Nagaland Governor La Ganesan, 80, passed away on Friday night while undergoing treatment at a Chennai hospital, officials confirmed. He had been in the ICU since August 8 after collapsing at home and sustaining a head injury. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences, remembering him as “a devout nationalist” passionate about Tamil culture and committed to nation-building. Nagaland Deputy CM Yanthungo Patton hailed his dignity and dedication to public service. Appointed as Nagaland’s 21st governor on February 12, 2023, Ganesan assumed office on February 20. Tributes from political leaders and citizens poured in for the veteran leader’s decades-long contribution to public life. (PC: HT)

India’s Russian oil imports surged to a record 2 million barrels per day in August, accounting for 38% of total crude intake. This rise came despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s 50% tariff threat over India’s continued purchases from Moscow. Refiners prioritized economic logic, shifting away from Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Indian Oil Corporation and BPCL confirmed no government directive to reduce Russian volumes, calling it “business as usual.” Discounts on Russian crude narrowed to $1.5 per barrel but rose slightly in August. While refiners explore alternatives from the U.S., West Africa, and Latin America, experts say this reflects flexibility not a pivot. Russian oil remains central to India’s energy strategy unless sanctions are imposed. (PC: European Council & Shutterstock)

India is deepening trade ties with Singapore and ASEAN nations to counter the impact of newly announced U.S. reciprocal tariffs on Indian exports. The Commerce Ministry hosted the 4th India-Singapore Joint Working Group on Trade & Investment, marking 60 years of diplomatic relations and 20 years of CECA. Talks focused on investment promotion, supply-chain resilience, and regulatory streamlining. Simultaneously, India held the 10th ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) joint committee meeting to modernize the 15-year-old pact. With exports to ASEAN falling 5.45% and imports rising 5.64% in FY25, India aims to diversify trade and strengthen regional connectivity. Singapore remains India’s top ASEAN trade partner and second-largest FDI source. (PC: NDTV & Lowy Institute)

India has unexpectedly emerged as a central factor in the Trump-Putin Alaska summit, with U.S. President Donald Trump using steep tariffs on Indian imports of Russian oil as leverage to pressure Moscow into Ukraine ceasefire talks. The 50% tariffs, effective from August 27, target Russia’s second-largest oil customer India, potentially disrupting global energy flows. Trump claims the move helped push Putin to the negotiating table. Despite rising U.S. imports, India calls the tariffs “unjustified,” stressing its strategic autonomy and balanced energy sourcing. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned of further escalation if talks fail. India’s role, though indirect, underscores its growing influence in global diplomacy and the risks of being caught in great-power rivalry. (PC: Firstpost & NDTV)

A tragic incident unfolded at Delhi’s historic Humayun’s Tomb on Friday when a portion of the dome collapsed around 4:30 PM in the Nizamuddin area. According to Delhi Fire Services, 5 dead and at least 7 people are feared trapped beneath the debris. Emergency teams responded swiftly following an alert call, and rescue operations are underway. The collapse raises serious concerns about the structural integrity and maintenance of heritage monuments. Humayun’s Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage site, attracts thousands of visitors daily. Authorities have yet to confirm the identities or conditions of those trapped. The incident is under investigation, and updates are expected as the situation develops. (PC: Instagram)

The government has proposed reducing GST to two slabs—5% and 18%—with sin goods like tobacco and pan masala taxed at 40%. The plan, sent to the GST Council, will be discussed in a two-day September meeting, aiming for implementation before Diwali. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a “next-generation GST reform” and a Diwali gift, promising lower taxes on essentials such as farm products, health services, handicrafts, and insurance. The reform will remove the 12% slab, redistributing items into lower or higher categories. Officials believe it will boost consumption and economic growth, despite potential short-term revenue impacts. (PC: India Today)

A portion of the roof of a dargah inside Delhi’s Humayun’s Tomb complex in Nizamuddin collapsed on Friday afternoon, trapping several people. Authorities received the alert around 4:30 PM, and Delhi Fire Service (DFS) teams quickly reached the site with five fire tenders. Locals rescued some individuals, while DFS personnel pulled out three more. Officials estimate 8–9 people may still be trapped. No fatalities have been reported yet. Eyewitness Vishal Kumar said a loud noise preceded the collapse, prompting immediate rescue efforts. Visuals from the site showed ongoing operations to clear debris and free those still stuck inside. (PC: News18)

At least 60 people have died and dozens remain missing after flash floods struck Chositi village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, a key stop for Hindu pilgrims visiting the Machail Mata shrine. More than 100 people were injured. Survivors recalled a blast-like sound before water, mud, and debris swept through homes and facilities. Rescue work is slowed by limited equipment, with the National Disaster Response Force warning up to 200 may be trapped. Families remain separated, with heartbroken relatives searching for loved ones. Officials suspect a cloudburst triggered the disaster, though the meteorological department has yet to confirm. (PC: BBC)

Indian-origin chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan, 10, from London, has become the youngest female player ever to defeat a grandmaster. She achieved the feat at the 2025 British Chess Championships in Liverpool, beating 60-year-old Grandmaster Peter Wells. The International Chess Federation (ICF) confirmed she broke the previous record held by American Carissa Yip by over six months. Sivanandan’s victory earned her the title of Woman International Master, the second-highest ranking for women. Last year, she was the youngest person to represent England in any sport at the Chess Olympiad. England chess team manager Malcolm Pein called her “one of the most remarkable prodigies.” (PC: NDTV)

A new report revisits the controversial 1947 Radcliffe Award, suggesting Jawaharlal Nehru and Lord Mountbatten influenced the decision to assign Gurdaspur to India, securing a vital road link to Kashmir. Initially marked for Pakistan due to its Muslim majority, Gurdaspur’s final allocation enabled India’s military access to the princely state. Historians Stanley Wolpert and Alastair Lamb argue strategic motives shaped the boundary revision, citing canal headworks and railway lines. Pakistan views this as the root of the Kashmir conflict. Nehru’s intervention and Mountbatten’s delay in publishing the award allegedly pressured Maharaja Hari Singh to accede to India. India denies prior knowledge or interference, while sealed documents leave the full truth unresolved.