India

Skyroot Aerospace set to launch Vikram-1 rocket in India's first private orbital mission

Skyroot Aerospace is preparing to launch its Vikram-1 rocket this Saturday from Sriharikota, marking a landmark moment for India's private space sector. The mission, named Mission Aagaman, will be the country's first orbital launch by a private company. The rocket is carrying technology demonstration payloads along with unique artwork as part of its cargo. The launch represents a significant step forward in the growth and maturation of India's commercial space industry.

Artist earns $1,250 selling fan litter from Swift-Kelce wedding as collectible art

New York artist Justin Gignac turned discarded fan litter into a profitable venture on the day of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding. While thousands of fans gathered outside Madison Square Garden hoping to see the couple, Gignac spent the evening collecting trash left behind by the crowd. He transformed the discarded items into collectible art pieces and listed them online. All 50 items sold out within 24 hours, earning him $1,250 in total.

Supreme Court clarifies demolition order: Illegal structures on public land can be razed

The Supreme Court has clarified its earlier ruling on demolitions, stating it does not impose a blanket ban on razing illegal constructions. Authorities are permitted to demolish encroachments on public land, provided they strictly follow municipal laws and due procedures. The court specified that individual contempt petitions arising from demolition cases will be handled by the respective jurisdictional High Courts. Fact-finding exercises will be conducted to determine whether authorities acted arbitrarily in carrying out any demolitions.

India's shipping regulator warns against deploying sailors through Strait of Hormuz

India's Directorate General of Merchant Affairs (DGMA) has advised shipping companies to avoid deploying seafarers on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The advisory comes amid escalating attacks on merchant ships in the West Asia region. Two attacks reported on Tuesday involved commercial vessels carrying 30 Indian seafarers. The regulator cited heightened security risks and ongoing regional conflict as the basis for the enhanced precautionary measures. This follows an earlier directive to fleet owners to limit seafarer deployment in the affected area.

PM Narendra Modi speaks to Amir of Qatar, conveys condolences on passing of the Father Amir

US Launches Sixth Consecutive Night of Strikes Against Iran's Military

US forces carried out strikes against Iran for the sixth straight night, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM). The attacks were aimed at further degrading Iran's military capabilities. Washington claims Iran poses a threat to commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM described the ongoing offensive as a continued wave of strikes against Iranian targets.

Supreme Court acquits three men after 45 years, finds prosecution case deeply flawed

The Supreme Court of India acquitted three surviving accused in a murder case dating back to 1977, nearly five decades after the crime occurred. The men had already served life imprisonment sentences following their conviction in 1981. The court identified serious flaws in the prosecution's case, including inconsistencies in witness testimonies. These discrepancies led the bench to extend the benefit of doubt to the accused. The prosecution was ultimately found to have failed in establishing guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, resulting in the acquittal in 2026.

Gigi Hadid allegedly worsened Blake Lively's rift with Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce reportedly held a wedding in New York City, inviting a wide range of guests from Hollywood and the NFL. Notably absent from the guest list were Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, drawing significant public attention. The snub has generated mixed reactions among fans of both celebrities. Reports now suggest that supermodel Gigi Hadid may have played a role in deepening the fallout between Swift and Lively.

Comedian Marcello Hernandez wins crowd at 2026 ESPYs with Woods and Belichick jokes

Comedian Marcello Hernandez emerged as a standout performer at the 2026 ESPY Awards with a sharp comedic monologue. He drew laughs by referencing Tiger Woods' ongoing DUI case during his set. Hernandez also targeted NFL coach Bill Belichick, poking fun at his relationship with Jordon Hudson. The jokes generated strong reactions from the audience and dominated post-show conversation.

Billionaire Tim Roberts airlifts stranded father and son from South Australian outback

A father and son from Melbourne became stranded for twelve hours in the South Australian outback after their vehicle got stuck in mud during a severe storm. Billionaire Tim Roberts learned of their predicament while at a local pub and decided to take action. He boarded his private helicopter and partnered with a local resident to search for the pair. The team successfully located and rescued the two men from the remote and harsh terrain.

Third language from Class IX will cause undue stress, says Supreme Court

Fact Check: No Evidence Mbappe Plans to Switch to Spanish Nationality

A rumor has circulated online claiming French football captain Kylian Mbappé intends to switch his nationality to Spanish, reportedly due to his relationship with Spanish actress Ester Expósito. The claim emerged following France's quarter-final elimination by Spain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a result that disappointed millions of French fans. No credible evidence or official statement supports the claim that Mbappé is considering changing his nationality. The rumor appears to have spread amid heightened emotions surrounding France's World Cup exit and the team's upcoming match against England.

Xi Jinping to Outline China's AI Vision at Major Tech Conference

Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed a major technology conference on Friday to present China's vision for artificial intelligence development and regulation. The event served as a showcase for cutting-edge technology that Beijing is actively promoting. China aims to position itself as a leading global force in AI, with ambitions to rival the technological capabilities of the United States. Xi's appearance at the conference underscores the Chinese government's strong emphasis on advancing its domestic AI agenda.

NEET-UG 2026 Results Out: Two Score 715, 19 Candidates Cross 700 Mark

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has declared the NEET-UG 2026 results following a nationwide retest. Aryan Gupta from Punjab emerged as the top scorer, achieving 715 out of 720. Among high-scorers above 690, more than 93% were appearing in the exam for the first time. Women made up over 58% of the total qualified candidates this year. The results were announced to ensure medical college admissions proceed without delay.

ED clarifies RBI is sole authority to compound FEMA offences, not ED

The Enforcement Directorate has clarified that the Foreign Exchange Management Act is a civil law designed for voluntary compliance, not criminal enforcement. Under FEMA, the Reserve Bank of India holds the authority to compound eligible contraventions, while the ED's role is limited to issuing a no-objection certificate to the RBI for such cases. The RBI recently resolved a FEMA case against Apothecon Pharmaceuticals following the imposition of a penalty. These proceedings are guided by RBI master directions that outline a compounding matrix used to determine penalty amounts.

Odisha Confirms 2 Deaths at Puri Rath Yatra, Denies Stampede Reports

Two devotees died during the annual Rath Yatra festival in Puri, Odisha, the state government has confirmed. Authorities, however, rejected claims that a stampede occurred at the event. The Rath Yatra is one of India's largest religious gatherings, drawing millions of pilgrims each year. Officials appear to be distinguishing the deaths from any crowd crush incident, though no further details on the causes were provided.

Supreme Court to examine marital rape exemption and unnatural sex charges against husbands

The Supreme Court is set to begin final hearings on September 9 regarding whether husbands can be prosecuted for sexual acts that cause harm to their wives. The case raises a critical legal question about existing exemptions for marital rape under Indian penal laws. At the heart of the matter is whether the court has the authority to create a new offense by striking down these exceptions. The central government has opposed criminalizing marital rape, arguing that marriage constitutes a distinct and unique relationship under the law.

Lucknow Woman Loses Rs 3 Lakh in Screen-Sharing Fraud via Fake Customer Support

Cyber experts have issued warnings about a growing remote device takeover scam targeting mobile users. A woman from Lucknow lost over three lakh rupees after falling victim to this sophisticated fraud. The scammers posed as customer support executives and manipulated her child into granting screen-sharing permissions on the device. Once access was obtained, the criminals were able to infiltrate banking apps and siphon off funds. Authorities urge users never to tap unknown prompts or grant screen access to unverified callers.

NEET Aspirant, 18, Dies After Jumping From Faridabad Highrise Over Exam Score

An 18-year-old NEET aspirant died on Thursday after jumping from the 16th floor of a highrise building in Faridabad. The incident occurred after she calculated her probable exam score to be around 600 out of 720. Family members had noticed signs of distress related to her anticipated results in the lead-up to the tragedy. Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of her death.

Brazil Slams Rubio for 'Crude and Arrogant' Remarks Targeting President Lula

Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira on Thursday sharply criticized US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over comments directed at President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Vieira accused Rubio of attacking the Brazilian president in a manner he described as crude and arrogant. The dispute was triggered by Rubio's remarks concerning a recent tariff decision. The incident marks a notable diplomatic friction between Brazil and the United States under their current leaderships.