The Economic Times

India voiced deep concern regarding a recent drone attack near Makkah. Saudi authorities intercepted and destroyed a drone sent by Houthi militants. This incident occurred amid heightened tensions and previous Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure. India reiterated its condemnation of attacks on sovereign territory and civilian lives. The nation hopes for the early restoration of peace and stability in West Asia.

The government has removed the requirement of Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) or Certificate of Registration for export consignments with a Free-on-Board (FOB) value of up to Rs 3 lakh, in a move aimed at reducing compliance hurdles for MSMEs, first-time exporters and small businesses, according to a release by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Thousands of old fiberglass boats are difficult and expensive to recycle, leaving many destined for landfills or abandonment. A Rhode Island pilot project is testing a different solution by shredding unwanted boat hulls and sending the material to a South Carolina cement plant, where it can provide fuel and replace some raw materials used in cement production. The project could offer a new disposal route for the growing amount of fiberglass boat waste in the US.

Boxer Parveen Hooda aims for a medal at the Asian Games after a ban. She lost her previous bronze and Olympic quota due to a suspension. Hooda has since navigated new weight classes and injuries. She is now competing in the 65kg category after adjustments. Her focus remains on achieving a better performance than before.

Indian government bonds saw gains as crude oil prices retreated from recent highs. Traders squared short positions before the Federal Reserve's anticipated policy decision later today. Global debt markets stabilized after Saudi Arabia offered additional oil cargoes through Oman. The Indian central bank is also expected to tighten policy next month due to rising inflation. Bond yields eased while OIS rates tracked offshore markets, reflecting market expectations.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams will offer insurance coverage to every devotee through LIC. The temple trust also plans to construct new Srivari temples globally and across Andhra Pradesh. Reliance Foundation and Bharat Biotech donated electric buses to promote eco-friendly transport for pilgrims. The government intends to develop Tirupati as a wedding destination and a services hub. Plans include a skywalk, multi-storied parking, and solar panel installation on TTD buildings.

Tomorrow, September 17, 2026, schools in India may have a diverse range of holiday statuses due to the predicted heavy rain and thunderstorms across several regions. Additionally, the observance of Vishwakarma Puja in numerous states could result in school closures. It is essential for students and parents to check local announcements for the latest updates on holiday schedules, with official calendars and school circulars being the most reliable sources.

Today's quote of the day by Martin Luther King Jr. is about facing disappointments without letting them take away our hope. His words feel relevant when plans fall apart, relationships become difficult, or life takes an unexpected turn. The quote offers a quieter way to think about acceptance, resilience, perspective and finding the strength to carry on.

To eliminate pesky odors from your refrigerator, begin with a thorough clean. Toss out any spoiled items and wipe up spills; this forms the crucial first step. Once done, place some uncooked oats inside to soak up any trapped moisture and bad smells. Regular maintenance of your fridge is essential to keep it fresh and odor-free.

Quote of the Day by Matthew Rhys: Matthew Rhyss quote, Im 33 now and I seem to have hit a fitness plane. Shifting the wobbly bits isnt as easy as it used to be, humorously reflects on the challenges of staying fit as we get older. The quote suggests that maintaining physical fitness can become more difficult with age, requiring greater effort, patience, and consistency to achieve the same results.

In 1909, Jack Miner initiated bird banding, creating a vital scientific legacy. His pioneering work with waterfowl became foundational for future conservation studies. Today, this practice continues, yielding critical insights into migration patterns. A remarkable example involves a black duck that was recaptured eighteen times across nearly a decade, underscoring the lasting significance of tracking wildlife for ecological research.

India experienced significant labour productivity losses due to heat stress in 2025. A study revealed that each tonne of carbon dioxide emitted cost India nine dollars. Globally, emissions caused forty-one dollars in lost labour productivity per tonne. Outdoor workers face the greatest exposure to these dangerous heat conditions. Employers and policymakers must mitigate these damages and protect workers.

An Ahmedabad district consumer commission has ordered New India Assurance to pay a Rs 1.06 lakh mediclaim it had denied after blaming the policyholder's vegetarian diet for his vitamin B12 deficiency, which led to a transient ischaemic attack. The commission ruled that being vegetarian could not be treated as the patient's fault, and ordered the insurer to pay the claim with 9 percent interest since October 2016, along with Rs 5,000 as compensation for mental agony and legal costs.

The Women's Premier Leaguefifth edition is scheduled for January 14 to February 7, 2027. This tournament will precede the Women's Champions Trophy, which is now hosted in India. The player auction for the upcoming WPL season will take place on October 28. Kochi will host this important player acquisition event for the league. These dates were officially announced by the BCCI on Wednesday.

The Great Indian Kapil Show Season 5 is set to premiere on Netflix, with new episodes releasing every Saturday. Kapil Sharma returns with familiar faces including Sunil Grover, Krushna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda, Archana Puran Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu. The new season will have a festive theme, with Kapil teasing celebrations around Diwali and Christmas. Netflix has also promised a fresh line-up of celebrity guests, comedy and unexpected moments after the show's six-month break.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's economic vision. He stated that Modinomics has fostered India's rapid economic growth and development. Singh highlighted the nation's improved regulation and governance, ensuring public funds reach intended beneficiaries. India's defense exports now reach over one hundred countries, showcasing its growing capabilities. The minister also commended West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's work in the state.

In an exclusive interview with The Economic Times at the Global Fintech Fest 2026, Juspays Ishan Sharma reflected on 12 years of solving payments at population scale, the rise of agentic commerce and why Indian fintechs must aim for developed markets.

School Assembly News Headlines: India's ambassador held discussions with Nepal's foreign minister to enhance their bilateral relations. Meanwhile, India and Canada are striving to finalize their economic partnership agreement by the end of the year. In the UK, inflation rates have surged, prompting the Bank of England to contemplate raising interest rates. Additionally, Pakistan has prolonged its airspace restrictions on Indian flights for an extra month.

Oregon's engineering team has pioneered a remarkable solution by integrating nearly 580,000 shredded tires into highway repairs. This clever tactic not only alleviated a serious landslide predicament but also significantly lightened the embankment structure. The use of tire fill as a substitute for standard soil resulted in a budget-friendly, robust fix. Subsequent evaluations affirmed the effectiveness of this approach, marking a significant advancement in reusing tire waste for infrastructure

Nobel laureate Michael Kremer will become the World Bank's chief economist. He is recognized for his experimental approach to alleviating global poverty. Kremer will assume his new role on October 1, 2024. His work focuses on scaling innovations and using technology for development. The appointment occurs as the World Bank faces significant financing pressures.

Record US diesel prices are squeezing farmers, fishermen and households just weeks before the midterm elections. Diesel has surged nearly 70% since the Iran war began, crossing $6 a gallon, as disrupted Middle East and Russian supplies tighten the market and turn energy costs into an election issue.

HYROX admitted it made a mistake for allowing Australian athlete Joanna Wietrzyk to finish despite bowel incontinence. In a statement, HYROX apologised for the situation and stated that there are new rules and procedures in place to prevent situations like this from happening again. Videos and photos circulating online showed fecal matter on Joanna Wietrzyk's legs as she moved through workout stations, from burpee broad jumps to sandbag lunges.

Fendis Rs 8.3 lakh multicolour bag, featuring 39,500 beads and 475 mirrors, has sparked an online debate over its resemblance to traditional Indian mirror-and-bead designs. Harsh Goenka and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw have questioned the lack of recognition for Indian craftsmanship, while social media users remain divided over cultural appropriation, pricing and the role of Indian artisans.

ChatGPT for Teens combines Study Mode, homework reminders, quizzes, visual learning tools and parental controls into five features built to stop teens from switching off their thinking during homework and revision, while giving parents routine level oversight without monitoring every conversation.

Donald Trumps tariffs and 51st state rhetoric have coincided with Canada accelerating efforts to diversify away from its heavy dependence on the US. The EUs proposed associate member status could deepen cooperation in trade, defence, energy and technology, but Canadas nearly $900-billion trade relationship with the US means any economic reorientation would take years.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and former actor Vijay was among those who met actor and racing enthusiast Ajith Kumar at Silverstone in the UK on Saturday, ahead of Ajiths Michelin Le Mans Cup event. In a few videos that have gone viral, the actor is seen attending the occasion with his Leo and Ghilli co-star Trisha. As always, this appearance caused fans to speculate if the two, who have been linked romantically to each other for many years, despite not issuing a statement, were 'soft launching' the

Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci received a 25-year prison sentence for war crimes. He was found guilty of murder and torture during the 1990s conflict. Thaci and other KLA commanders denied all charges leveled against them. Thousands rallied in Pristina supporting the convicted former KLA leaders. The conflict ended after NATO airstrikes and displaced many ethnic Albanians.

UPI payments to merchants above two thousand rupees will attract a zero point four percent merchant discount rate. Merchants will pay eighteen percent GST on these charges, which is effective October 15th. Registered merchants can claim input tax credit on the GST paid on these fees. This tax structure aims to generate significant GST revenue for the government annually.

A Vietnamese farmer stumbled onto Hang Son Doong in 1990 while sheltering from a storm, though the cave's true scale was only confirmed after British cavers surveyed it in 2009. Guinness World Records lists it as the world's largest known single cave passage, holding a forest of trees up to 165 feet tall fed by sunlight through a collapsed roof, along with an underground river that creates mist and clouds inside.

Word of the Day: Impasse explains the meaning, origin and usage of the word, which describes a deadlock or situation where progress becomes impossible. Derived from French and associated with the idea of a dead end, impasse is commonly used for stalled negotiations, disagreements and discussions in which neither side can find a way forward.

Uttar Pradesh mechanic Sameerul Hasan Liyaqati, popularly known as Lalla Mistri, developed a pumpless kerosene stove after a broken air pump once left him without food. His design uses gravity and fuel heating to generate pressure without manual pumping. Tested in 2002, the Rs 300 stove later received Rs 37,250 in prototype development support.

In the year 2000, Blockbuster famously spurned a $50 million deal from Netflix, a fledgling company struggling for survival. Fast forward to today, Netflix has evolved into a colossal forces in the entertainment industry, while Blockbuster has nearly faded from the video rental landscape. This tale epitomizes the dangers of resisting technological evolution and serves as a poignant reminder of tremendous business opportunities lost.

United Kingdom inflation reached a five-month peak in August, driven by fuel prices. This increase moves inflation further from the Bank of England's target. However, interest rates are expected to remain unchanged at this meeting. Policymakers await data on wage growth and the labor market. Higher rates are still possible later this year as inflation pressures persist.

Due to concerns over misleading practices, the government has mandated that cab aggregators remove the option for advance tipping. Authorities have deemed this tactic an unfair trade practice, resulting in Rapido being fined ten lakh rupees. As investigations into Uber and Ola persist, its established that tipping must remain at the discretion of consumers after their journey.

India's outgoing Ambassador Naveen Srivastava met Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal. He conveyed appreciation for strengthening multifaceted bilateral ties between the two nations. The diplomat recalled significant progress in energy and infrastructure cooperation. Nepal's minister thanked India for disaster relief assistance after flash floods. Both expressed confidence in continued flourishing of Nepal-India relations.

In an effort to enable Alexandra Eala to participate in the Asian Games, the Philippines Tennis Association is seeking a WTA exemption. The Asian Games coincide with the mandatory China Open, posing a risk of penalties for missing it. Nevertheless, Eala has decided to compete in Nagoya for her country, showcasing her dedication regardless of the outcome.

IPL 2027 auction: BCCI will hold the IPL 2027 mini auction in India, ending a three year run of overseas venues that included Dubai, Jeddah and Abu Dhabi, according to Cricbuzz. The decision, taken at a Governing Council meeting on September 15, follows franchise concerns over overseas logistics.

Pakistan's airports authority has extended the airspace ban for Indian aircraft. This restriction will now remain in effect until October 24. The ban applies to all Indian registered aircraft and airlines. This measure follows previous airspace restrictions imposed by both nations. The extension impacts flights within Pakistan's Karachi and Lahore flight information regions.

Retailers Association of India warns new UPI fees could reverse digital payment gains. Small merchants may shift transactions back to cash, impacting government formalization efforts. The association argues UPI debit transactions should not incur merchant discount rates. They propose the government should underwrite UPI network costs instead. RAI will seek a graded MDR structure and incentives for small retailers.

India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade approved seven companies to import 642 cars. These imports will occur under the India-UK free trade agreement's tariff rate quota provisions. The government had sought applications for a quota of approximately 5,000 vehicles for the year 2026. This approval marks the first allocation under the 2026 quota following recent applications. The agreement allows concessional customs duty on vehicle imports from Britain.