♟️ Praggnanandhaa shares Sinquefield Cup lead

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa defeated World Championship challenger Javokhir Sindarov in the second round of the Sinquefield Cup. This match took place in St. Louis where Praggnanandhaa secured the full point after a lengthy game. His victory brought his tally to 1.5 points from two rounds, putting him level at the top. This success follows his recent impressive form, including winning the Grand Chess Tour St Louis Rapid and Blitz. He now shares the lead with Fabiano Caruana, Wesley So, Levon Aronian, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.

✈️ IndiGo flight hits mid-air engine trouble over Kolkata

An IndiGo flight experienced a sudden engine failure while flying near Kolkata. The incident involved a commercial flight operated by IndiGo over the city. The plane eventually made an emergency landing in Chennai on [Date, if provided]. This event triggered immediate safety protocols from the airline and aviation authorities. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the engine malfunction. ✈️

🎬 Ranbir Kapoor fires back at Ramayan VFX critics

Ranbir Kapoor publicly responded to the criticism surrounding the visual effects of Ramayan. He addressed the negativity online, especially claims that the visuals were made using artificial intelligence. The actor stated that thousands of artists have put in countless hours of work over several years on the project. He noted that audiences are now highly critical, often judging trailers before the final release. Ranbir highlighted the intense dedication from director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra.

🚢 Hormuz Shipping Traffic Hits Low Due to Tensions

Shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has dropped to a one-week low recently. This decrease is being reported by Reuters news agency. The drop coincides with ongoing regional hostilities in the area. The waterway is a critical chokepoint for global energy trade. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation for any escalation.

⚖️ Maharashtra govt: Reservation talks must stick to the Constitution

Devendra Fadnavis stated that the Maharashtra government will consider all reservation demands only within constitutional limits. This was announced by the Chief Minister on Tuesday amidst political debate, especially regarding the Maratha and OBC categories. The government is committed to justice for all groups, including Marathas and OBCs, and will not take from one group to give to another. Any demand that is in the public interest and fits the Constitution will be considered for review. If a demand falls outside constitutional rules, it will unfortunately not be accepted by the administration. ⚖️

🚩 Army vet flags flag code breach in Safed Sagar

An army veteran alleged a flag code breach in the series Operation Safed Sagar, which honors the 1999 Kargil War. Colonel Vembu Shankar raised this issue regarding a scene in the six-episode show involving Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja. He pointed out the incorrect draping of the tricolour on the coffin, specifically noting the green portion was visible instead of saffron at the head. Shankar demanded a digital correction and a suspension of the show on Netflix until the change is made. This series, directed by Oni Sen, has otherwise received praise for its depiction of the IAF's mission. 🇮🇳

🐷 Grapefruit-sized piglet debuts at Chester Zoo

An endangered babirusa, nicknamed 'pig-deer', has made its debut at Chester Zoo. This unique animal is located at Chester Zoo, where it is being cared for. Rana is the fifth piglet born to mother Matano, with this being in a race against time. Wild babirusa populations are drastically reducing due to African swine fever on four Indonesian islands. Conservationists are working with partners to protect this species' future. 🐷

💔 Engineering student beaten to death by college mates

A 19-year-old engineering student was allegedly beaten to death by a group of his college mates on Monday, August 10, in Coimbatore. The deceased, K Amuthan, was studying at Hindustan Engineering College, and five students were subsequently detained. This brutal incident followed an earlier incident where a group allegedly robbed phones from a student's rented house. Police registered a murder case based on a complaint, with the investigation looking into retaliation or a leaked drug supply detail. Amuthan's family is now demanding action against the attackers and the college management. 😔

🚨 Mumbai landslip: seven dead confirmed in Ghatkopar

A landslide struck Gaushiya Chawl in Chirag Nagar, Ghatkopar, Mumbai, resulting in seven fatalities and several injuries. Rescue operations, involving NDRF and 50 BMC personnel, were launched after the incident occurred around 3:48 a.m. on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. The deceased have since been identified and bodies taken from Rajawadi Hospital. Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad accused the BMC of negligence in pre-monsoon safety audits. The Mayor announced ₹4 lakh compensation for families and ₹50,000 for injured victims. 😔

🏛️ FCRA Bill goes to JPC amid huge uproar

The Lok Sabha adopted a motion to send the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, to a Joint Parliamentary Committee on August 12, 2026. This action occurred amid significant furore from the Opposition, including K.C. Venugopal and Akhilesh Yadav. The bill, which aims for tighter oversight of NGOs, was introduced on March 25 and proposes new asset management rules. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the bill against claims it targets minority communities. The session was eventually adjourned until 3 p.m. 🏛️

⚡ Maharashtra slashes land tax for green energy projects

The Maharashtra Cabinet decided to waive stamp duty and offer a 25% land-transfer fee discount for renewable energy projects. This move was made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the state to speed up clean energy development. The policy change, effective under the State Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Policy-2025 to 2035-36, applies to internal transfers between group/SPV companies. This exemption aims to cut production costs, as the land must ultimately be used for renewable energy. Furthermore, the government revised the interest rate for delayed land acquisition compensation. ⚡