Indian tourists are rapidly emerging as a significant growth engine for global tourism, with a 12 per cent growth in the first half of this year, compared with the same period in 2019 before the pandemic, according to a report on Wednesday.

The picture is even brighter when it comes to foreign exchange earnings (FEE), which rose 23 per cent in the first half of 2024 over the same period in 2019, according to Crisil Market Intelligence and Analytics.

In the first half of calendar 2024, foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in the country stood at 4.78 million, about 90 per cent of that in the first half of calendar 2019. The rise in forex earnings suggests tourists are spending more during their visits, which can be linked to several factors, including a 20 per cent rise in five-star hotel rates between 2019 and 2024, increasing tourist preference for luxury experiences, and higher disposable incomes with travellers indulging in premium services such as fine dining, high-end accommodations and distinctive cultural experiences.

The Border Security Force (BSF) thwarted a transnational wildlife trafficking attempt along the Indo-Bangladesh Border and recovered four golden pheasants in the North 24-Parganas district of West Bengal.

"There was an intelligence input regarding the possible smuggling of birds from across the border and troops of Amudiya Border Outpost were on an alert,” said a senior BSF official of the South Bengal Frontier, BSF.

He said that the jawans spotted two persons approaching the border fence from the Bangladesh side in a suspicious manner.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has extended an invitation to several nations, including India, to join efforts in organising a second Peace Summit aimed at ending the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Speaking at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting, Zelensky emphasised the need for collective action to stop Russia's war and work towards a peaceful resolution.

"We all know what needs to be done if we honestly look at the situation and truly want to stop Russia's war. Most importantly, act together, in unity, without creating unnecessary divisions of the world into blocs or regional groups," Zelensky said.

As targeted attacks on police officials continue in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, a bomb blast left 12 people injured in Quetta's Bhora Mandi area along the Eastern Bypass, on Wednesday.

The injured included at least two policemen. As per the police sources, the bomb was planted in a motorcycle parked close to a police vehicle.

The injured have been shifted to Sandeman Civil Hospital while a bomb disposal squad cordoned off the area to start a probe into the incident.

The nature of the explosion is yet to be ascertained. Till now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, it is expected that the separatist militant group operating in Balochistan, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) along with its multiple affiliate groups are responsible for the attack.

India clocked record foodgrain production at 3,322.98 LMT (lakh metric tonnes) in the agriculture year 2023-24 -- higher by 26.11 LMT than the production of foodgrains at 3,296.87 LMT achieved during agriculture year 2022-23, the Centre said on Wednesday.

The foodgrain production saw a record increase due to good results with rice, wheat, and millet crops.

Total rice production is estimated at a record 1,378.25 LMT in the year 2023-24 -- up by 20.70 LMT from the previous year’s rice production of 1,357.55 LMT.

Meanwhile, wheat production during 2023-24 is estimated at a record 1,132.92 LMT -- higher by 27.38 LMT than 1,105.54 LMT last year, as per the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare’s final estimates of production.

Raphael Varane has announced his retirement from football at the age of 31. The former Manchester United, Real Madrid, and France international took to Instagram to confirm his decision, citing ongoing physical challenges, particularly with his knee, as the key reason behind his decision to hang up his boots.

Varane, who joined Italian club Como on a free transfer this past summer after leaving Manchester United, was expected to miss a significant portion of the 2024 season due to his knee issues. In fact, Como had not even registered him for their Serie A squad, as it became clear that his recovery would be a long one.

Rather than continuing to battle for fitness, Varane has chosen to step away from the game, penning an emotional farewell letter to his supporters.

Chile President Gabriel Boric Font has joined several world leaders, calling for India's inclusion as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Addressing the general debate of the 79th Session of the General Assembly of the UN in New York, Font supported a reform of the United Nations, asserting that "the world has changed a lot" since 1945 when 51 countries, including Chile, took the transcendental step of creating the United Nations.

"I listened attentively this morning to the UN Secretary General, President Lula of Brazil, and President Biden of the United States explicitly expressing their agreement to reform the council according to today's times. Who or what is preventing it? Is there anyone in this assembly who opposes it?" Font questioned during his speech.

Petrol and diesel prices may be reduced after October 5, according to CLSA, which has based its report on speculation after comments by Pankaj Jain, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, suggesting a cut last month.

The prices have not changed since March 2024. Jain had said that the state-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) may consider reducing petrol and diesel prices if international crude prices stay low for an extended period, as per media reports.

The CLSA in its note said, "Maharashtra is a crucial battleground, and the BJP-led alliance may consider lowering fuel prices as a populist move."

According to several media reports, Maharashtra's state elections are expected in early November. Final dates for the state election are likely announced by mid-October.

The occupancy levels of flexible office spaces in India has crossed 80 per cent across major locations as IT companies drive the demand, a report said on Wednesday.

Prime office locations such as Mumbai (94 per cent), NCR (92 per cent), Bengaluru (86 per cent) and Hyderabad (84 per cent) continue to attract corporations, driving greater demand for flexible office spaces, according to the report by Knight Frank India.

To meet this demand, flex-space operators have significantly increased their office space take-up, leasing an estimated 52.9 million square feet from 2017 to the first half this year, with a robust CAGR of 22 per cent.

Syrian air defences intercepted multiple flying objects over the Mediterranean Sea near the province of Tartous, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Syrian air defences, on Tuesday night, managed to shoot down 13 "targets," as military radars detected warplanes in Syrian airspace, said the observatory, reports news agency.

Missiles from Syrian air defence systems continued to be launched toward "targets" over the sea rather than on land, the Britain-based war monitor added, noting that it is still unclear whether the targets were missiles or drones.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage in Tartous, a strategic coastal province that hosts a Russian naval facility.