🏛️ Lok Sabha Speaker asks for order amidst disruptions

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla appealed for cooperation to restore normal functioning of the House. This appeal was made in New Delhi as the Opposition's two main demands were reportedly accepted. These demands included Union Home Minister Amit Shah's participation and a discussion on student issues. Birla objected to placards, stressing that the House functions through dialogue and cooperation. The government is now seeking to resume legislative business following the Speaker's intervention. 🏛️

🌧️ Himachal Monsoon Mayhem: 157 Dead, Roads Blocked ⛰️

Monsoon fury in Himachal Pradesh has resulted in 157 fatalities due to flash floods and landslides. The state is facing severe disruption, with 259 roads shut across the region. Between June 30 and August 9, 157 people died, and nearly 900 properties were damaged, costing around Rs 886 crore. The IMD has issued an orange alert, indicating the challenging situation is not yet over. Authorities are working to clear the roads, but fresh landslides continue to pose major hurdles.

💻 Independence Day tech sale is here 🎧

Several brands like Sennheiser, Asus, Sonos, and Oral-B have launched limited-time offers for gadgets this Independence Day. Asus is offering up to 53% off laptops, with the Vivobook S14 Flip priced at Rs 96,990. These deals run until August 16th at major electronics retailers across India. Consumers can also get instant bank discounts and EMI options on select purchases. The sale features everything from wireless headphones to smart toothbrushes for everyone.

✈️ Trump's secret plane switch in Turkey

Reports indicate that US President Donald Trump secretly changed aircraft in Turkiye last month due to an Iranian assassination threat. He reportedly used a catering cart to switch from Air Force One, which acted as a decoy, to a smaller C-32A military aircraft. This operation occurred after Trump publicly mentioned departing the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8. The move was triggered by a credible threat from Iran-aligned armed groups against him. Trump later flew to Washington, DC on the new, Qatari-gifted Air Force One.

🏫 Kerala asks for AICTE extension for engineering admissions

Kerala's Higher Education department has requested the Union Ministry of Education to extend the AICTE deadline for engineering admissions. This request stems from concerns about vacant seats in government engineering colleges and objections to the current decentralized spot admissions. The national deadline is set for August 14, and extensions are sought by other states citing various issues. If extended, more allotment rounds could happen to fill all government seats, according to officials. However, student groups worry the current decentralized process disadvantages poorer students and favors self-financing colleges. 😥

🚗 AR Rahman's Son Speaks Out on Chennai Crash

AR Ameen has finally commented on the car accident that occurred in Chennai. He stated that he was occupying the passenger seat during the incident. The accident took place on a specific date which was not detailed in the available report. This event has drawn significant media attention due to the family's prominence. Further updates regarding the situation are awaited from the family.

🚁 Pocket Gimbal Meets Drone in HOVERAir VERSA

HOVERAir has unveiled the VERSA, a hybrid gadget combining a three-axis pocket gimbal camera and a propeller attachment for drone functionality. This device is from the Chinese tech company HOVERAir, known for its compact drones like the HOVERAir X1 series. Preorders for the VERSA are slated to launch in mid-August via an Indiegogo campaign. While image quality might not match top competitors yet, it serves as an interesting proof of concept for personal filming. It could inspire other brands like DJI to develop similar 2-in-1 flying camera solutions in the future. 🚁

🐦 Australia rolls out bird flu vaccine plan

Australian authorities are starting to vaccinate bird species vulnerable to the H5 avian influenza virus. This action was taken in Sydney after detecting 231 confirmed or presumed positive cases of the flu. The initial case was found in a migratory sea bird in June, and a mass mortality event was reported last week. Officials noted that vaccinating wild birds is challenging, so captive birds are the main priority. Agriculture minister Julie Collins warned that more mass bird deaths are expected across the country. 🐦

⚡ NGEL hiring 34 managers for 2026 roles

NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) is inviting applications for 34 vacant Manager positions in 2026. The openings include Manager – RE (28 posts), Manager – Finance (5 posts), and Manager – Land (1 post). Candidates must meet specific experience requirements, generally 10 years post-qualification, with an upper age limit of 40 years. The salary scale is E-4 Grade/IDA from 01.01.2017, ranging from Rs.70,000 to Rs.200,000. Applications must be submitted online via the NGEL website by August 31, 2026.

🏛️ Parliament gates become protest stage

Opposition and NDA MPs turned Parliament's Makar Dwar into a stage for competing narratives on Tuesday. The Opposition protested the police action in Delhi, demanding Amit Shah's response, while the NDA targeted Rahul Gandhi over Jharkhand police action. The Opposition sought discussion on Ram temple donations alongside the Delhi protests. BJP MPs used the Jharkhand incident to criticize Gandhi's double standards. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra witnessed the standoff, which highlighted the political division. 🧐

⚽ Arsenal interested in Barcelona defender Kounde

Arsenal has shown significant interest in signing FC Barcelona defender Jules Kounde during the transfer window. The London club is closely monitoring his situation as Barcelona looks to create salary-cap room for incoming players. Kounde recently renewed his contract and currently prefers to stay in Catalonia. His future hinges on discussions with Hansi Flick and any major offers arriving. PSG and Bayern Munich are also keeping an eye on the highly-valued Frenchman.