Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a strong address at the UN General Assembly, rejecting US allegations against Iran and accusing Washington and Israel of aggression and terrorism. He criticised US sanctions, defended Iran's peaceful nuclear programme, and highlighted the Palestinian issue.
US PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai is set to make his debut at the 2026 DP World India Championship, joining a strong field of global golf stars including Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, and other Major winners, alongside Indian talents Shubhankar Sharma and Anirban Lahiri.
China's communist party has expelled two senior military officials, including General Zhang Youxia, the highest-ranking People's Liberation Army officer, for serious discipline and law violations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his fourth shortest Independence Day speech on Saturday, lasting 75 minutes, marking his shortest address in four years. This analysis compares his recent speech lengths to his previous addresses and those of other former prime ministers.
The NCP (SP) has demanded a complete rollback of the 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000, effective October 15. The party termed the move a "direct assault" on small traders and shopkeepers, accusing the Modi government of "double standards" by burdening small merchants while large industrialists benefit from loan write-offs.
The British government has announced the rollout of specialist courts for rape and serious sex offences across England and Wales. Backed by significant funding, these courts aim to accelerate conviction rates, prioritise cases, and provide better support for victims, addressing the current low prosecution rates and long delays in the justice system.
Double Olympic-medallist Manu Bhaker finished fifth in the women's 10m air pistol individual event at the Asian Games, while India narrowly missed a team bronze, finishing fourth. Other Indian shooters Esha Singh and Suruchi Singh also did not qualify for the final. India's shooting contingent has secured seven medals so far, but no gold.
Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton has stated that China is not prepared to back India's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. He highlighted that any expansion of permanent membership would require a UN Charter amendment, which China could veto. Bolton also discussed the broader institutional challenges facing the UN and suggested that regime change in Iran is crucial for long-term stability in West Asia, linking Houthi attacks to Iran's "ring of fire" strategy.
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.
Check Point Software Technologies has appointed Krishnan V V as its Managing Director and Country Head for India and South Asia. He will be responsible for business strategy, P&L, go-to-market execution, and organisational development, leveraging his three decades of leadership experience in the cybersecurity and technology sectors.
Typhoon Dujuan is approaching East Japan's Pacific Coast, bringing warnings of heavy rain, strong winds, and landslides. The typhoon has already caused transportation disruptions and led to the postponement of an equestrian event at the Asian Games venue.
India is poised to secure its first overseas Test series victory in three years as they face Sri Lanka in the second and final match, with skipper Shubman Gill and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal under pressure to deliver substantial knocks.
Star Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu is set to compete in the Asian Games, aiming to secure her first medal at the event. Despite an Olympic silver and world title, an Asian Games medal remains the only major honour missing from her collection, making this a crucial competition for her.
Two-time Olympic gold medallist Shaunae Miller-Uibo has been announced as the International Event Ambassador for the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon. The Bahamian sprinter, known for her explosive finishes and consistent performance, will visit New Delhi to be part of the event, aiming to inspire runners with her journey of progress and consistency.
Veteran golfer Khalin Joshi has significantly extended his lead to six shots at the halfway stage of the Bengaluru Open 2026, following a strong four-under 68 in the second round. He now stands at 15-under 129, with local teenager Manoj S in second place.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir believes ODI and Test skipper Shubman Gill is fortunate to have the guidance of former captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Gambhir highlighted Gill's tough job as a young captain in team selection and expressed confidence in Gill's ability to turn around his one-day cricket performance ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
India's national soft tennis federation is pushing for the sport's inclusion in the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, following a historic Asian Games medal. Special Advisor Harshang Khodadhara highlighted India's strong global ranking and its position as the leading Commonwealth nation in soft tennis, expressing confidence in winning gold medals if included.
In Rediff's new series on modern marriages, young couples from across India discuss how they deal with differences of opinion, lifestyle preferences and personal choices. Here, Tanya* tells Rishika Shah/Rediff how discovering that her husband met his ex-girlfriend left her struggling to rebuild trust, even though she has no proof that he cheated.
In the latest episode of The Rediff Podcast, Saurabh Sachdeva gets candid about the years of struggle and the lessons he had to unlearn to find his place in cinema.
Allu Arjun and Atlee's Raaka has set a Guinness World Record for the Most People Motion-Captured in Real-Time, involving 37 performers simultaneously.
The UK has successfully test-fired a US torpedo from an undersea drone, marking a significant advancement in submarine technology for the AUKUS partners (UK, US, Australia). This development coincides with Prime Minister Andy Burnham's visit to the UN General Assembly, where he is discussing global challenges like AI, the Ukraine conflict, and West Asia security with international leaders, and announced the UK will host the G20 Leaders' Summit in Manchester next November.
New Zealand recalled Adam Milne and Michael Bracewell for their upcoming T20 series against India, while Rachin Ravindra remains sidelined due to a shoulder injury sustained during a promotional shoot.
An 18-year-old man, Sumit Giri, was allegedly stabbed to death in Naraina Village, West Delhi, following an argument among friends that began with a joke about calling someone "Papa". The incident escalated, leading to the fatal stabbing and subsequent assault by the accused's brother. Police have registered a murder case and are investigating the motive.
'The FFI jury said Gondhal is the best film in terms of overall quality -- the sound, background music and cinematography.' 'In every aspect, I don't think this film can be compared to other Indian films. This may sound like overconfidence, but we know what we have done.'
India's Election Commission's centralised voter database systems, ERONET and ECINet, are under scrutiny following concerns raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi regarding the centralisation of electoral rolls and control available to state election officials. The article explains how these systems work and why they are currently in the news.
'Nanandan Yadav was hiding in the Madwa Pahari locality when the police surrounded him. He tried to flee, and was shot during the encounter.'
Quimcy D'Souza, a self-funded and self-coached Indian teqball player, competed at the Asian Games with the aim of popularising the sport in India. Despite narrowly missing out on two bronze medals, D'Souza views her journey as a crucial first step towards establishing teqball in the country and inspiring more athletes.
The Indian women's table tennis team secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Pakistan, topping Group F with three consecutive wins and advancing to the quarterfinals of the Asian Games. Key players Sutirtha Mukherjee, Syndrela Das, and Sreeja Akula contributed to the decisive win.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha announced that the state government has allotted 30 acres of land to the Tripura Cricket Association (TCA) for establishing a modern cricket academy. This initiative aims to provide advanced training facilities for budding cricketers, complemented by the appointment of spotters to identify talent at the village level and the development of all-weather practice grounds.
The Election Commission has announced that elections for 12 Rajya Sabha seats across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal will take place on October 16. This includes 10 seats from Uttar Pradesh, one from Uttarakhand, and a bypoll in West Bengal, with significant implications for party representation, particularly for the BJP and BSP.
A 25-year-old woman, Sneha, succumbed to severe head injuries in Raichur, Karnataka. She was found injured near her parents' house, where she had been staying after leaving her husband due to domestic conflicts. Police have registered a murder case, with her husband and a friend named as suspects, and investigations are ongoing.
Eighteen-year-old Indian shooter Parth Mane secured a silver medal in the men's 10m air rifle team event at the Asian Games, marking his senior continental debut.
Will Jacks delivered a career-best bowling performance with 5-22 and an unbeaten 46 runs, leading England to an 89-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first One Day International. England posted 265, with Harry Brook scoring 67, before bowling out Sri Lanka for 176. This win extends England's recent strong form in the ODI format.
'I have seen all the storms and floods. I have crawled and reached here.'
Air India is developing a new in-house 'Vista Digital Platform' for its in-flight entertainment system, set to launch progressively from late 2027. This platform aims to integrate entertainment, loyalty, commerce, and travel services, enhancing passenger experience and boosting ancillary revenues through features like 'commerce-on-map' and personalisation.
Former NITI Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar has urged the government to maintain zero-fee UPI transactions for several more years, arguing that the benefits of UPI as a public good outweigh the costs. This comes amidst the government's recent decision to introduce a 0.4% fee on person-to-merchant UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 from October 15, a move that has drawn criticism.
A minor girl in Raipur was allegedly repeatedly raped and impregnated by her father, who then arranged her delivery using forged documents and sold the newborn. Eight people, including the father, aunt, and nurses, have been arrested in connection with the horrific crime, which also involved a forced abortion.
United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that Iranian airlines could be effectively shut out of international travel from Wednesday, September 23, as Washington threatens secondary sanctions against foreign companies that continue providing services to Iran's carriers.
NPCI chief Dilip Asbe stated that only about 10% of UPI transaction value might see charges passed to consumers, primarily from large corporates already absorbing credit card fees. He highlighted that 80% of Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) would come from businesses with over Rs 1,000 crore turnover, and a significant portion of transactions will remain charge-free. A new fund, potentially Rs 3,000 crore, will also be created from MDR collection to support small merchants and accelerate UPI acceptance.
Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan and Home Secretary Govind Mohan have been granted a one-year extension in their service by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. Somanathan's tenure is extended beyond August 2026, and Mohan's beyond August 2026, up to August 2027, under special provisions for key government officials.
