Srikanth's title wait continues with runners-up finish at US Open

IANS | June 29, 2026 11:51 AM

Fullerton (US), June 29 (IANS) Former World No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth's wait for a BWF World Tour title was extended further after he went down against Chinese Taipei’s Su Li Yang in the men’s semifinals of the US Open Badminton tournament here on Sunday.

NITI Aayog set to release report on strengthening Gram Sabha participation

IANS | June 29, 2026 11:47 AM

New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) A national study that examined participation in Gram Sabhas across states and union territories found low citizen turnout and identified barriers and pathways to strengthen their grassroots engagement, an official statement said on Monday, adding that the report will be released on June 30.

Govt introduces 'Improvement Notice' mechanism to boost ease of doing business

IANS | June 29, 2026 11:32 AM

New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) The Department of Consumer Affairs has introduced an 'Improvement Notice' mechanism under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, allowing businesses to rectify specified first-time procedural or regulatory non-compliances before penal proceedings are initiated, according to an official statement on Monday.

India protected its consumers from oil shock as West Asia crisis rattled world economies

IANS | June 29, 2026 11:24 AM

New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) As the West Asia crisis rattled global economies with surging oil and gas prices since the US-Iran war began on February 28, the defining choice of the crisis for India was to absorb the cost at the level of the State and the public sector marketing companies rather than the household, according to the government, as no comparable economy chose to shoulder a burden of this scale on behalf of its consumers.

Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan kill dozens, including women, children

IANS | June 29, 2026 11:04 AM

Kabul, June 29 (IANS) The Pakistani military has reportedly carried out airstrikes once again in civilian areas of Afghanistan’s Paktika and Kunar provinces, killing and injuring dozens of civilians, including women and children, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on Monday.