All remaining support acts on Ed Sheeran’s US tour have withdrawn after rapper Macklemore was dropped from the lineup over his pro-Palestinian remarks during concerts in New Jersey. Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Irish folk band Beoga announced their departures. Macklemore had performed his song “Hind’s Hall” at MetLife Stadium on September 4 and told the crowd he wanted to say “Free Palestine”, while footage showing destruction in Gaza played on screen. Sheeran said Macklemore’s removal was the promoter’s decision and not his own. The decision followed pressure from venues and criticism from some Jewish organisations over Macklemore’s comments. (PC: BBC)

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has said it cannot restore access to some cloud facilities in Bahrain and the UAE after they were damaged during Iranian strikes earlier this year. In Bahrain, damage affected multiple availability zones and was beyond what AWS’s regional systems were designed to withstand. In the UAE, AWS said resources and data hosted exclusively in one availability zone cannot be restored, while recovery work continues elsewhere. The company is helping affected customers move workloads and restore backups in other regions. AWS said it is replacing damaged infrastructure in the UAE and will provide another Bahrain update in early 2027. (PC: India Today)

The US House of Representatives has advanced a Russia sanctions bill that could allow President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on India and other major buyers of Russian oil and gas. The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 cleared a procedural vote by 214-211 after two Democrats joined Republicans. The bill had already passed the Senate with an 86-11 vote in August. A final House vote is expected on Wednesday. If passed, the legislation would give the US president authority to impose higher tariffs on countries buying Russian energy, including India. (PC: NDTV)

Yemen’s Houthis have claimed they shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Marib province using a locally made surface-to-air missile. Saudi Arabia has not confirmed the reported loss. The claim came hours after Saudi air defences said they intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered the holy city’s restricted airspace. The Houthis have denied targeting Mecca or other Islamic holy sites. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree also claimed Saudi aircraft had carried out more than 450 airstrikes in Yemen over the past week. The claims about the fighter jet could not be independently verified. (PC: X)

India has exported around 500 tonnes of Hilsa to Bangladesh over the past two months, reversing the traditional trade flow between the two neighbours. The consignments have mainly come from Gujarat and were shipped through Bharuch port, while some supplies moved through the Howrah wholesale fish market in West Bengal. Another 150–200 tonnes could be exported in the coming weeks, according to fish traders. The unusual shift comes as Bangladesh faces lower Hilsa production this year, increasing demand for supplies from India. Traditionally, Bangladesh has exported Hilsa to India, particularly ahead of the Durga Puja festival. (PC: The Indian Express)

New Zealand’s Parliament has passed legislation to implement its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India, bringing the trade pact closer to taking effect. The bill passed 93-29, with support from the opposition Labour Party. Under the agreement, tariffs on around 95% of New Zealand exports to India will eventually be eliminated or significantly reduced, while all Indian goods will get duty-free access to New Zealand. More than half of the covered New Zealand products will become duty-free from the first day. New Zealand has also committed to invest NZ$20 billion in India over the next 15 years. The agreement was signed in April. (PC: HT)

A Pakistani naval unit collided with an Indian Navy vessel at sea, prompting India to summon Pakistan’s top diplomat in New Delhi on Wednesday. The Ministry of External Affairs lodged a strong protest over what it described as the Pakistani naval units’ “unacceptable and unprofessional” conduct. The incident took place in international waters, according to reports. India has asked Islamabad to take note of the incident and ensure such conduct is not repeated. The details of the collision, including any damage or injuries, remain unclear as authorities have not released further information. The incident is still developing. (PC: India Today)

The CBI has assigned senior officer Seema Pahuja, currently an SP in its Special Crimes Unit, to supervise the investigation into the 2020 death of Disha Salian, former manager of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Pahuja has previously worked on high-profile investigations, including the RG Kar and Hathras cases, and received the CBI’s 2021 Gold Medal for Best Investigating Officer. The CBI registered an FIR on September 13 following the Bombay High Court’s September 2 direction for a fresh probe. Investigators will examine documents, forensic evidence and witness statements, including those of people present at a gathering before Salian’s death.

Sethuraman Panchanathan, an Indian American computer scientist and former director of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), has been named the recipient of the 2026 Arthur M. Bueche Award by the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). He is the first Indian American to receive the prestigious honour. The award recognizes his contributions to engineering, science, technology policy and public service. Panchanathan previously led the NSF, where he helped advance research and innovation across emerging technologies. The NAE announced the award on September 1, 2026, highlighting his leadership and contributions to strengthening connections between engineering, technology and society. 

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) will introduce a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on selected UPI transactions from October 15, 2026. A 0.4% charge will apply to person-to-merchant (P2M) UPI payments above ₹2,000, capped at ₹300 per transaction. Payments involving railways, telecom, insurance and fuel will attract a flat ₹5 MDR above ₹2,000. Person-to-person (P2P) transfers and merchant payments up to ₹2,000 will remain free. Small merchants receiving up to ₹1 lakh monthly through UPI QR codes are also exempt. The MDR is intended to support the sustainability and infrastructure of India’s digital-payment ecosystem.