The Bombay High Court has suspended the life sentence of Sachin Andure, a convict in the 2013 murder case of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, and granted him bail. The court cited "extremely weak" evidence against him, noting that eyewitness identification occurred eight years after the crime and there were loose ends regarding the weapon's recovery. Andure, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by a sessions court in May 2024, can now walk free as he has also secured bail in the Govind Pansare killing case.
The Supreme Court has denied interim bail to self-styled godman Asaram, who is serving a life sentence for sexually assaulting a minor. While rejecting his plea for bail on health grounds for now, the court permitted him to engage a trained caretaker for round-the-clock assistance. The court noted that Asaram's counsel had previously moved for parole, and his health condition will be monitored.
Former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended from tennis after testing positive for benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, from a sample taken during an ATP 250 event in Mallorca in June. The volatile Australian owned up to his "huge mistake" in a public apology, citing the physical and mental toll of recent injuries.
GE Aerospace is utilising artificial intelligence solutions, developed by its Bengaluru team, to significantly improve aircraft engine inspection, analytics, and maintenance. These innovations have reduced turnaround times by at least five days, enhancing engine durability, reliability, and time on wing, with specific tools like the AI-enabled Blade Inspection Tool cutting inspection times by 50%.
India is significantly expanding its crude oil sourcing to Latin America, with Venezuela emerging as a major supplier, as geopolitical disruptions in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz compel the world's third-largest oil consumer to diversify its energy supplies.
Sixteen years ago, when India and Pakistan last met in a men's Hockey World Cup, the contest was more than just two arch-rivals facing each other. It was about settling an old score. And as the two teams prepare to meet again after 16 years, memories of that evening remain fresh for those who were part of it.
Veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh states that the Indian hockey team has overcome its past late-game vulnerabilities against Pakistan, attributing this to significant improvements in fitness, game awareness, and decision-making. He notes that matches against Pakistan are no longer as challenging as they once were, though he stresses the need for defensive discipline against stronger European teams in the upcoming World Cup.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty advanced to the men's doubles quarterfinals at the World Championships, securing a potential third medal. However, India faced a setback with the elimination of two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and Ayush Shetty in their respective singles matches. The women's doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand also reached the quarterfinals.
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.
Ariha Pangambam from Manipur has made history by becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal in the senior women's individual event at the Aerobic Gymnastics Asian Championships. The 22-year-old gymnast expressed pride in her achievement, hoping to inspire young athletes, and shared insights into the challenges faced during the competition, including adapting to a wooden floor, and her journey from artistic to aerobic gymnastics.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) CEO Raghuram Iyer announced a massive nationwide talent hunt targeting children aged 5 to 15 to identify and nurture future athletes, aiming for 30-40 medals at the 2036 Olympics.
India will face arch-rivals Pakistan in a crucial FIH Men's Hockey World Cup Pool D match, needing at least a draw to advance, while Pakistan must win to stay in the tournament.
World No. 4 badminton player Anders Antonsen has called for the India Open tournament to be moved from its traditional January-February slot due to severe winter pollution in New Delhi. He described the conditions as "insane" and "not pleasant to play in," causing a burning sensation and poor visibility. Antonsen believes the current time of year is much better for hosting such events.
The Anti-Corruption Branch has sought judicial custody for former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain, ex-Delhi Jal Board CEO Udit Prakash Rai, and three others in a corruption case related to alleged irregularities in the tendering process for Delhi Jal Board's sewage treatment plant projects. The accused's counsels have challenged the arrests, with Jain's lawyer planning a bail plea.
Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has retaliated against Naseeruddin Shah's 'dog with a bone' comment, declaring her preference to be a loyal 'dog' over a 'lomdi' (fox) like Shah amidst an escalating war of words.
Dutch hockey legend Taeke Taekema believes the Indian women's hockey team possesses the talent to replicate China's remarkable journey to an Olympic silver medal, provided they focus on fundamental skills and secure qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics.
An accidental firing incident occurred at Varanasi's Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport when a passenger's licensed pistol discharged during security screening, injuring a female security personnel and another individual. Both injured parties have been hospitalised, and legal action is being initiated.
The Bharatiya Janata Party's new national team integrates women, minority leaders, and regional representatives to strengthen its organisational structure and national appeal.
Bangladesh achieved a historic nine-wicket victory over top-ranked Australia in the first Test in Darwin, marking their first Test win in Australia. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto credited the team's focus on pace bowling for this significant upset, highlighting a shift in mindset among young fast bowlers. Hasan Mahmud was named Player of the Match for his nine wickets, including 6-55 in the first innings.
Indian golfers Shubhankar Sharma and Yuvraj Sandhu had a challenging start at the Danish Golf Championship, with Sharma likely to miss the cut after a 2-over 74. Frenchman Felix Mory set a course record with a 7-under 65 to take the lead.
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.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant sharply criticised the Bar Council of India (BCI) for its 'uncalled for' interference in a protest by NALSAR University of Law students, asserting that students have a right to protest and that the matter was a 'dialogue between students and me'. The BCI had initially ordered that 2026 NALSAR graduates not be enrolled as advocates, an order it later reversed.
The Supreme Court has emphasised the need for timely investigations and conclusions of criminal cases involving illicit money in elections. Observing that black money compromises democracy and the rule of law, the court issued several directives, including reporting seizures to competent authorities within 24 hours, completing investigations within a year, and submitting quarterly status reports to the Election Commission. The ruling also mandates High Courts to designate special courts for expeditious disposal of cases against candidates and requires High Court approval for withdrawing cases.
A woman in Gorakhpur has filed an FIR against her husband, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law, alleging domestic violence during their honeymoon in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, triggered by her menstruation. She also accused her in-laws of dowry harassment, claiming they demanded branded articles and humiliated her over dowry. The woman was allegedly thrown out of her marital home 45 days after the wedding.
Lakshya Sen, a 2021 World Championships bronze medallist, faced a surprising second-round defeat to USA's Garret Tan at the BWF World Championships. Meanwhile, two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and rising star Ayush Shetty successfully advanced to the pre-quarterfinals. Other Indian pairs also saw mixed results, with some progressing and others bowing out.
Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has lauded young Indian batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, highlighting his courage, mental strength, and ability to perform under pressure. Hayden believes the 15-year-old has the potential to excel in both short and long formats of cricket, despite his recent T20I and IPL successes. Sooryavanshi's impressive performances, including a Player of the Series award in T20Is and a record-breaking IPL season, underscore his immense talent.
Veteran athletics coach Parveer Singh, who guided athletes like Seema Punia, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, and Annu Rani to international medals, has been named for the prestigious Dronacharya Award. The article details his extensive career spanning over two decades, his role as a coach educator, and his academic contributions to sports coaching.
Indian athlete Basant Kumar Meghwal clinched a silver medal in the men's high jump event at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, USA. Achieving a personal best of 2.21m, Meghwal contributed to India's growing medal tally, which also includes a silver from Ashish Yadav in javelin throw.
We are back to the 1971 moment with both China and the US supporting Pakistan, asserts Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).
Senior surrendered CPI (Maoist) leader Tippiri Tirupati alias Devji plans to appeal to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to lift the ban on the outfit. He and other surrendered colleagues aim to work legally on people's issues and have also met Telangana DGP C V Anand regarding restrictions on their movements. Tirupati, a former top commander, surrendered in February due to health issues, vowing to work within a legal framework.
Chhote Lal Yadav, the recipient of the prestigious Dronacharya Award, has been instrumental in extending the career of boxing legend MC Mary Kom and transforming Jaismine Lamboria into a world champion, attributing his success to a personalised coaching philosophy.
The pilots testing positive have been removed from duty, with their samples sent for confirmatory testing.
India's women's hockey team delivered a dominant performance, defeating South Africa 6-1 in their second Pool D match of the FIH Women's Hockey World Cup. Six different players scored for India, with a prolific third quarter sealing the rout. This emphatic win significantly strengthens India's chances of advancing, placing them atop Pool D on goal difference ahead of their crucial final pool match against England.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has expanded the 1600-number series to include utilities, courier, and logistics companies, introducing the new 1601 series to help consumers identify legitimate calls and prevent widespread fraud and impersonation.
India's foreign exchange reserves saw one of their largest weekly expansions, surging by USD 14.136 billion to reach USD 707.002 billion during the week ended August 7, according to the Reserve Bank of India.
Australia were left staring at a stunning defeat after Bangladesh tightened their grip on the first Test in Darwin on Day 3. The hosts finished on 161/4, still 67 runs behind, with Cameron Green and Alex Carey facing a huge task to keep Australia in the contest.
The Lok Sabha's monsoon session concluded on Thursday, marked by relentless opposition protests over critical issues like the NEET paper leak and police action on students, yet saw the passage of several key bills without extensive debate. Home Minister Amit Shah expressed readiness to debate the student protest issue, urging the speaker to allocate time.
Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have injected Rs 16,621 crore into Indian equities during the first half of August, continuing a buying spree driven by improving relative valuations, resilient corporate earnings, and expectations of softer US interest rates.
Abdul Ghafoori has been arrested in Toronto for the alleged first-degree murder of his partner, Indian national Himanshi Khurana. Ghafoori was apprehended at a Toronto airport after being on the run for over seven months. Khurana was found dead in December last year, and police had identified Ghafoori as a suspect in her homicide.
India put themselves course for a big win in the series opener after reducing Sri Lanka to 84/4 at stumps on day four of the first Test in Galle on Tuesday.
