✨ Indriya names Krithi Shetty for South campaigns

Indriya has appointed actor Krithi Shetty as its brand ambassador for the southern markets. She will feature in the brand's Varalakshmi campaign across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. This major announcement coincides with the festive season, celebrating Goddess Lakshmi. The campaign showcases Indriya's festive collection blending heritage artistry with modern design. The promotion will roll out across TV, digital, print, and in-store experiences. 🤩

🤖 L&T wins massive deal for India's biggest AI factory

L&T secured a 'mega' order to build India's largest NVIDIA B300 AI factory in a strategic partnership. This deal is set to deploy NVIDIA B300 infrastructure at L&T's Chennai data centre campus for Together AI. The order, valued between ₹10,000 crore and ₹15,000 crore, was announced on Thursday, August 13th. This AI factory will power Together AI's cloud platform for large-scale training and interference workloads. L&T plans further expansion leveraging the gigawatt-scale site at Chennai. 🚀

🌊 Andhra Pradesh teams up with IIT-Madras for coast defense

The Andhra Pradesh government has officially partnered with IIT-Madras for the crucial protection of the Uppada coast in Kakinada district. District Collector M.N. Harendira Prasad and IIT-Madras professor S.A. Sannasiraj signed the MoU at K. Pawan Kalyan's camp office on Wednesday. The project involves constructing a seawall, estimated to cost ₹323 crore, with implementation starting in November. IIT-Madras will conduct a comprehensive study on coastal erosion, ocean currents, and wave action. The State Disaster Management Authority will serve as the nodal agency for this major infrastructure development. 🌊

🔬 Tiny mirror solved huge Atlantic telegraph issue

In 1854, William Thomson developed a sensitive instrument to tackle weak telegraph signals across the Atlantic. He and his team were working on a massive cable connecting Newfoundland with Ireland. The transatlantic cable attempts in 1858 faced unreliable communication due to signal decay over long distances. Thomson's mirror galvanometer detected faint currents by reflecting light from a tiny, suspended mirror. This innovation was key to making long-distance ocean communication practical, leading to a durable connection in 1866.

🏛️ High Court tells Mallya and banks to settle asset fight

The Bombay High Court has directed that the commercial dispute involving Vijay Mallya and various banks must finally conclude. This case concerns a default of Rs 9,000 crore against Mallya, who fled to the UK in March 2016. The dispute has been ongoing for nearly a decade, and the court stressed the negative economic impact of continued conflict. Mallya had challenged the order allowing SBI-led banks to use his attached assets from 2020. The bench further asked the ED for an update on the investigation status and the attached assets. 🏛️

🏛️ AP Minister pushes for tourism and heritage boost

Andhra Pradesh Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh reviewed plans for tourism development and heritage preservation on Wednesday. He met with newly appointed officials, including APTDC MD Pattan Shetty Ravi Subhash, at the Secretariat. The Minister emphasized promoting eco-tourism and wellness tourism, while also pushing for PPP investments. He called for regional tourism festivals to showcase the state’s potential both nationally and globally. Furthermore, he directed efforts to protect archaeological remains and modernize museums. 🏛️

😠 Opposition skips Speaker's tea meet after Parliament ends

Opposition MPs deliberately skipped the ceremonial tea meeting hosted by Speaker Om Birla after the Lok Sabha adjourned sine die. This snub occurred on the final day of the contentious Monsoon Session in Parliament. The session involved numerous heated exchanges and multiple bill passages. The absence is being interpreted as a symbolic final message of deep political tension. It remains unclear if this signals further disagreements between the government and opposition. ☕

🏏 Fan trolls Steve Smith over sight screen issue

A fan heckled batter Steve Smith during the first Test match against Bangladesh in Darwin, Australia. Smith paused his innings due to sight screen problems on Thursday. The match started with Bangladesh overwhelming the Aussies, finishing the first session at 74/4. Despite the pressure, Smith later reached his 45th Test fifty, tying Steve Waugh's record. Australia is currently at 183/8 with Smith unbeaten at Tea.

🇮🇳 2026 Independence Day: 79th or 80th? Here's the real deal 🇮🇳

India will celebrate its 80th Independence Day on August 15, 2026, which falls on a Saturday. This day marks freedom from over 200 years of British colonial rule, achieved on August 15, 1947. The 2026 celebration theme is 'Yuva Shakti for Viksit Bharat@2047', also noting 150 years of Vande Mataram. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the flag unfurling and address the nation from the Red Fort. Celebrations across India commemorate the sacrifices made by freedom fighters to uphold national values.

🚕 Government tells ride-hailing apps to ditch tipping prompts

The government has instructed ride-hailing aggregators to eliminate pre-ride tipping prompts from their platforms. This directive targets companies operating across various cities and services. The mandate comes into effect from October 1, 2023, affecting all listed partners. This move aims to standardize service charges and reduce ambiguity for riders and drivers. Companies must comply with this new regulation starting next month. 🚕

🧤 Chelsea urged to snag £47m Man Utd keeper

Chelsea has been suggested to consider a deal for Manchester United's goalkeeper, Andre Onana. This suggestion comes from Quinton Fortune regarding the unwanted Old Trafford keeper. The reported transfer fee for Onana is approximately £47 million. Onana previously went on loan to Trabzonspor last season, and Man Utd is open to offers. Fortune believes Onana could be a massive asset for Premier League rivals like Chelsea.