This article features several important news events that deserve your attention. Covering everything from local happenings to international headlines, we’ve gathered the top five news stories making an impact. Join us as we highlight the key developments that are influencing our world today!
1. ‘Phenomenal’ Rishabh Pant’s batting overshadows his keeping: Gautam Gambhir
Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has praised Rishabh Pant’s phenomenal skills as he prepares to make his much-anticipated return to the Indian Test side. After nearly two years away from the game due to a car accident, Pant’s comeback is eagerly awaited, especially following his impressive performance in the recent Duleep Trophy match.
Gambhir highlighted that while Pant’s explosive batting often steals the spotlight, his exceptional work behind the stumps is equally noteworthy. “At times, his batting overshadows his brilliant keeping,” Gambhir remarked, emphasizing the importance of Pant’s all-round contributions to the team.
With the first Test against Bangladesh on the horizon, Gambhir confirmed that Pant will be starting, believing that he has the ability to change the game in favor of the hosts. “Pant can open the game for us. As a keeper, he has done phenomenally well,” he stated, underscoring Pant’s dual role as a key player in both batting and wicketkeeping.
Pant’s recent form has been encouraging, showcasing his destructive batting capabilities while maintaining strong performance behind the stumps. Gambhir expressed confidence in having Pant back in the lineup, noting, “It is good to have someone like him. He brings a lot of positive aspects to the side.”
As fans and selectors eagerly await Pant’s return, his impact on the Indian squad promises to be significant, potentially influencing the outcome of the upcoming Test series.
2. NPS Vatsalya to be introduced today: Check scheme details, benefits and more
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a new initiative under the National Pension System (NPS) called NPS Vatsalya, aimed at helping parents and guardians invest for their minor children’s future. Unveiled during the Budget in July 2024, this scheme is designed to provide a secure financial foundation for children as they prepare for adulthood.
Managed by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), NPS Vatsalya allows all Indian citizens and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to open accounts for their minor children. Legal guardians can also establish accounts in a child’s name, setting the stage for long-term retirement savings that can be transitioned into a regular NPS account upon reaching the age of 18.
Key features of the NPS Vatsalya scheme include a minimum annual contribution of Rs 1,000, with no upper limit. Parents can start saving from infancy, benefiting from compounding returns, with contributions as low as Rs 500 per month or Rs 6,000 annually.
The scheme offers various investment options. The default choice, the Moderate Life Cycle Fund (LC-50), allocates 50% to equity. Guardians can also select from aggressive (LC-75), moderate (LC-50), and conservative (LC-25) funds, or opt for an active choice, managing asset allocation directly.
After three years, subscribers may make partial withdrawals of up to 25% of the corpus for specific needs, such as education or medical expenses. Upon the child turning 18, the account matures, allowing for full withdrawal of amounts up to Rs 2.5 lakh, while larger amounts can be partially withdrawn with the remainder invested in an annuity.
NPS Vatsalya presents a promising opportunity for parents to secure their children’s financial future, blending long-term investment with flexibility.
3. Bajaj looks to expand Triumph range
Bajaj Auto is set to enhance its product lineup and expand its sales network under the Triumph brand, aiming to solidify its presence in the rapidly growing domestic mid-size motorcycle segment. This move comes as the Pune-based company, in collaboration with British motorcycle manufacturer Triumph, recently launched two new 400-cc models—the Speed T4 and Speed 400—priced at INR 2.17 lakh and INR 2.4 lakh respectively (ex-showroom Delhi).
Bajaj Auto President of the Pro Biking Business Unit, Sumeet Narang, emphasized the company’s commitment to furthering the Triumph brand, which has seen significant establishment over the past year. “By the end of this year, we plan to expand our sales network to around 170 outlets, with ambitions to surpass 200 dealerships next year,” Narang stated, highlighting a focus on smaller cities and towns while also eyeing opportunities in metro suburbs.
Currently, Bajaj Auto operates in over 75 cities with more than 120 dealerships. Narang indicated that the company plans to introduce additional models within the next year to meet dealer demand and expand its offerings. The Triumph brand competes in the modern classics segment, which has grown significantly, achieving nearly 30% CAGR over the past three years.
With the introduction of new models, Bajaj Auto aims to enhance its position as the number two player in the classic motorcycle segment, trailing only the market leader. Executive Director Rakesh Sharma noted that the collaboration has successfully delivered nearly 60,000 TR series bikes to over 50 countries, reflecting strong customer acceptance and a growing franchise. As the market evolves, Bajaj Auto is poised for rapid expansion in the coming months.
4. Lay’s Becomes Official Sponsor Of FIFA World Cup 26 & FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027
PepsiCo’s Lay’s brand has officially been named the Official Sponsor for both the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027. This partnership aims to elevate fan engagement through exclusive experiences, merchandise, and activations, alongside a diverse portfolio of food brands, including Doritos and Cheetos.
Lay’s plans to introduce innovative initiatives such as recognizing the “Fan of the Match” at every game, celebrating the passionate supporters who bring the sport to life. The brand has previously made waves in the soccer community with impactful campaigns like ‘No Lay’s, No Game,’ featuring soccer legends like David Beckham and Thierry Henry. This year, Lay’s also launched the ‘Oh Lay’s’ campaign, creatively reimagining the traditional “Olé” chant with the help of Lionel Messi.
Moreover, Lay’s has demonstrated its commitment to women’s sports, serving as a Tournament Supporter for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand. Mallory Swanson, 2019 FIFA World Champion, has teamed up with Lay’s to promote visibility for women in sports through initiatives like Cracker Jill.
The sponsorship includes extensive in-store and digital promotions leading up to both tournaments, as well as visibility through LED displays at matches and immersive fan experiences at official FIFA fan zones.
Steven Williams, CEO of Frito-Lay North America, expressed pride in the partnership, stating it will unite and inspire soccer fans globally. With the 2026 World Cup set to feature 48 teams across Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., Lay’s is gearing up for an exciting journey ahead.
5. Discord Launches DAVE Protocol for Enhanced End-to-End Encryption
Discord has unveiled its new end-to-end encryption protocol, DAVE, aimed at enhancing security for audio and video calls. Announced on Tuesday, this protocol will provide encryption for direct messages (DMs), Group DMs, voice channels, and Go Live streams, benefiting the platform’s estimated 200 million monthly users. Users will be able to see when end-to-end encryption is active and verify other participants, further bolstering privacy.
In a blog post, Discord outlined that DAVE follows five key principles: privacy, an open and effective protocol, broad platform support, transparency, and scalability. The company asserts that no outsiders, including Discord itself, can access the content of ongoing conversations. Media encryption keys are refreshed each time a user leaves a call, ensuring that previous keys cannot be decrypted.
The DAVE protocol employs industry-standard cryptographic algorithms and is currently supported on Discord’s mobile and desktop clients, with additional support rolling out next year. When initiating a voice or video call, users will perform an out-of-band comparison of a verification code to confirm the legitimacy of call participants.
Users can opt for a persistent identity key pair for each device, streamlining verification. However, all participants must support the encryption for it to function; if a non-supporting member joins, the call will revert to transport-only encryption.
Despite the added security, Discord assures that low-latency voice and video quality remains unaffected. Following DAVE’s rollout, users will automatically transition to the new protocol, which will become the default for all audio and video communications.
