Two men have been detained over the killing of a Hindu family of four in Bangladesh’s Rangpur, police said. The suspects were allegedly taking Yaba, a potent methamphetamine-based drug, on the family’s rooftop when retired teacher Ganapati Chakraborty confronted them. Police said the men then killed Ganapati, his wife and their two children. Investigators said the suspects stayed inside the house for six to seven hours after the killings. They allegedly ate dates and cucumbers, took a bath and later left. Police said evidence recovered from the house helped identify and arrest the suspects, who reportedly confessed during questioning.  

Cockroach Janta Party spokesperson Saurav Das has mocked the BJP’s new Gen Z outreach programme and questioned its choice of leaders. Reacting to the newly formed team, Das wrote, “Three claps to the BJP for a marvellous set of ‘Gen Z faces’.” He also referred to earlier remarks by BJP president Nitin Nabin about young people and protesters. Das further criticised Smriti Irani, who is part of the outreach team. The BJP has formed the team to strengthen its engagement with younger voters. The programme will focus on their concerns and expectations through discussions, interactions and other activities across the country.  

The government spent a record Rs 92.35 crore on repairing, renovating and furnishing Union Ministers’ official homes in Delhi during 2025-26, an RTI reply has shown. The amount was more than three times the Rs 27.47 crore spent in 2014-15. The Central Public Works Department spent Rs 547.68 crore on these homes between 2014-15 and 2025-26. Officials said inflation and the cost of maintaining old buildings led to higher spending. Many colonial-era bungalows have seepage, termite damage, ageing electrical systems and plumbing problems. Spending was Rs 71.98 crore in 2024-25 before rising to its highest level in 2025-26. (PC: India Today)

Former diplomat Navdeep Suri, who represented India as ambassador to the UAE and Egypt and High Commissioner to Australia, has highlighted difficulties faced during Punjab’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Suri revealed that volunteers informed him that some of his details did not match records from 2003, creating problems in establishing his citizenship despite his long public service career. Sharing his experience on social media, Suri questioned procedural inconsistencies in the voter verification process. The incident has sparked debate over the implementation of SIR in Punjab, with concerns that ordinary citizens may encounter similar hurdles while updating or verifying their electoral records. (PC: X)

A breakfast outing at Paul’s restaurant in Horizon Centre, Gurugram, turned disturbing after diner Sulabh Mathur spotted a live worm crawling over meat inside a partially eaten sandwich. Mathur shared a video of the incident on Instagram, raising serious concerns about food hygiene at the upscale restaurant. His group had reportedly ordered six to seven dishes around 11 am before discovering the worm. The viral video quickly gained around 1.3 million views, prompting users to question how contaminated food reached customers. Many expressed shock and said the incident made them reconsider dining at the restaurant. (PC: India Today)

The Maharashtra government has announced a new welfare policy ensuring lifelong care for retired police dogs. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed that dogs completing their 10-year service will no longer be sent to third-party adoptive homes. Instead, they will remain with the police force and their long-time handlers. The Home Department will cover their food, medical treatment and daily upkeep throughout retirement. The decision follows concerns that some dogs experienced distress after separation from familiar handlers and surroundings, with reports of some refusing food. Police dogs play vital roles in detecting explosives and narcotics, tracking criminals and rescue operations. (PC: ANI)

A 30-year-old pregnant Defence Ministry officer was found dead at her home in Delhi’s Dwarka, with her family alleging mental and physical harassment by her husband and in-laws. Nazia Khanam, an assistant section officer, had married Azam Ali Khan four months ago and was three months pregnant. Her family alleged that she had repeatedly complained of abuse and threats. Her husband told police that she died by suicide after an argument. The family, however, suspects foul play and has sought legal action. Police have registered a case and said further action will depend on the post-mortem report and evidence. (PC: NDTV)

Three FIRs have been filed against 28 named and more than 900 unnamed people following clashes between police and protesting job aspirants in Jharkhand’s Giridih and Hazaribag. Two cases were registered in Giridih after clashes on August 21 and 22, while another was filed in Hazaribag over allegations of obstructing government work and assaulting police personnel. The protests were linked to alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations. Earlier, Ranchi police had also registered three FIRs against 14 named and 200 unidentified people following similar clashes. Thousands of students had joined the protests demanding accountability over the recruitment process. (PC: The Indian Express)

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has accused the Centre of making “empty promises” and betraying young people, warning that another Jantar Mantar-style protest could follow if commitments made after the NEET agitation are not fulfilled. The group said the government has yet to act on promises related to withdrawing FIRs against protesters, compensation for families of students who died by suicide, and exam reforms. CJP will meet on August 24 to decide its next steps, saying it will not rest until every commitment to India’s youth is honoured. (PC: HT)

India is reviving centuries-old water systems as groundwater depletion and climate change worsen water scarcity. Communities across the country are restoring stepwells, johads, tankas and ponds to capture rainwater and recharge underground aquifers. In Rajasthan’s Alwar, the restored Moosi Rani Sagar stepwell now holds water year-round after decades of neglect. Thousands of johads have also helped revive wells and rivers. India, home to 18% of the world’s population but only 4% of its freshwater resources, is increasingly turning to traditional systems alongside modern infrastructure to improve water security and build resilience against erratic rainfall. (PC: BBC)