22 Aug, 22:57 (IST)

Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda today, August 22, expressed confidence in the party forming government in Haryana with a significant majority. In an interview with IANS, Hooda said that Congress is fully capable of achieving majority on its own.

22 Aug, 20:55 (IST)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Washington this evening on a four-day visit to the United States at the invitation of the US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin. During the visit, Defence Minister Singh will hold a bilateral meeting with his US counterpart and also meet the US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.Rajnath Singh Lands in Washington DC

22 Aug, 19:18 (IST)

Amid the nationwide uproar over the ghastly rape and murder of a junior doctor at the RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today, August 22, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought exemplary punishment against those involved in such dastardly crimes. Alapan Bandopadhyay, Chief Advisor to Mamata Banerjee, said that the Chief Minister has suggested the setting up of special fast-track courts for speedy trials in such cases.

22 Aug, 18:27 (IST)

Six people died, and 22 others were injured after a private bus travelling from Leh to Eastern Ladakh fell into a 200-metre-deep gorge. Police officials said that as soon as the information was received, they reached the spot. Meanwhile, all the injured have been admitted to District Hospital SNM in Leh while some of them are in critical state.

22 Aug, 16:41 (IST)

In what can be seen as a big blow to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), former Bihar Cabinet minister and RJD national General Secretary Shyam Rajak resigned from the primary membership of the party today, August 22. Rajak submitted his resignation to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, ending his four-year association with the party. 

22 Aug, 14:49 (IST)

Addressing the vandalism incident at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital during protests over the rape and murder of the woman doctor, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud stated, “This court has not prohibited the state from exercising its lawful powers, but we clearly affirm that peaceful protests must not be disrupted. The state should refrain from taking action against those who are peacefully protesting the incident at RG Kar College.”

22 Aug, 11:56 (IST)

On concerns of protesting resident doctors getting marked as absent for duty, CJI DY Chandrachud said that the court will ensure that there is no adverse action against protesting resident doctors once they resume their duties.

22 Aug, 09:16 (IST)

A bomb threat on an Air India flight arriving from Mumbai prompted a full emergency at Thiruvananthapuram Airport on Thursday morning. The flight, carrying 135 passengers, landed safely at around 8 am and was immediately directed to an isolation bay. Passengers were evacuated from the aircraft as a precautionary measure.

22 Aug, 08:39 (IST)

The Bombay High Court has taken suo moto cognizance of the sexual assault case involving minor girls in a Badlapur school. The case, which has sparked widespread outrage, will be heard today by a division bench comprising Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Prithviraj Chavan.

New Delhi, August 22: The Election Commission of India, on August 21, suspended the announcement of results for ongoing recruitment processes in Haryana, including police and teaching positions, until after the state Assembly elections. This decision follows a complaint from Congress MP Jairam Ramesh alleging potential breaches of the Model Code of Conduct. Meanwhile, Jharkhand saw a mixed response to a Bharat Bandh, with public buses largely off the roads and schools closed. In Thane, police have registered an FIR against 300 individuals following a large protest in Badlapur.

Meanwhile, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi has urged resident doctors to resume work to normalise patient care services. The Indian Medical Association has also requested Union Health Minister JP Nadda to enact the draft bill 2019, which includes amendments aimed at protecting healthcare workers from violence. Additionally, the central government has granted Z-plus armed security to Sharad Pawar, the NCP chief, with the CRPF assigned to protect him. NCP (SP) Chief Sharad Pawar Receives Z-Plus Security Cover From Central Government, 55 CRPF Personnel Deployed.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has ordered a high-level inquiry into a reactor explosion at a pharma company in Atchutapuram, resulting in 14 deaths and 50 injuries, and will visit the site on August 22. Amid ongoing protests in Maharashtra, the Maha Vikas Aghadi has called for a Maharashtra Bandh on August 24 in response to alleged sexual assaults by a school attendant. The Delhi Metro reported its highest-ever daily passenger count of 77.48 lakh on August 20.

In international news, Israel's Ministry of Communications has announced the removal of barriers to importing communications equipment to boost market competition and reduce living costs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Warsaw, Poland, on August 21 for the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 45 years, where Deputy Foreign Minister Wladyslaw Teofil Bartoszewski welcomed him. PM Modi Poland Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Arrives in Warsaw, First Visit by Indian PM in 45 Years (Watch Video).

In Iran, the Parliament confirmed all 19 ministers proposed by President Masoud Pezeshkian, including Abbas Araqchi as Foreign Minister and Esmaeil Khatib as Intelligence Minister. The UBS 2024 Global Wealth Report reveals that nearly 22 million Americans had wealth exceeding USD 1 million last year, despite a decrease from 22.7 million in 2022. The US remains the home to 38 per cent of the world’s millionaires, surpassing the combined total of Western Europe and China.