1.NPCI International Payments enhances UPI-PayNow payment linkage between India and Singapore.

2.Akbar’s regime was a blend of brutality and tolerance, Babur a ruthless conqueror while Aurangzeb was a military ruler who reimposed taxes on non-muslims, says the NCERT’s new Class VIII textbook while describing the reign of Mughal emperors.

3.Trump indicates that the ongoing negotiations between India and the US for a much-anticipated interim trade deal are on track.

4.Powerful airstrikes shook Damascus Wednesday, targeting the defence ministry as Israel vowed to destroy Syrian government forces attacking Druze communities in southern Syria and demanded they withdraw.

5.The state government Wednesday approved the ambitious ‘Samruddha Sahar’ scheme to promote planned urbanisation and balanced regional development as part of its broader ‘Viksit Odisha 2036’ vision.

6.The state Tourism department has launched the Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Scheme (Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana - BNTYY) for the financial year 2025–26, aimed at facilitating pilgrimage opportunities for senior citizens across the state.

7.A drunk auto driver allegedly killed his parents with a hammer in Mayurbhanj district and spent the night with the bodies lying in a pool of blood, police said Wednesday.

8.The long-standing border dispute between Andhra Pradesh and Odisha has resurfaced after a brief lull, with offi cials of the neighbouring state reportedly conducting a survey in Gangabada panchayat of Rayagada block in Gajapati district.

9.Acting on intelligence inputs from Similipal Wildlife Intelligence Network, Forest department has seized three leopard skins and arrested seven wildlife smugglers. The illegal wildlife trade was reportedly driven by superstition that worshipping leopard skins and teeth would bring the buyers wealth and prosperity.

10. In a first for India, Delhi is set to launch a Rs 150 crore green e-waste eco park in Holambi Kalan. The pollution-free, net-zero facility aims to revolutionise electronic waste recycling by adhering to global green technology standards.

11.Authorities have shut five bridges on the Narmada canals in Gujarat after they were found to be dangerous for vehicular movement during an ongoing inspection drive.

12.All mega cities in India, including Kolkata, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai, saw high concentration of ground-level ozone pollution this summer season, according to a new analysis by think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

13.The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have shut down the popular bakery RB Store here for allegedly using newspapers to wrap its items like bread and cakes, in violation of norms.

14.In a major push towards green energy, the government Wednesday enhanced the investment limit of state-owned NTPC to Rs20,000 crore and also allowed public sector NLCIL to pump in Rs7,000 crore in renewable ;energy projects.

15. Railway authorities have officially mandated Aadhaar verifi cation through OTP for online ticket bookings under the Tatkal system across the country.