DRDO Guest House Manager Arrested for Spying for Pakistan
The guest house manager at a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) facility in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, has been arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan. The accused, Mahendra Prasad, was detained on August 4 and arrested after a joint interrogation. Police allege he used social media to share sensitive information with a Pakistani handler, including details about missile testing schedules and the movement of DRDO scientists and officers at the firing range. He has been remanded to two-day police custody.
Electoral Roll Discrepancies in Bihar Highlighted as Rahul Gandhi Meets 'Dead' Voters
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met with a group of seven voters from Bihar who were declared "dead" and removed from the electoral rolls during the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The incident has drawn national attention to allegations of large-scale voter disenfranchisement in the poll-bound state. The group appeared before the Supreme Court, which is hearing petitions against the SIR exercise that has reportedly removed 65 lakh names from Bihar's voter lists, prompting calls for greater ECI accountability.
Supreme Court Cancels Olympian Sushil Kumar's Bail in Murder Case
The Supreme Court has cancelled the bail granted to Olympic medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar in the 2021 murder case of junior national champion Sagar Dhankar. A bench set aside a Delhi High Court order from March that had granted him bail. The apex court has ordered Kumar, the prime accused in the fatal assault at Chhatrasal Stadium, to surrender within one week. The case involves allegations of assault over a property dispute, which resulted in Dhankar's death from cerebral damage.
ED Widens Betting App Probe, Questions Cricketer Suresh Raina and Actors
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its investigation into a major money-laundering case linked to illegal online betting applications. As part of the nationwide probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the agency summoned and questioned former cricketer Suresh Raina in New Delhi and Telugu actor Manchu Lakshmi in Hyderabad. The investigation focuses on celebrity endorsements that allegedly helped promote unregulated gambling platforms, with the ED examining the nature of their association with these apps.
11 Pilgrims, Including 7 Children, Killed in Rajasthan Road Accident
Eleven people, including seven children and three women, were killed and several others injured in a tragic road accident in Rajasthan's Dausa district. The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday when a pickup truck carrying pilgrims collided with a stationary container truck. The victims, all from Uttar Pradesh's Etah district, were returning after visiting the Khatu Shyam and Salasar Balaji temples. Local authorities have launched an investigation, and the injured have been transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
ICICI Bank Reverses Minimum Balance Hike After Customer Feedback
Following "valuable feedback" from customers, ICICI Bank has rolled back a recent steep hike in its minimum average balance (MAB) requirement for new savings accounts. The MAB for urban locations, which was increased to ₹50,000 on August 1, has been revised down to ₹15,000. Requirements for semi-urban and rural areas were also lowered. The bank stated the reversal was to "better reflect their expectations and preferences." The change does not apply to salary, senior citizen, or Jan Dhan accounts.
AI Startup Perplexity Makes Audacious $34.5 Billion Bid for Google Chrome
AI startup Perplexity has made a bold, unsolicited $34.5 billion all-cash offer to acquire Google's Chrome web browser. The move comes as Google faces regulatory pressure following a US court ruling that it holds an unlawful monopoly in online search, with the Justice Department seeking Chrome's divestiture. Perplexity, led by Aravind Srinivas and valued at $14 billion, sees the acquisition as a strategic play to tap into Chrome's massive user base and advance its position in the competitive AI search landscape.
Lok Sabha Passes New Income Tax Bill to Replace 1961 Act
The Lok Sabha has passed the Income Tax (No. 2) Bill, 2025, which will replace the six-decade-old Income Tax Act of 1961. The new legislation, which incorporates most recommendations from a select committee, aims to simplify tax laws, ease compliance for taxpayers, and modernise the legal framework. Key changes include streamlining sections and eliminating the separate concepts of "previous year" and "assessment year." However, it also grants authorities new powers to access taxpayers' digital accounts during searches.
Parliament Passes New Income Tax Bill to Replace 1961 Act
Parliament has passed the new Income Tax Bill, 2025, which will replace the six-decade-old Income Tax Act of 1961. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated the new legislation aims to simplify the language of tax law and remove outdated provisions, without introducing any new tax rates. The bill, a money bill, was passed by the Rajya Sabha with a voice vote and returned to the Lok Sabha after Opposition parties staged a walkout, declining to participate in the debate.
US and China Extend Tariff Truce for 90 Days
The United States and China have extended their trade truce for another 90 days, delaying a significant tariff escalation. The previous deadline was set to expire Tuesday, which could have triggered duties of up to 145% on Chinese goods and 125% on US goods. The extension, announced by US President Donald Trump, maintains the current 30% US tariff and 10% Chinese tariff. The move provides more time for negotiations on longstanding trade disputes and offers stability for businesses and global markets.
Impeachment Motion Against High Court Judge Accepted, Probe Panel Formed
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has accepted a motion signed by 146 cross-party MPs to impeach Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court. The move follows the recovery of unaccounted cash at the judge's Delhi residence. A three-member committee, comprising a Supreme Court judge, a High Court Chief Justice, and a senior jurist, has been formed to investigate the charges. This initiates a rare and significant constitutional process for the removal of a sitting High Court judge.
Supreme Court Orders All Stray Dogs Removed from Delhi-NCR Streets
Citing an "extremely grim" situation from stray dog bites and rabies cases, the Supreme Court has ordered authorities in Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram to remove all stray dogs from public areas. The bench directed that the dogs be permanently relocated to shelters, which must be equipped with CCTV cameras and sufficient staff for care, sterilisation, and immunisation. The court warned of strict action, including contempt proceedings, against any individuals or organisations obstructing the removal process, emphasizing public safety over sentiment.
Centre Approves Four New Semiconductor Units Worth ₹4,600 Crore
The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of four new semiconductor manufacturing units in Odisha, Punjab, and Andhra Pradesh, with a total investment of ₹4,594 crore. The move is part of the India Semiconductor Mission to bolster the country's electronics manufacturing ecosystem. The projects include a silicon carbide plant in Bhubaneswar, a 3D glass unit in Odisha, a chip packaging plant in Andhra Pradesh, and a facility in Punjab, significantly boosting India's capacity in this strategic sector.
India and China Poised to Resume Direct Flights After Five-Year Hiatus
India and China are in advanced negotiations to resume direct flight services, which have been suspended since the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent border tensions in 2020. The move signals a potential thaw in diplomatic and economic relations ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's likely visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. The resumption of air connectivity is expected to boost trade, tourism, and people-to-people contact between the two Asian powers, marking a significant step in normalizing ties.
China to Build Strategic Xinjiang-Tibet Railway Near Indian Border
China is set to begin construction on an ambitious railway connecting Xinjiang with Tibet, with parts of the route running near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India. A state-owned company has been established with 95 billion yuan ($13.2 billion) in capital to build the link between Hotan and Lhasa. The project is part of a plan to create a 5,000-km plateau rail network by 2035, significantly enhancing China's infrastructure and logistical capabilities in the strategically sensitive border region.