😠 MLA demands action against sand mafia in district

TDP MLA Bonela Vijaya Chandra called on the Collector and Mines Department officials to stop the sand mafia in Parvatipuram-Manyam district. He mentioned receiving numerous complaints from residents in Parvatipuram town and mandal recently. The issue involves people being forced to pay bribes despite the government's free sand policy from two years ago. Specifically, Rompilli Prasada Rao was allegedly forced to pay ₹13,000 bribe due to local influence. This matter will now be brought to the notice of CM N.Chandrababu Naidu and other senior officials.

🚁 Millionaire Food Tycoon Dies in Kenya Helicopter Crash

Miami entrepreneur Roger Duarte was tragically killed in a helicopter crash in northern Kenya on Wednesday. He was travelling with six others when the Eurocopter EC130 B4 crashed near Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County around 9:13 am. All seven people aboard, including the Kenyan pilot, died in the incident. The crash occurred while the aircraft was on a charter flight from Loisaba Conservancy towards the Ewaso Nyiro area. Kenyan aviation authorities are currently investigating the cause of this fatal accident.

🤔 OBCs challenge census caste counting method

OBC community members have voiced strong opposition to the proposed caste enumeration method for the Census 2027. This opposition was raised by the All India OBC Students’ Association at an event in Hyderabad. Speakers demanded a halt on Census 2027 until unique caste codes are finalized. They argued that the current open-field methodology risks inaccurate data collection, similar to the 46 lakh names in the 2011 SECC. A consultative system involving experts and state governments is being requested for proper identification.

🎣 Big fund boost for Kerala's fisherfolk

The State government has approved ₹62.46 crore for a livelihood support scheme for fishers during off-season months. The Fisheries department plans to initially use ₹20 crore under the 'Livelihood and nutritional support' scheme. This support aims to aid fishers during lean periods and promote saving habits. The Union government sanctioned the ₹62.46 crore on August 13, with shared contributions from Central, State, and beneficiary sources. Additionally, ₹1.79 crore was cleared for July 2026 widow pension distribution. 🎣

🏛️ TN CM's big talk with Amit Shah on delimitation

Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay raised serious concerns regarding the proposed Delimitation Bill, 2026, during a meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah. He worried that Southern States could lose parliamentary representation if seats are redistributed based purely on population figures. The 1971 Census freeze nears its end, prompting his call for legislative guarantees against penalization for successful population control. Vijay also stressed adherence to court orders in the ongoing Cauvery river dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Furthermore, he pushed for TN to use Class XII marks for state quota medical admissions.

🛰️ French astronaut makes history on spacewalk

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot successfully completed a spacewalk on Tuesday, August 18th, becoming the first French woman to do so. She conducted the mission outside the International Space Station alongside NASA's Anil Menon. The six-hour, 23-minute EVA aimed to replace a failed space-to-ground antenna tracking NASA’s satellite. However, stuck bolts delayed the antenna replacement, requiring a revised plan for a future spacewalk. This marks the 282nd spacewalk supporting station maintenance. 🚀

🚨 Woman abducted, murdered in Raichur district

A 21-year-old Dalit BA graduate was abducted, gang-raped, and murdered in Hokrani village near Sirwar on Wednesday evening. Four local residents—Gundya, Mahanthesh, Veeresh, and Mundargi Basawaraj—were booked after a complaint from the victim’s father. The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. when she went out for defecation near the temples. The body was later found floating in the Doddyala well on Thursday morning. Police have registered an FIR and launched a full-scale investigation into the crime. 💔

🚗 Kia Sorento lands in India with hybrid and diesel options 🤩

Kia India has officially unveiled the new Sorento SUV for the Indian market. This seven-seater is set to arrive with both hybrid and diesel powertrain options in India. The official launch is scheduled for September 4, 2026, with an expected starting price around Rs 40 lakh (ex-showroom). It features a new design, twin displays, and premium amenities like a panoramic sunroof. This launch positions the Sorento against rivals such as the Skoda Kodiaq and Toyota Fortuner.

🐍 Orry slams Akanksha over Gaurav's image

Orry, a co-contestant from Khatron Ke Khiladi 15, publicly criticized Akanksha Chamola regarding her divorce from Gaurav Khanna. He accused her of actively trying to tarnish Gaurav's image and exploiting his fame for personal views. Akanksha had previously announced their separation and impending divorce during Lock Upp Season 2. Orry also commented on Shagun's claims of bullying, stating he teased her but remained friends. This controversy follows Akanksha's earlier clarification that the separation was genuine, not publicity-driven.

🎬 Director admits worry over Sunny Deol's Muslim role in Batwara 1947

Director Rajkumar Santoshi admitted that the casting of Sunny Deol as a Muslim character in 'Batwara 1947' was a consideration during production. This decision was made in the film, which was released on August 14, 2026, in theaters. Santoshi noted that Deol's popular image from 'Border' and 'Gadar' was a factor in the thought process. However, the director emphasized it was a deliberate creative choice for the character Sikandar Mirza who fights fanaticism. Ultimately, Santoshi wanted a mainstream appeal, making Deol the ideal choice. 🎬

🚨 Karnataka HC orders CCTV audit at all police stations

The Karnataka High Court ordered a comprehensive audit of CCTV systems across all state police stations. This directive was issued after observing that the Whitefield police station's CCTV was down for about 11 months in 2024. The court also mandated a centralized IT system for real-time CCTV monitoring. The audit must check camera locations, maintenance, and UPS capacity across the state. Furthermore, records from Bescom must be verified regarding power supply on September 4, 2024. 🧐