The United States has exempted India and 19 other jurisdictions from tariffs on certain specialty pharmaceuticals and associated ingredients, according to the US Commerce Department. The zero per cent rate covers drugs for rare diseases, infertility treatments, cell and gene therapies, antibody-drug conjugates and animal pharmaceuticals, along with their qualifying components. The exemption comes as Washington prepares to impose a 100 per cent tariff on specified patented pharmaceutical imports and ingredients from September 29 under Section 232. The eligible jurisdictions qualify based on current or forthcoming trade and security framework agreements with the US. Generic pharmaceutical products and associated ingredients remain outside the Section 232 tariffs, under the new rules announced. (PC: The Economic Times)

Air India will resume direct flights between Delhi and Tel Aviv from December 1, 2026, restoring a key air link between India and Israel, according to the Israel Ministry of Tourism. The airline will operate five weekly non-stop flights from Sunday through Thursday using Boeing 777 aircraft, making it the only carrier offering direct connectivity between the two countries. The resumption is expected to strengthen tourism ties and improve access to Israel for Indian travellers. The ministry said the restored service could also help attract new segments of Indian visitors beyond existing travel patterns. The move marks a renewed effort to expand connectivity and support tourism exchanges between India and Israel. (PC: X)

Fourteen-year-old Ashrit Talluri of Fulton County, Georgia, has earned a perfect 1600 on the SAT, taking the college admissions test years earlier than most students. He completed 14½ high-school credits while in middle school and attended college-level summer programmes at Harvard and Rice. Encouraged by his father and middle-school counsellor, Talluri registered for the SAT in January and spent five months preparing with a tutor, online resources and more than two dozen practice tests. He had already scored 1600 on three practice exams. Now a ninth-grader at Innovation Academy, he takes two college-level courses through dual enrolment, participates in hackathons, plays chess and has an interest in aviation, AI and medicine. (PC: TOI)

An Instagram page featuring overweight dogs has grown into an online contest drawing voters and campaigners from Delhi and beyond. The competition began after a Delhi University journalism student started posting photographs of overweight dogs she spotted around the city. From 64 contenders, four reached the semifinals: Googoo, Tara Khan, Hero and Gola. Tara and Gola have since died, but supporters continue backing them. Googoo, a 46-kg mixed-breed dog from Saket, is at Jeevashram Foundation on a regulated diet and weight-loss programme. Rambabu, also called Chonky, is the other finalist. Supporters have created posters, social-media pages and campaigns, while people from other cities have sent treats. Results are due September 29. (PC: X)

The FBI has added fugitive gangster Satinderjeet Singh, also known as Goldy Brar, to its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list and announced a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to his capture. The FBI alleges Singh is the North American leader of the Lawrence Bishnoi Organised Crime Group, which authorities accuse of targeted killings, shootings, kidnappings, extortion, assaults, and narcotics and weapons trafficking across the US and Canada. Singh faces charges in Los Angeles involving racketeering conspiracy, extortion and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. The FBI said he is currently believed to be based in California and Canada, and warned that he should be considered armed and dangerous.

President Donald Trump has unveiled plans for a $15 billion steel complex in Iowa to be developed by Mesabi Metallics, owned by India’s Essar Group. Trump announced the project at the White House alongside company executives, describing it as a major boost for US manufacturing. The White House says the facility will become the largest steel plant in US history. Essar’s wider US investment is expected to total about $18 billion, including its Minnesota iron ore operations. The Iowa plant is designed as a fully integrated operation using ore from Mesabi Metallics’ Minnesota mine. Production is expected to begin in 2030, with capacity eventually reaching 10 million tons of steel annually.

India won eight medals on Day 10 of the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, taking its total to 45. The country secured four silver and four bronze medals, with athletics contributing six. Yashvir Singh won silver and Rohit Yadav bronze in the men’s javelin throw, giving India a double podium. Gulveer Singh added silver in the 1,500m, while Murali Sreeshankar took silver in the long jump. Vithya Ramraj won bronze in the 400m hurdles, breaking PT Usha’s 42-year-old national record. Parul Chaudhary also claimed bronze in the women’s 5,000m. Shooter Esha Singh won silver, while Pincky Balhara secured bronze in kurash. (PC: X)

India has not yet decided whether to acquire Russia’s Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter, Defence Secretary RK Singh said at the NDTV Defence Summit 2026. He said India’s main fifth-generation fighter programme remains the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), with its first prototype expected in September 2028. Russia has offered licensed production of the Su-57 in India with technology transfer. Singh also highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence to improve the performance of existing Tejas fighters by strengthening India’s radar, sensor and air defence networks. India is exploring these technologies as it works to address its stealth fighter capability gap. (PC: NDTV)

The United States has announced zero per cent tariffs on certain speciality medicines and their ingredients from India and 19 other countries and regions. The exemption covers drugs for rare diseases, fertility treatments, cell and gene therapies, antibody-drug conjugates, nuclear medicines and animal health products. The US Commerce Department’s notice said eligible products must meet specific conditions linked to trade and security agreements or urgent US healthcare needs. The move follows President Donald Trump’s April proclamation on pharmaceutical imports under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. The exemption does not apply to all pharmaceutical products. (PC: HT)

Congress workers protested outside Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s residence in Agra on Monday, spray-painting slogans on the main gate and a wall. They wrote “Gyanesh Gaddar Gyanesh Chor” and put up stickers and pamphlets. The protest came amid growing tensions between the Congress and the Election Commission over its functioning and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Congress has accused the poll panel of favouring the ruling BJP, while the Election Commission has faced criticism from several opposition parties. The protest followed a report alleging disagreements among election commissioners over certain decisions. (PC: The Telegraph)