'She was not burdened by the knowledge of her craft and the world. She just was a child till her last days.' 'When she smiled, everybody in the room would light up.'
A POCSO court in Assam's Dhubri district has sentenced Utpal Ray to death for the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in 2023, terming the crime "rarest of rare". The convict also received life imprisonment for rape and other sentences for related offences.
Residents of Kanjhawala, New Delhi, are in shock after the headless body of a newborn infant, estimated to be two to three months old, was discovered near a crematorium. Police have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances of the death, how the body was brought to the location, and who abandoned it. Multiple police teams are searching for the missing head, and authorities are checking crematorium records and questioning staff.
Kalyan Bainsla has been arrested in connection with an alleged road rage incident in Gurugram where he reportedly hit a woman biker with his car after making indecent comments. The victim, Shivani Chauhan, survived due to protective gear. Bainsla, who claims it was an accident, was apprehended in Rajasthan's Dausa, and police are investigating the role of another person present.
Surendra Koli, who was at the centre of the sensational Nithari killings and subsequently acquitted in all 13 cases, was found hanging at his tea stall in Haridwar, police confirmed, with investigations ongoing into the suspected suicide.
Floods have forced hundreds of government schools across Bihar to shut, disrupting studies for thousands of students.
We started with notebooks and graduated to lavatories, self defence classes, laptops during the lockdown... And, every Ganeshotsav, the contributions increased, says Ananya Chincholikar.
The Supreme Court has asked the CBSE to consider deferring the implementation of its three-language policy for Class 6 students, which mandates two native Indian languages, until the academic session starting 2027. The CBSE stated it would consider the suggestion. The policy, aligned with NEP-2020, makes two native Indian languages compulsory for Class 6 and Class 9, with provisions for foreign languages as additional options and no board exams for the third language in Class 10.
For five Mumbaikars who were teenagers or in their 20s during the 1980s, the decade was not a sepia-toned Instagram filter. It was their everyday life, they tell Rediff's Rishika Shah. And while they remember its limitations, what they seem to miss most is something technology can't recreate -- the unhurried warmth of human connection.
The question for the next 20 years is not whether India can become a $5 trillion or $10 trillion economy. Those are attractive targets, but the real question is whether India can create enough productive jobs, educate its children properly, make its cities liveable, and give hundreds of millions of people a substantially better life, asserts Ramesh Menon.
A six-year-old boy from Kushinagar, Alfaz Sheikh, has donated his entire year's savings from a piggy bank to help victims of devastating floods in neighbouring Nepal. Moved by images of the destruction, he personally handed over his savings to the District Magistrate, inspiring officials with his profound humanitarian gesture.
Ranchi police have announced rewards for information leading to the whereabouts of three children missing from Dhurwa and an 18-month-old girl missing from Khorha Colony, with forensic examination underway for remains found in the latter case.
Legendary Brazilian captain Cafu has urged India to shed its "tiny status" mindset in football and believe in its potential for growth, offering Brazil's cooperation. He responded to Bhaichung Bhutia's concerns about an India-Brazil friendly, emphasising the importance of grassroots development and international collaboration, drawing parallels with Japan and China's success. Cafu also shared his personal journey of overcoming doubts to become a football legend.
Glimpses from Janmashtami celebrations taking shape across India before the festival.
The Supreme Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to comply with its previous order to identify land for establishing Navodaya Vidyalayas in each district of the state, emphasising cooperative federalism and urging a change in mindset regarding the central government's education policy.
Authorities in Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh, have demolished the three-storey house of Naushad, the main accused in a cracker factory blast that killed 13 people, including 11 children. The demolition followed the arrest of Naushad and two women, with police also suspending nine personnel for negligence and seeking other absconding suspects.
Polio survivor Rupa Sahu has turned her disability into a mission to protect others and spent 20 years going door to door to vaccinate children against the dreaded disease.
'My suggestion to Nandan Nilekani is that it would be worthwhile for him to take a holistic review in a manner in which examination is just one critical component.'
Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj has been remanded to one-day judicial custody by a Delhi court in connection with the alleged assault on the father of a student activist during a protest at Jantar Mantar. The Delhi Police have added charges under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and criminal intimidation, along with a POCSO case, following his detention and previous claims of "cracking the skull" of the activist's father.
An e-rickshaw driver, Abhishek, was stabbed to death by unidentified assailants in Delhi's Shahbad Dairy area. His family and locals protested by blocking a road with his body, demanding justice. Police have registered a case, formed multiple teams, and are investigating the incident, examining CCTV footage to identify the accused.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 76th birthday was celebrated with extensive programmes in Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency. Events included special prayers by 76 young priests, a milk 'abhishek' of the Ganga, and a significant 'Seva Sankalp' motorcycle journey from Varanasi to Vadnagar, Modi's birthplace, involving 500 participants. Several prominent political figures, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, participated in the celebrations, offering prayers for Modi's health and India's progress.
Eleven juveniles escaped from an observation home in Rajkot, Gujarat, after breaking CCTV cameras and grilles. While one Pakistani national returned and two others were apprehended, eight juveniles remain missing, prompting a large-scale search operation.
A gym trainer, Vijay Kumar, was shot dead by two bike-borne assailants in south Delhi's Aya Nagar. Police suspect personal enmity and are investigating a possible link to a long-running village rivalry, including other recent violent incidents in the area.
A Delhi court has convicted a couple, Hareena Ray alias Reena and Jeetu Kumar, for abandoning their premature and medically vulnerable infant in a hospital. The court rejected their defence that leaving the child in a medical facility implied an intention for treatment, ruling that their actions demonstrated a clear intent to wholly abandon the child, who later died.
Abhijit Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has challenged ministers and politicians to send their children to village schools for at least a day to truly grasp the difficulties faced by rural students, who often walk several kilometres for education.
Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj has been remanded to one-day police custody by a Delhi court judge, facing charges under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, criminal intimidation, and the POCSO Act following allegations of assault and online harassment.
Former snooker world champion Graeme Dott has been convicted of sexually abusing two children several decades ago following a trial in a Scottish court, with sentencing scheduled for next month.
Prominent individuals, including Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani and Zerodha founders Nithin and Nikhil Kamath, have appeared on a notice list during Karnataka's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls due to various discrepancies. Authorities clarify that these notices are part of a verification process and officials will assist in resolving the issues without inconveniencing the individuals, also debunking reports about CM D K Shivakumar's mother receiving a notice.
On Friday, Kashmiri Pandits participated in a colourful procession as part of Janmashtami celebrations in Srinagar, with tight security arrangements deployed along the route.
For its 80th year, Mumbai's Parelcha Raja Narepark pays tribute to Maharashtra's Warkari tradition of worshipping Lord Vitthal with a towering 23 feet Ganesha idol, for which water was brought in from Pandharpur's Chandrabhaga river.
A three-year-old nursery student in Delhi was allegedly sexually assaulted by her school bus driver, leading to his arrest. Police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and issued an advisory to schools regarding staff verification and vehicle use.
A 52-year-old government school headmaster in Hoshiarpur has been arrested for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl earlier this month. The case was registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and POCSO Act, with investigations ongoing.
Prince William and Kate have launched a sports-led suicide prevention initiative, urging organisations across Britain to foster open conversations, recognise warning signs and make support accessible.
The Delhi High Court has urged the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to establish clear guidelines and timelines for female athletes returning to competitive sports after maternity leave. The court's observations came during a hearing for grappler Vinesh Phogat, who is seeking permission to participate in selection trials for the 2026 Senior World Championships after her maternity break. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma highlighted the unfairness faced by women athletes post-childbirth and criticised the WFI's current policies, hinting at the need for a balanced framework.
A gym trainer, Vijay Kumar, was shot dead in south Delhi's Aya Nagar. Police suspect personal enmity and are investigating a possible link to a longstanding village rivalry. The incident involved multiple gunshots and occurred after the victim was called out of a gym.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting expressed his belief that the growth of cricket in the United States has been slower than anticipated, but he remains optimistic about its potential, especially with the US national team's increasing competitiveness and the sport's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar has urged the 30-member Indian shooting contingent for the Asian Games to prioritise individual medals over team events. He also highlighted the need for significant improvements in coaching, advocating for more former international medallists in the system, and stressed the importance of better grassroots talent identification, drawing comparisons with China. Kumar also commented on the void left by coach Jaspal Rana's death and questioned recent selection policies.
Thousands gathered on the banks of the River Thames in London for the first-ever Ganga Aarti, a traditional Hindu ceremony of light and thanksgiving. Organised by Chinmaya Mission UK as part of the 'Totally Thames' festival, the event symbolised gratitude for nature and knowledge, while also celebrating 75 years of the Chinmaya Mission. The ceremony was conducted on land to ensure environmental responsibility.
Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem's new film Bunker received a remarkable 16-minute standing ovation at the Venice film festival, marking the longest applause for a premiere at this year's event.
A 33-year-old gym owner, Kalyan Bainsla, has been arrested in Rajasthan for allegedly ramming his car into a woman biker, Shivani Chauhan, on Gurugram's Golf Course Road. The incident, captured on video, led to charges of attempt to murder and stalking after police investigation revealed alleged indecent comments and deliberate intent to harm. Bainsla's cousin and another friend have also been detained.
