A groundbreaking study highlighted in the Asia Pacific Lung Cancer Policy Consensus, released on August 1, 2025, reveals that Delhi’s toxic air is increasingly causing lung cancer in non‑smokers . A long-term review by Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Lung Care Foundation shows that in 1988, nearly 90% of lung cancer surgery patients were smokers—by 2018, that proportion dropped to 50%. Among patients under 50, 70% were non‑smokers; none under 30 had smoked . Experts warn that environmental triggers—PM₂.₅ exposure, industrial emissions, cooking fumes, and second‑hand smoke—are fueling this public health crisis. Doctors urge urgent policy action, expanded screening, and tougher pollution controls. (PC: ET)

A 25‑year‑old Bangladeshi man, Mohammad Ashraful of Narayanganj, was detained on August 1, 2025 at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport after attempting to break the glass partition enclosing the International Transit Terminal, to exit without an Indian visa . Ashraful, en route from Singapore to Dhaka, suddenly tried to breach the transit zone’s glass wall. CISF personnel intervened swiftly, restraining and handing him over to airport police. During interrogation, his responses were incoherent, raising concerns about his mental state . He was formally arrested by Bidhannagar Police later that evening. Further investigation into his motive is ongoing. (PC: India Today)

Real-estate investor Arvinder “Arvi” Singh Bahal, originally from Agra and now a naturalized U.S. citizen, is among six passengers aboard Blue Origin’s upcoming NS‑34 suborbital spaceflight scheduled for August 3, 2025 from West Texas . Known for his adventurous spirit—having visited every country, skydived Mount Everest and the Pyramids, and visited both poles—Bahal holds a private pilot’s license and flies helicopters . The 11‑minute mission aboard the reusable New Shepard rocket will cross the Kármán line, carrying six international civilians on Blue Origin’s 14th human and 34th overall flight. (PC: ET)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Partha Sarathi Biswal, MD of Odisha-based Biswal Tradelink Pvt Ltd (BTPL), the first arrest in the ₹3,000‑crore alleged loan fraud involving the Reliance ADAG group . Biswal is accused of arranging a fake ₹68.2 crore bank guarantee to the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) on behalf of Reliance Power, backed by forged SBI endorsements and spoofed emails . Investigators uncovered multiple undisclosed bank accounts and dummy directors used by BTPL to launder funds received for the fake guarantee . The ED also issued a lookout circular against Anil Ambani and has summoned him for questioning on 5 August. (PC: Bloomberg)

On Day 3 of the fifth Test at The Oval, Ravindra Jadeja scored 53 off 77 balls—his sixth 50+ score in the India–England series while batting at No. 6 or lower―breaking a 59-year-old record set by Sir Garfield Sobers in 1966. He also surpassed Indian greats Sunil Gavaskar, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant by becoming the first Indian with six fifties in an England Test series at that position. Jadeja ended with 516 runs, making him the first Indian batter at No. 6+ to exceed 500 in an away series.

A Bengaluru special court on August 2, 2025 sentenced former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna to life imprisonment for raping a 47‑ or 48‑year‑old domestic worker at his family’s farmhouse, exploiting his position of authority . Courts convicted him under multiple IPC sections including repeated rape, sexual harassment, assault to disrobe, voyeurism, criminal intimidation, and IT Act violations for filming the assault—supported by DNA and video evidence . He was also fined ₹5–11 lakh, directed as compensation to the survivor . Revanna broke down in court saying his “only mistake was growing fast in politics”. (PC: Facebook)

Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda announced on August 2, 2025, that India achieved a landmark 18,900 organ transplants in 2024, the highest ever and a significant rise from just under 5,000 in 2013. The country now ranks third globally, behind the U.S. and China, and leads in hand transplants thanks to its surgical expertise . Despite this, the organ donation rate remains below one per million, with over 63,000 awaiting kidney transplants and 22,000 needing liver transplants . The Aadhaar‑based NOTTO pledge portal has drawn 3.3 lakh pledges, but awareness gaps persist along with infrastructure and surgeon shortages hindering access. (PC: PTI)

On Day 3 of the 5th Test at The Oval, India declared at 396, setting England a daunting target of 374 to win—surpassing a 123-year-old record chase at this venue . Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a brilliant 118, while Ravindra Jadeja added a composed fifty as he wrapped the series with over 500 runs . Washington Sundar played a rapid cameo—53 off 46 balls including multiple sixes—to boost the lower-order assault . England's Josh Tongue claimed five wickets, but dropped catches and thin resources hurt their cause.

Former BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, recently acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, claimed she was tortured by Maharashtra ATS officers and coerced into naming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and others. She stated interrogators repeatedly told her: “Name these people and we won’t beat you.” Thakur alleged a political conspiracy by the then-Congress-led government to defame saffron ideology and the armed forces. She further accused deliberate neglect of her health while in custody. The court, however, dismissed her torture allegations citing lack of evidence. (PC: PTI)

Gaza health officials report 18 people killed by Israeli gunfire on August 2, 2025, including eight civilians waiting for food near Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution centers . Witnesses describe chaos and looting as desperation for aid intensifies. Hamas condemned U.S. envoy visits to GHF sites as “staged shows,” rejecting disarmament narratives pushed by Israel and its allies . The group reaffirmed it will not disarm without establishment of an independent Palestinian state—directly challenging Israeli and international demands in stalled hostage and ceasefire talks. (PC: AP)