Shoaib Akhtar has ruled out joining the PCB, saying his mother advised him to stay away from Pakistan cricket politics amid chief selector speculation.
Rediff Readers Nikhil V Damle and Dr Sunil Karamchandani pay tribute to that master teller of stories, Jeffrey Archer.
'...He would have hated to be ill or to be hospitalised.'
The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has made a significant breakthrough, arresting Parminder Kaka alias Parminder Prasad, an alleged associate of the Goldy Dhillon gang, for his suspected role as the shooter in the high-profile murder of Punjabi social media influencer and makeup artist Mad Sandhu in Amritsar.
Dwayne Bravo says ODI cricket could soon see 500-run totals as batters dominate, while Chris Gayle welcomes the fearless approach of the new generation.
The Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested a middleman and detained a senior medical officer in Bharatpur for allegedly demanding and accepting a Rs 35,000 bribe to prepare a medical report showing grievous injuries. An investigation under the Prevention of Corruption Act is ongoing.
Delhi Police have busted a major interstate racket involved in forging disability certificates to facilitate admissions under the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category. Nine individuals have been apprehended, and 27 fake certificates were recovered. The network allegedly manipulated Aadhaar addresses using AI tools and involved education consultants and government employees across Uttar Pradesh.
James Hopes and Brad Haddin have resigned from their coaching positions with Punjab Kings to take on head coaching roles in Australia, with Hopes heading to Queensland and Brisbane Heat, and Haddin to New South Wales.
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.
Leading Australian women cricketers and the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) are urging Cricket Australia (CA) to schedule more matches during the peak summer months, arguing the current calendar is hindering the team's growth and missing opportunities to build on the sport's development.
Delhi Police seized 78,800 banned foreign cigarette sticks of nine international brands and arrested a 45-year-old man, Junaid Ahmed, for illegal stocking and sale. The action followed a tip-off and a raid in Khari Baoli, where the cigarettes were found without mandatory health warnings.
Instead of simply choosing the drink, you are encouraged to choose the coffee bean first. How much roast do you like? What kind of acidity suits your palate? Do you want something brighter, more delicate or richer?
Ravi Shastri received a signed copy of Jeffrey Archer's final novel days before the author's death.
India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal is reportedly adding wicketkeeping to his cricketing repertoire, alongside his batting and leg-spin. Mumbai captain Siddhesh Lad confirmed Jaiswal's practice sessions, noting his intention to enhance his game. Jaiswal will be available for Mumbai's Ranji Trophy opener but will miss subsequent matches due to national commitments.
India has strongly condemned the recent Houthi militant attacks on two Saudi Arabian airports, asserting that the targeting of civilian infrastructure is completely unacceptable.
India's men's hockey team, fresh from retaining its Asian Games title and securing a 2028 Olympics berth, is now preparing for the Asian Champions Trophy. The tournament, featuring six teams including India, will be held in Jalandhar and Mohali from October 27 to November 5. Head coach Craig Fulton emphasizes maintaining intensity for the home challenge, where India aims to extend its record as the most successful team.
Australia's pace spearhead Mitchell Starc likens winning upcoming away Test series in South Africa, India, and England, plus retaining the ODI World Cup, to Rory McIlroy's golf Grand Slam, acknowledging the team's ageing profile and the immense challenge ahead.
Spanish tennis player Paula Badosa has been announced as a Laureus Ambassador, reinforcing her long-standing connection with the movement. Badosa expressed her honour and shared a message of perseverance for young participants in Laureus programmes worldwide, while tennis legend Martina Navratilova welcomed her to the Laureus family.
Five suspects involved in a murder case were arrested in Faridabad following a police encounter. One suspect sustained a gunshot injury. This brings the total arrests in the case to eight, with police continuing their search for remaining accused. The case involves the murder of 45-year-old Laxman and injury to his nephew during an attack on Sunday night.
Paralympic Committee of India president Devendra Jhajharia on Thursday strongly defended the selection process for the upcoming Asian Para Games, insisting that all criteria prescribed by the PCI, Sports Ministry and SAI had been followed, while also leaving the door open for addressing concerns raised by protesting athletes.
The CBI has arrested the principal of an Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) in Nuapada, Odisha, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 12,000. The principal was accused of seeking money for recommending a woman's service extension as an Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery (ANM) at the school.
Indian cricket stalwarts Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar have expressed their condolences following the passing of veteran actor Nana Patekar, who died at 75 after a cardiac arrest. Both cricketers remembered Patekar's significant contributions to Indian cinema and his impactful personality.
'We see a lot of cases of bank deposits getting lost, especially when people die, so this will help address that because you have one consolidated view.'
'We are ready to help Prime Minister Modi achieve his vision of 100 per cent connectivity throughout India -- a vision all of our company, including Elon, shares,' Lauren Dreyer, vice-president of Starlink business operations at SpaceX, said at the pre-business day of the India Mobile Congress in New Delhi.
They had bought Rs 29,631 crore worth of shares in August.
A man named Fayaz Ahmad has been arrested in Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly creating and sharing a digitally edited video on social media that depicted a fake explosion at a Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) camp along the India-Nepal border. The video, which targeted a sensitive security installation, led to an investigation and his subsequent arrest for breach of peace.
IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the Indian government will release a consultation paper on AI regulations within a month. This framework will address critical aspects like AI safety, deepfakes, and a human-first approach, emphasising the industry's primary responsibility in ensuring safe AI deployment. The move comes amidst growing global concerns over AI risks and the need for robust safeguards.
Bashir Usman Shaikh, the founder and principal of Adarsh International School in Latur, who was absconding after being accused of sexually harassing minor girl students, has been arrested by police. He was booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the stringent POCSO Act on October 4.
Indian para-shooters staged a protest during the send-off ceremony for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games contingent, alleging widespread corruption, manipulation, and financial extortion in the selection process.
Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain paid tribute to veteran actor Nana Patekar, who died at 75 on Thursday in Goa due to cardiac arrest. Borgohain expressed her sadness and the unfulfilled dream of meeting him, calling his passing a huge loss for the Indian film industry.
'Existing borrowers who have surplus cash should make partial loan prepayments to offset the impact of rising EMIs and reduce the overall interest burden.'
The Reserve Bank of India's 25-basis point increase in the repo rate to 5.5 per cent is expected to exert pressure on housing affordability and buyer sentiment, particularly affecting interest rate-sensitive segments and potentially moderating sales during the crucial festival season.
That voice, that intensity, that honesty in every performance he was completely his own. Nana Patekar was truly one of a kind.'
'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.
An IndiGo flight from Patna to Lucknow sustained damage to its nose section upon landing at Lucknow airport on Wednesday. All 104 passengers were safe, and the damage was discovered by the airport team post-landing. An investigation is underway, with lightning during adverse weather being a preliminary possibility.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is actively pursuing a strategy to expand cricket in China, leveraging the sport's recent inclusion in the Olympics. Plans include establishing a Centre of Excellence, supporting a Tier 2 event, and promoting women's cricket, with significant investment and collaboration with the Chinese Cricket Association to embed the sport deeper into the country's sporting system.
Newly-appointed Karnataka head coach R Vinay Kumar believes his primary challenge will be understanding and adapting to the mindset of current generation players, who he feels 'need more freedom' to perform effectively.
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.
Air Chief Marshal A P Singh stated on Thursday that the IAF's operational capabilities are advancing and the force is prepared for any challenges, highlighting its growth into a world-class, multi-domain force during the 94th Air Force Day celebrations in Hindan. He also mentioned his upcoming superannuation and the display of combat assets.
The GST Council, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has begun deliberations on significant reforms, including decriminalising nine offences, softening provisions for 24, and raising the threshold for criminal prosecution to Rs 5 crore. The proposed changes also include scrapping the arrest powers of GST officers and introducing an 'invoice matching system' to combat fake input tax credit claims, aiming for a trust-based taxation approach and enhanced ease of doing business.
