IBTimes

The government has clarified that consumers will not be charged for UPI payments, with all person-to-person transactions continuing to remain free. Any future merchant discount rate (MDR) would apply only to select merchant transactions above a specified threshold and at a nominal rate.

The students have been protesting in Ranchi since July 29, demanding CBI and ED probes into alleged paper leaks and recruitment irregularities in JPSC and JSSC examinations. Sonakshi Sinha, Raveena Tandon, Imran Khan and Bhumi Pednekar have also voiced support for the students.

Display shipments for refurbished smartphones surpassed those for new smartphone production for the first time in Q1 2026, according to Omdia. Refurbishment demand rose as high memory costs forced smartphone makers to cut production.

Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy urging motorists to stop paying NICE Road toll over alleged BMIC irregularities and demanding a government takeover. Home Minister Priyank Kharge warned citizens against conducting independent investigations into suspected illegal migrants or sharing sensitive information online

The Federation of Indian Pilots has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to replace the DGCA with an autonomous Civil Aviation Authority of India. In a letter, FIP said the current regulator lacks financial flexibility and independence. The body said a statutory authority could improve safety oversight, recruit experts and support India's expanding aviation sector.

The government proposed an ED-CID probe into financial irregularities and a retired judge-led investigation into the CGL issue. With no agreement reached, students will march towards the Jharkhand Assembly on August 10. Three JPSC members have also resigned amid the ongoing controversy.

A captain on an Air India flight reportedly tested positive for psychoactive substances. This follows a severe turbulence incident that occurred near Odisha. The airline has not confirmed the test results, stating they were not shared. Pilots involved are currently off flying duty pending the ongoing investigation.

The annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra will remain suspended from August 9 on the Chandanwari and Baltal routes to facilitate track repairs and maintenance following recent rains. More than 4.8 lakh pilgrims have performed darshan at the Holy Cave so far. The traditional Chhari Mubarak procession will proceed through the Pahalgam route and mark the formal culmination of the 2026 pilgrimage on August 28.

Taking to his Instagram story on Sunday, August 9, Sidharth praised Kiara's hard work and dedication, expressing confidence that her efforts will be visible on the big screen.

A 41-year-old Mumbai Police constable, Ganesh Rayate, who was deployed to guard Salman Khan's Galaxy Apartments in Bandra, died after reportedly suffering a suspected heart attack while on duty. Rayate complained of uneasiness around 6 pm and was rushed to Bhabha Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Inspectors reported live insects, mould, rodent droppings, expired stock, poor sanitation and pest-control failures at VKC Nuts, while Chheda Specialities was flagged for unhygienic food handling, fungal growth, stagnant water, poor waste management and unsafe or misbranded food samples.

Microbiome research is also influencing cancer treatment, precision nutrition, metabolic health and disease prediction, with AI accelerating discoveries. However, experts caution that many microbiome-based treatments and commercial products remain experimental.

Iran's Mehr News Agency released an undated video showing Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei appearing in good health after Israeli media reports claimed he was in critical condition.

Milk prices in Maharashtra will rise by Rs 2 per litre from August 11, while dairy products may become up to 10 percent costlier amid higher fuel, packaging and procurement costs.

Filmmaker Shakeel Noorani was arrested after a 33-year-old actress alleged that he raped and sexually assaulted her repeatedly. According to her complaint, she fell unconscious after Noorani allegedly gave her a drink, then claimed he showed her a video and threatened to circulate it if she contacted police.

J&K Police have issued a public advisory cautioning citizens that scammers are exploiting AI-powered deepfake and morphing tools to misuse publicly shared photos, videos, reels, and voice clips creating fake identities and impersonation scams that appear alarmingly authentic. The advisory urges the public to limit exposure of personal content, use masked copies of sensitive documents like Aadhaar, enable two-factor authentication, and report suspicious accounts or DMs promptly.

The trailer shows Yash in a dangerous world filled with crime, power, betrayal and violence. His rugged appearance and intense screen presence dominate the trailer, while the action sequences add to the film's dark and stylish tone.

A high-level committee headed by retired Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navlekar will visit J&K from August 10 to 12 to conduct a ground-level assessment of demographic changes, cross-border movement, alleged infiltration, identification of foreign nationals, document verification and unusual settlement patterns. The panel is expected to visit sensitive areas along the IB and LoC, interact with officials and residents, and examine alleged movement from border districts to the interior and Kashmir Val

Yash has addressed rumours of Toxic being shelved, revealing the film was shot for 200 days. The actor also hit back at the reports, assuring fans that every penny spent is visible on screen.

Counter-Intelligence Kashmir arrested Siraj Nabi Parray of Budgam for allegedly running a social media account glorifying terrorists and inciting youth toward terrorism. In a parallel pre-dawn operation, J&K Police's Counter-Intelligence Wing raided locations in Baramulla, Shopian, Anantnag, Kupwara and Bandipora.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Tehran's commitment to dialogue while saying Iran would not surrender its rights. He said Iran would continue to honour its commitments under the US-Iran MoU as long as Washington also fulfils its obligations.

Speaking at the inauguration of the QUANTUM exhibition in Bengaluru, Shivakumar called for deeper collaboration with American universities, research institutions, incubators and innovation hubs in areas including quantum technology, skilling and joint research. He also highlighted Karnataka's plans for India's first Quantum City

Gold prices in Delhi rose by 200 to 1.54 lakh per 10 grams on Friday, extending gains for the fourth straight session. Silver remained unchanged at 2,34,800 per kilogram, inclusive of all taxes, after witnessing a sharp rise in the previous session.

The FDA also seized banned gutkha and pan masala worth Rs 20.29 lakh and other food products worth Rs 2.63 crore, taking the total value of seized goods to Rs 2.83 crore.

A man threw ink at All India Students' Association president Neha Bora during a protest march to the Jharkhand Assembly here on Friday over alleged irregularities in recruitment exams in the state, accusing her of being anti-national.

The meeting came a day after Modi held a breakfast meeting with 45 Parliamentarians, including several MPs who had recently changed political affiliations and joined the BJP-led NDA. The interaction took place amid disruptions during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.

India does not support the creation of a common BRICS currency, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said after a two-day meeting of BRICS trade and industry ministers in Jaipur.

It mandates that, in the case of disputes mediation must be completed within 90 days and requires courts to release at least 50 per cent of disputed awarded amounts to MSMEs if an appeal lingers past six months.

Yash's much-awaited 'Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups' has raised excitement among fans with the release of a new action-packed poster ahead of its trailer launch. Actress Kiara Advani has arrived in Bengaluru for the trailer launch event, with the makers announcing that the trailer will be released at 7.01 pm

The US Senate has overwhelmingly passed a bill allowing President Donald Trump to impose 100% tariffs on goods from major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China. Passed 86-11, the legislation also targets Russian officials and extends Iran sanctions until 2031. The bill now awaits consideration by the House of Representatives on August 31.

The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 proposes a major overhaul of India's higher education regulatory system by replacing multiple regulators with a unified framework. While the government says the reform will improve quality, autonomy and efficiency in line with the NEP 2020.

India's textile and apparel exports to the United States, worth nearly $11 billion a year, now face a competitive disadvantage against Asian rivals.

Nepal's RSP government, elected in March 2026 on an anti-corruption platform, is facing its biggest test after communal violence in the Terai exposed gaps in intelligence, crisis management and political communication despite early governance gains.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement amid escalating tensions in West Asia. The pact states that an armed attack on any one of the three nations will be treated as an attack on all, while boosting defence cooperation. The deal has fuelled speculation over a broader regional security alliance.

The Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Department has established 30 special teams to carry out surprise inspections of hotels, restaurants and food outlets in Bengaluru and other major areas across the state. This initiative follows an increase in complaints regarding poor food quality, hygiene and food safety breaches.

The government said the studies found no significant adverse impact on vehicle performance, engine durability, fuel efficiency or material compatibility, including in legacy vehicles, following comprehensive scientific evaluation before the rollout of E20 fuel.

Adhikari said Chakraborty is recovering well, is likely to be discharged soon, and had requested that the procedure not be publicised. The Chief Minister described him as an asset of Bengal and praised his contribution to both cinema and politics.

The government told the Supreme Court of India that the concept of a creamy layer cannot be extended for the reservation of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes categories. The government argued that the doctrine has consistently been applied to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) only.

Gauahar Khan attended the party with husband Zaid Darbar, and shared unseen pictures, including one with ex-boyfriend Kushal Tandon. Another viral clip showed Agu Stanley Chiedozie playfully lifting Seema Sajdeh.

The celebrity lineup includes Aaditya Kulshreshth aka Kullu, Abhishek Malhan aka Fukraa Insaan, Ansh Chopra, Dalip Tahil, Harman Singha, Ikka Singh, Karan Singh Magic, Krystle D'souza, Mallika Sherawat, Munawar Faruqui, Parul Gulati, Prish, Ranveer Brar, Rhea Chakraborty, Rida Tharana, Sahil Salathia, Shahneel Gill, Shalini Passi, Shweta Tiwari, Soundous Moufakir and Tanya Puri.

Harshvardhan Rane and Sanjeeda Shaikh's latest Instagram posts from a monsoon getaway has sparked dating rumours. Eagle-eyed fans spotted striking similarities in their cosy setup, including the two cups of tea, leaving many convinced the rumoured couple spent the weekend together.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has reiterated that normal relations with Pakistan can move forward only in an environment free from terrorism, hostility and violence. In the Lok Sabha, he outlined India's diplomatic and strategic measures following the Pulwama and Pahalgam terror attacks. Separately, MoS External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said India is pursuing permanent membership of an expanded UN Security Council through bilateral and multilateral engagements.

Amid escalating Red Sea tensions, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Indian missions across the Gulf are providing 24x7 assistance to Indian-flagged ships and seafarers while coordinating with maritime authorities.

The petition had alleged that Vijay was involved in an extramarital relationship with a female actor, claims he had not publicly responded to. The court allowed the withdrawal while granting Sangeetha the liberty to file a fresh petition in the future, if required.

The Nifty ended the session down 65.35 points, or 0.27 per cent, at 24,570.65, while the Sensex declined 455.59 points, or 0.58 per cent, to settle at 78,499.17.

The students in Jharkhand gathered at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi, demanding the cancellation of all JSSC CGL, JSSC JE, and PGT exams after 2019, a CBI investigation into the irregularities, strict action against the mafias and agencies involved, disclosure of category-wise cut-offs (UR, EWS, BC-I, BC-II, SC, ST), OMR copies, and response sheets for transparency regarding the process and a recruitment calendar modelled after UPSC/SSC standards.

The government has strengthened maritime safety through updated advisories, a 24x7 control room, the eNavik portal, and close coordination with the Indian Navy, MEA and international maritime agencies.

In a shocking incident in Jammu's Bishnah area, a man allegedly bludgeoned his 11-year-old stepson to death with bricks and stones before dumping his body in a nearby gorge. Police arrested the accused, Ravi Kumar, and registered a case under Section 103 of the BNS, while an investigation is underway to ascertain the motive behind the brutal killing.

Seven people were killed after a student allegedly opened fire at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Thailand before dying by suicide, police said. Authorities alleged the attacker had earlier killed his grandparents. Students and teachers were among the dead, while investigators continue probing the motive behind the shooting.

Announcing the launch, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal invited users to follow the ministry on Snapchat for exclusive stories, updates and behind-the-scenes content on India's diplomatic engagements.