US President Donald Trump has dismissed growing concerns over artificial intelligence safety as a "hoax," comparing them to the "Global Warming Scam" and past political controversies. His remarks came after Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark told the BBC that a mandatory "kill switch," verifiable by a third party, may be needed for the AI industry. Trump insisted the only guardrail required was a "strong and smart" president, warning that regulation would only benefit China. The comments follow warnings from AI executives and researchers about existential risks from the technology, triggering a tech stock selloff and renewed debate over industry oversight. (PC: BBC)

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday alleged that the CBI's FIR in the Disha Salian death case is a political conspiracy aimed at tarnishing the Thackeray family and targeting Aaditya Thackeray. Raut said Mumbai Police had already probed the matter multiple times and cleared Aaditya Thackeray of any involvement. The CBI registered the FIR following Bombay High Court directions on a plea by Salian's father, without naming any accused, though names have surfaced in media reports. Raut linked the timing to the ongoing Supreme Court case over the Shiv Sena symbol and Maratha quota unrest, though his claims remain unverified allegations. (PC: HT)

Indian-Americans had steadily shifted towards Donald Trump and the Republican Party in the 2024 election, drawn by shared conservative values and economic messaging. That trend now faces a setback after Texas GOP candidate Bo French called South Asian students celebrating at a University of Texas football game a "problem," triggering allegations of racism. Senator John Cornyn and other Republicans condemned the remarks, while Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi called it xenophobic hate. Indian-American groups have voiced anger, warning the episode risks reviving fears of discrimination within the GOP. Analysts say the backlash could stall the community's rightward political shift ahead of upcoming elections.

The Finance Ministry has notified that banks and payment system providers cannot charge fees on UPI and RuPay debit card transactions up to ₹2,000. The notification, issued under Section 10A of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, follows an amendment passed in Parliament's Monsoon Session. While small transactions remain fully protected, the rule opens the possibility of a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select higher-value merchant transactions above ₹2,000. The NPCI's UPI Steering Committee is expected to finalise MDR rates soon, with industry estimates suggesting 25-30 basis points for larger businesses. Person-to-person UPI payments remain unaffected. (PC: NDTV)

Chaos erupted at Delhi's IGI Airport as passengers of two SpiceJet flights to Dubai staged protests after delays stretched beyond 24 hours. Flights SG 5111 and SG 5105 were both rescheduled multiple times, leaving travellers stranded without clarity on departure, food, or accommodation. Passengers alleged no airline staff were available to address their concerns, prompting airport officials to step in with food and rest arrangements. A heated exchange between a passenger and an official over video recording further fuelled tensions. SpiceJet attributed the delays to the grounding of an aircraft and said alternate flights were being arranged, apologising for the inconvenience caused. (PC: India Today)

Two Indian-origin former Rutgers University students, identified as Navam Kaul and Malaika Chitre, died after being struck by a Number 4 train at Canal Street Station in Manhattan on Sunday. A viral video showed the pair sitting on the tracks before the train arrived. Police are investigating whether drugs or alcohol were involved, and are also examining the possibility of suicide, though no note has been found. The train operator reportedly saw the two on the tracks moments before the collision. Around 100 passengers aboard were evacuated safely. The incident remains under investigation by New York transit authorities. (PC: HT)

The United States has publicly confirmed, for the first time, that it has deployed a weapon in Earth's orbit. US Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink said the "on orbit" weapon was needed to protect American forces from hostile action, speaking at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference. He gave no details on its capabilities or deployment date. The admission follows years of warnings about Russian and Chinese programmes targeting US satellites. A 1967 treaty bans weapons of mass destruction in space, but other military capabilities remain unregulated. The disclosure comes as the US pushes its "Golden Dome" missile defence system. (PC: BBC)

Oracle began a new round of layoffs on Tuesday, sending termination emails to employees at around 6 am local time, citing "broader organisational change." Reports suggest the cuts could affect up to 30,000 employees globally, including around 12,000 in India, across the US, Canada, Mexico and other countries. Some workers lost system access and badge entry before receiving formal notice. The email said the recipient's role was eliminated and that day was their last working day, with severance subject to company terms. The layoffs come as Oracle ramps up spending on AI data centre infrastructure. Oracle has not officially commented on the total numbers. (PC: X)

Pakistan's men's hockey team will travel to India for the 2026 Asian Champions Trophy, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirmed, with the tournament set for October 27 to November 5 in Jalandhar and Mohali. Pakistan Hockey Federation president Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani said the team's participation still depends on formal government clearance, adding the federation will follow whatever its government decides. India, Pakistan, China, Japan, Malaysia and South Korea make up the six-team field, with India and Pakistan set to clash on November 1. Bilateral series between the two nations remain suspended, though multinational tournaments are permitted under current policy. (PC: NDTV)

Several Delhi schools received bomb threats on Tuesday morning, triggering emergency evacuations as mid-term exams were underway. The British School, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, Springdales and Air Force Bal Bharati School were among the institutions affected, with police, bomb disposal teams, sniffer dog squads and fire services deployed. Sardar Patel Vidyalaya confirmed all students were safely evacuated and that police were informed and taking necessary steps. The school was holding its first day of half-yearly exams when the threat arrived; senior school students had already finished most papers. Authorities are investigating; officials say the threats appear to be hoaxes, as in past incidents. (PC: HT)