🏏 Pakistan revises squad for Asian Games after injury

The Pakistan Cricket Board revised its men's squad for the Asian Games after pacer Salman Mirza sustained a thumb fracture. Fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jr has been included as a replacement in the revised lineup. The team, captained by Sahibzada Farhan, assembled in Karachi on Sunday and starts training on September 21. The tournament kicks off on Monday, September 24, with India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh in the quarter-finals. The team will depart for Japan on Thursday night to compete in the Asian Games. 🏏

🪙 Does blockchain actually need to be used for bonds?

SEBI is testing tokenised corporate bonds under its Demat 2.0 pilot to see if they fix issues in India's debt markets. REC, L&T, and IIFL Finance have already raised over ₹1,000 crore using these bonds. These bonds use a 'permissioned distributed ledger' and RBI's eRupee (e₹) infrastructure. This technology aims to automate payouts via smart contracts and reduce reconciliation costs. It also solves counterparty risk by ensuring simultaneous fund and security transfers. 🔗

📈 Nifty and Sensex finish up higher today

Stock market indices showed positive movement as Nifty 50 settled 67.90 points higher at 23,414.30. The Sensex also gained 564.03 points, closing at 74,858.99. Mumbai fuel dealers requested RBI exemption from UPI MDR charges to avoid payment disruptions. Microsoft launched its fourth India cloud region in Hyderabad as part of its investment commitment. Chief Economic Adviser stated India's growth outlook remains steady at 6-6.5% annually. 📈

⚠️ US warns against Iran travel amid rising tensions

The United States has issued a fresh travel warning for Iran, urging all American citizens not to visit the country for any reason. This advisory comes from the US Virtual Embassy in Iran due to the complex regional security environment. The US noted potential disruptions like airspace closures and cited Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Iran has threatened 'continuous, painful' attacks on US bases if Washington resumes military action. Qatar is also mediating efforts to revive talks between Tehran and Washington.

📉 Market dips amid Middle East tension and oil watch

Indian stock benchmarks, Sensex and Nifty 50, are set for a muted Monday, September 21, following global market trends. Gift Nifty was trading around 23,338.5, showing a nearly 40-point discount from the previous Nifty futures close. Investors are closely watching the US-Iran war developments, as escalation could reverse crude price declines and boost volatility. Geopolitical events, crude oil impact, and bond yields are expected to keep the market cautious for now. Traders are advised to manage positions with high risk awareness until the external environment stabilizes. 🧐

🚨 Trump admin prepping big sanctions on ICC

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing wide-ranging sanctions aimed directly at the International Criminal Court (ICC). This action is set to disrupt the tribunal’s finances, IT services, and ongoing investigations, according to The Wall Street Journal. After a six to seven-month grace period, the US sanctions would generally block transactions with the ICC. The context stems from disputes, including warrants for Israeli leaders and the US never being a member. These measures could soon be announced, possibly during the UN General Assembly gathering.

📜 Bihar lesson changes election rules for 12 states

A large number of SIR notices stem from a rule change made by the EC after Bihar's Phase I experience. Previously, electors in Bihar had to submit over a dozen documents at enumeration, causing issues. For Phase 2 across 12 states/UTs, this document submission requirement is scrapped, using algorithmic mapping instead. Notices are now automatically issued based on logical discrepancies between the last roll and enumeration forms. Electors can still challenge exclusion or use Form 6 to get back on the roll. 🗳️

🌧️ Kerala heavy rain causes deaths, floods

Heavy rain in Kerala triggered landslides and flash floods on Sunday, resulting in five fatalities and two missing persons. The incident occurred across districts like Malappuram, Kottayam, and Idukki, with the state government increasing monitoring efforts. The IMD has issued an orange alert for Kottayam and Idukki due to forecasted heavy rainfall over the next four days. Chief Minister VD Satheesan ordered hourly situation assessments and potential evacuations across affected areas. Authorities are continuing search operations for the missing individuals amid the worsening weather conditions.

🧐 Noel Tata slams Chandrasekaran's reappointment vote

Noel Tata strongly objected to N Chandrasekaran's controversial reappointment as chairman of Tata Sons. The dispute involves the board using two different constitutional rules for the reappointment process in 2022 and 2026 at Tata Sons. Following a contentious meeting on September 17, 2026, the board announced the five-year term despite internal disagreements. Noel asserted the entire process was illegal from the beginning, contradicting the board's decision. Tata Trusts stated that the resolution was a legal nullity because Trust nominee support was lacking. 🧐

🔬 Graphene-Aluminum: Can dispersion unlock stronger composites?

Researchers reviewed the challenges in making high-performance graphene/aluminum composites for industry. This study focused on nanoscale dispersion, interfacial bonding, and managing aluminum carbide formation. Key issues include graphene agglomeration and uncontrolled reactions during processing. Techniques like SPS and LPBF are being explored to overcome these barriers. Future work aims to balance strength improvements with material ductility. 🔬

🎯 Mairaj Khan chases Olympic gold at Asian Games

Mairaj Ahmad Khan is returning for his fourth Asian Games with a focus on Olympic gold. He represents India at this event in Japan, with qualification starting on September 21 and the final on September 23. At 50, Khan has already achieved major milestones in Indian skeet shooting history. His ultimate goal remains winning an Olympic medal, a dream he has pursued for over two decades. He continues to work hard, maintaining a disciplined approach for the upcoming competition. 🎯