Apple 'Surprise and Shine' Event Set for September 9; iPhone 18 Series, Apple Watch Series 12 Expected

Following weeks of speculation, Apple on Wednesday finally dropped the date of its upcoming hardware launch event. The showcase, which carries the tagline ‘Surprise and shine’, is all set to kick off in the second week of September. While the Cupertino-based tech giant remains tight lipped on the upcoming announcements, the rumour mill has pointed towards an annual iPhone refresh, with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models being introduced. However, that is not all; several more products across various categories are also anticipated.

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India Vs Panama Friendly Announced As Blue Tigers Prepare For Brazil Test

The Indian senior men's football team is set for another major international test before its much-awaited showdown against five-time world champions Brazil, with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announcing a friendly against Panama on Tuesday.

India will host Panama on Sept. 26 during the FIFA Men's International Match Window. The venue for the match has not yet been finalised and will be announced by the AIFF at a later date.

The fixture will mark the first-ever meeting between India and Panama in senior men's international football and give Khalid Jamil's side a valuable opportunity to test themselves against a team that featured at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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Panama are currently ranked 44th in the FIFA World Rankings and will become only the ninth different CONCACAF opponent India have faced in their senior men's international history.

AIFF Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan believes the Panama fixture will give India's players the kind of exposure they rarely get against high-quality opposition.

"Playing against Panama will be a tough battle ahead of the Brazil game. Panama is a top-50 team in the world, and it will be a good test for Khalid Jamil's boys," he added, as per ANI.

"We are looking forward to our players getting the right exposure, and we normally don't get to play such World Cup teams. So it's a good FIFA window for us, where we are playing such tough teams."

The match also begins a demanding run of fixtures for the Blue Tigers against teams that featured at the 2026 World Cup. India are scheduled to play four such matches across the upcoming FIFA international windows, with the biggest attraction being the clash against Brazil in Kolkata.

AIFF Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan said the Panama fixture would provide Indian players with valuable exposure against high-quality international opposition.

Brazil Blockbuster Awaits In Kolkata

India's next major challenge will come against Brazil on Oct. 3 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.

The match will be another historic first, marking the first-ever meeting between India and Brazil in senior men's international football.

Brazil are currently ranked fifth in the FIFA World Rankings, making them the highest-ranked opponent India have faced since the FIFA World Rankings system was introduced in 1992.

For Jamil and his players, the Panama friendly could therefore serve as an important competitive outing before facing one of the biggest names in world football.

New Zealand Matches Complete India's World Cup Challenge

India's demanding international schedule will continue in November, when the Blue Tigers are set to face New Zealand twice, on Nov. 12 and Nov. 15.

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India will play four games against the teams that played in this year's World Cup during the next FIFA windows, with Panama, Brazil, and New Zealand all having participated in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

As it continues its preparations under head coach Khalid Jamil, the sequence will enable the Indian squad to assess its development against more experienced and highly ranked international teams.

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"Canada Ripping Off US": Trump Escalates Trade War With 50% Tariffs From 2027

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would raise tariffs up to 50 per cent on a range of Canadian products in the auto sector from 2027 after trade talks between the neighbouring countries collapsed. Trump threatened Canada and said that it will no longer be treated like a US "state".

"On January first, 2027, tariffs on all cars, trucks, both large and small, automotive parts, and steel, will be increased to 50%. Build in the U.S. And there are zero tariffs," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

The current US tariff on autos stands at 25 per cent for non-US content, while imported steel to the United States generally faces a 50-per cent duty.

The White House had alleged "discriminatory treatment" by Canada against US alcohol, automobile and dairy products in rolling out the duties.

Last week, Trump delayed the implementation of the tariffs by three days last week after the two countries had stepped up talks towards a trade deal.

The tariffs came into effect on Saturday after the negotiations collapsed, and it hits about 5.5 per cent of Canadian goods entering the US. The tariffs will affect about $20 billion worth of products ranging from hockey sticks to cement.

In a long post, he accused Canada of "ripping off" the United States for years and claimed that the country's "ridiculously high tariffs" on US farmers and their farm products have made life difficult for them. The US leader alleged that such tariffs have created a "60 billion dollar deficit" between the two countries.

Trump said that Canada is among the "worst" countries in the world to deal with. 

"They feel entitled, and yet, we don't need Canada, they need us! They do 95% of their business with the U.S., with us, the exact opposite!" Trump wrote.

Canada's Carney Says US Launched 'Trade War'

After the negotiations between Washington and Ottawa broke down on Friday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that he walked away because of a 'bad trade deal' and vowed to slap retaliatory tariffs on the US on Saturday.

Carney claimed that the US proposed new terms that were "uneconomic" and "unfair" and said that they undermined the net benefits for Canada.

He accused Trump of launching a trade "war" and said, "You're at war when you get attacked. We got attacked."

"We cannot accept what they've offered, and we will not give what they've asked," Carney said.

New Canadian tariffs will notably target the US steel and dairy industries and take effect on September 8. Carney said further details would come next week.
 

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Which Place Is Known As The Butter Capital Of India?

Butter is something most of us keep in the fridge without giving it much thought. But in one small town in Tamil Nadu, butter is more than just a breakfast spread. It is a local speciality that has been made the traditional way for generations and has become closely tied to the town's identity. So, which place is known as the Butter Capital of India? Let's find out.

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Uthukuli Is Widely Regarded As The Butter Capital Of India

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The answer is Uthukuli, a town in Tamil Nadu's Tiruppur district. For decades, Uthukuli has been associated with a traditional variety of butter called Uthukuli Vennai. Made using age-old churning methods, this butter has earned a loyal following for its distinctive taste and texture. Its popularity eventually gave the town a unique title: the Butter Capital of India.

What Makes Uthukuli Butter Special?

Unlike the glossy, factory-made butter commonly sold in supermarkets, Uthukuli butter has its own character. It is known for its soft texture, mildly sour flavour and natural appearance. The taste develops from the traditional way milk and cream are handled before the butter is churned. Many local producers continue to make it in small batches, helping preserve the qualities that make it different from commercial varieties.

How Is It Made?

The process begins with fresh milk. After the milk is boiled and cooled, the cream is collected over time. Once enough cream has been gathered, it is churned until the butter separates from the buttermilk. Traditionally, this churning is done using a wooden churner. The butter is then washed and worked into the desired consistency before it is ready to be used or sold. While modern production methods are faster, this labour-intensive process remains an important part of Uthukuli's dairy heritage.

A Tradition That Has Stood The Test Of Time

Photo: Unsplash

Butter-making has long been linked to dairy farming in the region. Over the years, local producers and dairy units have helped keep the tradition alive, turning Uthukuli butter into one of the town's most recognised products. Today, the butter is sold well beyond Uthukuli and can be found in different parts of Tamil Nadu. Efforts have also been made to promote and document its unique identity as a regional food speciality.

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Butter Capital Vs Butter City: What's The Difference?

The nickname can sometimes cause confusion because another Indian town is also associated with butter. Bardoli in Gujarat is popularly known as the Butter City of India, a title linked to its strong dairy industry and its role in the cooperative milk movement in South Gujarat. Uthukuli, meanwhile, is widely regarded as the Butter Capital of India because of its long-standing tradition of producing its famous local butter.

So, while Bardoli is known as the Butter City, Uthukuli remains the place most closely associated with India's traditional butter-making heritage.

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Treesa-Gayatri Lose Semi-Final, Clinch Maiden BWF World Championships Bronze

Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand's extraordinary run ended with a fighting three-game loss to world No. 1 and defending champions Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning in the women's doubles semifinals at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi on Saturday, as the Indian pair signed off with a maiden bronze medal. The unseeded Indians produced a sensational start to pocket the opening game but could not sustain the pressure against the mighty Chinese pair, going down 21-18, 13-21, 8-21 in an hour and 11 minutes. India last won a BWF World Championships medal in women's doubles in 2011, when Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa claimed bronze in London.

The Indian pair didn't have a favourable head-to-head record against the Chinese, having lost six times with just one to show in seven meetings so far.

However, Treesa and Gayatri raced to a 7-2 lead to put the Chinese pair under early pressure. Liu and Tan quickly fought their way back with a series of sharp rallies. Six straight points from the Chinese pair turned the match around as they moved ahead.

The Chinese made effective use of angled returns, forcing the Indians into errors, with several shots finding the net. A nine-point run took Liu and Tan to an 11-7 lead at the interval.

The rallies were generally short, averaging around 15 shots, but the Indians began to regain their rhythm after the resumption. Treesa ended the Chinese run with a well-executed point.

Another attack at the front court forced the Chinese long, before a 31-shot rally brought the Indians level at 12-12. A fabulous exchange followed, ending with a cross-court winner from Treesa as India moved ahead.

The Indians' attack was becoming sharper. Gayatri, however, was punished for a short lift as the Chinese regained the advantage at 15-13. Treesa then produced a superb return of serve to leave the Chinese pair stretched, cutting the deficit to 14-16. A fired-up Treesa followed it with a jump smash and another aggressive play at the front court as India drew level again.

The Chinese responded with relentless attacking play and moved to 18-16, but the Indians won a video referral to make it 17-18. Treesa then produced a crouching defensive return during a flat exchange to level the scores at 18-18.

Another superb rally ended with a scathing cross-court winner from Treesa as India moved to 19-18. The unseeded pair then earned two game points after Tan found the net. They converted on their first opportunity when the Chinese pair sent a shot long, sending the home crowd into raptures.

The ecstatic home crowd roared Treesa and Gayatri on.

After the change of ends, the Chinese opened up a 3-0 lead. A short serve gave India its first point, while a lucky net cord made it 4-1 before Liu found the net. The Indians responded with a cross-court, cross-body combination and excellent follow-up play. An effective flick serve and counter-attack helped them close the gap to 4-5.

Gayatri then went long to make it 6-4. The Indians tried to put pressure on the Chinese with pushes towards the backline, but a few errors crept in, with Treesa sending one long to make it 7-4. Gayatri's attacking shots from the back court began forcing the Chinese wide.

Treesa's cross-court drop made it 6-8, before a Chinese smash into the net reduced the deficit further to 7-8. Treesa found the net, but followed it with another tricky cross-net shot to make it 9-10. India drew level at 10-10 before taking the lead when the Chinese defence produced two errors.

However, Liu and Tan wrested the lead back at 12-11.

A 49-shot rally followed, but Treesa eventually found the net. A tumble serve set up the next point for the Chinese, who opened a 14-12 lead. The Indians then sent another shot wide, followed by two net errors from Gayatri, allowing China to move to 17-12.

Another precise shot onto the backline made it 18-12, before Gayatri's long lift gave the Chinese a 19-12 advantage. Treesa then found the net as the Chinese earned eight game points. Liu and Tan converted their second opportunity to take the match into a decider.

The third game began with intense rallies, with India winning a 56-shot exchange to make it 2-2. The Chinese then changed the pace effectively to move 4-2 ahead. The Indians appeared slightly passive in defence, and Liu targeted Treesa with a body return to make it 6-2.

The Indians continued to fight, but errors began to hurt them. A net shot stayed inside, leaving Treesa disappointed, before another Indian error and a shot wide allowed China to take an 11-5 lead at the interval.

Treesa and Gayatri didn't dial up the same intensity as the first game as the Chinese moved to 12-5 before a flick serve took them to 14-5. It was a one-way traffic as the Chinese moved to 17-7. Eventually a perfect cross-court winner gave Liu and Tan 12 match points, and they sealed the contest with a cross-court shot.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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BWF Championships: Treesa-Gayatri Enter Semi-Finals, Assure India Of A Medal

BWF World Championships Highlights: India's Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand assured themselves of a medal at the World Championships with a come-from-behind win over China's Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian in the women's doubles quarterfinal in New Delhi on Friday. The Indian unseeded pair, which is on a comeback trail after Treesa recovered from an injury, toiled for one hour nine minutes to produce one of the biggest wins of their career, a 16-21 21-15 21-13 triumph to cruise to the last four stage and be assured of at least a bronze medal. India last claimed a BWF World Championships medal in women's doubles in 2011, when Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa won the bronze in London.

BWF World Championships Highlights:

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HEG Demerger Gets NCLT Green Light; Shareholders To Receive 1:1 Share Swap

Noida-based graphite electrode manufacturer HEG Ltd has received approval from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Indore Bench, for its Composite Scheme of Arrangement with HEG Graphite Ltd and Bhilwara Energy Ltd.

The demerger will result in two independently listed companies. Under the scheme, shareholders of HEG Ltd will receive one share of HEG Graphite Ltd for every one HEG share held.

The NCLT order was uploaded on its website on August 18, 2026. The scheme will become effective after the certified copy of the order is received and filed with the Registrar of Companies (RoC).

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Under the restructuring, one entity will house the graphite electrode business, while the other will focus on advanced materials, battery energy solutions and renewable energy.

HEG said the restructuring is aimed at creating two independent entities with separate strategic mandates, focused leadership and distinct capital structures. The company said the demerger will give shareholders direct exposure to the graphite electrode business as well as the growth platform focused on advanced materials, battery energy solutions and renewable energy.

The NCLT approval follows earlier clearances from the boards and shareholders of the companies, along with no-objection letters from the BSE and the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE). The scheme had also received approval from equity shareholders and secured and unsecured creditors of HEG Ltd and Bhilwara Energy Ltd.

HEG said the demerger is expected to create two focused, independently valued businesses, each with its own strategy, capital allocation and growth path. EY acted as the structuring and tax advisor, while Khaitan & Co was the legal advisor for the scheme.

ALSO READ: HEG Share Price Jumps 4% After Q1 Profit Rises 17%, Margins Improve

Shares of HEG Ltd ended at Rs 232.60 on the BSE on Wednesday, down Rs 31.65, or 4.28%.

According to MSN Riju Jhunjhunwala, Vice Chairman, said, “It gives me immense pleasure to share that we have got NCLT's approval for demerging HEG Ltd. into two companies - one that houses the single largest plant of its kind in the world and is purely focused on graphite electrodes and the other which focuses on advanced materials with a solid backing of green power and CNI-based solutions.”

He said the approval marks an important milestone in the company's value creation journey.

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Badminton WC: Sindhu And Ayush Enter Rd Of 16, Lakshya Sen Knocked Out

Badminton World Championships 2026 Highlights: PV Sindhu is in Round of 16, so is Ayush Shetty. However, India had a mixed day at the Badminton World Championships on Wednesday. While Sindhu and Ayush Shetty entered the next round it was curtains for Lakshya Sen. Indian men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty advanced to the pre-quarterfinals after receiving a walkover in their opening match. Lakshya Sen suffered a shock second-round exit, going down to USA's 18-year-old Garret Tan in a three-game thriller.

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Vijay Wants To Shift His Office. BJP Alleges Corruption In Tender Process

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's plan to shift to a new office has landed him in the middle of a raging political controversy, with the Opposition alleging irregularities in the tender process.

Vijay intends to shift the Chief Minister's Office from Fort St. George to Namakkal Kavingar Maaligai in Chennai to provide more workspace for his staff. According to reports, construction is already underway.

Recently, a Rs 5.5-crore tender was floated by the government for the shifting.

Levelling the first-ever corruption allegation against the three-month-old government, the Bharatiya Janata Party alleged that the tender had been released a month after construction commenced.

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"In stark contrast to all the tall claims made by the new TVK government about bringing in transparency to the government tender process, a news article by a leading daily today has openly alleged many discrepancies in the tender process in connection with the new chief minister's office for Vijay. The article states that the tender work is worth about Rs 5.5 crores, and that there have been multiple irregularities in the tender process. It has been only 100 days since the TVK government came to power, and already the government is under the scanner," said BJP leader CR Kesavan.

DMK MLA EV Velu also reacted to the row.

"Shifting his office is his personal choice. We can't interfere in it. Even we are happy in a way with the chief minister shifting his office, as that building was constructed by Kalaignar Karunanidhi. But an Indian newspaper report says there are irregularities in the tender, which was not floated online either. We seek clarification from the government. You speak about purity in tenders. But news reports say the tender has been invited after works began for the office," he said.

Also read: Row Over 3 'Poachers' Shot Dead In Karnataka, Vijay Says They Were Tamils

TVK Reacts

Tamil Nadu minister Aadhav Arjuna has refuted the allegations. 

"The news reports are false," he said.

"The chief minister feels that just like him, everyone else who's working with him should also have a comfortable workspace. His officers and staff are now working in a space that's not even 100 sq ft. That's why we are planning a temporary shift of his office. Our chief minister is naturally down-to-earth and flexible...During campaigns, he'll even be okay with resting in a simple hotel or a van," he added.

He further said that former chief ministers M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa wanted to establish a new secretariat but could not due to political circumstances.

"We have had the same building for over 100 years. The office hasn't changed in consonance with the change in administration. Hence, we need to update it," he added.

He assured that the tender process will be transparent.

"No benami companies will be used. We will ensure no leakage to the government's treasury," he added.

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Ayush Shetty: India's Badminton Star Who Stunned World No. 1 At World C'ships

India's 21-year-old badminton star Ayush Shetty stunned defending champion and World No. 1 Shi Yuqi of China 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 in the BWF World Championships 2026 Round of 64 clash. The youngster, who hails from Karkala in Karnataka, looked in sensational form as he came up with brilliant smashes and terrific defence to pull off a stunning win in front of the home crowd in New Delhi. This was his first-ever win over Shi Yuqi after three successive losses, including a straight-game loss in the final of the Asia Badminton Championships earlier this year.

Ayush was off to a flying start with a 21-14 win in the first game and although he dropped the second game, the youngster did not give up. He fought back brilliantly and was able to finish the match in style.

Who is Ayush Shetty?

Shetty found himself in the headlines earlier this year after he became the first Indian men's singles player to reach the Badminton Asia Championships final in 61 years. While he was defeated by Shi Yuqi in the final, he pulled off a brilliant win over Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the semi-final. It was a result that truly announced his arrival on the global stage.

He comes from the small town of Sanoor near Karkala in Karnataka and was introduced to badminton at the age of 8 by his father, who coached him in their backyard. The family later relocated to Bengaluru in order to provide proper training to Shetty and under the guidance of coaches at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, he honed his skills.

Shetty's breakthrough came in 2025 when he won the US Open title after beating Brian Yang in straight games. It was his maiden BWF World Tour title. He followed it up with wins over top-10 players like Li Shi Feng and Chi Yu Jen at the Asia Championships.

Earlier, he won the bronze medal at the 2023 World Junior Championships in Spokane, USA, won the Denmark Junior International in 2021, and reached the finals at the Odisha Masters Super 100 (2023), the Bahrain International Challenge (2023), and the Dutch Open (2024).

(With IANS inputs)

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Israel’s Bits of Gold Suffers Data Breach Affecting 200,000 Customers

Israeli crypto brokerage Bits of Gold has disclosed a data breach that potentially exposed personal information belonging to around 200,000 customers. The company said a hacker accessed a third-party data analytics system containing names, national identification numbers, contact details, bank information, IP addresses and public wallet addresses. Bits of Gold said there is no indication that customer funds, private keys, passwords, CVV codes or scanned identity documents were compromised and urged users to remain alert to phishing attempts.

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