Additional District and Sessions Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar of Muzaffarnagar has publicly questioned the administrative recall of 97 serious criminal cases from his court. His remarks, made in an acquittal order, highlight concerns about judicial independence and the legality of withdrawing "part-heard" cases without proper procedure, especially after he had delivered 23 death sentences.
India Under-19 secured a narrow seven-run victory over Australia U-19 in a rain-affected first Youth ODI. Anvay Dravid's explosive late innings and Yashbardhan Chauhan's all-round performance, including a half-century and two wickets, were pivotal. The match also marked the U19 debut of Aaryavir Sehwag, who contributed 28 runs.
Bengaluru golfer Khalin Joshi secured his third title of the season, winning the inaugural Rs 1 crore Nava Raipur Open 2026 Golf tournament. He finished with a bogey-free three-under 31 in the final nine-hole round, overcoming weather delays and tough competition to claim the victory by one stroke.
Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and defending shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor have been selected as India's flag-bearers for the Asian Games opening ceremony. This decision highlights the significant contributions of shooting and athletics to India's medal tally, with a 158-strong contingent participating in the event.
A 17-year-old girl in Raigad, Maharashtra, was allegedly raped repeatedly by five individuals, including two minors, resulting in her pregnancy. The adult accused have been arrested, and the minors detained. The crime came to light after her pregnancy was discovered, leading to a case being registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and POCSO Act.
Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal revealed he has experienced racism thousands of times, highlighting both overt abuse and unconscious bias while maintaining that such disrespect will not disrupt his focus during matches.
Indian benchmark equity indices, Sensex and Nifty, closed mixed on Friday. While a drop in crude oil prices offered some relief, weakness in IT stocks and several Tata Group counters, including a significant dip in Tata Chemicals and ongoing boardroom issues at Tata Sons, limited a broader market recovery.
A powerful suicide blast during Friday prayers at a mosque near police lines in Kohat, northwest Pakistan, killed at least 16 people, including police personnel and civilians, and injured dozens. A militant group, Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack, which involved an explosives-laden vehicle and an exchange of fire.
On September 18, 2026, Tehran witnessed a large military march featuring the feared-by-Iranian civilians Basij militia. Female members carried missile mockups and banners while coffins with images of US President Donald John Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were displayed.
India has once again raised alarms over the escalation in the security situation in the Red Sea area and strongly condemned Houthi strikes targeting Saudi Arabian territory, "including on civilians and economic assets."
Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and defending shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor have been named India's flag-bearers for the Asian Games opening ceremony. Both athletes have significant achievements, with Bhaker making history at the Paris Olympics and Toor winning gold in previous Asian Games editions. Their selection highlights the importance of shooting and athletics to India's medal tally.
A Delhi court has granted default bail to US national Matthew Aaron Van Dyke, who was arrested in a terror-conspiracy case being probed by the National Investigation Agency, amidst ongoing investigations into potential UAPA offences.
Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal reflected on his gruelling three-hour Davis Cup loss to South Korea's Hyeon Chung, attributing the defeat to Chung's superior play, challenging court conditions, and missed opportunities. The loss contributed to India trailing 0-2 in the tie, with Nagal acknowledging the fine margins in the intense battle.
New Portugal manager Jorge Jesus included 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo in his first squad for upcoming Nations League matches, emphasising that team selection will strictly depend on current performance.
India's Davis Cup Final 8 aspirations are in peril after losing both singles matches to Korea in their Qualifier tie. Dhakshineswar Suresh and Sumit Nagal both squandered promising starts, leaving India trailing 0-2 and needing to win all three remaining matches to advance.
Warren Buffett has stepped down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, a role he held for over 50 years, transitioning to chairman emeritus while his son, Howard Buffett, takes over as the new chairman.
Indian women's boxing head coach Santiago Nieva is confident the team can secure an elusive gold medal at the upcoming Asian Games, building on their strong performance at the Commonwealth Games. Despite facing tough competition from powerhouses like China and Kazakhstan, Nieva believes the current squad is the best the country has seen and is capable of overcoming challenges, including previous struggles against Chinese opponents, by focusing on controlling bouts.
A Fast-Track Special Court in Hoshiarpur has sentenced a 33-year-old migrant labourer, Nanke Yadav alias Radhe Sham, to death for the aggravated sexual assault and murder of a five-year-old boy. The court termed it a 'rarest of rare' case, with the death sentence subject to confirmation by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has delivered LCA Tejas FOC twin-seater trainers and HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force, and Dhruv next-generation helicopters to Pawan Hans. This significant handover, witnessed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, marks a crucial step in India's journey towards self-reliance in the aerospace sector, showcasing HAL's capabilities across military, civil rotary-wing, and pilot training aviation.
State-run defence major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has delivered LCA Tejas Final Operational Clearance twin-seater trainers and HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force, along with Dhruv next-generation helicopters to Pawan Hans. This significant handover, witnessed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, marks a crucial step in India's journey towards self-reliance in the aerospace sector, showcasing HAL's diverse capabilities in military, civil, and training aviation.
India's net direct tax collection has surged by 13 per cent to over Rs 12.12 lakh crore by September 17 in the current fiscal year, driven by a significant increase in advance tax payments from corporates, according to CBDT data.
A national study of top 75 Indian B-schools reveals a significant competency gap in AI skills among management graduates, with industry expectations far exceeding current MBA capabilities. A new framework by AIMS, EPSI, and IMC highlights the urgent need for management education to adapt to an AI-led workplace, emphasizing behavioural competencies alongside data fluency.
Mamata Banerjee, who founded the Trinamool Congress through an act of rebellion against the Congress, now faces a similar internal revolt that threatens the very identity of her party. The Election Commission's interim decision to withhold the TMC name and symbol for the upcoming bypolls highlights a deeper struggle for political inheritance. This situation, unprecedented for the party, forces both Mamata's loyalists and rebels to seek electoral recognition without their established identity, marking a significant challenge to her long-standing dominance.
A member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal, Mines & Steel, Sasmit Patra, highlighted the transformative potential of AI and digital technologies in making India's mining and metals sector more productive, transparent, and globally competitive. He emphasised their role in enhancing efficiency, safety, sustainability, and community engagement.
The BCCI's member units have authorised office-bearers to make a decision regarding the extension of chief selector Ajit Agarkar's contract, which is set to expire early next month, and to fill vacancies in the junior selection committee.
A Delhi court has granted default bail to US national Matthew Aaron Van Dyke, who was arrested in connection with an NIA case involving a drone warfare training camp linked to ethnic armed groups in Myanmar. The bail was granted on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh, with conditions to remain in Delhi and cooperate with the investigation. The NIA's chargesheet did not invoke UAPA provisions, instead citing the Immigration and Foreigners Act, leading to the default bail.
Five years after the Tokyo Olympics were held without spectators, Japan's Asian Games in Nagoya are struggling to generate local enthusiasm, with many residents unaware of the event despite the return of fans.
India's Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza has reached the women's singles semifinals in Teqball at the Asian Games, putting her one win away from securing the country's first-ever medal in the sport. She topped her group after defeating Japan's Yuina Sakamoto and Cambodia's Koemyean DY. The Indian mixed doubles pair of Quimcy and Mohammed Anas Imran Beg also remain in contention for a medal through the repechage round despite an earlier quarterfinal loss. Teqball is making its debut at the Asian Games.
Mamata Banerjee's faction of the Trinamool Congress announced support for the Congress candidate in the Nandigram assembly bypoll after its own candidate withdrew. This decision comes amidst a bitter dispute with the Election Commission over the freezing of TMC's traditional symbol and name, which Banerjee termed "arbitrary" and accused the BJP of trying to destroy opposition parties.
Dave Cousins, India's new national compound archery head coach, believes a historic first Olympic medal for India is inevitable. He is preparing the team for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and has long-term plans for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, noting the changing Asian archery landscape and the impressive work ethic of Indian archers.
Rohit Sharma declares his 'forever' loyalty to Mumbai Indians on his Sony show
Sanchita Pradhan Dey, the Mamata Banerjee camp's candidate for the Nandigram bypoll, withdrew her nomination just hours after the Election Commission assigned a new party name and symbol to the faction. This development leaves the Mamata All India Trinamool Congress without a candidate in the crucial Nandigram constituency.
A doctor's driver at Kanshiram Hospital in Kanpur allegedly examined patients and wrote prescriptions while the assigned doctor was in court. A video surfaced, leading to an official inquiry by a three-member committee and the driver's subsequent removal.
Surendra Koli, who was at the centre of the sensational Nithari killings and subsequently acquitted in all 13 cases, was found hanging at his tea stall in Haridwar, police confirmed, with investigations ongoing into the suspected suicide.
Abhishek Sharma's record 30-ball century against Afghanistan had a little help from mentor Yuvraj Singh.
International Hockey Federation (FIH) President Tayyab Ikram has commended India's professional approach to hockey, urging other Asian nations to adopt similar strategies to improve their global standing. He highlighted India's journey from past Olympic glory to recent bronze medals, positioning it as a model for development in the sport.
The Election Commission has allotted the 'Football Player' symbol to the Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress for the upcoming West Bengal bypolls, while the rival Arup Roy-led group will contest with the 'Envelope' symbol.
South Korea's men's hockey team faced confusion when organisers mistakenly played North Korea's banned national anthem before their match, compounding earlier complaints regarding organistional issues at the Asian Games.
RBI Deputy Governor Shirish Chandra Murmu has dismissed concerns that the new Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI payments above Rs 2,000 will increase cash transactions. He also clarified the 'cash paradox' of rising digital payments alongside cash in circulation, explaining cash's dual role. Murmu further detailed the RBI's extensive regulatory changes aimed at reducing compliance burdens and emphasised that accountability for AI-driven decisions in finance will remain with institutional boards.
Olympic Council of Asia Director General Husain Al Musallam defended Japan's decision not to have a dedicated Athletes' Village for the Aichi-Nagoya Games, citing cost and sustainability. This comes amidst criticism over accommodation chaos. Musallam confirmed that future Asian Games in Doha (2030) and Riyadh (2034) will feature dedicated villages, emphasising flexibility and legacy considerations. He also supported the increasing number of athletes, highlighting the importance of sport in current global crises.
