Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, convicted in a case linked to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, died at a Delhi hospital on Thursday at the age of 80. Kumar, who had been serving a life sentence at Tihar Jail, was taken to Safdarjung Hospital after his condition deteriorated. Doctors declared him dead on arrival. The hospital has yet to officially state the cause of death. A three-time Lok Sabha MP from Outer Delhi, Kumar was once a prominent Congress leader. He left the party following his conviction in 2018.

The 1984 anti-Sikh riots erupted after then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards, Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, on October 31 that year. Widespread violence followed in Delhi and other parts of India, with armed mobs attacking Sikh families, homes and businesses. More than 3,000 people, mostly Sikhs in Delhi, were killed during the violence.

Kumar remained involved in several legal cases arising from the riots for more than three decades. His legal history included both acquittals and convictions at different stages. On December 17, 2018, the Delhi High Court overturned a 2013 trial court acquittal in one of the key cases against Kumar. The High Court convicted him for criminal conspiracy and abetment and sentenced him to imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life.

The case concerned the killing of five Sikh men in Raj Nagar Part-I of Palam Colony and the burning of a gurdwara during the riots. In its judgment, the High Court described the 1984 violence as “crimes against humanity.” Kumar later challenged his conviction and sentence in the Supreme Court, where the matter remained pending at the time of his death.

In January this year, a Delhi court acquitted Kumar in two separate cases involving allegations that he had incited violence in Janakpuri and Vikaspuri during the 1984 riots. The acquittals, however, did not lead to his release because he was still serving life sentences in other cases related to the violence. Kumar received another life sentence in February 2025 in the Saraswati Vihar case. The Rouse Avenue Court convicted him over his alleged role in a mob attack in which a father and son, Jaswant Singh and Tarundeep Singh, were reportedly burned alive. The prosecution had requested the death penalty, but the court imposed life imprisonment, taking into account Kumar’s advanced age and health condition.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday announced the formation of a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a detailed investigation into the deadly fire at a hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street in central Kolkata. Adhikari said the administration's immediate priority was rescue and relief work, ensuring proper medical treatment for those injured and determining the circumstances that led to the devastating blaze.

In a post on X, the Chief Minister expressed grief over the incident and alleged that the tragedy highlighted what he described as a “legacy of negligence” from the previous administration. He claimed that unchecked construction and the operation of commercial establishments without adequate compliance with mandatory fire-safety requirements had contributed to unsafe conditions in parts of the city and state.

Adhikari further alleged that previous authorities had failed to conduct proper compliance checks and enforce basic safety regulations. He said the present administration was working to address those shortcomings and strengthen enforcement of fire-safety standards. The Chief Minister also assured victims and their families that the government would extend all possible assistance. He directed officials to ensure that those injured receive the best available medical care and support.

To establish the facts and determine accountability, Adhikari said the five-member SIT had been constituted immediately. The team will examine the circumstances surrounding the fire and determine whether the hotel complied with mandatory fire and safety regulations. The blaze reportedly broke out at around 2 am on Wednesday, leaving at least nine people dead, including a child, while several others were injured. Officials said around 60 people were rescued from the building.

Some of the victims were reportedly Bangladeshi nationals who had travelled to Kolkata for medical treatment. The Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata said its officials visited the site after being informed about the incident and coordinated with local authorities regarding the victims. According to the Deputy High Commission, five Bangladeshi nationals were among those confirmed dead, while four of them were members of the same family. Officials were still working to establish the identities of the remaining victims.

The diplomatic mission also said that six injured Bangladeshi nationals had been discharged after receiving initial medical treatment. The newly formed SIT will now examine the sequence of events, fire-safety arrangements at the hotel and whether required safety standards and regulations were properly followed. The investigation is expected to determine whether any lapses or negligence contributed to the loss of life.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda underwent angioplasty at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, on Monday, August 17, 2026. The hospital said his condition is stable and he remains under observation in the Department of Cardiology. According to an AIIMS statement, Nadda underwent the procedure after being evaluated for uneasiness. The hospital confirmed that he is currently stable and receiving medical care.

Several political leaders have wished the Union minister a speedy recovery. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi expressed his concern and prayed for Nadda’s good health. “Wishing a speedy recovery and good health to Union Minister Shri JP Nadda Ji,” Sanghavi said in a post on X. Gujarat Energy and Petrochemicals Minister Rushikesh Patel also extended his wishes to Nadda, hoping for his swift recovery and continued good health.

Nadda had been admitted to the cardiology department at AIIMS on August 14 for observation after experiencing uneasiness. The hospital had earlier said that he was evaluated on the evening of August 13 and underwent several tests, including a coronary angiography. AIIMS stated that Nadda was stable and had been admitted for further observation under the Department of Cardiology.

The latest update indicates that Nadda remains stable following the angioplasty. Further details about his health and discharge are expected from the hospital as his medical team continues to monitor his recovery. The Union minister, who also plays a prominent role in the BJP's organisational and political affairs, is expected to resume his regular responsibilities after doctors give him clearance.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

When Ancy Alexander lost her husband, Aneesh Ananth, suddenly at the age of 44, her counsellor encouraged her to become physically active as a way of coping with grief. Although Ancy had never played a sport before, she decided to try football because it reminded her of her husband, who had loved cricket, tennis and football. She hoped that playing the game would be a meaningful way to honour his memory.

Her search for opportunities to play women’s football led her to Sisters in Sweat (SIS), an organisation founded by former national hockey player Swetha Subbiah and national-level footballer Tanvie Hans. SIS began in 2017 when a group of women came together simply to play football, exercise and have fun. The first session attracted 17 women and was so successful that they wanted to continue meeting every weekend.

Since then, SIS has grown from a WhatsApp group into a larger community offering activities such as basketball, pickleball, swimming, tennis, running, yoga and Pilates. It now operates in seven cities and has more than 12,000 women and girls between the ages of 16 and 60. One of the major challenges it addresses is access. Many sports facilities are dominated by men, which can make women, particularly beginners, feel uncomfortable or intimidated.

For many participants, sport provides more than exercise. It offers confidence, independence and a sense of identity. In a society where women’s lives can often be heavily shaped by expectations and limited choices, sport gives them a space where they can make decisions, compete, have fun and simply be themselves. The rise of women’s recreational sport is taking place alongside significant progress in competitive sport. Indian women athletes such as Manu Bhaker, P. V. Sindhu, Lovlina Borgohain and members of the national cricket team have become role models for younger generations. Their achievements demonstrate that women can succeed at the highest levels of sport and inspire others to participate.

The stories of athletes from disadvantaged backgrounds make this progress even more powerful. Asmita Dey, for example, grew up in a small village in Tripura as the daughter of a cycle mechanic. Financial difficulties did not prevent her from pursuing sport, even though her family had to take loans to support her participation in overseas training camps. Similarly, para-athlete Sharmila Dhanker began competing in shot put at the age of 34 after overcoming childhood polio, an early marriage and an abusive relationship. Her journey shows that it is never necessarily too late to begin a sporting career.

Despite these successes, many girls continue to leave sport as they grow older. Research has linked participation in sport with improved confidence, academic performance and career opportunities, yet girls drop out at higher rates than boys. Fear of judgment, lack of confidence, inadequate facilities and social expectations all contribute to this decline. In India, access to sport often becomes particularly limited after girls leave college, while basic requirements such as safe playing spaces and clean toilets remain inadequate.

Organisations such as Sisters in Sweat and Ready Set Girl are trying to change this situation by creating communities where women and girls can participate in sport without feeling that they have to become professional athletes. Their message is that sport does not always have to be about medals, representing a state or playing for the country. It can simply be about enjoyment, friendship, competition and having a space to move freely. The greatest benefit of women’s participation in sport may not be a medal. Sport can give women the confidence and freedom to occupy public spaces, make decisions, travel, develop their abilities and express themselves. For women who play simply because they enjoy it, the act of playing itself is a victory.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.

Myanmar's military government has released rare images of detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi meeting a Red Cross official, marking her first known contact with the outside world since the 2021 coup. The photos were released just ahead of junta chief Min Aung Hlaing's first official visit to Thailand, prompting speculation about their political significance.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

In a conversation with political editor Tom McIlroy and chief political correspondent Dan Jervis-Bardy during the 50th Labor conference in Adelaide, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas discussed his state’s political battle with One Nation. He said progressive groups should avoid dismissing or talking down to Pauline Hanson’s supporters, arguing that their concerns need to be understood rather than ignored. Addressing the ongoing debate over the AUKUS submarine deal, Malinauskas acknowledged concerns after the US revealed that Virginia-class submarine production rates had not improved. However, he maintained that walking away from the agreement would create greater strategic risks than the challenges surrounding the controversial defence partnership.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

On Made in SG, Melanie Oliveiro chats with Singaporean singer-songwriter Frances Tan, who recently competed in the Commonwealth Song Contest — an international music competition featuring participants from all 56 Commonwealth countries. Tan shares her experience of being chosen as a Grand Finalist, representing Singapore alongside six other finalist nations. She also discusses her original track, Just Me, which she submitted as her contest entry.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

Following the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Donald Trump and the White House administration responded strongly, accusing the media and the Democratic Party of contributing to rising political violence. Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy explore the origins of the deep political divide between Democrats and Republicans in the United States. At the same time, Usha Vance has started a new podcast, raising questions about her motives, while King Charles’s upcoming visit to the White House is expected to shed light on Donald Trump’s relationship with the British monarchy.

Disclaimer: This video is taken from The Guardian.