India

Punjab Police’s Counter Intelligence arrested BKI operatives from Rajasthan, recovering a hand grenade. Investigations reveal involvement of foreign-based masterminds and plans to target government and police establishments, following recent foiled terror plots across Punjab.

PM Modi met IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s first astronaut at the ISS, discussing his mission, experiments, and preparations for the Gaganyaan programme. The PM jokingly asked about the “homework” Shukla had completed in documenting his space mission.

Heavy rains in Maharashtra have killed eight people and displaced hundreds, with Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar under red alert. Rivers have crossed danger levels, crops damaged, and authorities urge residents to avoid travel as relief operations continue.

OpenAI introduces ChatGPT Go in India at Rs 399/month, offering higher message limits, GPT-5-powered image generation, file uploads, and UPI payments. India, OpenAI’s second-largest market, could soon become its largest, reflecting rapid AI adoption.

Daily Horoscope: Your stars are bringing good tidings for you. Check out your astrological predictions for Aug 19, 2025. May the day bring you happiness

Mumbai continues to reel under torrential rain for the fourth day, with waterlogging disrupting roads, homes, and public transport. Red alerts remain in place, schools are closed, and authorities warn of more heavy downpours over the coming days.

At its Salem conference, CPI leaders D. Raja and R. Mutharasan accused BJP-RSS of eroding democracy and vowed to resist “fascist tendencies,” while rejecting AIADMK’s criticism and alliance suggestions

If executed well, GST 2.0 could evolve from a foundational reform into a competitive advantage, supporting India’s journey toward becoming a developed nation by 2047

Kapil Bainsla clinched India’s first gold in the 10m air pistol junior men’s final at the Asian Shooting Championship, while India also secured two silver medals on the opening day

Acrylic Cricket Club’s secretary has complained to CID that HCA acting president Sardar Daljeet Singh owns two clubs, violating rules against multiple ownership and proxy voting, demanding disqualification under Supreme Court guidelines

Punjab reached 187 for four on Day 1 against Hyderabad in the Buchi Babu Invitation Cricket Tournament, with Prabhsimran Singh and Uday Pratap Singh scoring half-centuries. Spinner Aniketh Reddy took two wickets

Karnataka’s Shakti scheme, offering free bus travel for women, has entered the Golden Book of World Records after recording over 500 crore journeys. Officials said the initiative has boosted women’s mobility, economic participation, and significantly increased daily ridership across the state

The legislation aims to modernise port governance, enhance ease of doing business, promote integrated port development, and empower State Maritime Boards for structured maritime growth

Former Uttar Pradesh MLA Bhagwan Sharma has been arrested in Bengaluru on rape and intimidation charges. The FIR says he forced a woman and her son to travel from UP, later confined her near the airport and sexually assaulted her

Apple India has leased 2.7 lakh sq ft of office space in Bengaluru’s Embassy Zenith for 10 years, starting April 2025. With rent beginning at Rs 6.3 crore per month, the iPhone maker is expected to pay over Rs 1,000 crore

Nearly all Rs 2,000 banknotes have returned to the RBI, with only Rs 6,017 crore—just 1.69 per cent of the total value—still in circulation as of July 31, Finance Minister Pankaj Chaudhary informed Parliament. The withdrawal began in May 2023

Microsoft is reportedly planning to revise its flexible work policy, potentially requiring employees to work from office at least three days a week starting January. The company, which has allowed 50 per cent remote work since 2020, may announce the changes by September

The Supreme Court directed the Centre to explore insurance cover, enhanced compensation and rehabilitation schemes for military cadets disabled during training. Taking suo motu cognisance, the court said injuries should not deter “braveheart cadets” and called the move an act of social justice

While the BJP welcomed the order, the Congress and its allies strongly rejected calls for an apology

The ₹80 crore Hebbal flyover extension was inaugurated by CM Siddaramaiah and DCM D K Shivakumar, who rode his vintage Yezdi to mark the occasion. Authorities expect 30% traffic relief at the junction.

The government has launched the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PMVBRY) portal to create 3.5 crore jobs in two years. The Rs 1-lakh crore scheme offers incentives to both employers and first-time employees to encourage fresh hiring and job creation

Coconut shells, once thrown away as waste, are now selling at record prices in Kerala, touching Rs 35 per kg. Rising demand from industries and exports has created a lucrative market, even as high coconut and oil prices burden households

Supreme Court had ordered booth-wise publication of excluded electors before August 19

A seven-year-old girl, Nafisath Misriya, died after falling from a scooter and being run over by a bus in Kerala’s Palakkad district. The accident, blamed on pothole-ridden roads, sparked local protests. Her father survived with minor injuries