technology

India Retail Leasing Touches 2.22 Million Sq Ft in Q3 2026: Report

India’s retail real estate sector recorded 2.22 million sq ft of gross leasing volume across the top eight cities in Q3 2026, according to Cushman & Wakefield. Main streets accounted for 67.9% of leasing activity, while retail demand remained steady despite limited Grade A mall space.

Indian Economy Starts FY27 on Firm Footing, Q2 Growth Seen at 7.3%: FinMin

Piyush Goyal, US Trade Representative Greer Discuss India-US Interim Trade Pact

UPI Transactions Rise 18% to Rs 29.37 Lakh Crore in September: NPCI

WhatsApp introduces optional parental controls for teens amid safety concerns

WhatsApp has introduced optional parental controls for teenagers, allowing parents to manage privacy settings, group activity, Channels and Meta AI access. The company said the controls are designed to support family discussions while keeping teens’ personal messages and calls protected by end-to-end encryption.

Govt launches AI-powered ‘CAG-BHASHINI Anuvaad’ for multilingual translation of official audit documents

The government has launched ‘CAG-BHASHINI Anuvaad’, an AI-enabled document translation solution developed by Digital India BHASHINI and the CAG. The platform will support multilingual translation of official documents and audit reports while focusing on consistent terminology, data security and human oversight.

Traders Withdraw ‘No UPI Day’ Protest After Meeting FM Sitharaman

Leading traders’ organisations have withdrawn their call to observe October 2 as ‘No UPI Day’ after meeting Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over the proposed 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on eligible UPI merchant transactions above Rs 2,000. The new MDR framework is scheduled to take effect from October 15, while UPI transactions up to Rs 2,000 and person-to-person payments remain free.

Apple Pay Launches in India as UPI Accounts for Over 80% of Digital Payments

Apple Pay has launched in India, initially supporting Axis Bank-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Industry experts said the service could boost card payments among Apple users, while UPI is expected to continue dominating everyday digital payments.

India-New Zealand FTA to Transform Trade Policy, Boost Export Competitiveness: TPCI

The India-New Zealand free trade agreement will take effect on October 20, offering Indian exporters 100% duty-free access across 8,284 tariff lines. TPCI said the pact could boost exports, support MSMEs and help double bilateral trade to $5 billion within five years.

Korean Air Faces Watchdog Review Over Alleged Seat Capacity Violations

South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission has begun deliberations over alleged violations by Korean Air, Jin Air and Asiana Airlines of seat capacity requirements imposed as conditions for the Korean Air-Asiana merger. The watchdog’s examiner has recommended penalties and a criminal investigation.