India’s Supreme Court has ordered an inquiry into Vantara, the private zoo run by Anant Ambani, son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani. The court said allegations of illegal animal acquisition, mistreatment, wildlife law violations, and money laundering must be checked. Vantara, spread over 3,500 acres in Gujarat, houses around 2,000 species, including 200 elephants and 300 big cats. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March. The zoo has faced protests after elephants were moved there. Vantara said it is committed to transparency and animal care. A special panel of retired judges will report by 12 September. (PC: BBC)

At least 34 people died and several were injured after a landslide struck the Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra track near Katra, Jammu and Kashmir. Heavy rain caused flash floods and landslides across the region, damaging bridges, power lines, and mobile networks. Over 3,500 residents were evacuated. The Jhelum River crossed the danger mark, raising flood fears. Jammu recorded 296 mm of rain in 24 hours, breaking a 1973 record, while Udhampur received 629 mm. Schools were closed, and exams were suspended. Rescue teams, including the Army, NDRF, and SDRF, are working with helicopters and relief flights to aid survivors. (PC: X)

Russia is set to employ nearly one million Indians as it faces a severe industrial workforce shortage. According to Indian Ambassador Vinay Kumar, Russian firms in construction, machinery, electronics, and textiles are actively hiring Indians, with Sverdlovsk emerging as a major destination. The Indian Embassy in Moscow is expanding services, including opening a new consulate in Yekaterinburg. Russia anticipates a 3.1 million worker deficit by 2030 and may increase foreign worker quotas by 1.5 times in 2025. Multiple visa pathways exist, though the Embassy has cautioned applicants against fraudulent offers. (PC: Business Standard)

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Khalistani separatist and fugitive attorney, held a press briefing outside St. Lucie County Jail (Florida) to defend Harjinder Singh, a Punjab-origin truck driver accused of causing a fatal crash via an illegal U-turn on August 12. Singh, who’s been living and working illegally in the U.S., faces three counts of vehicular homicide. At the rally, Pannun expressed sympathy, calling Singh “grieving” and wishing the tragedy hadn’t occurred, while accusing critics of politicizing the incident. An online petition supporting Singh has garnered some 1.6 million signatures. India regards Pannun as a terrorist. (PC: Reuters)

Ukraine has admitted that Russian forces have crossed into the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time. Officials said Russia tried to establish a foothold, but their advance was stopped. The DeepState project reported that Russia now controls two villages, Zaporizke and Novohryhorivka, but Ukraine’s military insists it still holds them and that battles continue. The Dnipropetrovsk region is a key industrial hub with more than three million people. Any Russian gains here would be a serious blow to Ukrainian morale, as Western-led peace talks show little progress. Heavy fighting continues along Ukraine’s eastern defensive lines. (PC: BBC)

As Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations continue, a heartwarming video has gone viral online. It shows a cat sleeping peacefully on the arm of a beautifully decorated Lord Ganesha idol dressed in yellow attire. The calm scene has left devotees and social media users delighted. Many called it one of the sweetest sights of the festival, while others added humour, joking about Ganesha’s loyal companion, the mouse, feeling insecure. Some viewers also shared emotional reactions, saying it shows God’s love for all beings. The clip has quickly become one of the most talked-about festival highlights this year.

The US has imposed 50% tariffs on two-thirds of India’s exports, worth over $60 billion yearly, NDTV reported. President Donald Trump said the move was triggered by India’s purchases of Russian crude and defence supplies. The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) warned that exports in textiles, gems, jewellery, leather, food, carpets, and handicrafts may collapse by up to 70%. Millions of jobs in hubs like Surat, Tiruppur, Agra, and Visakhapatnam are at risk as competitors like Vietnam, China, and Mexico gain ground. However, some sectors, including pharmaceuticals, electronics, and smartphones, remain exempt from the steep tariffs. (PC: NDTV)

Sonali Banerjee became India’s first woman maritime engineer in 1999, breaking into the male-dominated seafaring industry. Inspired by her uncles in the merchant navy, she joined the Marine Engineering Research Institute (MERI) in Kolkata despite skepticism from family and peers. Among 1,500 cadets, she was the only woman and faced many challenges, including proving her competence at sea. After completing rigorous training in Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Hong Kong, Fiji, and Australia, she officially took charge of a ship’s machine room in 2001. Sonali’s journey inspired many Indian women to pursue careers in maritime engineering and seafaring. (PC: The better India)

The parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine have filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman after their son died by suicide. The lawsuit alleges ChatGPT coached Adam on self-harm, gave details on lethal methods, and even helped draft a suicide note. Adam had interacted with ChatGPT for months, the parents said. OpenAI said it is saddened by his death and pointed to existing safeguards, including crisis helplines. The Raines seek damages and stronger safety measures, including age verification and restrictions on self-harm guidance. Experts warn AI chatbots should not replace mental health support. (PC: India Today)

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is now part of the anime world in a new AI-powered series called ‘DQN’. The trailer shows Bose motivating his troops to fight a fictional nation, Avalon, in a cyberpunk setting. The series is created by Tokyo-based Indian-origin IIT graduate Kushagra Kushwaha and produced by AI studio Morphic. DQN follows 12 strangers racing to uncover a hidden vault that could change power rules. Indian fans praised seeing Bose in anime, calling it a “blessing.” Some, however, criticized the heavy AI use in the series. ‘DQN’ is Kushwaha’s first episodic AI anime. (PC: The Telegraph)