Rediff

Shubman Gill hailed Sri Lanka's gritty resistance after Sonal Dinusha's second century forced India to settle for a draw in the second Test.

If an OTT series can make a young person curious about the armed forces, make a family understand the sacrifices made by those in uniform, or simply make someone walk up to a veteran and say, Thank you for your service, then it has achieved something far more important than merely getting its history right, notes Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd).

'Hydro-seismicity is a phenomenon that typically shows up during and just after the monsoon.' 'Heavy rain causes water to percolate deep into the rock, and where there are fractures, that water fills the pores and builds up what we call pore water pressure.' 'That pressure can widen existing cracks, and eventually the rock gives way -- which surfaces as tremors.'

A domestic dispute over a mobile phone tragically led to the deaths of three family members in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra. A 19-year-old son, upset after an argument, climbed a hill. His parents followed to persuade him to return, but a desperate attempt to save the son from falling resulted in the father and son plunging to their deaths. The mother, witnessing this, then jumped herself.

Polish envoy Piotr Antoni Switalski stated that Poland stands with India in the fight against terrorism, asserting his country's support for India's right to pursue terrorists globally, while also highlighting strong cultural and defence ties between the two nations.

Rashtrapati Bhavan withdrew a communique announcing the cancellation of the Change of Guard ceremony for a rehearsal of Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's ceremonial welcome, adding to the confusion surrounding his high-profile visit amid diplomatic friction over Bangladesh's demand for Sheikh Hasina's extradition.

A spurious liquor tragedy in Gujarat's Bhavnagar district has resulted in eight deaths and left 61 persons affected, with 25 still undergoing treatment. Police have arrested 13 individuals in connection with the incident, which involved methanol-laced alcohol sold under a popular brand name. The State Monitoring Cell is investigating the source and distribution network of the illicit brew.

The Supreme Court has waived the remaining life sentence of 105-year-old murder convict Rasik Chandra Mondal, allowing him to live as a free man. The decision was made considering his advanced age and health issues, making his interim bail absolute.

IndiGo, India's largest airline, experienced intermittent issues with its core reservation platform on Friday, affecting online services for customers. This follows a similar disruption on Wednesday, though the airline stated the issues have since been resolved.

Successful candidates of recruitment examinations cancelled by the Jharkhand government staged a demonstration outside the state secretariat, demanding justice and the withdrawal of the cancellation decision, while the high court has stayed some of the government's notifications.

'The incumbent matters. It matters a lot. If a person sitting on top is good, then he can achieve a lot. And if he is bad, you see what can happen.'

Income Tax officials seized Rs 9 crore in cash from a car near Bengaluru's Electronic City, leading to further recovery of Rs 1.3 crore in Tamil Nadu, bringing the total to Rs 10.3 crore. The interception followed police information about illegal cash transportation, and an investigation is underway to determine the source and purpose of the funds.

Tibetan communities across New Delhi, Kolkata and Shimla marked the 49th day since activist Lobsang Palden, also known as Lobga Rangza, immolated himself outside the United Nations headquarters in New York on July 2, 2026, with prayer services and protests.

Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has described militants operating in Balochistan as 'foreign-sponsored proxies' actively working to destabilise the province and obstruct its development.

The New Delhi police has heightened security at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to prevent an anti-reservation protest.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi staged a dharna at Parliament Street police station in New Delhi, demanding an FIR for Sahil Lochab, a youth who sustained pellet injuries during a July 20 protest and later underwent surgery.

Locals in Rampura Kanwarpura village, Jaipur, allegedly pushed a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) team out of their village during an inspection of a government primary school, claiming the school could be repaired locally and funds were sanctioned.

A 62-year-old physically-challenged man died after allegedly being pushed out of a moving local train in Mumbai by a fellow passenger following an argument over seating. The incident occurred between Mahim and Bandra railway stations. The accused was apprehended by other passengers and a murder case has been registered. This marks the third such fatal incident on Mumbai local trains this year.

Gandhi's 1931 passport for his travel to London was issued in Bombay. It was the last time the Mahatma travelled abroad.

All Indian crew members on both vessels are reported to be safe.

A 46-year-old woman was tragically killed by a train in Bhadohi while attempting to save her 20-year-old son, who was trying to die by suicide after she refused him money for liquor. The son sustained injuries and was hospitalised.

Actor-MP Kangana Ranaut and movie legend Sharmila Tagore are embroiled in a public debate over Vande Mataram.

Lingamaneni Sanjush, son of Andhra Pradesh Rajya Sabha MP Lingamaneni Ramesh, has been booked by Hyderabad police following a fatal car accident. Sanjush allegedly hit and killed a 26-year-old saleswoman, Bharati Mukhi, with his luxury car while she was crossing the road. A case of causing death by negligence has been registered, but Sanjush was not arrested as it is a bailable offence.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has clarified its 'answer key challenge' system, stating it is designed for fairness and that the fee charged is to deter frivolous challenges, with refunds issued for successful objections. This comes amidst recent criticism regarding exam conduct.

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's planned visit to the United States has been cancelled after the Ministry of External Affairs denied him permission. The CMO stated that the clearance was denied from a political angle, leading Reddy to return to Hyderabad from London earlier than planned.

'Think of the brain like a machine, and Alzheimer's is like rust.' 'Like a rusty machine breaks down, a rusty brain also breaks down. And when it breaks down, you have memory loss, cognitive issues and so on.'

Congress-ruled states, including Karnataka, Kerala, and Telangana, are preparing to challenge the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, in the Supreme Court. They allege the new law undermines states' rights by restricting their powers to levy taxes on mineral resources, a claim the Centre denies, stating it aims for uniform mineral rates.

Several vital parliamentary committees, including those dealing with ethics, rules, and financial matters, are yet to be formally reconstituted. This delay affects the functioning of the Lok Sabha and the oversight of government operations.

The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of a High Court bench in Ladakh, a move lauded by Home Minister Amit Shah and Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena as a significant step towards improving access to justice and ensuring the all-round development of the Union Territory.

Government departments requested social media platforms to remove 2.44 lakh pieces of content between March and July, with states initiating 82% of these requests. The IT Intermediaries Rules 2021 were amended to reduce takedown time to three hours. The PIB Fact Check unit clarified its role in content moderation, refuting claims of automated blocking by Meta and emphasising the need to address lawlessness in cyberspace.

Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has received approximately Rs 15 crore in funding from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for six biomedical research projects. These projects aim to address critical national health priorities, including cancer detection, antimicrobial resistance, and pediatric septic shock, fostering advanced research and improving patient care.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a close ally of former premier Khaleda Zia, has been elected as Bangladesh's new President in the first contested poll for the post in 35 years.

Traffic between Assam and Meghalaya was disrupted after Guwahati-based cab operators blocked National Highway-27, protesting alleged attacks on people from Assam during a Khasi Students' Union (KSU) rally in Shillong, which saw 31 vehicles damaged and several pedestrians assaulted.

Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has urged consumers to avoid buying loose or unsealed edible oil due to safety concerns, announcing a compliance order for the entire edible oil sector after detecting widespread violations, including adulteration and improper packaging.

Researchers at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad have secured a patent for a novel temperature-independent optical sensor designed to precisely measure structural tilt in two directions. This lightweight sensor, utilising Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) technology, offers enhanced monitoring capabilities for various applications including bridges, robotics, aerospace, and geotechnical systems, promising low maintenance and long-term stability checks.

The Delhi High Court has directed the Centre's Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC) to consider a complaint regarding the removal of allegedly inflammatory and derogatory YouTube videos targeting Shirdi Sai Baba. The Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi, seeks the removal of content that it claims hurts religious sentiments and promotes communal disharmony, despite a previous GAC order for removal of some material.

The Jharkhand High Court has stayed government notifications that cancelled appointments made through the 11th to 13th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examinations and those of food safety officers. The court cited a violation of natural justice, providing relief to approximately 450 candidates amidst ongoing student protests against alleged recruitment irregularities.

The Bombay High Court has ruled that mere annoyance and normal disagreements do not amount to mental cruelty sufficient for divorce. The court stated that cruelty must be severe enough to make cohabitation unreasonable, and cannot be determined by isolated incidents. This ruling came as the court dismissed a man's divorce petition, upholding a family court's decision and ordering him to pay maintenance to his wife.

Maharashtra's transport department has launched a statewide drive to test taxi and autorickshaw drivers' working knowledge of Marathi, with those failing facing badge suspension.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed immense pride and happiness over his mother Sonia Gandhi's upcoming memoir, 'Belonging: A Journey of Love,' stating that millions who love her will finally read her 'beautiful story,' despite her private nature.

The Bombay High Court has expressed strong displeasure with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for approving the conversion of the Neville D'Souza football ground in Bandra into an exhibition centre, despite an earlier oral assurance to maintain status quo. The court has ordered the BMC to halt further action and questioned the impact on outdoor sports.

A bank employee in Lucknow allegedly shot dead his wife, a bank official, and his sister before taking his own life. The incident, reportedly stemming from marital discord, occurred in two separate locations within the city.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly moving back to the UK with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, later this month, but will continue as non-working members of the royal family. The move comes six years after they relocated to the US.

The Kerala high court has delivered a landmark judgment, empowering Christian women in India to file for divorce from their current place of residence, thereby removing a significant procedural hurdle and ensuring equal access to justice.

Humanoid machines boxed, danced and tackled everyday tasks at the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing.

Kerala-based professional stunt cyclist Saneed is undertaking an extraordinary journey from Kerala to the Everest Base Camp on a specially modified bicycle lacking a front wheel, aiming to spread a 'Say No to Drugs' awareness message.

The appeal against the August 6 order of the Bombay high court has been filed through advocate Aditya Samaddar.

Seven people have died and 30 others are hospitalised in Gujarat's Bhavnagar district after consuming spurious liquor. Police have detained 12 bootleggers and registered an FIR against 21 individuals. The victims reportedly consumed illicit liquor from duplicate bottles of an IMFL brand, with preliminary investigations suggesting the supply originated from Madhya Pradesh.

Filmmaker Amit Jani has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court's order to remove the teaser and promotional material for his film 'Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy', following a plea by Salman Khan alleging violation of his personality rights. Jani asserts the film does not feature Salman Khan or Lawrence Bishnoi and argues against judicial censorship.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting in Kovalam, near Chennai, bringing together Chief Ministers from southern states to discuss critical inter-state and national issues, including river water sharing disputes.