Ahead of Ganeshotsav, which commences on September 14, Rediff's Divya Nair visits a workshop in Mumbai where young girls, most of them first-timers, are using their brushes to bring Lord Ganesha to life.
Iran's Fars News has released archival footage of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, reportedly filmed before he assumed the leadership, amidst ongoing speculation about his health and whereabouts. This marks the second video release in August, following an earlier undated video from Mehr News agency aiming to counter claims of his critical condition.
'IN-SPACe like an octopus is stretching its tentacles everywhere and choking ISRO.'
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.
Wushu player Divyanshi Choudhary, dropped from the Asian Games squad due to an alleged ACL tear, has accused the national federation of physical and mental harassment, claiming she was medically cleared to compete. The Wushu Association of India maintains she was replaced due to a high-grade ACL tear confirmed by MRI, while Divyanshi alleges foul play to favour another athlete.
Dramatic CCTV footage has emerged showing the moment a five-storey building in Delhi's Satya Niketan collapsed, killing seven people and injuring 11, as rescue operations continue.
A 52-year-old woman in Korba, Chhattisgarh, allegedly died by suicide after becoming upset over repeated internet connectivity issues that disrupted her mobile phone reels. The woman, identified as Manglo Bai Sarathi, consumed pesticide and succumbed during treatment. Police are investigating the incident.
Top Meta India executives, including chief Arun Srinivas, appeared before the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) for the second time in a week regarding alleged Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM) related advertisements on its platforms. Meta has committed to reporting child safety matters directly to India's I4C cybercrime portal, a significant shift from its previous practice of reporting to a US-based centre. The government is pushing for stronger safeguards and accountability from social media platforms to ensure online child safety.
Jamia Millia Islamia has established a four-member fact-finding committee to investigate CCTV footage allegedly showing a chameleon in a student's meal at a hostel mess. This comes amidst ongoing student protests regarding food quality and hygiene. The university is also seeking external agency assistance and will take action if deliberate wrongdoing or misinformation is found, while also installing more CCTV cameras to enhance monitoring.
I had found spending one night at 14,500 feet inside a cottage difficult to get by -- struggling to breathe in the cold, thin, mountain air. Here, our soldiers had fought a ferocious battle at much greater heights in bone-chilling weather, worse than I had encountered. 114 men were killed in action in a 16-hour epic battle against China in Rezang La, the farthest outpost along India's border with China.
Delhi is experiencing heavy rainfall and strong winds, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert, which is impacting ongoing preparations for the crucial BRICS Summit.
J R D Tata, chairman of the Tata group from 1938 to 1991, said that whenever he had to make a difficult decision, he would ask himself, what will be good for India, and what will be good for the Tatas. If he had a doubt, he would decide in favour of India. In the long run, it would turn out well for the Tatas too, he said, points out Arun Maira.
The Asus VM240 AiO combines a sleek, space-saving design with AMD Ryzen 5 performance, a 24-inch display and AI-powered features. Priced at Rs. 66,990, the all-in-one desktop is now available to buy in India, offering a clutter-free setup for work, entertainment and everyday computing.
Amid the video row, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday rejected allegations that the forensic reports that gave a clean chit to him were fabricated and lashed out at the opposition parties, alleging that they have joined hands to defame him.
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan's Facebook post criticising Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar's alleged anti-women remarks has disappeared, with the CMO citing a technical error. The incident has sparked political criticism from CPI(M) and BJP, who question the explanation and accuse the Congress of hypocrisy.
Gurugram Police are set to summon two Punjab Police officials for questioning regarding their alleged involvement in arranging a "fabricated" forensic report for a controversial video linked to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The investigation follows the arrest of two individuals and a complaint alleging coercion to produce a predetermined forensic outcome. This development is part of a larger political controversy surrounding an alleged objectionable video of CM Mann.
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.
The Revolutionaries never draws you into its world nor explains the mind and motivation of its heroes or even the mood within a nation they're going through so much trouble for, observes Sukanya Verma.
The United States has launched a fresh wave of precision strikes, hitting approximately 90 Iranian military targets deep inside Iran, further intensifying a rapidly expanding regional conflict, with Tehran warning of severe retaliation.
Virat Kohli impressed Eknath Shinde with his humility during their London meeting, while the duo discussed Maharashtra's development, sports, youth talent and the cricketer's upcoming ODI milestones.
The Indian government has introduced a 0.4% fee on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 for merchants, effective October 15, sparking strong opposition from political parties and traders. Despite accusations of foreign influence and demands for a rollback, the finance ministry and top functionaries have stated there will be no reversal, citing the need for a self-sustaining digital payments ecosystem.
Former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal has surrendered before a Goa court to begin serving his 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence in a 2013 sexual assault case. This follows a Supreme Court directive and his conviction by the Bombay High Court, which overturned his earlier acquittal. Tejpal's appeal against his conviction is slated for a Supreme Court hearing in September 2026.
Opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, and RJD, have strongly criticised the government's decision to impose a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions exceeding Rs 2,000 made to merchants. They allege the move is a result of "American imperialism" and will lead to increased commodity prices, while the government maintains the charge is on merchants and not consumers, with person-to-person transactions remaining free.
At 22, Ariha Pangambam from Manipur created history by winning the first ever individual gold for India in aerobic gymnastics at the Asian championships.
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.
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, used a satirical "resignation" letter to criticise the Mohan Yadav government in Madhya Pradesh over the deaths of over 30 tribal children in Balaghat district. His letter, addressed to the Governor, highlighted failures in compensation, basic amenities like water and education, and tribal welfare, questioning the government's accountability. The issue has also drawn the attention of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which sought responses from state departments regarding the alleged deaths due to infectious diseases and inadequate facilities.
The opposition has strongly criticised the government's decision to introduce a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions above Rs 2,000 for merchants, effective October 15. They allege the move is a result of US pressure and will lead to increased commodity prices, calling it a "betrayal" of the common man. The government, however, clarifies that customers will not be charged, and the MDR applies only to merchants for larger transactions.
'I want to make it absolutely clear that I did not say that Rani Padmavati was a coward, or that the other women, the queens of the palace, and the women who did Jauhar were cowards.'
The Indian government is reportedly planning to introduce a social media code of conduct for its officers and employees. This move aims to regulate their online activities, preventing the posting of personal opinions or content that glorifies their work on platforms like X, Facebook, and Instagram, addressing the current lack of specific guidelines.
The Bombay High Court has declined to issue a prohibitory order against Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange's proposed protest march to Mumbai, stating that the Maharashtra government is fully capable of managing any potential law and order situation. The court emphasised the right to protest in a democratic country and directed the government to ensure Jarange receives medical assistance if needed.
The Nomad Games, a biannual tournament of traditional nomadic sports, has drawn over 3,000 athletes from more than 100 countries to Kyrgyzstan, including many from Western nations keen to experience ancient Central Asian traditions like horseback archery and Kok Boru.
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.
Nora Fatehi is embroiled in a Rs 3 crore civil defamation lawsuit filed by Dunes Aviation, which claims her 'Lego airplane' comments on social media severely damaged its reputation and commercial operations.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board hosted 'Koh-E-Zafar' in New Delhi to celebrate the strong cricketing friendship between India and Afghanistan.
Glimpses of swollen rivers, submerged ghats and waterlogged neighbourhoods after relentless monsoon rains lashed Uttarakhand on August 18, 2026.
A 13-year-old girl in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, died ten days after allegedly being beaten by a teacher. Police have registered an FIR against the school headmaster, class teacher, and a classmate for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and the teachers have been suspended.
"Everything was here before, but now there is nothing left," said Nayan Tiwari, one of many residents returning to flood-hit Galchhi in central Nepal to recover whatever belongings remain and to restore homes that once held their everyday lives.
'Gurmmeet Singh was extremely sure in his head that the canvas should be bigger. The movie should look big on screen. It should look like the Mirzapur world but at the same time, much bigger.'
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.
Chinese President Xi Jinping's first visit to India in seven years for the BRICS Summit and bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address crucial aspects of India-China relations, including trade, investment, and persistent border tensions.
