India

Oil Price Volatility Threatens Affordable Housing; Premium Segment Stays Stable

India's real estate sector is showing resilience despite rising geopolitical uncertainties and crude oil price pressures. Affordable housing faces potential stress, while the luxury segment is expected to remain largely unaffected. Strong developer balance sheets and robust demand are seen as key buffers against immediate market disruptions. Office leasing and industrial warehousing segments are also anticipated to perform well in the near term. Sustained institutional investment continues to support the sector's long-term growth outlook.

Bhopal Police Act After Two Kashmiri Students Allegedly Pressured to Leave Rented Home

Police in Bhopal intervened after reports emerged that two Kashmiri students faced pressure to vacate their rented accommodation. The incident drew attention to the treatment of students from Jammu and Kashmir living outside their home region. Authorities stepped in following the claims to look into the matter. No further details about the outcome or suspects were immediately available from the report.

Man Wears Dog Mask to Protest Alleged Corruption in MP Stray Dog Sterilisation Drive

A man in Madhya Pradesh donned a dog mask as an unusual form of protest against alleged corruption in the local civic body's stray dog sterilisation programme. He was accompanied by Deepak 'Mullu' Rathore, the Municipal Corporation's Leader of Opposition, during the demonstration. The protest aimed to highlight concerns that the sterilisation drive was not being carried out properly or transparently. The demonstrators alleged irregularities within the municipal body responsible for managing the stray dog population.

Jeff Bezos joins consortium acquiring nearly 40% stake in Liverpool FC

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has made his first foray into sports ownership by investing in Liverpool Football Club through a group called 1892 Holdings. The consortium has acquired approximately 40% of the Premier League club. Fenway Sports Group, the existing owner, retains majority control and will continue to oversee the club's operations. The deal also includes a provision allowing the consortium to eventually pursue a controlling stake in the club. The investment is aimed at supporting Liverpool's long-term growth and continued success.

Trump-Bibi tensions deepen? US officials frustrated by Israel’s Syria strikes: Report

Brook reclaims No.1 Test batting rank; Bumrah holds top bowling spot in ICC rankings

England batter Harry Brook has reclaimed the top position in the ICC Test batting rankings following recent performances. India's Jasprit Bumrah retained his status as the world's number one Test bowler. Bangladesh players recorded notable ranking gains after their historic win over Australia. Afghanistan's ODI series success also triggered upward movements for several of their players. Multiple cricketers from the teams involved achieved career-best ICC rankings off the back of these results.

India beat Sri Lanka by 165 runs in Galle, eye strong show in Colombo

India secured a commanding 165-run victory over Sri Lanka on Day 5 of the Galle Test. Devdutt Padikkal impressed with a century in the first innings, while Manav Suthar claimed a ten-wicket haul across the match. Prasidh Krishna also showed steady progress, adding to India's growing confidence. The win under captain Shubman Gill has given the team several positives ahead of the next Test in Colombo.

Got an Income Tax Notice Under Section 143(3)? Here Is What to Do

Indian taxpayers who receive an income tax notice under Section 143(3) are subject to a process known as faceless scrutiny assessment. Under this system, tax authorities examine returns digitally without any physical interaction between the taxpayer and the assessing officer. Notices are typically issued when the tax department identifies discrepancies, underreported income, or claims that require further verification. Taxpayers must adhere to specific response timelines to avoid penalties or adverse assessment orders. Experts recommend preparing a clear, well-documented, evidence-based reply to address each query raised in the notice.

Mark Cuban warns California billionaire tax will drive startup founders out of state

Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban has publicly cautioned Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna about the potential consequences of California's proposed billionaire tax. Cuban argues that startup founders, whose wealth is typically tied up in stocks rather than liquid cash, would be disproportionately burdened by such a levy. He warned that only foolish founders would choose to remain in California if the legislation passes, predicting a significant exodus from the state. Cuban further cautioned that such an outflow of entrepreneurial talent could seriously undermine California's standing as a global hub for innovation and startups.

Trump tariffs fail to dent India's export dependence on US; share stays near 20%

India's Galle Test Win Boosts Their World Test Championship Prospects

India secured a Test victory in Galle, Sri Lanka, marking their first win in the format since a 0-2 home series defeat to South Africa in November last year. The match was affected by rain and extended into its fifth day before India completed the win. India had taken firm control of the contest before the weather interruptions delayed the result. The victory carries significant implications for India's standing in the World Test Championship standings and their path to a potential final at The Oval.

Anti-Bribery Platform Bribes.fyi Goes Offline After 5M Requests in 48 Hours

Bribes.fyi, a crowdsourced platform designed to document bribery incidents, was temporarily shut down after going viral within 48 hours of gaining widespread attention. The platform, built by Aryan Nishad, received over 5 million requests and attracted approximately 200,000 new users in just two days. The team announced the pause via LinkedIn, citing the need to establish stronger legal and financial infrastructure before relaunching. The sudden surge in traffic also raised concerns around user verification, privacy, potential misuse, and platform governance. In response, the team has called on lawyers and Chartered Accountants to come forward and help address these challenges ahead of the platform's planned return.

'There's a problem at the border': Rijiju admits delineation confusion in Arunachal

Russia imports 270,000 tonnes of refined fuel from Asia amid refinery disruptions

Russia is set to receive nearly 270,000 tonnes of refined fuel from Asian countries in August 2024. Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries have significantly curtailed domestic fuel production, forcing the country to seek imports. India is a key supplier, accounting for roughly one-third of these refined fuel shipments. The transfers are conducted via ship-to-ship operations to conceal the origin of the cargo. To manage the domestic shortfall, Russia has also tightened restrictions on its own fuel exports.

Cabinet approves 4 rail multitracking projects, Bihar highway upgrade worth Rs 13,000 cr

The Union Cabinet has approved five major infrastructure projects with a combined outlay of over Rs 13,000 crore. Four of these are railway multitracking projects that will add 410 kilometres to the rail network across multiple states. The expansion aims to ease congestion on existing lines and improve freight movement capacity. The fifth project involves upgrading an 82-kilometre stretch of NH-22 in Bihar to strengthen road connectivity near the Nepal border.

US funded it, China built it at scale: How robot dogs entered new arms race

Manav Suthar becomes youngest Indian to claim 10 wickets in an away Test

Spinner Manav Suthar has etched his name in cricket history by becoming the youngest Indian bowler to take ten wickets in an away Test match. His outstanding performance came during India's Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. The achievement places Suthar among an elite group of Indian spinners to have reached this milestone. India captain Shubman Gill lauded the young bowler and expressed confidence in his future contributions to the team. The victory also proved significant for India's standing in the World Test Championship points table.

India to offer cheaper domestic gas to distributors for new PNG connections

The Indian government has approved a new incentive scheme for piped natural gas (PNG) distributors, effective September 1. Under the policy, distributors will receive cheaper domestic gas for every new residential connection added beyond a set threshold in their respective geographical areas. The move is aimed at accelerating the expansion of PNG infrastructure across the country. India currently has approximately 17.4 million domestic PNG connections, and the scheme is expected to drive that number significantly higher.

FDR Expanded Springwood Estate to 1,500 Acres, Then Donated It to the Nation

President Franklin D. Roosevelt donated his family estate, Springwood, to the United States government, ensuring its long-term preservation. Throughout his life, Roosevelt significantly expanded the property to 1,500 acres and planted more than 500,000 trees to transform the surrounding landscape. The estate holds historical significance as the site of America's first presidential library. Today, Springwood is recognized as a national historic landmark, standing as a lasting tribute to the 32nd president.

Rajdhani Express Stops in Assam to Let Wild Elephant Herd Cross Tracks

A Rajdhani Express train came to a halt in Assam to allow a herd of wild elephants to safely cross the railway track. The incident highlights the ongoing challenge of managing wildlife movement in regions where rail routes pass through elephant habitats. Train operations were briefly disrupted as the herd made its way across. Such precautionary stops are part of broader efforts to prevent human-wildlife conflict along railway corridors in northeastern India.