Rediff

The Lahore High Court dismissed Muhammad Rizwan's petition challenging notices from the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) awaits the NCCIA's forensic report on mobile phones seized from Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq to decide on potential disciplinary action against the players.

The Congress party won six out of nine wards where repolling was conducted across four urban local bodies in Rajasthan, while the BJP secured three. These results finalise the tally for all 10,244 wards, with the BJP holding the overall lead in total wards won, followed by Congress and Independents. The process for electing mayors and chairpersons is now underway.

Fresh from their record-extending Asia Cup triumph, defending champions India will begin their Asian Games title defence as overwhelming favourites against hosts Japan in the women's quarter-finals in Nagoya on Friday.

On Thursday, September 17, two suspected Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists were killed and a suspect was detained during an anti-terror operation in Jammu's Udhampur district.

A Shiv Sena (UBT) functionary, Vikram Randhave, led an unusual protest in Nashik by releasing two puppies on a municipal chief officer's table to highlight the growing stray dog menace. Randhave claimed over 400 stray dogs and 100 monthly dog bite incidents in the area. Police have registered cases against Randhave and others for obstructing public duty and for the manner in which the dogs were handled.

Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot has criticised the Centre for introducing a 0.4% charge on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, alleging the decision was influenced by pressure from the United States and its payment companies like Visa and Mastercard. He highlighted a perceived shift in the government's stance on Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for UPI, claiming it would ultimately burden consumers and small businesses while benefiting American firms.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 76th birthday was celebrated with extensive programmes in Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency. Events included special prayers by 76 young priests, a milk 'abhishek' of the Ganga, and a significant 'Seva Sankalp' motorcycle journey from Varanasi to Vadnagar, Modi's birthplace, involving 500 participants. Several prominent political figures, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, participated in the celebrations,

Their message is blunt: Public scientific wealth should not be transferred at what they describe as 'throwaway prices'.capability, recruitment, promotional avenues and the voice of its employees.

The Supreme Court has expressed shock over numerous deaths, including unnatural ones, in relief camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Manipur. It directed the state's chief secretary to explain steps taken for investigation, criminal proceedings, and ensuring safety, questioning low compensation and incomplete post-mortems. The court also sought a report from MSLSA and urged expeditious trials in violence-related cases.

Indian Teqball players Declan Marshall Gonsalves and Mohamed Anas Imran Beg were eliminated from the men's doubles competition at the Asian Games after losing both their group matches.

A new study published in Nature reveals that lab-grown human brain tissues, or organoids, successfully survived, grew, and formed complex structures when transplanted into mouse brains. This breakthrough offers a novel platform for studying human brain development and neurological disorders.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif affirmed the country's commitment to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement following an attempted drone attack near Mecca. He stated Pakistan would fulfil its obligations under the trilateral pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, which considers an attack on one as an attack on all. Asif also discussed regional security, Iran's role, and the importance of safeguarding maritime trade routes.

Indian gymnast Pranati Nayak, the sole representative from India, is set to compete in her fourth Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, aiming for her first medal.

A senior coach from India's shooting contingent for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games has voiced disappointment over the logistical arrangements, particularly the long travel times to the training venue.

Lionel Messi scored his 100th goal for Inter Miami as the Major League Soccer side beat Mexican club Cruz Azul 2-0 to win the Campeones Cup at Nu Stadium in Florida on Wednesday.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has criticised the BJP government's proposed Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on high-value UPI transactions, calling it a chungi (tax) on digital payments. He alleged the move was an attempt to extract money from people's transactions, contradicting the government's goal of a trillion-dollar economy. The new UPI framework will impose a 0.4% MDR on person-to-merchant transactions above Rs 2,000 from October 15, with certain sectors having a flat Rs 5 MDR.

Two police officials in Hyderabad, an Inspector and a Sub-Inspector, were arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for allegedly accepting a Rs five lakh bribe. The bribe was reportedly taken to grant station bail and prevent harassment in an existing case.

Police have recovered a motorcycle allegedly used in the killing of a 28-year-old gym trainer in Aya Nagar. Two suspects have been identified, and raids are underway to apprehend them. The investigation is delving into a long-running rivalry involving previous murders and potential organised crime links.

Delhi Police have arrested Vinod Kumar Bhardwaj, a key accused in a Rs 1.75 crore cheating and forgery case. Bhardwaj allegedly duped a retired Tihar Jail pharmacist by selling him six plots using fake documents. The accused, who carried a Rs 50,000 reward and was a proclaimed offender, was apprehended in Dwarka. Investigations are ongoing to trace his associates and financial transactions.

Indian men's hockey coach Craig Fulton discusses the team's preparations for the Asian Games, aiming to defend their title and secure direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Following a disappointing World Cup, the team is focused on learning from past mistakes and approaching the tournament with full respect for all opponents, while also highlighting a recent team bonding exercise.

A cricketer or sportsman must accept that there is no guarantee in sport -- only opportunities, preparation and perseverance, points out K R Nayar.

India has stated its commitment to protecting its economic interests and ensuring energy security after the US House of Representatives passed a bill allowing the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries, including India and China, for purchasing Russian crude oil. The Ministry of External Affairs affirmed India's resolve to maintain diversified energy sourcing and has articulated its concerns to US interlocutors regarding the bill's potential implications.

'The way the government behaves, sometimes I ask myself: Are not Tamils Sri Lankans too? Why do you discriminate so much?'

Leicestershire County Cricket Club has been docked 27 points and fined 5,000 after their pitch was rated 'poor' during a match against Glamorgan, with the head groundsman attributing the conditions to a Bollywood film shoot and extreme heat.

A special NIA court in Jammu has issued a non-bailable warrant against Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Saifullah, a key figure linked to several major terror attacks, including the 2025 Pahalgam massacre. The warrant follows the busting of a deep-rooted LeT module and evidence linking Saifullah to providing weapons, funds, and directions for attacks in Kashmir.

'It is not about a place with fewer incidents of violence but a city where women have real agency in planning their daily lives.'

A 19-year-old student, Shubham Mishra, was allegedly stabbed to death in his home in Jayantipur village, Gorakhpur, while his family was away for his father's kidney treatment. The incident occurred early Thursday morning. Police have registered a case and are investigating to identify and trace the assailant.

The BCCI's 95th Annual General Meeting in Mumbai will address several crucial matters, including the grant of associate membership to the Cricket Association of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the appointment of a BCCI representative to the ICC, and the induction of new members to the IPL Governing Council.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 76th birthday was celebrated during the inaugural session of SEMICON India 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre. The event, focused on building India's semiconductor ecosystem, saw attendees extend warm wishes to the Prime Minister before his address.

Zach Cregger's Resident Evil delivers a scary, bloody and surprisingly funny ride that mostly gets away with its bold choices.

The Kerala High Court has affirmed the conviction and life imprisonment of a former state government employee found guilty of raping a 14-year-old schoolgirl over 45 days in 2009. The court dismissed the accused's appeal, stating the victim's testimony was sterling quality and corroborated by medical evidence, rejecting claims of false implication.

A court in Kottayam has found former state DGP Tomin J Thachankary guilty of amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The sentence will be pronounced later, with the prosecution arguing against leniency despite Thachankary's health plea.

Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal reflects on his challenging 2026 season, marked by injuries and mental toll. He discusses his decision to stop playing the victim and focus on enjoying the game rather than solely chasing results, a mental shift that has improved his performance in recent months.

Waiting Hai exposes Indian Railways' tatkal ticket scams with .

The Congress party has strongly refuted government claims that its MPs on the Parliament Standing Committee on Finance supported a fee on high-value UPI payments. Congress leaders, including Gaurav Gogoi and Manish Tewari, stated that the UPI tax proposal was not specifically discussed by the committee, accusing the Modi government of diverting attention from public backlash and appeasing US companies. The government, however, cited the committee's report which pressed for a tiered Merchant Disc

The Odisha government has rejected the remission plea of Ravindra Pal alias Dara Singh, who is serving a life sentence for the 1999 murder of Australian missionary Graham Stuart Staines and his two minor sons. The Supreme Court has granted Singh's counsel two weeks to challenge this decision. Singh, 63, has been in jail for over 25 years and sought premature release, claiming repentance for his actions.

Legendary Indian hockey player Harbinder Singh reminisces about India's historic first Asian Games gold medal in 1966, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan. He shares insights into the team's motivation, the challenging final match played with 10 men, and the evolution of hockey over the decades, including concerns about declining domestic spectator interest and India's prospects for future Asian Games.

India's Davis Cup team is set for a high-stakes Qualifier Round 2 clash against South Korea in Seoul, with players like Dhakshineswar Suresh and Sumit Nagal aiming to secure a historic Final 8 berth under the current format.

'If Vijay and I had left each other's hand, we would have fallen in the valley and died.'

Sumit Nagal, India's top singles player, believes sheer desire will be crucial in the Davis Cup qualifier against Korea, especially on the slow Seoul courts. He anticipates a tough battle against Hyeon Chung, while the Korean team banks on experience and court conditions. The doubles pairing has also been adjusted based on the slow surface.

Indonesian hockey players, particularly Ferdian Fathur Rahman and Firdaus Muhammad, are deeply inspired by the Bollywood film Chak De! India as they prepare to face India at the Asian Games.

I had found spending one night at 14,500 feet inside a cottage difficult to get by -- struggling to breathe in the cold, thin, mountain air. Here, our soldiers had fought a ferocious battle at much greater heights in bone-chilling weather, worse than I had encountered. 114 men were killed in action in a 16-hour epic battle against China in Rezang La, the farthest outpost along India's border with China.

Two suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists have been killed in an ongoing joint operation by the Army, police, and CRPF in a remote forest area of Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district.

Hardik Pandya's return to cricket is contingent on him proving full fitness, specifically bowling his complete quota of 10 overs for India A, as selectors eye his potential role in the 2027 ODI World Cup amidst persistent injury concerns.

The Bangladesh women's cricket team has advanced to the semi-finals of the 2026 Asian Games after their quarter-final match against China was abandoned due to a wet outfield.

US President Donald Trump has threatened the European Union with very heavy tariffs if he perceives their actions as hostile, specifically in response to Canada's efforts to deepen economic and strategic ties with the EU. This comes as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen invited Canada to become the EU's first associate member to strengthen resilience amid global trade uncertainties and US trade policies.

'Gurmmeet Singh was extremely sure in his head that the canvas should be bigger. The movie should look big on screen. It should look like the Mirzapur world but at the same time, much bigger.'

A 20-member Indian fencing squad, led by Olympian C A Bhavani Devi, has departed for Japan to participate in the Asian Games.

Sukanya Verma quizzes you to find out just how much you know about the movies.

'An instruction came from somebody in Delhi saying, don't go with the launch.'