News for '-the-guardian'

Julian Metherell Appointed As MCC President

Julian Metherell Appointed As MCC President

Rediff.com7 May 2026

Julian Metherell, Chairman of The Hundred franchise London Spirit, will succeed Ed Smith as the President of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) from October. Metherell, a long-time MCC member, was nominated by Smith and will serve a three-year term. The MCC, founded in 1787, owns Lord's Cricket Ground and governs the laws of cricket.

Allahabad HC: Father Cannot Transfer Defacto Custody Of Minor Child

Allahabad HC: Father Cannot Transfer Defacto Custody Of Minor Child

Rediff.com1 May 2026

The Allahabad High Court overturned a single-judge ruling, asserting that a father does not have the right to transfer defacto custody of a minor child to another person.

Delhi Boy Drowns In Pool; Family Alleges Negligence

Delhi Boy Drowns In Pool; Family Alleges Negligence

Rediff.com6 days ago

A 10-year-old boy drowned in a private swimming pool in north Delhi's Jagatpur area, with family members alleging negligence and lack of safety arrangements at the facility.

Karuppu Review: Suriya's 'God Mode' Weakens This Fantasy Entertainer

Karuppu Review: Suriya's 'God Mode' Weakens This Fantasy Entertainer

Rediff.com6 days ago

Karuppu begins with a striking idea of God battling a broken justice system, only to turn into a routine Suriya mass spectacle.

Father not an 'illegal custodian': HC dismisses mother's habeas plea

Father not an 'illegal custodian': HC dismisses mother's habeas plea

Rediff.com19 Apr 2026

The Allahabad High Court dismissed a woman's habeas corpus petition seeking custody of her children from her estranged husband, stating that a father is a natural guardian and cannot be accused of illegal detention unless violating a court order.

Why Court Dismissed Mother's Custody Plea

Why Court Dismissed Mother's Custody Plea

Rediff.com19 Apr 2026

The Allahabad High Court dismissed a mother's habeas corpus petition, asserting that a father, as the natural guardian of a Hindu minor, cannot be deemed to illegally detain the child unless a court order is violated.

TCS case key accused Nida Khan sent to police custody till May 11

TCS case key accused Nida Khan sent to police custody till May 11

Rediff.com9 May 2026

Nida Khan, a TCS employee accused of religious conversion and sexual harassment, has been arrested in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. An AIMIM corporator is alleged to have provided her shelter. The arrest has sparked political reactions and renewed focus on workplace harassment prevention.

How AIMIM Corporator Sheltered TCS Employee Accused Of Conversion

How AIMIM Corporator Sheltered TCS Employee Accused Of Conversion

Rediff.com8 May 2026

Nida Khan, a TCS employee accused of religious conversion and sexual harassment, has been arrested in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Police allege an AIMIM corporator provided her shelter. The arrest has sparked political reactions and renewed focus on workplace harassment prevention.

'7 claims, 7 lies': Iran slams Trump, threatens to close Hormuz

'7 claims, 7 lies': Iran slams Trump, threatens to close Hormuz

Rediff.com18 Apr 2026

Iran has asserted that maritime movement through the Strait of Hormuz will be strictly controlled by Tehran, stating that passage will be allowed only through designated routes and under Iranian approval.

Punjab's New Anti-Sacrilege Law: No Escape For Offenders, Says Minister

Punjab's New Anti-Sacrilege Law: No Escape For Offenders, Says Minister

Rediff.com19 Apr 2026

Punjab's Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has announced that the newly enacted anti-sacrilege law in Punjab leaves no loopholes for offenders to escape justice. The law proposes stricter punishment, including life imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 25 lakh, for any act of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib.

A War With No Exit Strategy, No Victory To Declare

A War With No Exit Strategy, No Victory To Declare

Rediff.com20 Apr 2026

Both sides have now revealed a preference for escalation over strategic defeat, and each new provocation narrows the space for the next pause. The Touska seizure, Iran's refusal to negotiate under blockade, Israel's strikes on Iranian oil infrastructure -- all of these add up to an increasingly untenable situation. This makes the wild card -- Trump and his motormouth -- more consequential than ever, notes Prem Panicker in his must read blog on the Iran War.

Even If US, Iran Signed Deal Today, Hormuz Strait Won't...

Even If US, Iran Signed Deal Today, Hormuz Strait Won't...

Rediff.com23 Apr 2026

...reopen for up to six months. Until then, the Strait stays nearly closed. The world pays. And no one, including the man who started this, can say when it ends, notes Prem Panicker in his must read blog on the Iran War.

Maguire: Amorim's Ideas 'Didn't Work' at Manchester United

Maguire: Amorim's Ideas 'Didn't Work' at Manchester United

Rediff.com26 Mar 2026

Harry Maguire says Ruben Amorim's ideas didn't work at Manchester United, while praising Michael Carrick for leading a strong revival this season.

What's Inside The Rs 3 Crore Oscar Swag Bag?

What's Inside The Rs 3 Crore Oscar Swag Bag?

Rediff.com16 Mar 2026

Awarded to select nominees and winners, the 2026 Everyone Wins Oscar swag bag includes luxury vacation stays in Ibiza and Lapland worth $65,000, a $25,000 facial plastic surgery voucher from a New York-based surgeon, and even a custom prenuptial agreement service, among several other high-end gifts.

Trump's War Has Crossed Energy Rubicon. And There's No Turning Back

Trump's War Has Crossed Energy Rubicon. And There's No Turning Back

Rediff.com19 Mar 2026

For weeks, the war skirted the edge of catastrophe without tipping over. Missiles flew, there was much destruction, commanders were assassinated, cities across the Gulf and even in Israel struggled to absorb the shock. But one line held: Energy infrastructure, the arteries of the global economy, remained largely untouched. That is no longer true. Prem Panicker continues his must read daily blog on the Gulf War.

The Gulf War: What's Pakistan Up To?

The Gulf War: What's Pakistan Up To?

Rediff.com31 Mar 2026

Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey met in Islamabad in what analysts say is the formal opening of a new diplomatic formation that could reshape the post-war regional order. Their immediate goal is a ceasefire; their larger ambition is to ensure that neither Iran nor Israel emerges from this war in a dominant position. Pakistan's foreign minister then flew directly to Beijing and mooted a Chinese role as guarantor of any eventual agreement. Prem Panicker continues his must read daily blog on the Gulf War.

Don't Expect Too Much From Islamabad Summit

Don't Expect Too Much From Islamabad Summit

Rediff.com10 Apr 2026

The core issues to be settled -- access to Hormuz, Israel's aggression in Lebanon, the question of Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief and compensation -- are thorny enough to require weeks of patient negotiation. The most likely outcome of the opening sessions is that both sides take the measure of each other, establish what is and is not negotiable, and return home without having broken anything. That would count as progress.

Does The US Plan To Continue This War For 'One Or Two Years'?

Does The US Plan To Continue This War For 'One Or Two Years'?

Rediff.com30 Mar 2026

This weekend, Donald Trump has begun to say the quiet part out loud -- that he wants to take control of Iran's oil, a formulation more in line with his robber-baron style of international relations.

Pentagon Purge Rocks Iran War

Pentagon Purge Rocks Iran War

Rediff.com3 Apr 2026

The purge in Washington does not pause the war. Strikes continue, Hormuz remains closed, and Brent crude is still dancing around $109 a barrel. For India, the command chaos in the Pentagon is another layer of uncertainty piled on five weeks of conflict that was already straining every buffer Delhi has.

The Clock In Islamabad Is Ticking. And The World Is Watching Anxiously...

The Clock In Islamabad Is Ticking. And The World Is Watching Anxiously...

Rediff.com9 Apr 2026

The delegations from the US and Iran head to Islamabad on Friday, carrying a ceasefire that is already fraying, a Strait that is technically open and practically closed, and a negotiating agenda that would challenge even parties actually negotiating in good faith, which these groups are not. Prem Panicker continues his must read blog on the Iran War.

Acid Attack on Schoolgirl Sparks Outrage in Maharashtra Assembly

Acid Attack on Schoolgirl Sparks Outrage in Maharashtra Assembly

Rediff.com18 Mar 2026

The Maharashtra government is facing criticism after an acid attack on a Class 6 girl student in Sangamner. The Congress party has slammed the government in the legislative assembly, alleging a deterioration in law and order in the state. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of women and girls in Maharashtra.

Pietersen eyes England coaching role to refine Test approach

Pietersen eyes England coaching role to refine Test approach

Rediff.com8 Mar 2026

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has expressed his interest in joining the national team's coaching setup, aiming to refine their approach to Test cricket following their Ashes defeat and scrutiny of the 'Bazball' tactics.

The US Rescue That Raises More Questions Than It Answers

The US Rescue That Raises More Questions Than It Answers

Rediff.com6 Apr 2026

The 'rescue' operation occurred within kilometres of Iran's underground tunnel complex at Isfahan, assessed by the IAEA and US intelligence as holding a substantial portion of the country's 60 per cent enriched uranium stockpile. Retired senior US military officers have highlighted that the mission's footprint -- hundreds of special operators, multiple heavy-lift aircraft deep inside Iran -- appears outsized for recovering a single airman. Prem Panicker continues his must read blog on the Iran War.

War Exposes Cracks in US-Israel Alliance

War Exposes Cracks in US-Israel Alliance

Rediff.com20 Mar 2026

Alliances fight wars effectively only when they share an endgame. If Israel acted without US knowledge, then the military alliance is operating without real coordination at the level of strategic targeting. Neither picture is reassuring in a war that is no longer regional in its consequences. Prem Panicker continues his must read daily blog on the Gulf War.

Why Did Israel Kill Ali Larijani?

Why Did Israel Kill Ali Larijani?

Rediff.com18 Mar 2026

Israel has for more than two decades and several US presidencies worked to draw the United States into a full-scale war with Iran. Having finally achieved that, the last thing it wants is Trump declaring victory and going home, as he is prone to do. Ali Larijani was the figure most capable of handing Trump a negotiated exit with something to show for it. Without Larijani, the road to an exit gets considerably narrower. Prem Panicker continues his must read daily blog on the Gulf War.

Gulf War: Hormuz Is Becoming The Central Battlefield

Gulf War: Hormuz Is Becoming The Central Battlefield

Rediff.com23 Mar 2026

The question is no longer whether the war will expand. It has. The next few days will tell us whether the war stabilises around Hormuz or whether the Strait itself becomes the trigger for a far larger rupture. What to watch for over the next 48 hours is simple: Any move by the US toward direct naval control of the Strait; any credible Iranian attempt to disrupt or mine shipping lanes and, critically, whether energy infrastructure in the Gulf continues to be targeted.If those lines are crossed in tandem, the war will no longer be containable within the region.

Will Trump's 5 Day Pause End The War On Friday?

Will Trump's 5 Day Pause End The War On Friday?

Rediff.com24 Mar 2026

'Was the five-day pause ever meant to hold, or was it simply another instrument of signaling, of positioning, of buying time in a war where even the pauses are tactical?' asks Prem Panicker in his must read daily blog on the Gulf War.

Trump's Pause Gives Iran NOTHING!

Trump's Pause Gives Iran NOTHING!

Rediff.com25 Mar 2026

The pause gives the US time to breathe, to regroup, to move its expeditionary force into position without risk of interception along the way. It gives Iran nothing -- on the ground, attacks against its infrastructure continue apace. Prem Panicker in his must read daily blog on the Gulf War.

Will hit them with force: Trump warns Iran on Khamenei retaliation move

Will hit them with force: Trump warns Iran on Khamenei retaliation move

Rediff.com1 Mar 2026

Iran is observing 40 days of public mourning following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Reuters reported, citing Iranian state media.

Iranians take to streets to mourn killing of supreme leader Khamenei

Iranians take to streets to mourn killing of supreme leader Khamenei

Rediff.com1 Mar 2026

In the central Iranian city of Isfahan, residents gathered at Imam Square to protest the strikes and to mourn what state media termed the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei. Demonstrators raised slogans including "God is great" as the airstrikes continued.

Trump Is Caught Between Two Bad Options

Trump Is Caught Between Two Bad Options

Rediff.com16 Mar 2026

Fight on toward goals that keep receding, or exit with most objectives unmet. Trump is agitated, his poll numbers falling below the Plimsoll line, his base fractured between those who back the war and those who remember that he campaigned on ending them.

Iran's War: 'Mojtaba Khamenei Is Being Hunted By Foreign Powers And Internal Foes'

Iran's War: 'Mojtaba Khamenei Is Being Hunted By Foreign Powers And Internal Foes'

Rediff.com12 Mar 2026

'Mojtaba Khamenei supervised the most recent repression in December 2025 and January 2026 which remains ongoing.'

East India Company Shuts Down Again

East India Company Shuts Down Again

Rediff.com27 Feb 2026

The East India Company, revived by Indian businessman Sanjiv Mehta in 2010, has ceased operations and entered liquidation, marking the end of its modern incarnation.

Planning To Invest In NPS Vatsalya?

Planning To Invest In NPS Vatsalya?

Rediff.com5 Feb 2026

NPS Vatsalya offers a disciplined investment avenue that parents can use to create intergenerational wealth by contributing even small sums.

13 Must-Visit Indian Literary Festivals

13 Must-Visit Indian Literary Festivals

Rediff.com26 Feb 2026

Lit fests in India have become vibrant cultural celebrations across India, bringing together celebrated authors, emerging voices, poets, thinkers and passionate readers, many of them very young, under one lively roof.

Iran Plays Hardball With India's Hormuz Requests

Iran Plays Hardball With India's Hormuz Requests

Rediff.com13 Mar 2026

'I suspect that Bangladesh being given permission stuck in India's official craw, and this story was an attempt to balance the scales by giving the impression that a similar waiver had been given to India as well.'

Iran War Exposes Washington's Strategic Chaos

Iran War Exposes Washington's Strategic Chaos

Rediff.com12 Mar 2026

What we are watching is something different: A fog manufactured and maintained by the people who started the war, so that the question of why it was started never has to be answered, observes Prem Panicker in his must read blog on the war in the Middle East.

Has US Repeated Its Iraq Mistake?

Has US Repeated Its Iraq Mistake?

Rediff.com11 Mar 2026

Israel and the United States had a plan. Iran punched back. And now the Gulf is reeling, the world is beginning to feel the pain and, as on date, no one in Washington or Tel Aviv appears willing to admit that the punch has landed, notes Prem Panicker, continuing his must-read blog on the war in the Middle East.

Is The UN Heading For Bankruptcy?

Is The UN Heading For Bankruptcy?

Rediff.com20 Feb 2026

Every UN secretary-general has flagged the financial situation, but Antonio Guterres has issued the direst warning yet, calling it a 'race to bankruptcy and of imminent financial collapse, points out Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

Visa delay puts England spinners' T20 World Cup prep in doubt

Visa delay puts England spinners' T20 World Cup prep in doubt

Rediff.com15 Jan 2026

With Rashid and Ahmed currently unavailable, Liam Dawson is the squad's only specialist spinner, meaning Will Jacks and Jacob Bethell may be required to bowl more than initially planned.