💥 Badal attacked; UP court drops riot case against BJP leaders

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked in a Gurdwara in Maharashtra's Nanded district. The incident happened at Gurdwara Mata Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra. A UP court approved the withdrawal of a riot case against 25 BJP leaders and associated persons. This case stemmed from the September 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots where at least 60 people died. The court allowed the case to be dropped against several named leaders, including Kapil Dev Agarwal and Suresh Rana.

🌿 Darwin's theory proven by new carnivorous plant

Scientists have confirmed the discovery of the first carnivorous plant in the Saxifragales order. This breakthrough was made by a joint team of researchers from several institutions in China and the US. The findings, published on Aug 4, detail the plant Saxifraga candelabrum growing in the Hengduan Mountains. This discovery validates a theory that Charles Darwin proposed way back in 1875. The plant traps small insects using dense, sticky glandular hairs on its body. 🧐

😠 Muslim League protests over minister's staff appointment

Discontent is rising within the Indian Union Muslim League following a controversial staff appointment. K Ashraf, a former SIO leader, was appointed to Kerala Education Minister PK Shamsudheen's staff, causing backlash in the Muslim League. This happened despite the League's Kondotty Mandalam Committee submitting a list of 18 senior functionaries on [date not specified]. Leaders are questioning if this appointment links to outside electoral support given to the UDF. The Kondotty unit is now pushing for a review, turning a staff issue into a bigger debate.

🏫 Delhi Schools Facing Demolition Over Safety Issues

Thirty-four government schools in Delhi are facing demolition due to serious safety and infrastructure concerns. This issue affects various government institutions across different parts of the city. The concerned schools were identified during recent inspections conducted on a specific date in the past. These structures reportedly pose significant risks to the students and teaching staff. Authorities are now in the process of deciding the next steps for these affected educational sites. 🏫

📣 Trump's next press secretary race heats up 🔥

Karoline Leavitt is stepping down as White House press secretary to focus on her children. Alina Habba and Matthew Boyle are emerging as early contenders for the role within Trump’s circle. Leavitt announced her exit on Wednesday, August 12, and will leave at the end of August 📅. Her departure has sparked discussions about who will replace the youngest press secretary. Steven Cheung and Taylor Budowich are also reportedly being considered for the high-profile job.

💻 NVIDIA GeForce NOW ditches beta, low latency boost

NVIDIA GeForce NOW has officially moved its native Linux app out of beta status. This update specifically targets users on Linux platforms, making the experience more stable and accessible. The release also brings improvements to Frame Generation technology, resulting in lower overall latency. This enhancement is significant for gamers looking for a smoother streaming experience across different setups. Further updates are expected to refine performance and feature set for the Linux community.

🏛️ High Court denies Darshan's plea in Renukaswamy case

The Karnataka High Court dismissed a petition filed by actor Darshan regarding the Renukaswamy murder case. The petition challenged the trial court's denial of his objections to a co-accused's move to become an approver. On August 13, the court ruled that a co-accused has no right to be heard while another accused applies for pardon. Justice M Nagaprasanna stated that the matter is a question of merits, not a procedural issue. Darshan can raise objections after the pardon application order is officially passed. ⚖️

🏅 Brisbane 2032 sport eligibility gets an update

International Federations can suggest one extra discipline for Brisbane 2032 among those in the Host Contract. Other IOC-recognized IFs might be considered if their sport was in Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024, or LA28. The IOC explained the new evaluation process methodology in a recent webinar. This specific approach is for Brisbane 2032 due to the current timeline constraints. The Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee can also propose additional disciplines to the IOC for review.

🌿 Dharwad board pushes for green Ganesh celebrations

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has urged environmentally friendly Gowri Ganesha celebrations across Dharwad district. This appeal targets the Swarna Gauri and Varasiddhi Vinayaka Chaturthi festivals. The board noted that PoP and chemical-painted idols pollute water sources, affecting public health and wildlife. A notification from July 20, 2016, bans immersing these idols in natural water bodies. Organizers must use eco-friendly materials and manage wet waste separately. 🌿

🤖 New AI model understands 65 Indian languages

Researchers at IISc’s SPIRE Lab, partnered with ARTPARK and Google, launched SraVaani, the first multilingual Indian speech recognition model. This model covers 65 Indian languages and dialects, including 40 that current systems ignore. It supports 20 scheduled and 45 regional languages, potentially helping 25 crore people. The coverage spans across various regions like the Northeast and Eastern India. SraVaani is publicly available on Hugging Face under an MIT licence. 🤖

🏏 Kirsten vs Gambhir: Old Rivals Meet in Sri Lanka Tests

Gary Kirsten, who previously coached India to glory, is now coaching Sri Lanka against India. The two-match Test series kicks off at Galle this Saturday, pitting old allies against each other. Kirsten, 58, is focused on building strong relationships with the current Sri Lankan squad. He respects Gautam Gambhir's coaching abilities and aims to use his experience. The series starts on August 15, 2026, with matches live on Sony Sports Ten 1.