The Lok Sabha passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill on Wednesday. The law aims to stop online games played with money. It seeks to reduce addiction, money laundering, and financial fraud. The bill also bans advertisements for such games. Banks and financial institutions will not be allowed to transfer or process money for these games. The government said the move is to protect citizens from financial loss and addiction. Lawmakers approved the draft after discussions. The bill now moves forward for further steps to become a full law. (PC: HT)

Hockey India named an 18-member squad for the Hero Men’s Asia Cup 2025, starting August 29 at Rajgir Hockey Stadium, Bihar. Captain Harmanpreet Singh will lead the team, with Krishan B Pathak and Suraj Karkera as goalkeepers. The defence includes Harmanpreet, Amit Rohidas, and Jugraj Singh, while Manpreet Singh and Hardik Singh strengthen the midfield. Forwards like Mandeep Singh and Abhishek add attacking power. India is in Pool A with China, Japan, and Kazakhstan. The event is also a qualifier for the 2026 FIH World Cup in Belgium-Netherlands. Coach Craig Fulton praised the team’s balance and experience. (PC: India Today)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NSA Ajit Doval, and EAM S. Jaishankar in New Delhi to strengthen bilateral ties. Both nations stressed that peace along the LAC is essential for stability and growth. Key takeaways include resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra from 2026, enhanced border trade, hydrological data sharing, and greater military-level dialogue. India also accepted President Xi Jinping’s invite to attend the SCO Summit in Tianjin (Aug 31–Sept 1, 2025). Both sides pledged to back each other’s upcoming BRICS summits, signaling cautious but constructive engagement. (PC: X)  

Pakistani school textbooks systematically depict Hindus—and by extension India—as oppressors and untrustworthy, reinforcing religious and societal division. Texts from early grades make explicit claims, such as “Honesty for non-Muslims is merely a business strategy,” while praising Islamic ideology and promoting jihad, often ignoring co-existence or multicultural history . This ideological framing dates back to General Zia-ul-Haq’s 1979 Islamisation policy, which drastically reshaped curricula toward religious indoctrination . Observers and reports note that this narrative fosters historical bias, anti-Hindu prejudice, and a siege mentality, prompting calls for educational reform. (PC: AFP)

Russia has strongly backed India after US President Donald Trump doubled tariffs to 50% on Indian goods over Russian oil imports. Roman Babushkin, a senior Russian diplomat in New Delhi, called the US pressure “unjustified and unilateral.” He said India is a trusted friend and Russia will never impose sanctions, unlike the West, which has “weaponised the economy.” Babushkin added that if Indian exports face problems in the US, Russia will welcome them. He praised recent phone calls between PM Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin and confirmed Putin will visit India later this year. (PC: HT)

A 15-year-old Class 10 student was stabbed to death by a Class 9 boy at a private school in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The victim, from the Sindhi community, died after being taken to hospital. The accused, from the Muslim community, has been taken into custody under juvenile laws. The incident sparked anger, with parents, Hindu groups, and ABVP activists protesting and vandalising the school. Some staff were also attacked. Heavy police deployment was made after clashes with protesters. Complaints were filed against the school principal and management, demanding accountability. Police said investigations are ongoing, and order is being restored. (PC: India Today)

Russia has invited India to export more goods to its market after the US imposed new tariffs on Indian products. Russian diplomat Roman Babushkin said the US move, linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil, was “unjustified” and “unilateral.” He added that Russia values its energy partnership with India and will continue cooperation despite outside pressure. The US earlier announced a 25% duty on Indian goods, later raised to 50%, to put pressure on Moscow over Ukraine. India has called the tariffs unfair, while Russia said its economy is strong and welcomes Indian trade. (PC: NDTV)

The US has signed deportation deals with Honduras and Uganda as part of Donald Trump’s wider crackdown on illegal immigration. Honduras will take several hundred Spanish-speaking migrants over two years, including families with children. Uganda has agreed to receive some African and Asian migrants, but only those without criminal records. Human rights groups warn the policy could put migrants in danger if sent to unsafe countries. Similar deals have already been made with Paraguay, Rwanda, Panama, and Costa Rica. The Trump administration is pushing more nations to accept migrants who are not their citizens, despite international law concerns. (PC: BBC)

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was attacked during a Jan Sunwai on Wednesday. The accused has been identified as 41-year-old Sakriya Rajesh Bhai Khimji Bhai from Rajkot, Gujarat. Police said he handed papers to Gupta before slapping her, pulling her hair, and shouting. He was quickly restrained and taken into custody. Sources said he carried documents related to a relative lodged in Tihar Jail. Delhi Police are verifying his details with Gujarat Police. Gupta was taken for a medical check-up and is stable. Leaders condemned the assault, calling it unacceptable and demanding strict action. (PC: News18)

Heavy rain lashed Mumbai for the fifth straight day, flooding streets and halting trains. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert, warning of very heavy rainfall. The Mithi River swelled close to danger level, triggering evacuations in low-lying areas. More than 700 passengers were rescued from two stranded Monorail trains. Local train services were badly affected but later restored. The University of Mumbai postponed all exams scheduled for August 20. Several flights were diverted, adding to travel chaos. Officials said rainfall intensity may reduce from Thursday, but many parts of Maharashtra continue to face flooding. (PC: HT)