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India's foreign ministry has said it is "not aware" of a phone call in which US President Donald Trump claimed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to stop purchasing Russian oil, BBC reported.

On Wednesday, Trump said his Indian counterpart had "assured me today" that it would end Russian oil imports, a move the US has pushed for in a bid to increase economic pressure on the Kremlin to end the war in Ukraine.

But asked about the call on Thursday, an Indian government spokesman cast doubt on Trump's account, saying he was "not aware of any conversation between the two leaders" taking place the previous day, according to BBC.

Google's parent company Alphabet will invest $15bn (£11.29bn) to build an AI data hub in southern India's Andhra Pradesh state, BBC reported.

The facility, which will be set up in the port city of Visakhapatnam, will be part of Google's global network of AI centres spread across 12 countries.

"It's the largest AI hub that we are going to be investing in anywhere in the world, outside of the United States," Thomas Kurian, the CEO of Google Cloud, said at an event in the capital Delhi on Tuesday, adding that the investment will be spread over the next five years.

The announcement comes at a time when US President Donald Trump has been asking American companies to prioritise domestic investment, according to BBC.

Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK will not relax visa rules for India, speaking before he arrived in the country to tout the benefits of a recent trade agreement, BBC reported.

The prime minister is leading a delegation of more than 100 entrepreneurs, cultural leaders and university vice-chancellors, as he attempts to boost UK investment and improve sluggish economic growth.

Sir Keir said there were "massive opportunities" to improve trade and cultural ties with India.

But he said there were no plans to open up more visa routes to Indian workers or students, according to BBC.

An Indian lawyer has thrown a shoe at the country's Chief Justice BR Gavai after apparently being angered by remarks the judge made about Hinduism, BBC reported.

Rakesh Kishore launched his attack during Monday's court proceedings in Delhi in what is seen across India as a serious public insult and security breach.

Three lawyers present in the courtroom confirmed to the BBC that a shoe had been hurled at the judge, with one saying it "brushed against the chief justice and [another] justice... and fell behind them".

Mr Kishore was heard saying "India won't tolerate insult to Sanatan Dharma [Hinduism]", as he was led away from the courtroom by security officials. He was later suspended from practice, according to BBC.

The stage is set for the final of the ongoing Asia Cup 2025; Team India will be taking on arch-rivals Pakistan in the final of the tournament for the first time in 41 years. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian team has been unbeatable in the tournament so far, winning all of their five matches, India TV reported.

On the other hand, Pakistan made it to the final after defeating Bangladesh in the Super Four stage of the competition. Where India sits in first place in the Super Four standings, Pakistan closely follows in second with two wins and one loss in three matches.

It is worth noting that the only matches that the Men in Green have lost so far have been against India. The side lost the clash against India once in the group stage and once in the Super Four. The two will once again lock horns in the final of the Asia Cup for the first time in the tournament’s history. Notably, both India and have Pakistan have taken on each other five times in a multinational level tournament final with more than three teams, according to India TV.

The Indian government has said a new $100,000 (£74,000) fee for applicants seeking US skilled worker visas will have "humanitarian consequences". 

President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the new fee for H-1B visa applications, which is more than 60 times the amount currently charged, to go into effect on 21 September, BBC reported.

Workers from India receive by far the most skilled visas in the programme, at just more than 70% of those issued.

Some US tech companies reportedly advised employees with H-1B visas to stay in the US or, if they were out of the country, to try to return immediately. The White House then on Saturday clarified the fee will not apply to current visas or renewal applications.

As Indian bananas enter Nepal unchecked, bananas worth billions of rupees produced by Nepali farmers are rotting in the fields. Farmers say the situation has worsened after the government reduced import taxes on Indian bananas and failed to enforce plant quarantine regulations at border customs points.

Nepali bananas typically reach markets between July and November. But this season, farmers complain they cannot sell their produce. “Instead of supporting local farmers, the government has slashed taxes on Indian bananas and ignored quarantine checks, causing our harvest to rot in the fields,” said Dipendra Tharu, president of the Banana Producers and Traders Association in Kailali. The association has demanded a ban on Indian banana imports until November, stricter quarantine procedures, and priority for Nepali bananas.

Tharu said a memorandum has already been submitted to Sudurpaschim Province Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah, urging a halt to banana imports through the Kailali and Kanchanpur customs offices.

Farmers warn of protests if the government does not intervene. “If Indian bananas are not stopped immediately, we will be forced to launch a phased protest,” said association chairperson Chaudhary. Meanwhile, farmer Kamal Rawat from Tikapur said bananas grown on seven bighas of land are rotting because wholesalers are unwilling to buy them at fair prices. “We’re being forced to sell bananas for Rs 10–15 a dozen, which doesn’t even cover production costs. We’re on the verge of collapse,” he said.

Tikapur bananas are usually supplied to markets in Dhangadhi, Mahendranagar, Nepalgunj, Surkhet, Dang, Butwal, and beyond. But this year, farmers like Rawat and Tekendra Dhami say buyers have vanished. “Last year, bananas sold for Rs 40–50 a dozen in the fields. This year they’re left to rot,” Dhami said. Farmers warn that if their demands are ignored by Sept 22, they will take to the streets.

Banana farmers across the country are preparing for a movement, saying their hard work and investment are being undermined by cheap Indian imports. The Nepal Banana Producers Federation Committee in Kathmandu has also issued a statement, demanding the government secure a market for Nepali bananas. Farmers from Kailali, Kanchanpur, Bardiya, Nawalparasi, and Chitwan have warned that unchecked imports are worsening the trade deficit and pushing local producers out of business.

Banana cultivation currently takes place in 69 districts of Nepal. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, 383,285 tons of bananas are produced annually on 23,404 hectares of land, worth around Rs 15bn. Of this, bananas worth over Rs 2bn are produced in Kailali alone, said Santosh Upadhyay, associate professor of agricultural economics at Sudurpaschim University.

Globally, India is the largest banana producer, cultivating 866,000 hectares and producing more than 30m metric tons annually—26 percent of the world’s total. China, Brazil, and Indonesia follow, while Nepal ranks 11th, with 23,000 hectares under banana cultivation.

The families of four passengers who died on an Air India jet that crashed in June have filed a lawsuit in the US against planemaker Boeing and aircraft parts maker Honeywell, accusing the companies of negligence, BBC reported.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday, and seen by the BBC, said faulty fuel switches caused the accident and accused the companies of doing "nothing" despite being aware of the risks of the aircraft's design.

Air India Flight 171 bound for London Gatwick, a Boeing 787, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people.

Fuel switches have become a focus for investigators after a preliminary inquiry found that fuel to the engines was cut off moments after the plane left the ground, according to BBC.

Four Nepalis including three of the same family died in a jeep accident in Shimla, India on Monday.

The deceased have been identified as Rajesh Bista (37), Dilli Bahadur Shahi (47), Ekendra Shahi (37) and Laxmi Shahi (24) of Kumakh Rural Municipality-4 of Salyan.

The incident occurred while they were heading towards the workplace. All of them died on the spot, it has been learnt.

India’s Meteorological Department on Monday issued a red alert for very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in Mumbai, as the city faced its second straight day of downpours.

The Colaba observatory recorded over 100 millimeters of rain between Sunday and Monday morning, leading to severe waterlogging and traffic disruptions, Xinhua reported.

Train services were also partially affected due to flooded tracks.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday praised the youth of Nepal for their role in rebuilding the country after days of violent protests. Speaking in Manipur, he said young Nepalis have been cleaning and repainting damaged streets, a gesture he described as a sign of the nation’s resilience. Modi noted that he had personally seen images of their efforts on social media, ANI reported.

From the historic Kangla Fort in Manipur, Modi also congratulated Sushila Karki on becoming Nepal’s interim Prime Minister, hailing her as the country’s first woman to hold the post. He called her appointment a milestone in women’s empowerment and expressed confidence that she would steer Nepal towards peace, stability, and prosperity.

“Nepal, in the lap of the Himalayas, is our close friend. On behalf of 1.4bn Indians, I extend my best wishes to Prime Minister Sushila Karki,” Modi said, underlining the cultural and historical ties that bind the two nations, according to ANI.

Earlier in the day, Modi also sent a message on social media reaffirming India’s commitment to Nepal’s peace and progress. The Indian government welcomed the formation of the interim government, pledging to work closely with Kathmandu for the well-being of both peoples.

Karki took charge on Friday after the fall of KP Sharma Oli’s government, which collapsed under the weight of Gen-Z–led protests against corruption and restrictions on social media. Backed by the youth movement, she now faces the task of restoring order and leading Nepal toward general elections scheduled for March 2026.

US has urged its G7 and EU partners to impose tariffs on China and India, accusing them of propping up Moscow’s war in Ukraine through continued Russian oil purchases.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said only coordinated tariffs can choke off the revenues funding Russian President Putin’s invasion. The call came as G7 finance ministers agreed to speed up the use of frozen Russian assets to support Kyiv, according to Reuters.

Washington has already doubled tariffs on Indian imports to 50 percent but has so far held back on Beijing amid ongoing trade talks. Bessent is set to meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Madrid next week, where trade and security issues will be high on the agenda.

The Ministry of External Affairs of India has expressed sorrow over the loss of many young lives in the recent incidents taking place in Nepal since Monday.

As the Ministry states, it is closely watching the developments in Nepal since yesterday.

In a statement issued today, the Ministry conveyed that its thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased, wishing for the speedy recovery of the injured.

As a close friend and neighbor, the Ministry expresses hope that all concerned bodies will exercise restraint and address any issues through peaceful means and dialogue.

India also takes note that authorities have imposed curfew in Kathmandu and several other cities of Nepal, the statement reads.

Similarly, Indian nationals in Nepal have been advised to exercise caution and adhere to the steps and guidelines issued by the Nepali authorities.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said relations with the United States remain “very positive” despite President Donald Trump’s comment suggesting India may be drifting closer to China.

Trump made the remark after Modi attended a regional summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, while US–India trade tensions have grown over Washington’s new tariffs on Indian goods, Al Jazeera reported.

Modi stressed that the partnership with the US is forward-looking and global in scope. Trump later clarified he had not meant that America had “lost” India, adding that he values his friendship with Modi and the ties between the two countries.

US President Donald Trump warned that India and Russia appear to be slipping into China’s orbit after their leaders joined Chinese President Xi Jinping at a regional summit in Tianjin, Reuters reported.

A photograph from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting showed Xi walking hand in hand with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, a display of unity that drew Trump’s sharp reaction.

He said both countries looked “lost” to the “deepest, darkest China,” highlighting Washington’s unease over shifting alliances and the deepening US–China rivalry.

India has cut Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates to spur consumption and soften the blow of steep US tariffs, BBC reported.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the tax structure has been simplified to two slabs—5 percent and 18 percent—with a 40 percent levy on cigarettes. Essentials like food, school supplies and insurance will become cheaper, while imported liquor and premium cars will cost more. The new rates take effect on 22 September, ahead of the festive season.

Markets cheered the move, with analysts saying lower taxes could lift demand, ease inflation and support corporate earnings, though states fear revenue losses of up to $6bn.

The cuts follow earlier income tax relief and coincide with lower borrowing costs. Economists believe stronger consumption could offset losses and cushion the impact of President Donald Trump’s 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods, according to BBC.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the reforms a promise delivered, saying they will benefit farmers, the middle class, small traders and youth while making business easier.