🧐 BRS slams ₹100 crore ration card photo issue

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) strongly objected to spending ₹100 crore on new ration cards featuring the Chief Minister's and Civil Supplies Minister's pictures. This spending occurred across 33 districts, covering cloud servers, printing, and transportation. The party demanded a comprehensive audit by the CAG into the issuance of these new cards. BRS highlighted this as a double standard compared to past instances where Congress criticized similar practices. The party questioned if another ₹100 crore would be spent for re-printing before local body elections. 🧐

🏏 Padikkal's hunger fuels big Test hundred at Galle

Devdutt Padikkal extended his score to 167 during the Galle Test against Sri Lanka. He achieved his first Test century, becoming the first Indian to score a hundred in any format. This innings saw him display proactiveness against Sri Lankan spinners. Padikkal stated his drive was simply the hunger to score more runs consistently. India finished day two at 460 for 9, with the pitch expected to quicken up later. 🏏

📱 Best budget 5G phone under ₹30k: OnePlus vs Moto vs Realme

The mid-range 5G smartphone market in India is seeing a fierce battle among several contenders. The comparison features the OnePlus Nord CE 6 Lite, Moto G Max, and Realme 16x 5G. These phones are priced from ₹20,999 to ₹30,999 across various configurations. The OnePlus Nord CE 6 Lite is named the overall winner for value and performance, while Moto G Max leads in camera quality. Users should choose based on whether they prioritize value, camera features, or battery life. 📱

😔 Actor Ananya Raj Passes Away at Age 27

Actor Ananya Raj, known for films like '7 Hours to Go,' has passed away at the age of 27. Her family confirmed the peaceful passing in her sleep during the early hours of July 15. The announcement was made a month later after Raj struggled with physical and mental discomfort for over a year. She was recognized by her family as a strong-spirited person who lived with grace. The family is now requesting privacy during this difficult time.

👟 Agra's footwear scene gets a major upgrade

The ODOP initiative is actively training Agra's footwear artisans, focusing on youth and women at the Common Facility Centre. This effort is aimed at linking inherited crafts with vital resources like credit, machinery, and wider markets for sustainable income. The footwear industry in Agra exports about Rs 4,000 crore annually and supports four to five lakh people. The training moves beyond basic job skills, helping trainees explore self-employment opportunities. The centre, launched in June 2022, has trained around 1,600 artisans so far.

💔 VP calls drug abuse 'very painful' after student death

Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan expressed deep sorrow over a college student's death in Tamil Nadu. He shared this sentiment during the 22nd convocation of SRMIST in Kattankulathur on Sunday. The VP urged all students to avoid drugs and substances that cause abuse. New graduates were also made to take an official anti-drug pledge during the ceremony. He stressed that minds should control themselves instead of external forces.

🌾 Farmers told to ditch paddy due to El Niño

Professor Aldas Janaiah urged farmers to reduce paddy cultivation amid ongoing El Niño effects. This advice was given at a Rythu Sangham seminar in Nalgonda on Sunday. The state has seen a rainfall deficit of 10–12%, with eight districts facing nearly a 30% shortfall as of August 16, 2026. Janaiah stressed shifting to water-saving crops like pulses and millets instead of relying on reservoirs. Farmers should assess local water before transplanting, as current conditions might last until September. 💧

🔥 New Operator Noor drops in Siege Season 3

Rainbow Six Siege is rolling out Operation Split Fire, introducing the Egyptian defender Noor. Noor's Horus Lance Launcher drills through walls and shields to deny areas, offering new tactical depth. Year 11 Season 3 also sees rebalances for Kali, Dokkaebi, Lion, Echo, and Kapkan. Players will also get a limited-time 3v3 Arcade mode and the Wasteland Circuit event. These updates aim to reaffirm the game's competitive identity, launching on September 1.

🤖 Robert Downey Jr. is back in the MCU timeline

Robert Downey Jr. is making a return to the MCU timeline in 2026. This news broke at D23 2026, revealing his appearances in two major projects. Specifically, he will be as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, while also reprising Tony Stark for Avengers Infinity Defense in 2028. Tony Stark first kicked off the MCU in 2008, making this a huge deal for Disney Parks visitors. The next two Avengers movies might feature Iron Man, but it is not yet confirmed for Doomsday or Secret Wars.

🚕 Ride-hailing apps must stop asking for pre-ride tips

Ride-hailing apps are now being directed to stop prompting passengers for tips before a ride begins. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued this directive to all motor vehicle aggregators across India. This change is based on Clause 14.15 of the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, effective immediately. The Ministry emphasized that tipping must be voluntary and only permitted after the journey is completed. Drivers' unions are demanding minimum fares from the Telangana government following this announcement. 🚕

🚨 Govt cracks down on fake salary claims

Instances of fraudulent salary and remuneration withdrawal from government departments are reportedly ongoing. These anomalies were discovered after audits showed discrepancies like multiple employees sharing Aadhaar details in the same department. The government views these acts with utmost seriousness as they cause financial loss to the state. Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju directed departments to urgently investigate duplicate Aadhaar mappings in the IFMIS system. Disciplinary action and criminal prosecution will follow if fraudulent drawing of funds is established.