The Supreme Court on Wednesday told the complainant in a criminal defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to follow the prescribed procedure for an early hearing, rejecting allegations that Gandhi was being treated as a “VVIP”. Chief Justice Surya Kant-led bench said, “Everyone is equal before us,” and asked senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia to file an application seeking early listing. The case concerns Gandhi’s 2022 remarks about the India-China clash in Arunachal Pradesh. Bhatia, representing former BRO director Uday Shankar Srivastava, also sought de-tagging of the case from a separate matter involving The Wire. (PC: HT)

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has clarified that its probe into the alleged terror links of US mercenary Matthew Aaron VanDyke and six Ukrainian nationals is still underway. The clarification came after the agency’s chargesheet did not include provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), despite initially invoking Section 18. The accused were charged under the Immigration and Foreigners Act. The NIA said further investigation and supplementary chargesheets remain possible. VanDyke and the Ukrainians were arrested in March over allegations that they illegally entered Myanmar through Mizoram to train ethnic armed groups fighting Myanmar’s military junta. (PC: India Today)

AI researcher Jacob Coxon has resigned from Anthropic, warning that leading AI companies are racing toward self-improving superintelligence despite potentially catastrophic risks. Coxon, who previously worked at OpenAI, said: “The people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade.” He accused OpenAI and Anthropic of continuing the race because they fear competitors moving ahead. Anthropic alignment researcher Evan Hubinger backed the concern, saying he personally believes there is a more than 10% chance AI could kill all humans within the next decade. Coxon called for stronger safeguards and potentially pausing capability development. (PC: NDTV)

Oil prices rose above $100 a barrel on Wednesday for the first time since July after the US struck five Iranian oil tankers following attacks by Tehran on an American warship. Brent crude reached $100.19 before slipping to around $99.90. Iran responded by launching missiles at a US base in Jordan, with 18 of 20 missiles reportedly intercepted. Tehran also claimed attacks on US vessels and oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The latest escalation has raised concerns over regional oil supplies, particularly as around 90% of Iran’s crude exports pass through Kharg Island, where one tanker was targeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to discuss defence cooperation during their September 11 meeting in New Delhi. The S-400 air defence system, Russia’s Su-57 fighter jet and an upgrade of the BrahMos missile are expected to be key issues. Russia has said it remains committed to delivering India’s two remaining S-400 systems under the existing deal. Moscow is also pushing the Su-57, with discussions potentially covering production technology and local manufacturing. Both sides are further exploring upgrades to BrahMos to improve its capabilities and strengthen its export potential.

Iran’s navy has claimed it captured a US unmanned underwater vehicle near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz during an intelligence operation. The IRGC-linked Sepah News identified the vessel as a Dive-LD and released footage it said showed the captured submarine. Iran also claimed its air defences shot down an MQ-9 Reaper drone in the area. The Pentagon said an underwater drone had malfunctioned during a regional survey but did not confirm it was the seized vessel, describing it as an older model without sensitive equipment. The claims came amid escalating US-Iran tensions and attacks involving Iranian oil tankers. (PC: NDTV)

India on Wednesday condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia’s energy facilities, calling strikes on civilian and economic sites “unacceptable.” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the attacks undermine regional security and stability and threaten freedom of navigation through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait. The Houthis said they targeted Saudi Aramco facilities in southern Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities reported fires at several oil and utility sites and said 73 people were injured. The attacks come as fighting in Yemen has intensified. Pakistan and Turkiye have also condemned the strikes, amid growing concerns over security along a key global shipping route. (PC: HT)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned a Greater Noida executive magistrate for issuing a notice to Gautam Buddha University student Akshat Tripathi over his participation in the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. The notice sought a ₹5 lakh personal bond despite the court’s earlier order barring coercive or penal action against students linked to the 36-day protest. CJI Surya Kant asked, “How could a Magistrate dare to issue notice?” The notice was later withdrawn. The three-judge bench said it would seek an explanation from the authority and examine whether the court’s order had been violated. (PC: India Today)

Major Navya Shekhawat has become the first woman officer from the Indian Army to serve as Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.   Shekhawat joined the Army after clearing the Combined Defence Services examination and trained at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai. She was commissioned into the Army Service Corps in 2021 and rose to the rank of Major within a few years. As an ADC, she assists the President during official engagements and ceremonies while helping maintain military and ceremonial protocol. She is the second woman overall to hold the President’s ADC position, following Navy officer Lieutenant Commander Yashasvi Solanki in 2025. (PC: X)

US President Donald Trump shared an edited video appearing to show King Charles walking away after an Asda worker collapsed during a 2020 visit in Bristol. However, the full footage shows Charles reaching out to try to catch the man before staying nearby while he received medical attention. The worker quickly recovered and later continued speaking with Charles. Trump’s three-minute Truth Social video contrasts foreign leaders portrayed as indifferent with footage presenting him as caring and supportive. The montage also features French President Emmanuel Macron and former US presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama in unflattering scenes.