⛈️ Heavy Rain Warning for Seven Odisha Districts

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued new warnings for the next two days due to ongoing rainfall across Odisha. A heavy rain alert is specifically active for seven districts, while others have a yellow warning for thunderstorms. Mayurbhanj district is anticipated to receive the heaviest rainfall on Tuesday. The advisory warns residents against being in open areas during thunderstorms and urges them to avoid outdoor farming. Gusty surface winds of 30 to 40 kmph are also expected in several locations.

😟 Ex-Minister slams cabinet snub after reshuffle

Former minister Dinesh Gundu Rao expressed disappointment after being excluded from Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's cabinet expansion in Karnataka. He questioned the omission despite his long service to the party and state across his political career. The expansion saw 19 legislators take oath on August 4, 2026, although 20 names were initially approved. This snub, amid other changes, has caused unrest among several senior Congress leaders. One ministerial berth remains vacant after the reshuffle, prompting questions from Gundu Rao about his exclusion. 😟

😠 AI data centre protests hit London's doorstep

Protests against AI data centre construction are now spreading from the US into the UK. Local residents in Potters Bar, near London, are opposing an 85-acre Equinix project expected to start next year. This pushback follows wider US opposition, where 7 out of 10 Americans are against local data centres. The debate in England is now questioning if electricity should prioritize housing or digital tech. The Greater London Authority is consulting a draft policy to manage these increasing impacts.

📈 Gestational diabetes cases are seriously spiking in England

Gestational diabetes cases are surging across England, with diagnoses rising by 60 per cent in five years. This trend was found by researchers analyzing NHS data from 2018 to 2022 across 184 hospitals. Rates jumped from about eight per cent in 2018 to over 12 per cent by 2022. The rise is especially high among Asian women and those in deprived areas, showing inequality. Experts urge strengthening maternity services due to increased risks for mothers and babies.

🏝️ Smallest island nation changes its name

The world's smallest island nation has revised its name to Republic of Naoero. This change involves the Republic of Nauru, located in the island nation, and was officially announced by its government. The revision, made after a Bill was tabled in January of this year, aims to boost national pride. President David Adeang stated the decision focused on identity and preserving ancestral heritage. Furthermore, citizens will now be called dei-Naoero, and the change has been notified internationally. 🏝️

🏏 Hyderabad cricketer banned for match fixing

Bodugum Akhilesh Reddy has received an eight-year ban from all cricket by the ICC for corruption offenses. This Hyderabad-raised player, who represented the US, was banned following the 2025 Abu Dhabi T10 tournament in the UAE. The tribunal found him guilty of three counts on August 3, 2025, which was backdated to November 21, 2025. The corruption involved trying to influence match results and obstructing the investigation by deleting data. This incident marks another case involving a USA cricketer facing an ICC ban recently. 🚫

💣 US military seeks new ways to pressure Iran

US Central Command is asking military analysts for new creative and unconventional methods to pressure Iran. This initiative originated from an intelligence branch officer in the Middle East deployment. The military has been conducting strikes for weeks, with President Donald Trump threatening more action. Officials noted this reflects limited options to force Iran into a deal on his terms. The US is now looking for ways to end the conflict, possibly with a symbolic win. 😟

🚨 Rapido driver accused of watching porn during ride

A Delhi-based researcher accused a Rapido auto driver of watching pornography and masturbating during a ride. This incident occurred while the researcher, Sukanya Dutta, was traveling from Safdarjung to Model Town on August 4, 2026. The driver, identified as Chotelal Kumar Yadav, allegedly admitted to watching 'bideshi videos of women wearing chote chote kapde'. Rapido later apologized, citing a zero-tolerance policy, and permanently barred the driver from the platform. The company also promised a review to strengthen its safety support processes. 😬

🤔 Dubey asks Zuckerberg to apologize over PM Modi video removal

Nishikant Dubey has called on Mark Zuckerberg to issue an apology regarding the recent takedown of a video featuring Prime Minister Modi. The request was made after the video was removed from the platform without clear justification. This incident occurred recently, sparking debate about content moderation policies on social media. Dubey argued that such actions against a major political figure are inappropriate and need review. He insists that Meta should reconsider its decision and provide a transparent reason for the removal.

😟 Clashes in PoK leave many injured amid protests

Deadly clashes erupted between protesters and security staff during the first phase of legislative assembly elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. These incidents primarily involved young people, with one doctor treating 50 to 60 critically injured patients in Rawalakot. The conflict, which began last month, is linked to JAAC protesting over 12 contentious seats in the regional assembly. Protesters claim they are demanding basic rights, not terrorism, while authorities deny indiscriminate firing. Banking, roads, and internet services have been largely disrupted across the region's 4.5 million residents. 😟

🏛️ Yogi slaps SP over Ram Temple donations issue

CM Yogi Adityanath strongly criticized the Samajwadi Party regarding the Ram Temple donation allegations. He stated that those questioning the 'chanda chori' had not contributed any money towards the temple's construction. This statement was made ahead of the first day of the UP Assembly's monsoon session on Monday. Yogi further accused the Opposition of having a dual character and poor anti-farmer policies. He also announced the Outsourcing Commission notification within 7–10 days. 🏛️