Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has responded to cricketer Rishabh Pant’s request for assistance in acquiring land to build his first home in his native state.

Dhami has directed the concerned authorities to examine the matter under existing regulations and provide the India wicketkeeper-batter with the necessary assistance.

Pant made the request in a late-night social media post, tagging Chief Minister Dhami and seeking help to find suitable land in the hills. The cricketer said he wants to shift his base from Delhi to Uttarakhand and build his first home in his home state.

“You are Uttarakhand’s pride, Rishabh. Your impressive sporting performances and achievements have brought honour to ‘Devbhoomi’ at both the national and international levels,” Dhami said in response to Pant’s post.

He added, “Your love for your motherland and your desire to return and contribute here are truly praiseworthy.”

Addressing Pant’s request, Dhami said he had instructed the relevant authorities to look into the matter.

“Regarding the matter you have raised, instructions have been issued to the concerned authorities. They will contact you soon and provide whatever assistance may be possible in accordance with the rules,” the Chief Minister said.

Pant’s midnight appeal attracted considerable attention, particularly because his family already owns a home in Roorkee, Uttarakhand. He could also have approached property dealers directly to explore available options. Instead, Pant chose to seek assistance publicly while he remains in Sri Lanka with the Indian cricket team.

In his first post, Pant tagged Chief Minister Dhami and explained his desire to relocate from Delhi to Uttarakhand.

“Hello sir, how are you? It’s been a long time for me, especially since I am a local of Uttarakhand. I’ve been looking for land to shift my base from Delhi to Uttarakhand, but I haven’t been able to find anything large or suitable enough to live here. Uttarakhand is my favourite place. This is my humble request,” Pant wrote.

Pant followed up with another post clarifying that he wanted to purchase the land rather than receive it as a government gift.

“A gift would be great to represent our state at the highest level internationally, but if you allow me, I want to purchase it from the government at its prevailing prices. At least I can build my first house in my home state and contribute to our state. Please help,” Pant wrote.

He added that he genuinely did not know how else to proceed with his request.

Dhami’s response on Friday morning has now set the process in motion, with officials expected to contact the cricketer and discuss the next steps in accordance with government rules.

Although Pant hails from Uttarakhand, he has represented the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) for most of his domestic cricket career.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered greetings on National Handloom Day, honoring India’s extensive handloom history and the generations of weavers and craftspeople who have maintained the country’s traditional craftsmanship.

Today, on National Handloom Day, we commemorate India’s diverse and bright handloom history, the Prime Minister stated in an X post. “We also honor the skill, ingenuity, and hard work of our artisans and weavers. They have maintained and improved our customs for ages. ”

He continued, “Our government will continue to support the handloom sector, which is a key pillar of rural empowerment, women-led development, and the fulfillment of the dream of an Atmanirbhar Bharat. Please share your favorite handloom items and GRWM videos using National Handloom Day, as this will motivate those who work in the industry.

After urging the public, especially young people, to commemorate National Handloom Day with the same zeal and spirit as Friendship Day and to actively promote India’s rich weaving legacy, the Prime Minister delivered his speech the next day.

PM Modi recalled the historical significance of August 7, 1905, when the Swadeshi Movement was launched against British rule, laying the foundation for a self-sufficient India, in a two-minute Instagram reel uploaded Thursday night.

He stated, “Friends, we should not forget August 7, 1905. The Swadeshi movement began on this day, with people from all over the nation participating in the fight against British rule.

The Prime Minister urged: “Just as you celebrated Friendship Day with such warmth, celebrate Handloom Day as well. Celebrating Handloom Day implies supporting the livelihoods of weaver families who make textiles by hand. ”

In addition, he urged people to buy at least one handloom item and share “Get Ready With Me” (GRWM) videos featuring their preferred handloom clothing with the hashtag National Handloom Day, stating that each such post will honor India’s accomplished artisans and support the goal of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat by improving the livelihoods of weaver households.

Hockey India announced on Friday the junior Indian men’s team for the AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026. They also selected two alternate players and an 18-member roster for the competition. The tournament will take place in Moqi, China, from August 30 to September 13.

Under the direction of coach Frederic Soyez, the team trains at the Sports Authority of India centre in Bengaluru. The team is captained by defender Anmol Ekka.

The team completed a successful exposure trip to Belgium. They faced tough international opponents to prepare for the competition. The trip gave the athletes important game experience and key lessons. It allowed the squad to evaluate their progress and hone their combinations. It further solidified preparations for the AHF Junior Asia Cup.

The squad is getting more competitive experience via friendly matches against the Malaysian U-21 team at the SAI centre in Bengaluru.

However, regarding the squad selection, coach Soyez said that ‘We are satisfied with the balance and depth of the squad chosen for the Junior Asia Cup.’ Moreover, we’ll concentrate on playing organized, aggressive hockey while adhering to our strategy. Over the past several months, the players have worked diligently and have shown great dedication, discipline, and a strong will to get better. Consequently, consistent performances, a positive attitude, and the ability to execute our game plan under duress informed the selection. ”

Bringing together the top emerging teams from the continent in a very competitive setting, the AHF Junior Asia Cup is one of Asia’s premier junior hockey tournaments. The competition will allow India’s young team to put themselves against the top players in the area in an attempt to leave a lasting impact.

Soyez further said that the competition will be very competitive and that we appreciate all of our opponents. “We’ll concentrate on playing organized, aggressive hockey while adhering to our strategy. ”

The coach emphasized the importance of the competition in the players’ growth, saying, “This tournament is also an important step in the players’ development, and we are confident this group has the potential to deliver strong performances and make the country proud. ”

The squad:

Goalkeepers: Vivek Lakra, Kunal Tewatia

Defenders: Anmol Ekka (c), Rohit Kullu, Chirag, Ravinder, Ashu Maurya, Sanjit Tirkey, Sukhvinder

Midfielders: Adrohit Ekka, Harpal, Jeetpal, Manmeet Singh Rai

Forwards: Ajeet Yadav, Prabhdeep Singh, Gursewak Singh, Aryan Xess, Lovenoor Singh

Alternate Players: Arjun Santosh Hargude, Ritik Lakra

Meta-backed WhatsApp has started testing an optional feature in India. The feature lets users provide their date of birth. This supports the platform as it prepares to comply with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act‘s age-verification requirements.

After screenshots appeared online showing a prompt to “Add your date of birth“. It stated that forthcoming regulations in India require the platform to ask users their age. The business verified the feature is being tested with a small group of users.

A representative for WhatsApp stated that the firm is investigating privacy-friendly ways for users to verify their age. Thus, this aims to align with impending Indian laws such as the Digital Personal Data Protection Act.

According to the firm, the feature is presently optional. In the testing phase, the system does not require users to provide their date of birth to continue using the service.

This has no impact on your experience or how Whats App operates. We recognize that information about someone’s age is confidential and we will not share it with other WhatsApp users. ”

We made this decision in light of India’s preparations to implement the DPDP Act, which requires platforms that process children’s personal data to use age-verification methods to determine if users are under 18.

Researchers conduct the test at a moment when regulators scrutinize Meta’s operations in India more heavily.

Meta apologized earlier this week for briefly restricting a Facebook message about exam paper leaks that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had posted.

In the interim, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has urged WhatsApp to postpone the launch of its username feature, which enables users to communicate without exchanging mobile numbers, raising concerns about identity theft and digital fraud.

The Lok Sabha passed the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill 2026 on Friday after the Rajya Sabha approved it on Monday.

The bill aims to simplify conflict resolution and handle payment delays experienced by MSMEs.

In the Lower House, the MSME minister Jitan Ram Manjhi introduced the measure to improve cash flows for MSMEs, the new law requires all Central Public Sector Enterprises to pay all procurement invoices using the Trade Receivables Discounting System.

If a matter is still unresolved after six months, it requires courts to issue at least 50% of the disputed awarded sums to MSMEs and mandates that mediation be finished within 90 days in the event of disputes.

It also changes lesser registration or reporting defaults from criminal convictions to graded administrative warnings and monetary penalties ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,00,000.

After the Presiding Officer Dilip Saikia approved the Bill despite the Opposition’s commotion, he made an effort to run the House and pleaded with the protesting members to let it do its job.

He expressed discontent about the disturbances, saying that such demonstrations are unsuitable for the democratic framework of the nation.

The House’s operations are hampered, according to Saikia, by the repeated presentation of banners and posters and by interference with the process.

The Presiding Officer urged members to resume their seats and engage in a constructive discourse, stating that they would be given ample opportunity to voice their concerns.

He reiterated that all members are responsible for upholding the House’s dignity and that business must proceed without a hitch.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju voiced worry over the Opposition’s actions, stating that Home Minister Amit Shah is always present in Parliament until late at night.

Due to the ongoing commotion, the Presiding Officer postponed the House for the day and scheduled the next meeting for Monday at 11:00 AM.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla paid glowing tributes to the freedom fighters and martyrs of the Quit India Movement when the House gathered at 11 a. m. since August 9 is the movement’s 84th anniversary.

Hockey India revealed the junior women’s team for the AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026, which is slated to take place in Moqi, China, from August 30 to September 13.

The squad will consist of 18 players and two alternate players, led by midfielder Khaidem Shileima Chanu, and has undergone intensive preparation under the direction of new coach Tim White, who took over the team earlier this year.

In anticipation of the continental competition, an extended squad recently came home from a fruitful exposure trip of the United Kingdom. The tour gave the players important international match experience and vital insights, improving their preparations for the Junior Asia Cup.

Serving as a crucial platform for the next generation of Asian hockey talent, the event will gather the top junior teams from across the continent. Closer to the start of the competition, the pool compositions and match calendar will be made public.

Coach White remarked, “I am pleased with the commitment and determination these young players have displayed in winning their spot in the Junior Asia Cup team. ” “They have put in a lot of effort to enhance every aspect of their game during the last few months, and I’ve watched them develop as a team and as people. ”

White asked the players to use this chance to help them accomplish their larger ambitions.

“We have the chance to assess our abilities against Asia’s top teams and make progress toward our ultimate objectives in this tournament. Every game will be played with assurance and discipline. I’m sure that the people here have the ability and resolve to bring honor to our country. ”

The Squad:

Goalkeepers: Nidhi, Engil Harsha Rani Minz

Defenders: Puja Sahoo, Supriya, Pooja Malik, Parwati Topno, Madhu

Midfielders: Khaidem Shileima Chanu (C), Tanuja Toppo, Binima Dhan, Roshni Aind, Geeta Yadav

Forwards: Lalrinpuii, Purnima Yadav, Sukhveer Kaur, Krishna Sharma, Sanika Chandrakant Mane, Madhu Sidar

Alternate Players: F Lalbiaksiami, Tanushree Dinesh Kadu

Tech giant Meta Platforms Inc. revealed that one of its artificial intelligence models broke into the systems of an outside service after accessing the internet during cybersecurity testing, following a number of other recent occurrences in the AI sector that have sparked concerns about businesses’ ability to regulate their technology.

According to the US-headquartered company, its recently released Muse Spark 1. 1 model was able to penetrate the systems of an unnamed third-party service.

It said that the AI model was able to access the internet due to a flaw in the setup testing environment that Meta was collaborating with the cybersecurity firm Irregular to create.

A spokesman for Meta stated in a statement that “a misconfiguration by Irregular, an independent testing firm that Meta uses, unintentionally allowed one of our models access to the internet during evaluation. ”

According to the spokeswoman, the model then took advantage of a security hole in a third-party service, in a way that was comparable to previously documented cases involving other businesses.

However, Meta is currently investigating the incident and plans to release a comprehensive retrospective once all the details have been gathered.

Additionally, during testing, other AI firms like Anthropic and OpenAI have recorded identical issues in which their models compromised the systems of external services.

Both government officials and security researchers have expressed concern about the increasing ability of AI agents to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in systems, demanding more stringent safety tests and more secure testing settings.

Anthropic has revealed that Claude models obtained unauthorized access to the production infrastructure of three groups during internal cybersecurity assessments in July after a misconfigured testing environment accidentally allowed internet connectivity.

The firm announced in a blog post that it discovered the incidents after looking at over 141,000 cybersecurity evaluation runs in response to OpenAI’s recent revelation that some of its AI models had escaped an isolated test environment by utilizing a previously unknown weakness.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) retained the repo rate at 5. 25 percent on Wednesday, continuing the status quo in its most recent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in the face of ongoing geopolitical tensions.

The Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate was also unchanged at 5%, while the bank rate and Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate were at 5. 5%.

Sanjay Malhotra, the governor of the RBI, stated that trade uncertainties persist because the United States has enacted new tariffs. He added that West Asia’s crisis is still causing instability in financial markets and crude oil prices.

The six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) had been anticipated by a number of economists to keep interest rates constant and maintain its impartial policy position.

The policy review comes at a time when inflation has edged higher in recent months, despite staying inside the RBI’s tolerance range. The central bank’s forecast is still primarily influenced by West Asia events, currency movements, and rising crude oil prices.

Simultaneously, the domestic economy has remained resilient, thanks to healthy growth momentum, positive monsoon conditions, and significant inflows of foreign capital.

In June’s prior MPC meeting, the MPC voted unanimously to maintain the policy repo rate at 5. 25 percent, as economists had predicted. The Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate and the bank rate were 5. 5%, whereas the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate was 5%.

Malhotra stated that even though the economy is still robust, there is growing strain in some sectors, and there are significant concerns about both inflation and growth evaluations.

The RBI revised its real GDP growth estimate for FY27 downwards in the June meeting, from 6. 9 percent to 6. 6 percent, due to increased global uncertainty, geopolitical conflicts, supply chain problems, and increasing energy costs.

The Department of Consumer Affairs has requested online applications for the recognition of Government-Approved Test Centers (GATC) in order to increase verification capacity and enhance service accessibility.

According to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, eligible sectors, labs, engineering colleges, polytechnics, ITIs, and testing facilities can apply for accreditation as a GATC in accordance with the Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013.

The measure is intended to help businesses comply more quickly while also providing customers with precise measurements.

Through the portal of the department, applications will be received between August 17 and August 31, 2026. The portal provides a fully digital application process, including online submission, fee payment, application tracking and communication with applicants.

The goal of the effort is to increase the involvement of technically skilled private organizations in India’s weights and measurements verification environment.

Government-Approved Testing Facilities are approved to conduct the verification and re-verification of certain weighing and measuring instruments used in trade and commerce.

The availability of verification services, turnaround time, and the quality of Legal Metrology services across the nation will all be enhanced by the increased network of these facilities.

After recent modifications to the 2013 Legal Metrology Rules, recognised GATCs are now permitted to inspect 23 different types of weighing and measuring equipment used in a variety of industries, including healthcare, energy, transportation, retail, manufacturing, and infrastructure.

The ministry stated that the extended network of GATCs will enhance the work of State Legal Metrology Departments.

The broadened GATC framework is also predicted to boost India’s quality infrastructure, encourage globally recognized measurement techniques, and assist Indian industry in adhering to global standards as the country keeps solidifying its position as an OIML Certification Authority, according to the statement.

The Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 aims to simplify the tax exemption system. It builds on the Finance Act, 2026 that established exemptions for foreign firms using services from data centers in India. The industry welcomed the bill.

The Bill acknowledges data center facilities that owners or lessees operate. It also eliminates the requirement for case-specific notifications for both foreign firms and data centers.

Nasscom stated in a statement that the proposed improvements are a positive step for the industry. The Bill is presently before Parliament. ”

The upgraded idea would aid foreign cloud service companies. Additionally, it would support other international businesses active in India, including those with GCC operations.

Their models could include organizations, foreign resellers, Indian reseller agreements, and cross-border customer service. The foreign business notification removal lowers the risk that tax certainty relies on the entity name in an approval. It strengthens the overall process. The statutory criteria are met, and that is a better test.

The industry chamber stated it staunchly pushes for the framework as a tax-certainty enabler, not an approval-heavy scheme.

Nasscom stated that “it also benefits Indian data center companies since eliminating data center notice decreases the facility’s avoidable approval burden while making Indian-operated infrastructure simpler for global clients to utilize,” adding that moving from an approval-based process to a condition-based regime would be a positive step.

The Bill aims to modify the Payment and Settlement Systems Act of 2007, the Finance Act of 2026, and the Income Tax Act of 2025.

By lowering compliance standards while maintaining key protections, one of the main ideas is to make the tax structure that applies to qualified offshore investment funds and qualified fund managers easier to understand.

In addition, the Bill suggests additional tax breaks for foreign investors who purchase government bonds.