In a tragic incident, six children, including a girl, drowned in a pond in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district on Wednesday.

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) recorded a net addition of 21.89 lakh members in June this year, marking the highest ever increase since payroll data tracking began in April 2018, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday.

India's express logistics sector is projected to reach $18-$22 billion by FY30, doubling in size, a report said on Wednesday.

The sector grew from $3 billion in FY17 to $9 billion in FY25, with a compound annual growth rate of 12 to 15 percent. In FY25, the express industry is supporting 2.8 to 3 million jobs and contributing $1 to $1.5 billion to GST revenues and $650 million to customs revenues, according to the Express Industry Council of India (EICI) report.

Looking ahead, the report said that this sector will act as a vital enabler for e-commerce, MSMEs and cross-border trade, as it has already transformed from a logistics facilitator to an essential service provider.

The sector played a crucial role during the Covid-19 pandemic by supporting the largest vaccination drive and ensuring the priority delivery of essential goods, it said. Post-pandemic growth is being driven by high internet and smartphone penetration, exponential growth of e-commerce, the rise of MSME output and significant infrastructure expansion into tier 2 and 3 cities, the report said.

The combined index of India’s eight core industries increased by 2 per cent in July this year compared to the same month of the previous year, according to data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Wednesday.

The production of steel, cement, fertiliser, and electricity recorded positive growth in July, the official statement said.

The eight core industries comprise 40.27 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) and are an indicator of the overall industrial growth.

The final growth rate of the eight core industries for June this year was observed at 2.2 per cent, while the cumulative growth rate during April to July, 2025-26 works out to 1.6 per cent as compared to the corresponding period of last year.

South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Wednesday relations with Japan are "very important" with many opportunities for mutual cooperation.

Kim made the remarks during a meeting with Japanese delegates visiting Seoul to attend the Korea-Japan Forum, as President Lee Jae Myung was set to visit Tokyo later this week for summit talks with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, News Agency reported.

"With the launch of the new administration, South Korea and Japan are moving forward on a future-oriented path," Kim said. "The two countries have a very important relationship with many areas of mutual cooperation, and the president's decision to visit Japan was made in that context."

The Japanese delegates expressed Tokyo's commitment to continue efforts in building "a more mature, robust and future-oriented" bilateral relationship.

West Bengal Police have arrested a woman and her lover from Andhra Pradesh on charges of killing her three-year-old daughter.

The accused, Nazira Bibi and her lover Tajuddin Molla, were arrested from Andhra Pradesh by Parulia Coastal Police in South 24 Paraganas district based on a complaint lodged by her husband, Azahar Lashkar.

Diamond Harbour Police District's Additional SP (Zonal) Mitun Kumar Dey said that the child was taken to Andhra Pradesh's Katrenikona area and killed.

Initially, the duo claimed it was an accident, but during interrogation, they confessed that they considered the child an obstacle to their new life together.

Nazira said as she was pregnant with her lover's child; therefore, the daughter from her previous marriage was seen as a threat to their future.

Desh Bhagat University (DBU) successfully hosted Deeksharambh, its Student induction program for newly admitted students, with great enthusiasm and participation. The event aimed at welcoming freshers into the DBU family and preparing them for an enriching academic journey ahead. The event turned out to be a resounding success, filled with inspiring addresses, engaging sessions, and vibrant cultural performances.

Leanne Kiernan has signed a new contract with Liverpool FC Women. The Irish striker put pen to paper on the deal at the AXA Melwood Training Centre on Wednesday.

By inking fresh terms, the club's second-highest scorer in the Women's Super League era will take her Reds career into its fifth campaign.

"It feels amazing and I'm really excited to get going again. My family are delighted, honestly. It's like a second home for them as well as me and they love it over here. I could actually see myself, after I finish my career, in Liverpool. I feel like they're really enjoying coming over to see me.

"The fans have been unbelievable – really supportive throughout injuries, really supportive by sticking with us and I feel like they've been there for the good times and the bad. Hopefully we'll be able to celebrate with them a lot this year," Kiernan told Liverpoolfc.com.

The amount of loans disbursed by Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) in India grew 9.5 per cent YoY in Q1FY26, slightly lagging deposit growth at 10.1 per cent, with growth expected to remain moderate ahead, a report said on Wednesday.

The credit cost of SCBs increased by 19 bps YoY, and also a marginal improvement in asset quality was seen for the quarter, with the Gross Non-Performing Asset (GNPA) ratio declining to 2.3 per cent from 2.7 per cent a year earlier, CareEdge Ratings said in its report.

GNPA levels improved by 9.5 per cent YoY to Rs 4.18 lakh crore as of Q1FY26, driven by steady recoveries, upgradations, and write-offs, particularly among Public Sector Banks (PSBs).

The Net Non-Performing Asset (NNPA) ratio held steady even as GNPAs edged up 0.5 per cent sequentially every quarter due to increased slippages in microfinance and unsecured lending segments at select banks.

Singer and music producer Yo Yo Honey Singh has teamed up with singer Shael Oswal for the upcoming track ‘Sajna’. The first look of the music video of the track was unveiled on Wednesday.

Shael Oswal has been a household name ever since his superhit ‘Soniye Hiriye’ became a nationwide sensation back in 2006. His melodic voice and heartfelt songs like ‘Tere Naal Naal’, ‘Jaan Ve’, and ‘Tuhi Toh Meri Dost Hai’ cemented his position as one of India’s most soulful singers. With ‘Sajna’, he is all set to redefine his artistry by stepping into a new-age collaboration with Honey Singh, the legendary rapper who transformed Indian pop culture with his iconic tracks.

The first look boasts of grandeur, and blends Shael’s signature romance with Honey Singh’s infectious energy. While Honey Singh brings his trademark swagger, it’s Shael’s commanding presence and timeless voice that sit at the heart of this musical spectacle.