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[00:00:09] Hello, this is your Daily Dose of News from Onmanorama. I'm your host Vaishnavi and these are the major news stories of Thursday, 20th August, 2025. The Election Commission of India said it has received 1.95 lakh applications from Bihar Waters for inclusion or deletion in the draft electoral rolls, with 24,991 already disposed off.
[00:00:34] Only CPI ML Liberation and RJD have filed objections so far, submitting 82 complaints in total. Since August 1, over 8.5 lakh new voters, turning 18, have applied for inclusion, with 37,050 applications processed. The ECI stressed that deletions require a speaking order by EROs after due enquiry and draft lists with reasons are available online for verification.
[00:01:04] Nuke India was scrawled on a gun used by Robin Westman during the Minneapolis Catholic school shooting. The 23-year-old attacker killed two children aged 8 and 10 and injured 17 others before killing himself. Video footage circulating online showed Westman's alleged arsenal, including rifles, ammunition and multiple guns marked with messages. Reports said his weapons also carried, MashaAllah and Israel must fall alongside Nuke India.
[00:01:35] Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has issued notices to President Anurkumar Adhasa Nayake and the Cabinet over the India-funded Unique Digital Identity Project, after a petition by former Minister Vimal Viravansa alleged violations of fundamental rights and lack of transparency. The project, backed by an Indian grant and modelled on Aadhar, aims to provide secure digital IDs for Sri Lankans.
[00:02:02] The Trump administration has proposed tightening visa durations for students, cultural exchange visitors and foreign journalists. Under the plan, FJ and I visas would shift from program-based validity to fixed durations. Students and exchange visitors could stay up to four years, while journalists' visas would last 240 days. For Chinese journalists, however, the limit would be 90 days.
[00:02:28] Russian oil exports to India are set to rise in September as the country offers steeper discounts following refinery outages caused by Ukrainian-drawn strikes. The purchase is expected to increase by 1,50,000 to 3,50,000 barrels per day. The surge comes despite new US tariffs of 50% on Indian imports.
[00:02:52] India has defended its purchases, citing Western double standards as the EU and US continue to trade with Russia. That brings us to the end of this episode. Thanks for listening to Daily News Doors, hosted and produced by me Vaishnavi. Follow on Manorama.com for detailed updates on the latest news and be sure to tune in again tomorrow.