😔 Former MP Sajjan Kumar passes away at 84

Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, convicted in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, passed away on Thursday at Safdarjung Hospital. Kumar, who was 84 years old, was brought to the hospital by police due to altered sensorium around 11 am. He was serving multiple life sentences after his December 17, 2018, conviction in a case concerning five Sikh deaths. The former three-time Lok Sabha member had a history of high blood pressure and Parkinson's disease. Despite medical efforts, he could not be saved and passed away at 12:30 pm. 😔

🏎️ Verstappen commits to Red Bull until 2030

Max Verstappen has decided to extend his contract with Red Bull until the end of 2030. This commitment was surprising, especially given his previous hints about leaving due to F1 rules. The deal was secured after F1 acknowledged that the 50/50 power split era was not successful. Verstappen's long-term view aligns with F1's planned shift to a 60/40 power split around 2028. This secures a defining partnership for Red Bull amid driver market uncertainty.

✅ Vande Bharat food hygiene gets a major checkup

Authorities are expanding food safety checks beyond hotels to include trains and flights. This move targets Vande Bharat trains and other air travel services across the region. The crackdown was reportedly intensified starting from the last few months. The aim is to ensure higher hygiene standards for passengers across all transport modes. Strict monitoring protocols will be implemented going forward to maintain public safety. 🚆

🦟 Safe ways to protect monsoon babies from mosquitoes

Infants need careful protection from mosquito bites during the monsoon season. Parents should use mosquito nets and ensure infants wear covered clothing for safety. It is important to avoid using potentially harmful repellents altogether. These precautions help keep babies safe while the monsoon is ongoing. Authorities advise sticking to these safe practices for the foreseeable future.

🌿 Broadway's medians getting a green glow-up 🐝

Broadway's medians are being replanted with native species to create a five-mile habitat corridor for wildlife. This project is run by the Broadway Mall Association across Manhattan. As of 2026, 12 malls have been restored, with more expected by the end of that year. The initiative aims to link fragmented green spaces, boosting biodiversity while needing less water. The goal is to restore all 83 malls into one continuous, resilient ecosystem.

😟 Mumbai Woman Pays Rs 3 Lakh to Silence Daughter-in-Law

A Mumbai woman reportedly paid a sum of Rs 3 lakh to prevent her daughter-in-law from filing a case. The incident involves allegations of violence within the family unit. This payment was reportedly made around the time of the dispute. The motive appears to be to suppress the details of the domestic violence allegations. Authorities are now investigating the matter further to determine the truth.

🎬 Manoj Bajpayee to play Gandhi in new film

Manoj Bajpayee will star as Mahatma Gandhi in an upcoming theatrical feature directed by Sudhir Mishra. The film, backed by Anubhav Sinha, will focus on a lesser-known 21-day period during India's Independence. This narrative explores Gandhi's personal decision to step away from Delhi as it gained political prominence. The project is produced by Anubhav Sinha and Narendra Hirawat under Benaras Mediaworks. Further details about the cast and characterizations are yet to be revealed.

🏆 Tan Zhongyi bags Cairns Cup while Alice Lee hits GM norm

Former world champion Tan Zhongyi won the Cairns Cup after securing enough points despite a defeat in round nine. She clinched the trophy and $65,000 prize money following a close race with Alice Lee in the tournament held at the Saint Louis Chess Club. The final standings saw Lee earn her first GM norm after her game against Carissa Yip. Stavroula Tsolakidou finished fifth, having defeated both Tan and Lee once. Moving forward, the players will likely focus on upcoming high-stakes matches after this intense competition. 🏆

🤖 US Army scrapping top drone warfare unit

The US Army has decided to disband its most specialized unit focused on drone and ground robot warfare. This move involves the 3rd Battalion of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in the US. The decision is part of the 'back-to-basics' approach under the Donald Trump administration. This contrasts with global trends where drones are transforming modern warfare, as seen in West Asia. The unit, established in January, was meant to learn from the Russia-Ukraine war.

⛽ Russia faces major petrol shortages across stations

Fuel availability dropped significantly across Russian stations as a second wave of shortages hit the country. This crisis is currently affecting areas like Moscow, where queues are forming at gas pumps. As of Wednesday, monitoring showed only 28% of filling stations had petrol, down from 41% a week prior. The shortage stems from Kyiv's drone attacks on Russian oil infrastructure since early July. Further supply gaps are expected in September when Belarus's Novopolotsk refinery goes offline. ⛽

🔋 Atomic defects boost lithium-ion speed in batteries

Researchers have discovered that atomic defects can open up new routes for rapid lithium-ion movement within materials. This breakthrough was achieved by a team at Nanowerk. The study details the mechanism observed in specific material structures. This finding helps scientists understand how to enhance battery performance significantly. Future research will focus on applying this knowledge to next-gen battery designs. 🔋