🤝 Modi meets rebel MPs, assures them of support

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with rebel MPs from TMC and Uddhav Sena in New Delhi on Friday. The gathering included 20 rebel TMC MPs, seven former Uddhav Sena MPs, 20 NPP MPs, and two NCP MPs. Modi stressed that West Bengal's progress is vital for India's growth and urged MPs to boost public outreach. He also advised the MPs to maintain fitness by undergoing annual health check-ups for the tough work ahead. This meeting is part of the BJP's push to secure a larger coalition majority in Parliament.

🏥 SC orders hospitals to pay victim's father ₹12 lakh

The Supreme Court ordered two Ghaziabad hospitals to pay ₹12 lakh to the father of a deceased four-year-old rape victim. The two hospitals, St Joseph (Mariam) Hospital and Khajan Singh Mannvi Health Care, must pay ₹10 lakh and ₹2 lakh within four weeks. An SIT report stated the bleeding girl was alive for almost five hours but received no care. This action follows the girl's alleged rape on March 16th, leading to her death. The court will also issue guidelines for hospitals and law enforcement. 🏥

🛰️ AI in Google Earth shakes map trust

Google recently integrated generative AI into its Google Earth platform, allowing the creation of convincing yet fictional satellite images. This update was rolled out by Google, which owns the platform, causing immediate user concerns. Within 24 hours, the tool, Nano Banana 2, was pulled back by Google after backlash from fact-checkers. This incident questions the deep trust users place in satellite imagery for real-time verification of global events. Ultimately, this AI addition momentarily shattered the bedrock of trust in mapping technology.

🏛️ Basavaraj Horatti steps down as KC chairman

Basavaraj Horatti has resigned from his post as the chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council. This decision affects the proceedings within the legislative body located in Karnataka. The resignation was effective as of a recent date, though specific dates are not detailed in this report. Horatti's departure marks a change in the leadership structure of the council. His replacement process will now be initiated by the relevant authorities.

😟 Karnataka Council Chairman Horatti Resigns

Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti resigned from his post on Friday. This action occurred after the state's ruling Congress allegedly asked him to step down from his position. The resignation followed reports that a no-confidence motion would be moved against him if he refused to quit. Horatti stated this was to preserve his dignity, despite calling the move anti-democratic. His current term is set to run until July 2028. 😟

😟 Meta ordered to pay $567M in New Mexico child safety case

Meta has been ordered to pay an additional $567 million in New Mexico's child safety case. The Santa Fe district court ruled that Meta's platforms are a significant contributing cause of a teen mental health crisis across New Mexico. This latest ruling stacks onto the initial $375 million civil penalties, bringing total charges to $942 million. The funds will go into an abatement fund for awareness and treatment services. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone stated the company disagrees with the ruling and intends to appeal. 😟

✨ Yogi govt's scheme revives Firozabad's glass industry

Firozabad's glass industry, which exports to over 100 countries, has seen a major boost thanks to Uttar Pradesh's ODOP scheme. This initiative is supporting the sector in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, by providing better access to loans and training. Data shows various schemes benefited thousands, with specific figures like 1,778 beneficiaries in the ODOP Training Scheme. The scheme is helping revive the industry after a long slowdown, creating more jobs, especially for women workers. Going forward, manufacturers plan to use subsidies to introduce new products and boost Indian manufacturing.

💸 iPhone 17 Pro prices drop before 18 launch

Flipkart's Freedom Sale is offering major discounts on the iPhone 17 lineup ahead of the iPhone 18 Pro launch. The iPhone 17 Pro, originally Rs 1,34,900, is available for Rs 1,26,900 during the sale. The iPhone 17 Pro Max, launched at Rs 1,49,900, is also marked down to Rs 1,41,900 before bank offers. This price reduction happens as retailers typically cut prices on existing models before new ones arrive. Buyers can further lower the effective price using eligible bank cards during this sale. 💰

⚡ SECI awards 1GW RTC power tender to seven winners

The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) awarded its 1,000 MW Round-the-Clock Thermal Mimic (RTC-TM) power tender to seven developers. This tender was awarded four months after it was issued in March of this year. Capacities were allocated to seven bidders from 16 participants at tariffs of Rs. 5.25/unit and Rs. 5.26/unit. This unique experiment aims to replicate conventional thermal power reliability using only renewable energy sources. The initiative is expected to speed up renewable energy adoption by offering firm and dispatchable power. ⚡

🏏 Rahane bags big T20 gig with Amsterdam Flames

Ajinkya Rahane has signed with Amsterdam Flames to be their marquee player for the first European T20 Premier League season. The former India captain joined the squad shortly after retiring from his international and IPL career. Rahane brings extensive T20 experience, having amassed 7968 runs across 308 T20 matches. He expressed excitement about helping build the franchise and strengthening cricket's future in Europe. The ETPL 2026 tournament is scheduled to kick off on August 26. 🏏

🏛️ Tamil Nadu demands fair central tax share

The Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Friday, August 7, 2026. This resolution urged the Union government to ensure the state gets its rightful share of central tax devolution. Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson called for a transparent methodology recognizing state contributions and development needs. The assembly also stressed that criteria shouldn't disadvantage states based on their achievements. Tamil Nadu is pushing for measures to safeguard its legitimate financial interests moving forward. 🏛️