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.
Indian boxer Parveen advanced to the women's 65kg quarterfinals at the Asian Games via a walkover, while Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg) and Sumit (70kg) were eliminated. Sakshi lost her pre-quarterfinal bout to Kazakhstan's Alua Balkibekova, and Sumit conceded his pre-quarterfinal due to a knee injury.
Sandeep Mistry, a key associate of fugitive businessman Nirav Modi, has been arrested by the CBI after his deportation from the UAE. Mistry is implicated in the Rs 6,498.20 crore Punjab National Bank scam, where he allegedly facilitated forged documents, coerced dummy directors, and siphoned funds. He has been remanded to judicial custody.
The Indian government is pressing all states and Union Territories (UTs) to publish their rules under the four new labour Codes by October 31, aiming to fully operationalise the new labour law framework. This move is crucial as labour falls under the concurrent list, requiring state-level rule-making for effective implementation.
Rest of India defeated Jammu and Kashmir by 167 runs to win the Irani Cup, providing a perfect birthday gift for Captain Rishabh Pant. Despite Pant being sidelined with fever, the team's pacers, led by Mukesh Kumar, secured a sensational victory by adjusting their bowling strategy in the second innings. Young batter Ravichandran Smaran also played a crucial role with a superb century.
Five British nationals arrested on suspicion of terror charges related to an explosives threat near RAF Fairford have been released on police bail. The Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) investigation is ongoing, with stringent conditions placed on the suspects. Iran has denied any involvement, while former US President Donald Trump claimed US intelligence assisted in the arrests.
India has accumulated experience organically and in public, through blood, sweat and toil -- one commissioning and one agreement at a time -- and is called a regional power. China has accumulated hulls, by misdirecting its industrial capacity, and is mistakenly called a superpower. The Indo-Japan defence agreement pushes this theory to its limits without ever naming the dragon in the room, points out Dr Abhishek Puri.
Leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), including Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, have vowed to escalate their agitation against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, expanding protests nationwide after their release from detention. They allege an "emergency-like situation" created by the Modi government, illegal detentions, and harassment of protesters, drawing parallels to the 1975 Emergency. The CJP is protesting alleged irregularities in voter rolls and demanding Kumar's resignation, accusing authorities of suppressing dissent.
CPI(M) leader John Brittas was allegedly manhandled and injured by Delhi Police personnel during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Rajya Sabha MP was taken to RML Hospital for examination. Brittas has written to the President, Rajya Sabha chairman, and CJI seeking an independent investigation into the alleged assault, claiming he was dragged, assaulted, and abandoned. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor condemned the incident, and other political leaders like M A Baby and Manoj Jha visited Brittas, criticising the police action and alleging brutality against protesters. The protest was organised to demand Kumar's resignation over alleged electoral roll irregularities.
Soha Sadiq and Parth Aggarwal caused significant upsets at the Fenesta Open National Hard court championships by defeating higher-seeded players. Meanwhile, top seeds Manish Sureshkumar and Vaidehee Chaudhari began their campaigns with comfortable straight-sets victories, showcasing strong performances in their respective draws.
India's men's and women's Kabaddi teams successfully defended their gold medals at the Asian Games, both defeating Iran in their respective finals. The men's team secured their ninth gold with a 40-34 victory, while the women's team clinched their fourth gold with a 37-34 win, showcasing strategic play and composure under pressure.
India added significantly to its Asian Games medal tally with strong performances across athletics, squash, and boxing. Ancy Sojan and Sarvesh Kushare secured silver medals in long jump and high jump respectively, while Parul Chaudhary and Harita Bhadra earned bronzes. Despite high hopes, Indian squash players missed out on Olympic berths, settling for silvers. Boxing saw three athletes advance to semifinals, assuring more medals, though individual badminton campaigns concluded without a medal.
Pakistani security forces killed two terrorists from the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province during an intelligence-based operation.
Pranav Karthik caused a significant upset at the 31st Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship in New Delhi on Wednesday, defeating fourth seed Udit Kamboj after rallying from a set down. Other top seeds like Manish Sureshkumar and several women's and junior players also advanced, though the Boys U-18 draw saw its top seed eliminated.
Indian judoka Inunganbi Takhellambam has reached the bronze medal contest in the women's 70kg category at the Asian Games after winning her repechage bout. Her journey included an ippon victory and a walkover. Meanwhile, Yamini Mourya's campaign in the women's 57kg category concluded after defeats in the quarterfinals and repechage rounds. The article also explains key judo terms like ippon, yuko, and Fusen-gachi.
Indian boxer Ankush Panghal secured the country's first medal at the ongoing Asian Games by defeating Tajikistan's Nekruz Salimov 5-0 in the men's 80kg quarter-final, guaranteeing at least a bronze.
Pakistani security forces killed two terrorists in an intelligence-based operation in the Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Following devastating floods in Nepal, Kathmandu has initiated mass burials for unidentified victims as morgues have exceeded capacity. Security forces are burying bodies with markers and collecting DNA samples for future identification. The government has amended the Unidentified and Unclaimed Bodies Management Guidelines, 2021, to facilitate the management of disaster victims, including provisions for autopsies, DNA collection, and temporary burial with identification markers.
A career break does not erase the experience that came before it. But the labour market can act as though it does. The more women invest in building professional careers, the more costly an interruption can become. How, then, do we enable women to make a comeback? Whose responsibility is it? asks Radha Roy Biswas.
The Indian women's hockey team defeated defending champions China 1-0 in the Asian Games final, securing a gold medal and an automatic qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Coach Sjoerd Marijne credited the team's disciplined defence, tireless running, and collective effort for the historic victory.
Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan critically examined police conduct in India, raising serious concerns about alleged assaults on protesters, custodial torture, and the urgent need for comprehensive police reforms to uphold human rights and the rule of law.
Umar Ganie captures glimpses from the Chhari-Mubarak procession as sadhus and devotees begin the final journey to the Amarnath cave shrine.
Thousands of job aspirants in Jharkhand clashed with police during a protest against alleged exam irregularities, demanding a CBI probe and comprehensive reforms in the state's public service commissions.
The UAE has initiated an investigation into a serious incident aboard a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which was forced to divert and land in Saudi Arabia. An Indian pilot was reportedly stabbed by his co-pilot during the flight, leading to an emergency landing. Authorities are examining all circumstances, including potential links to terrorist activity, asserting UAE jurisdiction over the UAE-registered aircraft.
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.
An 11-member Indian team, including medical and tunnel-rescue specialists, has arrived in Nepal to assist in the rescue of workers trapped in hydropower project tunnels following devastating flash floods. The disaster has killed hundreds, left thousands missing, and damaged critical infrastructure, prompting Nepal to seek international aid for rescue and reconstruction.
West Bengal's bypolls in Rejinagar and Nandigram were marked by significant tension, including the arrest of AJUP chief Humayun Kabir, allegations of voter intimidation, and polling irregularities. The incidents highlighted the charged political atmosphere in these key constituencies, with competing claims from various parties amidst sustained voter participation.
Indian shooter Esha Singh, who won a silver medal at the Asian Games in the women's 25m pistol event, shared her experience of the "nerve-racking" five shoot-offs in the final. She expressed no regret over missing gold, attributing her performance to years of experience and crediting her extensive support system. Singh is now focused on upcoming World Championships and Olympic quota events.
A college student from Hamirpur has received a Rs 3.5-crore grant from the Ministry of Defence for developing an advanced drone capable of evading enemy radar and resisting jamming, aimed at enhancing border surveillance for the Indian Army.
The Saudi-led coalition issued a stern warning to Yemen's Houthi rebels after intercepting a drone targeting Mecca, Islam's holiest city. Describing it as a "hostile and terrorist act," the coalition declared the security of holy sites a "red line" and vowed deterrent measures. This incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, with both sides exchanging accusations of military operations and civilian targeting.
An anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district resulted in the killing of a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist. Security forces had maintained a five-day cordon in the Meemandar area, leading to intermittent exchanges of fire.
An 11-member Indian team, including medical personnel and tunnel rescue experts, has arrived in Nepal to assist with rescue operations following devastating flash floods that killed over 500 people and left nearly 2,000 missing. Nepal has requested international aid for specialised tasks and Bailey bridges to restore transport services in the affected areas.
Two Assam Rifles soldiers were killed and several others injured in a militant ambush in Manipur's Ukhrul district. The attack occurred amidst ongoing ethnic violence in the state, which has seen over 260 deaths since May 2023. State Home Minister condemned the incident and vowed strict action against perpetrators.
Indian boxers Sakshi Chaudhary and Sumit faced early exits at the Asian Games. Sakshi lost her pre-quarterfinal bout to Kazakhstan's Alua Balkibekova, while Sumit was forced to concede his match due to a knee injury. Another Indian boxer, Parveen, is scheduled to compete later.
Thousands of young men and women, joined by prominent personalities, protested at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar despite police denial of permission. Organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the agitation highlighted concerns over transparency in CEC appointments and alleged irregularities in electoral roll revisions.
The Indian men's chess team secured a silver medal on a tie-break after drawing with Hungary, while the women's team clinched a bronze medal by drawing with Georgia at the 46th Chess Olympiad.
On Thursday, September 17, two suspected Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists were killed and a suspect was detained during an anti-terror operation in Jammu's Udhampur district.
Nitesh Siwach has secured India's first silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Asian Games since 1962, despite missing out on gold in the men's 97kg final against Japan's Yuri Nakazato.
Rahul Gandhi led a significant opposition protest in New Delhi, attempting to march to the Election Commission office to allege "vote chori" and demand the CEC's resignation. The protest resulted in a lockdown of Parliament Street, a standoff at the All India Radio premises, and detentions of several opposition MPs, drawing strong reactions from the ruling BJP.
Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh clinched silver medals at the Asian Games, showcasing their potential despite falling short of gold against formidable Malaysian opponents and missing direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
