Sugar prices have surged 29% in a month, prompting the Centre to tighten rules governing raw sugar imports to curb hoarding and ensure faster domestic supply. Under a revised notification issued by the Commerce and Industry Ministry, importers must now refine and sell imported raw sugar in India within two months of its arrival. The move comes as domestic prices rise amid supply and crop pressures and ahead of the festive season. The earlier provision required importers to process raw sugar within a reasonable timeframe and sufficiently ahead of October 31, allowing it to be sold domestically by then. The latest framework replaces that broader requirement with a fixed two-month deadline for processing and sale. (PC: Times Now)

Indian Railways is moving towards introducing waterless urinals for loco pilots operating its most powerful 12,000-horsepower electric locomotives, addressing a long-standing operational challenge caused by the absence of toilets or urinals inside locomotive cabins. The initiative is particularly significant as Railways continues inducting women as loco pilots. Manufactured at the Madhepura Electric Locomotive factory in Bihar, the locomotives will come with inbuilt waterless urinals, while those already rolled out will be retrofitted. Discussions with Railways are at an advanced stage, according to a senior official of Madhepura Electric Locomotive Private Limited (MELPL). MELPL is a joint venture between Indian Railways and France’s Alstom, which holds a 74% majority stake. (PC: Express photo by Dheeraj Mishra)

Astrophysicist Annapurni Subramaniam, Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, has become the first Indian woman to receive the prestigious COSPAR Vikram Sarabhai Medal. She received the honour at the 46th COSPAR Scientific Assembly in Florence, Italy. Subramaniam is the fourth Indian to win the medal, recognised for her contributions to space science and astronomy. Her work includes a key role in AstroSat's Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope and India's future INSIST space telescope project. She has also contributed to major international astronomy programmes. The award marks a significant milestone for Indian science and women's growing contribution to space research.  

Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drugs Administration Department has temporarily suspended the food licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket over the online sale of poisonous Datura fruits and seeds for human consumption. The action followed complaints and an investigation that found toxic Datura products listed and stored for sale on the platforms. The regulator said the companies’ responses were unsatisfactory. Amazon did not submit a response, while Instamart sought more time. BigBasket said it had stopped selling the products. Authorities have also ordered the suspension of licences of suppliers and sellers and directed platforms to remove all related listings immediately. (PC: NDTV)

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced a youth protest march on September 5 from India Gate to the New Delhi Police Headquarters, accusing the Centre of failing to fulfil commitments that led to the withdrawal of the students’ movement on July 25. CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said the march would remain peaceful and warned that the party would not accept “vishwasghaat” (betrayal) against Gen Z protesters, young demonstrators and families of those who died. Das also questioned whether the Narendra Modi government intended to honour its promises to student protesters. The announcement comes a month after the CJP’s Jantar Mantar protest spread across India, drawing attention to the party’s demands and its criticism of the Centre’s handling of the movement. (PC: PTI)

IndiGo co-founder Rakesh Gangwal has pledged another ₹300 crore to IIT Kanpur’s Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology. His total contribution to the project has now reached ₹400 crore. Gangwal had earlier donated ₹100 crore in 2022. The latest contribution also includes a matching grant. He will match donations from alumni and other supporters up to ₹300 crore. The medical school plans to build a 500-bed super-speciality hospital and a 200-bed cancer care research centre. The project aims to combine medicine, engineering and technology. IIT Kanpur said the new funding will help speed up the project’s development.

Heavy rain and strong winds disrupted normal life across Delhi-NCR on Monday, causing widespread waterlogging, traffic jams and major flight delays. According to FlightRadar24, over 390 flights were delayed, 26 cancelled and 15 diverted due to adverse weather. Several areas of Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad and Gurugram reported severe congestion. Gurugram authorities advised offices, schools and other institutions to allow work from home on August 25. The India Meteorological Department issued an orange alert for Gurugram and Faridabad and forecast more heavy rainfall across parts of Delhi-NCR and nearby states. (PC: India Today)

Gurugram authorities have advised offices to allow employees to work from home and asked schools to conduct online classes after heavy rain caused widespread flooding and traffic disruption. The city received around 70 mm of rainfall by 1.30 pm, affecting major areas including Rajiv Chowk, IFFCO Chowk and Old Delhi Road. Several roads and parts of the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway were submerged, leaving vehicles stranded and commuters stuck in long traffic jams. The district administration issued the advisory as residents raised concerns over repeated waterlogging and poor civic infrastructure during the monsoon season. (PC: NDTV)

A ginger cat at Mumbai's Gundavali Metro Station has become an internet sensation after receiving the playful title of “Chief Feline Officer” from the Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Ltd. The unusual honour came after commuter Sandesh Samant shared a photo and jokingly asked the metro operator to give the station's familiar feline an official role. Playing along, MMMOCL said the cat's duties included station inspections, observing commuters and sitting where passengers could admire it. The operator added that its performance had been “purrfect”. The light-hearted exchange quickly went viral, winning smiles from commuters and social media users.  

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke has written to education ministers across India, seeking state-wise data on government school infrastructure, teacher vacancies and funding. Calling public education an urgent priority, Dipke raised concerns over the lack of basic facilities such as safe drinking water, functional classrooms, toilets and benches. He asked states to disclose details of school repairs, vacant teaching posts, education spending and digital and sports facilities. The move is part of CJP's ‘School Thik Karo’ campaign, under which party teams are visiting and auditing government schools. Dipke urged governments to improve schools on a war footing. (PC: HT)