Rediff

The Bar Council of India initially directed state bar councils not to enrol 2026 NALSAR University of Law graduates due to alleged student protests against the CJI's convocation participation. However, following widespread social media criticism, the BCI reversed its decision, allowing students to enrol while an inquiry into the instigators continues.

Italian swimmer Sara Curtis, 19, has broken her own 50m women's backstroke world record for the second consecutive day, winning gold in 26.56 seconds at the European Championships in Paris.

Shillong Lajong FC secured their place in the Durand Cup quarter-finals by topping Group E after a 3-3 draw with Langsning FC, while East Bengal and Jamshedpur FC also advanced as the best second-placed teams.

Punjab Kings all-rounder Shashank Singh is intensifying his bowling practice and rebuilding his fielding confidence during the off-season camp, aiming for an India call-up by excelling in his all-rounder role in the upcoming domestic season.

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked inside a gurdwara near Nanded, Maharashtra, by a 'sewadar' (volunteer) named Jaspal Singh. The accused, a Pune resident, has been arrested, and police are investigating his motive, though he initially cited anger over the drug menace in Punjab. Badal sustained minor injuries and is stable.

Indian Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Arjun Erigaisi have successfully navigated the lower bracket of the Esports World Cup chess tournament in Paris, securing their spots in the quarter-finals. The duo will now compete in the knockout stage, aiming for the US$1.5 million prize pool.

The Sport and Rights Alliance has urged the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) to abandon its new sex-testing policy, labelling it a 'discriminatory measure' that will cause 'stigmatisation and trauma' for women and girls.

As India celebrates its 80th Independence Day, hotels and restaurants across Delhi and other states are rolling out a diverse array of special offerings. These include themed culinary festivals showcasing regional Indian cuisines, fusion menus, live music performances, and attractive discounts. From royal Wazwan feasts to contemporary global blends and staycation packages, establishments are providing unique experiences for patrons to commemorate the occasion over the long weekend.

A 62-year-old cricket coach, Sumith Fernando, who mentored Kusal Mendis, died in Colombo following an altercation with two school players over drinking water during a match. A 17-year-old player has been arrested and placed under child probation custody.

The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has completed interviews for its first full-time CEO, focusing on professional experience, vision, and management capabilities rather than personal beliefs or practices. The selection process involved multiple rounds, culminating in face-to-face interactions with 16 top candidates.

India defender Ishika Chaudhary, set to make her Women's Hockey World Cup debut, believes her team can spring a surprise, drawing parallels with recent FIFA World Cup upsets. She discusses her journey, overcoming setbacks, and the team's strategy to peak at the right time, guided by senior players and coaches.

Ridhima Dilawari holds a three-shot lead going into the final round of the 12th Leg of the Women's Pro Golf Tour in Bengaluru. Despite a mixed second round, her consistent performance positions her for a potential fourth win this season. Neha Tripathi, Heena Kang, and Mannat Brar are tied for second, setting up an exciting final day.

The West Bengal government has revoked the Banga Bibhushan, its highest civilian award, from Rajya Sabha MP Nagendranath Roy (Ananta Maharaj) following his alleged derogatory remarks about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The annulment came after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's directive for stringent action against those making such comments, with the government citing the remarks as inconsistent with the honour's dignity and purpose.

Australia's top-scorer Steve Smith admitted he believed he nicked the ball during a DRS review on day one of the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin, despite the not-out decision being upheld. His crucial innings of 71 helped Australia reach 198, but Bangladesh finished the day strongly at 96 for one, trailing by 102 runs.

India's bowling coach Morne Morkel has emphasised the crucial role wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul will play in the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, citing his experience and ability to guide younger players.

Indian golfers Pranavi Urs and Diksha Dagar had a modest start at the Swiss Ladies Open, carding 1-under 70 and even par 71 respectively, while Tvesa Malik finished 1-over. Spanish players Luna Sobron Galmes and Amaia Latorre took the early lead, and England's Alice Hewson is aiming for a third consecutive win at the event.

India has withdrawn from the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup to prioritise a high-profile international friendly against five-time world champions Brazil in October. This decision, confirmed by AIFF, means India will miss facing Southeast Asian teams in a FIFA-sanctioned competition, opting instead for a more challenging opponent to improve its international standing.

Sri Lankan spinners Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis have established the Galle International Cricket Stadium as their formidable stronghold, collectively taking 145 wickets, posing a significant challenge for visiting teams, especially India.

An FIR has been registered against 300 unnamed individuals in Ranchi following a protest march to the Jharkhand assembly on August 10. The protest, by job aspirants over alleged recruitment examination irregularities, led to clashes where 14 police personnel were injured. Police used batons, water cannons, and tear gas to disperse the crowd, which had violated prohibitory orders. Authorities are now using video footage to identify the miscreants.

Ladakh has inaugurated its first international-level artificial ice hockey rink, a state-of-the-art facility costing Rs 42 crore. Equipped with a 24x7 chilling system, it allows year-round training, overcoming the previous limitation of a short natural ice season. This development is expected to boost winter sports, nurture local talent, and promote sports tourism in the region.

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel is at a critical juncture in his Test career, with his performance in the upcoming Sri Lanka series crucial for his future, especially given his struggles against spin and the presence of Sarfaraz Khan.

Donald Trump has explicitly acknowledged that the US Constitution's 22nd Amendment prevents him from seeking a third presidential term in 2028, despite expressing a desire to run again and noting strong support from his base.

Cricketer-turned-politician Harbhajan Singh revealed in a podcast interview that his decision to switch from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stemmed from the AAP government's alleged neglect of his concerns regarding drug abuse and sports promotion in Punjab.

Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan expressed deep concern over the persistent disorder and frequent disruptions that derailed the business of the House during the Monsoon Session, leading to a productivity of only 39 per cent.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced stringent new policy guidelines, mandating ambulances deployed on national highways to reach accident sites within a 10-km radius in 10 minutes and transfer victims to the nearest hospital within one hour, with penalties for non-compliance.

Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and badminton legend Pullela Gopichand have launched the Indian School of Coaching Excellence (ISCE), an initiative designed to strengthen India's sports coaching landscape.

Air India and Air India Express are implementing mandatory psychoactive substance testing for all their 5,000+ pilots. This decision follows an incident where the pilot of a Phuket-Delhi flight, which experienced a sudden altitude drop injuring 24 people, tested positive for marijuana. The testing aims to enhance safety standards and reassure passengers.

Kiren Rijiju has strongly criticised the Congress for allegedly 'unfairly disrupting' the recent monsoon session.

Indian squash players Tanvi Khanna and Suraj Kumar Chand were defeated in the semifinals of the HCL Squash PSA Challenger Tour in Kolkata. Both top seeds lost to Egyptian opponents, setting up all-Egyptian finals for both the men's and women's titles.

Akali Dal chief and former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked in Nanded, Maharashtra, on Thursday. He was hospitalised after the incident, which occurred near a gurudwara. A viral video showed him with an injured hand.

The Centre has approved a fourth railway line through the strategically important 'Chicken's Neck' corridor, a crucial link for Northeast India. This, along with other infrastructure projects like a double-line underground project and station redevelopment, aims to enhance connectivity, capacity, and passenger services in the region.

Mitchell Starc surpassed Rangana Herath to become the most successful left-handed bowler in Test history with 434 wickets.

World champion D Gukesh is 'crumbling under the weight of expectations' and needs to 'shut out the noise' to regain his form ahead of his title defence, said American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura. Nakamura also revealed that the 2028 Chess Olympiad could potentially be his last tournament featuring 'true classical' chess.

'I don't need to wait for work to find me. I can find stories that excite me and make them myself.'

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has approached the Supreme Court to challenge an Allahabad High Court order that directed the CBI and ED to verify allegations of disproportionate assets against him. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the matter on August 17. The Allahabad High Court had expressed dissatisfaction with the CBI's progress and ordered a fresh affidavit, also allowing the ED to proceed if illegality was found during its inquiry. The case stems from a plea by a BJP worker alleging di

Former TMC MLA Nirmal Ghosh has been arrested in Odisha in connection with the alleged hurried cremation of a doctor who was raped and murdered in Kolkata in 2024. The arrest follows a fresh complaint by the victim's father, accusing Ghosh of involvement in the destruction of evidence and criminal conspiracy.

Bowling coach Morne Morkel has indicated that India might field three left-arm spinners - Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Manav Suthar - in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.

A 30-year-old nurse was found dead in the high-dependency unit of NRS Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Police are investigating the incident, suspecting a possible overdose of an anaesthetic drug, though all angles are being explored.

A government school teacher in Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu, has been booked for allegedly caning 10 Class 10 female students, causing severe hand injuries and preventing them from taking exams. The incident led to a police case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Juvenile Justice Act after a parent's complaint.

Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi and Madhya Pradesh's Saransh Jain, both uncapped players, have been drafted into the Indian Test squad for the series against Sri Lanka, replacing injured Jasprit Bumrah.

Major opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, and SP, boycotted the customary tea party hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the House was adjourned sine die, while some opposition leaders attended a similar event in the Rajya Sabha.

Kharge, who is also the Congress President, demanded that cases should be registered, under the Untouchability Act, against those who purified the stage in Haldwani, and they should be arrested and sent to jail.

The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 is set to begin on August 15, with India featuring in both the men's and women's tournaments. Here is the complete India schedule, fixtures and squad details for the World Cup.

The Maharashtra government has proposed amendments to the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, making 'working knowledge of Marathi language' mandatory for cab drivers, with non-compliance potentially leading to suspension or revocation of driving licences.

Indian women's hockey team captain Savita Punia believes their recent FIH Nations Cup triumph has instilled the confidence needed to challenge top teams and secure a podium finish at the upcoming World Cup.

A fresh clash erupted between protesters from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in Dhemaji district, leading to police firing in the air, as an indefinite economic blockade against Arunachal Pradesh entered its second day over land encroachment issues and an earlier firing incident.

If the government wishes that protests like the one that took place at Jantar Mantar during the last few weeks should not recur, it must refocus its energies on jobs, not just the examination system, points out A K Bhattacharya.

While intense protests were seen in Mandya and preventive detentions carried out at several places, life remained unaffected in major urban centres like Bengaluru and Mysuru.

Researchers at IIT Indore have developed a non-invasive technique to detect early signs of oral cancer using saliva and a swab sample. This method is economical, quick, and aims to make early screening more accessible, especially in rural areas, offering an alternative to painful biopsies. The findings, published in the British Journal of Cancer, show distinctive molecular changes before the disease becomes clinically obvious.

A new UN Security Council report has 'officially attributed' the November 2025 Red Fort terror attack in New Delhi, which killed about 15 people, to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). The report highlights AQIS's evolution into a regional terrorist entity and its efforts to establish networks.