Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has strongly criticised the alleged police assault on students and other protesters during a demonstration at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Describing the incident as “very, very distressing,” the judge said he was dismayed to see police personnel allegedly using force against protesters. The remarks came amid a wider controversy surrounding the CJP protest and allegations of police excesses. The incident has triggered concerns over the handling of peaceful demonstrations and police conduct. The developments have also intensified scrutiny of the authorities as legal and political attention remains focused on the Jantar Mantar protest row. (PC: AFP)

Eighty-two educators will receive the National Teachers’ Awards 2026 on Teachers’ Day, September 5, with President Droupadi Murmu presenting the honours in New Delhi. The awardees include 48 school teachers, 21 higher-education and polytechnic educators, and 13 teachers from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Their work spans creative pedagogy, STEM education, digital learning, community engagement and inclusion. Among the recognised educators are an asteroid-tracking mentor and a mathematics innovator. Some awardees have also promoted Indian Knowledge Systems, including Vaastu Shastra, the Bhagavad Gita and Sanskrit integrated with artificial intelligence, highlighting diverse approaches to modern education. (PC: The Hindu)

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution supporting the Equal Earth map projection, designed to represent continents and countries more accurately. The move addresses distortions caused by the widely used Mercator projection, which makes regions near the poles appear disproportionately large while shrinking areas around the equator, including Africa. The resolution received 164 votes in favour, while the United States voted against it and six countries abstained. The US criticised the initiative as an ideological distraction from pressing global issues. The resolution is not legally binding but encourages wider use in education, institutions and digital mapping.

Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan has filed a complaint with Delhi Police against influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, accusing him of allegedly misusing Paswan’s name and claiming political backing in connection with a Jantar Mantar assault case. Bhardwaj reportedly claimed during an interview that he had “cracked the skull” of a student activist’s father during a CJP protest. Paswan’s party said such claims were false and sought legal action. Meanwhile, Delhi Police detained Bhardwaj in Uttar Pradesh after CJP supporters protested outside Parliament Street Police Station demanding his arrest. Police said the complaint was being examined. (PC: India Today)

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka briefly stopped her third-round US Open match against Kamilla Rakhimova after a strong cannabis smell drifted onto the court at Louis Armstrong Stadium. Sabalenka alerted chair umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore, saying the odour was unusually strong and distracting her during play. The interruption was brief, and the two-time defending champion resumed the match and defeated Rakhimova 6-3, 6-4 to reach the fourth round. Sabalenka later urged spectators not to smoke near the courts. Officials investigated the incident, while reports suggested the smell may have been carried from nearby Flushing Meadows-Corona Park by the wind.(PC: X)

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for two separate attacks on Pakistani military forces in Balochistan, alleging that 25 military personnel were killed and three vehicles destroyed. The group said fighters ambushed a military convoy at Ziarat Cross, initially claiming 18 deaths before revising the figure to 25. The BLA also released a 71-second video that it said showed the attack site, burning military vehicles and seized weapons. In a second attack near Hajika in Surab, the group said an explosives-laden vehicle destroyed a military vehicle and killed seven personnel. Pakistan has not independently confirmed the BLA's casualty claims. 

A US airstrike in Kuhestak, southern Iran, reportedly struck a home where dozens had gathered for a wedding, turning the celebration into a tragedy. Iranian state media said four people, including two children, were killed and more than 60 wounded, while other officials initially reported five deaths. The strike occurred during US attacks targeting Iranian military and communications infrastructure near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Weapons experts cited by Reuters assessed that the damage was likely caused by a direct hit from a US munition. The US military said it was investigating the incident and maintained that civilians are not targeted.

US diesel prices have reached a record $5.85 per gallon, driven by prolonged disruptions in global fuel supplies linked to the six-month US-Israel war with Iran. Brent crude oil climbed above $95 a barrel, compared with around $70 before the conflict, while disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have tightened supply. US diesel inventories are also at historically low levels, increasing pressure as autumn harvest and winter heating demand approach. Refinery disruptions and Russia’s restrictions on diesel exports have further strained supplies. Higher diesel costs are raising transportation and production expenses, potentially increasing prices for food, deliveries and other consumer goods. 

The US Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has arrived at Thailand after an extraordinary 286-day deployment, including months of combat and blockade operations against Iran. Images show extensive rust, faded paint and marine growth along the carrier’s hull, drawing widespread attention. Naval experts say such corrosion is expected after prolonged exposure to seawater and cannot be properly treated during active combat operations. The 1,092-foot carrier, carrying around 5,000 sailors and Marines, has now received an opportunity for rest and maintenance. Experts estimate removing the rust and repainting the affected areas could require about 30 days. (PC: X)

Air India has dismissed a pilot who tested positive for a psychoactive substance following a safety-related incident involving a Phuket–Delhi flight. The action came after the pilot underwent a mandatory post-flight examination, which detected the prohibited substance. The incident has raised renewed concerns about aviation safety and strict compliance with rules governing alcohol and psychoactive substance use among flight crew. Air India has taken disciplinary action in accordance with applicable aviation regulations and its internal safety procedures. The case highlights the importance of mandatory testing, medical fitness assessments and strict enforcement of safety standards to prevent impaired crew from operating commercial flights. (PC: Reuters)