Rediff

Indian educational institutions are adopting physical modifications like anti-suicide fans and barriers to prevent student suicides, drawing parallels with measures taken by foreign universities such as Houston, Cornell, Harvard, and NYU. While these measures are seen as andaid solutions by some, experts suggest restricting access to lethal means is a valid part of a comprehensive suicide prevention strategy, alongside crucial mental health support.

Bhopal police have announced a Rs 30,000 reward for Varun Kumar, the caretaker suspected of murdering retired IAS officer Rakesh Agarwal. Kumar allegedly slit Agarwal's throat and attempted to set the house on fire before fleeing. A four-state manhunt is underway to apprehend the suspect.

Rest of India defeated reigning Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir by 167 runs to clinch the Irani Cup, with pacers Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep sharing nine wickets in a sensational bowling performance.

Two men from Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan have been arrested for allegedly duping a Delhi resident of Rs 6 lakh in a digital arrest cyber fraud. The accused impersonated law enforcement officials, threatened the victim, and induced him to transfer money. Investigations revealed links to multiple other cyber fraud complaints and a Cambodia-linked digital trail.

A newly-wed woman in Keralam has filed a complaint against her husband and in-laws, accusing them of dowry harassment and physical assault. She alleges brutal attacks in Saudi Arabia, where her husband works, and in Keralam, leading to a police investigation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Dowry Prohibition Act.

A father and son in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a young couple. The father discovered his 18-year-old daughter with her 19-year-old boyfriend, leading to a fatal beating of both. The bodies were disposed of separately, and a police investigation revealed the couple's relationship was opposed by the daughter's family.

Shiv Sena-UBT head Uddhav Thackeray and MNS leader Raj Thackeray led a joint protest in Mumbai against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Uddhav Thackeray accused Kumar of being a weapon of the BJP, while Raj Thackeray called for paper ballots and the cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, citing alleged irregularities.

Apple has removed the offline messaging app Bitchat from its India App Store following a demand from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Developed by Jack Dorsey, Bitchat faced scrutiny under Section 69(A) of the IT Act, 2000, due to concerns about its potential misuse by anti-national elements and for evading lawful surveillance, especially during public disorder. This marks the second time the app has faced government action in India.

An Army ambulance carrying the remains of Subedar Major Satyawan collided with a stationary truck on the Purvanchal Expressway in Uttar Pradesh, resulting in the deaths of three of his family members and the ambulance driver. The accident occurred near the Ayodhya-Sultanpur border.

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh has voiced concerns over significant delays in inducting new combat jets, including the Tejas aircraft, which are impacting the Indian Air Force's depleting fighter squadron strength. He stressed the need for annual induction of 36-40 jets to address the gaps and discussed ongoing procurement plans like the MRFA deal and future strategies for combat aircraft and theatre commands.

Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan has strongly criticised the CPI(M) following alleged 'communal' remarks made by party leader P Nandakumar against the people of Malappuram. Satheesan linked these comments to previous statements by former CM Pinarayi Vijayan and demanded an apology and clarification from the Left party, vowing strict action against communal hatred. The CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan, however, clarified that the party's criticism was directed at communalism's influence on

CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan clarified the party's position on Malappuram district, stating they criticise the influence of communalism on parties like IUML, not the district itself. This comes after former MLA P Nandakumar allegedly made communal remarks about Malappuram, leading to complaints and criticism from Minister K M Shaji.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, clarified that former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's arrival in New Delhi two years ago was unexpected and not facilitated by the Indian military. He addressed ongoing extradition requests from the current Bangladeshi government, stating India acted out of duty during tragic circumstances in Bangladesh.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) announced that the men's cricket final and hockey semifinal between India and Pakistan were the most viewed matches in Asian Games history. Despite logistical challenges and criticism over accommodation, the OCA highlighted 212 records broken and praised the environment provided to athletes, while also noting increased marketing and sponsorship revenue.

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy lauded skipper Shai Hope's 'amazing innings' of 162 not out, which led the team to a record chase of 352 against India, denying them a series sweep and providing valuable learnings for the Windies.

Indian squash player Anahat Singh, after securing a historic silver medal at the Asian Games, expresses mixed feelings of disappointment and encouragement. She is now focused on improving her PSA rankings to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, acknowledging the challenges of continuous high-level competition.

Brazil's head coach Carlo Ancelotti praised India's defensive organisation and counter-attacking efforts despite his team's 4-0 victory in a friendly match in Kolkata. Ancelotti highlighted India's ability to create difficult moments for Brazil and used the match as an opportunity to assess young Brazilian talent, expressing satisfaction with their performance during the international window.

Nearly 200 protesters, including prominent activists, were detained at Jantar Mantar during demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Delhi Police registered cases under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for disobedience and obstruction, following prohibitory orders in the New Delhi district. The protests stem from alleged irregularities in electoral roll revisions, prompting significant police deployment and ongoing legal actions.

Shai Hope smashed an unbeaten 162 as West Indies chased 352 to stun India by five wickets, setting a new record for the highest score in a successful ODI chase.

A newborn girl was allegedly strangled to death inside a hospital's Special Newborn Care Unit in Ashoknagar, Madhya Pradesh. Police suspect the involvement of her mother or grandmother, possibly due to the baby being the third female child in the family. The incident highlights the issue of infanticide, with Madhya Pradesh reporting significant numbers of such cases.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lauded Indian pilot Smit Machchhar as a global hero for thwarting an alleged attempt by his co-pilot to crash a flydubai flight. Machchhar, currently recovering in the UAE, was invited by Netanyahu to light a flame on Israeli Independence Day, an honour usually reserved for Israeli citizens. The pilot recounted the terrifying mid-air attack where his co-pilot used a crash axe, leading to a rapid descent before an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

A special court in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, has sentenced five men to life imprisonment for a triple murder committed 32 years ago in 1994. The victims were Chirku, his son Santram, and son-in-law Mayaram, who were brutally killed in front of Chirku's wife, Sumitra Devi.

Lockheed Martin aims to significantly expand its manufacturing capabilities in India, particularly through its partnership with Tata Advanced Systems Limited, if it secures the bid to supply 60 medium transport aircraft to the Indian armed forces. The proposal includes local production of 48 aircraft and an upgrade for the existing IAF C-130J fleet.

Khalid Jamil, head coach of the Indian football team, expressed optimism despite a 4-0 defeat against five-time world champions Brazil. He highlighted the high quality of the Brazilian team and the learning experience for India, emphasizing the need for more high-profile matches to improve. Jamil also defended goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and looked forward to the upcoming match against Uruguay.

India's Asian Games medal-winning boxers, including gold medallists Ankush Panghal, Parveen Hooda, and Lovlina Borgohain, received a grand welcome at the New Delhi airport. The team's performance, securing three golds and three bronzes, was lauded by BFI president Ajay Singh and coach Santiago Nieva, highlighting their strong preparation for the upcoming Olympics.

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has ordered a Vigilance probe into corruption allegations related to the 2006 KSTP road project, implicating incumbent Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who was then the PWD secretary. The investigation also concerns the death by suicide of a Malaysian engineer involved in the project, who reportedly named Kumar in his suicide notes. The probe revives a case that was allegedly hushed up after a change in government.

Three women journalists have accused Delhi Police personnel of sexual harassment during a protest at Jantar Mantar. The Delhi Police has transferred these complaints to its Crime Branch for a thorough and impartial investigation.

IOA chief PT Usha met the Indian Cricket Team after their thrilling win over Pakistan to win the Asian Games gold medal in Nisshin on Saturday.

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar congratulated the Indian Men's Hockey team for winning gold at the Asian Games, highlighting the pride that three team members hail from Karnataka. He specifically named Mohith H S, Harshith M Lakshman, and Ranganathan M for their valuable contributions. India secured their fifth Asian Games gold and direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics by defeating Malaysia 5-1.

After India's 2-1 ODI series win over West Indies, Shubman Gill says it is time to settle the team's World Cup combination and reduce experiments.

Samajwadi Party MP Shiv Pal Singh Patel asserted that the Congress would not have secured any seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections without their alliance. He claimed SP chief Akhilesh Yadav persuaded Rahul Gandhi to contest Raebareli and highlighted the SP's significant contribution to the INDIA bloc's success in Uttar Pradesh.

West Indies batter Shai Hope credited former India captain MS Dhoni's advice for helping him stay patient and break down a massive 352-run chase against India, leading to his unbeaten 162 and a stunning five-wicket victory.

Indian squash player Abhay Singh expressed disappointment despite winning two medals at the Asian Games, particularly with the men's team bronze, feeling it was a missed opportunity for gold. He also aims for gold in individual events and is now focused on qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson stated that India's Asian Games cricket gold was not achieved 'on a platter', attributing the success to the experienced 'A' team's ability to manage pressure in the high-stakes final against Pakistan.

India captain Shubman Gill has candidly addressed the team's critical shortcomings following their loss to West Indies in the 3rd ODI in Mullanpur on Saturday.

Prithvi Shaw has been appointed captain of the Maharashtra Ranji Trophy squad for their opening match against Services, as regular skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad is unavailable due to India 'A' commitments.

Thane police have arrested a woman who was on the run for one-and-a-half months in connection with the murder of her husband in Nagpur. The accused, Deepali Salunke, allegedly had an extramarital affair, which led to discord and ultimately the fatal attack on her husband, Gaurav Ragde. She confessed to her involvement during interrogation.

Two members of Iran's delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York were kicked out of the United States on Saturday after allegedly failing to comply with a US State Department order to leave the country, Axios reported, citing a US official, as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to rise amid the West Asia crisis, particularly the Strait of Hormuz.

India summoned Pakistan's Charge d'affaires to protest continued cross-border infiltration and alleged facilitation of drug smuggling, rejecting Pakistan's earlier protest regarding BSF action against suspected intruders. India stated BSF engaged infiltrators who posed a security threat after ignoring warnings.

Kumkum Mohod, a 17-year-old from Amravati, has won India's first-ever women's individual recurve archery gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Her victory sparked celebrations in her hometown, with her family expressing immense pride and her father hoping for an Olympic gold. Kumkum also secured two other medals at the games.

Asian Games individual gold medallist golfer Pranavi Urs will be awarded Rs 1 crore by AM Green IGPL. The league will also award Rs 25 lakh each to the Indian women's team members for their silver medal. Urs is the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games golf gold since 2002.

Brazil, with eight changes to their starting line-up, defeated India 4-0 in a football friendly, with Samuel Lino scoring a brace and Estevao and Pedro also finding the net.

KL Rahul achieved a significant career milestone, completing 10,000 international runs with a spectacular unbeaten 129 off 87 balls in the third ODI against West Indies, becoming the 15th Indian to reach this landmark.

An Agra court granted bail to six Congress workers accused of defacing CEC Gyanesh Kumar's residence during a protest. The court dropped the attempt to murder charge (Section 109(2) BNS) initially invoked by police, citing lack of evidence, and expressed displeasure over the police's handling of the case.

Mumbai police have registered an FIR against the organisers and 400-500 unidentified individuals involved in the Cockroach Janta Party's October 2 protest at Shivaji Park. The case cites unlawful assembly and wilful disobedience, stemming from a resident's complaint, with investigations ongoing and no arrests made yet.

India A secured a thrilling draw against Australia A in the second four-day match, thanks to resilient batting from Yash Rathod and Shams Mulani. This draw ensured India A won the two-match series 1-0.

Mukesh Choudhary's impressive 5/78 helped Rest of India restrict Jammu and Kashmir to 278 on day two of the Irani Cup. Despite a strong fightback from J and K's Paras Dogra, Abdul Samad, and Lone Nasir Muzaffar, RoI ended the day 17 runs in arrears in their second innings, having lost an early wicket. The match has been dominated by fast bowlers, with RoI looking to build a lead on day three.

In a major disclosure, Anwar Gargash, an adviser to UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed, has officially termed the cockpit attack aboard a Tel Aviv-bound Flydubai flight a dangerous terrorist act, marking the first time a top Emirati official has formally classified the attempted crash in such terms.

Thousands of young men and women, joined by prominent personalities, protested at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar despite police denial of permission. Organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the agitation highlighted concerns over transparency in CEC appointments and alleged irregularities in electoral roll revisions.

India's women's hockey team clinched the Asian Games gold medal after 44 years, defeating defending champions China 1-0 in a thrilling final. Lalremsiami's early goal and goalkeeper Bichu Devi's crucial save, coupled with a resilient defence, secured the historic victory and direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.