Daily News Dose

A Rapido bike-taxi rider in Bengaluru has been booked for allegedly trying to grab a woman passenger’s legs during a ride. The woman managed to record the act on video and later filed a police complaint, following which the rider was charged. This incident has once again raised concerns about the safety of passengers using online ride and delivery services — sectors that have seen exponential growth across India. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Supreme Court has directed all national and state authorities to immediately remove stray animals, including cattle, from highways and expressways across the country. The court said that stray animals often cause serious road accidents, and it’s now the responsibility of both national and state authorities to make sure highways are safe, for both people and animals. So, what exactly does this mean in action? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first phase of the Bihar Assembly Elections is currently underway across 121 constituencies in 18 districts. It comes against the backdrop of a major political row sparked by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of vote theft in the 2024 Haryana polls. With 53.77% voter turn out till 3pm. This phase will set the momentum for the entire election. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has launched a fierce attack on the Election Commission, accusing it of helping the BJP “steal” the 2024 Haryana Assembly election. At a press conference in New Delhi, Rahul Gandhi presented what he called “proof” of large-scale voter fraud and manipulation in Haryana’s electoral rolls. So what exactly are his claims? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canadian authorities are reportedly seeking new powers to cancel certain visa applications — including from India — citing concerns over fraud. This comes as rejection rates for Indian student visas have surged to about 74% in August this year, more than double what they were a year ago. So, why is Canada suddenly tightening its door on Indians — once its biggest group of students and newcomers? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amid a worrying rise in digital arrests across India, the Supreme Court has vowed to tackle the issue with iron hands. The apex court called the incidents shocking, pointing out that elderly citizens are the usual victims. So what exactly is a digital arrest — and how can people protect themselves? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At least nine people, including 8 women and a 12-year-old boy, were killed and several others were injured in a stampede at the Venkateswara Temple in Kasibugga town, Srikakulam district. This latest tragedy in Andhra Pradesh adds to a string of deadly stampedes that have marked 2025 across India, spanning religious gatherings, political events, and even sporting celebrations. Is poor crowd management to blame for yet another loss of lives? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has said that the RSS should be banned, claiming that most law and order problems in the country arise because of the BJP and the RSS. He pointed out that even Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had once imposed a similar ban. The BJP has strongly criticised his remarks, accusing the Congress of having ignored Patel and his contributions for decades. So, what is the controversy about, and what led the Congress president to make such strong comments against an organisation that supports the ruling party? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States has granted India a six-month waiver from American sanctions on the strategically important Chabahar Port project in Iran, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed on Thursday. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that talks with the US for a trade deal are continuing. He also noted that India is currently studying the implications of recent US sanctions on Russian oil companies. Jaiswal reiterated India’s consistent stance on energy sourcing, saying, “We are guided by the imperative to secure affordable energy from diverse sources to meet the energy security needs of our 1.4 billion people.” But why is Washington making an exception for India’s work in Iran, a country under severe American sanctions, and what makes the Chabahar Port so strategically important? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Delhi's recent attempt to combat its suffocating smog through cloud seeding failed to produce any measurable rainfall. This trial, the first in 53 years, was a joint effort by the Delhi government and IIT-Kanpur. It involved flying a Cessna aircraft over parts of the city, including Burari and Mayur Vihar, releasing chemical flares into the clouds. However, the weather department reported no rainfall in Delhi itself. So, why did the experiment fail to deliver the much-needed rain? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India has evacuated 50,000 people ahead of Cyclone Montha, which is expected to make landfall near Kakinada on the Andhra Pradesh coast with winds up to 110 km/h. Can the country withstand the impact? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At midnight tonight, the Election Commission will freeze the voters’ list in 12 states under the controversial Special Intensive Revision, or SIR. Starting tomorrow, officials will launch the next major clean-up of India’s electoral rolls. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced the move in New Delhi, confirming that Phase 2 of the revision will officially begin on Tuesday. What exactly is the SIR — and why is it stirring political controversy? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tejashwi Yadav, RJD leader and the INDIA bloc’s chief ministerial face in Bihar, has vowed to scrap the Waqf (Amendment) Act if the alliance comes to power. He made the promise at a public rally in the Muslim-dominated Katihar district. The statement has now triggered a key question: Can a state government or its chief minister actually overturn a central law, or is this yet another election-season promise with no legal backing? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Congress party has launched a fresh, sharp attack on the government, focusing on the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) and its investments in the Adani Group. The core of the issue comes from a report by The Washington Post, which claims Indian government officials actively pushed LIC to pump huge amounts of money into the shares of Adani Group companies, especially after their stock prices plummeted. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A horrific bus accident has shocked the nation after a private sleeper bus travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru caught fire in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, leaving 20 people dead. Many of the deceased were tragically charred beyond recognition.The crash happened early on Friday after the bus hit a two-wheeler. How did a simple collision turn into such a massive loss of life, and what must be done immediately to improve safety on our roads? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Mahagathbandhan or the grand alliance of the opposition parties in Bihar has announced RJD leader and former Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav as its Chief Ministerial face, while Mukesh Sahani is the Deputy CM face for the polls that will begin on November 6. This has come as a snub to the criticism over discrepancies in the alliance’s seat-sharing drama, where parties from the same camp have been seen fighting each other in a handful of seats. In contrast, the NDA has still not announced any leader — and Nitish Kumar’s hopes of another term are now hanging in the balance. So what is happening in Bihar ahead of the elections, and what is Nitish’s future? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India and the United States have made progress toward a trade deal that could significantly reduce American tariffs on Indian goods to around 15 or 16 per cent, down from the current 50 per cent. This development, as reported in a national newspaper, follows US President Donald Trump's assertion that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to limit Russian oil purchases, which has been a major point of contention in the negotiations. The two leaders also spoke recently to discuss trade and energy cooperation. So, what is driving this renewed effort, and how close are the two sides to finalising an agreement? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ola Electric’s founder and senior officials have been booked after a 38-year-old engineer died by suicide, alleging workplace harassment. The incident is yet another setback for the company, which is already grappling with mounting consumer complaints, product quality issues, and a fast-eroding market share. So what exactly is the current issue, and what has been happening inside Ola? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Around 23 Indian crew members were saved after an LPG tanker caught fire following an explosion near the port of Aden. The European Union Naval Force coordinated the search and rescue operation safely handing the crew over to the Djiboutian Coast Guard. Two mariners are still missing. Was this an accident, or was it another chapter in the ongoing maritime conflict that has gripped the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.