October 2026 holiday list: Check when schools, banks and government offices will remain closed for festivals

Man who stabbed workmate in ‘ferocious’ attack after night out in Kent town jailed

A 23-year-old man who launched a “persistent and ferocious” attack on a work colleague after a night out has been jailed for nearly eight years.

Iran indicates it received official US response to its latest offer on ending war

The US has formally responded to Tehran's recent war proposal, challenging Iranian officials amidst ongoing economic sanctions that severely impact the nation. Traders indicate a notable dip in the value of the Iranian rial. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has initiated dialogues about the conditions for reopening the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Yet, the Trump administration's relentless economic campaign against Iran poses significant hurdles to negotiations.

Today’s word of the day September 30: Cogitate meaning, pronunciation, origin and examples explained

Word of the Day: Cogitate means to think deeply and carefully about a question, idea or decision. Used mainly as a verb, the word suggests deliberate and prolonged reflection rather than a passing thought. Originating from the Latin “cogitare”, meaning “to think” or “to consider”, cogitate is often found in formal, literary and academic writing where careful reasoning is being described.

India's fighter jet engine efforts get a big boost: Desi Kaveri engine clears key step in Russia, ready for integration with stealth UCAV ‘Ghatak’

India's Kaveri dry engine has completed high-altitude and flight trials in Russia, recording 48.5 kN of peak dry thrust against its target of 46 kN. Developed by DRDO, the engine is intended for India's planned Ghatak stealth UCAV.

Sunil Kumar wins second Asian Games medal with bronze; Nisha Dahiya knocked out

Sunil Kumar became the first Indian Greco Roman wrestler to win two Asian Games medals. He secured a bronze in the men's 87kg event after defeating Philippines' Roberts Callum Johnston. Nisha Dahiya faced disappointment as she lost both her bouts in the women's 68kg category. After a strong start, Nisha failed to maintain her lead against North Korea's Pak.

How a 16-year-old researcher hacked into Microsoft analytics service holding 17 trillion rows of data

Faav, a savvy security researcher, discovered a significant vulnerability in Microsoft's Titan analytics platform that permitted unauthorized access. This flaw enabled him to masquerade as an administrator, executing SQL commands on extensive datasets. Upon notifying Microsoft, swift actions were taken to remedy the issue. For his responsible reporting, Faav was awarded a bounty of $5,000, highlighting the critical need for thorough security assessments within tech firms.

India business confidence rises 8% in September despite global headwinds: ASSOCHAM

India's business landscape showed remarkable resilience as confidence levels surged by 5.6% in the first half of FY27 according to the ASSOCHAM Business Confidence Index. Spanning from April to September 2026, the index illustrates notable growth even in the face of persistent challenges like inflation and rupee depreciation, especially in July, August, and September.

India's fiscal deficit for April-August at Rs 7.10 lakh crore, widens to 41.9% of FY27 aim

As FY27 progresses, India's fiscal deficit climbed to an alarming Rs 7.10 lakh crore within the first five months, representing 41.9% of the projected budget for the year. The total receipts amounted to Rs 13.68 lakh crore, aligning at 37.5% of the total budget. Meanwhile, government spending hit Rs 20.78 lakh crore, with major subsidies also rising to Rs 1.87 lakh crore amidst continuing fiscal challenges.

Taylor Wimpey warns 290-home Sittingbourne estate could stall unless affordable housing slashed

A developer has warned its 290-home estate could stall unless a council agrees to its terms, claiming it faces a shortfall of millions of pounds.

Alleyway taped off in murder probe after death of man in his 60s

Police have taped off an alleyway behind a bungalow after a man in his 60s was found dead inside the property, sparking a murder probe.

Anthropic warns AI could pose ‘existential risks’ as it eyes $2 trillion IPO

How Chikitha Taniparthi’s father steered her from karate to archery to Asiad gold

Chikitha Taniparthi made a remarkable Asian Games debut by winning two gold medals in archery. Her journey began when her father encouraged her to pursue sports over karate. After facing numerous challenges, including financial difficulties, she achieved significant milestones in her archery career. With guidance from experienced mentors, she honed her skills and became a world champion.