India-born female cheetah KGP12 gave birth to four cubs at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on September 18, marking a significant milestone for Project Cheetah. KGP12 is the second India-born female cheetah to give birth at Kuno. With the latest births, the number of cheetahs born and surviving in India has increased to 36, while the total cheetah population in the country has risen from 52 to 56. Kuno now has 53 cheetahs, while three are at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. The development comes a day after Project Cheetah completed four years. 

India’s Project Cheetah has completed four years, with the country’s cheetah population reaching 52, including 32 cubs born in India since the programme began in 2022. The initiative started with eight cheetahs brought from Namibia and later expanded through arrivals from South Africa and Botswana. Currently, 49 cheetahs are in Kuno National Park and three in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, both in Madhya Pradesh. Officials said the programme has progressed from reintroduction and breeding to releasing cheetahs into open forests and establishing breeding females. The next phase focuses on expanding suitable habitats and creating a long-term cheetah meta-population across India. (PC: ET)

Gurugram court on Friday sent hit-and-run accused Kalyan Singh Bainsla and his cousin Lavnish to 14 days of judicial custody after their two-day police custody ended. The two were arrested in Rajasthan following a viral video showing a car allegedly hitting woman biker Shivani Chauhan, known as Sia, on Golf Course Road. Police had earlier added an attempt-to-murder charge to the case after examining the video. Investigators are also seeking CCTV footage from Empire Club, which the accused reportedly visited before the incident, and questioning two other people allegedly present in the vehicle. The next court hearing is scheduled for October 1. 

India’s food regulator FSSAI has initiated three adjudication cases against Nestlé India over alleged regulatory non-compliance involving three infant nutrition products. The action concerns NAN Excella Pro Stage 1, Lactogen Pro 1 and a follow-up formula. FSSAI flagged promotional claims including “5 HMOs” and “Whey Protein” for NAN Excella Pro, while Lactogen Pro 1 carried a claim that whey protein was easy to digest. Both were found to contravene rules restricting promotional claims for infant foods. Separately, laboratory testing and re-analysis found a follow-up formula did not meet prescribed biotin requirements. The proceedings are ongoing. (PC: Pexels)

Surendra Koli, who was accused in the 2006 Nithari killings case, was found hanging inside a tea stall in Haridwar on September 18, 2026. Police said Koli had been living in the city for several months and had recently been running the tea stall near Lalmata Temple in the Bhupatwala area. His body was sent for postmortem, and his family in Almora was informed. No suicide note was found, and police said they are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death. Koli had been acquitted by the Supreme Court in the final remaining Nithari case in November 2025. (PC: PTI)

Four people, including three juveniles, were arrested on September 17 in connection with the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl in Delhi’s Swaroop Nagar. The girl’s body was found in an open field near Kushak Road on September 13. Police said the accused and the victim were known to each other. Investigators examined footage from more than 50 CCTV cameras and traced a suspected tempo linked to the incident. A 19-year-old, identified as Shivam, was among those arrested. Police said two knives, clothing and the suspected tempo were recovered. The investigation continues to establish each accused’s role. (PC: The Hindu)

A 17-year-old girl’s decomposed body was found in a field near Kushak Road in Delhi on September 13, days after she was allegedly gang-raped and murdered. According to police, local residents noticed stray dogs around the body and alerted authorities. The girl had reportedly been stabbed multiple times, and a medical examination confirmed sexual assault. Police arrested four suspects in connection with the case, including a 19-year-old man and three minors. Investigators reportedly examined more than 50 CCTV cameras and traced a tempo allegedly linked to the incident. Knives, clothing and the vehicle were recovered as part of the investigation. (PC: NDTV)

A 16-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped and murdered in Delhi’s Swaroop Nagar, with police apprehending four suspects, including one adult and three minors. According to police, the girl knew one of the suspects and had gone to meet him on September 10. She was allegedly sexually assaulted before being taken to a field, where she was stabbed multiple times. Her body was discovered under leaves and mud on September 13. Police examined more than 50 CCTV cameras and traced a tempo allegedly linked to the suspects. Two knives and clothing were recovered. Further forensic and technical investigation is underway. (PC: HT)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said West Bengal is set to emerge as one of the world’s major shipbuilding hubs, highlighting the state’s growing role in India’s defence manufacturing sector. Speaking in Kolkata, Singh said India’s defence production has increased four-fold to around ₹1.80 lakh crore, while Indian defence equipment is now exported to more than 100 countries. The Centre is also planning a new shipbuilding facility at Haldia in East Midnapore. The developments are expected to strengthen shipbuilding, defence manufacturing and related industries in West Bengal, while creating employment and opportunities for supporting businesses and MSMEs. (PC: AP)

India’s crude oil import basket climbed to $131.19 per barrel on September 15, its highest level since March 23, 2026, amid growing global supply concerns and geopolitical tensions. The sharp rise has been driven by disruptions in Middle Eastern oil supplies, including the shutdown of a key Saudi pipeline, alongside uncertainty over US tariff measures targeting buyers of Russian energy. India’s crude basket averaged $111.71 per barrel in September, nearly 24% higher than August. The increase is expected to raise India’s oil import bill and add pressure on inflation as fuel demand rises ahead of the festive and marriage season.