Good morning! Here’s your quick catch-up on the biggest stories making headlines.
UPI is set for a key change from October 15, but most users and small merchants will see no impact. Person-to-person payments will remain free, while specified higher-value merchant transactions will attract MDR.
On the cricket field, India have sealed a 2-0 series win over Afghanistan, while Meta has agreed to share child abuse and safety-related information with Indian law enforcement agencies.
Also in today’s Bhaskar Smart Brief, don’t miss our coverage of the US acknowledging that it has deployed weapons in orbit, raising fresh concerns about a space arms race. Along with these, we’ve rounded up the other top stories you need to start your day.
Today’s Top Headlines
Businesses to pay 0.4% charges above ₹2,000
UPI is set for a key change, but most users and small merchants will see no impact. Person-to-person payments will remain free, while MDR will apply only to specified merchant transactions above ₹2,000 from 15 October 2026.
Around 96% of merchant transactions will remain unaffected. Small merchants receiving up to ₹1 lakh a month via UPI QR codes will also pay no MDR, while eligible higher-value transactions will attract 0.4%, capped at ₹300. READ MORE
India beat Afghanistan to seal 2-0 series win
India’s T20I campaign is gathering momentum, with another emphatic win putting the series beyond Afghanistan’s reach. The seven-wicket victory in Delhi gave the Men in Blue an unassailable 2-0 lead, underlining their strong run of form.
Afghanistan’s 159/8 never looked enough after Nitish Kumar Reddy’s three-wicket haul. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma then powered India home in just 14.5 overs. With one match still to play, attention now turns to whether India can complete a clean sweep. READ MORE
Facebook, Insta & WhatsApp to share child abuse data with India
Protecting children online is becoming a bigger test for social media platforms, with the government pushing for stronger action against harmful content. Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has now agreed to share information on child sexual abuse and other child safety concerns with Indian law enforcement agencies.
The move follows talks with the government over online safety. Officials have warned that platforms must act on their own to protect children, while discussions with other digital platforms continue. READ MORE
Gurugram woman biker hit-and-run: Accused arrested, what happens next?
A hit-and-run case in Gurugram has taken a more serious turn, with police now treating it as an alleged attempt to murder. The main accused, Kalyan Bainsla, has been arrested in Rajasthan.
Police have also detained two friends who allegedly helped him after the crash. With Section 109 of the BNS added, the investigation now shifts towards what happened before and after the collision. READ MORE
US admits space weapons: Is a new arms race coming?
Space is fast becoming a new military frontier, with major powers building capabilities beyond Earth. The US has now acknowledged that it has weapons in orbit that could be used to protect American troops from enemy attacks.
But Washington has not revealed what these weapons are, how many are deployed, or when they were sent into space. The disclosure comes as the US, Russia and China expand their military presence in orbit, raising fears of a new space arms race. READ MORE
The Day Ahead
- The Union Cabinet will meet at 11 am today. The agenda has not been announced yet, but the govt is expected to discuss the Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project. The meeting comes after recent agreements between Himachal, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP and Delhi.
- Central team likely to visit Bihar on Sept 16 to assess flood situation. Over 49.67 lakh people are affected across 15 districts; multiple rivers are flowing above the danger mark.
- The Supreme Court bench led by CJI Surya Kant is scheduled to hear a significant dispute regarding the functioning and appointments of national tribunals. The court previously expressed strong concerns about key tribunals (like the National Green Tribunal) becoming completely defunct due to delayed vacancies.
- Hero Motors will open its ₹1,000-crore IPO on Sept 16. The issue will remain open for two days, until Sept 18. The price band is set at ₹79–84 per share, giving the company a valuation of around ₹3,815.4 crore at the upper end of the band.
- All eyes will be on the US Federal Reserve as it announces its monetary policy and updated economic projections. A 25-bps rate hike is widely expected. Investors will focus on its outlook for clues on Indian stocks, gold and the rupee amid rising inflation and geopolitical tensions.
Visual Of The Day
On elephant patrol: Karnataka Police inspect iconic 400-year-old Mysuru Dasara procession route
Today In History
Statement Of The Day
News With a Twist
Swim with pigs in Greece! | Top 5 interesting stories
Truth can sometimes be stranger than fiction, especially when pigs take to the sea, robots start looking like fish, and homemade cars turn scrap into something straight out of a futuristic showroom. These unusual moments offer a lighter look at the stories making waves beyond the usual headlines.
From tourists swimming alongside beach-roaming pigs in Greece to China’s underwater robotic fish, Nigeria’s petrol-powered Cybertruck lookalike and a crowd in San Francisco gathering to scream at the sea, the world has produced some wonderfully odd scenes. Here are five quirky stories that grabbed attention across the world. READ MORE
News in Headlines
- 50 mini-Indias thrive in US despite Trump crackdown READ MORE
- Malaysian PM’s Bollywood playlist goes viral READ MORE
- Pakistan snubs Saudi despite Mecca defence deal READ MORE
- ‘Hope he’s not acting’: SC gives Rajpal Yadav 2 weeks to deposit ₹2 cr READ MORE
- Africa’s wild dogs travel 4,000 km in search of mates READ MORE
- Brendon Taylor breaks Tendulkar’s longest ODI career record READ MORE
