🇧🇩 Bangladesh presidential election kicks off with two candidates

Bangladesh has started its first contested presidential election in 35 years, with lawmakers voting for the 23rd president. The candidates are Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir from BNP and Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed from LDP, competing in Jatiya Sangsad. Voting is open until 5 pm local time, with 349 lawmakers eligible to cast a vote. This election follows the resignation of Mohammed Shahabuddin, prompting the constitutional mandate for a new president. Results are anticipated soon, with the new president set to take the oath on Friday evening.

🚦 Bengaluru ORR revamp delayed amid traffic woes

An industry body representing over 500 companies urged the Karnataka government to pause the Rs 450-crore Outer Ring Road revamp until the Metro Blue Line is done. This body expressed serious concern over worsening the existing severe traffic crisis with ongoing road works. The association noted that nearly 70% of participants at the August 4 meeting pushed for metro completion first. They argued that WFH cannot replace proper infrastructure planning for 1.3 million employees. Despite this, tender documents are reportedly being prepared to be floated within the next 15 days. 🚦

🏸 Jolly-Gopichand stun 7th seeds in BWF Worlds

The unseeded Indian pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand achieved a dominant straight-game win against Japan's seventh seeds. This victory took place in New Delhi during the Women’s Doubles pre-quarterfinal at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. The Indians won with scores of 21-16 and 21-12 on Thursday, bringing them one win away from a medal. This performance showcases their comeback after Treesa's injury sidelined them for around three months. Reaching the semi-finals will guarantee them a medal at the World Championships. 🏸

🌧️ Rain cancels free petrol langar in Chandigarh

A free petrol langar announced by influencer Rakesh Trehan drew many people to a fuel station in Chandigarh on August 18. The influencer, known as Raja D King, is based in Amritsar, and the event was called off due to heavy rain and waterlogging. Initially, two-wheelers and three-wheelers were promised Rs 500 coupons, while four-wheelers were promised Rs 1,000 coupons. Following the backlash, Trehan promised a three-day comeback, starting Friday, August 21. This initiative is part of Trehan's larger goal to donate a significant portion of his wealth. ⛽

🔬 Self-healing film tracks food freshness automatically

Kyushu University researchers developed a self-healing hydrogel film that signals food spoilage via color change. This innovation was created by fixing a natural pigment onto a metal-organic framework at Kyushu University. In tests with pork, the film showed a color shift from purple-red to yellow-green as bacteria multiplied. The material not only indicates freshness but can also repair its own cuts within minutes. The team is now developing a companion smartphone app for real-time food quality assessment. 🍎

✊ Prakash Raj: Fascists' end is near, youth power growing

Actor Prakash Raj stated that the era of fascists is concluding due to the increasing assertiveness of youth nationwide. He made these remarks while inaugurating the 16th DYFI State Conference in Thrissur, Kerala on Thursday. Raj noted that youngsters are now unafraid of the ruling establishment, a shift he found encouraging. He cautioned that simply removing one regime is insufficient and a lasting alternative is required. Therefore, he urged the youth to build deep political consciousness beyond street protests.

🔫 Lucknow man shoots wife, sister, and himself

A man named Manas Bajpai shot his estranged wife, Divya Mishra, outside an ICICI Bank branch in Lucknow on Thursday. He then allegedly proceeded to his rented home and shot his younger sister, Tulika, before taking his own life. The incident stemmed from a marital dispute, as Divya had previously sought a divorce from Bajpai. His WhatsApp status accused his wife of cheating and mentioned her sister, Pragya Mishra, and Bharat. Police are currently investigating the sequence of events leading to the three deaths. 😔

🛡️ Critical Zimbra Flaw Actively Being Hacked

Attackers are currently exploiting a major remote code execution vulnerability in the Zimbra Collaboration Suite. This serious issue affects users globally across hundreds of organizations and government agencies. Zimbra released version 10.1.20 on July 20 to patch CVE-2026-73570, which allows command injection. Shadowserver tracks over 12,100 exposed Zimbra servers, many in Europe and Asia. Admins are urged to check logs for suspicious activity immediately. 🚨

✈️ UN Deputy SG Amina Mohammed visits India

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed is scheduled to visit India later this month. She will be in New Delhi from August 26 to August 28 to meet senior government officials. During this visit, she will also interact with students at the Indian Institute of Technology. The discussions will focus on UN-India cooperation and India's role in sustainable development goals. Mohammed will return to New York on August 28 after her trip. 🌍

💸 Luxury Resort Refunds Wedding Cost After Cancellation

A wedding event was called off after some issues arose. The luxury resort was located in a specific region, though the article does not name it. The resort has been ordered to refund Rs 8.5 lakh to the bride’s father. This action was taken following the cancellation of the planned event. The resort must comply with this refund order promptly. 💸

🏏 Mlaba and Maharaj: Spinners with different vibes

Nonkululeko Mlaba and Keshav Maharaj, both left-arm seamers, have transitioned into finger spinners. Maharaj debuted internationally at WACA in November 2016, while Mlaba played her first Test in Taunton in June 2022. Mlaba is also an activist pushing for more professional women's cricket in South Africa. She believes a women's league could help their team close the gap against top nations. Both players share valuable insights and learn from each other in their collaboration. 🏏