News for '2025'

At $92 bn, India Fifth-Largest Military Spender In 2025

At $92 bn, India Fifth-Largest Military Spender In 2025

Rediff.com29 Apr 2026

India's defence expenditure surged to $92.1 billion in 2025, making it the world's fifth-largest military spender, according to SIPRI data. This 8.9 per cent year-on-year rise was primarily driven by operational and procurement needs following heightened regional tensions with Pakistan in May 2025.

'I was told I only want IPL': Shashank

'I was told I only want IPL': Shashank

Rediff.com3 Aug 2026

Punjab Kings all-rounder Shashank Singh is set to play for Pondicherry in the 2026-27 domestic season after securing an NOC from the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh. Singh alleges a lack of support from Chhattisgarh during his injury recovery and claims he was unfairly excluded from state tournaments and camps, despite being a top domestic performer. He plans to focus on white-ball cricket moving forward.

High-level panel set up to tackle road woes in Maha's Chakan industrial belt

High-level panel set up to tackle road woes in Maha's Chakan industrial belt

Rediff.com16 Aug 2026

The Maharashtra government has constituted a high-level committee to address road repairs, traffic congestion and management issues in the rapidly expanding Chakan industrial belt in Pune district, and set up a mechanism for time-bound redressal of industrial grievances.

Hayden Panettiere Dies At 36: 7 Roles To Remember Her By

Hayden Panettiere Dies At 36: 7 Roles To Remember Her By

Rediff.com17 Aug 2026

From a child star to a superhero icon and horror favourite, Hayden Panettiere left behind a memorable body of work far beyond her years.

I would like to play for India in all formats: Ravichandran Smaran

I would like to play for India in all formats: Ravichandran Smaran

Rediff.com5 Aug 2026

Ravichandran Smaran, the highest run-scorer in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, is focused on maintaining his form and securing a national call-up.

Arshdeep Drops Heart Emoji On Samreen's Post

Arshdeep Drops Heart Emoji On Samreen's Post

Rediff.com3 Aug 2026

Fast bowler Arshdeep Singh and actor-model Samreen Kaur have sparked fan speculation with their latest social media exchange, following their relationship going Instagram official.

Rajya Sabha MPs' expenses soar to Rs 262 cr in two yrs, reveals RTI

Rajya Sabha MPs' expenses soar to Rs 262 cr in two yrs, reveals RTI

Rediff.com19 Jul 2026

An RTI reply has revealed that over Rs 262 crore was spent on salaries, allowances, and facilities for Rajya Sabha MPs in the financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26. This includes more than Rs 151 crore specifically for allowances and travel, with a significant increase in expenditure from the first to the second year.

How Young Stars, Global Audiences Drive F1's Popularity Surge

How Young Stars, Global Audiences Drive F1's Popularity Surge

Rediff.com29 Jul 2026

Formula One boss Stefano Domenicali heaped praise on teenager Kimi Antonelli on Wednesday as the sport gave itself a glowing half-term report, with sold-out races and booming viewing figures in key markets.

LAC peace will determine state of broader bilateral ties: India to China

LAC peace will determine state of broader bilateral ties: India to China

Rediff.com11 Aug 2026

India has asserted that the state of its border with China directly impacts the broader bilateral relationship, emphasising the critical importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Ministry of External Affairs also firmly rejected China's claims over Arunachal Pradesh, reiterating its status as an integral part of India. This stance was reiterated during a recent Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination meeting, where both sides agreed to continue using diplomatic and military channels to resolve outstanding issues.

Bangladesh PM seeks Hasina's extradition in meeting with Indian envoy

Bangladesh PM seeks Hasina's extradition in meeting with Indian envoy

Rediff.com10 Aug 2026

Bangladesh has once again sought the extradition of former premier Sheikh Hasina from India during High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi's first meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka, amidst fresh strains in ties between the two countries following Hasina's controversial virtual media interaction in New Delhi.

How Cancer-Stricken Dad's Note Spurred Saransh Jain

How Cancer-Stricken Dad's Note Spurred Saransh Jain

Rediff.com28 Jul 2026

Saransh Jain's domestic success motivated by his cancer-affected dad's inspiring note. Saransh received his India Test call-up for the Sri Lanka tour on Tuesday.

Tata power struggle deepens as Chandra, other Ratan Tata allies step away

Tata power struggle deepens as Chandra, other Ratan Tata allies step away

Rediff.com12 Aug 2026

N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons, announced he would not seek reappointment when his term ends in February 2027, following a series of departures by senior figures closely associated with former chairman Ratan Tata, including Vijay Singh and Mehli Mistry, amid a deepening power struggle and governance dispute within the Tata Group.

Watch Nani's Explosive The Paradise Teaser

Watch Nani's Explosive The Paradise Teaser

Rediff.com7 Aug 2026

The highly anticipated teaser for Nani's The Paradise has dropped, revealing a glimpse into the film's high-octane action, drama, and the fierce showdown between Nani's Dhagad and Raghav Juyal's menacing villain.

Chandrasekaran latest among Ratan Tata allies to step down

Chandrasekaran latest among Ratan Tata allies to step down

Rediff.com12 Aug 2026

N Chandrasekaran's decision not to seek reappointment when his term as chairman of Tata Sons ends in February 2027 signals a significant shift in leadership amidst an ongoing power struggle and governance disputes within the Tata Group.

'Eknath Shinde Was Extremely Aggressive'

'Eknath Shinde Was Extremely Aggressive'

Rediff.com7 days ago

'I've seen a lot of meetings over the years, but this was the first time I've seen the deputy chief minister and the industries minister sit through something like this with 200 to 300 industrialists, local residents and politicians from both the ruling side and Opposition, all in the same room.'

Sitharaman: Hurry Up Tax Appeals

Sitharaman: Hurry Up Tax Appeals

Rediff.com25 Jul 2026

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has urged income tax authorities to significantly accelerate the adjudication of taxpayer appeals.

Rohit Sharma hails T Dilip's 'magic' and 'workhorse' efforts for Indian cricket

Rohit Sharma hails T Dilip's 'magic' and 'workhorse' efforts for Indian cricket

Rediff.com4 Aug 2026

Indian batter Rohit Sharma lauded former fielding coach T Dilip for his significant contributions, including two T20 World Cup wins and the Champions Trophy, calling him a 'legend' and a 'workhorse' who 'created magic within the group.' Dilip, who served from 2021 until recently, expressed gratitude for his tenure, especially cherishing the popular fielding medal ceremony.

India's Men's Hockey Team Aim to Break 51-Year World Cup Jinx

India's Men's Hockey Team Aim to Break 51-Year World Cup Jinx

Rediff.com14 Aug 2026

The Indian men's hockey team, led by Harmanpreet Singh, is determined to end a 51-year World Cup drought, beginning their campaign against Wales with genuine optimism following recent Olympic bronze medals and an Asia Cup title.

FIFA World Cup couldn't stop Wimbledon's record run

FIFA World Cup couldn't stop Wimbledon's record run

Rediff.com29 Jul 2026

Wimbledon achieved record attendance and social media engagement, along with strong broadcasting figures, despite competing with the soccer World Cup. The tournament saw over half a million fans, significant retail sales, and a notable audience share for the women's singles final in the Czech Republic.

BWF Worlds: Sindhu eyes 6th medal; Satwik-Chirag chase glory

BWF Worlds: Sindhu eyes 6th medal; Satwik-Chirag chase glory

Rediff.com16 Aug 2026

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu is set to chase an unprecedented sixth medal at the BWF World Championships, which are returning to India after 17 years, beginning in New Delhi on Monday. Sindhu, already a five-time World Championships medallist, is high on confidence after winning the Japan Open Super 750 last month.

SC quashes power to grant retrospective green nod, leaves window open

SC quashes power to grant retrospective green nod, leaves window open

Rediff.com29 Jul 2026

In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of India has quashed the 2021 Office Memorandum allowing retrospective environmental clearances, reinforcing the importance of prior environmental approval for projects but held that the judgment will apply prospectively, thus saving projects that got retrospective ECs from demolition and other punitive measures.

Indian student kills girlfriend in US, arrested in Germany

Indian student kills girlfriend in US, arrested in Germany

Rediff.com10 Aug 2026

Batchigari is accused of first-degree murder and kidnapping, having allegedly stolen Salazar's phone and credit cards and sent deceptive texts to her mother to conceal the crime.

Watch Out! SKY Is Coming To A Govinda Near You!

Watch Out! SKY Is Coming To A Govinda Near You!

Rediff.com10 Aug 2026

Suryakumar Yadav has been named as the brand ambassador for the Pro Govinda League (PGL) -- India's first professional human-pyramid league.

India, China agree to use diplomatic, military channels 'to resolve' LAC issues

India, China agree to use diplomatic, military channels 'to resolve' LAC issues

Rediff.com7 Aug 2026

India and China held diplomatic talks to review the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), discussing boundary delimitation, border management, and trans-border cooperation. Both nations stressed the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity for bilateral relations and agreed to continue using existing channels to resolve outstanding issues.

India's young guns ready for BWF World Championships

India's young guns ready for BWF World Championships

Rediff.com7 Aug 2026

Ayush Shetty, Unnati Hooda, Simran Singhi, and Kavipriya Selvam are set to make their BWF World Championships debut as India hosts the prestigious badminton event after 17 years, offering a significant platform for these rising stars.

FPIs Pour Rs 12,921 Crore into Indian Markets in Early August

FPIs Pour Rs 12,921 Crore into Indian Markets in Early August

Rediff.com9 Aug 2026

Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) injected Rs 12,921 crore into Indian equities during the first week of August, extending their buying spree, driven by improving macroeconomic conditions, expectations of US rate cuts, lower crude oil prices, and a stable rupee.

'Nowadays, it is rare to see a batter scoring triple hundred in Tests': Harbhajan

'Nowadays, it is rare to see a batter scoring triple hundred in Tests': Harbhajan

Rediff.com14 Aug 2026

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh believes the aggressive batting approach fostered by the T20 era has come at the expense of patience, leading to a decline in marathon innings in Test cricket by younger players.

Why India Has No Hockey Umpire or Official at 2026 World Cup

Why India Has No Hockey Umpire or Official at 2026 World Cup

Rediff.com7 Aug 2026

For the first time since 1998, no Indian umpire or technical official will be present at the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, a situation that has left former international officials disappointed and calling for a structured pathway to develop and support Indian officiating talent.

Faster than Don Bradman: Virat Kohli's Record-Breaking 18 Years For India

Faster than Don Bradman: Virat Kohli's Record-Breaking 18 Years For India

Rediff.com18 Aug 2026

Virat Kohli, who debuted 18 years ago, has amassed over 28,000 international runs and 85 centuries, establishing himself as one of cricket's all-time greats with numerous unmatched records across all formats.

Liverpool sign Barcelona's Ronald Araujo on season-long loan

Liverpool sign Barcelona's Ronald Araujo on season-long loan

Rediff.com11 Aug 2026

Liverpool have secured Uruguay defender Ronald Araujo from Spanish champions Barcelona on a season-long loan, with an option to buy for approximately 47 million, as the Premier League club seeks to reinforce its injury-plagued defence.

How China Shielded Itself From Oil Shock

How China Shielded Itself From Oil Shock

Rediff.com17 Aug 2026

China sailed through the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz relatively unscathed even as the impact of its steps shielded other consuming nations from having to pay high crude oil prices.

How Seema used her PhD to win CWG bronze

How Seema used her PhD to win CWG bronze

Rediff.com3 Aug 2026

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Seema Kaliramna is leveraging her doctoral research on imagery and positive self-talk to gain a competitive advantage in discus throwing. Her academic pursuits at Chaudhary Bansi Lal University are directly applied to her training and mental preparation, helping her achieve success like her recent Glasgow CWG medal and focus on the upcoming Asian Games.

Vijay government may privatise TN's liquor sales to curb graft

Vijay government may privatise TN's liquor sales to curb graft

Rediff.com30 Jul 2026

An intensified DVAC probe into a multi-crore liquor scam, allegedly involving former DMK Minister V Senthil Balaji, has led to a suggestion to privatise retail liquor sales in Tamil Nadu. The investigation targets alleged collusion in TASMAC bar licences, transport tenders, and procurement, with the Madras High Court dismissing Balaji's anticipatory bail plea. The FIR details systemic corruption, significant revenue loss, and illicit fund generation, prompting political reactions.

Mahindra Racing Celebrates Second Win As Nyck De Vries Dominates Tokyo E-Prix

Mahindra Racing Celebrates Second Win As Nyck De Vries Dominates Tokyo E-Prix

Rediff.com26 Jul 2026

Nyck de Vries secured his second victory of the 2025-26 FIA Formula E World Championship season at the Tokyo E-Prix, leading Mahindra Racing to a significant points haul. Despite starting fifth, de Vries navigated challenging wet-dry conditions and a late-race red flag to clinch the win. This result propels him to ninth in the drivers' standings and positions Mahindra Racing just one point behind third place in the teams' championship with two rounds remaining.

PSG Teams Up with Google: Gemini AI Assistant & Pixel Official Smartphone

PSG Teams Up with Google: Gemini AI Assistant & Pixel Official Smartphone

Rediff.com3 Aug 2026

French football champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have announced a partnership with Google, making Google Gemini their official AI assistant and Google Pixel their official smartphone, with plans for a Google space at Parc des Princes stadium.

Bharti Airtel's Q1 FY27 results beat estimates, driven by strong Arpu and subscriber growth

Bharti Airtel's Q1 FY27 results beat estimates, driven by strong Arpu and subscriber growth

Rediff.com14 Aug 2026

Bharti Airtel's first-quarter (April-June/Q1) performance for 2026-27 (FY27) surpassed estimates across most metrics, fuelled by robust growth in both its India and Africa operations, with significant increases in average revenue per user (Arpu) and subscriber additions.

CWG 2026: Soman Wins Gold; Silver For Shubham In Para Shot Put

CWG 2026: Soman Wins Gold; Silver For Shubham In Para Shot Put

Rediff.com1 Aug 2026

India's para shot putter Soman Rana won the gold gold medal in the men's F57 event para shot put event at the Commonwealth Games.

Govt extends PM E-DRIVE subsidy for e2Ws till FY28

Govt extends PM E-DRIVE subsidy for e2Ws till FY28

Rediff.com12 Aug 2026

The Central government has approved an additional Rs 1,000 crore for electric two-wheelers (e2w) under the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme, extending incentives for the segment until March 2028.

What made SIAM do a U-turn on E20 fuel within a week?

What made SIAM do a U-turn on E20 fuel within a week?

Rediff.com8 Aug 2026

Why the industry's public position changed is difficult to say. What the developments did establish, though, is that ethanol-blended petrol has become one of the country's most politically and commercially sensitive policy issues.

India's Jobless Rate Climbs as Labour Participation Declines

India's Jobless Rate Climbs as Labour Participation Declines

Rediff.com11 Aug 2026

India's urban unemployment rate for individuals aged 15 and above marginally increased to 6.7 per cent in April-June, while rural unemployment rose to 4.8 per cent, according to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). This rise in unemployment coincides with a notable decline in the overall labour force participation rate (LFPR) to a five-quarter low of 54.6 per cent.