🚨 Supreme Court sets rules for digital arrest scams

The Supreme Court issued new directives to combat the growing issue of 'digital arrest' scams nationwide. The court directed the RBI to implement Standard Operating Procedures for banks within four weeks. This order, issued by a bench including Chief Justice Surya Kant, aims to improve victim support and fund recovery. Furthermore, states must operationalize State Cyber Crime Coordination Centres within the same timeframe. The court also asked for a compensation framework to be examined for victims of these scams. 😠

🏛️ Blanche advances in AG race after committee vote

Todd Blanche's nomination for US attorney general advanced to the full Senate on Tuesday, August 4th. This occurred after the Senate Judiciary Committee approved his nomination in a narrow party-line vote in Washington. The decision followed Blanche's written assurances that a controversial $1.8 billion fund linked to Trump's IRS settlement would not proceed. Republican concerns eased as Blanche signed an order rescinding the fund, which had drawn criticism. He is now expected to secure confirmation in the full US Senate despite Democratic opposition. 🏛️

⚖️ Rahul Gandhi slams RSS and PM Modi on student issues

Rahul Gandhi strongly criticized the RSS and Prime Minister Modi regarding student matters. He made these comments while addressing the public in a recent political rally. The criticism focused on the demand for justice over forgiveness for students. This statement reflects ongoing political tensions surrounding student rights in India. Gandhi's remarks set the stage for future political debates on social justice. ⚖️

😠 Former MLA and Son Nabbed in Kidnap & Extortion Case

Former Guntur East MLA Mohammad Mustafa and his son, Mubashir, were arrested on kidnapping and extortion charges. The police apprehended Mubashir at Hyderabad airport on Tuesday, while Mustafa was traced and arrested in Vadodara, Gujarat, on Monday night. The case involves allegations stemming from a financial dispute over tobacco trading that occurred on July 27. Accused allegedly abducted, assaulted, and held victims at a tobacco godown near Nuzvid. Mubashir is scheduled to appear before the local magistrate court on Wednesday. 😠

🌧️ Karnataka sees monsoon deficit despite some recent rain

Karnataka has registered a -29% deficit in southwest monsoon rainfall between June 1 and August 4. This data comes from the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA). During this period, the state received 357 mm of rain against a normal expectation of 506 mm. While some areas saw heavy recent rainfall, the overall cumulative data remains in deficit. The KSDMA is monitoring the situation as the monsoon season extends until September. 🌧️

📈 India's economy set to hit $5 trillion milestone

The Indian economy is projected to surpass the $5-trillion mark in FY29, according to the IMF. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced this in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. The IMF's World Economic Outlook (April 2026) forecasts India's GDP at current prices to be around $5.1 trillion by 2028-29. The government is pursuing a broad-based growth strategy covering manufacturing, agriculture, and infrastructure. Future efforts will focus on enhancing trade resilience and strengthening human capital to achieve Viksit Bharat by 2047. 🚀

🩺 Kerala removes performance hurdles for ASHA honorarium

The Kerala government has issued a new order removing performance-linked conditions for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs). This change was implemented in Thiruvananthapuram after ASHAs agitated for better pay. The new GO dated August 4, 2026, eliminates the need to earn a ₹500 incentive or obtain a medical officer's certificate. Previously, ASHAs faced conditions tied to performance indicators outside their control. This decision means their full honorarium is no longer dependent on specific criteria. 🩺

🛡️ US missile stockpiles running low, rebuilding a massive challenge

The US is launching a multi-billion dollar effort to boost production of interceptor missiles like Patriot and THAAD. This initiative involves DoD framework agreements with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to triple PAC-3 capacity and quadruple THAAD output. Stockpile depletion is due to high operational tempo in conflicts across Ukraine and Iran, with US reserves significantly reduced. The DoD is also engaging suppliers directly to strengthen the supply chain resilience for these critical defenses. However, the success hinges on how fast US industry can replenish these advanced interceptors to meet global demands. 🛡️

🦠 Massive npm supply-chain attack hits 1300+ packages

A self-propagating malware called 'ChainDrop' infected over 1,300 npm packages, affecting popular tools like Keyv and Cacheable. The attack started after a threat actor breached Keyv’s GitHub account, spreading to packages used by major companies. Aikido reported that at least 868 packages across 1381 versions were compromised by the worm. Malicious code collects sensitive developer and cloud credentials before sending them to a public GitHub repo. System admins should rebuild affected systems and rotate all accessible tokens immediately. 🚨

🏛️ Udhayanidhi Stalin released after questioning

Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin was released on Station Bail on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. He was questioned at the Sengipatti Police Station after being arrested in Chennai over alleged misogynistic remarks. The case was filed by the Thanjavur East Police based on a complaint from a TVK functionary. The charges include offenses under various BNS and IT Act sections. He received a large welcome from DMK cadres upon his release.

🌳 Court speeds up hearing on sanctuary data centre fight

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has agreed to advance the hearing for a PIL concerning the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary. This action was announced by activist Bolisetty Satyanarayana in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday. The hearing for W.P. (PIL) No. 137 of 2026 moved from September 2 to August 24. The early hearing plea cited potential irreversible environmental damage from construction near Simhachalam hill slopes. The Chief Justice directed authorities to file counter-affidavits before the next date.