Rediff

An inquiry committee's report into allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma, concerning the alleged discovery of unaccounted cash at his official residence, is set to be presented before the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board has confirmed a three-match T20I series against India, scheduled for September 13, 15, and 17 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

Students in Ranchi, under the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, are intensifying their protests against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. Despite a large protest involving over 50,000 students, the government has not responded positively, leading to a decision to continue the agitation. The students are demanding transparency, reforms in JPSC and JSSC, cancellation of exams, and an independent investigation, with some even on hunger strike.

The Uddhav Thackeray faction has told the Supreme Court that the Election Commission's decision to recognise the Eknath Shinde-led unit as the eal Shiv Sena and grant it the 'bow-and-arrow' symbol was unlawful. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal argued that a split in a legislature party cannot, by itself, amount to a split in the political party, challenging the very basis of the poll panel's jurisdiction and its disregard for the party's 2018 constitution.

A 48-year-old house help, Jaiwanti, was killed after being hit by a speeding BMW car in Delhi's Mehram Nagar. The driver, Deepak (38), has been apprehended, and locals protested, demanding justice and highlighting previous accidents on the stretch.

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cancelled the licences of 10 Ayurvedic drug manufacturing units and issued show-cause notices to 135 others following inspections that revealed serious violations including unhygienic conditions, lack of technical staff, and inadequate testing protocols.

India is currently examining Bangladesh's request for the extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been living in India since her government's collapse in August 2024, with New Delhi confirming the issue is being processed according to established procedures.

Nongkseh SS and CC concluded their Durand Cup campaign with a resounding 7-0 victory over Mumbay FC in a Group E fixture.

AIFF Super Cup winners FC Goa are set to face Turkmenistan's dominant FC Arkadag in a single-leg qualifying match for the AFC Champions League Two group stage. This crucial encounter marks former India defender Gouramangi Singh's debut as head coach for FC Goa, who enter the playoff with a depleted squad. The winner advances to the group stage, while the loser drops to the AFC Challenge League.

The Kerala Sports Department has submitted its confidential inquiry report regarding the controversy surrounding the proposed visit of football legend Lionel Messi and the Argentina team to the state during the previous government's tenure.

The pilot-in-command of an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight that experienced a sudden 300-foot altitude drop last week has tested positive for a psychoactive substance, identified by sources as marijuana, in a confirmatory test. This development comes as Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu met with Air India executives to discuss the serious incident, which left 24 people injured.

The government is considering sending 'The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026' to a joint committee of both houses of Parliament for further examination, even as the Congress and some other opposition parties have demanded that it be withdrawn, sources said on Tuesday.

The upcoming LaLiga season promises an intense battle as Barcelona defends its title against a revamped Real Madrid, led by returning manager Jose Mourinho, and a turbulent Atletico Madrid. Real Madrid has made significant signings and brought back Mourinho after two trophyless seasons, while Barcelona relies on continuity and its World Cup-winning core. Atletico Madrid faces pressure on manager Diego Simeone and a potential transfer saga involving Julian Alvarez, setting the stage for a dramati

NASA has invited ISRO to join its ambitious Moon Base mission to establish a permanent lunar outpost near the Moon's South Pole, aiming for scientific discoveries and future deep space exploration. This invitation follows discussions at the Civil Space Joint Working Group meeting in Bengaluru, where both nations also advanced cooperation under the Artemis Accords and the TRUST initiative.

Om Prakash Chouhan has taken the opening-round lead at the Rs 1 crore Coal India Open in Kolkata, delivering a spectacular eight-under 62. His impressive performance included a hole-in-one and an eagle, giving him a one-shot advantage over former Asian Tour winner Ajeetesh Sandhu.

India has asserted that the state of its border with China directly impacts the broader bilateral relationship, emphasising the critical importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Ministry of External Affairs also firmly rejected China's claims over Arunachal Pradesh, reiterating its status as an integral part of India. This stance was reiterated during a recent Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination meeting, where both sides agreed

The Lok Sabha passed two Bills, including one to rename Kerala as Keralam, without debate as Opposition members continued their protests, demanding Union Home Minister Amit Shah's presence to address police excesses against student protesters and alleged Ram temple fund irregularities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon citizens to celebrate Independence Day with honour and pride, urging them to take a pledge for a developed India. This appeal comes amidst parliamentary sessions marked by protests from both ruling and opposition alliances.

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi has launched the 'Shaktidoot 2.0' statewide sports scheme, significantly increasing financial assistance for athletes up to Rs 50 lakh. The initiative also focuses on identifying grassroots talent, supporting differently-abled players, and inaugurating sports complexes and libraries worth over Rs 388 crore. The scheme introduces a transparent, performance-based selection process and immediate aid for exceptional non-scheme players.

Former South Africa cricketer Jonty Rhodes believes that while bilateral ODI series may become fewer in the future, the 50-over format is unlikely to disappear entirely, with passionate fans continuing to support their teams.

The Maharashtra government has issued strict directives to local authorities, mandating an immediate ban on illegal dhabas, eateries, and commercial structures within national highway Right of Way. The order requires demolition of existing encroachments within 60 days, formation of highway safety task forces, and mandates prior clearance from NHAI or PWD for any new licenses in highway safety zones, aiming to enhance commuter safety and clear obstructions.

Sneha Singh, after a recent victory, enters the 12th leg of the Women's Pro Golf Tour with high hopes. She faces strong competition from players like Vani Kapoor, Ridhima Dilawari, and Amandeep Drall, aiming to maintain her form and consistency in the Rs. 17 lakh prize purse event.

The Supreme Court has clarified that its order for immediate FIR registration in missing persons cases applies to every individual, regardless of age or gender, warning states and Union Territories of contempt proceedings for non-compliance.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's daughter, Anita B Pfaff, has approached the Supreme Court seeking directions for the return of her father's ashes from Tokyo's Renkoji temple. The apex court has issued a notice to the Centre, seeking its response on the plea. This follows a previous plea by Netaji's grand-nephew which was withdrawn after the court indicated that Bose's heir should be the one to petition.

Argentine football legend Lionel Messi has reportedly suspended his professional career indefinitely following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, at 68 after a prolonged illness.

The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) has directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days, amidst an ongoing dispute and a pending Supreme Court hearing.

Bollywood actor John Abraham and cricket legend Jonty Rhodes unveiled the Rotterdam Dockers' team jersey for the inaugural European T20 Premier League, a new tournament featuring six city-based franchises across Europe.

Indian fencers continued their strong performance at the U-23 Commonwealth Fencing Championship in Lagos, Nigeria, securing seven additional medals on the second day. This haul included one gold, two silver, and four bronze, bringing India's total medal count to 24. Notable winners include Tanishka Khatri (gold in Women's Epee), Aakhari (silver in Women's Sabre), and Tejas Patil (bronze in Men's Foil).

Delhi Police have significantly ramped up security measures across the national capital ahead of Independence Day. This includes deploying advanced technology like facial recognition systems and the Abhigyan app, installing thousands of CCTV cameras, and putting up posters of 19 wanted terrorists. Multi-layered security is in place, especially around the Red Fort, with a large deployment of personnel and anti-drone systems to prevent any security breaches.

Indian skeet shooter Maheshwari Chauhan, who narrowly missed a medal at the Paris Olympics, is now leveraging that experience to prepare for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan. She finished fourth in the mixed team skeet event and is currently part of a national preparatory camp.

Eleven-year-old Indian karting sensation Atiqa Mir has achieved impressive top-10 finishes in Round 4 of the FIA European Championship, becoming the youngest Indian to do so. She secured ninth and J10th place in heat races, qualifying P11 just 0.13 seconds off the fastest time. Her father, Asif Mir, believes she exceeded expectations and is poised for a full championship challenge next year.

Former Indian fielding coach T Dilip shared his most cherished memory with the team, highlighting the profound silence in the dressing room after their T20 World Cup 2024 victory.

The Bombay High Court has strongly criticised the Maharashtra FDA for its shoot first approach, likening its drastic actions to using a sword to kill a mosquito. The court, hearing a petition from Cadila Pharmaceuticals, directed the FDA to grant companies a hearing before taking severe measures, warning of heavy costs for its arbitrary conduct.

Former Sri Lanka all-rounder Farveez Maharoof believes rookie pacer Gurnoor Brar could be the 'X-Factor' for India in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah during the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, suggesting he would be tempted to hand the 26-year-old his debut.

Former Australia all-rounder Moises Henriques, born in Madeira, will captain Portugal in their bid to qualify for the Twenty20 World Cup for the first time, leading a 14-man squad in the Europe Sub-Regional Qualifier C in Finland.

Actor Prakash Raj has claimed his name was deleted from Bengaluru's electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision process, affecting 6.5 million voters. He expressed frustration and questioned the ruling dispensation, while reports indicate his name was marked as permanently shifted due to a previous case involving multiple voter IDs.

The Delhi High Court has refused to grant bail to Olympian Sushil Kumar in the alleged murder case of former junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankar. The court cited concerns over influencing witnesses, the gravity of the offence, and Kumar's conduct, echoing reasons previously given by the Supreme Court when it cancelled his earlier bail.

Indian batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is intensely preparing for the upcoming domestic season, including the Duleep Trophy, following a successful tour of Zimbabwe, as evidenced by his recent social media post showing him focused on both defensive and attacking batting techniques.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has criticised the Centre's new mandate requiring the full rendition of the National Song, Vande Mataram, alongside the National Anthem at official functions. Tharoor argues that the extended duration could lead to a decrease in respect rather than an increase, citing practical considerations for audiences. The amendment bill, which grants Vande Mataram equal statutory penal protection as the National Anthem, recently received presidential assent.

South Africa has appointed spinner Bjorn Fortuin as captain for their upcoming Twenty20 tri-series against Namibia and Zimbabwe, and a three-game One-Day International series, aiming to provide international experience to younger players ahead of a busy schedule.

President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to a bill which now provides 'Vande Mataram' with the same legal protection and status as India's national anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana'.

Former India drag-flicker Jugraj Singh has lauded current captain Harmanpreet Singh as a 'trump card' for the upcoming FIH World Cup, citing his aggressive playing style and consistent performance in crucial moments. Jugraj, who sees his own reflection in Harmanpreet's game, rates him among the world's top three drag-flickers and believes the team is well-prepared to end India's long wait for a World Cup medal.

The Allahabad High Court has ordered the father of two adult women and the Uttar Pradesh government to jointly pay Rs 25 lakh compensation. This ruling comes after the sisters were illegally confined at their parental home for converting to Islam. The court affirmed their right to choose their faith and criticised both the father and the state for infringing upon their fundamental liberties.

Bengal cricketer Abhishek Porel, who plays for Delhi Capitals in the IPL, has been arrested in Hooghly district following allegations of sexual relations on the promise of marriage. A woman medical student lodged a complaint, leading to his arrest under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and IT Act.

Google has informed the Delhi High Court that it has withheld a defamatory YouTube video by social media influencer Dhruv Rathee in India. The video, which allegedly hurt religious sentiments by insulting Hindu deities, was withheld following an order from the Centre's Grievance Appellate Committee. The petitioner, Amita Sachdeva, seeks global blocking, but Google states the issue of global injunction is pending before a division bench.

The 16th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2026 is set to begin in Pune, featuring 30 teams across three divisions. The tournament, running until August 23, will determine national champions and facilitate promotion and relegation between divisions, offering a crucial platform for young talent.

Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan stated he is constantly under pressure from Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, particularly after disallowing Kharge's attempt to raise the alleged theft of Ayodhya Ram Temple donations. Radhakrishnan also mentioned disallowing Treasury benches from raising the Jharkhand issue, asserting that state subjects cannot be debated in the House. The session saw continuous disruptions, leading to an adjournment.

Indian women's hockey captain Salima Tete believes the team's recent FIH Nations Cup triumph has instilled the confidence needed to compete for the top prize at the FIH Women's World Cup 2026, despite facing a challenging pool.

The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission to provide details on the disposal of appeals by tribunals concerning deletions from West Bengal's electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The court emphasised the need to track the progress of these appeals, which were set up to address irregularities. It also clarified that grievances regarding the denial of PDS benefits due to voter deletion should be taken up with the Calcutta High Court.

Researchers from IIT Bhubaneswar and Virginia Commonwealth University have theoretically predicted a new two-dimensional material, a FeCl3 monolayer, exhibiting i-wave altermagnetism. This discovery holds significant potential for developing faster, more compact, and energy-efficient electronic devices, including applications in high-density memory, spintronics, and quantum technologies.