Maharashtra Minister of Women and Child Welfare Aditi Tatkare in a written reply said on Thursday that of the total children of 48,59,346 whose weight and height measured - 30,800 children were reported with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and 1,51,643 with Medium Acute Malnutrition (MAM) as per Poshan track data for February 2025.

The number of malnourished children in urban areas is increasing compared to rural areas. In Mumbai suburb, of the 2,34,896 children whose weight and height measured, 2,887 were reported with SAM and 13,457 with MAM, in Thane of the 1,85,360, 844 SAM and 7,366 (MAM), in Nashik of 3,05,628, 1852 (SAM) and 8,944 (MAM), in Pune of 2,98,929, 1,666 (SAM) and 7,410 (MAM), in Dhule of 1,41,906, 1,741 (SAM) and 6,377 (MAM), in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, 1,439 (SAM) and 6,487 (MAM) and in Nagpur, 1,373 (SAM) and 6,715 (MAM), said the minister.

BMW Group India on Thursday announced that it has recorded its highest-ever car deliveries for the first half of a year, selling 7,774 BMW and MINI cars between January and June 2025.

Despite a challenging environment, the company has achieved a 10 per cent growth compared to the same period last year.

In an official statement, Vikram Pawah, President and CEO of BMW Group India, said, “We are on a fast track, posting +10 per cent growth despite a challenging environment as we continue to unfold new opportunities in the luxury segment.”

Amid the growing uncertainty over Pakistan's participation in the upcoming Men's Hockey Asia Cup in India next month, the Sports Ministry sources have confirmed that their team will be allowed to cross the border for the continental tournament.

However, they also added that final approval regarding the same will be issued by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

"We have no objection to Pakistan coming to play in the Hockey Asia Cup in India, as it is a multi-national event. However, I must clarify that matters related to visas fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs. Their decision will be final," said sources from the Sports Ministry.

Kraigg Brathwaite is on the brink of a major career milestone as he prepares to play his 100th Test match for West Indies when they face Australia in the second Test of the series in Grenada starting on Thursday.

The 32-year-old opener will become only the 10th player to achieve this feat for the West Indies, joining the likes of Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd, Brian Lara, and Gordon Greenidge.

Brathwaite, who has led the West Indies in 39 Tests, made his debut as a teenager against Pakistan in 2011. Since then, he has scored 5,943 runs at an average of 32.93. For Brathwaite, this landmark is not just a number, but the fulfilment of a long-held dream.

The AAP government in Punjab on Thursday inducted newly-elected lawmaker from Ludhiana (West), Sanjeev Arora, in the 16-member Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and allocated him Industry and NRI Affairs portfolios, but dropped one of the senior-most ministers Kuldeep Dhaliwal, who held the portfolio of NRI Affairs.

In a Cabinet reshuffle, Tarunpreet Singh Sond was divested of the Industry portfolio, but he will continue with the Rural Development, Labour and Tourism Departments.

Dhaliwal told the media that he submitted his resignation to the Chief Minister in the morning, ahead of the oath-taking ceremony.

“I have resigned on my own. Punjab comes first for me, the post is not important to me. I was told that someone else would be given a chance, so I said 'yes, definitely a chance should be given', and that is why I have resigned. I am with the party,” he told the media.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressing concern over the “rising impact of social media content”, which, she pointed out, was increasingly posing serious challenges to public peace.

the Chief Minister had also requested the Union Home Minister to introduce stringent legislative provisions that could act as an effective deterrent against the creation and dissemination of provocative content and acts perpetrated with criminal intent in cyberspace.

She pointed out that the current legal framework and its enforcement required further strengthening to keep pace with the rapidly-evolving digital ecosystem and the sophisticated methods employed by malicious actors.

China's Ministry of Water Resources on Thursday activated a Level-IV emergency response to flooding in the northwest Qinghai Province amid a new round of heavy rainfall.

According to forecasts, heavy rainfall is expected in eastern and southern Qinghai from Thursday to Saturday. As a result, significant rises in water levels are anticipated in the upper main stream and tributaries of the Yellow River in the province, with some small and medium-sized rivers in heavily affected areas potentially experiencing floods exceeding warning levels.

Local authorities have been urged to enhance flood monitoring and early warning, ensure effective flood control for rivers, and protect people's lives and property.

Based on 24-hour rainfall forecasts, the ministry has issued alerts for 10 other provincial-level regions, including Hebei, Liaoning and Hainan, urging them to take precautions and prepare for heavy rainfall.

The Indian stock markets ended lower on Thursday after a day of cautious trading, as late selling pressure erased earlier gains. Investors remained watchful amid hopes of a possible trade agreement between the US and India.

The Sensex touched an intra-day high of 83,850 in early trade but eventually closed 170.22 points or 0.2 per cent lower at 83,239.7. Similarly, the Nifty also slipped by 48.1 points or 0.19 per cent, settling at 25,405.3 by the end of the session.

Markets traded volatile on the weekly expiry day and ended marginally lower, continuing the ongoing consolidation phase, said Ajit Mishra of Religare Broking Limited.

After an initial uptick, the Nifty oscillated sharply in both directions while remaining within Wednesday’s trading range, ultimately closing at 25,405.30.

India's real GDP growth is projected to grow in a range of 6.4-6.7 per cent in FY26, reinforcing the country’s position as the fastest-growing major economy in the world, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) said on Thursday.

CII President Rajiv Memani said that at a time when global economic and political volatility is at its highest in over two decades, India stands out as a bright spot in an increasingly fractured global economy.

Speaking at a CII event in the national capital, Memani said competitiveness is India’s passport to prosperity.

"But it must be earned through reform, through innovation, and through trust. CII remains committed to working alongside the government, industry, and citizens to accelerate India’s rise as a confident, competitive, and globally connected economy," he said, adding that India’s internal momentum is strong enough to withstand external shocks.

At least 60 students of a girls' residential school in Mandor Lukhadia village of Dahod district fell ill due to suspected food poisoning, prompting an urgent medical response and a formal investigation by authorities.

According to preliminary reports, the students began experiencing vomiting, stomach pain, and nausea shortly after consuming their meal.

Around 12 students were initially shifted to the Limkheda Government Hospital for treatment.

However, as the night progressed, more students reported similar symptoms and were also rushed to the hospital in ambulances.

Doctors confirmed that all students are in stable condition, thanks to timely medical intervention.