Times of India

Meta-owned WhatsApp has placed numerous accounts under a 24-hour review process. Users reported seeing a message indicating their account activity is being checked. This temporary ban prevents access to all app features and chat history. Users can submit a review request if they believe the ban is an error. WhatsApp states that violations of its terms of service lead to account bans.

The incredible story of Resham Fatma, who survived a brutal acid attack at 17, won a National Bravery Award, and has now made history as India's first survivor to win the Chevening Scholarship to LSE.

Pullela Gopichand anticipates a thrilling shift in badminton dynamics due to the new scoring system. Players will be compelled to develop greater agility, strength, and mental toughness for the condensed format. Particularly, doubles teams may face the steepest adjustments. Gopichand raises concerns about the BWF's decision to lessen player workload, suggesting that this change may favour swift rallies over artistic gameplay.

D Y Patil, a former Governor and renowned educationist, has passed away. He was 91 years old and died at his Kolhapur residence after a prolonged illness. Patil served as Governor of Bihar, Tripura, and West Bengal during his distinguished career. He was also a former Congress stalwart and received the Padma Shri award. His passing leaves an irreparable loss to the D Y Patil family and institutions.

The United States and Japan have jointly intervened to support the Japanese yen's value. This unprecedented action aims to stabilize the currency after its significant decline. Washington's involvement signals broader economic and financial system concerns beyond Japan. The intervention seeks to protect US Treasury markets and American exporters from negative impacts.

Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem faced criticism after a poor Commonwealth Games showing. He finished ninth, failing to reach eighty meters in the javelin throw. Reports suggest the Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation withdrew support after a coaching dispute. India's Neeraj Chopra and Yashvir Singh secured silver and bronze medals. This highlights systemic shortcomings in Pakistan's sports structure.

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge defended police actions during protests over a recruitment exam. He stated authorities must maintain law and order for all candidates. The minister's remarks about lathi-charge triggered a political dispute with the opposition BJP. Candidates alleged irregularities, but the Karnataka Examinations Authority rejected these claims. Kharge accused media of distorting his statements and warned of legal action.

Uttar Pradesh RERA has approved ten new real estate projects valued at over Rs 1,400 crore. These developments will introduce 1,632 residential and commercial units across five districts. Ghaziabad secured the largest investment, while Gautam Buddh Nagar will see the most new units. The approvals aim to support urban development and boost construction activity. UP RERA continues to promote transparency and timely project completion for stakeholders.

Smartphones are set to abandon their traditional app icon grids in favor of AI-driven interfaces. Instead of manually opening apps, users will communicate their intentions via voice or text to smart agents that handle tasks seamlessly. This groundbreaking shift heralds a new age of technology, where app stores could evolve into dynamic service registries for these advanced AI agents.

Foreign currency deposits saw a significant increase between June and July. Banks aggressively mobilized these funds, taking advantage of RBI incentives. HSBC, SBI, and ICICI Bank led the collection efforts for these deposits. Foreign banks showed the fastest proportional growth in their deposit holdings. Overall, the mobilization was concentrated among the top ten banking institutions.

The government is selling up to 6.5% of LIC shares through an offer for sale. This divestment aims to meet minimum public shareholding norms ahead of schedule. The offer begins Tuesday and closes Wednesday with a base price of Rs 382. Successful sale will raise approximately Rs 31,400 crore for the government. This move contributes significantly to the government's annual disinvestment target.

A suspect was apprehended in Pulwama carrying a hand grenade and anti-national posters. This arrest occurred during a security operation following recent migrant worker killings. Authorities booked the local man under stringent anti-terror laws, including the UAPA. Security forces are increasing patrols and checkpoints across the valley. This intensified security aims to maintain peace and prevent further unlawful activities.

India performed a record 20,138 organ transplants in 2025, a significant increase over previous years. Delhi-NCR led the nation in transplant procedures, while Tamil Nadu topped deceased organ donors. India now ranks third globally in total organ transplants, after the US and China. Deceased donor transplants continue to fall short of the substantial demand for organs. Government initiatives aim to strengthen organ donation and transplant services across the country.

The Supreme Court permitted governments to withdraw cases against student protesters. This move aims to allow students to pursue their studies without prosecution fears. However, cases against individuals with criminal records will not be dropped. The court will also establish guidelines for the use of graded force by police. Discussions on modalities for dropping cases against genuine students are ongoing.

The Census 2027 population enumeration phase begins August 17 in snow-bound northern areas. This phase will capture caste details for the first time since 1931. Parents' date and birthplace will also be recorded as declared by respondents. Passport and Aadhaar numbers may be collected voluntarily during the exercise. The questionnaire for this significant census phase will be notified soon.

Parliament's monsoon session faces potential washout amid opposition demands. Opposition insists on discussing Ram temple donations and police actions. Union ministers criticize opposition for boycotting legislative proceedings. Bills were passed without debate due to the ongoing parliamentary standoff. The government has not yet assured discussions on the opposition's key demands.

The Unified Pension Scheme for central government employees has seen low adoption rates. Only a small percentage of National Pension Trust subscribers have opted for this new scheme. The government introduced UPS with assured pension benefits and gratuity provisions. However, the response has been tepid, prompting an extension of the migration deadline. No changes are currently being considered to replace the Unified Pension Scheme.

The Supreme Court has sought the government's response regarding the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act. Concerns were raised that the new law might erase existing benefits for transgender individuals. Senior advocates reported that hormone treatment is being denied due to fear of prosecution. They also alleged the discontinuation of the national portal for transgenders. The court questioned the retrospective invalidation of previously issued transgender identity cards.