Mitchell Starc announced his retirement from T20 International cricket on September 2, 2025, to focus on Test and ODI cricket. The 35-year-old Australian fast bowler, who debuted in T20Is in 2012, played 65 matches and took 79 wickets, making him Australia’s second-highest wicket-taker in the format, behind Adam Zampa. Starc cited his priority for Test cricket and upcoming commitments, including an away Test series in India, the Ashes, and the 2027 ODI World Cup, as reasons for his decision. He highlighted the 2021 T20 World Cup victory as a career highlight. Starc will continue to play domestic T20 leagues, such as the IPL, and aims to extend his Test and ODI career.

Chinese smartphone brand Honor is set to launch "Made in India" smartphones in the Indian market, with production slated to begin by November 2025, aligning with India’s "Make in India" initiative. Honor, through its Indian partner PSAV Global and HTech (formerly Honor Tech), plans to manufacture devices locally via Complete Knock-Down (CKD) assembly, reducing import costs and lead times. This move is expected to enable faster launches, competitive pricing, and wider availability, particularly during festive seasons like Diwali. HTech, led by CEO Madhav Sheth, aims to capture a 1% market share and ₹2,500 crore in revenue in the first year. The recently launched Honor X7c 5G, priced at ₹14,999, marks Honor’s return with value-focused models. Local manufacturing is likely to make Honor’s offerings, such as the Honor 200 series, more accessible and affordable for Indian consumers.

In the 4th T20I of the UAE T20I Tri-Series 2025, played on September 2 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Afghanistan defeated Pakistan by 18 runs. Afghanistan, batting first after winning the toss, posted 169/5 in 20 overs, led by Ibrahim Zadran’s steady 70 off 49 balls and Mohammad Nabi’s quick 34 off 18. Pakistan’s bowling was disciplined, with Haris Rauf taking 2/28. Chasing 170, Pakistan struggled early, losing wickets to Afghanistan’s spinners. Saim Ayub scored a fighting 65 off 42, but Mohammad Nabi (2/20) and Noor Ahmad (2/24) triggered a collapse, restricting Pakistan to 151 in 19.3 overs. Ibrahim Zadran was named Player of the Match for his crucial knock. This win kept Afghanistan’s hopes alive for the tri-series final, while Pakistan, despite the loss, remained favorites to advance. The match highlighted Afghanistan’s spin prowess and Pakistan’s middle-order vulnerabilities.

Release Date: September 25, 2025, on Netflix.

Plot: Arisu and Usagi, now married, live happily until Usagi’s abduction by researcher Ryuji drags them back to Borderland. Facing the mysterious Joker stage, they tackle deadly new games with fresh players, unraveling the parallel world’s secrets.

Twist: The Joker card introduces a chaotic game master, deviating from the manga’s ferryman, hinting at a darker alternate reality.

Post: Alice in Borderland S3 hits Netflix 9/25/25! 🃏 Arisu and Usagi face the Joker’s deadly games. Expect twists and betrayals! #AliceInBorderland

On August 31, 2025, at 11:47 p.m. local time, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake rocked eastern Afghanistan, centered 17 miles east-northeast of Jalalabad, Nangarhar province, at a shallow depth of 5 miles. The seismic event, intensified by its proximity to the surface, devastated Kunar province, flattening mud-brick homes and triggering landslides that cut off villages like Mazar Dara. At least 800 people have died, with 2,500 injured, and the death toll may climb as rescue operations struggle against rugged terrain and damaged infrastructure. Multiple aftershocks, including a 5.2-magnitude tremor, have compounded the chaos, shaking areas from Kabul to Pakistan’s Islamabad.

The Indian Rupee (INR) hit its lowest value against the US Dollar (USD) on August 29, 2025, when 1 INR was worth 0.0113 USD, or equivalently, 1 USD was worth 88.1950 INR. This record low was driven by factors like economic pressures, rising crude oil prices, foreign portfolio investor outflows, and global economic events, as noted in various sources. The rupee has generally depreciated since India's independence in 1947, when 1 USD was approximately 3.30 INR, influenced by economic crises, wars, and policy changes like the 1991 liberalization.

The 17th edition of the Asia Cup is set to light up the United Arab Emirates from September 9 to 28, 2025. Hosted in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, this T20 International tournament promises high-octane action as eight teams battle for the coveted title. India, the defending champions with a record eight titles, will face stiff competition from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, UAE, Oman, and Hong Kong.

The "Slapgate" incident involving Harbhajan Singh and S Sreesanth occurred during the 2008 IPL season on April 25, 2008, after a match in Mohali where Mumbai Indians, led by Harbhajan, lost to Kings XI Punjab by 66 runs. The altercation took place during post-match handshakes when Sreesanth’s taunting “hard luck” remark provoked Harbhajan to deliver a backhanded slap. The incident, captured by a security camera but not initially broadcast, caused a major controversy. On August 29, 2025, Lalit Modi, former IPL chairman, released the unseen "Slapgate" video on Michael Clarke’s Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, 17 years later, titled “18 Years...” The footage showed Harbhajan slapping Sreesanth, who tried to retaliate but was restrained by teammates Irfan Pathan and Mahela Jayawardene, preventing a brawl. Harbhajan also gestured aggressively, possibly challenging Pathan.

Harbhajan faced an 11-match IPL suspension and a five-match ODI ban by the BCCI. He later apologized repeatedly, describing the incident as the “biggest mistake” of his career in a talk with Ravichandran Ashwin, recalling how Sreesanth’s daughter once refused to speak to him, saying, “You hit my father.” Sreesanth forgave Harbhajan, and they reconciled, later playing together in India’s 2011 World Cup-winning team. Modi withheld the video in 2008 to protect the IPL’s reputation, as confirmed by Harsha Bhogle, who noted it was kept secret to avoid damaging the league’s image in its debut year.

The video’s release in 2025 sparked fresh debate. Sreesanth’s wife, Bhuvneshwari, criticized Modi and Clarke on Instagram for reopening the “ugly” incident for “cheap publicity,” highlighting the emotional impact on their family. X posts reflected mixed reactions: some condemned Harbhajan’s unprofessional act, others noted Sreesanth’s provocative behavior, and many questioned Modi’s timing. The “Slapgate” video, now public, remains a notorious moment in IPL history, tied to keywords like Harbhajan Singh, S Sreesanth, Lalit Modi, Slapgate, IPL 2008, Mohali, slap, video released, controversy, suspension, reconciliation, and Beyond23 Cricket Podcast.