😠 DMK boycotts Vijay's meeting, calls it 'charade'

The DMK announced it will boycott a meeting called by Chief Minister Joseph Vijay regarding delimitation on Saturday in Chennai. Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi stated the meeting is a 'charade' meant to divert attention from the Cauvery water issue. She noted there has been no official Union Government announcement on the delimitation bill for the current session as of the date mentioned. The party maintains its firm stance on protecting Tamil Nadu's representation and demands action on the Cauvery dispute. The DMK also questioned why the Chief Minister isn't sending a delegation to the Union Water Resources Minister.

🏫 Four new minority schools starting in Bihar

The Bihar government announced four new minority residential schools will commence academic activities this August. These new schools are located in Jamui, Nalanda, Kaimur, and Muzaffarpur, adding to the existing two in Darbhanga and Kishanganj. The academic session for these schools is scheduled to begin around August 17. The department also focuses on skill development for madrasa students and has approved 481 staff posts for 13 schools. Furthermore, ₹270 crore has been disbursed to 3,741 beneficiaries under the entrepreneurship scheme.

☄️ Asteroid Apophis passes close to Earth in 2029

Asteroid Apophis will fly by Earth at a distance of 32,000 kilometers on April 13, 2029. The flyby will occur near Europe, Africa, and Asia, making it a major scientific event. The asteroid, about 340 meters across, poses no current threat but offers research opportunities. NASA's OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft will study how Earth's gravity reshapes the asteroid after the pass. This event is crucial for understanding planetary formation and assessing hazardous asteroids. 🚀

🎮 GTA 6 hits Netflix before big release

Grand Theft Auto 6's major reveal is set to stream on Netflix on August 27th. This event is happening for Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive. The stream will debut at 3 p.m. ET and then move to YouTube at 9 p.m. ET on that date. This is described as an early beat in the marketing campaign leading up to the November 19, 2026 launch. More marketing drops are expected before the game hits PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

⚖️ SC swaps arbitrator in Adani-Rajasthan power fight

The Supreme Court replaced Justice Arun Mishra with Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul as the sole arbitrator in the Adani-linked PKCL versus RRVUNL dispute. This decision was made by a Bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana on August 3, 2026. The parties mutually agreed to the change to prevent future embarrassment regarding the original appointment. PKCL and RRVUNL are involved in a joint venture for coal mining where Adani holds 74% stake. The Court clarified that the grounds for the change were not legally sustainable but proceeded with the replacement. ⚖️

🛰️ EU greenlights Starlink competitor, IRIS satellite plan

The European Commission has finalized the plans for the EU's sovereign IRIS satellite broadband service. This project involves European manufacturers and the European Space Agency (ESA) to build the constellation. The deal now includes 348 satellites, an increase from the initial plan, to boost defense capabilities. The first satellites are scheduled for launch in 2029, with service deployment following shortly after. Initially, the service targets government use, with potential expansion to citizens later. 🛰️

🔫 Contractor shot dead in Udupi district

Contractor David D’Souza, who was also a former panchayat chief, was fatally shot by two assailants in Pilar on August 7. This incident occurred outside St Francis Xavier Church in Pilar, Udupi district. The shooting marks the second such incident in the district within a week, following a July 31 murder. The motive for D’Souza's murder is currently unknown to the authorities. Police are actively investigating the case and tracing the individuals responsible for the attack. 🔫

🔥 Flipkart Freedom Sale 2026 drops big phone prices

The Flipkart Freedom Sale 2026 is now live with massive price cuts across electronics, including premium smartphones. The sale began for general customers on August 8, while Flipkart Plus and Black members got early access on August 7. Key devices like the iPhone 17 Pro Max, Pixel 10 series, and Samsung Galaxy S25 are seeing significant discounts during this event. The sale also features hourly 'Tick Tock' deals and a special 6 PM to 7 PM Price Crash window for shoppers. Customers should verify the final price considering bank and exchange benefits before making a purchase. 📱

🤝 Raghav Chadha meets PM Modi, feels it was insightful

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, describing the meeting as a deeply enriching interaction. The meeting took place with Chadha, who recently moved from the Aam Aadmi Party to the Bharatiya Janata Party. This interaction comes after Chadha was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Petitions on May 20. Chadha expressed gratitude for the Prime Minister’s guidance, noting his focus has shifted from raising issues to finding solutions. He emphasized that his current role is about fixing the system rather than generating headlines.

🔬 IIT Guwahati builds rapid bacteria detection device

Researchers at IIT Guwahati created a low-cost handheld device capable of quickly detecting bacteria. Professors Parameswar K Iyer and Siddhartha S Ghosh developed this tool using an Organic Field Effect Transistor. The technology accurately differentiates between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial types. This innovation could speed up testing in healthcare and environmental monitoring, reducing lab culture reliance. The patented research was published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A. 🔬

🏛️ Ancient cannons guard history at Adoor temple

Two old cannons are now part of the Adoor Mahalingeswara temple's courtyard in Kasaragod district. These artifacts are thought to date from the 18th century or possibly earlier, as noted by Dr. Nandakumar Koroth. One cannon measures 96cm and the other 90cm, suggesting they were used as mobile field artillery. Local tradition connects the cannons to Tipu Sultan's late 18th-century military expedition, though no written proof exists. The temple itself boasts 10th-century origins and numerous historical inscriptions. 🧐