Month: August 2025

One new poliovirus case was confirmed each in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, bringing Pakistan’s total count this year to 21, National Institute of Health (NIH) said on Monday, Dawn reported.

Pakistan is one of the last two countries in the world, alongside Afghanistan, where polio remains endemic. Despite global eradication efforts, Dawn reported that factors such as security challenges, vaccine hesitancy and misinformation continue to obstruct progress.

According to a statement from the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at Islamabad’s NIH, the latest cases involve a six-year-old girl from Union Council Pattan in KP’s Kohistan district and a 21-month-old girl from UC Matli-2 in Sindh’s Badin.

“With these detections, the total number of polio cases in Pakistan in 2025 has reached 21, including 13 from KP, six from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan,” the statement noted.

Dawn reported that polio is a highly infectious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis. The only effective protection against the debilitating virus is the repeated administration of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) for every child under five during each campaign, along with timely completion of all routine immunisations, the NIH said.

It added that from September 1 to 7, a sub-national polio vaccination campaign will be conducted, targeting more than 28 million children under five across 99 districts nationwide.

“The campaign in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be conducted from 15 September. The goal is to ensure every child in these districts receives the vaccine to protect them from the lifelong consequences of polio,” it said.

The statement noted that the campaign is part of efforts to strengthen immunity among children and close existing protection gaps. “Parents and caregivers are strongly urged to ensure their children receive the polio vaccine during this and every campaign.”

Last week, poliovirus was detected in 36 per cent of sewage samples collected from 87 districts in July, Dawn reported. In 2024, the country reported at least 71 cases, with the virus found in around 90 districts, including Punjab and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB). (ANI)

The Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed the petition moved by Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez in connection with the Rs 200 crore money laundering case.

Jacqueline had challenged the charge sheet filed against her in the Rs 200 crores money laundering case. In this case, Sukesh Chandrasekhar is also an accused.

Justice Anish Dayal dismissed the petition after hearing counsels at length. The detailed order of judgment is to be uploaded by the High Court.

The High Court had reserved the order on actor Jacqueline Fernandez’s petition challenging the Enforcement Directorate’s complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The case revolves around allegations of her receiving lavish gifts from conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.

Senior Advocate Sidharth Aggarwal, along with Advocate Prashant Patil and Shakti Pandey, represented Jacqueline Fernandez, while Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain appeared on behalf of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

During arguments, Aggarwal had contended that if the ED claims that money was distributed among 15 individuals, then by that logic, everyone involved, whether a grocery vendor, court officials, or lawyers, could be deemed guilty of money laundering.

He had questioned the premise that any financial transaction involving a criminal automatically constitutes money laundering, suggesting that such an interpretation would create undue fear.

Aggarwal had further argued that the ED’s case hinges on Fernandez’s awareness of Sukesh Chandrashekhar’s criminal background, as reported in a 2021 newspaper article.

He asserted that merely being a celebrity does not imply prior knowledge of tainted funds. “Businessmen often have multiple cases against them,” he stated, adding that Fernandez was introduced to Chandrashekhar as a business tycoon. “Today, I am paying the price of being a celebrity,” Aggarwal concluded.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) argued that its investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, is separate and distinct from police investigations into scheduled offences. It had emphasised that individuals accused of money laundering may differ from those charged in the predicate offence, given the distinct nature of the crime.

ED had opposed Jacqueline’s plea and submitted that she continued to enjoy Sukesh’s gifts despite knowing his criminal antecedents. The petition to quash the case is an attempt to stall proceedings.

Advocates for Jacqueline had submitted that being in the public eye and being labelled as a money launderer is problematic.

“My prayer is not to quash the complaint completely, it’s only to quash the present applicant (Jacqueline). Sukesh is sitting in jail and carrying out extortion and fraud from there. EOW comes to me, records my statement, and finds that what I have to say is relevant to their investigation. Ed has filed four complaints, but the investigation is still going on, and the trial cannot start,” said Senior Advocate Siddharth Aggarwal.

Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez had filed a petition seeking the quashing of the ECIR (equivalent to an FIR) and the supplementary chargesheet filed by the ED in connection with the Rs 200 crore money laundering case.

Jacqueline, through a plea, stated that the evidence filed by the Directorate of Enforcement would prove that the Petitioner is an innocent victim of Sukesh Chandrashekhar’s maliciously targeted attack. “There is absolutely no indication that she had any involvement whatsoever in aiding him to launder his purportedly ill-got wealth. Hence, she cannot be prosecuted for the offences under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002,” the plea stated. (ANI)

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions have expanded significantly in 2025, both in terms of value and volumes, according to a report by SBI.

The data showed that UPI continues to grow in leaps and bounds, becoming an even more integral part of India’s digital payments ecosystem.

In terms of value, the report highlighted that average daily transactions rose from Rs 75,743 crore in January to Rs 80,919 crore in July. The momentum further accelerated in August (so far), with the average daily value touching Rs 90,446 crore.

This steady growth highlights the deepening reliance on UPI for payments across the country. The report stated “UPI transactions have expanded significantly both in value and volumes”.

The rising trend is equally visible in volumes. The average daily transaction volumes increased by 127 million during the same period, reaching 675 million in August compared with January.

This clearly showed the fact that more and more Indians are using UPI for everyday payments, from small transfers to high-value transactions.

The SBI report also provided insights into the leading banks driving the UPI ecosystem. State Bank of India emerged as the top remitter member, handling 5.2 billion transactions.

SBI’s share was almost 3.4 times larger than the second-biggest remitter member, showcasing the dominance of public sector banks in this category.

On the other hand, Yes Bank took the top position as the leading beneficiary member, with nearly 8.0 billion transactions. The trend indicates that while PSBs dominate as remitters, private banks are taking the lead in receiving payments.

For the first time, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has released state-wise data on UPI transactions, giving a clearer picture of regional adoption.

Maharashtra has emerged as the number one state in UPI usage, accounting for a 9.8 per cent share in July alone. Karnataka followed with 5.5 per cent, while Uttar Pradesh stood close at 5.3 per cent.

Notably, Uttar Pradesh is the only north Indian state among the top five, underlining the growing penetration of digital payments beyond traditional strongholds.

The latest data highlighted that the UPI is emerging as both consumer preference and the banking system’s push toward a cashless future. (ANI)

Washington continues to keep a close watch on developments between India and Pakistan “every single day”, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday (local time) days after US President Donald Trump once again claimed that he had brokered a ceasefire between the two countries.

Rubio’s comments came in response to a question in an interview to NBC News Meet The Press on the sharp rise in Russian attacks on Ukraine after Trump assumed charge at the Oval Office.

“The only way to have a ceasefire is for both sides to agree to stop firing at one another. And the Russians just haven’t agreed to that. One of the complications about ceasefires is they have to be maintained, which is very difficult. I mean, every single day we keep an eye on what’s happening between Pakistan and India, what’s happening between Cambodia and Thailand. Ceasefires can fall apart very quickly, especially after a three-and-a-half-year war like what we’re facing now,” Rubio said.

His remarks came days after Trump again claimed that he had “brokered a ceasefire deal” between India and Pakistan. It was around the 40th such assertion made by Trump, which New Delhi has consistently refuted, reiterating that all matters with Pakistan are strictly bilateral.

On being asked why the Trump administration had not imposed fresh sanctions on Russia despite repeated threats from Trump, Rubio said, “Every single sanction that was in place on the day he took over remain. Every – and the impact of all those sanctions remain. When the Russians landed in Alaska, they tried – they were there to refuel. They had to offer to pay in cash to refuel their airplanes because they can’t use our banking system. They face consequences every single day. But the bottom line is that that has not altered the direction of this war. That doesn’t mean those sanctions are inappropriate. It means it hasn’t altered the outcome of it.”

“And the minute you issue new sanctions, your ability to get them to the table, our ability to get them to the table, will be severely diminished, ” he further added.

Meanwhile, ties between Washington and New Delhi faced fresh strain on the trade front. Government sources confirmed that the US team would not travel to India for the sixth round of bilateral trade negotiations scheduled for August 25.

“US Trade team not coming to India for the next round of trade negotiations. The US team was scheduled to visit India on 25th August for the 6th round of negotiations,” a source told ANI. The fifth round of talks was held in Washington DC from July 14-18, 2025.

The setback comes just days after Trump imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, raising the total levy to 50 per cent, along with an unspecified penalty for India’s continued oil imports from Russia.

“India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA,” Trump said in a recent post.

In an interview with CNBC, the US President accused India of “fueling the war machine” by continuing Russian oil purchases. (ANI)

Amid the ongoing allegations of ‘vote theft,’ opposition parties are likely to bring an impeachment motion in the monsoon session of Parliament against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, sources said.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain also spoke on the matter and said that the party is ready to use all democratic tools, including an impeachment motion if needed, though no formal discussions have been held so far.

“If there is a need, we will use all the weapons of democracy under the rules. We have not had any discussions (about impeachment) as of now, but if needed, we can do anything,” Hussain told ANI.

A day earlier, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar refuted all the recent “vote theft” claims made by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on the Election Commission of India (ECI) while addressing a press conference in the national capital.

He termed allegations of bias by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabhas an “insult” to the Constitution of India. CEC also asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to either furnish a signed affidavit or apologise to the nation for his remarks.

“An affidavit will have to be given or an apology should be made to the country. Teesra koi vikalp nahi (There is no third option.) If the affidavit is not received within seven days, it means that all these allegations are baseless.” CEC Gyanesh Kumar said while addressing mediapersons.

Rahul Gandhi, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, hit back at the CEC Gyanesh Kumar alleging that the ECI is asking for an affidavit from him but doesn’t from BJP MP Anurag Thakur when he makes the same allegations.”

“The Election Commission asks for an affidavit from me. But when Anurag Thakur says the same thing that I am saying, it does not ask for an affidavit from him,” Rahul Gandhi said.

Meanwhile, today, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju called on Congress and other opposition parties to refrain from creating disruptions in Parliament over issues related to the Election Commission. (ANI)

Five people died while four others were injured after a chariot came into contact with high-tension electric wires during Krishna Janmasthami celebrations in the Ramanthapur area in Hyderabad.

The incident happened on Sunday night.

According to the police, the injured were rushed to the hospital, while the bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination.

“Five people died on the spot and four others were injured after receiving a live electric shock during the Sri Krishna Janmashtami procession last night. The injured were shifted to a hospital for further treatment, and the deceased bodies were sent for post-mortem examination,” Uppal police inspector said.

Further information on the incident is awaited.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president, KT Rama Rao, expressed grief over the loss of lives in the incident.

“I am deeply shocked to hear about the accident that took place in Gokhale Nagar, Ramanthapur. Sadly, five people lost their lives due to electric shock in this procession held as part of the Sri Krishna Janmashtami celebrations. It is heartbreaking that Krishna Yadav, Srikanth Reddy, Suresh Yadav, Rudra Vikas, and Rajendra Reddy died in this tragedy,” KTR said as per the BRS.

“I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. I appeal to the government to support the families of the deceased. I sincerely wish the speedy recovery of the four people who are seriously injured in this incident and are undergoing treatment in the hospital,” he said.

Further, KTR requested the Telangana government to provide better medical assistance to the injured.

“Appropriate precautions should be taken to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future,” the BRS leader said.

Recently, four people lost their lives and around 10 others sustained injuries when a travel bus collided with a loaded lorry at the Macharam flyover under the Jadcherla police station in Mahabubnagar district.

Soon after the incident, the police quickly shifted the injured to a nearby hospital for further treatment.

“Today, in the early morning hours around 4:45 am, a Travels bus collided with a loaded lorry on the Macharam flyover. Three people died on the spot, and one more succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment. Ten other members were injured. We have registered a case, and the deceased bodies have been shifted for post-mortem examination, while the injured have been taken for treatment,” Sub Inspector of Jadcherla police station said.

The official added that the four deceased bodies were sent for post-mortem and subsequently handed over to their families. The injured passengers were immediately shifted to a nearby hospital for further treatment. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated CP Radhakrishnan after he was named the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate for the Vice Presidential elections scheduled to be held on September 9.

In a post on social media platform X, the Prime Minister said Radhakrishnan had distinguished himself in public life with his dedication, humility and intellect.

“In his long years in public life, Thiru CP Radhakrishnan Ji has distinguished himself with his dedication, humility and intellect. During the various positions he has held, he has always focused on community service and empowering the marginalised. He has done extensive work at the grassroots in Tamil Nadu. I am glad that the NDA family has decided to nominate him as the Vice Presidential candidate of our alliance,” the Prime Minister post read.

Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan is currently serving as the 24th Governor of Maharashtra, a post he assumed on July 31, 2024. He previously served as the Governor of Jharkhand from February 2023 to July 2024. He also held additional charge as the Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry between March and July 2024.

A veteran BJP leader, Radhakrishnan, was elected to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore twice and previously served as the Tamil Nadu BJP State President.

Earlier in the day, BJP National President and Union Minister JP Nadda said that the party would also hold discussions with opposition parties to ensure an unopposed election for the Vice Presidential post.

Speaking at a press conference, Nadda said, “We will talk to the opposition as well. We should also get their support so that together we can ensure an unopposed election for the post of Vice President. As we said earlier, we have been in touch with them and our senior leaders have contacted them earlier as well and even now, we will remain in touch with them and all our NDA colleagues have supported us. CP Radhakrishnan is our NDA’s candidate for Vice President.”

The Election Commission had earlier announced that polling for the Vice Presidential election would take place on September 9, with counting of votes scheduled for the same day.

The last date for filing nominations is August 21, while candidates can withdraw their nominations until August 25.

The Vice Presidential post fell vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on July 21, citing health reasons. (ANI)

The Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Sunday said that Congress will not win in the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls.

Speaking to ANI, Adhikari said that the INDIA bloc is trying to scare the voters through “baseless” claims.

“The EC has directly conveyed that what the INDI bloc is doing is baseless, and they are not ready to provide evidence. They are trying to scare the voters, but we will not be afraid. The Election Commission will work constitutionally, not under the pressure of any political party. Rahul Gandhi will not win in Bihar. There is a wave of PM Modi and CM Nitish Kumar there,” Adhikari told ANI.

The Chief Election Commisioner of India on Sunday refuted allegations of “vote theft” by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and asked him to either furnish a signed affidavit or apologise to the nation for his remarks.

The CEC also termed the allegations of bias by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabhas as an “insult” to the Constitution of India.”…An affidavit will have to be given, or an apology should be made to the country. Teesra koi vikalp nahi (There is no third option.) If the affidavit is not received within 7 days, it means that all these allegations are baseless…” CEC Gyanesh Kumar said while addressing mediapersons at a briefing at the National Media Centre in the national capital.

Rahul Gandhi had on August 7 addressed a press conference in New Delhi, in which he presented Congress’s research on voting in the Mahadevapura Assembly in Karnataka, a part of the Bangalore Central parliamentary constituency. Gandhi alleged “vote chori” (vote theft) of 1,00,250 votes, including duplicate voters, invalid addresses, and bulk registrations of votes at single locations.

Rahul Gandhi further pointed out an instance of 80 people registered in a single address in Mahadevapura.

Rahul Gandhi had alleged that the poll body is “destroying evidence” through the directive deleting CCTV footage from polling booths. He alleged that the EC was only preserving CCTV and webcasting footage of the election process for only 45 days after the whole process is completed, unless the election result is challenged in court. (ANI)

The Pataudis are back in Mumbai after celebrating Saif Ali Khan’s 55th birthday.

The family was spotted at the airport on Sunday, August 17, as Saif returned with his wife, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and their sons, Taimur Ali Khan and Jahangir Ali Khan.

Saif, who turned 55 on Saturday, August 16, kept it casual in light jeans, a loose shirt, and white sneakers.

Bebo, who is known for her classy airport choices, wore wide-leg jeans, a white T-shirt, and a blazer, making her look chic yet comfortable. The couple, along with their kids, walked past the paparazzi without stopping for photos.

Bebo marked the special day on Saturday with an adorable post that celebrated both her “darling” husband and the “lion” she sees in him.

Sharing a picture of a lion in the wild, Bebo wrote on Instagram, “To our Lion. Happy birthday, darling husband.”

Saif Ali Khan, who married Kareena in 2012, has enjoyed a long and successful journey in Bollywood, from iconic films of the 1990s to strong contemporary performances. He was recently seen in ‘Jewel Thief’ and is set to reunite with Akshay Kumar after 17 years in the upcoming thriller ‘Haiwaan.’ Akshay and Saif last worked together in the 2008 movie ‘Tashan. Kareena, on the other hand, will be seen sharing screen space with Prithviraj Sukumaran in Meghna Gulzar’s ‘Daayra’. As per Meghna, “Daayra is a story that compels you to reflect on the society we live in and its institutions that pilot us.” (ANI)