Good morning! Here’s your quick catch-up on the biggest stories making headlines today.
US President Donald Trump used his address at the UN General Debate to dismiss concerns over American ammunition stockpiles, claiming the US has more munitions than it could ever use. He also praised Pakistan’s prime minister as a “fantastic man” and renewed his criticism of the United Nations, accusing it of pushing a “radical-left wing agenda”.
The 72nd National Film Awards were held for the first time outside Delhi, with Kartik Aaryan winning his first National Award for Chandu Champion, Mammootty being honoured for Bramayugam, and Article 370 emerging as one of the biggest winners.
Also in today’s Bhaskar Smart Brief, India’s women’s cricket team has delivered the country’s first gold medal at the Asian Games, while the Supreme Court has agreed to examine whether refusing to sing Vande Mataram can lead to criminal action.
Along with these, we’ve rounded up the other top stories you need to start your day.
Today’s Top Headlines
Trump tells UNGA he saved ’30 million lives’, says Pakistan’s PM thanked him
US President Donald Trump addressed the UN General Debate in New York on Tuesday, accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and First Lady Melania Trump.
Trump dismissed claims that the US was running short of ammunition, saying the country had “more munitions than we could ever possibly think of using” and was producing them at unprecedented levels. He also praised Pakistan’s prime minister as a “fantastic man” and claimed the leader had thanked him for saving 30 million lives last year.
Trump also renewed his attack on the UN, accusing it of promoting what he described as a “radical-left wing agenda”. UN insiders, meanwhile, have described the first year of his second term as chaotic for the organisation, although they said its position has improved slightly. READ MORE
Kartik Aaryan, Yami Gautam win Best Actor, Actress at National Film Awards
Indian cinema’s biggest stars came together in Gujarat on Monday as the 72nd National Film Awards were presented in a historic ceremony near the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, marking the first time the event was held outside Delhi’s Vigyan Bhavan.
The evening saw Kartik Aaryan win his first National Award for Chandu Champion, while veteran actor Mammootty was honoured for Bramayugam.
Among the other major winners, Yami Gautam received the Best Actress award for Article 370, which also bagged the Best Feature Film honour, while Srikanth was named Best Hindi Film. President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards to winners whose names were announced on 18 July. READ MORE
Women’s cricket wins India’s first Asian Games gold; badminton, Wushu medals assured
India had another strong day at the Asian Games 2026, with the women’s cricket team delivering the country’s first gold medal of the Games. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side beat Sri Lanka by 147 runs, bowling them out for 69 after posting 216/3, taking India’s overall medal tally to seven.
India also secured more medals in badminton and wushu. The men’s badminton team beat Japan 3-0 to reach the semi-finals and guarantee a medal, while Roshibina Devi advanced to the wushu semi-finals, assuring India of another medal. READ MORE
SC says, ‘Not singing Vande Mataram for religious reasons isn’t crime’
The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to examine whether refusing to sing Vande Mataram can attract criminal action. The bench, headed by CJI Surya Kant, however, declined to decide whether the national song should be restricted to its first two stanzas or all six.
The court also observed that a person who does not sing the song for religious reasons should not face criminal proceedings.
The hearing followed a petition by singer TM Krishna challenging provisions that make deliberately stopping or disrupting the singing of Vande Mataram a punishable offence. The amendment bringing the national song received the President’s assent on August 6. READ MORE
Govt clarifies GST on UPI transactions will be refunded to shopkeepers
A recent clarification from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has shed light on how GST will work if merchants are charged MDR on large UPI payments.
Under the proposed framework, shopkeepers making person-to-merchant (P2M) UPI transactions above ₹2,000 may have to pay GST on the MDR charged by payment providers, but that amount would not necessarily become an additional cost.
A merchant receiving a ₹10,000 UPI payment would pay ₹40 as MDR and ₹7.20 as GST on that charge. However, NPCI indicated that the GST component can be claimed as input tax credit and adjusted against the merchant’s overall GST liability. READ MORE
The Day Ahead
1. Indian athletes are set for another busy day at the Asian Games, with the men’s badminton team taking on hosts China in the semi-finals after already securing a medal. Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu will compete in the women’s 49 kg weightlifting final, while Manu Bhaker will compete in the women’s 10m air pistol.
2. Chinese President Xi Jinping begins a three-day state visit to the United States today at Donald Trump’s invitation. The visit, scheduled from September 23 to 25, will include discussions on economic and trade issues, guided by the consensus reached between the two leaders.
3. In New Delhi, a two-day Chintan Shivir of the Union Cabinet Ministers gets underway today. All Cabinet ministers are expected to attend the meeting at Seva Teerth, where they will review governance priorities, assess ongoing work, and discuss the government’s agenda for the coming months.
4. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that Iranian airlines could effectively be shut out of international travel from today, as Washington prepares to impose secondary sanctions on foreign firms that continue providing services to Iran’s carriers.
5. President Droupadi Murmu will be in Vadodara today to attend the 75th annual convocation ceremony of Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. She will also launch the Brahma Kumaris’ ‘Spiritual Awakening for World Renewal’ campaign, inaugurate the Global Spiritual Palace Retreat Centre, and virtually launch the ‘Youth for Viksit Bharat: Awakening Inner Strength for Nation Building’ campaign in Nadiad.
Visual Of The Day
India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka players share the podium after the women’s cricket event at the Asian Games. India won gold, Sri Lanka silver, while Pakistan settled for bronze.
Today In History
Statement Of The Day
News With A Twist
Thieves snatch iPhone 18 Pro after asking its model
A newly bought iPhone 18 Pro became the target of a bizarre robbery in Greater Noida after two men on a motorbike first asked its owner which model she was carrying. Meanwhile, in Patna, a gardening enthusiast has taken his love for plants into the bathroom, even growing them inside his toilet flush tank.
In Australia, a woman who had worn a wig for nearly 30 years threw a unique birthday party where guests were asked to turn up bald. And in China, millions of abandoned shared bicycles have piled up in huge heaps, with some reaching 40 feet high. READ MORE
News In Headlines
US white groups accused of spying on Indians; hate crimes may rise during midterms READ MORE
IIT Bombay to remove ceiling fans after student suicide READ MORE
India beat Japan by two runs in historic T20I; Washington Sundar shines READ MORE
SC upholds ban on anticipatory bail under under SC/ST Act ; rejects PIL READ MORE
Google to report child sexual abuse cases directly to Indian government READ MORE
