Rediff Readers Nikhil V Damle and Dr Sunil Karamchandani pay tribute to that master teller of stories, Jeffrey Archer.
'Very few people are fortunate to make such a quick and quiet exit from the world. He would have been miserable in a hospital.'
The Pro Wrestling League (PWL) is set to kick off its sixth season from January 9 to 26 next year in New Delhi, featuring 86 grapplers, including 34 international medallists. Six franchises will compete across Olympic weight categories, with Indian Asian Games medallists and Japanese Olympic champion Yui Susaki among the participants.
Navi Pillay, a South African jurist of Indian origin, has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote peace and international law. The announcement came as she was in Nuremberg, a symbolic location given her career's focus on international justice. Pillay dedicated the prize to survivors and those working for justice, warning against political attacks on international law and institutions like the ICC. Her extensive career includes roles in the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the International Criminal Court, and as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
India is determined to host the 2036 Olympics as part of a broader strategy to become a global sporting superpower, despite challenges like limited multi-sport event experience and a poor doping record, according to Indian Olympic Association CEO Raghuram Iyer.
Indian women's football team head coach Crispin Chettri expressed satisfaction with his young side's character despite a 0-4 loss to Russia in an international friendly.
Police recovered a mobile phone, SIM cards and documents described as incriminating from his possession.
Kumkum Mohod, 17, made history by becoming the first Indian to win an individual recurve gold at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, also securing an Olympic quota for LA 2028. Her victory over South Korea's Oh Yejin in a tense shoot-off has boosted India's confidence to challenge the long-standing Korean dominance in recurve archery. Mohod attributes her success to mental preparation, visualisation, and family sacrifices, and is now focused on securing her individual spot for the 2028 Olympics.
'In India, an MBA from a top college would have better opportunities as compared to an MTech from top colleges,' says rediffGURU Patrick D'souza.
Australia and South Africa are set to begin a three-match Test series in Durban, with both teams looking for a boost after recent setbacks. The pitch at Kingsmead is expected to favour spinners, a departure from South Africa's usual seamer-friendly conditions, potentially influencing team selections.
Delhi Police have dismantled an inter-state truck theft and dismantling racket, arresting three individuals including the alleged mastermind. The operation led to the recovery of dismantled parts of a stolen truck from a Punjab godown. The investigation involved technical surveillance, CCTV footage, and digital payment tracking, revealing the accused's involvement in multiple truck thefts across Delhi.
Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad, who has a British Indian mother, is increasingly vocal about his strong Indian roots, a heritage he has always been proud of.
FC Goa head coach Gouramangi Singh highlighted the importance of adhering to the club's playing philosophy and maintaining control in matches as they prepare for their Indian Super League opener against Chennaiyin FC on Saturday. Defender Sandesh Jhingan also stressed collective responsibility for success.
Opposition parties, led by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, plan to march to the Supreme Court on Monday to meet the Chief Justice of India. They aim to submit a memorandum regarding alleged 'vote chori' and demand CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, halting of SIR, and a return to paper ballots. The protest follows widespread detentions during previous demonstrations, which the opposition condemns as an assault on democracy.
Even as lawyers on both sides study the pros and cons of a court battle, there are unanswered questions: When did Tata Trusts review its resolution of 2025 on backing Chandrasekaran for a third term?How will the shareholders of Tata Sons respond on listing and the leadership issue?
Police in Thrissur have registered a case under the POCSO Act against a female social media influencer and motivational speaker for allegedly sexually harassing an 11-year-old boy. A detailed investigation is underway, and the minor's statement has been recorded.
The Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season is set to begin on Sunday, featuring several prominent India cricketers like KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Their participation aims to provide valuable red-ball practice and fine-tune skills, while also offering a platform for players like Mohammed Shami to impress selectors. The tournament will also highlight emerging young talents from various states.
'I think the more time he spends in this environment with the quality players, the more time he trains at this standard, will only be great for his cricket.'
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has marginally raised its retail inflation forecast for the current fiscal year (FY27) to 5.2 per cent from 5 per cent, citing increasing price pressures across various commodities. Concurrently, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unanimously decided to hike the key interest rate (repo) by 25 basis points to 5.5 per cent, shifting its stance to 'calibrated tightening'.
Gurugram police have arrested a deaf and non-speaking man, Adnan Khan, for allegedly raping a woman with similar disabilities. The victim met Khan through Instagram and was lured to Gurugram on the pretext of a job. She alleges he drugged and raped her on February 14, threatening her afterwards. A Zero FIR was initially filed in Lucknow before the case was transferred to Gurugram.
Ahead of the second T20I against West Indies in Ranchi, local player Ishan Kishan and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi showcased their attacking batting in India's practice session. Kishan, returning to the national setup after a disciplinary issue, impressed assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak with his maturity. Sooryavanshi, a young talent, also drew significant attention with his powerful hitting. The team, having won the first T20I, plans to maintain its fearless approach for the upcoming match.
No shade or genre was a roadblock for Nana Patekar. In fact, some of his movies only age well because we associate them with his terrific presence.
An IndianOil officer, Mahesh Shelke, was fatally attacked with a sharp weapon while inspecting a petrol pump in Hingoli district, Maharashtra. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Indian Oil Corporation have called for swift and strict action against those responsible. The incident draws parallels to the 2005 killing of another IOC officer, S Manjunath.
Shubhankar Sharma retained a two-shot lead after the third round of the Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship on Friday, despite an even-par 72. Bengaluru's Manoj S and Italy's Michele Ortolani are his closest challengers heading into the final round.
'Ma would fiddle with the radio's knob until the static gave way to music; then, the voice would come on. I would be half-asleep still, understanding little of the Sanskrit words I heard but the words in chants, interspersed with songs, cast a spell. I still remember the goosebumps I felt as the epic tale of Goddess Durga's birth and battles unfolded,' says Radha Roy Biswas.
Following a successful campaign at the 2026 Asian Games, India women's boxing head coach Santiago Nieva is prioritising securing as many Olympic quotas as possible at the earliest for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, starting with the World Championships 2027 in Kazakhstan.
Indian mutual funds experienced a nearly 5 per cent growth in average quarterly assets under management (QAAUM) in the second quarter of FY27, reaching approximately ~87.2 trillion, despite significant equity market turbulence and corrections in largecap and some debt segments.
Australia A defeated India A by 69 runs in the second one-day match in Puducherry, securing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Aggressive half-centuries from Josh Philippe and Sam Konstas, along with crucial wickets from pacer Spencer Johnson, led Australia A to victory, while India A's top order struggled.
Former cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara believes the Indian team is well-prepared for the slowish tracks expected in the upcoming T20I series against the West Indies, particularly the first match in Lucknow, thanks to their recent experience on challenging pitches at the Asian Games in Japan.
Looking back at Nana Patekar's remarkable life and illustrious career through a collection of photographs.
Cricket legend Kapil Dev has cautioned against creating 'excessive hype' around 15-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, drawing parallels with Vinod Kambli's career, and urged the media to give the young talent time to develop.
Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has revealed that Royal Challengers Bengaluru considered him for the captaincy ahead of the 2019 IPL season, a plan that was derailed by a change in coaching staff.
The Premier League resumed after the international break with Arsenal securing a 2-1 comeback victory over Leeds United. Chelsea thrashed Bournemouth 5-1, while Tottenham salvaged a late draw against Manchester United. The return of the league was overshadowed by Manchester City's alleged financial breaches, which the club denies.
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is establishing a 24x7 command centre and implementing extensive civic preparations to ensure the smooth hosting of the 18th BRICS Summit. These measures include enhanced sanitation, beautification, traffic management, and coordination among various agencies to present a welcoming city for world leaders.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, extended their rally in early trade, driven by strong buying in bank stocks, Reliance Industries, and positive global cues, despite foreign institutional investors offloading equities.
India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is set to play for Saurashtra in their opening Ranji Trophy match against Chhattisgarh, with Jaydev Unadkat retaining captaincy, as the team aims for a strong start to the 2026-27 season.
Elon Musk has renewed his criticism of Mukesh Ambani regarding Starlink's entry into India, accusing Ambani's supporters of hypocrisy for simultaneously claiming Starlink can't compete with low prices and that it poses a strong competitive threat. Musk argues that competition would benefit Indian consumers and that Starlink would adjust pricing if too expensive. He also shared reports alleging Reliance-funded political donations. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated India does not permit monopolies and that multiple players, including Starlink, have received satcom licences.
Try this Bengali dish of tender bottle gourd cooked with golden urad dal badis and a handful of spices,
Leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc met President Droupadi Murmu, alleging 'vote chori' and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with the repeal of assembly polls from the last two years. Rahul Gandhi expressed shock that the President did not deny the 'election theft' charge but sought proof.
Mumbai captain Siddhesh Lad has stated that he respects the selectors' decision to exclude Suryakumar Yadav from the Ranji Trophy season opener, emphasising that players who have prepared well will always be considered.
