Nepal Floods: Rescue Operations Underway As Thousands Missing; India Extends Relief Support

Bengaluru's Vidhana Soudha Police have registered a Zero FIR following a complaint filed by Congress leader TR Ramappa over an alleged casteist purification ritual conducted at the Ramlila Ground in Haldwani, Uttarakhand. The complaint states that the venue was declared impure and purified after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public rally there on August 8. The case names BJP functionaries and mentions Uttarakhand BJP Chief Mahendra Bhatt for allegedly defending the ritual. The police have registered the case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act, with the probe set to be transferred to Uttarakhand Police.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address students at Delhi's Shri Ram College of Commerce during its centenary celebrations, marking his return to the institution after his 2013 visit as Gujarat Chief Minister. The interaction focuses on education, aspirations, and priorities of the next generation. This address aligns with the Bharatiya Janata Party's broader Gen Z outreach initiative, featuring the One Day One University programme, dedicated youth teams, and student engagements linked to the Prime Minister's birthday. Senior leaders are being prepared for youth-focused activities across states, alongside a digital push using interactive sessions and online content.

Trouble has mounted for Swatantra Bhardwaj after the Lok Janshakti Party lodged a police complaint against him at Parliament Street police station for misusing Union Minister Chirag Paswan's name. In a viral podcast video, Bhardwaj claimed political protection and alleged connections to prominent political leaders after boasting about an assault. Chirag Paswan and his party clarified they have no association with Bhardwaj and demanded strict legal action against him. Delhi Police subsequently detained Bhardwaj from a friend's residence in Nathla village in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh. The development follows an ongoing probe into a June 23 assault at Jantar Mantar, where a protester's father was struck with a metal kada, sustaining head wounds. Authorities have booked Bhardwaj under various legal provisions, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act, wrongful restraint, hurt, and criminal intimidation.

The US and Israel conflict with Iran has entered its seventh month following the initial strikes on February 28. Although 18 US service members have been killed and intermittent strikes continue on both sides, peace talks between the United States and Iran remain deadlocked after previous rounds and a Memorandum of Understanding stalled. The US controls the Strait of Hormuz, which has contributed to a global fuel crisis over the past seven months. Amid warnings of potential strikes on Iran's nuclear hub at Pickaxe Mountain, economic operations and financial pressure continue alongside military actions.