A ban on smartphones in schools issued by Taliban authorities in southern Afghanistan came into force, students and teachers confirmed to AFP on Wednesday, over concerns of “focus” and “Islamic law”.

While authorities scoured the debris in Ahmedabad hoping to find survivors after the AI171 plane crash, Raju Patel and his friends launched another operation of their own – one for the recovery of belongings of those who were on site.

The Bombay High Court has upheld arbitral awards exceeding Rs 538 crore in favour of the defunct Kochi Tuskers IPL franchise, dismissing BCCI’s challenge. Justice Chagla emphasised the limited scope of court intervention in arbitration matters. Kochi Tuskers had played the 2011 season of the IPL before being terminated a year later.