The IT Ministry on Thursday announced the second cohort of its startup accelerator where 125 early-age startups, selected and supported through potential accelerators, will be provided funding support and mentorship.

The last date to submit application under the Startup Accelerators of MeitY for Product Innovation, Development and Growth (SAMRIDH) is October 2.

In the first cohort, 22 accelerators from 12 states were selected through open calls for proposals. These accelerators then selected 5-10 startups each in the focused areas of health-tech, ed-tech, agri-tech, consumer-tech, fin-tech, software as a service (SaaS) and sustainability through a multi-level screening process.

As second cohort is part of the 100-day agenda of the government to select and support 125 startups through potential accelerators so as to achieve the target of nurturing 300 startups.

Skipper Jos Buttler has been ruled out of England's T20I series against Australia due to a setback in recovering from a right calf injury. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said it places his participation in the ODI series against Australia, happening later this month in doubt.

ECB further announced that Phil Salt will be assuming England captaincy duties for the T20I series in Buttler’s absence while all-rounder Jamie Overton has been drafted into the squad. Salt had captained the Manchester Originals in The Hundred this season after Buttler was ruled out due to a calf injury while preparing for the competition.

Spinal cord injury, one of the most devastating injuries to the human body, is becoming more common than ever, said experts on Thursday.

Spinal Cord Injury Day is celebrated each year on September 5 to bring about awareness about the spinal cord.

The spine is the backbone of the human body and maintaining its health is crucial for overall well-being, said the health experts.

“With the increasing prevalence of sedentary lifestyles, poor posture habits, and the rise of technology use, spinal issues have become more common than ever,” Dr Arvind Kulkarni, Head - Spinal Surgeon, Mumbai Spine Scoliosis and Disc Replacement Centre, told.

Mexico's Chamber of Deputies, or the lower house, approved a judicial reform package, spearheaded by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, which will lead to judges being elected than appointed.

The package was passed with 359 votes in favor from lawmakers from the governing National Regeneration Movement (Morena) and its allies, the Labor Party (PT) and Green Party (PVEM), and 135 votes against, news agency reported.

The reforms call for electing judges by popular vote, instead of through political appointments, and reducing the number of judges on the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation from 11 to nine, as well as reducing their term on the bench from 15 to 12 years.

A tragic accident struck the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) when an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) MK-III, bearing frame number CG 863, crashed into the sea during a medical evacuation mission.

On the night of September 2, the helicopter was responding to an emergency call to airlift a seriously injured crew member from the Motor Tanker Hari Leela at 11.15 p.m.

The search efforts, spearheaded by the ICG, have been intensified with the involvement of the Indian Navy and other marine stakeholders. The fuselage of the downed helicopter is also sought to facilitate an investigation into the incident.

India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant backed top cricketers' participation in domestic cricket as the new season begins with the commencement of the Duleep Trophy on Thursday.

Pant, who is playing for India B in the tournament, shared the excitement of playing the red-ball cricket after almost two years. He last played a Test match (against Bangladesh) for India in December 2022.

"I think it is an amazing feeling for me, also because when I met with the accident two years ago, I used to always think about when I will be able to play for India again. In the last six months, I played IPL, and we also won the World Cup. It’s a great feeling as I had always dreamt of winning the World Cup, since I was a kid. Now again I am returning tored-balll cricket and will play my first match in Duleep trophy almost after more than two years," Pant told.

The United Nations has allocated $4 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund for Bangladesh, which has been hit by devastating floods.Joyce Msuya, the acting UN emergency relief coordinator, has allocated the money that "will be used to support the response to the floods that have impacted nearly 6 million men, women and children in Bangladesh since late last month," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at the daily briefing.

Buoyed by overall infrastructure growth and expanding commercial market, the hospitality investment sector in the country showed robust growth in the first half this year, according to a new report.

Hotel investment transactions reached $93 million and are expected to reach $413 million by year-end — a 22 per cent increase compared to last year, according to latest data from JLL Hotels and Hospitality Group

Top hotel companies led by contributing 44 per cent of the total transaction volume. It was followed by owner-operators at 30 per cent and high-net-worth individual (HNIs), family offices, and private hotel owners at 26 per cent.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday told the Supreme Court that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) made an "insurance arrest in hurry" to prevent his release on bail in the alleged excise policy scam case.

Appearing for Kejriwal, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that his client was released on three different occasions in the money laundering case registered under the stringent Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), where rigours for grant of bail are much higher.

He referred to the 21-day interim release of the AAP supremo in May this year to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections, the interim bail granted subsequently by the top court on July 12, and the trial court order granting him regular bail, which was stayed later by the Delhi High Court on an “oral mention” made by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

In Punjab, VAT on petrol and diesel has been increased, due to which petrol has become more expensive by 61 paise and diesel by 92 paise. This decision was taken in the meeting of the Punjab Cabinet today. Apart from this, the electricity rates have been increased by the government. Up to 7 kilowatts, the cost of electricity has been increased by Rs 3 per unit. The AAP government has withdrawn the concession given during the previous government.