🏥 Kochi Corp's waste subsidy fight heats up

The Kochi Corporation is moving ahead with restricting biomedical waste collection subsidies despite strong pushback from the LDF. The UDF-led council decided to limit the universal subsidy, which was already cut from ₹28 to ₹8 as of August 1st. Starting in September, the subsidy will only go to select categories like the bedridden and extremely poor, based on applications. The new contractor, Success Projects, is facing issues with timely collection, leading to LDF complaints. The Corporation is working to streamline the process, noting that its own vehicles will be withdrawn later this week. 🏥

🩺 Mumbai Doctors Kept Jinnah's Illness Secret

Two Parsi doctors in Mumbai managed to keep the illness of Muhammad Ali Jinnah a secret for quite some time. These doctors provided medical care to him while concealing his actual condition from the public eye. The secrecy reportedly spanned a significant period leading up to his later health issues. This action highlights the discretion and commitment shown by the medical professionals during that era. The story offers a glimpse into the personal medical handling of a major political figure. 🩺

🛰️ India leases two more Sea Guardian drones

The Ministry of Defence signed a Rs 1,943-crore contract with General Atomics to lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones for the Indian Navy for 30 months. This move is for the Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean Region. The contract was signed on Monday and runs until early 2029. Leasing provides immediate surveillance while waiting for the 31 MQ-9Bs due from early 2029. This ensures sustained monitoring amid high geopolitical tensions. 🛰️

⚖️ DOJ asks court to bring back smuggling charges against Garcia

The Department of Justice asked a federal appeals court to reinstate human smuggling charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia. He is a Salvadoran man who was wrongfully deported by President Trump's administration last year. The charges were dismissed in May by a Tennessee judge on May 28th, ruling they were vindictive. The DOJ argues the prosecution had multiple legitimate bases, rejecting the claim of vindictiveness. Garcia's defense team, however, calls the action vindictive, alleging it followed his Supreme Court win. ⚖️

🩺 Delhi teen at 275kg undergoes major surgery

A 16-year-old boy weighing almost 275 kg had a successful laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. He was brought to the hospital in a Matador due to his size and required nearly two weeks in PICU. His BMI was close to 100, prompting evaluation by nearly 20 specialists on August 18, 2026. The surgery addressed severe breathing issues and skin infections stemming from his extreme obesity. After the procedure, he lost nearly 50 kg in two months and continues under follow-up care. 🩺

🤕 Chandimal out with concussion in Galle Test

Dinesh Chandimal was ruled out of the Galle Test due to a concussion sustained during play. He suffered the injury while attempting to save a boundary on the fourth day against India in Galle. The 36-year-old batsman, who was dismissed for 4 in the first innings, required precautionary scans. Pasindu Sooriyabandara, 26, has been named as his concussion substitute for the match. Sooriyabandara will be making his debut Test appearance in this series.

🤕 Dinesh Chandimal injured during Galle Test match

Dinesh Chandimal had to leave the field after injuring his right shoulder and neck. The incident happened at the end of the fourth over on the fourth day's play against India in Galle. The 36-year-old was dismissed for 4 in the first innings as hosts gave India a 178-run lead. He was assessed by team medical staff and taken to the hospital for a precautionary scan. Further updates regarding his condition are anticipated once the scan results are available.

🔥 Manjrekar and Kartik's savage on-air clash 🎤

A heated exchange happened on Day 3 of the Test match between India and Sri Lanka in Galle. Former cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar and Murali Kartik were involved in an ugly spat on the official broadcast. Kartik initially mocked Manjrekar's pout, prompting Manjrekar to ask for a camera switch to Ajinkya Rahane. Manjrekar then sharply jabbed at Kartik's looks, leading to a sharp comeback from Kartik. The argument escalated, forcing Manjrekar to try and defuse the tense on-air moment.

🚨 Constable fires AK-47 during youth protests in Bihar

A constable fired four shots from an AK-47 rifle after being reportedly trapped in a crowd in Siwan, Bihar. The incident occurred on July 25 while protesters demonstrated against alleged irregularities in competitive exams. The government affidavit stated no one was injured by the AK-47 shots, though three protesters were injured earlier by a 9-mm pistol. The constable has been suspended, and the DGP issued instructions limiting rifle use to special operations only. Police registered 69 FIRs and arrested 500 people between July 22 and July 25.

📉 US green card approvals down 35%, Indians affected

US green card approvals have dropped by 35%, severely impacting Indian applicants according to Economic Times. Data from Boundless Immigration shows Indian EB-1A approvals fell to 35% in the first two quarters of FY26, down from 49.1% in FY25. This decline is especially noticeable among Indian tech workers, amidst tighter US immigration policies. Experts note adjudicators are setting a "unreasonably high bar" for approval now. Consequently, many Indians are looking at alternatives like EB-5 or moving to Canada. 📉

🎬 Suriya's film has an okay Monday collection

Suriya's starrer, Vishwanath & Sons, had a mediocre Monday at the Indian box office, bringing in roughly Rs. 8.50 crore. The film was released across India, with strong initial showings in Telugu states. The four-day running total for the movie is currently around Rs. 75.50 crore. Poor collections in Tamil Nadu made the hold difficult despite a good opening weekend. The film's first week is now projected to reach approximately Rs. 90 crore. 🎬