MANUAL INTERVENTION
This $180 gadget feeds your sourdough starter for a week while you're away; what is it and how does it work?
The appliance has separate storage for flour and water, along with a glass container for the sourdough starter. Users load flour and water into their respective compartments and keep their starter in the glass crock. The measured quantities of flour and water are automatically dispensed by the machine. The ingredients are mixed into the starter according to the selected feeding schedule.
NEP 2020: Will teacher education reforms miss the bus?
India's teacher education sector faces significant challenges that require immediate reforms to enhance educational quality. The National Education Policy, 2020 emphasises identifying and closing substandard Teacher Education Institutions by 2030. It also calls for standalone institutions to transform into multidisciplinary higher education entities, promoting integrated teacher preparation.
Digital payments firms race to fortify defences as cyberattacks intensify
At Bengaluru-based Cashfree, attempted attacks have been taking place repeatedly over the past three weeks, occurring at least 10 times as frequently as a year ago, chief technology officer Ramkumar Venkatesan told ET. Attackers are increasingly combining multiple vulnerabilities to attack systems, he said.
Research: How AI Agents Broaden the Scope of Knowledge Work
AI agents don’t just speed up knowledge work; they change its nature. In a field study of Perplexity’s conversational assistant and autonomous agent, researchers found that not only did the agent perform more autonomous work, cut task time, lowered cost, and left users more satisfied, but it also expanded the scope of work people attempted—crossing occupational boundaries, tackling more complex, multi-step projects, and generating tasks that rarely appeared with a standard assistant. As workers shift from operators to supervisors, leaders must redesign roles, workflows, and oversight to harness agents’ potential while governing their expanded autonomy.
Your HR operations team keeps the business running. Is its impact being recognised?
HR operations experts are essential in boosting effectiveness and enriching the employee journey inside companies. The ET HR Excellence Awards 2027 celebrates teams that have transformed HR workflows and provided valuable insights based on data. This recognition motivates them to capture their accomplishments and receive the praise they truly merit for their impactful contributions.
Florida researchers develop AI-powered trap to catch dengue-carrying mosquitoes with over 98% accuracy
Florida dengue outbreak: Researchers at the University of Florida developed an AI-powered trap aimed at identifying dengue-carrying mosquitoes. This technology achieves over 98% accuracy in lab settings, significantly improving disease surveillance. The traps utilize a combination of light and a fan to attract and capture mosquitoes for analysis. Additionally, the startup Digitomy plans to educate the public on mosquito species identification through a cloud-based platform.
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Cybercriminals used AI agents to target over 400 Latin American banks: Report
The system, called CARLIY0S, was allegedly developed by a cybercrime group known as CyberCartel to achieve scale by automating different stages of attacks, including analysing targets, identifying vulnerabilities and developing ways to break into systems.

US declares power grid emergency across 13 states: What it means for residents
US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has issued an emergency order to PJM Interconnection to maintain grid stability. This directive allows PJM to activate designated power generation units through October 16. Electricity demand is expected to rise due to unseasonably warm weather and scheduled maintenance. Voluntary conservation measures may be requested from businesses and residents during peak hours. PJM seeks to ensure a steady energy flow amid strained operational conditions.

Tea Board pushes for more transparent, efficient tea auctions
Tea Board India held a seminar to discuss reforms for improving the Pan-India e-Auction system. It focused on enhancing transparency and efficiency in India’s tea auction process. The reforms have led to increased buyer participation and higher tea auction volumes over recent years. A new web-based tea auction platform is being introduced to further streamline operations and reduce costs.

CJP protest: SC to hear plea seeking contempt action against Home Secretary, DMRC on metro, train closure
The Supreme Court is set to hear a contempt petition regarding the shutdown of public transport services. This petition alleges willful disobedience of the court's October 9 order about metro and train operations. The petition claims that authorities failed to ensure an unrestricted flow of transport for citizens. The complaint cites violations by the Union Home Secretary, Delhi Police Commissioner, and DMRC Chairperson.

GST 2.0: Easier multi-state expansion for MSMEs, e-commerce sellers
India's GST Council has initiated reforms to modernize the GST framework for improved compliance and business operations. Simplified registrations and automated processes are expected to reduce administrative burdens for e-commerce sellers. The new framework will allow online sellers to manage registrations across multiple states more effectively. Faster refunds aim to improve cash flow for digital sellers working on thin margins.

Agentic AI in financial services: How banks are rethinking lending, risk and decision-making
From loan processing and credit assessment to fraud detection and regulatory compliance, agentic AI is changing how financial institutions make decisions. The next challenge for banks and fintechs is to scale these capabilities while maintaining accountability, customer trust and control.

An ECG device in a doctor’s palm: Inside Scanbo’s AI heart-screening push
Surat-based Scanbo has developed an AI-led medical device, D8, that can give a quick interpretation of abnormalities behind the functioning of a heart, critical in times of emergency situations.

Delhi ITMS explained: How Centre’s Rs 1,789 crore plan aims to cut congestion across Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon & other neighbouring regions
Delhi will get a technology-driven traffic management overhaul after the Cabinet approved Rs 1,789.52 crore for an Intelligent Traffic Management System. The project will cover 42 corridors and use AI-enabled adaptive signals, automated enforcement, real-time congestion alerts and emergency vehicle priority to improve traffic flow, road safety and commuter information.

Kia Sonet owner to get Rs 10.99 lakh refund, 9% interest and compensation over repeated DPF issues in his car during warranty period: Consumer commission order
Repeated DPF issue in BS6 Diesel car under warranty period with no solution amounts to deficiency in service, rules consumer commission and orders Rs 10.99 lakh refund with 9% interest and Rs 10,000 compensation. Vehicle is Kia Sonet Diesel.

SC refuses UPI MDR stay; Nvidia unveils tools for rogue AI
The Supreme Court has refused to stay MDR on select UPI transactions and sought Centre’s response. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.

AI-powered digital accessibility: Combining automation with human expertise
As digital experiences expand across websites, documents, videos, and multiple languages, accessibility can no longer remain a one-time compliance exercise. AI automation combined with human expertise is helping organisations make inclusion continuous, scalable, and easier to manage.

ET Startup Awards 2026: Armatrix targets 10-12 pilots, commercial deployment of snake-like robotic arms in 2028
Armatrix won the Best on Campus category at The Economic Times Startup Awards 2026 for its 3-5 metre long snake-like robotic arms designed to navigate narrow and hazardous industrial spaces where conventional robots and workers struggle to operate. It won for its clearly defined use cases.

Bengaluru to digitise contractor bill processing, link payments to work progress
Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has directed officials to introduce a time-bound digital system for processing and paying contractor bills across the city’s five corporations.

India can achieve over 10% economic growth, says Sitharaman
Nirmala Sitharaman, the Union Finance Minister, radiated confidence in India's economic future, forecasting a growth rate surpassing 10 percent. She stressed the necessity of embracing technology and innovation in all sectors, celebrating the impact of startups since 2015. Furthermore, she emphasized technology's ability to revolutionize agriculture for increased productivity. The minister called upon citizens to nurture a constructive approach in pursuit of these vital economic objectives.

EPFO fund withdrawal rules for illness: How much EPF can you withdraw for medical treatment?
Eligible Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) members can withdraw up to 75% of their EPF balance for illness-related expenses after completing 12 months of EPF membership.

In 1906, diver William Walker began working in darkness beneath a sinking English cathedral; by 1911, his underwater work had helped save the building from collapse
More than a century later, William Walker’s story remains compelling because his greatest contribution to Winchester Cathedral is almost invisible. He did not restore its medieval windows or carve its stonework; instead, he spent years underwater strengthening the hidden structure that allowed the cathedral above him to survive.

ETMarkets Smart Talk| With 87.7% of F&O traders losing money, why systematic trading is becoming more relevant for retail investors, says Prashant Shah
Retail traders face significant losses in India's derivatives market. Automation and AI tools offer solutions for consistent execution and risk management. Technological advancements make algorithmic trading more accessible to individual investors. This shift addresses behavioral challenges and improves trading processes. The Indian market sees substantial growth in trading technology opportunities.

Cabinet approves eight railway projects for Rs 20,000 crore
Eight railway projects worth over twenty thousand crore rupees were approved by the government. These projects will expand the railway network by over eleven hundred kilometers by 2030. Freight loading is expected to increase significantly after these projects are completed. Modern technology and updated manuals are speeding up land acquisition for railway construction. Indian Railways is set to spend over two lakh eighty-one thousand crore rupees in financial year 2026-27.

Meta restores posts removed from Keralam CMO's Facebook page after intervention
Meta has restored two official posts on the Kerala CMO's Facebook page. These posts announced Onam festival allowance and Nabi Day greetings. The Kerala Chief Minister expressed concern over the arbitrary removal of government communications. The CMO sought a formal explanation from Meta and the Union IT Ministry. They also requested safeguards to protect official government communication handles.

Bittu Tabahi cleaned MP’s polluted Ajnar River by hand for months; now Dutch CEO says ‘come work for us’
A 20-year-old BSc student from Madhya Pradesh has gone from cleaning a polluted river by hand to receiving a public invitation from Boyan Slat, founder of The Ocean Cleanup. Surendra Singh Choudhary, known online as Bittu Tabahi, has spent months removing waste from the Ajnar River, documenting the effort online and drawing attention from prominent figures along the way.

Explained: Looking to start a mutual fund SIP? Know the different types and which one suits you
SIPs offer disciplined mutual fund investing, with options tailored to different goals, income patterns and market conditions. Regular, top-up, goal-based, step-up, flex, perpetual, trigger and multi-SIPs provide varying levels of flexibility, automation and diversification. Choosing the right type depends on financial goals, cash flow, risk appetite, investment horizon and market knowledge.

Dengue season: Mosquitoes taking over your house? These 7 common plants can act as a natural shield
Urban residents are using plants on balconies to repel mosquitoes. Fragrant herbs and flowers are being adopted for their natural repellent properties. Experts emphasise that these plants are an additional barrier, not a sole solution. Integrated vector control remains the primary strategy for dengue prevention. Community workshops are teaching residents about these green shield gardening practices.

Government plans faster approvals for buildings near airports
The Civil Aviation Ministry is exploring ways to simplify construction approvals near airports. Urban local bodies may soon issue no-objection certificates for building projects. Applicants will receive permissible building heights early in the planning process. This aims to make the approval system hassle-free and transparent for all. Aviation safety requirements will continue to be strictly maintained.
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