Rediff

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expanded his council of ministers on Tuesday, swearing in four new faces from the Kashmir valley: Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mir Saifullah, Shameema Firdous, and Altaf Ahmad Wani. This expansion comes after all ministers submitted their resignations, with the Congress, an ally, distancing itself from joining the cabinet until statehood is restored.

The deaths of two students in Kota, India's coaching hub, have renewed concerns over student safety and health, with one family alleging severe negligence by hostel authorities.

A businessman in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, organised a mass wedding for 101 underprivileged Hindu and Muslim couples, providing not only the ceremony but also household items. Inspired by his lack of a sister, Vinay Agarwal's initiative has grown significantly since 2018, offering crucial support to families struggling with wedding expenses.

From addressing Scout OP and Love Gill's vulgar massage act to praising Yung DSA, Gullu and Kanika Mann, Rohit Shetty's no-nonsense Weekend Ka Vaar was just what we needed, applauds Divya Nair.

During a rally in Michigan, former US President Donald Trump made an unexpected remark about rapper Nicki Minaj's appearance, drawing cheers before apologising for straying from his speech. Minaj later joined him on stage, expressing her support for his administration and discussing her views on the country's direction and children's issues.

Harmanpreet Kaur, former India captain, has rediscovered her batting form through intense training, including three sessions a day. Her dedication led to an unbeaten 91 in a T20I and a match-winning 126 in an ODI against Zimbabwe, helping India secure a series lead.

Actor Imran Khan, a US citizen, has challenged a Mumbai Police notice directing him to leave India by October 28 for allegedly attending a political protest. The Bombay High Court is set to hear his petition on Tuesday. Khan claims he had no association with the protest organisers and that the notice is illegal, arbitrary, perverse and drastic. He also received a show-cause notice regarding his OCI status.

A 23-year-old man, Devendra Chopde, allegedly murdered his uncle Tryambak Chopde and aunt Mangal in Wadad village, Hingoli district, Maharashtra. The double murder stemmed from a long-standing dispute between the families over a common well and passage. Devendra later surrendered to police.

'Find a man who loves you so beautifully that even after you're married, you'd still want to tell him, Let's get married. I would do it a thousand times -- 100 is nothing. It's really that simple.'

A retired Indian Army captain, Babu P, has been arrested in Vellore for allegedly leaking confidential military secrets to an unidentified woman via WhatsApp. The woman reportedly posed as a DRDO project worker and engaged in personal conversations to extract sensitive information.

Jaipur police arrested a man with counterfeit currency notes worth Rs 3.45 lakh, primarily in Rs 500 denominations, ahead of Diwali. The accused, Shahbaz Khan, allegedly procured the fake notes from Old Delhi for circulation during the festive season. An investigation is underway to uncover the source and other members of the racket.

A Delhi court has acquitted a man and his mother in a 2016 dowry death case, citing the prosecution's failure to establish a direct link between alleged dowry harassment and the woman's death. The court noted that the defence successfully presented evidence of the deceased's psychiatric condition and the lack of proof for financial harassment or abetment of suicide.

Kolkata Police have arrested a man in Dum Dum for allegedly posting derogatory comments and circulating false information about West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and other BJP leaders on social media. The arrest followed a complaint, and the accused is scheduled to appear in court later on Monday.

Delhi Police have busted a cyber fraud network in Greater Noida, arresting seven individuals involved in supplying bank accounts opened through fake firms to cybercriminals. The network facilitated over Rs 30 crore in credit transactions and is linked to 27 cyber fraud complaints across various states. The investigation began after a Delhi University student was defrauded of Rs 6,450.

Veteran batter Paras Dogra has become only the second player to feature in 150 Ranji Trophy matches, joining Wasim Jaffer. Dogra achieved this milestone during his side's match against Baroda on Monday. He has been a prolific run-scorer in domestic cricket, also having played in the IPL.

Researchers at IIT Guwahati have conducted a study on how plants' internal plumbing systems respond to drought conditions. Their findings, published in Applied Physics Reviews journal, reveal that plants narrow their microtubes and pits during water shortages to conserve water and maintain internal balance, offering crucial insights for developing drought-tolerant crops.

Australia vice-captain Ashleigh Gardner has revealed that cricket has been a fantastic escape during a challenging period in her personal life, following the breakdown of her marriage and subsequent scrutiny over her relationship with teammate Georgia Voll.

A 16-year-old boy was apprehended in Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly sexually assaulting a one-year-old toddler. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, and the teenager was sent to a juvenile observation home on Sunday following court proceedings.

India's para athletes, including archer Sheetal Devi, shooter Mona Agarwal, and shuttler Nitesh Kumar, delivered a historic performance at the Asian Para Games in Japan. Sheetal Devi secured two gold and one silver, Mona Agarwal clinched two gold medals and set five records, while Nitesh Kumar won gold in badminton, contributing to India's best-ever campaign in archery and overall medal tally.

A minor fire occurred on the terrace of North Block in New Delhi on Monday, which was quickly extinguished by authorities. No casualties were reported, and internal dismantling work is suspected to be the cause.

As Israel prepares for parliamentary elections on Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a critical test of his leadership amidst the fallout from the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, the ongoing Gaza war, and significant domestic challenges.

A fire in a relay room at Kanjurmarg and a foreign wire on the overhead equipment between Mulund and Thane caused significant disruptions to Mumbai's Central Railway suburban services on Monday morning. Commuters faced long delays, with trains stalled for over an hour, leading to overcrowding and passengers walking on tracks. Alternative arrangements were implemented to manage train movements, and services were eventually restored.

A 24-year-old man, Krishan Kumar, has been arrested in Delhi for allegedly defrauding a woman of Rs 29,500. He promised to arrange a Rs 26-lakh bank loan at a low interest rate, collected processing fees, but never delivered the loan. Police traced him through technical analysis of his mobile number.

Indigenous communities fear that a large reservoir could submerge ancestral land and settlements, disrupt traditional livelihoods and damage forests, wildlife habitats and river ecosystems in a seismically active Himalayan region.

Bengaluru Customs officials arrested a passenger arriving from Bangkok at Kempegowda International Airport after seizing 500 grams of hydroponic ganja, valued at Rs 17.50 lakh, concealed in their shoes. The arrest was made on October 23 under the NDPS Act.

Two individuals were killed and three injured in a firing incident in Moga, Punjab, on Sunday evening. Police suspect old enmity as the motive and have arrested five people in connection with the case, though the assailants remain at large. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, who allege a complete collapse of law and order under the current state government.

India, five-time champions and recent Asian Games gold medallists, are strong favourites to win the six-nation Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament kicking off in Jalandhar. The tournament marks the return of international hockey to Punjab after 17 years, with many Indian players set to play in front of their home crowd. India will open their campaign against Bangladesh on Tuesday, with the semifinals and final scheduled for November 4 and 5 in Mohali. Four senior players are reportedly play

Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara has unveiled his current ODI World XI, notably omitting Suryakumar Yadav and Harry Brook, while naming Rohit Sharma as captain. His selection features a mix of players from India, England, South Africa, New Zealand, and the West Indies, ahead of the India-New Zealand ODI series.

Nitish Kumar Reddy's crucial late burst with the bat and an important wicket with the ball helped India secure a thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand, moving them 2-0 ahead in the five-match T20I series and strengthening his credentials as a pace-bowling all-rounder.

Glimpses of the Indian Air Force's spectacular aerial display over the Ganga in Varanasi.

The Indian cricket team is set to face New Zealand in the third T20 International on Tuesday, aiming for a series-clinching victory. The match, held in Wellington, will test India's bowling attack, particularly Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and the team's ability to handle challenging conditions and a resilient New Zealand side.

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has dismissed speculation about Rohit Sharma's imminent IPL retirement, drawing parallels with MS Dhoni's longevity, and also backed Naman Dhir as a potential future captain for Mumbai Indians.

A car parking dispute in Lucknow's Saadatganj area escalated into a fatal shooting on Monday, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. Police have detained the accused and recovered the weapon.

Police in Patna are investigating the alleged rape of a 17-year-old girl at a guest house in Danapur. The incident occurred on Sunday, and a special investigation team has been formed to apprehend the accused.

Alex Carey says Australia must focus on preparation ahead of the South Africa Test, with their No. 1 ranking and World Test Championship hopes at stake.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa responded to allegations of caste bias regarding erroneous voter slip entries, stating that computers are not casteist and the errors were due to software translation glitches. He sarcastically commented on potential communalism accusations if a minority name had been affected.

Three people, including a woman's father and maternal uncle, were arrested in Kolkata's Behala area for allegedly stripping and parading a young man and his father over the man's relationship with the woman. The incident on Sunday led to public outrage and attempts to vandalise the woman's house.

A 60-year-old farmer, Ramkhelawan alias Suwalal, was killed in alleged celebratory firing during a traditional Tesu-Jhanjhiya event in a Kanpur village on Monday. Police have arrested Guddu Singh, 28, who allegedly fired the fatal shot while intoxicated, and detained two other suspects. Celebratory firing is prohibited in Uttar Pradesh.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been acquitted by a special MP-MLA court in Sultanpur in a defamation case stemming from his remarks against then BJP president Amit Shah in 2018. The case was filed by local BJP leader Vijay Mishra, and the verdict was pronounced on Monday.

Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma scored her second ODI hundred against Zimbabwe, ending a nine-year wait. She emphasised the importance of her match-winning 153-run partnership with Harmanpreet Kaur, who also scored a century, over her personal milestone. Deepti also spoke about her mindset during the game and her faith.

Ayushmann Khurrana's Udta Teer managed a decent first week at the box office, navigating a crowded release schedule where several new Hindi films struggled to find an audience.

India bowling coach Morne Morkel urges patience with Bhuvneshwar Kumar after his four-year T20I absence, saying the pacer must ignore expectations and find his rhythm.

'The universe has brought Salman and me together.'

Kaviya Maran, the face of IPL team Sunrisers Hyderabad, is reportedly set to marry music composer Anirudh Ravichander in a destination wedding this November.

Two cheetahs killed two cattle calves in Bamori village, Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh, causing panic among residents who now fear venturing out at night. This is reportedly the first such attack in a residential area, raising concerns despite assurances from forest officials that cheetahs do not attack humans.

New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell has attributed India's 2-0 lead in the ongoing T20I series to their exceptional death bowling. Bracewell noted that the Indian bowlers effectively built pressure in the final overs, preventing the Black Caps from posting higher totals despite high-scoring games. He acknowledged the challenge posed by India's in-form openers and highlighted the need for New Zealand to deliver a complete performance to turn the tide.

A deep depression in the Bay of Bengal has intensified into Cyclone Arnab, expected to become a very severe cyclonic storm by October 27. It is forecast to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts on the morning of October 28, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds. Authorities are urging residents to remain alert and take precautions.

India bowling coach Morne Morkel reveals a 'bulletproof' workload management plan for the New Zealand tour, including rotation and backup bowlers ahead of the Tests.

A minor collision occurred in Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's convoy on the Purvanchal Expressway on Monday while he was en route to Sultanpur for a defamation case hearing. Police confirmed Gandhi was safe and no major injuries were reported, with the incident attributed to a vehicle suddenly braking.

Amitabh Bachchan upheld his cherished Sunday darshan tradition, greeting a massive crowd of fans outside his residence, amidst significantly heightened security following a recent bomb threat email.