A special court in Latur, Maharashtra, has sentenced Chumbalya alias Ritesh Rajnand Kasbe to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl last year. The verdict was delivered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and POCSO Act, with the court also imposing a Rs 5,000 fine.
Karan Singh secured the men's singles title at the USD 30,000 ITF Men's World Tennis Tour M25 tournament in Mumbai on Sunday. His opponent, Digvijay Pratap Singh, retired in the second set, with Karan leading 7-5, 3-1. This marks Karan's fourth title of the 2026 season and his second in the last two months.
India vice-captain Tilak Varma expressed immense pride after his unbeaten 51 off 26 balls guided India to a thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second T20I, securing a 2-0 series lead. Varma credited head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak for their belief in his ability to finish the game.
Researchers have developed 'Lumina', a groundbreaking cosmological simulation that recreates the universe's first two billion years in extraordinary detail. This model tracks the interactions of ordinary matter, dark matter, and radiation, offering a powerful new tool to test theories of cosmic evolution against observations from telescopes like JWST. Lumina is the largest and most detailed simulation of its kind, covering a vast volume and uniquely capturing helium reionisation.
Shadab Khan's unbeaten 113 and an unbroken 89-run last-wicket stand with Haris Rauf powered Pakistan to a thrilling one-wicket victory over England despite Ben Duckett's century.
The fourth edition of the 'Run to Inspire' 10-km marathon in Ahmedabad attracted 1,600 participants, a significant increase from its inaugural year. The event, organised by Arvind SmartSpaces, brought together professional athletes, running enthusiasts, and visually impaired runners, promoting fitness and community participation. Amipara Raj recorded the fastest time.
The family of slain anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa continues to refuse a post-mortem of his body, demanding the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and DGP Gaurav Yadav. Despite the government agreeing to a CBI probe, compensation, and other concessions, the family and a joint action committee insist their key demands, including the resignations, have not been met, prolonging the standoff.
Engagement with neighbours has gathered pace, particularly as the conflict in West Asia has exposed their vulnerability to energy supply disruptions.
South Africa have recalled Gerald Coetzee for injured Anrich Nortje in the series-deciding Newlands Test, targeting a series victory, the world's top ranking and stronger World Test Championship prospects.
The Congress party faced a significant defeat in the Karnataka Legislative Council elections, losing all four seats contested. The opposition alliance of BJP and JD(S) secured all segments, with JD(S) wresting one from Congress and BJP retaining three. This outcome, while not affecting government stability, is seen as a moral victory for the opposition and a test of their coordination.
The CBI has arrested a medicine specialist and a contractual staffer from Delhi's Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital for allegedly accepting a Rs 1 lakh bribe. The doctor, a nodal officer for outsourcing, sought the bribe to ensure a tender was not cancelled and bills were cleared. Both accused were apprehended and are being interrogated.
Australia captain Pat Cummins will give Steve Smith every chance to recover from a neck injury before the decisive third Test against South Africa at Newlands, with team selection pending.
A special court in Muzaffarnagar has sentenced a man named Bittu to life imprisonment for raping a six-year-old girl in 2024. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 60,000, which will be given to the survivor. The incident occurred on November 10, 2024, when the girl was abducted and raped at her home, leading to Bittu's conviction under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and POCSO Act.
Businessman Robert Vadra expressed support for his son Raihan Vadra after Raihan's photo exhibition faced controversy over images of "vote chori" protests. Vadra stated that his son faces headwinds but will emerge stronger, while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised the suppression of expression.
A 60-year-old woman was found murdered in her home in Gandhare village, Palghar district, with robbery suspected as the motive. Her son discovered her body on Tuesday morning. Gold ornaments were missing, and her cupboard was ransacked. Police have registered a murder case and are investigating.
Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison asserts that artificial intelligence will not destroy the traditional software industry but rather enable the creation of complete, ready-to-use applications tailored for entire industries. Speaking at Oracle AI World, Ellison dismissed fears of a "SaaS apocalypse," arguing that AI will make software much better, requiring no user training and simplifying installations. He cited Oracle Health as a prime example of an AI-driven, industry-specific solution, and also discussed AI's potential in drug discovery and its broader societal impact on jobs and taxation.
Two builders have been arrested by the Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar Police in Maharashtra for allegedly constructing an illegal eight-storey residential building in Virar using forged construction permissions and cheating 113 flat purchasers. The developers used fake commencement certificates and fraudulent documents. They are currently in police custody until October 29.
Cyclone Arnab has triggered heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across southern Odisha, leading to the evacuation of over 30,000 people and a high alert in several districts. The cyclone, which weakened after making landfall in Andhra Pradesh, has disrupted train services and prompted extensive disaster preparedness measures.
The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission to devise a mechanism to reach out to approximately 47 lakh Delhi voters whose names were struck out from the draft electoral rolls during the ongoing Special Summary Revision (SIR). The court emphasised that the right to vote is vital and cannot be forfeited due to absence, questioning the EC's requirement for previously enrolled voters to file Form 6 for re-inclusion and suggesting alternative methods like publishing lists and accepting late enumeration forms.
India spinner Saransh Jain delivered a career-best match haul of 13 wickets (7/14 and 6/49) to lead Madhya Pradesh to an innings and 174-run victory over Bihar in their Ranji Trophy Group A match. Madhya Pradesh declared their first innings at 407 for eight, with Saksham Purohit scoring 132 and captain Rajat Patidar adding 109. Bihar struggled in both innings, with Jain proving unplayable. In another match, Priyanshu Moliya scored an unbeaten 321 for Baroda.
'Nobody could have played this character better than Rajkummar Rao.'
Partial results from Israel's general election indicate that Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc remains short of a parliamentary majority with 54 seats, while the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot has 48 seats, leading to a potential coalition deadlock.
Three individuals were injured in a clash involving firing and stabbing between two groups in Delhi's Govindpuri area, suspected to be due to old enmity. Police are investigating the incident, which occurred during idol immersion festivities.
A recent scientific study by Dr. Dinesh Amalnerkar and Dr. Ravindra Chaudhari in Pune has demonstrated that a silk-based nanocomposite material, particularly one containing silver nanoparticles, can effectively kill Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae and pupae. This research, published in 'Nature Scientific Reports', offers a promising new approach for dengue control, especially as Pune faces a surge in cases. While showing high mortality rates in lab tests and minimal environmental impact, further field research is needed before large-scale deployment.
A second-year engineering student at Mumbai's Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Siddhesh Patil, died by suicide in his hostel room. Patil, a native of Nashik, was undergoing treatment for depression and had messaged his psychiatrist about suicidal ideation on Tuesday night, prompting an alert to his family and friends. Police have registered an Accidental Death Report and are investigating the incident.
A survey by Indian American Impact reveals that 25% of South Asian Americans who voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election plan to support Democratic candidates in the upcoming November 3 midterm elections. Key issues driving voters include cost of living, healthcare, jobs, and education, with discrimination also a significant concern. The survey highlights the potential influence of this demographic in closely contested states like Michigan and Texas.
Neelam Sirohi and Kajal Dhochak secured historic silver medals for India at the World Wrestling Championships in Astana on Wednesday, marking the first time two Indian women reached the finals in the same edition. Neelam faced a formidable opponent in five-time world champion Yui Susaki, while Kajal narrowly lost a hard-fought bout against three-time European champion Anastasiya Alpyeyeva. Despite the disappointment of missing gold, these achievements represent a significant milestone for Indian women's wrestling. Other Indian wrestlers, including Rajnita, Nishu, Srishti, Neha Sangwan, and Tanu Sharma, faced defeats in earlier rounds.
Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has dismissed speculation about Rohit Sharma's imminent IPL retirement, drawing parallels with MS Dhoni's longevity, and also backed Naman Dhir as a potential future captain for Mumbai Indians.
At 44, James Anderson will extend his playing career as captain and co-owner of Napoli Knights in Italy's Italia T10 league, helping develop home-grown talent ahead of cricket's Olympic ambitions.
Six individuals, including two juveniles, have been apprehended in northeast Delhi for the fatal stabbing of a 20-year-old man. The incident occurred on Tuesday night in Central Park following a dispute over smoking. The victim, Subhan, succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
Microsoft has launched a voluntary exit programme for eligible employees in India, the US, the UK, and Canada. The initiative offers financial support and career planning resources, with eligible employees in India having until December 1 to decide. The package includes severance benefits and health insurance, aiming to provide flexibility for employees and allow the company to adjust its workforce. This comes as Microsoft continues significant investments in India's AI ecosystem.
A 45-year-old Congress candidate, Mohanlal, contesting the panchayat samiti elections in Rajasthan's Barmer district, allegedly died by suicide on Wednesday, a day before polling. His body was found hanging from a tree. Police are investigating the incident, and the reason for the suspected suicide is yet to be determined.
Eighteen-year-old Rio Ngumoha delivered a standout performance in the Champions League, providing two crucial assists to help Liverpool secure a dramatic 4-3 comeback victory against Villarreal, becoming the club's youngest player to register an assist in the competition.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke to singer Daler Mehndi and his brother Mika Singh, expressing regret over a recent incident where cabinet minister Subodh Uniyal publicly reprimanded Mehndi during a performance. Dhami emphasised Uttarakhand's tradition of respecting artists and sought to move past the controversy, assuring Mehndi of a warm welcome and mutual dialogue.
India is sending a 17-member contingent, led by table tennis player Syndrela Das and swimmer Dhinidhi Desinghu, to the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Senegal. The team will compete in 11 sports, with athletes like Sarthak Arya viewing the event as a crucial stepping stone for future Olympic aspirations. IOA president P T Usha highlighted the Games' importance for developing future Indian champions.
A 26-year-old surrendered Naxalite allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself at a rehabilitation centre in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh. Police are investigating the incident, and a case of unnatural death has been registered.
'People -- even those who genuinely love and care for us -- can be self-centred,' notes rediffGURU Ravi Mittal.
New Zealand batter Finn Allen discussed the team's recent T20 International loss to India, highlighting the valuable lessons learned from India's dominant batting performance. He acknowledged the difficulty in stopping players like Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi once they got going. Allen emphasised that despite the series defeat, every game is important for building towards the T20 World Cup in a couple of years.
Chennai Super Kings have parted ways with batting coach Mike Hussey after eight years, as the five-time champions overhaul their coaching staff following three disappointing IPL seasons.
Daniil Medvedev fought back to defeat Nikoloz Basilashvili in three sets, defend his Almaty Open title, claim his fourth trophy of 2026 and boost ATP Finals qualification hopes.
