Bihar Cooperative Minister and BJP MLA Ram Kripal Yadav on Tuesday welcomed the water-sharing agreement signed between Bihar and Jharkhand over the Sone River, saying the long-standing dispute had finally been resolved. He thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the chief ministers of both states for their efforts in settling the issue, which had affected irrigation in several villages for years.
Bihar and Jharkhand signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi on Monday, bringing an end to a 25-year-old disagreement over the distribution of Sone River water. As per the agreement, Bihar will receive 5.75 million acre-feet (MAF) of water, while Jharkhand has been allocated 2.00 MAF.
Yadav, who is the MLA from Danapur, said the prolonged dispute had caused considerable losses and left many villages without sufficient irrigation facilities. Welcoming the agreement, he expressed his appreciation for the role played by the Centre and the governments of both states in finding a solution. The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary. Senior officials from the central and state governments also attended the ceremony.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for their proactive involvement and continued discussions in resolving the issue. He said the agreement represented more than just an arrangement for sharing water and could usher in a new phase of cooperation, trust and development between Bihar and Jharkhand.
The dispute originated after Jharkhand was created in 2000. Under the 1973 Bansagar Agreement, the then-undivided Bihar was entitled to 7.75 MAF out of the Sone River's total 14.25 MAF allocation. Following the bifurcation of Bihar, disagreements emerged over how the existing share should be divided between the two states.
A breakthrough was achieved during the 27th meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council in Ranchi in July 2025, when Bihar and Jharkhand reached a consensus on the distribution of the river's water. The latest agreement is expected to improve water availability in drought-prone and plateau regions of South Bihar and Jharkhand. It could help expand irrigation, address drinking-water shortages and support industrial growth while providing greater long-term water security to both states.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has automated the issuance of Free Sale and Commerce Certificates (FSC), aiming to make the approval process quicker and reduce the compliance burden for exporters. Under the new system, eligible FSC applications will no longer be required to undergo routine manual scrutiny. Instead, applications that meet the prescribed conditions will be processed automatically through the DGFT portal, helping exporters obtain the certificates in a shorter timeframe.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry said the initiative is intended to simplify the existing process and reduce delays. Until now, exporters could submit their applications online, but the requests were subsequently sent to the concerned DGFT Regional Authority for manual examination, verification and approval. The earlier procedure often resulted in longer processing times.
According to DGFT Trade Notice No. 24/2026-2027 issued on August 31, the new automated mechanism will allow eligible applications to move through a system-driven workflow without being routinely referred for manual scrutiny. The government expects the change to significantly improve turnaround times for a large number of FSC applications.
The new system does not mean that every application will be automatically approved. Cases that require additional verification or fail to satisfy the conditions for automated processing can still be referred to the relevant DGFT Regional Authority for manual examination. Some applications that are cleared automatically may also be selected for subsequent review under DGFT's risk management system.
Free Sale and Commerce Certificates are issued by the DGFT under India's Foreign Trade Policy for certain products that are not covered by the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940. These certificates can be required by exporters for meeting regulatory or commercial requirements in overseas markets. The DGFT said the new mechanism represents a shift from manual verification towards a digital and system-based process. The automated workflow is expected to support paperless processing, reduce unnecessary administrative intervention and provide exporters with more predictable turnaround times.
The move is part of the government's broader efforts to simplify trade procedures and improve the ease of doing business for exporters. By automating routine applications while retaining manual checks for cases that need closer examination, DGFT aims to make the certification process faster without removing necessary regulatory safeguards.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
India is preparing a new framework that could allow artificial intelligence agents to make small digital payments on behalf of users without requiring approval for every transaction, according to three people familiar with the development. The move could place India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) among the world's largest payment networks to support so-called agentic payments, where AI systems can carry out transactions based on instructions, spending limits and conditions previously set by customers.
Payment companies in the United States, Europe, Singapore and Australia have already been developing similar systems. However, introducing the technology through UPI would put India among the first countries to bring agentic payments to a nationwide digital payment infrastructure. UPI, operated by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has become the world's largest retail fast-payment system by transaction volume, according to a 2025 report from the International Monetary Fund. In August, UPI processed 24.51 billion transactions with a combined value of ₹29.82 trillion, or about $314.21 billion. Google Pay and Walmart-owned PhonePe accounted for nearly three-fourths of the monthly transaction volume.
The proposed Unified Agent Protocol is expected to be unveiled at the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai next week, the sources said. They requested anonymity because the details of the plan have not yet been made public. NPCI had not immediately responded to requests for comment. In its early stages, the technology is likely to focus on frequent, low-value purchases. Grocery shopping could become one of the first practical applications, allowing an AI agent to complete routine purchases without asking the user to manually approve every payment. E-commerce companies could also become early adopters as they look to use AI to automate parts of the shopping process.
The potential applications could eventually go beyond routine purchases. Users could, for example, instruct an AI agent to buy a product whenever it becomes available at a particular discount or falls below a specified price. Similar rules could potentially be used for investments, allowing an agent to act when predetermined price conditions are met. NPCI is expected to build the new system around existing UPI features, including UPI Circle and Reserve Pay. UPI Circle enables a primary account holder to delegate payment authority to another user, while Reserve Pay allows customers to set aside funds for multiple future debits.
Banks currently place limits of up to ₹10,000 on such reserved funds for periods of as long as 90 days. These limits and the validity period could be reconsidered if the mechanism is expanded for AI-agent payments, according to the sources. Under the proposed framework, merchants would be able to integrate directly with NPCI's infrastructure, allowing customers to create rules governing when an AI agent can make payments and how much it can spend. Spending limits, identity verification and transaction records are expected to form part of the system's safeguards.
NPCI is also understood to be working on a liability framework to determine responsibility when problems occur, although details about how that system would operate have not yet been disclosed. The development comes as international payment giants Mastercard and Visa are also working on agentic payment technology in India. Their efforts form part of a wider global race to establish systems that allow AI agents to participate directly in digital commerce.
Mastercard completed its first authenticated agentic transaction in New Delhi in June. Earlier this year, fintech company Pine Labs launched its P3P protocol, which allows AI agents to complete UPI payments after receiving a single authorisation from the customer. The arrival of agentic payments could mark the next major stage in the evolution of UPI. The technology could make everyday transactions more automated, but its wider adoption will depend on strong safeguards that prevent unauthorised spending and give users clear control over what AI agents can and cannot do with their money.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
Karnataka Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy has sparked a political controversy after reportedly describing Islam as superior to other religions during a public event in Koppal district. Rayareddy made the remarks while attending a mass marriage programme organised by members of the Muslim community in Kuknoor. During his speech, the minister spoke about the teachings of Islam and said the religion places strong emphasis on humanity. He also spoke about the need for people to understand different religions and their teachings rather than relying on misconceptions.
His comments, particularly the comparison describing Islam as superior, drew a sharp reaction from the Opposition BJP. Karnataka BJP chief and Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka criticised the minister and demanded that he withdraw the remarks and apologise to Hindus. Ashoka also questioned Chief Minister DK Shivakumar over the issue and said that if Rayareddy did not apologise, the minister should be removed from the Cabinet. Other BJP leaders also criticised the statement, alleging that such comments could hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus.
The controversy has put the Congress-led Karnataka government under political pressure, with the BJP seeking a clear response from the Chief Minister. The Opposition has argued that ministers should exercise caution while making statements concerning religion, particularly at public gatherings.
Rayareddy, meanwhile, has spoken about his interest in understanding different religions and their histories. During his address, he referred to his visits to Hindu religious sites and said his comments should be understood in the context of his appreciation of religious teachings and humanity. The episode has once again brought the sensitive issue of religious comparisons in political speeches into focus in Karnataka. Statements involving religion often become politically charged, especially when made by elected representatives, and the latest controversy is expected to continue generating debate between the ruling Congress and the BJP.
The BJP's demand for an apology or resignation has now put the spotlight on Rayareddy and the Karnataka government's response. It remains to be seen whether the minister will formally retract the controversial portion of his remarks or whether the issue will escalate further between the two parties.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.
HDFC Bank CEO Sashidhar Jagdishan will step down when his term ends on October 26 after reportedly differing with newly appointed chairman Rajiv Kumar over the bank’s future direction. Kumar, who became chairman in June, pushed for faster loan growth, greater technology investment, resolution of legacy issues and changes among senior executives. Jagdishan resisted some of the proposals and chose not to seek another term. The unexpected decision has forced HDFC Bank to begin an urgent search for a successor. Kumar is reportedly favoring an external candidate, while Deputy Managing Director Kaizad Bharucha is among the internal names being discussed. The leadership change comes as HDFC Bank faces regulatory and governance concerns and a sharp decline in its stock performance. Analysts say a credible new CEO could provide a fresh start, although prolonged uncertainty may weigh on business growth and investor confidence.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Bloomberg.
As floods continue to affect communities across Nepal and Tibet, the Red Cross is assessing the urgent humanitarian needs, efforts to locate missing people and the difficulties involved in delivering assistance to hard-hit areas. Elakeyaa Selvaraji and Hairianto Diman also examine how the Singapore Red Cross’s S$50,000 humanitarian contribution will aid relief operations, the circumstances that could lead to a deployment in Nepal and how members of the public in Singapore can support the response. They discuss these issues with Benjamin William, Secretary General and CEO of the Singapore Red Cross.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
When Jackson Pollock created Blue Poles, one of the defining works of American abstract expressionism, he could hardly have imagined that the painting would later become the centre of a major cultural and political debate in Australia. The artwork drew the attention of figures ranging from former prime minister Gough Whitlam to the Shah of Iran before ultimately finding a home at Canberra’s National Gallery, where it came to represent Australia’s growing embrace of modern art and cultural ambition. As Blue Poles prepares to move from Canberra to Perth, Guardian Australia political editor Tom McIlroy joins Rafqa Touma to explore the remarkable intersection of art, politics and national identity surrounding the painting. Their discussion draws on McIlroy’s book, Blue Poles: Jackson Pollock, Gough Whitlam and the Painting That Changed a Nation, which examines how one American artwork became deeply woven into Australia’s cultural and political history.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
The White House has announced the threat of sanctions against countries that continue to conduct trade with Iran, intensifying Washington’s efforts to put further economic pressure on Tehran as its military campaign faces mounting challenges. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled what he described as “Operation Economic Outcast”, drawing a comparison with the historic D-Day invasion to underline the scale of the economic measures being pursued against Iran. The strategy aims to deepen Iran’s economic isolation by discouraging other countries from maintaining commercial ties with Tehran. However, China, Iran’s largest trading partner, has already indicated that it is unlikely to support or comply with President Donald Trump’s efforts to target the Iranian economy. The latest measures come as the Trump administration looks to increase pressure on Tehran and force an end to the conflict. The move raises questions over how effective the economic campaign will be and whether Washington can persuade major trading partners to join its strategy. Lucy Hough discusses the latest developments with Julian Borger, senior international correspondent, examining the US pressure campaign, China’s position and what the economic escalation could mean for the wider conflict.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
More than two years after Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom was killed by Israeli forces while travelling with a World Central Kitchen humanitarian convoy, Israel has cleared the soldiers involved of criminal responsibility. The decision has drawn strong criticism, including from Frankcom’s family and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who described it as an “outrage.” With increasing demands for accountability, an apology and possible compensation, political editor Tom McIlroy discusses with Reged Ahmad what the decision means for Australia-Israel relations and whether ties between the two countries have reached a new low.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
