India

YouTuber Savukku Shankar Sentenced to 3 Years in Jail for 2013 Defamation Case

Tamil YouTuber and activist Savukku Shankar has been sentenced to three years in prison in connection with a defamation and criminal threat case dating back to 2013. The complaint against him was originally filed by Mahalakshmi, a former Sun TV news anchor who is also a practicing advocate. The case has concluded with a court finding Shankar guilty on the charges brought by Mahalakshmi over a decade ago. The verdict marks a significant legal development for Shankar, who is already known for his controversial online commentary and has faced multiple legal battles in recent years.

Orphaned hippo Bumpy bonds with new animal friends at Kenya wildlife sanctuary

A five-month-old hippopotamus named Bumpy was rescued in May after being found next to his deceased mother near Naivasha, Kenya. He was taken in by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where he has since been cared for by dedicated keepers. Bumpy has formed close bonds with another rescued hippo, a group of buffaloes, and an orphaned elephant at the sanctuary. Despite thriving in his new environment, the young hippo is ultimately expected to be reintroduced into the wild in the riverine areas of Tsavo.

Coffee linked to gut microbes tied to mood, stress and brain function in study

Chennai Techie Murder: Court Drops Charges Against Accused's Parents

A court in Chennai has cancelled the chargesheet filed against the parents of the accused in a techie murder case. The court noted that neither parent was present at the location where the crime took place. There was also no evidence suggesting the parents had prior knowledge of or involvement in the act. The court further found no indication of any conspiracy or pre-planning on their part.

Ex-Cop Sachin Waze Granted Bail After Five Years in Mumbai Bomb Scare Case

Former Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze has been granted bail in connection with a bomb scare case. Waze had been in prison for approximately five years prior to the bail order. His lawyer indicated that Waze was expected to be released on Wednesday. The court noted there was nothing on record to justify continued detention in this particular case.

Cyclone Arnab Brings Floods and Crop Damage to UP and Bihar

Cyclone Arnab triggered heavy rainfall and flooding across parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar between September 25 and September 28. The intense downpours caused widespread flooding in paddy fields across several districts in both states. Strong winds accompanying the storm flattened standing crops, compounding the agricultural damage. The destruction came at a particularly unfortunate time, as the paddy crop had already reached maturity and was close to harvest.

11 Mumbai-Bound Flights Diverted Due to Bad Weather Conditions

Eleven flights heading to Mumbai were diverted due to adverse weather conditions, according to officials. The affected flights belonged to multiple Indian carriers, including five from IndiGo and four from Air India. Akasa Air and Air India Express each had one flight diverted as well. The diversions impacted a significant number of passengers travelling to Mumbai.

NFL 2025: Rash of QB injuries forces backup players into the spotlight

A wave of quarterback injuries has disrupted multiple NFL teams during the 2025 season. Josh Allen sustained a knee injury from a hard hit, while Jayden Daniels dislocated his elbow and Baker Mayfield dislocated his thumb. Caleb Williams was sidelined with a hamstring injury, and Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending knee injury. Kyler Murray returned to action after recovering from a concussion, and Tua Tagovailoa stepped in as a backup quarterback in Week 3. The string of injuries has pushed backup quarterbacks into prominent roles across the league.

Guwahati Homestay Employee Arrested Over Student's Death

A homestay employee named Minut Ali has been arrested in Guwahati in connection with the death of a student. Police sources indicate that Ali had arranged and consumed alcohol together with the couple involved in the incident. The arrest came several days after the student's death was reported. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the case and Ali's role in the events that led to the fatality.

Historic 200-Year-Old Koder House in Fort Kochi Gutted by Massive Fire

A massive fire broke out at Koder House, a 200-year-old heritage building located in Fort Kochi, Kerala. The blaze engulfed the structure in large orange and yellow flames, raising serious concerns about the loss of a historic landmark. Firefighters were deployed to the scene and worked to bring the fire under control. The incident was captured on video, with visuals showing the extent of the destruction caused by the blaze.

US to Loan 40 Million Barrels from Strategic Reserve Amid War-Driven Supply Strain

The United States has announced a plan to loan 40 million barrels of oil from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve to energy companies. The move aims to ease rising oil prices driven by the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and involving Iran. Global supply disruptions have created heightened competition among major oil-importing nations. Indian refiners are particularly affected, as an anticipated drop in Russian oil supplies is forcing them to seek costlier alternatives. Competition with China for available oil is further squeezing India's options in the international market.

OpenAI Releases GPT-6.1-Sol at One-Fifth the Cost of Its Predecessor

OpenAI on Monday announced the launch of its new model, GPT-6.1-Sol, priced at one-fifth the cost of its earlier model. The company had originally been developing a model called GPT-6.1 Astra, but scrapped those plans before release. OpenAI cited the model's tendency to frequently ignore instructions as the primary reason for abandoning GPT-6.1 Astra. GPT-6.1-Sol has now been positioned as the replacement offering in that lineup.

BCCI to mandate Test squad players in Ranji Trophy ahead of New Zealand tour

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to issue a directive requiring key Test squad members to participate in Ranji Trophy matches. The move is aimed at keeping players fit and in competitive rhythm ahead of India's tour of New Zealand. The tour, scheduled to begin on October 22, is a bumper series comprising five T20Is, five ODIs, and two Tests. By mandating domestic cricket participation, the BCCI hopes to ensure players are mentally and physically prepared for the demanding tour.

Arizona couple's bottle-built 2,700-sq-ft home hits market at $432,500

A couple in Tucson, Arizona spent several decades constructing a 2,700-square-foot home using discarded glass bottles sourced locally. The unconventional building technique was designed to provide a natural cooling effect within the structure. Following its completion, an artist took over maintenance of the property, upgrading key systems while keeping the home's original character intact. The house has now been listed for sale at $432,500, drawing attention from folk art enthusiasts.

Delhi Police charge bus driver, conductor for gangraping minor in August

Delhi Police has filed a charge sheet against a sleeper bus driver and conductor accused of gangraping a minor girl in August. The victim boarded the bus in Greater Noida under the belief it was travelling to her destination. She was assaulted during the journey and subsequently dropped near Kashmere Gate in Delhi. Following the incident, she reported the crime to authorities at that location. Forensic investigators recovered semen samples and hair strands from the bus as key evidence in the case.

Three Indian Relatives Disappear En Route to US, Found Stranded in Ethiopia

Three Indian nationals — Mamata Chavda, 30, and her cousins Rithvik Jansari, 23, and Mayuri Solanki, 27 — went missing while traveling to the United States. Their whereabouts became unknown to their families until a call was received from Ethiopia, indicating the trio had ended up there. The circumstances surrounding how they came to be in Ethiopia instead of the US remain unclear. Authorities and family members are reportedly working to understand the situation and ensure their safe return.

Six Congress Workers Charged With Attempt to Murder After Vandalising CEC's Agra Home

Six Congress party workers were arrested in Agra after vandalising the residence of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during a protest. The demonstrators were allegedly aggrieved over suspected voter list manipulation and demanded the CEC's removal from office. Protesters scrawled abusive messages on the property during the incident. Police filed multiple criminal charges against the six, including attempt to murder, following a complaint lodged by local authorities. The arrested workers have been remanded to judicial custody until October 2026.

Kashmir Land Fraud Busted: Revenue Officer and Broker Arrested in Multi-Crore Scam

Authorities in Kashmir have busted a multi-crore land fraud scheme, leading to the arrest of a revenue officer and a property broker. Investigators found that cancelled land mutations were being exploited to generate fresh land extracts for the same plots. This loophole allowed fraudsters to repeatedly sell identical pieces of land to different unsuspecting buyers. The collusion between the revenue official and the broker was central to executing the scheme. Investigations are ongoing to determine the full scale of the fraud and identify other potential accused.

Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Challenging SIR Before West Bengal Bypolls

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a petition filed against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ahead of West Bengal's upcoming by-elections. The bypoll elections are scheduled to be held on October 6 in two constituencies. Voters from Rejinagar and Nandigram had approached the tribunal seeking relief from the top court. The petitioners had been hopeful of a favorable ruling but the Supreme Court declined to intervene in the matter.

INDIA Bloc Meets to Discuss Election Commission Concerns, CEC Removal Motion

The INDIA bloc opposition alliance is convening to deliberate on concerns surrounding the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision process. A central agenda item includes the possibility of moving a motion to remove Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Opposition parties are also expected to plan a broader agitation strategy targeting the Election Commission and the BJP. While several key opposition leaders are set to participate, notable parties such as the Aam Aadmi Party and DMK will not be attending the meeting.