Delhi chief minister attacked: accused Rajeshbhai arrested
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was attacked at her residence during a Jan Sunvai programme on Aug 20. Police arrested the accused, Rajeshbhai Khimjibhai Sakariya, 41, from Rajkot, Gujarat, immediately after the incident.
He has been remanded to five days’ police custody by a Delhi court. Police registered an attempt to murder case. Officials said Sakariya is a known history-sheeter in Rajkot. Ms Gupta’s office described the assault as a “well-planned conspiracy to kill her”.
Nuclear-capable ballistic missile test-fired
India successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable Agni-5 missile from Odisha on Aug 20. The Defence Ministry confirmed that the launch validated all operational and technical parameters.
The Agni-5, one of India’s indigenously developed intermediate-range ballistic missiles, is central to the country’s strategic arsenal. Officials hailed the test as another step toward strengthening India’s deterrence capabilities.
Staff shortages at aviation regulator and air traffic control threaten safety
A parliamentary committee has warned that staff shortages at India’s aviation regulator and air traffic control are undermining safety.
Nearly half the posts at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation remain vacant, creating an “existential threat” to air safety, the committee said.
The findings follow the June Air India crash that killed 260 people.
Lawmakers blamed outdated recruitment practices and urged urgent reforms.
Modi’s tax overhaul to strain finances but boost image amid US trade tensions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced sweeping GST tax cuts – the biggest since 2017 – that will reduce prices of essentials and electronics from October.
The move, costing an estimated US$20 billion in revenue, comes amid United States President Donald Trump’s 50% tariff on Indian goods.
Analysts say the cuts could boost GDP by 0.6 percent and improve investor sentiment. Businesses welcomed the overhaul, which is expected to help consumers and firms like Samsung and Nestle, while also strengthening Mr Modi’s political standing.
Kerala rapper faces fresh allegations of sexual harassment
Kerala rapper Hirandas Murali, known as Vedan, already facing a rape case, has been accused by two more women of sexual harassment.
The complaints, sent to the Kerala chief minister, detail incidents from 2020, including unwanted advances during research work and repeated harassment. The women had earlier shared their experiences during the Me Too movement but filed formal complaints after fresh charges emerged.
Vedan is absconding, with a lookout notice issued. His lawyer maintains the relationships were consensual.
Dog abandoned inside train, stokes outrage amid crackdown on strays
A dog was found tied and abandoned inside a train coach at Raxaul in Bihar, sparking outrage online amid a Supreme Court order to round up Delhi’s stray dogs.
Passengers tried to help the distressed animal, but it grew aggressive. The dog was later rescued by officials and handed to the Animal Welfare Board. Videos of the incident drew condemnation of the owner. The episode comes as India grapples with safety concerns over stray dogs.
Plans to ban online games played with money
The Indian government plans to ban online money games under the proposed Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025. The Bill prohibits offering or participating in money-based games, citing financial and psychological risks.
Industry experts warn the move could cripple an industry projected to reach US$3.6 billion by 2029. The proposal marks a major setback for gaming platforms that have attracted significant foreign investment.
Odisha man cooks rare lizard, posts online, forest officials take action
A YouTuber from Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district was arrested for cooking and eating the meat of a protected monitor lizard and posting the video online.
Identified as Rupa Nayak, the man claimed he found the carcass on a roadside. The video went viral, prompting swift action by the Forest Department.
Officials launched a probe, and Nayak confessed during interrogation. Conservationists condemned the act, stressing protection of endangered species.
Civil judge aspirant who disappeared during train journey finally traced
Civil judge aspirant Archana Tiwari, 29, missing since Aug 7, has been traced after an extensive police search across Madhya Pradesh.
She disappeared during a train journey from Indore to Katni, sparking a state-wide mystery. Police tracked her through phone data, CCTV footage, and social media analysis.
Officials confirmed she was in touch with a constable in Gwalior. Her family confirmed she is alive, with further details expected from authorities.
Man travels 100 km to meet girl, gets tied up, beaten for 13 hours
A 23-year-old man from Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, was tied up and brutally beaten for 13 hours by the family of a girl he befriended on Facebook.
He had travelled to Mauganj to meet her when relatives attacked him. Videos of the assault, widely shared online, showed the victim bound with ropes.
Police said the girl is a minor and are investigating. No formal complaint has yet been registered, but authorities confirmed legal action is being considered.
