Here’s a brief overview of the day’s important news.
**Today’s Key Events**
* K.C. Venugopal, the Congress General Secretary, is scheduled to visit Karur in Tamil Nadu. During his visit, he will meet with the families of those affected by a recent stampede incident and offer support.
* The final voter list for the upcoming Bihar elections is set to be released. The draft voter list was issued on August 1st, comprising 7.24 crore voters. The list has been updated, and 65 lakh voters’ names were removed.
**Key News Highlights**
1. **Israel’s Apology to Qatar and Netanyahu’s Call from White House:** Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has apologized to Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani following airstrikes targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar on September 9th. Netanyahu made the call from the White House where he was present with U.S. President Donald Trump, engaged in discussions regarding a Gaza ceasefire.
2. **Suryakumar Yadav Comments on Asia Cup Trophy:** Suryakumar Yadav, the captain of the Indian cricket team, expressed his views regarding the Asia Cup 2025 trophy, emphasizing that it should not become a matter of dispute. He noted that the real value lies in the trust, dedication, and hard work of the players, support staff, and everyone involved. The Indian team did not accept the trophy and medals from ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who then left the stadium with the trophy. Yadav views it as just a piece of silverware.
3. **YouTube’s Premium Lite Plan Launch in India:** YouTube has introduced a new Premium Lite plan in India, priced at ₹89 per month. This plan allows users to watch a majority of videos without advertisements, although it excludes features like YouTube Music, downloads, and background play. This offers a more affordable alternative compared to YouTube Premium, which costs ₹149 monthly. Premium Lite provides ad-free video viewing at a reduced price point.
4. **India and Bhutan to Connect by Rail:** The Indian government has approved a new railway project connecting Bhutan. The project is estimated to cost ₹4,033 crore and will directly link Bhutan’s Gelephu and Samtse cities with India via rail. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav provided insights into the project, which aims to improve travel and trade between India and Bhutan. Kokrajhar, serving as a regional station, will integrate this project with India’s vast railway network of 1.5 lakh km.
5. **Canada Designates Lawrence Bishnoi Gang as Terrorist Group:** Canada has declared the Lawrence Bishnoi gang a terrorist entity. The gang is currently active in India, with its leader continuing criminal activities from prison. India has refuted Canada’s claims and has been collaborating to prevent funding. The gang has approximately 700 members in India involved in crimes such as robbery, extortion, and money laundering. Canada now has a total of 88 listed terrorist groups.
**Photo of the Day**
A farmer is captured burning paddy stubble on the outskirts of Amritsar. This practice is commonplace in Punjab and Haryana during October-November. The process of removal is expensive and time-consuming. The smoke from the burning stubble reaches Delhi-NCR, causing the AQI (Air Quality Index) to increase to dangerous levels, leading to respiratory issues, eye irritation, and asthma. The government has implemented fines on stubble burning and offers subsidies for machinery, but these measures are often deemed insufficient by farmers.
**5 Big Stories from 5 States**
1. **Uttar Pradesh:** The UP PGT exam has been postponed again; new dates will be announced soon.
2. **Haryana:** Rao Narendra Singh appointed as Haryana Congress State President; Bhupinder Singh Hooda named Legislative Party leader.
3. **Maharashtra:** CJI’s mother invited to RSS centenary year program.
4. **Uttarakhand:** CBI inquiry recommended for the UKSSSC paper leak; exam will be cancelled.
5. **Jharkhand:** Durga Puja pandal built on a Vatican City theme, sparking controversy.
