On Sunday, Google stated that it is examining the instructions from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) regarding its actions in the online display advertising industry.

The Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF) filed a complaint, and the trade regulator requested a full investigation. The CCI stated that it has instructed the Director General (DG) to launch a comprehensive investigation into Google’s actions inside the AdTech ecosystem and has chosen to combine the complaint with ongoing investigations in situations comparable to this one.

In a different ruling, the CCI rejected an ADIF complaint against Google, stating that the claims made had already been investigated and resolved in earlier cases. According to the regulator, it is not persuaded by ADIF’s justifications for separating its claims from the problems it looked at in earlier rulings.

“We are examining the directives from the CCI. In a statement, a Google representative said, “We applaud the CCI’s decision to dismiss one portion of the case.

The business continued, “We are confident that our continued work with the CCI will confirm that Google’s advertising practices are fully compliant with competition law and have continuously benefited advertisers, publishers, and users.”

In their case, ADIF claimed that Google had used anti-competitive tactics at several levels of its advertising technology stack.

Additionally, ADIF accused Google of engaging in anti-competitive behavior through its various group entities by favoring its own services within the AdTech ecosystem. This included tying and bundling its ad exchange (AdX) with its publisher ad server (DFP) and connecting its demand-side platform (DV360) with access to YouTube ad inventory.

According to Section 4 of the Competition Act, which addresses abuse of a dominant position, the CCI stated that it was first convinced that Google’s actions merited examination.

Sam Altman, CEO of the US artificial intelligence (AI) company OpenAI, has urged ChatGPT users to exercise patient as “probable hiccups and capacity crunches” may result from the impending feature launches and new model releases.

Altman stated, “We have a ton of stuff to launch over the next couple of months — new models, products, features, and more,” in a post on X (previously Twitter). We ask for your patience throughout the likely delays and capacity constraints. We believe you will truly enjoy what we have made for you, despite the fact that it could be a little choppy.

Altman did not say which new models he was talking about, but according to some rumors, OpenAI was going to release its GPT-5 model in early August. The ChatGPT creator claims that the new, cutting-edge GPT-5 model is the first LLM to have unified reasoning capabilities, which will remove the requirement for users to choose a reasoning model from the model picker for more complex reasoning tasks.

This month, OpenAI also revealed plans to offer its first-ever open-weights model.

It is said that the new GPT-5 model can decide when to use extended reasoning and when not to. Altman hinted at GPT-5’s potential in a recent podcast with The Verge, stating that the model assisted him in responding to a challenging email that he should have been able to manage but was unable to.

“I received a question while testing our new model. I didn’t fully comprehend the question that was emailed to me. In the model, I included it. I kind of went back in my chair and thought, “Oh man, this GPT5 answered it perfectly. I got over it quickly,” he added.

“It was really difficult, and I felt like I was worthless compared to the AI in this task that I should have been able to complete, but the AI simply carried it out in that manner.” He also said

GPT-5 free tier users will have unlimited chats at the standard intelligence setting, according to Altman’s announcement earlier this year. ChatGPT Plus subscribers will be able to run GPT-5 at a higher level of intelligence, and Pro subscribers will be able to run the most recent model at a “even higher level of intelligence.”

The state government of Odisha has announced the creation of the Integrated Global Financial Technology Capability Hub (I-GFTCH) in the city, a landmark decision that has the potential to transform the state’s digital economy.

The government inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Asian Institute of Digital Finance at the National University of Singapore (NUS-AIDF) and the Singapore-based Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN) during President Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s January visit.

After the first group of students is chosen, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will officially launch the I-GFTCH on August 21.

The first-of-its-kind FinTech competence center will teach professionals in the FinTech and InsurTech fields, preparing more than 7,000 graduates for employment over the course of the next five years.

With I-GFTCH, Odisha not only joins the FinTech race but also hopes to lead it, according to Minister for Electronics and IT Mukesh Mahaling. Under Vision Odisha 2036 and 2047, the financial services industry in Odisha, which presently contributes around 8% of the state’s gross state value added (GSVA), is expected to grow rapidly. By concentrating on advanced banking, insurance, payments, and cutting-edge FinTech solutions, the state hopes to raise its GSVA share to over 49 percent by 2047,” he said.

Job applicants selected through an online exam will be offered a future-proof FinTech and InsurTech professional certification program by I-GFTCH as part of the project. This five-month hybrid course is intended for postgraduate and final-year undergraduate students who want to progress in their financial careers. It consists of online courses, on-campus sessions, and internship placements.

“This initiative puts Odisha on the global map of digital skilling, perfectly aligning with India’s broader technological aspirations,” said Minister of Higher Education Suryabanshi Suraj. “We are committed to building a talent pipeline that can power India’s innovation economy, and certification is a powerful step forward,” stated the chief executive officer. Additionally, I-GFTCH will have a Center of Excellence (CoE) to support business acceleration and digital innovation.

The center will provide all-encompassing support, including incubation, coaching, bootcamps, market readiness programs, and venture development help, with the goal of acting as a launching pad for regional startups and SMEs.

I-GFTCH will serve as the centerpiece of a globally integrated, multifaceted strategy to support inclusive growth, digital transformation, and international cooperation, according to Vishal Kumar Dev, Principal Secretary of Electronics and IT. “It will nurture financial technology and InsurTech startups and create a talent pool of professionals to help Odisha sustain its competitive edge in the digital economy,” he said.

Odisha’s goal to become a global hub for FinTech innovation is being realized, according to Sopnendu Mohanty, group CEO of GFTN, thanks to top-notch certification programs and a state-of-the-art capabilities hub that opens up international prospects for local talent and creates a digital economy prepared for the future.

In addition, the government said that in the first quarter of next year, Odisha will host the India edition of the Black Swan Summit (BSS), a prestigious worldwide gathering that aims to investigate disruptive ideas such as digital infrastructure, tokenization, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing.

The summit, which was introduced this year in Perth, Western Australia, now serves as the focal point of the Black Swan Network, GFTN’s premier multi-location, worldwide platform for group vision and cross-border cooperation.

According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, the iPhone manufacturer set revenue records in over two dozen countries and regions, including India, during the June quarter.

Cook told analysts on the call that double-digit increase in the iPhone, Mac, and Services categories was the main driver of these results.

In the great majority of the markets we monitor, we witnessed a global acceleration of growth. Every geographic area witnessed an increase in iPhone sales, while growing countries like Brazil, South Asia, the Middle East, and India had double-digit growth, according to the CEO of Apple.

With sales climbing 15% year over year, Mac continued to achieve outstanding achievements. Cook reported that “we set another all-time revenue record in Services which grew 13 per cent with double-digit growth in both developed and emerging markets.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to open new stores in the UAE and India later this year,” the company said, referring to the recent opening of the Apple Store online in Saudi Arabia.

According to Tarun Pathak, director of research at Counterpoint, Apple is still growing rapidly in India, setting yet another record-breaking revenue quarter with double-digit growth.

The iPhone 16 was the most delivered model in the area, which was a major factor in this momentum. According to Counterpoint, the iPhone captured 7% of the volume and 23% of the revenue share during the quarter. The big change in manufacturing was one of the quarter’s highlights, he told.

Cook pointed out that India is now listed as the “Country of Origin” for the majority of iPhones sold in the US.

India now accounts for 71% of all iPhone shipments in the United States, up significantly from 31% during the same period previous year, according to Counterpoint Research.

“As part of its continuous channel expansion strategy, Apple also announced plans to increase its presence in India with new retail stores opening later this year,” Pathak said.

Cook stated that the scenario about tariffs is changing.

We spent about $800 million on tariff-related expenses for the June quarter. “We estimate the impact to add about $1.1 billion to our costs for the September quarter, assuming the current global tariff rates, policies, and applications do not change for the remainder of the quarter and no new tariffs are added,” he said.

He said that there are a lot of variables that could change, including tariff rates, so this forecast shouldn’t be used to project future quarters.

On Wednesday, actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood will celebrate his 52nd birthday. To commemorate the milestone, he has announced a new unique project.

The actor from “Ek Vivaah… Aisa Bhi” has revealed an elderly care facility that will house and look after over 500 elderly people.

The goal of the old age home is to provide elderly people without caregivers with a caring, respectable, and safe environment.

In addition to housing, these senior citizens will receive medical attention, wholesome food, and emotional support.

That being said, Sood has already linked himself to a humanitarian cause. He has already garnered media attention for his assistance to migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and for his support of patients and students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The ‘Dabangg’ actor genuinely thinks that helping others is important.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu wished Sood a happy birthday and commended him for his steadfast dedication to charity.

“Happy Birthday to the ever-inspiring Sonu Sood!” the CM said on his official X handle, praising his altruistic charitable activities. Numerous lives around the country have been impacted by your unselfish generosity and assistance to people in need. I hope the upcoming year brings you health, happiness, and the willpower to start changing the world. @SonuSood.

Meanwhile, Sood celebrated his birthday in front of his followers and photographers.

A casual black shirt and dark blue trousers were the clothes he was wearing in the social media video.

As he sliced the cake, Sood was spotted grinning. The highlight of the celebration, though, was when fans showered Sood with flower petals.

The amount of love that Sood received on his special day clearly humbled him.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the return of Lord Buddha’s revered Piprahwa relics to India after a 127-year absence, calling it a moment of great pride and happiness for the country.

The Prime Minister emphasized India’s strong spiritual ties to Buddha’s teachings and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to conserving its civilizational legacy in a statement that reflected the government’s cultural vision of “Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi” (development along with heritage).

“A happy day honoring our cultural legacy! The return of the revered Piprahwa relics of Bhagwan Buddha after 127 long years would be a source of pride for all Indians, PM Modi wrote in a post on X.

These revered artifacts demonstrate India’s strong ties to the Bhagwan Buddha and his lofty teachings. It also demonstrates our dedication to conserving and safeguarding many facets of our magnificent culture,” PM Modi continued.

The relics were first found in 1898 at Piprahwa in Uttar Pradesh, which is said to be a portion of the ancient Kapilavastu region, which is connected to the early life of Lord Buddha.

During the colonial era, the artifacts—which included bone fragments, crystal caskets, gold decorations, and ritual offerings—were transported overseas and were recently rediscovered at an international auction.

We tried to make sure they went home after they participated in an international auction earlier this year. The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to everyone who had contributed to this endeavor.

The Center began a coordinated diplomatic and legal effort to halt the sale and ensure the repatriation of the relics after the auction listing. The repatriation was successfully arranged by the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, and international legal specialists.

It is anticipated that the relics would be housed in a national museum or a well-known Buddhist heritage site so that people can pay their respects and discover more about their spiritual and historical value.

The proposed Income Tax Bill 2025 is simply intended to streamline wording and eliminate superfluous or out-of-date sections; it does not suggest altering tax rates, according to a clarification released by the Income Tax Department on Tuesday.

The explanation followed a number of social media posts and media reports that suggested the new bill will change the Long Term Capital Gains (LTCG) tax rates for specific taxpayer groups.

According to some accounts, the current tax breaks for equity investments might possibly be eliminated.

News reports stating that the upcoming Income Tax Bill, 2025, would alter the LTCG tax rates for specific taxpayer groups are making the rounds on a number of media outlets. The department highlighted in an official post on social media platform X that the Income Tax Bill, 2025 seeks to simplify the wording and eliminate unnecessary or obsolete clauses.

“It doesn’t aim to alter any tax rates. Any confusion in this regard will be appropriately resolved when the bill is passed,” the department continued.

Without altering the current tax structure, the remark makes it apparent that the new legislation’s main goals are to simplify the law and make it easier to understand.

During this year’s February Budget Session, the Lok Sabha received the new Income Tax Bill.

It was then forwarded to a Lok Sabha select committee, whose report was just turned in.

The primary objective of the bill is to make tax laws more straightforward, up-to-date, and technologically friendly by replacing the existing Income Tax Act, 1961.

For the first time, the tax code has undergone a comprehensive overhaul.