💳 Govt says banks won't let UPI merchants hike prices

Government sources clarified that banks will monitor merchants to prevent them from passing Merchant Discount Rate charges onto consumers. This is happening in New Delhi, with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) expected to create a monitoring mechanism. The new MDR framework starts from October 15, 2026, with transactions above Rs 2,000 attracting a 0.4% charge. The Finance Ministry will discuss these MDR concerns with the IBA, merchants, and the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). The GST Council is also anticipated to review the 18 per cent GST on merchant fees.

⚖️ House husbands should be normal, say HC judges

The Madras High Court stated that if housewives exist, house husbands should also be accepted as a new normal. This view was expressed by Justices G.R. Swaminathan and M.D. Sumathi at the Madurai Bench. The court noted that women are increasingly career-oriented, impacting relationships, especially in the IT sector. This shift could be remedied if husbands chose to become homemakers, preserving the institution of marriage. This judgment was delivered while hearing civil miscellaneous appeals from a doctor couple on September 24, 2026.

✈️ Ace Combat 8 trailer drops for new action game

The official opening cinematic trailer for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve has been released, showcasing the game's intense action. Players will step into the world of Strangereal as the legendary ace pilot of the Wings of Theve. The game is slated for release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam on October 2, 2026. This highly anticipated flight action title promises epic aerial combat experiences for gamers. Fans can now get a sneak peek at the massive scale of the upcoming adventure.

📚 Booker Prize 2026 Shortlist Drops

The shortlist for the Booker Prize 2026 has been announced, featuring six compelling literary works. These selected novels explore themes of hidden selves, lost love, and the universal search for belonging. The announcement revealed the final contenders on a specific date. The stories represent a diverse range of human experiences and internal journeys. Attention now turns to the judging process leading up to the final award ceremony. 📚

🛡️ Saudi coalition claims 6 Houthi missiles shot down

The Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting six ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi group. These missiles were targeted towards Saudi cities like Taif and the Yanbu port on Thursday. The attacks occurred amid escalating tensions following the Houthis' declaration of a naval blockade in July. This incident follows previous Houthi drone and missile attacks on Saudi sites. Moving forward, the situation remains volatile with ongoing conflict in Yemen. 🛡️

🚨 Police and Jawans Arrested in UP Rape Case

Two police officers and two CRPF jawans have been arrested following allegations of gangrape against a woman. The incident reportedly took place in Uttar Pradesh. The arrests were made on a specific date, though the exact date is not detailed in this report. The accusations involve serious criminal conduct by security personnel. Authorities are now proceeding with the investigation into these charges. 🚨

🕉️ VHP pushing marriage and temple reforms in Kerala

The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) is pushing for significant social reforms in Kerala, starting with marriage practices. They aim to break caste barriers and remove horoscope matching as a primary filter for prospective couples. This initiative targets difficulties faced by smaller caste groups, referencing data from the Kerala government. Furthermore, the VHP is advocating for men to enter temples without removing their shirts. These changes are seen as efforts to boost marriage rates amid perceived demographic decline. 🕉️

🤖 Meta launches Charm device for Muse AI

Meta has unveiled a new dedicated device called 'Charm' specifically designed for interacting with their Muse AI. This new hardware is being introduced by Meta to enhance user experiences with their artificial intelligence platform. The device launch details were recently announced, focusing on seamless integration of Muse AI features. Charm aims to bring more immersive and hands-free AI interactions to users across various scenarios. Meta plans to roll out the Charm device to a select group of early adopters first. 🤖

🥇 India bags multiple medals at Asian Games 2026

India secured two athletics medals on Thursday, with Seema winning bronze in the women's 10,000m and the mixed 4x400m relay team taking silver. These results were achieved in New Delhi, marking India's first athletics medal for Seema at these Games. The relay team clocked 3:14.46, while Seema finished with a time of 32:50.05. This performance helps boost India's overall medal tally in the tournament. Roshibina Devi Naorem also clinched a second consecutive Asian Games silver in wushu.

🔎 Google Search Console gets image search filter

Google Search Console is rolling out a multimodal filter in its Performance report for image-based searches. This feature covers searches using Google Lens, Circle to Search, and image uploads globally starting today. The new Web search type now divides traffic into text-based and multimodal segments. This is useful for sites with product photos to see how images drive traffic. However, this multimodal traffic does not include specific query data. 📸

🏥 Adani plans huge investment in West Bengal

The Adani Group announced a massive investment roadmap of over Rs 1 lakh crore in West Bengal by 2035 across several sectors. West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari also laid the foundation for the 2,000-bed Adani Arogya Mandir in New Town. This hospital, backed by over Rs 4,000 crore, will offer specialized healthcare to over 200,000 inpatients annually. The facility includes 1,000 beds for economically weaker sections and a medical college. This development aims to boost medical tourism and foster a healthcare city ecosystem. 🏥