TOP 20 Breaking News of Today
1. Cloudburst-Induced Flash Floods Wreak Havoc in Northern States
Flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall devastated parts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Uttarakhand. At least seven people were killed in Kathua district, and the death toll from an earlier cloudburst in Kishtwar’s Chashoti has risen to 65, with 75 still missing. Highways—including the Chandigarh-Manali route—rail tracks, and homes have been severely damaged. Machail Mata pilgrimage has been suspended, and rescue operations involving NDRF, SDRF, Army, and local authorities are ongoing.
2. Man Arrested in Chhattisgarh for Sending Bomb in Music Speaker
Chhattisgarh police busted an illegal explosives racket after arresting a 20-year-old electrician who allegedly tried to kill a rival (the husband of a woman he was infatuated with) by placing an IED inside a music speaker and dispatching it as a gift. The discovery has prompted further investigation into a broader explosives distribution network.
3. U.S. Cancels August Trade Talks with India Amid Tariff Escalation
The United States has canceled trade talks scheduled for August 25–29 in New Delhi, derailing discussions on a proposed bilateral trade deal. This move comes just before an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods—raising duties to as much as 50%—is set to kick in on August 27. India strongly denounces the decision, citing double standards as the U.S. and EU continue importing Russian oil.
4. Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Returns: Lok Sabha to Honor His Achievement
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the second Indian to travel to space aboard the NASA-led Axiom-4 mission to the ISS, has returned home. In his honor, Lok Sabha will hold a special discussion highlighting India’s role in space and envisioning ‘Viksit Bharat by 2047’.
Additional Significant Developments
- NDA Picks VP Candidate: The National Democratic Alliance has announced CP Radhakrishnan, Governor of Maharashtra, as its vice-presidential candidate.
- PM Modi Shares GST Reform Draft with States: The Prime Minister has urged states to cooperate in implementing next-generation GST reforms before Diwali.
- Jharkhand Tragedy: A 22-year-old man was strangled to death by his girlfriend’s family in Palamu district; his body was found on railway tracks.
- AI Aids in Hit-and-Run Case in Maharashtra: Police used artificial intelligence to crack a hit-and-run case in Nagpur within 36 hours, identifying the suspect truck from scant information.
- Yogi Government’s School Pairing Policy Sparks Row: A policy in Uttar Pradesh aimed at merging under-enrolled schools has ignited protests and heated debate in the Assembly.
- Assam Evictions Begin: The Assam government started an eviction drive, displacing 309 families in Biswanath district.
- Tourists Stranded in Tiger Safari: In Ranthambore, a canter broke down mid-safari, leaving tourists stranded in a tiger zone for nearly 90 minutes.
- AAP Echoes Vote Theft Claim Against BJP: The Aam Aadmi Party backed allegations of “vote theft” leveled by the INDIA bloc, criticizing the Election Commission’s response.
- EC Issues Ultimatum to Rahul Gandhi: The Election Commission demanded that Rahul Gandhi retract or substantiate his vote theft allegations within seven days—either by affidavit or apology.
- PM Modi Slams Constitution Criticism: The Prime Minister retorted to opposition criticisms by stating that “those who dance with the Constitution trampled it.”
- Malnutrition-Related Death in Madhya Pradesh: Another child has died from malnutrition in Madhya Pradesh, highlighting a persistent public health crisis.
- BJD Chief Hospitalized: Naveen Patnaik, BJD president and Leader of the Opposition in Odisha, has been hospitalized; his condition is reportedly stable.
- Shivraj Chouhan Visits Soybean Fields: The CM of Madhya Pradesh conducted a surprise visit to inspect soybean fields after farmers complained of herbicide damage.
- Constitutionality vs Desirability — Ex‑CJ Khanna’s Warning: Former CJI Sanjeev Khanna argued before a parliamentary committee that constitutional validity doesn’t equate to desirability, amid discussions on simultaneous polls.