Afghanistan Cricket Board Chairman Mirwais Ashraf says India is the country's most important partner and thanks the BCCI for its support in an exclusive conversation with WION's Siddhant Sibal. India will play Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series beginning September 13


ACB chief says India's support helped Afghan cricket's rise

India's defence industry is witnessing unprecedented growth, with production crossing ₹1.78 lakh crore and exports reaching record levels. New drones, missiles, fighter jets and artillery systems are moving from drawing boards to production lines. But a critical question remains: can India manufacture advanced weapons fast enough to meet military demands? As global conflicts show the importance of rapid innovation and mass production, India's next challenge is no longer designing weapons—it's building them at scale and on time.


The next arms race may be about who can innovate & build fastest

Glide bombs are rapidly changing the way modern wars are fought. By combining the destructive power of traditional bombs with precision guidance and long-range stand-off capability, they allow aircraft to strike targets without entering dangerous enemy air-defence zones. India's successful test of the Khagantak-243 marks a major step in this direction.


Khagantak, Gaurav and Tara: India builds a new glide arsenal 

India's latest Q1 FY27 GDP print of 7.8% has sparked intense debate among economists, opposition leaders, and government officials. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) transitioned to a revised 2022–23 base year, introducing double deflation, Annual Survey of Unincorporated Enterprises data, and integrated GST metrics to eliminate historical distortions. While the government and economic advisors defend the new methodology as aligned with IMF standards, critics question whether base-year adjustments mask underlying trends in private consumption and investment. Watch for a detailed breakdown of the GDP numbers and what the new calculation method means for India’s growth story.


What does India's 7.8% growth really mean

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to speed up the construction of 5,000 temples across the state and finalise sites at the earliest. The initiative will prioritise SC/ST colonies, fishermen settlements, weaker sections’ colonies and other areas, while the government also plans to restore 1,000 ancient temples. 

Andhra Pradesh CM calls for speedy construction of temples

Belgium has assured India it will not pursue defence engagement with Pakistan, Indian officials said, after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh raised the issue with his Belgian counterpart, Theo Francken, in New Delhi on Thursday. The assurance came as Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever paid the first visit by a Belgian head of government to India in two decades, accompanied by Francken and a large industrial delegation. Ten agreements between Belgian and Indian defence firms were due to be signed, covering ammunition plants, naval mine-hunting systems, rockets, electro-optical sights and other equipment.&nbsp;Officials said Singh used the meeting to press a point New Delhi has made repeatedly to European partners: that closer industrial ties with India should not sit alongside military co-operation with Pakistan, which India accuses of backing cross-border terrorism. Pakistan based terrorists have been responsible for number of terror attacks in India. Belgium is the latest country to receive that caution after similar messages were delivered to Japan, the Netherlands and Italy.&nbsp;During Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi’s visit to Delhi last month, India urged Japan to keep advanced defence technology out of Pakistani hands, citing the legacy of the A.Q. Khan network and past nuclear and missile transfers to Pyongyang. Defence minister Singh told Francken that the two countries had “the potential to further expand their partnership amid a period of great geopolitical and economic turmoil”. “The world is witnessing a time of great geopolitical and economic turmoil. Most of it is not our doing, but we have to handle the challenges. In such situations, meeting a friend and partner like you provides a useful opportunity to exchange views and perspectives,” he said.&nbsp;A Belgian government note issued with the visit set out the industrial package. Liège firm New Lachaussée is to supply Tembo Classic Engineering with a production line capable of about 100 million rounds of ammunition a year, a project valued at €50 million. Exail Belgium will provide autonomous mine-countermeasure “toolboxes” for vessels being built by Larsen &amp; Toubro; the first phase covers 12 ships and could grow. Thales Belgium will assemble 70mm rockets in India with Kalyani Strategic Systems, with the first fully Indian-made rocket expected in early 2027.&nbsp;Other talks involve FN Herstal on weapons and counter-drone systems, Pitagone on vehicle barriers, drone-maker Sol.One, OIP Sensor Systems on sights for the Arjun tank, John Cockerill Defense on a turret for the high-altitude Zorawar light tank, visualisation firm Octave with Bharat Electronics, and marine-engine maker Anglo Belgian Corporation with Kirloskar. India wants technology and co-production under its Make in India drive while trying to limit European hardware and know-how reaching Islamabad.

Belgium has assured India it will not pursue defence engagement with Pakistan, officials said after Rajnath Singh met Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken. The assurance came during PM Bart De Wever’s India visit, alongside 10 defence agreements

Belgium has assured India it will not pursue defence engagement with Pakistan, Indian officials said, after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh raised the issue with his Belgian counterpart, Theo Francken, in New Delhi on Thursday. The assurance came as Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever paid the first visit by a Belgian head of government to India in two decades, accompanied by Francken and a large industrial delegation. Ten agreements between Belgian and Indian defence firms were due to be signed, covering ammunition plants, naval mine-hunting systems, rockets, electro-optical sights and other equipment. Officials said Singh used the meeting to press a point New Delhi has made repeatedly to European partners: that closer industrial ties with India should not sit alongside military co-operation with Pakistan, which India accuses of backing cross-border terrorism. Pakistan based terrorists have been responsible for number of terror attacks in India. Belgium is the latest country to receive that caution after similar messages were delivered to Japan, the Netherlands and Italy. During Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi’s visit to Delhi last month, India urged Japan to keep advanced defence technology out of Pakistani hands, citing the legacy of the A.Q. Khan network and past nuclear and missile transfers to Pyongyang. Defence minister Singh told Francken that the two countries had “the potential to further expand their partnership amid a period of great geopolitical and economic turmoil”. “The world is witnessing a time of great geopolitical and economic turmoil. Most of it is not our doing, but we have to handle the challenges. In such situations, meeting a friend and partner like you provides a useful opportunity to exchange views and perspectives,” he said. A Belgian government note issued with the visit set out the industrial package. Liège firm New Lachaussée is to supply Tembo Classic Engineering with a production line capable of about 100 million rounds of ammunition a year, a project valued at €50 million. Exail Belgium will provide autonomous mine-countermeasure “toolboxes” for vessels being built by Larsen & Toubro; the first phase covers 12 ships and could grow. Thales Belgium will assemble 70mm rockets in India with Kalyani Strategic Systems, with the first fully Indian-made rocket expected in early 2027. Other talks involve FN Herstal on weapons and counter-drone systems, Pitagone on vehicle barriers, drone-maker Sol.One, OIP Sensor Systems on sights for the Arjun tank, John Cockerill Defense on a turret for the high-altitude Zorawar light tank, visualisation firm Octave with Bharat Electronics, and marine-engine maker Anglo Belgian Corporation with Kirloskar. India wants technology and co-production under its Make in India drive while trying to limit European hardware and know-how reaching Islamabad.

Belgium has assured India it will not pursue defence engagement with Pakistan, officials said after Rajnath Singh met Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken. The assurance came during PM Bart De Wever’s India visit, alongside 10 defence agreements

Belgium, latest EU state cautioned by India over arms for Pakistan; gets assurances from Brussels

In an exclusive interview, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has issued a powerful statement from exile, declaring: "I want to return to my homeland." Addressing her planned December return to Dhaka, the 78-year-old leader stated that her decision is driven by a duty to stand alongside the people of Bangladesh amid an escalating political, economic, and security crisis.  

'I want to return to my homeland': Sheikh Hasina exclusive 

The Indian Air Force has successfully conducted a landmark drop trial of the Khagantak-243, an indigenously developed long-range precision-guided glide bomb. Jointly engineered by Nagpur-based JSR Dynamics and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), the 300-kg class munition boasts a stand-off strike range exceeding 140 kilometers when released from high altitudes. Featuring swivel-type glide wings, AI-driven autonomous target recognition, and jamming-resistant GNSS-Inertial navigation, the Khagantak-243 allows IAF fighter jets like the Su-30MKI to neutralize enemy defences from safe distances.

Khagantak-243: India's precision power | Key features

Drones are rapidly becoming a cornerstone of India's military strategy. What began as a tool for surveillance and reconnaissance has evolved into a sophisticated ecosystem of strike drones, loitering munitions, AI-powered systems, and autonomous platforms. As modern warfare increasingly shifts from hardware to software, algorithms and data are becoming as critical as tanks and fighter jets. From monitoring borders to conducting precision strikes, drones are redefining how India prepares for future conflicts, making unmanned warfare a key pillar of national defence.


India’s drone revolution: How unmanned warfare is transforming defence

India's aviation sector is set for its next big leap. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu announced that 100 new airports will be built over the next decade under the Modified UDAN scheme, backed by an outlay of nearly Rs 30,000 crore. The push comes as Ahmedabad launched India's third hub-and-spoke model, easing international connectivity through Delhi to about 15 destinations. From 74 airports in 2014 to 166 today, the minister called aviation a key driver of jobs, trade and regional growth, especially for smaller cities.


India plans 100 new airports by 2036, Ahmedabad launches country's third hub-and-spoke model

The military conflict involving Iran has triggered a dramatic restructuring of the global liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market. Critical shipping disruptions along the Strait of Hormuz—the vital transit corridor for West Asian energy exports—have forced major Asian economies to secure alternative cooking gas and industrial fuel supplies. The United States has emerged as the principal beneficiary of this trade shift, as American LPG shipments surge toward energy-hungry markets in India and China to fill the supply gap created by Middle Eastern geopolitical turmoil.

Iran war reshapes global LPG trade

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed India's stronger-than-expected 7.8% real GDP growth in Q1 FY2026–27, stating the impressive figures have exposed the "jhooth ki goonj" (echo of lies) spread by political critics. Highlighting key growth drivers like a 9.2% surge in manufacturing, the Prime Minister celebrated the nation's economic resilience despite ongoing global headwinds. Alongside celebrating the economic milestone, PM Modi reinforced his "Swadeshi" push, calling on citizens to support domestic growth by avoiding unnecessary gold purchases and foreign leisure trips. 

India development report: BJP hails 7.8% growth in April-June quarter

The death toll from devastating Himalayan glacial floods in Nepal and Tibet has reached at least 1,050 with nearly 4,500 people still missing after a gigantic wave of freezing water, rocks and debris roared downstream on August 26. Rescue teams from Nepal, India and China are in a desperate race against time, digging, drilling and blasting through debris to free dozens of hydropower workers trapped in tunnels.

Nepal Flash Floods: At least 1,050 dead And 118 Nepalese rescued from disaster zone

According to a new analysis, an Indian professional who applies for a U.S. green card today could face a wait of up to 179 years. One of the main reasons for this is the nationality-based caps.


Nearly 1 million Indians stuck in US green card backlog, wait could stretch to 179 years

India is actively constructing one of the most lethal, multi-layered air defence networks in modern military history: the Sudarshan Chakra shield. It is built to counter future saturation warfare where adversaries fire drone swarms, cruise missiles, and ballistic warheads all at once, this architecture combines combat-proven doctrine from Operation Sindoor with cutting-edge tech. This comes as Russia offers Rs 50,000 crore deal for five additional S-400 squadrons.


Sudarshan Chakra: India deploys unbreakable multi-layered missile fortress

India is strengthening its air defence network with the development of Project Kusha, an indigenous long-range air defence system designed to complement the Russian-made S-400. The new system aims to intercept enemy aircraft, drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missile threats at multiple ranges. Together, the S-400 and Project Kusha could create a layered missile shield capable of protecting critical military and civilian infrastructure. As regional security challenges evolve, India's push for self-reliance in defence technology marks a major step toward building a robust and modern air defence architecture.


Sudarshan Chakra: India builds multi-layered air defence wall

India Women's head coach Sjoerd Marijne & Star Goalkeeper Savita Punia speak to WION's Vidur Kathuria and reflect on the fifth-placed finish at the World Cup and also look ahead to the Asian Games. Marijne says the gap between India and the world's best teams is reducing.


Sjoerd Marijne & Savita Punia reflect on India Women's Hockey World Cup campaign

India’s defence reset: S-400s, S-500s, drones & Atmanirbharta

Modern warfare is as much about industrial capacity as battlefield strength. As India pushes for defence self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, a critical question emerges: can domestic manufacturers sustain the massive ammunition requirements of a prolonged, high-intensity conflict? From 155mm artillery shells to missiles, drones and spare parts, wartime demand can rapidly outpace peacetime production. India's defence industry has expanded significantly in recent years, but experts say stockpiles, manufacturing capacity and supply chains will determine how long the country can sustain combat operations. This report examines India's readiness for a war of attrition.


Can India's defence industry sustain high-intensity warfare?

From S-400 to Project Kusha: India builds a powerful new missile shield

India's banking sector is witnessing a strong rise in credit growth, with businesses, households and small enterprises borrowing more to fund expansion and spending. Corporate lending is picking up as companies invest in capacity and infrastructure, while retail credit remains supported by demand for personal and gold loans. Gold-backed borrowing has emerged as a key driver of retail credit growth amid economic uncertainty and rising gold prices.


Businesses and gold loans fuel India's lending surge

Big Tech, Real Cost is a WION special series hosted by Meraj Shah, examining how a handful of foreign-headquartered platforms and the rise of AI are reshaping our lives.

In this full panel discussion, we examine the growing power of algorithms to shape what billions of people see, read and hear, influencing elections, public opinion, culture and mental health. From teenage mental health and cultural homogenisation to linguistic diversity and political influence, the panel asks a fundamental question: when recommendation engines decide what gets seen, can platforms still claim to be neutral intermediaries? And if algorithms have become the most powerful editors in our digital lives, who should hold them accountable?

The panel discussion features Aprajita Bharti (The Quantum Hub), Apar Gupta (Internet Freedom Foundation) and Nidhi Sudhan (Citizen Digital Foundation).

How algorithms control what India sees 

Big relief for thousands of students who took to the streets after the July 20 NEET paper leak protests. The Supreme Court has quashed all FIRs filed against protesters between July 20 and 25 across every state and union territory, except those with serious criminal antecedents. Using its special Article 142 powers, the CJI-led bench said it wanted to protect the "future prospects" of young protesters. Following the order, the Cockroach Janta Party called off its planned September 5 march in Delhi.


Breaking: Top Courts allow police to pursue FIR against known criminals at Jantar Mantar

Breaking: Supreme Court quashes all NEET protesters' FIRs, CJP withdraws September 5 March 

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jingping, alongside other leaders, attend the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a regional bloc including Russia, China, India, Iran, Pakistan and Central Asian countries.


SCO Summit 2026: PM delivers firm message at SCO in presence of Pakistan's Sharif

Meta has removed Facebook and Instagram advertisements linked to malicious apps that allegedly targeted Indian banking users. The development highlights growing concerns over online scams, fraudulent applications and cyber threats aimed at stealing sensitive financial information from users.

Meta removes Facebook and Instagram ads linked to malicious apps targeting Indian banking users

Putting months of speculation to rest, Dr Subhash Chandra addressed key questions surrounding the recent NCLT order and clarified his position on financial matters. Speaking directly to the public and engaging with India's youth on Instagram, Dr Chandra stated that he never took any loans and had only provided guarantees. During the interaction, he responded to a wide range of queries, offering his perspective on the developments and seeking to clear misconceptions. The candid session drew significant attention online, with many viewers tuning in to hear his explanations firsthand.

Essel Group chairman Dr Subhash Chandra answers all questions on NCLT order

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on 31 August 2026 on the sidelines of the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.


SCO summit 2026: India pushes for diplomacy in Russia-Ukraine war

India decided to finalise a long-term arrangement with Uzbekistan for the supply of uranium. This is seen as a part of India's goal of achieving 100 gw of nuclear capacity by 2047, when the completes hundred years of independence.

India locks in uranium from Uzbekistan, targets nuclear superpower status

The 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek has brought together some of the world's most influential leaders, including India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. With conflicts in West Asia, the ongoing Ukraine war, regional security concerns and counter-terrorism efforts dominating discussions, the summit is being closely watched for key diplomatic engagements and strategic outcomes.


SCO summit: India's stance of 'peace' gives git a strategic advantage

Nepal’s deadly tunnel rescue has turned into a race against time, with more than 900 workers feared trapped inside flooded hydropower projects. India and China have joined the rescue effort, sending experts and equipment as teams battle thick mud, damaged infrastructure and worsening weather to find survivors.


Nepal Floods: Nepal races to reach hundreds trapped in hydropower tunnels 

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