation, she is expected to undergo spine surgery.

The SIA Kashmir conducted searches at two residential premises in Kulgam and Qazigund as part of an investigation into an alleged transnational human trafficking and cyber fraud network. The investigation concerns the alleged trafficking of unemployed youth to Myanmar through Thailand on the pretext of overseas employment and their subsequent exploitation in cyber scam operations.

Srinagar Police has busted an organised inter-state pharmaceutical drug-trafficking network and arrested eight persons in connection with an FIR registered at Police Station Safakadal. The investigation has led to the recovery of over 2.19 lakh drug tablets/capsules, codeine-containing liquid, a heroin-like substance, 85.75 lakh in cash, gold worth crores, luxury items, a pistol and other articles.

US President Donald Trump threatened Iran with harsh retaliation if found responsible for the Flydubai plane attack.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said India-US trade deal talks are nearing completion but no immediate agreement is expected.

The officials stressed the need for stronger domestic growth drivers, strategic reserves, diversified partnerships, infrastructure, manufacturing and greater preparedness to strengthen India's economic resilience.

India's electoral technology, including ECINET and ERONET, needs a comprehensive legal, data and systems audit to ensure software remains subordinate to statutory authority. The article highlights concerns over voter-data access, rollback, algorithmic accountability, audit trails and the need for independent system validation.

Israeli passenger Yaniv Hayoun said years of watching Mayday helped him respond during a Flydubai cockpit emergency after one pilot was reportedly attacked by another. Hayoun entered the cockpit, restrained the alleged attacker and pulled back the aircraft's controls as the plane descended sharply.

MAITC chief Mamata Banerjee launched a sharp attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar alleging electoral wrongdoing and demanding his immediate removal. She also raised questions over EVMs and electoral software.

Indian authorities in Saudi Arabia said Machchhar was receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Tabuk. The Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia said he was stable and that officials were in contact with his family and Saudi authorities.

His claim that Muslim girls are increasingly attracted to Hindu boys has drawn reactions from Hindu leaders and renewed discussions around faith, personal choice and relationships.

Gold prices rose for the second straight session, gaining Rs 500 to Rs 1,49,800 per 10 grams in Delhi on Thursday, supported by a weaker rupee and firm global prices. Silver, however, fell Rs 5,000 to Rs 2.27 lakh per kg.

The investigation found that the incident resulted from a chain of errors in how the visit was planned and managed. Female employees were moved away from certain areas, triggering protests and a one-day closure of the Eiffel Tower. BAPS had denied requesting gender-based exclusion and said the arrangements were made for logistical reasons.

First image of the Omani co-pilot accused of stabbing Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar mid-air has emerged. The incident occurred aboard Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, forcing an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Crew members overpowered and restrained the co-pilot as authorities launched an investigation into the attack.

The CJP plans an October 2 Mumbai protest seeking Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, criminal proceedings, a freeze on SIR and repeal of the 2023 law governing the Election Commission. Mumbai Police denied permission for Shivaji Park, while the party said it would proceed.

Dubai-based carrier flydubai has temporarily suspended all the flights to and from Israel after a plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after briefly transmitting emergency codes, including one associated with a possible hijacking.

MTNL approved selling its Powai property to the Income Tax Department for Rs 891.53 crore as part of asset monetisation efforts.

Machchhar is an airline captain with more than 13 years of commercial flying experience, primarily on Boeing 737 aircraft. His profile states that he is currently a Direct Entry Captain at flydubai, where he has been flying since June 2022.

Aishwarya Rai returned to Mumbai after her Paris Fashion Week appearance and was spotted at the airport interacting warmly with fans and paparazzi. Around the same time, Salman Khan was spotted in the city in a black outfit, briefly posing for the cameras. Their twinning black looks caught attention on social media.

Flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, diverted to Saudi Arabia while flying over Jordanian airspace. Israel now calls it a terror attack.

The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and discussed regional and international issues, including efforts to promote global peace and security. They also agreed to remain in close contact.

Rohit Sharma etched his name in the history books after he reached 12,000 ODI runs during the IND vs WI 2nd ODI on Wednesday. The 39-year-old scored a scintillating half-century becoming just the 7th batter in history to reach the 12k mark.

SC ruled out a complete ban on firecrackers ahead of Diwali but said unrestricted bursting throughout the day would not be permitted. The court said a balance was needed between religious sentiments and concerns over air pollution, particularly its impact on children, elderly people and those with illnesses.

Gold prices in Delhi rebounded by Rs 700 to Rs 1,49,300 per 10 grams on Wednesday after hitting a two-month low, supported by value buying and a firm global trend. Silver held steady at Rs 2.32 lakh per kg for a second session, while spot gold traded near USD 4,190 an ounce.

The traders had raised concerns over the proposed 0.4% fee on eligible merchant UPI transactions above 2,000, saying it could affect small and medium businesses. The proposed charge is scheduled to take effect from October 15. NPCI has clarified that UPI transactions up to 2,000 will continue to have zero MDR and no GST impact.

US President Donald Trump claimed Iran's military is destroyed and predicted a swift US victory in the conflict, asserting near-total control over the Strait of Hormuz.

The captain had sustained wounds to multiple parts of his body, including his head and hands. Earlier, Mosaev told The Times of Israel that he had rushed to the cockpit after hearing screaming and found the pilot in very bad shape, with heavy bleeding, particularly from his head.

Sensex fell 287 points and Nifty opened at 22,543.70 as FII selling hit sentiment. Auto and cement stocks declined, while IT and private banks gained in early trading.

Commercial LPG cylinder prices rose by up to 62.50 from October 1 across the cities cited. Domestic LPG rates remain unchanged, sparing households from this latest price revision.

The rupee slipped 3 paise to 95.97 against the US dollar as oil companies' demand and FII outflows weighed, while RBI-backed dollar sales kept the currency below the 96.00 mark.

US President Donald Trump plans to officially rename artificial intelligence as superintelligence and supports industry self-regulation to maintain US technological leadership.

Rare earths and critical minerals, areas where Chinese dominance has become a major American vulnerability, remain unresolved. Semiconductors and electric vehicles were excluded from the tariff arrangement.

Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has confirmed that Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff have responded to the notices issued by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding their Vimal Elaichi advertisement.

WhatsApp users have been left wondering whether they will soon have to pay 14 paise to send a message, but the new pricing change is only for businesses using WhatsApp's Business Platform, not regular users.

New AI row highlights incidents involving OpenAI, Anthropic and Google models, including sandbox escapes, credential theft, production-data access and malicious code activity.

Four CISF personnel, including an assistant commandant and a sub-inspector, were killed in a firing incident at a CISF camp at the Sewa-II Hydroelectric Power Project in Basohli, Kathua, on Tuesday. A CISF head constable, who allegedly opened fire on his colleagues with his service weapon, was taken into custody.

Ladakh has taken a major step towards promoting commercial floriculture as Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena flagged off the first air consignment of 15,000 A-grade Lilium stems from Leh to national markets. Cultivated at an altitude of 10,600 feet, the flowers will be marketed in Delhi, Mumbai and Chandigarh, with the initiative aimed at creating sustainable livelihoods and new economic opportunities in the region.

Sensex and Nifty opened flat on Wednesday as foreign investors sold equities for the fourth straight day amid mixed global signals.