The Hindu Morning Digest - August 10, 2025
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday (August 9, 2025) again asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to submit under oath the allegations made by him on voter roll manipulation in a Karnataka Assembly Constituency. Either Mr. Gandhi should give a declaration/oath, or apologise to the country, sources in the ECI said. Mr. Gandhi had in a press conference claimed that 1,00,250 'fake votes' were created in the Mahadevapura Assembly seat under the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka, in order to ensure a win for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
No name will be deleted without notice, says ECI on Bihar SIR
The Election Commission of India (ECI) assured the Supreme Court on Saturday (August 9, 2025) that deletion of voters' names in the Bihar draft electoral roll, published on August 1 as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, would be done only after issuing prior notice indicating the grounds for the action. The poll body said 2.5 lakh volunteers, mostly Bihar government officials, have been deployed to assist eligible voters obtain requisite documents from the various State departments to avoid exclusion from the final electoral roll.
India welcomes Donald Trump-Vladimir Putin summit in Alaska
India on Saturday (August 9, 2025) welcomed the summit between the United States and Russia to be held in Alaska on August 15. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the summit, which comes after more than three years of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as a move that holds the 'promise' of ending the conflict. The meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was announced by Mr. Trump earlier on Saturday.
Under whose pressure did PM stop Operation Sindoor, asks Congress
Hours after Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh revealed on Saturday (August 9, 2025) that the Indian Air Force (IAF) had shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and a large aircraft during Operation Sindoor, the Congress asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi why India's military action against Pakistan was 'suddenly stopped' and under whose 'pressure'. India launched the operation against a few terror bases in Pakistan on May 7 in retaliation for the Pahalagam terror attack on April 22. After three days of intense conflict, both countries reached an understanding on May 10 to end the hostilities. Though U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that he helped broker the ceasefire, the Centre has consistently denied it.
Not a single Pakistani aircraft was hit or destroyed by Indian armed forces, claims Khawaja Asif
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday (August 9, 2025) claimed that no aircraft of the military was hit or destroyed by Indian armed forces during the recent conflict. His comments came hours after Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh said the Indian Air Force (IAF) shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and a large aircraft during Operation Sindoor. He said the operation also resulted in a large number of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), drones and some of their missiles falling into the Indian territory.
Gaza civil defence says 18 killed across territory
Gaza's civil defence agency said at least 18 people were killed across the Palestinian territory on Saturday (August 9, 2025), including civilians who were waiting to collect aid. Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that at least six people were killed and 30 wounded after Israeli troops targeted civilians assembling near an aid point in central Gaza. The spokesman said strikes hit areas elsewhere in central Gaza, resulting in multiple casualties.
Thailand again accuses Cambodia of planting land mines as 3 soldiers are hurt by blast along border
Three Thai soldiers on patrol were wounded Saturday (August 9, 2025) when one stepped on a land mine in territory along the border with Cambodia, Thailand's army announced. The incident came just two days after the two countries reaffirmed their adherence to a ceasefire to end a brief armed conflict. The Army's statement said the incident took place in Thailand's Sisaket province and 'clearly demonstrates to both domestic and international society that the use of concealed weapons in border areas continues to exist, constituting a clear violation of the Ottawa Convention by the Cambodian side.'
In Gurez Valley, a lone man is archiving the Dard-Shin story
The Dard-Shin tribe, which once ruled large parts of Kashmir in the 16th Century and is now nestled in the Gurez valley with Pakistan border posts in the backyard, has found an archivist in Basheer Ahmad Teroo. For the past three years, Mr. Teroo, 48, has been travelling the length and breadth of what was once known as Dardistan, collecting vestiges of his community's culture – items that he has begun storing and displaying at his home in Dawar town.
Political parties say they have filed many claims and objections after Bihar draft roll, though ECI lists zero complaints
Even as the Election Commission maintains that no claims and objections have been filed by political parties over names wrongfully included or excluded in the draft electoral list in Bihar, political workers — including Booth Level Agents (BLA) on the ground — claim that they have filed many such complaints. In fact, party workers say that when they flag the deletion of names of eligible voters through these complaints, Electoral Registration Officers (ERO) tell them to ask voters to instead file Form 6, which is meant for first-time voter registrations.
Restored Nagasaki bell rings in 80 years since A-bomb
Twin cathedral bells rang in unison on Saturday (August 9, 2025) in Japan's Nagasaki for the first time since the atomic bombing of the city 80 years ago, commemorating the moment of horror. On August 9, 1945, at 11:02 a.m., three days after a nuclear attack on Hiroshima, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. After heavy downpours Saturday morning, the rain stopped shortly before a moment of silence and ceremony in which Nagasaki mayor Shiro Suzuki urged the world to 'stop armed conflicts immediately'.
₹2,000 for a Coolie ticket: Bengalureans shocked at exorbitant rates for Rajinikanth's film
The ₹200 price cap on movie tickets continues to be a dream for film lovers of Bengaluru. In July, the State government had issued a draft notification on capping cinema ticket prices. However, the ticket rates for the upcoming Rajinikanth biggie, Coolie, has left people surprised and shocked in equal measure. The movie will hit the screens worldwide on August 14, 2025.
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The Hindu
14 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Robert Vadra gave evasive replies, put onus on deceased associates: ED chargesheet in Gurugram land deal case
Robert Vadra, the businessman husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, gave "evasive" replies during questioning in a 2008 "fraudulent" land deal in Shikohpur village of Haryana's Gurugram, and put the "entire onus" on his three deceased associates, the Enforcement Directorate has said in its chargesheet. The ED also alleged that in the alleged money laundering linked real estate transaction, Robert Vadra exerted "undue influence" on Haryana government officials through former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. The 332-page chargesheet mentioning these charges was filed by the federal probe agency on July 17 before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Delhi. Mr. Vadra, 56, received Rs ₹58 crore as "proceeds of crime" in the land deal, the ED alleged. Special Judge (PC Act) at Rouse Avenue Courts, Sushant Changotra, on August 2 issued a notice to all 11 accused named in the ED chargesheet before taking cognisance of the prosecution complaint and has listed the matter for August 28. The judge also directed that a copy of the chargesheet be shared with the accused. Mr. Vadra has been named as accused number 1, apart from seven companies linked to him and two directors of SGY Properties (formerly Omkareshwar Properties) named Satyanand Yajee and Kewal Singh Virk. There was no immediate comment from Mr. Vadra's legal team on the allegations made by the ED against the businessman. The case The case pertains to Mr. Vadra's company Skylight Hospitality (SLHPL) purchasing a 3.5 acre land in Shikohpur village in Sector 83 of Gurugram from Omkareshwar Properties (OPPL) at a price of ₹7.5 crore in 2008. The ED took cognisance of a September 2018 FIR of the Gurugram police to file a money laundering case in December that year. The police FIR claimed the land deal was a "bribe" to Mr. Vadra's company (SLHPL) so that he could help OPPL in getting housing licence in the same village from the then CM Hooda, who was also minister of town and country planning, by his personal influence as he (Vadra) was the son-in-law of the then Congress president Sonia Gandhi. "He (Vadra) entered into a dishonest or fraudulent execution of deed of transfer containing false statement of consideration and thus acquired 3.5 acres of land," teh ED claimed. "Robert Vadra through his entity SLHPL has purchased 3.5 acres of land in Shikohpur village without making the payment at the time of registration of sale deed, and declaring that full and final payment has been made," the ED alleged in the chargesheet. It claimed the businessman issued a cheque of Rs 7.50 crore from his other entity named SLRPL (Sky Light Realty) to "misrepresent" the facts in the sale deed. "This cheque was never encashed and no payment was ever made by SLRPL at the time of execution of sale deed," the ED probe found. Mr. Vadra, as per the ED, created structures to "launder" the proceeds of crime generated out of criminal activities. It said the buyer in this case was SLHPL but the stamp duty was paid by the seller, i.e., OPPL. "The allegations in the FIR (Haryana Police) that Mr. Vadra has undue influence through the then CM of Haryana (Hooda) was evident from the fact that the financial capacity to build a colony in the absence of any financial details and documents were accepted by the officials of DTCP (department of town and country planning) at entry level for the only reason that Robert Vadra was the director of this company. "Moreover, the processing of file on the day of its submission by every official in DTCP in a single day and approving by the then CM of Haryana within five days clearly indicates the influence of Robert Vadra, where the government has to take such decision which have a cascading effect on the planning of the cities of Haryana," the ED said. It alleged Mr. Vadra acquired "proceeds of crime" worth ₹58 crore as the land was sold to DLF for the said amount (Rs 58 crore). This was done by entering into a joint venture with DLF Retails Ltd on the basis of Letter of Intent (LoI) issued by DTCP on 3.5 acres of land owned by SLHPL. The ED alleged Mr. Vadra transferred the illicit funds to his various entities for purchasing movable and immovable assets apart from making "conspicuous" expenditure. 'Evasive replies' The agency alleged Mr. Vadra gave "evasive" replies during his questioning and he put "all the onus on three deceased persons (his associates) named late H L Pahwa, late Rajesh Khurana and late Mahesh Nagar for acting on behalf of him". "However, no documentary evidences were provided by him to substantiate his claim," the ED said. It has furnished Mr. Vadra's statement in the chargesheet where he defended himself by saying that these transactions took place in 2007-08 and that he was a "novice" to real estate matters and dependent on his three associates (Khurana, Pahwa and Nagar), and whatever agreements were prepared were with their (three associates) understanding, experience and knowledge. "I didn't decide who should be representing or signing these documents, they were decided by late Rajesh Khurana," Mr. Vadra told the ED during his questioning in April. Mr. Vadra reiterated these matters were 18-year-old and he doesn't "specifically remember" these land deal transactions.
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Trump 'thinking about' tariffs on China over Russian oil imports: JD Vance
After slapping heavy tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, US President Donald Trump is now considering similar measures against China, Vice President JD Vance said Sunday. However, no final decision has been made yet, as the US weighs the complexities of its relationship with an interview on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, Vance was asked whether the US would target China with tariffs similar to those slapped on India for buying Russian responded, "Well, the president said he's thinking about it, but he hasn't made any firm decisions. Obviously, the China issue is a little bit more complicated because our relationship with China, just. It affects a lot of other things that have nothing to do with the Russian situation. So the president's reviewing his options and, of course, going to make that decision when he decides."CHINA'S INCREASING IMPORTS FROM RUSSIA According to the customs data, China's imports of Russian oil rose to over $10 billion in July, the highest monthly total since March. While overall imports from Russia this year remain down by 7.7% compared with the same period in defended its energy trade with Russia amid US threats of tariffs. The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated in a Friday briefing to Bloomberg News, "It is legitimate and lawful for China to conduct normal economic, trade and energy cooperation with all countries around the world, including Russia. We will continue to adopt reasonable energy security measures in accordance with our national interests."While Trump has targeted China's purchases of Russian oil, his senior adviser Peter Navarro downplayed the possibility of new tariffs on Chinese exports. Navarro warned that higher duties "may hurt the US."US IMPOSES TARIFFS ON INDIALast week, Trump announced an additional 25 per cent trade tariff on Indian imports after warning the country over its oil purchases from Russia, taking the total levy to 50 per cent. The new tariffs will take effect on August reacted strongly to the increased duties, condemning them as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable." The Ministry of External Affairs stressed that India's energy imports are driven by market factors and aimed at securing energy supplies for its population of 1.4 billion."We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India," the ministry said in an official statement.- EndsTune InTrending Reel
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Kakori Action recalled
Lucknow: The year 1922 in Indian struggle for Independence was marked by significant events that shaped the course of the freedom movement, one of the most notable being the Kakori Train Robbery, which, although occurred in 1925, was deeply rooted in revolutionary fervour reignited after suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922. This was stated by renowned academicians during a national seminar at C B Gupta BSS College, Chandrawal, Lucknow, under joint auspices of Bharat Seva Sansthan and Motilal Memorial Society, to commemorate 100th anniversary of Kakori Action (1925-2025), on Saturday. Former head of Lucknow University's political science department Prof Ramesh Dixit said "1922 was a year of despair when Gandhi suspended Non-Cooperation Movement, prompting revolutionaries to loot the Kakori train and oppose British imperialism. " He said Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaqullah Khan worked gave shape to this plan. Kakori case, fought at the GPO (then a court), was remembered for sacrifices of Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Rajendra Nath Lahiri and Thakur Roshan Singh, urging new generation to dedicate themselves to the nation with courage. TNN Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
