UPI survey shows resistance to additional payment costs A LocalCircles survey suggests that 76% of respondents could move purchases above ₹2,000 away from UPI if merchants charge them extra for using the payment method. The findings reflect a possible change in consumer behaviour, rather than an actual shift already recorded.

Kalam Foundation organises ISRO tour for 147 students The People’s President Abdul Kalam International Foundation has organised an educational tour to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for 147 school students from Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district. The initiative brings together students from several parts of the district for a learning opportunity centred on science

Israelis thank Smit Machchhar after flydubai attack Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar has received an outpouring of gratitude from Israeli social media users after his actions during an alleged cockpit attack helped avert a disaster aboard a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to Israeli authorities, Machchhar was seriously in

Revanth Reddy takes political fight to KTR’s constituency Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy sharpened his criticism of BRS leaders K.T. Rama Rao and K. Chandrashekar Rao during a visit to Sircilla, the constituency represented by KTR. Addressing the public, he urged voters to give Congress an opportunity to lead the constituency’s development. The visit si

Indian captain injured in cockpit attack A flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after an alleged attack inside the cockpit left Indian Captain Smit Machchhar seriously injured. Israeli officials said the co-pilot stabbed the captain and attempted to take control of the Boeing 737 MAX 8, trigg

An Indian captain reportedly fought back after being stabbed during an alleged cockpit attack aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. His resistance helped prevent a potential disaster involving more than 180 people on board. The aircraft subsequently landed in Saudi Arabia, reportedly after two off-duty pilots travelling as passengers intervened. Initial accounts describe a violent confrontation inside the

Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh has outlined the Telugu Desam Party’s position on the Election Commission amid political debate over electoral procedures and allegations surrounding electronic voting machines. Speaking at a conclave organised by a national media channel, Lokesh said the TDP had approached the commission for clarification whenever it had concerns. Asked whether the party would join the opposition

Apple Pay launched in India on September 30, 2026, bringing Apple’s payment service to eligible cardholders. At launch, it supports Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards, with access across iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Apple has announced that Mac support will follow. The launch gives supported users another way to pay at participating stores, in apps and online. The initial rollout is limited to eligible A

India’s women’s compound archery team delivered a commanding performance against China to win gold at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya on Wednesday, September 30. Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Chikhita Taniparthi and Prithika Pradeep combined experience, composure and precision to retain the title and secure India’s first archery gold of this edition. The victory marked a strong response from Jyothi after her individual title defence ended with a defeat to South K

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday urged young people across India to join peaceful protests demanding safer public spaces for women. In a post and accompanying video, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha argued that the response to harassment and sexual violence should focus on those who commit the crimes, rather than on restricting women’s movements. Gandhi criticised what he described as a system that b

A video shared by tech enthusiast Tech by Pawan has prompted questions about how far an AI agent can go while using a public booking website. According to a Gulte report published on September 29, Pawan asked the agent to seek a Tirumala room for December 21. The video reportedly shows it signing in with details supplied by the user, navigating the TTD website and selecting options before reaching the payment stage. The d

Chiranjeevi is reportedly being considered for a Netflix celebrity talk show in a podcast-style format. The proposed series could bring his stories and conversations to a global audience, although its format, guests and launch date have not been officially announced.  A Possible New Chapter on Netflix Reports suggest that Chiranjeevi may lead a multi-episode show for the streaming platform. Instead of a scripted role, the Telugu cinema star would be at the

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A shipment of F-35 fighter jet components sent from Australia to the United States for repairs was unexpectedly diverted to Hong Kong, triggering investigations into how the parts changed course and who now holds them. The US F-35 Joint Program Office has acknowledged a shipment issue and says it is working with authorities and industry partners to retrieve the components. Bloomberg reported that the Chinese government ha

The IPL 2027 player auction will be held in Goa this December, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has confirmed. The announcement brings one of the league’s biggest off-field events back to India after three consecutive auctions overseas. An exact auction date has yet to be announced. The previous three editions were staged in Dubai, Jeddah and Abu Dhabi. Dubai hosted the auction for the 2024 season, Jeddah held the 2025 mega auction, and Abu Dhabi staged the 2026 auction. Goa will therefore host the first IPL player auction in India since 2023. Why the IPL auction is returning to India IPL chairman Arun Dhumal had earlier said the BCCI wanted to bring the auction home, but securing a suitable venue during India’s busy December wedding season had been a challenge. He also indicated that the upcoming event would be a smaller auction following the 2025 mega auction. For the franchises, the Goa announcement settles the location while they prepare their squad plans for IPL 2027. Teams will now await further details, including the precise date and auction arrangements. The venue decision does not itself reveal which players will be available or how much each franchise will have to spend. Impact Player rule also under review Alongside auction planning, the BCCI is seeking fresh feedback on the IPL’s Impact Player rule. The substitution provision allows a team to bring in an additional player during a match. It is currently scheduled to remain in place through 2027, but its future has been discussed by the IPL Governing Council. Several players have raised concerns that the rule reduces opportunities for genuine all-rounders. Dhumal has said the board will consult stakeholders before taking a decision. No change to the rule has been announced, so the confirmed update for now is the auction’s return to India, with Goa set to host it in December.