The Ministry of Home Affairs has appointed Dharmendra, a 1989-batch IAS officer, as the new Chief Secretary of Delhi, replacing Naresh Kumar. Dharmendra will take charge on September 1 or upon joining, following the end of Kumar's extension on August 31. Currently serving in Arunachal Pradesh, Dharmendra will lead Delhi's administrative affairs in his new role. The appointment was made with the approval of the Competent Authority, as stated in the ministry's order. Dharmendra's transfer and posting are effective from September 1 or the date of joining, whichever is later.

A Kolkata civic volunteer, Gangasagar Golde, was arrested on Saturday for allegedly ramming his motorcycle into a protester during a demonstration against the rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital. The incident occurred on Friday evening when Golde, who was reportedly intoxicated, hit a student protester. This incident comes as another civic volunteer, Sanjay Roy, is already accused in the rape and murder case. Additionally, a complaint has been filed against traffic sergeant Tarakeswar Puri for engaging in a verbal altercation with protesters following the incident. An investigation is underway.

The UK government has denied plans to force businesses to adopt a four-day workweek, clarifying its position on the "Make Work Pay" proposal. Education Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith stated that the plan aims to promote flexible working, allowing employees to compress their hours into fewer days, such as working 10 hours a day for four days. The government seeks to boost productivity through flexible arrangements, not impose a specific workweek structure. This clarification follows reports suggesting the government would mandate a four-day workweek, which Smith dismissed as inaccurate. The focus remains on supporting flexible working practices.

Indian Wrestler Vinesh Phogat joins farmers at the Shambhu border, expressing her solidarity by saying, "Your daughter is with you." The farmers marked the 200th day of their protest on Saturday, having been stationed at the border since February 13 after being blocked from marching to Delhi. The protestors are demanding a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops, among other issues. Phogat, a strong supporter of the farmers' movement, was honored with garlands by the farmers. In her speech, she praised their resilience and determination, acknowledging their long struggle for rights without losing energy.

Bobby Singh Shah, a 51-year-old Indian-origin man, was arrested and charged with capital murder in the "execution-style" killing of 21-year-old Nepalese student Muna Pandey in Houston, Texas. Pandey, a nursing student at Houston Community College, was found dead in her apartment on August 24 with multiple gunshot wounds. Authorities believe Shah shot her during an attempted robbery. Shah was taken into custody on Wednesday night, and it remains unclear whether he and Pandey knew each other before the incident. The case has garnered significant attention due to the brutal nature of the crime.

David Game College in London is launching the UK's first "teacherless" GCSE class this September, where 20 students will learn through artificial intelligence (AI) rather than human teachers. The course uses AI platforms and virtual reality headsets to deliver personalized lessons. The AI adapts to each student's strengths and weaknesses, creating bespoke lesson plans that prioritize weaker subjects early in the term and save stronger topics for later revision. This innovative approach aims to tailor education to individual needs, providing a unique learning experience without traditional classroom teachers. The course represents a significant shift in how education can be delivered using technology.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced Basel, Switzerland as the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. The contest will take place from May 13 to 17, 2025. Basel was chosen over Geneva after a competitive bidding process. This follows Switzerland's win in the 2024 contest, when Swiss singer Nemo took top honors. The city of Basel has pledged to host a successful event, showcasing its unique culture and hospitality. The contest is expected to draw hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide, making it one of the most-watched events globally.

The Akal Takht declared Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal 'tankhaiya' for religious misconduct on Friday, citing actions during his party's tenure from 2007 to 2017. Badal acknowledged the ruling and pledged to apologize. Jathedar Gyani Raghbir Singh instructed Badal to appear before the Akal Takht within 15 days to seek forgiveness for decisions that adversely affected Sikh interests and the Panth’s reputation. Badal will remain 'tankhaiya' until he delivers a formal apology. The decision followed a meeting of the five Sikh head priests at the Akal Takht complex. 

A damaged helicopter crashed near the Mandakini River in Uttarakhand during a recovery operation on Saturday. The helicopter, which made an emergency landing at Kedarnath Dham on May 24 due to a technical fault, was being airlifted to Gauchar airstrip for repairs by a Mi-17 chopper. The Mi-17 lost balance due to weight and wind, causing the helicopter to crash. No injuries or casualties were reported as there were no passengers or luggage on board. The incident was captured on camera. Authorities confirmed the crash and are investigating the incident.

The Centre responded to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's second letter requesting tougher central laws and harsher penalties for serious crimes. The Union government criticized Banerjee’s letter as an attempt to "cover up delays" by the state government. Union Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi highlighted that West Bengal had not activated 11 additional Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC) designated for handling rape and sexual assault cases. The Centre noted that stringent laws for addressing rape and crimes against women are already in place and urged the state to enforce them properly. The response aims to address concerns about the implementation of existing legal measures.