Gitanjali Angmo, wife of jailed Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk, wrote to President Droupadi Murmu seeking his unconditional release. She urged the President, citing her husband’s peaceful activism and her belief that Murmu, being from a tribal community, would “understand the feelings of Ladakh’s people.” Wangchuk, detained under the National Security Act (NSA) in Leh, has not been allowed to speak to his family. Copies of the letter were sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Angmo described Wangchuk as a “peaceful Gandhian protester” working on climate change, education, and upliftment of Ladakh’s tribal regions. (PC: HT)

Aravind Srinivas, a 31-year-old from Chennai, has become India’s youngest billionaire with a net worth of ₹21,190 crore. He is the co-founder of Perplexity AI, an AI-powered search engine that competes with global giants. Srinivas debuted on the M3M Hurun India Rich List 2025, reflecting India’s fast growth in AI and deep-tech innovation. The list also features young entrepreneurs like Zepto’s Kaivalya Vohra and Aadit Palicha. India now has 358 billionaires, with Mukesh Ambani reclaiming the top spot. Roshni Nadar Malhotra made history as the richest woman and youngest in India’s top 10 billionaires. (PC: X)

Alia Bhatt visited the Durga Puja pandal organised by Kajol and Rani Mukerji’s family in Mumbai. The actor wore a yellow lehenga with a white blouse and smiled as she greeted fans. Alia posed for pictures with Goddess Durga’s idol and spent time with Rani Mukerji. She also clicked a selfie with Rani, her Brahmastra director Ayan Mukerji, and Tanishaa Mukerji. At one moment, she stepped on Rani’s sari, and both laughed. The pandal has seen many stars in recent days, including Priyanka Chopra, Ranbir Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, and Sushmita Sen, who offered prayers during Navratri. (PC: HT)

The US government has shut down after Republicans and Democrats failed to agree on a budget. Around 750,000 federal workers, nearly 40% of the workforce, face unpaid leave. Essential staff like border patrol, air traffic controllers, and law enforcement will continue working without pay. National parks may close, while museums and zoos face disruptions. Travel delays are expected as unpaid airport staff may stay home. Food aid programs risk running out of funds, and research at health agencies could stall. However, Medicare and Medicaid will continue. Mail delivery remains unaffected as the US Postal Service runs on its own funds. (PC: BBC)

Kolkata’s Dakshindari Youths have chosen acid attack survivors as their Durga Puja theme this year. Titled ‘Dahan’ (burning), the pandal features live performances by women actors and survivors who share their stories with visitors. The idol of Goddess Durga has a symbolic hollow in the stomach to depict the emptiness caused by violence. Mirrors placed around the pandal are opaque, showing the struggles survivors face with their identity. West Bengal reported the highest number of acid attack cases in India, according to NCRB data. Organisers hope the theme raises awareness about violence against women beyond the festive season. (PC: The Hindu)

Nepal has chosen 2-year-old Aryatara Shakya as the country’s new living goddess, known as the Kumari. She was carried by her family through Kathmandu streets to the Kumari Ghar temple palace, where she will live for several years. Kumaris are young girls from the Newar Shakya clan, worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists. They must meet strict physical and spiritual criteria. Aryatara replaces 11-year-old Trishna Shakya, who served as goddess since 2017. Devotees touched her feet and offered prayers, flowers, and money. Her father said, “She was my daughter yesterday, but today she is a goddess.” (PC: AP news)

Singer Shreya Ghoshal shared her Durga Puja memories from growing up in Rawatbhata, Rajasthan, to celebrating in Mumbai today. She recalled making bhog, decorating pandals, and taking part in song competitions with her community. Shreya said earlier celebrations felt warm and personal, unlike today’s large, crowded pandals. She still attends Anushakti Nagar and Ramkrishna Mission pujas in Mumbai, which she finds traditional and pure. Proud of her Bengali roots, she continues family rituals with devotion. Shreya hopes to pass the true spirit of Durga Puja to her son, keeping alive the festival’s meaning of faith and unity. (PC: X)

The government has approved a 3% hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) for employees and pensioners. The hike, effective from July 1, was announced by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. This is the second increase in 2025, following a 2% rise in March. With the revision, DA payouts will rise from 55% of basic pay to 58%. For example, an employee with a basic salary of Rs 60,000 will now get Rs 34,800 as DA. The hike comes ahead of Dussehra and Diwali and is meant to offset inflation based on Consumer Price Index data. (PC: NDTV)

Delhi Police arrested self-styled godman Chaitanyananda Saraswati from Agra in connection with the molestation of female students. Investigators found WhatsApp chats where he asked a student about a “Dubai sheikh” seeking a sex partner. Police also recovered secret photos of women and staff, lewd chats, and evidence of spying on students through a CCTV app. Three women aides, including the institute’s Dean and two wardens, allegedly helped him silence victims. He has been sent to 5-day custody. Police said Chaitanyananda was uncooperative and tried to mislead investigators during questioning, raising concerns about his activities at the institution.  (PC: HT)

Mukesh Ambani has once again topped the Hurun India Rich List 2025 with a net worth of Rs 9.55 lakh crore. Gautam Adani followed with Rs 8.15 lakh crore. Roshni Nadar Malhotra entered the top three, becoming India’s richest woman at Rs 2.84 lakh crore. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan joined the billionaire club for the first time with Rs 12,490 crore. India now has over 350 billionaires, led by Mumbai. Young entrepreneur Aravind Srinivas became the youngest billionaire. The list shows rising women leaders and self-made entrepreneurs shaping India’s wealth. (PC: India Today)