TMC MP Mahua Moitra has formally complained to the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, alleging that senior Muslim IAS and IPS officers in West Bengal were deliberately excluded from official events attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Moitra claims these officers were sidelined due to their religion, a pattern she describes as discriminatory and potentially damaging to minority confidence in security establishments.
Congress's Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan has been remanded to judicial custody in connection with old criminal cases, including murder charges from 2007. This development effectively prevents him from campaigning for the upcoming by-election. The Congress party has questioned the timing of the arrest, alleging political motives behind the revival of these long-pending cases.
The Indian IPO market recorded its highest monthly fundraising in September, with 34 mainboard companies raising 39,309 crore, despite a significant decline in the Nifty 50 index.
The Calcutta High Court has ordered the transfer of a case concerning the alleged hurried cremation and destruction of evidence in the R G Kar hospital rape and murder case to the CBI's Special Investigation Team. This decision comes as the CBI is already probing a larger conspiracy in the doctor's death, and the court found it inappropriate for both state and central agencies to investigate the same issue.
Congress's Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan has been sent to judicial custody until October 3 on charges dating back 19 years, effectively ending his campaign for the October 6 by-election.
Indian-origin chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan, aged 11, has been crowned the youngest Woman Grandmaster (WGM) while representing England at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan. This achievement adds to her growing list of records, including being the youngest person to represent England internationally in any sport. She is now one step closer to becoming an International Master.
Congress candidate Milan Pradhan for the Nandigram assembly bypoll was arrested for alleged involvement in the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement. Another party leader, Subhasish Bhattacharya, was also arrested. The Congress alleges political vendetta by the BJP, especially as Pradhan had successfully filed his nomination. The party has questioned the timing and legality of the arrest, particularly during the model code of conduct, and plans demonstrations.
The Supreme Court stated it has not approved any modifications to Form 6, used for electoral roll inclusion, during the Special Intensive Revision. This observation came during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging alleged unilateral decisions by the Chief Election Commissioner regarding changes to Form 6 and electoral roll revisions in states like Goa and West Bengal, without the concurrence of his colleagues. The court issued notice on the plea, highlighting concerns over collective decision-making within the Election Commission.
We have to perform in both batting and bowling, Axar Patel says ahead of India's Asian Games 2026 cricket final against Pakistan on Saturday.
The West Bengal government is organising live public screenings of the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at Nandan in Kolkata and other district locations. Each district has been allocated Rs 1 lakh for arrangements, with security and logistics being coordinated for the event.
The INDIA bloc is set to convene on September 30 in New Delhi to formulate a unified strategy regarding the Election Commission, focusing on the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and concerns over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The meeting will also address coordinated protests and the CEC selection process, bringing together diverse opposition parties.
Families from Mumbai, Pune, Germany and New Zealand share their Ganeshotsav 2026 celebrations with unique decorations, heartfelt prayers, and festive devotion.
The Indian men's cricket team has advanced to the Asian Games semi-final after their quarter-final match against Afghanistan was abandoned due to rain, with India progressing based on their superior ICC T20I ranking.
The Election Commission has issued an interim order preventing rival factions of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), led by Mamata Banerjee and Arup Roy, from using the party name and its "Flowers and Grass" symbol during the upcoming West Bengal by-elections. Both groups have been directed to submit preferred names and symbols by Friday morning for recognition and allotment for the bypolls, as the EC undertakes a substantive determination of the party dispute.
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.
'...because of the character, how it was to be portrayed, the speech, the scenes.' 'There was a physicality involved because he was a TB patient who eventually had cancer and passed away.'
From a Vantara-inspired jungle shrine to 21 years of family tradition, Rediff's readers prove Bappa's magic knows no boundaries.
Skeletal remains of a BJP worker, Astik Chandra Das, allegedly killed in post-poll violence in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali in 2021, have been exhumed following a court order. His family claims he was assaulted by TMC supporters, denied medical help, and forced to bury the body without a post-mortem. The exhumation was conducted for forensic examination to determine the cause of death, with the family seeking a CBI probe.
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has strongly criticised current skipper Babar Azam following Pakistan's disastrous Test series against England. Akram questioned Babar's awareness of team changes and suggested he should not have taken on the captaincy again, especially after the team's poor performance and subsequent sanctions.
Shalu Manocha, daughter-in-law of murdered pharmaceutical trader Vineet Manocha, has been released by a Kanpur court after police filed a closure report, finding no evidence of her involvement. She was initially arrested based on an accused's statement but a detailed investigation cleared her, leading to the arrest of Vineet's son, Subrat Manocha, for plotting the murder.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty saw a significant rebound in early trade, driven by a sharp decline in crude oil prices and easing geopolitical tensions in the West Asia, which improved market sentiment and reduced inflation fears. Track Sensex, Nifty on July 27.
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.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty extended their losses for the fourth consecutive session, with the Sensex declining 363.66 points and the Nifty dipping 126.65 points, primarily due to a sharp jump in Brent crude oil prices to USD 98.32 per barrel amid escalating tensions in West Asia.
A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal has brought heavy rainfall to parts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, leading to the evacuation of at least 3,500 people and prompting authorities to issue red and orange alerts for several districts.
India has expressed serious concern over Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia's civilian infrastructure and economic assets, stating that such actions threaten regional stability and freedom of navigation through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed the issue with his Saudi counterpart. India also condemned the targeting of commercial shipping after an Indian national went missing following an attack on a Panama-flagged ship off Oman.
The Indian corporate sector demonstrated strong credit quality in the first half of FY27, driven by robust balance sheets and healthy liquidity, despite facing risks from elevated crude prices, inflation, and global interest rates.
Virat Kohli has expressed strong confidence in Shubman Gill's leadership potential, stating that Gill possesses the right perspective and intensity to captain India for a long time.
India successfully facilitated a significant diplomatic meeting between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. This interaction, a diplomatic breakthrough given ongoing West Asia conflicts, occurred as BRICS adopted a declaration urging restraint and protection of civilians in the region, highlighting the bloc's commitment to peace and stability.
The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea by the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction to operate four debit-frozen bank accounts, upholding a Calcutta High Court order. The accounts, holding around Rs 804 crore, are under investigation due to alleged cash deposits and a factional dispute within the party. The court noted the Election Commission's symbol freeze and requested the High Court to expedite the larger adjudication.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New Delhi for the BRICS summit, where he is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to enhance trade and strengthen overall relations. His visit is particularly significant given the heightened tensions in West Asia and recent US economic sanctions against Iran. Pezeshkian highlighted BRICS' role in fostering economic resilience and reducing dependence on the US dollar, while the summit itself aims to address global challenges and bolster collective resilience in critical sectors.
Pakistan's government is exploring measures, including potential smart lockdowns and austerity, to reduce petroleum consumption. This comes after recent fuel price hikes driven by rising global oil prices and West Asia tensions, which have also raised concerns about oil supply disruptions. The government is also implementing a fuel relief scheme and faces public pressure over the price increases.
Virat Kohli, after becoming the second batter to reach 15,000 ODI runs and scoring his 55th ton, stated that personal milestones are not his primary focus.
On September 18, 2026, Tehran witnessed a large military march featuring the feared-by-Iranian civilians Basij militia. Female members carried missile mockups and banners while coffins with images of US President Donald John Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were displayed.
The Election Commission of India has announced decisions addressing concerns raised by two election commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, over the past 10 months. These issues included changes to voter registration forms, access to the electoral roll database, the handling of Goa's 97 voters, communications issued without full commission approval, oversight of the IT division, and appeals against voter restoration. The EC has provided responses and outlined steps to resolve these internal disputes and improve transparency and compliance.
Sanju Samson discusses how the Indian cricket team is maintaining focus and team spirit despite incessant rains disrupting their training and matches in Japan ahead of the Asia Games semifinal. He highlights the team's constant meetings and gym sessions to stay "switched on" and ready for the crucial match against Sri Lanka, while also acknowledging the depth of Indian cricket talent.
India's coastline is now officially measured at 11,098.81 km, significantly higher than the earlier figure of 7,516.6 km used since the 1970s.
National selectors are set to convene in New Delhi to finalise India's ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming home series against West Indies, with Rishabh Pant's potential white-ball return and Hardik Pandya's fitness being the primary discussion points.
Guwahati is abuzz with 'RoKo' mania as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are set to play what could be their final ODI match in the city. Despite waning ODI popularity, the presence of these cricketing legends, especially Kohli's recent form and his declaration about the 2027 World Cup being his last, has created immense anticipation among fans.
After a significant 9.9% depreciation in FY26, the Indian rupee has shown comparative stability in the first half of FY27, depreciating by only 1.1%, attributed to regulatory interventions and measures to attract foreign capital, despite ongoing global pressures from rising crude oil prices and foreign investor outflows.
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) reported a 20.8 per cent year-on-year rise in net profit for Q1 FY27, reaching 357.9 crore, despite macroeconomic headwinds like geopolitical tensions in West Asia impacting international travel and airline catering business.
