🚂 IRCTC hits 20-lakh ticket booking record 🚆

IRCTC recorded an all-time high of 20,06,353 ticket bookings on September 7, breaking the 20-lakh single-day mark. This massive booking surge happened across India, signaling high demand before the festive season. On September 8, bookings were 19,50,699, a 6% rise over last year's peak of 18,40,203. To manage this, IRCTC deployed new servers and cracked down on bots, reducing suspicious traffic by 55% to 65%. Third-party platforms still drive about 28% of the total online bookings.

⚛️ Rosatom pitches nuclear tech to India at BRICS

Rosatom announced they are ready to offer modern nuclear solutions to India during the BRICS Summit sidelines. Kirill Komarov stated this readiness on September 12, 2026, at the summit. The offers range from large-capacity power units to small modular reactors (SMRs). Furthermore, Rosatom is also seeking cooperation regarding critical minerals with India. This move aims to significantly expand the existing nuclear partnership between the two nations. 🤝

✈️ China Southern resumes Guangzhou-Delhi flights for Brics

China Southern Airlines is restarting regular passenger flights between Guangzhou and New Delhi starting September 21. This resumption is happening ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India for the Brics summit. The airline plans to boost its total South Asia routes to over 100 flights weekly across eight round-trip services. These direct air links had been suspended for six years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions. Further cooperation talks are expected between Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the summit. ✈️

🌊 River cleaner Bittu Tabahi picks next state

Bittu Tabahi, who single-handedly cleaned the Ajnar River in Madhya Pradesh, is now looking at wider pollution issues across India. He shared this update after receiving a job offer from The Ocean Cleanup, an organization founded by Dutch environmentalist Boyan Slat. The 20-year-old man is now asking his followers which state he should visit next to continue his clean-up mission. His initial solo efforts on the heavily polluted river gained major online attention, showcasing significant transformation. Now, comments are flooding in with suggestions for states like Bihar, Uttarakhand, and Maharashtra. 🌊

🏏 Padikkal: Captaincy just boosts my batting 🔥

Padikkal stated that taking on captaincy only further enhances his batting skills. He recently scored a career-best 232 against Uttarakhand in the semi-final in Lucknow. Previously, he scored a fourth-innings 120* for Karnataka in Mohali during the league-stage fixture. He views leadership as an enjoyable aspect, building on his experience from last year's Karnataka tenure. Moving forward, B Sai Sudharsan is appointed as his deputy for the upcoming Australia A series.

🏏 Warriors dominate TKR for eighth season win

The Guyana Amazon Warriors secured their eighth victory this season by defeating Trinbago Knight Riders by six wickets on Friday, September 11. This match took place in Guyana, where the Warriors restricted the Knight Riders to a score of 126. The Knight Riders had a decent start but were controlled by spinners, leading to their last-place finish. The Warriors chased the target comfortably, thanks to a strong partnership from Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer. Shai Hope finished with an unbeaten 42 runs, sealing the win for the Warriors.

🍦 Canada's tariff war boosts local biz across the board 🍦

Canada's tariff war with the US is unexpectedly giving a boost to various local Canadian businesses. This effect is visible in sectors ranging from ice cream to defence manufacturing across Canada. New Canadian levies cover nearly C$28 billion of American goods, impacting trade starting around March 2025. This has spurred a 'buy Canadian' wave, helping companies like Chapman’s ice cream and Ontario wineries. Companies like Wuxly are also seeing growth as they target European markets instead of the US. 🛡️

⚠️ Putin warns Europe: Send troops to Ukraine, risk war

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stern warning to European nations regarding their support for Ukraine. Speaking in New Delhi during the 2026 BRICS Summit, he stated that sending troops to Kyiv would signify 'war with Russia.' Putin asserted that Russia poses no threat to European countries, referencing post-WWII agreements. The conflict with Ukraine started in February 2022 and is now in its fifth year. The US has also been involved, attempting mediation talks between the two nations. 🇷🇺

🔪 'Killer bahu' in crosshairs over murder plot

Police are seeking 15 days custody of Shalu over an alleged murder conspiracy. She, the daughter-in-law of Vineet Manocha, is being questioned in Kanpur regarding the killing. The investigation involves over 100 questions, 309 calls, and a Rs 6 lakh plot dating back to September 5th. Authorities are probing if her husband, Subrat Manocha, played any role in the planning or execution of the attack. The police aim to detail the conspiracy and clarify the involvement of all parties involved. 🔪

🎬 Alia Bhatt on Shaheen's childhood 'ragebait'

Alia Bhatt revealed an instance of childhood 'ragebait' during the trailer launch of her film, Don’t Be Shy. This happened when her sister, Shaheen Bhatt, told her she was 'free with Parle-G' at age four. This incident was shared at the event in Mumbai on Friday evening. Alia also reminisced about her 2012 debut and launching four debutantes in her new movie. Don't Be Shy is set to stream on Prime Video starting September 25.

💧 Local Officials Ignore Dirty Water Issue

Local authorities have been criticized for overlooking severely contaminated water sources in the city. This issue specifically affects residents in the Old Town area of the metropolis. Reports indicate that the water quality has deteriorated significantly over the past three months. The lack of action has led to growing public discontent among the local populace. Authorities are now expected to implement a proper remediation plan soon. 💧