The Union Cabinet has approved the Online Gaming Bill to regulate digital gaming in India. Sources said the Bill will ban all money-based gaming transactions and advertisements for real-money games. Banks and financial institutions will not be allowed to process or transfer funds for such platforms. The Bill promotes e-sports and non-monetary skill-based games while targeting unregistered and illegal sites. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) will act as the central regulator. The move comes after concerns over fraud, addiction, and high taxes on online gaming. The Bill will be introduced in Lok Sabha on Wednesday. (PC: Indian Today)

In Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, India’s first Garbage Cafe is giving people meals in exchange for plastic waste. For 1 kg of plastic, people get rice, curries, dal, roti, salad, and pickles. For half a kg, they get snacks like samosas or vada pav. The project, started in 2019, helps reduce hunger and plastic pollution. The Ambikapur Municipal Corporation funds the scheme, which has already collected 23 tonnes of plastic. Other cities like Siliguri, Mysuru, and Mulugu have started similar cafes. Locals say it provides both food security and cleaner streets. Experts call it a small but important step. (PC: BBC)

The Press Club of India and Indian Women Press Corps condemned sedition charges filed against senior journalists Siddharth Varadarajan and Karan Thapar of The Wire by Assam Police’s Crime Branch. The FIR, filed under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, comes despite Supreme Court protection earlier granted to Varadarajan and other Wire journalists. The groups said Section 152 was a “repackaged sedition law” and is being used to silence the press. They demanded the immediate withdrawal of the FIR and repeal of Section 152, calling it a threat to free speech and press freedom in India. (PC: The Hindu)

Heavy rain crippled Mumbai on Tuesday, causing severe waterlogging, flight delays, and traffic chaos. The weather office issued a red alert for the city and suburbs. According to Flightradar, 155 outbound and 102 inbound flights at Mumbai Airport were delayed. Central Railway trains also ran 20–30 minutes late, while BEST buses were diverted from flooded routes. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) declared a holiday for schools, colleges, and government offices. Several areas including Dadar, Andheri, and Sion were submerged. In Vasai, nearly 400 people were trapped due to flooding. Vikhroli recorded the highest rainfall with 255.5 mm in 24 hours. (PC: India Today)

A small village in Tripunithura, Kerala, has honoured a stray dog named Eldho with a lifelike statue at Kozhivettumveli junction. Eldho came to the locality 14 years ago and soon became part of the community. He joined weddings, festivals, school runs, and even escorted children and the elderly. Locals say he loved milk cake, which they called “Eldho cake.” When he passed away, residents led by autorickshaw drivers decided to immortalise him. Sculptor Jayan V K and his nephew Nibin V G made the statue. The memorial reflects love, loyalty, and compassion between people and their four-legged friend. (PC: Times Now)

India’s rabies vaccine market is set to grow after the Supreme Court ordered the removal, sterilisation, vaccination, and sheltering of all stray dogs within eight weeks. The ruling is expected to raise demand for both human and veterinary rabies vaccines. India accounts for 36% of global rabies deaths, with 18,000–20,000 deaths each year, according to WHO. Dog bite cases rose from 21 lakh in 2022 to 37 lakh in 2024. The human rabies vaccine market is valued at ₹500 crore, while the veterinary segment is projected to grow faster than expected. Experts say timely access remains a public health challenge. (PC: Business Today)

Airtel mobile users in Delhi-NCR faced major network issues on Monday, with many reporting call drops, weak signal, and slow internet. Complaints flooded social media, where users said they were unable to make or receive calls and even missed OTPs. Airtel Cares, the company’s support team, admitted to the outage and assured subscribers that the problem was being resolved. “We are currently experiencing a network outage, our team is actively working to resolve the issue and restore services promptly,” Airtel posted. However, the company has not shared the cause of the disruption or the expected time for full restoration. (PC: Reuters)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met NDA’s Vice Presidential candidate CP Radhakrishnan in Delhi on Monday. Modi praised Radhakrishnan’s long career in public life and said his experience would strengthen the nation. The BJP-led alliance announced Radhakrishnan as its nominee after Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned in July due to health reasons. Radhakrishnan, a two-time MP from Coimbatore and former Governor of Jharkhand, has held several key roles in politics and governance. His nomination is also seen as a political move to strengthen the BJP’s presence in Tamil Nadu. The Vice Presidential election is expected soon. (PC: India Today)

A court ban on feeding pigeons in Mumbai has led to protests and clashes. Authorities say pigeon droppings spread serious lung diseases and worsen public hygiene. The Bombay High Court called public health “paramount” and ordered strict action against illegal feeding. But many animal lovers and the Jain community oppose the move, saying feeding pigeons is part of tradition and faith. Experts warn that overpopulation of pigeons is harming other urban birds and spreading infections. Activists suggest regulated feeding hours to balance health and heritage. An expert panel will now recommend alternatives for the city’s feeding centres. (PC: Getty Images)

A jawan of Chhattisgarh Police’s District Reserve Guard (DRG) was killed and 3 others injured in an IED blast triggered by Maoists in Bijapur district on Monday. The explosion took place in Indravati National Park when the team was on an anti-Maoist operation. DRG jawan Dinesh Nag died in the blast. The injured were given first aid and evacuated from the forest. Security forces have stepped up operations as part of the Centre’s mission to eliminate Maoism by March 2026. In recent months, many Maoists have been killed or surrendered during the ongoing crackdown in Chhattisgarh. (PC: NDTV)