India

70-year-old woman gang-raped and killed in Lucknow after confronting men over drinking

A 70-year-old woman was gang-raped and murdered in Lucknow's Mohanlalganj area by two men. The attack was triggered after she objected to the accused consuming alcohol near her residence. The perpetrators attempted to hide their crime by relocating her body to a nearby spot. Police used CCTV footage and other evidence to track down and arrest the two suspects. A formal case has been registered at Mohanlalganj police station in connection with the incident.

Pakistan PM draws ‘red line’ over Mecca at UN, defends Saudi-Türkiye defence pact

Bengal BJP Chief Backs CEC Gyanesh Kumar Amid Election Commission Controversy

Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar has publicly defended Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, saying he deserves a Padma Bhushan award. His remarks came amid a growing controversy surrounding the Election Commission's functioning. Reports emerged that two election commissioners had objected to decisions allegedly taken in their names during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The dispute has raised questions about internal disagreements within the poll panel over its recent conduct.

Goulburn Community Solar Farm Opens After 12 Years and $3.3M Investment

A community-owned solar farm backed by approximately 300 local investors has officially begun operations in Goulburn, Australia. The project, which took twelve years to complete, required overcoming regulatory barriers and supply chain disruptions along the way. The facility, which includes a battery storage system, now feeds clean energy into the local power grid. With a total investment of $3.3 million, the initiative is being recognized as a replicable model for community-led renewable energy projects across regional Australia.

Nine killed in Yamuna Expressway bus fire triggered by AC short circuit

A bus caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway, killing nine people in a devastating blaze. Among the victims were IndiGo engineer Shashank Gupta and his mother Sunita, who perished together inside the vehicle. Eyewitnesses reported smelling something burning before the fire broke out. Investigators have traced the cause to a short circuit in the bus's air conditioning unit. Authorities are continuing their probe to establish the full sequence of events.

In a first, waste plastic mixed with bitumen in pilot test section of NH-44

Iran Rules Out Nuclear Concessions, Threatens to Keep Hormuz Closed

Iran has signaled it will not make any concessions on its nuclear program amid ongoing tensions with the United States. An anonymous Iranian official stated that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until Washington meets all of Tehran's conditions. The threat to keep the critical waterway shut adds significant pressure to already strained US-Iran negotiations. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital global oil transit route, making its closure a major geopolitical and economic concern.

Somali Forces Free US-Sanctioned Tanker Sibu 1 Seized by Pirates

Somali security forces have rescued the Eritrea-flagged tanker Sibu 1 after it was seized by pirates. The vessel was captured on August 20 by six armed individuals, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The Sibu 1 is a tanker that has previously been subject to US sanctions. The rescue operation marks a notable intervention by Somali forces against piracy in the region.

India and Liberia Form UN-Backed Group to Boost Safety for Seafarers

India and Liberia have jointly launched a new initiative aimed at protecting seafarers and ensuring the safety of shipping routes. The group, called 'Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers,' was formally established at a ministerial-level meeting. The launch took place on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly. The move comes amid growing concerns over attacks targeting commercial vessels and their crews at sea.

Omar brings J&K statehood resolution to assembly, autonomy mention sparks BJP furore

US Court Upholds Pentagon Ban on Anthropic's Claude AI

A US court has declined to overturn a Pentagon ban targeting Anthropic's AI model Claude. The dispute originated in February 2025 when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanded that Anthropic remove restrictions on Claude's use for fully autonomous lethal weapons systems. Anthropic refused to comply with the demand, which also sought to lift limits on mass domestic surveillance of American citizens. The court's decision represents a significant legal setback for the AI company, leaving the Pentagon ban firmly in place.

Trump Mocks Biden With Autopen Symbol at White House During Xi Meeting

During a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Donald Trump made a pointed jab at his predecessor Joe Biden. Trump referenced an autopen device to mock Biden, alluding to his longstanding criticism that Biden used the machine to sign official documents. Notably, Biden remains the only former U.S. president whose portrait is absent from the traditional row of commander-in-chief portraits at the White House. An autopen has been placed in Biden's spot, turning the criticism into a visible, symbolic display.

DK Shivakumar's 'Two Marriages' Remark on MLAs Triggers Assembly Controversy

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar sparked a controversy after making a remark about MLAs having 'two marriages' during an Assembly session. The comment drew sharp criticism from senior BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar, who objected to the nature of the statement. While Suresh Kumar acknowledged that Shivakumar may have intended the remark in a light-hearted manner, he argued that such comments were unbecoming of the Assembly floor. He emphasized that remarks made within the legislature should uphold the dignity of the institution.

Trump Approves Ukraine to Manufacture Patriot Missiles, Says Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that US President Donald Trump has made a final decision to allow Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles domestically. The move comes as Kyiv faces a critical shortage of the air defense missiles used to counter intensifying Russian aerial attacks. Russia has been escalating drone and missile strikes across Ukraine, with the latest attack on the capital killing a 14-year-old boy on Friday. The decision, if implemented, could significantly bolster Ukraine's long-term air defense capabilities without relying solely on foreign supplies.

2022 Rajouri IED blast: Police file chargesheet against 4

Naveen Patnaik Calls for Election Commission Chief Gyanesh Kumar to Resign

Former Odisha Chief Minister and BJD leader Naveen Patnaik has demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. His statement follows a newspaper report highlighting internal disagreements within the three-member Election Commission. The reported differences reportedly concern decisions and instructions related to electoral roll revision. The demand adds to growing scrutiny over the functioning and independence of the poll body.

Facebook Found Liable for Deceiving Users in US Over 2 Million Violations

A US court has found Facebook liable for deceiving its users, with the case involving over 2 million violations. The ruling leaves the final penalty amount to be decided by the presiding judge. State attorneys are pushing for the maximum allowable fine of $5,000 per violation. If the maximum penalty is applied across all violations, the total fine could reach billions of dollars.

Amit Shah Defends India's Economic Growth, Eyes Top Global Rank by 2047

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has dismissed critics of India's economic performance, labeling them as 'cynical individuals.' Shah asserted that India has not only maintained but strengthened its growth momentum despite prevailing global headwinds. He reaffirmed the government's long-term ambition of positioning India as the world's leading economy by 2047, the centenary of its independence. His remarks underline the ruling government's confidence in India's economic trajectory amid international uncertainty.

US Supreme Court Allows States to Use DHS Database for Voter Eligibility Checks

The US Supreme Court has issued an emergency order permitting states to use a federal Department of Homeland Security program to verify voter eligibility. The program, known as Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE), is designed to help identify non-citizens on voter rolls. The ruling enables states to cross-check their voter registration data against the DHS database. The order is part of the Trump administration's broader push to remove ineligible voters, particularly non-citizens, from electoral rolls.

Government considers imported coal blending as power plant stocks decline

The Indian government is exploring the option of blending imported coal with domestic coal at thermal power plants amid falling stock levels. Officials are weighing this measure as a precautionary step to ensure uninterrupted power generation. Despite the declining stockpiles at plants, the government has stated that domestic coal supplies to thermal facilities are showing signs of improvement. The blending of imported coal is seen as a buffer strategy to prevent any potential shortfall in electricity production. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely as energy demand continues to put pressure on available coal reserves.