India’s exports pick up pace as FTAs kick in

IANS | September 20, 2026 1:06 PM

New Delhi, Sep 20 (IANS) India’s exports to free trade agreement (FTA) partners have shot up during the first quarter of 2026-27, with shipments to Singapore and Sri Lanka more than doubling and exports to ASEAN rising by more than 60 per cent, which shows that the trade pacts are actually bearing fruit, according to reports.

Rising utility bills, private services deepen Pakistan middle-class struggle

IANS | September 20, 2026 12:48 PM

New Delhi, Sep 20 (IANS) Pakistan’s middle class is coming under growing financial pressure as the cost of securing basic necessities such as electricity, water, healthcare, education and transportation continues to rise, turning what many economists and observers describe as public policy failures into private household struggles, a report has said.

When Kishore Kumar was banned from All India Radio for a year

IANS | September 20, 2026 12:46 PM

Mumbai, Sep 15 (IANS) Did you know legendary singer Kishore Kumar was banned from All India Radio for a year? When Indira Gandhi's government imposed Emergency in 1975-1977 Kishore Kumar songs were banned from being broadcast on state-run All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan.

Rifle shooter Vidarsa’s journey from finding the right guide to Asiad women’s team silver

IANS | September 20, 2026 12:25 PM

Nagoya, Sep 20 (IANS) Vidarsa K. Vinod’s Asian Games debut was never simply a matter of being in the right place at the right time. After helping India win silver in the women’s 10m air rifle team event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the Keralam shooter pushed back against suggestions that luck had carried her to the continental stage, pointing instead to eight years of work behind her first Games medal.