Indian Grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu clinched her second consecutive FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss title in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, scoring 8/11 and edging Kateryna Lagno on tiebreaks. Her final round draw against Tan Zhongyi secured her spot in the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament. Vaishali’s journey from defeating Magnus Carlsen at 12 to earning multiple titles reflects her resilience and strategic brilliance. She becomes the only player to defend the Grand Swiss title and joins Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh in the Candidates. Leaders, including PM Modi, praised her achievement. Her brother Praggnanandhaa also qualified for the Open Candidates, marking a historic moment for Indian chess and the Rameshbabu siblings.

The ICC has rejected Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) request to remove match referee Andy Pycroft over a “no handshake” controversy during the Asia Cup 2025 match against India. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, also head of the ACC, accused Pycroft of violating the Spirit of Cricket and demanded his removal. The ICC denied the plea, prompting PCB to consider boycotting their next match against UAE. The controversy stemmed from PCB’s Director Usman Walha failing to inform captain Salman Agha of the “No Handshake” policy, leading to Walha’s dismissal. Pakistan must beat UAE to reach the Super 4 stage and potentially face India again, with Pycroft still officiating.

Dehradun faces a red alert as torrential rains trigger landslides and swelling rivers, sweeping away at least five people across Tapkeshwar, DIT College, Rajpur Shikhar Falls, and Bhagat Singh Colony. PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah assured CM Pushkar Singh Dhami of full central support. Rescue operations by NDRF, SDRF, and PWD are underway, with over 100 trapped and 500 evacuated. Bridges at Maldevta and Premnagar collapsed, disrupting traffic. Shops in Karligad were washed away, and tourists are advised to avoid Mussoorie. The IMD warns of extreme rainfall and flash floods. SDRF continues rescues in Chandrabhaga, Sahaspur, and Thakurpur amid widespread devastation.

The Enforcement Directorate has summoned former India cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa in a money-laundering probe involving illegal online betting platforms. Uthappa will appear on September 22, while Yuvraj faces questioning on September 23 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. This follows earlier interrogations of Suresh Raina (August 13) and Shikhar Dhawan (September 4). The ED is also questioning TMC MP Mimi Chakraborty, Bengali actor Ankush Hazra, and expected Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela. The probe examines celebrity endorsements of banned betting apps that violate tax, money-laundering, and FEMA laws. Despite government advisories prohibiting such advertisements, platforms continue operations by changing names, with approximately 220 million Indian users engaged across various betting applications. (PC: CNBC & Daily Excelsior)

India's Ministry of Home Affairs is set to deport nearly 16,000 foreign nationals detained for alleged involvement in drug trafficking, marking one of the biggest narcotics crackdowns in recent times. The massive action is based on a comprehensive report submitted by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). The foreign nationals face accusations ranging from drug smuggling to transportation and are currently held in detention facilities across multiple states throughout India. The complete list of individuals has been shared with the MHA and other concerned agencies for processing. Officials confirmed that deportations will be executed under provisions of India's new immigration law. This unprecedented operation represents a significant escalation in India's fight against international drug trafficking networks operating within the country.

Raj Kundra was questioned by Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing for five hours on September 15 regarding a Rs 60 crore fraud case. During interrogation, he admitted investing Rs 60 crore across five companies named Satyug Gold, Vihaan Industries, Essential Bulk Commodities, Best Deal, and Statement Media though investigators suspect fund diversion. Kundra was questioned about Rs 3.15 crore warehouse expenses, Rs 20 crore broadcast costs, Rs 4 crore celebrity salary payments, and transactions with Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms. The case involves complainant Deepak Kothari alleging fraud between 2015-2023 through Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd. Kundra and wife Shilpa Shetty's lawyer called allegations "baseless and malicious," citing NCLT proceedings and liquidation orders. More summons expected. (PC: Lokmat Times)

Israel launched a major offensive to occupy Gaza City, with heavy bombings killing at least 16 Palestinians, local health officials said. Strikes hit two homes and a tent sheltering a displaced family, while a 16-floor building was destroyed. The assault came a day after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Israeli leaders in Jerusalem. Rubio backed Israel, calling Hamas “savage terrorists” and warning diplomacy may not end the war. Israeli tanks also moved into Gaza City as part of the new plan. Civil defence officials said bombings were ongoing, with more deaths and injuries expected. (PC: HT)

A wildlife survey in Arunachal Pradesh has captured the first photo of the rare Pallas’s cat in the state. The survey, conducted by WWF-India with the forest department, used 136 camera traps in 83 locations across 2,000 sq km in West Kameng and Tawang districts. Researchers also recorded snow leopard, clouded leopard, marbled cat, and common leopard at record high elevations. Experts said the sighting at nearly 5,000 metres highlights the rich biodiversity of the eastern Himalayas. Officials stressed that the discovery shows the need for more scientific research and stronger conservation efforts to protect fragile mountain wildlife. (PC: X)

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declared the Trump administration won't impose new tariffs on Chinese goods over Russian oil purchases unless European nations implement steep duties first. Speaking to Reuters, Bessent emphasized Europe must strengthen efforts to cut Russia's oil revenues. He guaranteed the Ukraine war would end within "60 or 90 days" if Europe imposed substantial secondary tariffs on Russian oil buyers. During Madrid talks covering trade and TikTok, Bessent reminded Chinese officials of existing Indian tariffs while Trump urged 50-100% European tariffs on China and India. China rejected these proposals through Foreign Minister Wang Yi, calling for multilateral cooperation over sanctions. Bessent criticized European countries still purchasing Russian oil or refined petroleum products from discounted Russian crude. (PC: Reuters)

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly publicly criticized Pakistan's cricket standards during a Kolkata event, revealing he switched from the India-Pakistan Asia Cup match to Manchester Derby after just 15 overs. Ganguly stated Pakistan is "no longer competitive" and lacks the quality of past legends like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Javed Miandad. He expressed preference for watching India play Australia, England, South Africa, or even Afghanistan over Pakistan. Calling the current comparison "chalk and cheese," Ganguly emphasized India's dominance even without stalwarts Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Regarding the controversial no-handshake incident, he deferred to captain Suryakumar Yadav's explanation while mentioning terrorism must stop during the public interaction.