Rediff Readers Nikhil V Damle and Dr Sunil Karamchandani pay tribute to that master teller of stories, Jeffrey Archer.
Families of the 19 victims of the Kolkata Durga Puja stampede are grappling with immense grief, unable to partake in the festivities. Many recount the tragic night, highlighting alleged lapses in crowd control and inadequate police presence at the Chorbagan pandal. Survivors share harrowing experiences of losing loved ones in the crush.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve global conflicts, stating, "war can never be the answer to war," while addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
'If Gyanesh Kumar had some shame he would have resigned and would have taken agni pariksha.'
Ravichandran Ashwin discusses Bhuvneshwar Kumar's recall to the T20I squad, attributing it to his consistent IPL performance without chasing rewards. He also touches upon Mohammed Shami's potential comeback, his relationships with Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli, and predicts India and South Africa as strong contenders for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
'People started fearing Nana Patekar's frankness. Kuchh bhi bol sakta hai yeh. He once pointed to a major respected politician's belly and asked 'Kya hai yeh?''
Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain paid tribute to veteran actor Nana Patekar, who died at 75 on Thursday in Goa due to cardiac arrest. Borgohain expressed her sadness and the unfulfilled dream of meeting him, calling his passing a huge loss for the Indian film industry.
US President Donald Trump recounted an unconfirmed story about a flydubai flight where an Indian pilot, Smit Machchhar, fought off a knife attack from a co-pilot attempting to crash the aircraft. Trump also detailed a dramatic intervention by an Israeli plumber-passenger who helped subdue the co-pilot, learning flying basics from a TV show. Trump stressed that he was merely relaying an account from Israeli PM Netanyahu, not independently confirmed facts.
Actor Sooraj Pancholi has denied any connection to Disha Salian or Aaditya Thackeray, stating he has 'never met Late Disha Salian in my life, directly or indirectly' and 'never met Aditya Thackeray in my life,' following his name surfacing in the CBI's fresh FIR regarding Salian's death.
Ravi Shastri lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking a leading role in international diplomacy during the ongoing BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana expressed her disbelief and happiness after surpassing legendary batter Mithali Raj to become the leading run-scorer in Women's Internationals, a feat she 'never imagined' achieving.
Amit Mishra claims Virat Kohli assured him of an India comeback after injury but never responded, despite the leg-spinner regaining full fitness.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that using terrorism as an "instrument of statecraft" is unacceptable and cannot be justified. He highlighted that terrorism persists because some states do not exhibit "zero tolerance" and allow political calculations to override historical lessons. Speaking at an event, Jaishankar emphasised the indivisibility of peace and called for stronger global resolve to counter terrorism in all its forms.
'He is celebrated more for his melancholic songs although he sang an equal number of happy songs.'
Coco Gauff celebrates the historic U.S. Open semi-final clash between Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe, marking the first time two Black American men will compete at this stage in a Grand Slam in the Open Era. Gauff, also in the women's semi-finals, expressed her pride and admiration for Tiafoe's inspiring presence on tour.
Idi Amin's grandson Aziz Abdul was disqualified and stripped of his silver medal at the African Boxing Championships after punching Egypt's Mohamed Hossen following the final bell.
Former couple Himanshi Khurana and Asim Riaz are embroiled in a public spat, with Himanshi alleging 'violence' and 'disrespect' from Asim and vowing to share 'facts and evidence' regarding their breakup.
Satyaki Savarkar, grandnephew of V D Savarkar, testified in a Pune court, stating that Rahul Gandhi's remarks portrayed Savarkar as a "Muslim hater" and "mob lyncher," which he claims is false. Savarkar asserted that his granduncle's writings promoted Muslim progress. The testimony was part of a defamation case filed against Gandhi concerning his alleged statements about Savarkar's writings.
There is a heartbreaking sincerity in the way Sumo Didi presents its protagonist and her story of courage. But there's a fine line between a sincere underdog story and a banal one, and the film never quite finds it, notes Mayur Sanap.
A 41-year-old man, Pawan Kumar Dugar, has been arrested in New Delhi for allegedly defrauding a garment trader of approximately Rs 2 lakh. Dugar posed as a supplier, shared fake documents, and took money for goods that were never delivered. Police apprehended him in Badarpur and recovered a mobile phone used in the crime.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu secured her spot in the women's singles semifinals of the French Open Super 750 badminton tournament with a dominant straight-game victory. Meanwhile, fellow Indian Ashmita Chaliha's impressive campaign concluded in the quarterfinals after a hard-fought loss. Sindhu, the lone Indian remaining, expressed her determination to win the tournament, having learned from earlier challenges.
A 41-year-old man, Pawan Kumar Dugar, has been arrested in New Delhi for allegedly defrauding a garment trader of approximately Rs 2 lakh. Dugar reportedly posed as a supplier, shared fake documents, and took money for goods that were never delivered.
Jared Kushner, former US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, has vehemently denied "outrageous and categorically false" allegations in a new book, "Princes and Thieves," which claims he accessed secret bank accounts linked to UAE, Saudi, and Israeli funds. Kushner stated on X that the author provided no evidence and that such claims never surfaced during his extensive past investigations.
Growing up, I was spoiled in the best way possible. My mum is one of those magical cooks who can turn the simplest ingredients into a feast. Every meal at home was delicious, so there was never a reason for me to learn.
Little Thomas may have its heart in the right place, but its storytelling never quite catches up with its intentions, rues Mayur Sanap.
R Ashwin has called for a training and fitness overhaul at Chennai Super Kings, saying Zaheer Khan must help change the culture after two disappointing IPL seasons.
A Delhi court has acquitted a man accused of beating his daughter, insulting her modesty, and subjecting her to suffering. The acquittal came after the daughter denied the alleged assault during trial, stating her previous statement was made under pressure, and other witnesses failed to provide reliable evidence to support the prosecution's case.
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Jammu has filed a chargesheet against a health department employee, Sohan Lal Singh, for allegedly securing a government job as a dental assistant nearly two decades ago using a forged Class 10 certificate. The investigation revealed discrepancies in his educational records and date of birth, with evidence suggesting his deceased father procured the fraudulent documents.
'Ashaji has not left the human heart. That is her true mehfil. That is where she resides -- unfading, unending.'
Atletico Madrid chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin has vehemently rejected Barcelona's attempts to sign Julian Alvarez, accusing the Catalan club of dishonesty and stating that the Argentine forward will 'never, ever' be sold to them. This comes after Barcelona's president expressed continued interest in Alvarez.
Sandeep Modi's script afford Kartik never-before action opportunities wherein he would be doing a mix of Bruce Lee and Sylvester Stallone.
Para archer Sheetal Devi concluded her Asian Para Games campaign with two gold medals and a silver, including defending her individual compound title.
'I've never been conscious of my looks. Even in my heydays, I never looked at myself and gasped, 'My God, what a beauty'.'
Indian sports personalities, including Sachin Tendulkar, PV Sindhu, and Gautam Gambhir, took to social media to extend their heartfelt Dussehra wishes to fans, emphasising the festival's message of the triumph of good over evil.
Some lessons about patience are taught not by monks or teachers, but by government offices, one slow afternoon at a time, reveals Binu Alex.
Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany has been hospitalised in a stable condition after collapsing during reserve-team training, with sporting director Max Eberl confirming he will be sidelined for weeks due to a virus.
The Indian Army captured Thang in Ladakh in the 1971 War. Ghulam Hussain had left home for a routine errand found himself on the other side of an altered border. He could never return and found a new country and a new home.
A Delhi resident was allegedly defrauded of Rs 1.35 lakh by two individuals who promised him a driver's job with a monthly salary of Rs 32,000. The victim made multiple online transactions but never received the job, and the money was not returned. The accused are now reportedly demanding an additional Rs 20,000.
Indian top-order batter S Meghana has announced her retirement from all forms of cricket at the age of 30, expressing gratitude for her career and her intention to remain involved in the sport through mentoring.
