A Palghar court has sentenced Madhu Dharma Govari to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a minor boy. The court rejected the defence's claim of improbability in a crowded locality, emphasizing that "bystander apathy" does not undermine a victim's testimony. Forensic evidence and the victim's credible account corroborated the conviction under POCSO Act and IPC.
Indian firm Bharat Forge and US defence major Pratt & Whitney Canada have announced a collaboration to support the development of India's high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle. This partnership involves integrating advanced turboprop engines into a DRDO-designed UAV, bolstering India's indigenous defence capabilities under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, stated that Starlink's services in India must be affordable for widespread adoption and that competition would benefit consumers, despite potentially reducing Reliance Jio's profits. He criticised Reliance Jio as a 'de facto monopoly' in India, alleging that certain business conglomerates were blocking Starlink's entry.
Indian lawyer Vijay Aggarwal, currently in London on sexual assault charges, now faces accusations of rape and facilitating exploitation. His assistant and another individual are also implicated. Aggarwal, known for representing Mehul Choksi, was denied bail due to flight risk and concerns over a "sinister recruiting campaign." The trial is scheduled for March 2027.
Defending champions Jammu and Kashmir made an impressive start to their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A campaign, dismissing Madhya Pradesh for 196 on the opening day. Medium pacer Rohit Sharma led the attack with a five-wicket haul, while Sunil Kumar added four wickets. J&K were 3/1 at stumps, trailing by 193 runs.
Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub, have been granted regular bail by a Goa court in a case involving the alleged manipulation of a Health Department NOC to obtain an excise licence. The alleged forgery came to light after a devastating fire at the nightclub in December 2025 killed 25 people. Despite the bail, the brothers will remain in custody due to a separate High Court order in the fire tragedy case, with stringent conditions imposed by the court.
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh has voiced concerns over significant delays in inducting new combat jets, including the Tejas aircraft, which are impacting the Indian Air Force's depleting fighter squadron strength. He stressed the need for annual induction of 36-40 jets to address the gaps and discussed ongoing procurement plans like the MRFA deal and future strategies for combat aircraft and theatre commands.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that evidence suggests a flydubai pilot attempted to crash a Tel Aviv-bound flight, but was stopped by an Israeli passenger and a crew member.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has signed an MoU with the Drone Federation of India (DFI) to enhance its counter-drone capabilities. This partnership aims to strengthen security at vital installations like airports, nuclear facilities, and oil refineries by fostering engagement with Indian drone startups and technology companies for capacity building, research, and operational readiness against aerial threats.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has signed a new contract until June 2030, extending his tenure after guiding the club to their first Premier League title in 22 years and restoring their status as a top European team.
Defending champions India secured a dramatic 4-3 victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asian Games hockey semifinal, thanks to a last-minute goal by Abhishek. India initially led 3-0 but allowed Pakistan to stage a comeback, scoring three goals to level the score before Abhishek's decisive strike with just 45 seconds remaining. The win sends India to the final, though their second-half performance raised questions.
An Indian firm, Bharat Forge, and US defence major Pratt & Whitney Canada have announced a collaboration to develop India's high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This partnership will focus on integrating advanced turboprop engines into the DRDO-designed HALE UAV, bolstering India's indigenous defence capabilities under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The collaboration aims to enhance India's strategic self-reliance in surveillance and reconnaissance technology.
India is deeply concerned by the growing consolidation of Pakistan-backed jihadi and radical Islamist groups in Bangladesh, particularly in the strategically vital Chittagong Hill Tracts, which experts warn is transforming the country into a new safe haven for these networks and posing a direct threat to India's security.
In a major operational milestone, US fifth-generation F-35 stealth fighter jets are set to participate in joint combat drills alongside the Indian Air Force (IAF) for the first time during the upcoming multinational air exercise Tarang Shakti 2026.
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Chief of Air Staff, has expressed significant concern over the inordinate delays in inducting new combat jets, including the indigenous Tejas aircraft, stating that these delays are severely impacting the Indian Air Force's depleting fighter squadron strength. He highlighted the need for 36-40 new fighter jets annually to address these gaps and voiced worry over Pakistan's collaboration with China on a fifth-generation fighter jet.
Indian hockey stars Hardik Singh and Manpreet Singh shared their thoughts on the recent Asian Games gold medal win, which also secured their qualification for the LA 2028 Olympics. They discussed their dietary plans, coach Craig Fulton's positive influence, and the team's belief in their attacking prowess.
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has dismissed Professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, also a Congress MP, following sexual harassment complaints from at least 11 female students. Akoijam has termed his dismissal a 'witch hunt' and questioned the due process.
Police recovered a mobile phone, SIM cards and documents described as incriminating from his possession.
Former teammates Gouramangi Singh and Clifford Miranda meet in opposing dugouts as FC Goa take on Chennaiyin FC at Fatorda in the ISL opener on Saturday.
Patrice Caine, Chairman and CEO of Thales, highlighted Artificial Intelligence as both a major cybersecurity challenge, accelerating attack speed and autonomy, and a crucial tool for defenders. He also warned about quantum computing's future threat to encrypted data. Thales introduced new AI-powered solutions like Luna 8 and CipherTrust DSPM at its Cyber Summit 2026 to combat these evolving threats.
Specialised range taking shape in Andhra Pradesh, while West Bengal clears way for DRDO's new testing facility.
India faces a challenging FIFA international friendly against two-time world champions Uruguay in Kolkata, aiming to recover from a 0-4 defeat by Brazil.
Economic think tank GTRI has urged the Indian government to withdraw the proposed UPI charges, set to begin on October 15, arguing that the digital payment system should remain free for merchants and consumers. GTRI warns that these charges could lead to higher prices, reduced earnings for small businesses, and weakened household demand, while also benefiting international card networks by eroding UPI's price advantage. The think tank also called for an independent audit of UPI's running costs.
Travis Head launched a fiery defence of Australia's Test team, lambasting former players for unfair criticism while backing Nic Maddinson's recall and dismissing doubts over his opening role.
India's national football team faced five-time champions Brazil in a FIFA international friendly in Kolkata, losing 4-0. Despite a spirited start for the first 25 minutes, Brazil's superior skill and clinical finishing secured a comfortable victory with goals from Estevao, Pedro, and Samuel Lino.
Enzo Maresca, Manchester City's manager, has emphatically defended the club's achievements, rejecting any suggestion their titles were tainted by financial-rule breaches and stating the ongoing investigation would not have deterred him from taking the job.
A news report details how Israel scrambled fighter jets and stood ready to shoot down a Flydubai plane after a co-pilot's cockpit stabbing attempt led to a rapid descent and fears of a hijacking en route to Tel Aviv.
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has officially approved the renaming of the Noida International Airport at Jewar to 'Narendra Modi International Airport, Noida-Jewar', a move Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described as a "major gift" to the state.
The US Department of Justice has initiated its largest denaturalisation effort in modern history, targeting 40 individuals for various serious offences, including fraud and espionage. Among those facing citizenship revocation is Balwinder Singh of California, accused of using a fraudulent identity, and Jinchao Wei, a former US Navy sailor convicted of espionage for China.
The Indian women's national football team, featuring several debutants, suffered a 0-4 defeat to a higher-ranked Russian side in the first of two international friendlies in Kolkata. Despite a strong defensive performance in the first half, Russia broke the deadlock before halftime and extended their lead in the second half, with substitute Kira Petukhova scoring twice. The match provided valuable experience for India's emerging players.
India's men's and women's kabaddi teams marched into the Asian Games finals with comfortable semifinal wins over Thailand and Nepal respectively on Friday, keeping their hopes of defending their gold medals alive.
Brazil's star-studded line-up, including Vinicius Jr and Marquinhos, is set to face India in a friendly match at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, with veteran goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu captaining the Indian side.
Hockey India has announced significant cash awards for the national women's team and support staff following their historic gold medal win at the Asian Games in Japan. The team defeated defending champions China 1-0, securing India's first women's hockey gold at the event in 44 years, with Lalremsiami scoring the winning goal.
Indian archers, fresh from their stellar performance at the Asian Games, are set to compete in the second season of the Archery Premier League (APL) starting October 8 in Hyderabad. The league will feature 48 archers across six franchises, including Asian Games medallists like Kumkum Anil Mohod, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, and Sahil Rajesh Jadhav, alongside international stars.
He was intense on screen, equally intense on stage, and yet, from what I remember of those early days, remarkably at ease amongst ordinary people, remembers Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd).
A Delhi court has ordered the framing of corruption charges against Ved Pal, a former Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) assistant sanitary inspector. He is accused of demanding and accepting bribes from a sweeper, Naresh, who provided audio-video recordings as evidence. The court found a "prima facie case" under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
When it pretends to be deaf, a situation can snowball into something it cannot contain. The government cannot dismiss public anger merely because protests are inconvenient or politically embarrassing, asserts Ramesh Menon.
Brazil, with eight changes to their starting line-up, defeated India 4-0 in a football friendly, with Samuel Lino scoring a brace and Estevao and Pedro also finding the net.
Defending champions Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka face challenging US Open draws, with Alcaraz sharing a loaded half with Djokovic and Sabalenka pursuing a historic three-peat.
Nitesh Siwach secured India's first Greco-Roman wrestling silver medal at the Asian Games since 1962, though he missed out on gold after being defeated by Japan's Yuri Nakazato in the 97kg final. Meanwhile, Mansi Ahlawat lost her bronze medal play-off in the women's 62kg event, and other Indian wrestlers were eliminated in the quarterfinals.
