© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Good morning, the rain has been relentless in Mumbai and Thane since midnight. This is the wettest August in the city in the last five years. We have more on the rains later in the edition, but first, here’s some news for online gamers.
The government is about to bring a law that could place a blanket ban on all online gaming services, particularly those where users can play games after depositing money in hopes of making more money. The Cabinet is understood to have approved the draft legislation prepared by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY). The proposed ban comes amid alleged money laundering and national security concerns, as these platforms can be used for illicit fund transfers, communication grounds for terrorists and by offshore entities to circumvent Indian tax obligations. Those offering such online games in India could face up to three years in jail and a fine of Rs 1 crore. My colleague Soumyarendra Barik has more details.
On that note, let’s get to today’s edition.👇
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert this morning, warning of heavy rains and thunderstorms in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Raigad, and Palghar. Per IMD data, several areas received over 100mm of rain in a span of 24 hours, ending 8 am today. Life was thrown out of gear in Mumbai, as train and bus services were disrupted due to worsening waterlogging in the city, while two monorail trains broke down, prompting rescue operations for over 500 people. Several flights have been delayed amid the incessant rainfall, while schools and colleges remained shut.
👉 This is the rainiest August in Mumbai in the last five years. For perspective, the rainfall this week is nearly at par with the total that Mumbai received in July. My colleague Nayonika Bose explains the several weather conditions that have come together to bring this much rain to the city.
👉 Notably, as several parts of Mumbai went under water, the big question is: What happened to the Rs 15,048 crore earmarked for urban flooding in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s climate budget for the financial year 2025-26? Officials have said that while dewatering pumps have been working relentlessly, “no city is equipped to handle 100 mm of rain within few hours”.
👉 The heavy downpour is expected to continue till Friday.
Trump reset: US President Donald Trump’s peace formula in Ukraine, one that asks for compromises from Kyiv and cooperation from Europe, and his desire for a productive partnership with Russia, may well be resetting global ties. As columnist C Raja Mohan writes, some view Trump’s moves as a “reverse Kissinger”. The former American president had opened the door to China to counter the Soviet Union. Is Trump attempting the opposite? Notably, he has sought a deal with Beijing as well. What does this mean for India? Read on.
No, sir: Amid scrutiny over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar electoral rolls, the Election Commission (EC) has maintained that none of the political parties-appointed booth-level agents (BLAs) have filed any claims or objections to the recently published draft rolls. However, The Indian Express spoke to BLAs across parties, who say they have been actively raising objections from duplication of voters to those whose names have been mistakenly deleted in the draft rolls.
Dismissed: Should a minister facing allegations of corruption or serious offences hold office? Well, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to move the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha, which mandates that any minister facing such charges and having been detained for 30 consecutive days shall be removed from his office.
The key: One of the first cases of alleged corruption levelled against former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s aides has hit a wall. Kejriwal’s ex-Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar was implicated in a case related to the alleged violations in the award of contracts worth Rs 9.5 crore to a private company. The second accused in the case, A K Duggal, was turned approver, despite running the alleged PSU that allegedly awarded the contracts to a “front company”. At the heart of the case is the missing information about Duggal’s bank locker.
On the line: The EC has asked West Bengal to suspend five of its officials for allegedly registering fake voters. The state government has refused to take action, saying that no election has been announced. The standoff has revived an old question: Who controls government officials on election duty — the EC or the states? Ritika Chopra explains the extent of the EC’s powers and the options before it in the West Bengal case.
Risk analysis: How will Trump’s tariffs impact India? Well, officials believe that any direct impacts on India’s growth are largely overstated. In fact, some say that trade reforms, if done well, could improve growth prospects. However, concerns remain over employment-intensive export sectors and the breakdown in US-India trade talks.
A day before the T20 squad announcement for the Asia Cup, whispers grew louder that Test skipper Shubman Gill might be left out. The selectors faced a tough task: whittling down India’s overflowing talent pool to just 15 names for cricket’s shortest format. Yet when the dust settled, Gill not only found a place, but he also emerged as vice-captain under Suryakumar Yadav. The move carries a deeper logic. With SKY turning 35, India needs to groom the next leader, and Gill seems to be their best bet.
🎧Before you go, do tune in to today’s ‘3 Things’ podcast episode, where we break down Telangana’s snooping scandal under the BRS regime.
That’s all for today, folks! Until tomorrow,
Sonal Gupta
