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.
Tanya Chaudhary broke the women's hammer throw national record with a distance of 68.35m at the Indian Athletics Series Final. Avinash Sable also made a strong return to the 3000m steeplechase, winning his first race in over a year. The event served as a crucial tune-up for Indian athletes heading to the Asian Games, with several other notable performances including wins by Harita Bhadra, Animesh Kujur, Rohit Yadav, and Tajinderpal Singh Toor.
India's Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has announced the formation of a 10-member Task Force, chaired by Niti Aayog's Yugal Kishore Joshi, to assess the feasibility and challenges of reviving Formula 1 in the country. The committee aims to develop a roadmap for India to host a Grand Prix by 2028, focusing on sustainable growth, policy interventions, and addressing past issues like taxation. The Adani group, owners of the Buddh International Circuit, will also be involved.
A 24-year-old man died from a gunshot wound at his home in Shahbuddinpur village, Muzaffarnagar. Police are investigating the circumstances, with the family claiming it was an accidental discharge while cleaning a licensed weapon.
A five-storey PG accommodation in Satya Niketan, South-West Delhi, collapsed, trapping numerous students and raising immediate concerns about building safety and construction standards in congested areas. Residents reported a "sudden tremor" and rushed to assist in rescue efforts, highlighting the precarious state of old buildings converted into student housing without proper maintenance or structural checks.
Experts at AI Manthan 2.0 in Kanpur stressed the need for Artificial Intelligence to be customised for India's specific requirements in education, healthcare, agriculture, and governance. Discussions highlighted the development of local language models, AI solutions for farmers like crop loss assessment and a single-window platform, and AI's role in healthcare for diagnosis and reducing doctors' workload, all while ensuring data privacy through federated learning.
Shivanjay Rajput, a key accused in the Sagar hooch tragedy that killed 16, was arrested after a police encounter in Madhya Pradesh. Rajput, carrying a Rs 30,000 bounty, sustained a gunshot wound to his leg during the face-off. This arrest brings the total number of accused apprehended to 19, with FIRs against 30 individuals.
West Bengal has launched an Emerging Quantum and Semiconductor Technologies (EQST) section at CSIR-CGCRI to attract investments and position the state as a hub for next-generation technology. Minister Kalyan Chakraborti highlighted India's need to invest in these crucial sectors and outlined the state's plans to collaborate with institutions and leverage budget initiatives to foster research and start-ups.
Across India, Gen Alpha students (born between 2010 and 2024) are increasingly taking to the streets to protest against poor school infrastructure, lack of teachers, and unhygienic conditions, leading to some significant wins and drawing attention to the declining state of public education.
Chinese President Xi Jinping notably skipped a gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for BRICS leaders and other dignitaries, with sources suggesting he returned to his hotel to rest. Meanwhile, a grand cultural performance, 'BRICS Symphony - One Rhythm, Many Cultures', featuring artistes from member countries, was a highlight of the evening.
A Delhi court has remanded the building owner's son, a PG operator, and a contractor in police custody following the collapse of a five-storey structure in Satya Niketan that resulted in seven deaths. The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into the Sunday incident, with authorities probing the role of alleged illegal constructions.
Waterlogging at the newly-built Noida International Airport in Jewar after heavy rains has ignited a political dispute between the Samajwadi Party and the BJP government. While SP chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised the infrastructure, airport authorities stated the temporary water accumulation was cleared within 30 minutes without disrupting operations. BJP MLA Dhirendra Singh defended the development, accusing the opposition of politicising the issue.
A political storm has erupted with the Opposition demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, following reports that two Election Commissioners raised 'expansive red flags' over the Special Intensive Revision of voters' lists, citing issues like name deletions and decisions made without their knowledge.
Nepal's devastating flash floods have created a worrisome flood situation in Bihar.
'Major unions should be included. If this goes on, decision-making will become heavily one-sided and we will be forced to continue our strikes.'
Kerala's Ancy Sojan clinched the women's long jump title at the Indian Athletics Series Final, expressing strong confidence for the upcoming Asian Games where she aims to win gold and experience the national anthem on the podium.
Over 130 Indian nationals, including Kailash Manasarovar Yatra pilgrims and tourists, are missing or stranded in Nepal following devastating flash floods that have cut off central districts and disrupted communication links. Indian states and the embassy in Kathmandu have launched helplines to assist those affected.
French aerospace and defence major Thales views India as a highly dynamic market for avionics, with significant growth potential as Indian airlines expand their fleets. The company, which has a substantial presence and MRO facilities in India, is also exploring opportunities to replicate India-developed solutions globally and sees increased use of AI in development.
A retired physics professor from Rajasthan University, Rishi Kumar Singhal, is making complex physics concepts accessible and engaging by teaching them through Hindi poetry and songs. His initiative, "Physics Through Poetry," involves four books containing around 250 poems that explain topics like rocket propulsion, black holes, and the Raman Effect, making learning easier for students from Class 12 to MSc level.
Hockey Jharkhand, Hockey Haryana, and Hockey Karnataka extended their winning streaks in the Women Junior National Championship. Karnataka delivered a dominant 9-0 victory over Goans Hockey, with Pearlin Ponnamma AG scoring four goals. Other teams like Hockey Bihar, Delhi Hockey, Hockey Mizoram, Uttar Pradesh Hockey, and Hockey Madhya Pradesh also secured significant wins across various divisions and pools.
As the world's most populous country, India's economy looks large in the aggregate even as its average incomes stay modest.
Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh have secured their spots in the Division A semifinals of the Junior Women National Hockey Championship in Pune. Jharkhand won a thrilling shootout against Odisha, while Haryana and Chhattisgarh recorded decisive victories. Madhya Pradesh also advanced after defeating Manipur, setting up exciting semifinal clashes.
A new study reveals that approximately 70 per cent of the year-to-year variation in winter air pollution across northern India can be explained by the frequency of western disturbances. These storm systems, originating from the Mediterranean, help clear pollution through precipitation and ventilation. The findings suggest that predicting the frequency of these disturbances could provide advance warning of severe pollution, allowing for better preparedness and implementation of control measures.
The successful hosting of the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi has provided a significant boost to the BJP, offering a timely opportunity to strengthen its narrative against the opposition ahead of crucial assembly elections next year. BJP sources highlight the BRICS grouping's strong condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack and the consensus declaration as major diplomatic victories for the Modi government, countering criticisms of its foreign policy. The party plans to leverage these outcomes during its month-long Seva Sankalp campaign to connect with various sections of society.
The BJP has announced its new national organisational team, with eight leaders from Uttar Pradesh receiving key appointments. These include two national vice-presidents, two general secretaries, two secretaries, and the chiefs of the OBC and Minority Morchas. The appointments reflect a strategic focus on youth, social diversity, and experienced campaigners, particularly after the party's recent electoral setbacks in the state.
Hardeep Singh Brar, President and CEO of BMW Group India, has urged state governments like Delhi to remove price caps on road tax benefits for electric vehicles (EVs), arguing that such limits deter luxury-car buyers and hinder the transition to cleaner mobility in pollution-affected regions.
A 13-year-old girl in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, died ten days after allegedly being beaten by a teacher. Police have registered an FIR against the school headmaster, class teacher, and a classmate for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and the teachers have been suspended.
An Indian woman has alleged that Russian police detained her husband in Moscow and pressured him to join the Russian army. The Indian Embassy has sought consular access, while India continues efforts to secure the return of its nationals recruited into Russian forces.
The Supreme Court has directed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to expeditiously complete its probe into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The court also mandated the SIT to submit a sealed status report and consider suggestions from litigants for improving transparency and investigation quality.
A man in Sant Kabir Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, helped solemnise the marriage of his wife, a mother of five, with her lover at a Shiva temple after she expressed her desire to live with the other man, ending marital discord.
A special MP-MLA court in Prayagraj sentenced former legislator Vijay Mishra and three others to life imprisonment in a 46-year-old murder case. The court convicted them under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on each convict.
Torrential rains have caused widespread devastation across several Indian states, leading to at least 11 deaths in Assam and Uttarakhand, pushing rivers above danger levels, and disrupting daily life with landslides, floods, and school closures. States like Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, West Bengal, and Jammu & Kashmir are also grappling with the monsoon fury, while Meghalaya faces an unusual rainfall deficit.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Supreme Court that an appeal would be filed against an Allahabad High Court decision that quashed the detention of Delhi University student Akriti Chaudhary under the National Security Act. The High Court had also awarded Rs 5 lakh compensation to Chaudhary and criticised the "despotic" conduct of the Gautam Buddha Nagar DM. The Supreme Court also expressed displeasure over a Greater Noida executive magistrate's notice to another student for protest participation.
Tamil Nadu sprinters Neil Samraj R and T Mrithika secured gold medals in the men's and women's 100m events, respectively, at the National Youth Athletics Championships in Ludhiana. Both athletes set new records, with Samraj breaking the youth national record and Mrithika surpassing a meet record previously held by Dutee Chand.
Sanjay Dutt's confession about his inability to learn Marathi, even after six years in Yerwada jail, has inadvertently sparked controversy and put Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik in an awkward position, given Sarnaik's stringent policy on Marathi proficiency for auto and taxi drivers.
Self-proclaimed Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj was questioned by Delhi Police during his remand in connection with an alleged assault on a student activist's father at Jantar Mantar. Bhardwaj, who showed no remorse, was confronted with his viral videos. The case now includes charges under the SC/ST Act and POCSO Act, following outrage and further complaints.
Did love make Bhagat Singh a weaker revolutionary? In a heated argument once, Sukhdev accused him of allowing his fascination with a woman to come in the way of revolutionary duty. Bhagat Singh's answer, in a letter days later, was a defence of love as a revolutionary's strength, not a weakness. On Bhagat Singh's 119th birth anniversary, Utkarsh Mishra looks at the friendship, arguments and ideas that bound him and Sukhdev together.
Umashankar Singh, the Bahujan Samaj Party's sole MLA in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly from the Rasra constituency, has passed away at the age of 55 after a prolonged illness. Political leaders, including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, BSP president Mayawati, and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, have expressed their condolences.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced a significant overhaul of its national team under party president Nitin Nabin, introducing numerous new faces and promoting prominent leaders like former Union minister Smriti Irani to general secretary and former RSS functionary Ram Madhav to vice president. The revamp aims to balance youth and experience while preparing for upcoming assembly and general elections.
A PG operator has been arrested following the collapse of a five-storey building in Delhi's Satya Niketan, which resulted in seven deaths. Police are investigating the role of the building's leaseholders, the 'Hostel Daze' PG operators, and the construction work carried out. Another partner is absconding, and a labour contractor has also been apprehended as authorities scrutinise the controversial rent agreement and alleged unauthorised construction.
