The Economic Times

Actor Rajpal Yadav's financial troubles escalate as two of his properties are set to be auctioned off to recover a staggering outstanding loan of over sixteen crore rupees. This auction follows the contentious cheque bounce case he is currently embroiled in. The bank has sent out formal auction notices regarding these secured assets, yet Yadav has not provided any response to them.

US military investigations confirmed no white phosphorus leak at Osan Air Base. Local authorities had urged residents to evacuate due to suspected chemical concerns. Follow-up analysis revealed non-hazardous surface corrosion from environmental exposure. No injuries were reported during the incident at the South Korean base. The US maintains a significant troop presence in South Korea for deterrence.

This year, over 3,100 cases of drug-resistant Candida auris have emerged across twenty-three states in the US, with Texas and Michigan reporting the highest rates. This dangerous fungus primarily spreads in healthcare environments and poses serious risks to critically ill patients and those with compromised immune systems. Symptoms often resemble those of other severe infections, necessitating vigilant medical scrutiny.

Perplexity AI founder Aravind Srinivas credits OpenAI CEO Sam Altman with career advice that helped shape his approach to work: focus on things that come naturally to you but are difficult for others. Srinivas says his experience winning a Kaggle competition at IIT Madras, despite having limited machine-learning knowledge at the time, helped him recognise this strength. His journey through UC Berkeley, OpenAI, Google Brain and DeepMind eventually led to the launch of Perplexity in 2022.

The Cockroach Janta Party is initiating a nationwide membership drive through its website. This movement aims to address issues like unemployment and institutional trust. The organization will operate as a public pressure group for accountability and reforms. It is also providing legal and medical aid to student protesters. The CJP seeks to strengthen its voice by inviting citizens to join.

A Kozhikode consumer commission has ordered Union Bank of India to refund Rs 10,000 and pay Rs 5,000 in compensation to a customer who said his account was debited at an ATM but no cash came out. The bank claimed its records showed the cash was dispensed, but failed to produce CCTV footage to back that claim before the commission.

Paneer Purity Test: Maharashtra has banned analogue paneer, which is not made from milk. This action addresses growing concerns about food adulteration across the state. Manufacturers and sellers face legal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act. Consumers can identify fake paneer through taste, texture, and label checks. Several high-protein alternatives to paneer are also available for consumers.

Meta apologized for temporarily removing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook post. This apology was viewed as a victory for India's laws and constitution. Meta executives met with Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw regarding various content issues. Company officials were asked to remain for further questioning on Thursday. The tech giant's actions are seen as demonstrating adherence to Indian regulations.

The Lok Sabha passed a bill to attract foreign investment and promote domestic manufacturing. This legislation aims to provide greater tax certainty for businesses operating in India. It simplifies tax frameworks for offshore investment funds and fund managers. The bill also extends tax exemptions for electronics manufacturing and diamond trade.

Congress criticizes the government's new exam reform task force. They call it a damage control exercise by Prime Minister Modi. A previous committee's recommendations were not fully implemented by the government. The opposition alleges a lack of political will in past actions. This new task force faces similar skepticism from the Congress party.

Coach Gautam Gambhir emphasized team readiness for the upcoming Sri Lanka Test series. The squad aims to be fully prepared for all challenges presented during the matches. This series marks India's first World Test Championship assignment since their last defeat. Newcomers Saransh Jain and Auqib Nabi received congratulations from the head coach. Both players earned their spots through strong domestic cricket performances.

The BJP on Thursday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of bypassing Parliament and engaging in petty politics after the venue for his proposed student interaction in Prayagraj was cancelled. BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh alleged Gandhi was avoiding debate in Parliament because the Congress had either issues nor logic and was trying to hijack student protests for political gain.

The Supreme Court is considering proposed changes to the NEET-UG examination format. A shift to computer-based testing is under active government consideration. The court will hear further arguments on August 19 regarding these proposals. The government is also strengthening legal frameworks against examination fraud. Petitions seek reforms and restructuring of the National Testing Agency.

Opposition leaders demanded a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah. They sought discussion on police action against protesters at Jantar Mantar. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju responded to the opposition's demands. He stated the opposition could not dictate parliamentary proceedings. The Rajya Sabha Chairman asked Rijiju to convey the opposition's sentiments.

Aaban, son of Atiq Ahmed, died in a speeding vehicle accident in Jhansi. His companion Sonu also perished in the same road mishap. This incident follows the recent killings of his father and uncle, Ashraf. Asad, another son, was previously killed in a police encounter in Jhansi. The family has been involved in a series of violent events.

Trump asserted that United States possessed vast munitions supplies, threatening jail for those reporting alleged weapons stockpile shortages. Media outlets recently reported concerns about depleted missile and air defecse interceptor stocks. White House officials and Pentagon spokesmen denied these reports as fictional.

Actor Rajesh Kumar, known for playing Rosesh Sarabhai inSarabhai vs Sarabhai, has opened up about the difficult years after he quit acting at the peak of his career to pursue farming. Kumar said he lost nearly everything during the five-year break and faced financial struggles and humiliation. He returned to acting in 2022 and believes the experience made him more grounded and helped him become a better actor.

The CAG has flagged the West Bengal government's failure in safeguarding tribal interests. Land acquisition for mining projects resulted in inadequate compensation payments to tribal people. District officials' inaction led to significant shortfalls in rehabilitation and compensation amounts. Companies failed to pay mandatory solatium and additional compensation as required by law.

The Supreme Court has stayed the arrest of Sumit Roy in a land-grabbing case. Roy is the Personal Assistant to Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee. The top court directed him to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation. The Calcutta High Court had previously rejected his anticipatory bail plea. The case involves alleged government land fraud and criminal conspiracy charges.

Two MDMK MLAs have refused to resign from their Assembly seats. They announced they will continue functioning as DMK legislators in the Assembly. This decision follows the MDMK severing ties with the DMK party recently. The MLAs stated they would not betray voters who elected them on the DMK symbol. They met with DMK leaders M K Stalin and Udhayanidhi Stalin for blessings.

Economists now anticipate the Reserve Bank of India will raise rates in December or later. This shift occurs as core inflation remains low, contrary to earlier expectations. The central bank maintained its current rates and lowered inflation forecasts for this fiscal year. Overnight indexed swap rates also signal fewer rate hikes over the next twelve months. India's monetary policy stance differs from other Asian economies responding to oil price spikes.

Meet Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, the Maharaja of Nawanagar who in 1942 opened his princely state to nearly 1,000 Polish children fleeing Nazi persecution, gave them shelter, education and dignity, and asked them to call him Bapu. Fifty years after his death, Poland named a square in Warsaw after him.

Saraswathi Rajamani joined the Indian National Army at sixteen years old. She disguised herself as a boy named Mani for espionage missions. Rajamani rescued a captured spy by entering a British camp as a dancer. She later donated her jewels and managed family mines for the cause. Her courage and patriotism are remembered as a significant historical contribution.

The Supreme Court deemed the initial mediation report in the Sunjay Kapur family trust dispute satisfactory. This dispute involves Sunjay Kapur's mother and his wife over trust assets. Former Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud was appointed as the mediator for this case. The court awaits another report in November before proceeding further.

The Supreme Court has denied Ashish Mishra's plea for relaxed bail conditions. Mishra is the prime accused in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. He sought relaxation to attend family functions and his daughters' birthdays. The court found no grounds to entertain the prayer at this stage. The violence on October 3, 2021, resulted in eight deaths.

Aluminum foil on a door handle is not just a quirky internet trend. It creates a replaceable germ barrier, reflects heat in summer, buffers cold in winter, alerts you to tampering, and simplifies painting jobs. Small, cheap, and surprisingly practical for everyday home use.

A king cobra and a python were found locked in a fight outside a house near the Gonouli forest office in West Champarans Valmiki Tiger Reserve. The residents were alerted by their pet dogs continuous barking and found the two large snakes struggling near their home. A forest department team led by snake rescuer Murari Kumar later captured both reptiles and released them inside the forest.

Congress criticizes the E20 fuel rollout, questioning its environmental motivations. The party highlights significant water usage for ethanol production from crops. This policy places considerable stress on India's vital water resources. Congress also points to subsidies for rice used in ethanol production. The opposition asserts that the rollout benefits producers, not consumers.

Shakib Al Hasan's residence was targeted following his participation in Sheikh Hasina's media event. Hasina vowed to return to Bangladesh despite a death sentence hanging over her. Bangladesh has expressed disapproval of Hasina's media appearance and is pushing for her extradition from India, which is in the process of reviewing this request regarding the ousted leader.

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday alleged that Meta had restricted his social media account in India without explaining the reason. In a post on X, he called the company's response pretty bad service and accused it of bowing to the Prime Minister.

Taiwan began annual military exercises simulating a Chinese invasion response. These drills test 24-hour defense capabilities and counter China's gray-zone tactics. Urban resilience drills will assess population response to internet disruptions during the exercises. The drills involve the largest team of reservists ever mobilized for active duty.

Indonesia's government will acquire a majority stake in the high-speed rail operator. This move aims to manage the project's outstanding loan obligations effectively. The transaction is expected to be finalized by mid-September this year. Chinese firms will retain a forty percent ownership in the venture. This railway connects Jakarta to the city of Bandung.

A major industrial fire involving sulphur storage has caused an emergency evacuation in Port Adelaide. Toxic smoke drifting across parts of Adelaide poses a serious health risk to residents. Emergency services issued an immediate evacuation order for people within a one-kilometre radius. Others outside the zone were advised to remain indoors and shut windows.

Jharkhand students will gherao the Vidhan Sabha on August 10 if demands are unmet. They are protesting alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC CGL recruitment examinations. Protesters demand cancellation of exams conducted by TDPL and CBI/ED investigations. The state government has formed a ministerial team to discuss student concerns. The government expresses commitment to youth welfare and justice for students.

Kerala Rain Alert: Kerala anticipates widespread rainfall starting Thursday, with intensified showers expected. The India Meteorological Department issued orange alerts for seven districts due to heavy rainfall. Northern Kerala may experience extremely heavy showers, prompting vigilance in vulnerable areas. Schools and colleges are closed in several taluks as a precautionary measure. Authorities urge residents to remain alert and follow official advisories closely.

A 4,000-kg SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stage crashed into the moon near crater Einstein after drifting through space since a January 2025 lunar mission. The impact produced a brief flash and a cloud containing sodium and lithium signatures detected by the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile.

The Presiding Officer shall be personally responsible and accountable for any violation of this direction, the Bench said, directing counsel appearing for the JDA to communicate the order forthwith to the Presiding Officer concerned.

Quote of the day: Ancient Greek poet Pindar highlighted affection's importance in gift-giving over two millennia ago. His words emphasize that small acts of kindness hold significant lasting value. These gestures create stronger bonds than material possessions often can. This timeless wisdom remains relevant in today's consumer-driven world. Genuine care and attention are the most precious gifts one can offer.

Tamil Nadu's Agriculture Budget for 2026-27 will be presented soon. The state budget outlined plans for economic growth and education sector improvements. Initiatives include school modernisation and laptop distribution for college students. The government also addressed financial liabilities and proposed new revenue streams. Welfare schemes and electoral promises will continue to be implemented.