We raid restaurants for cockroaches but never raid the roadside. Public hygiene runs entirely on faith and fumes. Even after so many years of being a free nation, points out Binu Alex.
Sri Lankan cricket officials are considering a balanced pitch for the second Test against India at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), moving away from a spin-friendly track. This decision aims to provide equal opportunities for both batters and bowlers, similar to the Galle pitch, and support their young batting lineup. The SSC pitch character has evolved over the years, with less home advantage since the retirement of legendary players.
As India prepares for their two-match Test series against Sri Lanka starting August 15, the team management faces critical decisions regarding their playing XI to bolster their World Test Championship 2027 final aspirations.
If an OTT series can make a young person curious about the armed forces, make a family understand the sacrifices made by those in uniform, or simply make someone walk up to a veteran and say, "Thank you for your service," then it has achieved something far more important than merely getting its history right, notes Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd).
The MV Ocean Winner sank within about eight minutes with 24 crew aboard; experts say excess moisture in its iron ore fines cargo may have caused liquefaction.
India's campaign in the FIH Women's World Cup concluded after a goalless draw against Australia in their final second-round match.
US intelligence agencies intercepted information indicating Iran had precise details of President Donald Trump's location in Ankara during a NATO summit, prompting a secretive departure due to a specific surface-to-air missile threat and the presence of a shoulder-fired missile near the summit.
Jessica Pegula and Iga Swiatek advanced to the Cincinnati Open women's semi-finals, with Pegula overcoming Amanda Anisimova in a tough three-setter and Swiatek progressing after Elena Rybakina retired due to injury. In the men's draw, Flavio Cobolli reached his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final, defeating Tommy Paul, and will face Arthur Fils.
India's Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa finished second in the Sinquefield Cup after losing to American Wesley So in the Armageddon game, but secured his spot in the Grand Chess Tour finale later this year.
The Indian men's hockey team was eliminated from the FIH World Cup semifinal race after a 3-5 loss to Argentina in a crucial pool match. India needed to win by at least two goals but struggled to find form against a strong Argentine side.
Maa Mansa Devi, revered as the Hindu goddess of serpents, is worshipped for protection from snakebites, fertility and prosperity. She is also popularly known as the wish-fulfilling goddess. In Hindu mythology, Mansa is associated with sage Kashyapa and is regarded as the sister of Vasuki, the serpent king.
India's route to the semi-finals is straightforward: if the Netherlands beats China, a win over Australia would take the ninth-ranked Indian team through.
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa suffered a defeat against Germany's Vincent Keymer in the Sinquefield Cup, part of the Grand Chess Tour, causing him to slip to joint fourth spot. Meanwhile, Wesley So of the United States emerged as the sole leader after a significant victory over Fabiano Caruana.
India's chances of reaching the Hockey World Cup semi-finals are slim, requiring a significant victory against Argentina and favourable results from the Netherlands-England match. The team must overcome their finishing struggles and defensive concerns to keep their hopes alive.
Punjab Kings all-rounder Shashank Singh is intensifying his bowling practice and rebuilding his fielding confidence during the off-season camp, aiming for an India call-up by excelling in his all-rounder role in the upcoming domestic season.
A special court in Mumbai has sentenced a 32-year-old man to six months rigorous imprisonment for making derogatory remarks against Dr B R Ambedkar and hurling casteist slurs at an advocate. The court rejected the defence's argument about lack of independent witnesses, noting the incident occurred in public view.
A 25-year-old man has been arrested in Pune district for allegedly sexually assaulting and murdering a nine-year-old girl from his neighbourhood. The incident occurred in Pimpalwadi village, Junnar tehsil, after the accused lured the victim away.
Alok's IV, led by Alok Daga, secured the top position in the eight-round Swiss League of the East Zone Bridge Championships in Kolkata, advancing to the pre-quarterfinals. Several other teams also qualified, with initial pre-quarterfinal leads established by Bangur Cement, Tornatae, Conquerors, and Deepadhar, among others.
Meghalaya is experiencing escalating tensions marked by arson and petrol bomb attacks on government properties, following violence during a Khasi Students' Union rally. The incidents are linked to an inter-state taxi standoff with Assam, leading to deployment of central forces and calls for peace from chief ministers.
A devastating fire in a five-storey building housing multiple hotels in central Kolkata resulted in the deaths of at least nine people, including a child, and injured six others. Firefighters rescued 80 individuals, but dense smoke hampered operations. Authorities suspect a short circuit and allege significant safety and construction norm violations by the building management. The owner is currently absconding, and police have initiated legal proceedings and raids.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated NorthEast United 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw in the Durand Cup semi-final. Goalkeeper Vishal Kaith was the hero, making two crucial saves to send Mohun Bagan into the final, where they will face arch-rivals East Bengal FC in the Kolkata Derby.
Shillong Lajong FC secured their place in the Durand Cup quarter-finals by topping Group E after a 3-3 draw with Langsning FC, while East Bengal and Jamshedpur FC also advanced as the best second-placed teams.
India faces a critical challenge against co-hosts and reigning Olympic champions the Netherlands in their Hockey World Cup second-round opener.
Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta maintained his sole lead in the Pune International Grandmaster Round Robin chess tournament after drawing with IM Akshay Borgaonkar in the seventh round. Other Indian players, IM Kushagra Mohan and IM Ashwath S, also performed well, securing third and second places respectively.
Inter Milan and Napoli secured victories in their Serie A openers, while Racing Lens and Olympique Lyonnais also began their Ligue 1 campaigns with wins, setting an early pace in their respective leagues.
Josh Hazlewood's return completes Australia's 'Fab Four' bowling attack for the first Test against Bangladesh, marking their first reunion in over a year and setting the stage for a significant home series.
A CRPF Assistant Sub-Inspector in Assam's Nagaon district shot dead two colleagues and injured another before taking his own life at their camp. An inquiry has been ordered into the tragic incident.
India defeated Bangladesh 3-0 to top Group B and secure a semifinal spot in the SAFF Women's Championship. Goals from Pyari Xaxa, Lynda Kom Serto, and Malavika P sealed the victory, marking India's first win against Bangladesh in seven years.
Police in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, investigating social media videos of men brandishing pistols, unexpectedly discovered over Rs 3 crore in unaccounted cash hidden in a locked cupboard at a taxi driver's home. The money was found during a search for weapons, which were not recovered.
Indian middle and long-distance runner Ankita Dhyani achieved a personal best time of 4:06.75s in the women's 1500m race at the Stumptown Twilight event in Portland, USA, finishing second. This performance is the fastest by an Indian this season and the fourth fastest ever, highlighting her consistent improvement and strong form.
A youth was detained in Meerut for flying an unauthorised drone near an event attended by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, raising security concerns. The drone operator claimed ignorance of regulations, stating blogging as his hobby. Police are investigating the incident and scrutinising his social media profiles.
Odisha forest officials arrested three individuals in Ganjam district for allegedly killing a spotted deer. The accused, residents of Khapraganda, are suspected of killing the deer to sell its meat after it wandered into their village from a nearby forest.
RBI Deputy Governor Rohit Jain discussed the future of India's foreign exchange markets, highlighting the increasing role of local currencies in cross-border trade, the impact of technology, and existing challenges. He emphasised the need for market evolution to facilitate India's global engagement, absorb shocks, and serve all users efficiently. Jain also addressed concerns about unauthorised forex trading platforms and the importance of customer awareness.
The Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season has been postponed to after October 6 due to the FIFA international match window, and will proceed with 13 teams after Diamond Harbour FC failed to meet payment deadlines. Concurrently, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has condemned "unverified claims" regarding its finances and the decision to withdraw from the FIFA ASEAN Cup, asserting that the prioritisation of a friendly match against Brazil was a strategic move for Indian football.
Defending champions NorthEast United FC are set to face 17-time winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the second semifinal of the Durand Cup. NorthEast United, chasing a third consecutive title, made a strong comeback in their quarterfinal, while Mohun Bagan advanced via a penalty shootout after a solid defensive campaign. Both teams are fully fit and ready for a challenging encounter.
A tragic head-on collision between a Mercedes and a Maruti WagonR in Delhi's Narela area resulted in the death of a 70-year-old woman, prompting a detailed police investigation into the fatal road accident.
A savings or current account with no customer-induced transaction for more than 24 months is classified as inoperative.
A major tragedy was averted in Assam's Hojai district on Wednesday when forest personnel alerted the Rajdhani Express after spotting a large herd of elephants crossing a railway track, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
East Bengal secured their spot in the Durand Cup final by defeating SC Delhi 5-3 in a thrilling penalty shootout, following a goalless draw in regulation time. Captain Mohammed Rashid scored the decisive fifth penalty, sending East Bengal to their record-equalling 17th final appearance.
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.
