Rediff

Democrats are projected to gain control of the US House of Representatives, marking a significant political shift. This comes as voters express discontent over economic anxiety, the Iran war, and tariffs, leading to a rebuke of the Republican party. The shift will empower Democrats to scrutinize the Trump administration and block Republican legislative efforts, with Representative Hakeem Jeffries potentially becoming the first African American Speaker.

The INDIA bloc rally held at Ramlila Maidan in central Delhi concluded peacefully on Sunday, with police reporting no major law and order incidents. Extensive security measures were in place, including over 4,000 police personnel, CCTV cameras, drones, and CAPF deployment, ensuring the safety of participants and smooth traffic flow.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav addressed an INDIA bloc rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, likening the venue to the Haldighati of democracy due to the massive public turnout. He asserted that the BJP, which came to power through Uttar Pradesh, would also be ousted from there, criticising their claims of an unshakeable political stance. Yadav accused the BJP of manipulating electoral rolls and predicted their defeat in upcoming elections, starting from UP.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, speaking at the INDIA bloc's Ramlila Maidan rally, accused the BJP of forming governments on stolen mandates and alleged that Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were shielding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He called for PM Modi's removal to protect democracy.

BJP chief Nitin Nabin criticised the Congress and the INDIA bloc's Delhi rally, accusing them of targeting constitutional institutions due to electoral frustration. He highlighted the irony of the protest coinciding with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots anniversary, urging Congress to apologise instead. Nabin also challenged Congress to establish internal democracy.

Delhi Police have dismantled an organised cyber fraud network responsible for duping individuals of over Rs 10 crore. Five individuals have been arrested across India in connection with 544 complaints. The fraudsters used a foreign-based application to send phishing messages, impersonating traffic challans and reward schemes, to steal money from victims.

Flight disruptions between India and Saudi Arabia are continuing, with Akasa Air extending its service suspensions to Jeddah until November 18 and Riyadh until November 30. This follows similar suspensions by Air India and Air India Express until November 14, all due to the prevailing security situation and attacks on infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. The Indian Embassy has advised nationals to remain vigilant and is assisting affected travellers.

The INDIA bloc organised a major rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on Sunday, protesting against alleged vote chori and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Top leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Akhilesh Yadav, and Mamata Banerjee, participated in a procession leading to the venue, where supporters gathered to voice their dissent. This demonstration follows a symbolic public impeachment of Kumar by the opposition a day earlier.

India strongly criticised Pakistan at the United Nations, accusing it of hypocrisy regarding religious freedom and funeral rights. India's First Secretary Bhavika Mangalanandan highlighted Pakistan's refusal to accept the bodies of its own soldiers killed in the 1999 Kargil war, contrasting it with Pakistan's current criticism of India. She also pointed to Pakistan's poor record on minority rights and criticised a UN report for selectively targeting India.

A sharp political slugfest erupted on Thursday as Congress leaders and INDIA bloc allies rallied behind MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's son, Raihan Vadra, accusing the authorities and Centre of censoring artistic expression after Bikaner House requested the removal of several photographs from his exhibition.

British Indian landlord Nirpal Singh Riat has had his Order of the British Empire (OBE) annulled by King Charles III after being fined for renting out damp and squalid rooms. Riat, who received the honour in 2010, was found to have brought the honours system into disrepute. This rare cancellation follows a significant fine of 300,000 pounds for illegal conversions and poor living conditions, and comes amidst another similar case involving Lord Rami Ranger.

Saudi air defences intercepted the drone, causing a fire in a contractor's vehicle but no impact on oilfield operations.

The advisory, issued on Wednesday, urges Indian nationals to avoid large gatherings and crowded places where protests are occurring and to follow local authorities' instructions.

'If the temperature remains very high, which is likely to be the case because of El Nino, it may lead to a shortfall in wheat production.' 'If that happens, we will be in a very, very difficult situation as far as food security is concerned.'

The objective should be clear: Energy security without abandoning environmental responsibility; water security without ignoring local concerns; and strategic resilience without sacrificing public confidence, notes Varun Arya.

Schaeffler India CEO Harsha Kadam has been arrested in connection with a fatal gas leak at the company's Pune facility in June, which resulted in the deaths of two workers. Kadam is the eighth person arrested in the case, facing charges including culpable homicide. The incident occurred during unauthorised maintenance work on a CO2 fire suppression system.

Over 2,000 pulmonologists and healthcare professionals from India and abroad will gather in Jaipur for NAPCON 2026 to discuss the increasing burden of pulmonary diseases and the critical impact of air pollution on lung health. The conference, organised by the National College of Chest Physicians, India, and the Indian Chest Society, will feature discussions on diagnosis, management, and prevention of conditions like COPD and asthma, alongside advances in interventional pulmonology.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has claimed that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was detained for three hours at the Delhi airport upon his return from Paris and subsequently fined Rs 50,000. AAP media in-charge Baltej Pannu alleged that the incident was due to remendous pressure from above and linked it to the Centre's repeated denial of permission for Mann's foreign visits, accusing the central government of obstructing Punjab's progress.

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Vice President C P Radhakrishnan attended Dussehra celebrations in New Delhi on Tuesday. Effigies of Ravan, Kumbhkaran, and Meghnath were burnt at various Ramleela grounds, with dignitaries delivering messages on truth, righteousness, and fighting social evils. One committee also burnt a cockroach effigy to symbolise filth, leading to a complaint from AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj.

A woman in Najafgarh died after being stabbed while trying to protect her son during a scuffle. Police have arrested one individual, Satish Lamba, for her death and injuries to her son, and have also registered a separate case against the son and his friends for allegedly stabbing Lamba first. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

A father and son have been arrested in northeast Delhi's Harsh Vihar for allegedly attacking an MCD employee with a sharp object. The assault stemmed from a monetary dispute involving Rs 3,500, which the father had given to the employee's co-worker to secure a job for his son.

Two FIRs have been registered against opposition leaders in Delhi following their 'March for Democracy' to the Supreme Court on Monday. The protest, which included prominent INDIA bloc leaders, was held against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged voter deletions and electoral roll irregularities. Police stated no permission was granted for the march, and leaders were seen breaking barricades.

A 17-year-old boy was fatally stabbed in central Delhi's Anand Parbat area after an accidental collision with three teenagers escalated into an altercation. Police have arrested a 19-year-old man and apprehended two minors in connection with the murder, recovering the alleged weapon.

The National Students' Union of India (NSUI) has demanded accountability from Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta following the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl in Aastha Kunj Park. The incident has sparked concerns over women's safety in Delhi and led Lady Shri Ram College to shift classes online. NSUI is calling for immediate legal action, an impartial investigation, and improved security measures around student-frequented areas.

AAP Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj has criticised the Delhi government's handling of women's safety after a 17-year-old girl was allegedly raped at Aastha Kunj Park, leading Lady Shri Ram College to shift classes online. Bharadwaj questioned the BJP government's achievements in ensuring safety and highlighted daily crimes against women, while also alleging harassment of opposition leaders.

The Supreme Court has ordered the Delhi and Gurugram police to explain why the body of missing Delhi realtor Yuvraj Singh Manchanda was cremated without identification and why details were not uploaded to the CCTNS portal. This directive comes after Manchanda's family alleged they were not informed about the recovery of his body, which was found in Gurugram and cremated before they were notified. The court also referenced its earlier directives on prompt FIR registration for missing persons, hig

A man identified as Asif, accused of raping a 17-year-old girl near Kalkaji Mandir, was arrested after a police encounter in southeast Delhi. Two other suspects, an advocate and his brother, are being questioned. Asif allegedly fired at police during interception, leading to an exchange of fire where he was injured and subsequently apprehended. The incident involved three men posing as policemen, abducting the girl and her friend, and then raping the girl in Astha Kunj Park.

Denied permission for his hunger strike in Mumbai, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Monday announced he would head to the Maharashtra capital alone on September 15 to stage a protest at Azad Maidan.

Ahead of President Vladimir Putin's visit to India for the BRICS summit, Russia has expressed support for New Delhi's peace initiatives to resolve the Ukraine conflict. Discussions between Putin and PM Modi will cover defence, energy, technology, and the repatriation of Indian nationals from the Russian military, alongside addressing trade and investment ties.

US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, highlighted the evolving US-India space partnership, moving from cooperation to co-creation at the Bengaluru Space Expo. He emphasised joint design, funding, and co-authoring the future of human discovery, citing the NISAR satellite and India's participation in the Artemis Accords as key examples of this growing synergy.

AICC general secretary K C Venugopal announced that Rahul Gandhi would lead the INDIA bloc in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, dismissing reports of TVK proposing C Joseph Vijay as a prime ministerial candidate. Venugopal highlighted Gandhi's widespread appeal and campaigns on key issues, while also addressing internal alliance differences and criticising the BJP government's actions.

AIIMS Jammu is poised to become the first hospital in India to receive armed security from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) due to its strategic location near the India-Pakistan international border. This move marks a significant shift in security policy for healthcare facilities, which the Ministry of Home Affairs had previously resisted. The CISF is also slated for deployment at Kolkata Metro and Donyi Polo Airport.

BJP MP Raghav Chadha addressed the 12th IPU Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, highlighting India's digital transformation journey. He emphasised how technology is widening access and promoting inclusion, citing UPI's success, affordable data, and robust data protection laws. Chadha also discussed India's digital cooperation with Uzbekistan and the importance of digital rights, safety, and skill development for all citizens.

Former CDS Anil Chauhan stated that China poses a long-term and comprehensive challenge to India, with the boundary issue remaining unresolved due to differing perceptions of the Line of Actual Control. However, he emphasised that India's ties with Beijing cannot be solely defined by border disputes, advocating for engagement through platforms like SCO and BRICS. He also highlighted the broader global geopolitical flux and instability in India's neighbourhood as significant security concerns, st

'It is not economical to operate GSLV-Mk II due to its cost and complexity. Future launches to be managed with LVM3.'

India's advanced Earth observation spacecraft, EOS-05, an imaging satellite in geo-orbit, was successfully launched by ISRO from Sriharikota. The satellite, described as he eye in the sky, will provide real-time imagery for agriculture and disaster management.

The BJP's Jammu and Kashmir unit has strongly criticised Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for advocating the restoration of Article 370, asserting that the constitutional provision has been permanently abrogated and such calls aim to disrupt peace. The party emphasised that Kashmir has moved beyond past conflicts and is focused on development, while reiterating that statehood will be restored at an appropriate time, distinct from Article 370.

Professor Philip Maini, an Indian-origin academic at the University of Oxford, is pioneering the application of mathematical biology to understand and develop new cancer therapies. His work focuses on creating models that predict treatment outcomes and developing adaptive therapy strategies to combat drug resistance in tumours, offering a novel approach to improving patient care.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has affirmed that Indian electronic voting machines (EVMs) are manufactured by public sector companies and operate without internet, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi connectivity, ensuring their security and reliability.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded UPI on its 10th anniversary, highlighting its role in India's digital transformation. Launched by NPCI in 2016, UPI has become the world's largest real-time payment system, witnessing a massive surge in transaction volume and value, demonstrating its success in empowering people with swift, seamless, and secure digital transactions.

The United States has sanctioned four India-based companies, including a customs broker and three other firms, for their involvement in importing petroleum and petrochemical products from Iran. This action is part of Operation Economic Outcast, a broader US campaign to sever Iran's financial lifelines and prevent funding for its destabilising activities.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu highlighted that the success of UPI, which handles nearly half of the world's real-time digital transactions, stems from a collaborative ecosystem including financial inclusion, digital identity, and affordable internet. He attributed this digital payments revolution to the vision of PM Narendra Modi.

Sumit Sarkar was never intellectually dismissive of the Hindutva project. He took it with deadly seriousness for he grasped the challenge it posed to the aspirations and ideals of the anti-imperialist movement that generated multiple imaginings of freedom and ways to attain it, recalls Pradeep Kumar Dutta.

The BJP has announced its new national team under party president Nitin Nabin, featuring 13 vice presidents, a new national treasurer, and several new general secretaries and secretaries, while retaining some key figures.

It is very unfortunate that China has decided to proceed with the controversial mega hydropower plants(despite the apparent opposition of many scientists in China). Why is Delhi silent about the development? asks Claude Arpi.

As India's decline continued on global indices, the government first blamed methodology and then motives. This is where we remain today as we wish each other and ourselves a happy Independence Day, points out Aakar Patel.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the nation from the Red Fort on Independence Day, declared that India is undergoing a rapid transformation across various sectors and is firmly on track to become a developed nation by 2047.