Dairy boost: The Assam government introduces a milk subsidy program worth Rs 5 per litre.

**In a bid to strengthen Assam’s dairy sector, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has launched a new subsidy scheme providing Rs 5 per litre of milk to dairy farmers supplying milk to cooperative societies. Expected to benefit over 20,000 farmers, the scheme aims to boost rural incomes and milk production across the state.

Simultaneously, the foundation stone was laid for expanding the Panjabari plant of West Assam Milk Producers’ Cooperative Union Ltd (WAMUL), increasing its milk processing capacity from 1.5 to 3 lakh litres per day. The Rs 104 crore project, part of a partnership between WAMUL and the National Dairy Development Board, will add new facilities for ice cream and other dairy products. These initiatives form part of the Assam Dairy Development Plan to promote self-reliance in the dairy sector, increase market access, and ensure better nutritional security for Assam’s population.**

Assam: Brand of whisky AAP will file a formal complaint against All Seasons for using the historic “Rang Ghar” in their advertisement.

Whisky brand All Seasons is under fire after allegedly featuring Assam’s iconic Rang Ghar and the sacred Kamakhya Temple in a recent advertisement, sparking widespread outrage across the state. The promotional content has been condemned for its insensitivity toward Assam’s cultural and spiritual heritage. Social media users, student groups, and political leaders have called for the ad’s removal, citing deep disrespect toward revered sites. The Aam Aadmi Party’s Assam unit filed an FIR against the company at Dispur Police Station on July 21. Meanwhile, the Kamakhya Temple administration demanded the immediate withdrawal of any imagery involving the temple. The All Assam Tai Ahom Students’ Union also slammed the brand for exploiting Rang Ghar, a cultural symbol of the Tai Ahom community, stating it hurt public sentiments.

The deadline for the Bangladeshi tribunal’s investigation into the murders from the previous year is October 15.

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has ordered investigators to complete probes into seven major cases linked to last year’s deadly anti-discrimination protests by October 15. The cases, arising from violent clashes during the July–August 2024 student movement, name 45 individuals as accused, including several senior figures from the former Sheikh Hasina administration: ex-law minister Anisul Huq, ex-education minister Dipu Moni, former industry adviser Salman F Rahman, and former state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak. The directive was issued during a recent hearing led by ICT Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, following a request from Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam for additional time. According to the Dhaka Tribune, 39 of the accused were produced in court on the day of the hearing. The tribunal initially began with two cases in December last year, naming 46 individuals—including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina—but has now expanded its investigation to seven cases, all tied to the violent unrest sparked by demands to reform the government job quota system. Over 200 people were reportedly killed during the confrontations between law enforcement and predominantly student protesters.

In Guwahati, a railway officer is detained on suspicion of killing his wife.

Rahul Singh, the station master of Kendukona railway station in Assam’s Kamrup district, who had been absconding after allegedly murdering his wife, was arrested in Guwahati, police said. Singh was apprehended more than two weeks after his wife, Anjali Singh, was found stabbed to death in their home on July 2, a crime reportedly witnessed by their two children. Investigators revealed that after fleeing the scene, Singh had been working in disguise as a private security guard in the city. He was traced and detained with assistance from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Forensic Department.

A disturbing audio clip, purportedly sent by the victim to relatives prior to her death, came to light during the investigation. In it, Anjali accused her husband and mother-in-law of ongoing mental and physical abuse, and said Singh had threatened her life. She implored her relatives to hold him responsible if anything should happen to her. Following his arrest, Singh was remanded to four days of police custody as authorities continue to investigate the case.

After two decades in a coma, Saudi Arabia’s “Sleeping Prince” dies at the age of 36.

Prince Al-Waleed bin Khalid bin Talal Al Saud, known throughout Saudi Arabia as the ‘Sleeping Prince,’ has passed away at the age of 36 after spending nearly twenty years in a coma caused by a tragic car accident in 2005. Despite the odds, his father, Prince Khaled, never gave up hope, steadfastly remaining by his son’s side and sharing updates with the nation. Prince Al-Waleed’s journey—marked by unwavering family devotion and enduring faith—touched countless hearts across the kingdom and serves as a powerful reminder of hope even amidst unimaginable adversity.

To improve connectivity in Assam, a second rail-cum-road bridge at Saraighat has been approved.

A significant infrastructure milestone has been achieved with the approval of a Second Rail-cum-Road Bridge over the Brahmaputra River at Saraighat under the Northeast Frontier Railway. Part of the Agthori–Kamakhya railway line doubling project, the ₹1,473.77 crore initiative features a double-deck design spanning 7.06 km, with railway tracks on the lower deck and a three-lane roadway on the upper deck. Targeted for completion by December 2029, the project is expected to greatly enhance connectivity and industrial growth in Assam, while providing a major boost to employment in the region. The new bridge will complement the historic Saraighat Bridge, marking a transformative step for transport infrastructure in Northeast India.

Assam: A man is detained for reportedly using a stone slab to kill his wife.

Police in Assam’s Tinsukia district have arrested Kishore Tanti for allegedly killing his wife, Manisha Moran, during a domestic dispute in Doomdooma. Tanti, a former electricity department employee, reportedly struck Moran on the head with a stone slab following a heated argument before fleeing the scene. He was apprehended in Dibrugarh and charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The case adds to a spate of recent domestic violence incidents in Assam, with authorities expressing concern over the rising trend.

India is alarmed as China starts building a contentious mega project on the Brahmaputra.

China has commenced construction of the Yarlung Zangbo River Lower Reaches Hydropower Project in Tibet, a massive undertaking on the upper Brahmaputra that has raised fresh concerns in India and Bangladesh. The project, expected to cost $167.8 billion and feature five major power stations, involves straightening river bends and diverting water through tunnels—measures Beijing claims will boost regional energy supply. However, downstream nations worry the dam could disrupt water flow and local ecosystems. India has reiterated its demand for transparency and consultation, highlighting the risk to livelihoods and water security in its northeastern states. Bilateral mechanisms such as the Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) continue to facilitate dialogue, with both countries discussing hydrological data sharing and potential impacts. The dam’s construction highlights the intersection of renewable energy ambitions, critical water resources, and ongoing tensions in India-China relations.

Assam CM: PM Modi will travel to Assam on September 8.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Assam on September 8, 2025, to attend three key government programmes. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed that during the visit, PM Modi will inaugurate the year-long birth centenary celebration of Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika. The prime minister will also lay the foundation stones for major infrastructure projects worth over ₹8,000 crore, including a medical college in Darrang, a Brahmaputra bridge connecting Kuruwa and Narengi, and the Guwahati ring road. Additionally, Modi is expected to address a public meeting at the Government Sericulture Farm near Mangaldai. The visit underscores the Centre’s focus on boosting Assam’s development through health, connectivity, and cultural initiatives.