Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav, who surrendered to Tihar Jail in a long-running ₹9 crore cheque bounce case, has received significant financial backing from music producer Rao Inderjeet Singh Yadav, owner of GemTunes Music, pledging ₹1.11 crore to support him in his legal and financial crisis. Singh praised Yadav’s contribution to Indian cinema and called the gesture about solidarity, not money. Colleagues such as Sonu Sood and Gurmeet Choudhary have also offered assistance, urging the film fraternity to stand together. Politician Tej Pratap Yadav extended additional aid of ₹11 lakh to Yadav’s family. The case stems from dishonoured cheques related to a failed 2010 film loan. (PC: India Today)

The US White House has quietly revised its fact sheet on the recently announced India-United States interim trade deal, removing the mention of “certain pulses” from the list of American agricultural products for which India would reduce or eliminate tariffs. The earlier version also described India’s plan to buy over $500 billion in US goods as a commitment; the revised text now says India “intends” to make such purchases. Additional changes include softer language on digital trade and aligning the fact sheet more closely with the joint statement issued by both countries. The adjustments came after New Delhi flagged discrepancies. (PC: Reuters)

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sharply criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his conduct in the Lok Sabha during a row over his attempt to quote from an unpublished “memoir” of ex-Army Chief General M M Naravane on the India-China border standoff. Rijiju accused Gandhi of defying the Speaker’s ruling, wasting House time and behaving immaturely, telling him “don’t behave like children” amid heated exchanges and disruptions in Parliament. The spat reflects broader tensions between the government and opposition over parliamentary decorum and national security discourse during the Budget Session. (PC: PTI)

The Union Home Ministry has issued new guidelines making all six stanzas of the national song Vande Mataram mandatory at government functions and in schools, using the official 3-minute-10-second version penned by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. The song must be played or sung at occasions such as the unfurling of the Tricolour, the arrival and departure of the President and governors, and before and after presidential addresses. If Vande Mataram and the national anthem Jana Gana Mana are both performed, the national song comes first. The directive also outlines decorum, including standing to attention, and encourages mass singing at ceremonies. (PC: The Times of India)

In Mathura’s Khapparpur village, Uttar Pradesh, a couple and their three young children were found dead inside their home, in what police suspect was a mass suicide pact. The victims were identified as Manish Kumar (35), his wife Seema (about 32), and their children Honey (8), Priyanshi (5) and Prateek (3). Neighbours broke into the house after there was no response in the morning. Police recovered a video message recorded by Manish and messages scribbled on the wall indicating the deaths were voluntary. Post-mortem findings showed varied causes: the father by electrocution, the wife by hanging, and the children by strangulation. Investigations are ongoing.

At least nine people died in shootings at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and a connected residence in northeast British Columbia, Canadian police reported Tuesday. Six victims were found dead inside the school, with a seventh dying during hospital transport. Two more were discovered at a nearby residence believed linked to the incident. The female suspect died from a self-inflicted injury inside the school. Two victims were airlifted with life-threatening injuries, while approximately 25 others sustained non-life-threatening injuries. RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd confirmed investigators identified the shooter but withheld her name, stating the motive remains unclear. The 2,400-resident community was placed under lockdown until 5:45 p.m. Both local schools closed through week's end. (PC: X)

The White House revised its India-US trade deal fact sheet, making significant changes to language and commitments. Key modifications include: dropping "certain pulses" from agricultural products eligible for tariff elimination, softening India's purchase commitment from "has committed to buy" to "intends to buy" over $500 billion in US goods, removing "agricultural" from the product category list, and deleting mention of India removing digital services taxes and customs duty prohibitions on electronic transmissions. The changes occurred one day after the initial fact sheet release describing the interim framework as a stepping stone toward a full Bilateral Trade Agreement. The revisions soften the strength of India's procurement pledges and narrow commodity specifications. (PC: News18)

India and China reviewed bilateral ties Tuesday during the India-China Strategic Dialogue, with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri meeting Chinese Executive Vice-Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu on the BRICS Sherpa Meeting sidelines in New Delhi. Both sides emphasized maintaining peace and tranquility along the border as critical for overall relations while addressing "sensitive issues" including bilateral trade concerns. Discussions covered expanding people-to-people exchanges, resuming Kailash Mansarovar Yatra at larger scale, finalizing an updated Air Services Agreement, and facilitating visas. China expressed support for India's successful BRICS-2026 Summit and acknowledged respecting India's UN Security Council membership aspirations. The dialogue highlighted "positive momentum" in stabilizing relations while implementing leaders' guidance on approaching issues from broader political and strategic perspectives. (PC: ANI)

At least 10 private schools in Chandigarh and neighbouring Mohali received bomb threat emails on Wednesday, prompting panic among parents and authorities. School administrations immediately evacuated students and sent them back home as a precaution. Police and bomb disposal squads were deployed to conduct thorough security checks on the campuses, but no explosives or suspicious objects were found so far. Officials are investigating the source of the threatening emails and tightening security around schools. Authorities assured parents that all necessary safety measures are in place while the probe continues. (PC: HT)

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif accused the United States of exploiting Pakistan “worse than toilet paper” during a speech in the National Assembly. He claimed Islamabad aligned with Washington after 1999, especially in the Afghanistan wars, which he said brought long-lasting harm to Pakistan and “a very heavy price” that the country still bears. Asif criticised past leaders for entering conflicts not in Pakistan’s interest, saying Americans used Islamabad for their strategic goals and then abandoned it. He also rejected the idea that Pakistan’s role was religious duty, calling it a misused geopolitical move.