📜 New Stone Reveals Hoysala Ruler's Death Date

A centuries-old veeragallu with a Kannada inscription was discovered in Neeragunda, Arsikere taluk. This stone potentially clarifies the death date of Hoysala ruler Vishnuvardhana, who ruled parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The inscription dates the memorial stone to December 11, 1141, corresponding to Ekadashi of Pushya Masa of Durmathi Samvatsara. This discovery addresses historical confusion regarding whether Vishnuvardhana died in 1152 or 1149. Scholars have shared the information with the Karnataka Itihasa Academy for further analysis.

🏛️ FCRA Bill still stuck in Parliament

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act bill remains pending in Parliament. This legislation aims to regulate foreign funding received by various entities across India. As of now, the bill has seen discussions but no final passage has occurred. It is considered a crucial step for securing the nation against misuse of foreign funds. Further action depends on the parliamentary proceedings in the coming sessions.

🧱 Minecraft finally gets colored concrete slabs and stairs

Concrete slabs and stairs, available in all 16 concrete colors, have been added to Minecraft. This update is part of the game's third game drop of 2026, available in Java snapshot and Bedrock Preview. Previously, concrete was limited to full blocks, making detailed building difficult. This new addition is highly anticipated by builders for modern designs and city projects. Players can test these new features immediately in the latest Java Edition snapshot.

🏏 Star cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets a heads-up

Former star Robin Uthappa warned young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi about potential career dips. The 15-year-old has already achieved major milestones, like being IPL's top scorer in 2026. Uthappa compared this pressure to players like Vinod Kambli and Prithvi Shaw who faded later. He stressed that staying focused on cricket for the next five years is crucial for the young player. Sooryavanshi's next major appearance is set at the Asian Games starting on September 19. 🏏

🚨 Delhi cranks up security for August 15th

Security has been significantly tightened across Delhi in preparation for Independence Day on August 15th. Delhi Police have displayed posters of wanted terror suspects throughout the capital city. These posters feature individuals linked to banned groups like Al-Qaida and Babbar Khalsa. This move is part of heightened security arrangements to counter potential threats during the national celebrations. Authorities are urging citizens to remain vigilant and share any relevant information with law enforcement.

🕌 Arab and Muslim diplomats push for Jerusalem site protection

Arab and Muslim foreign ministers have agreed to create a permanent system to document Israeli violations at holy sites. This joint declaration was adopted in Jordan, involving representatives from Turkiye, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The plan includes a media platform to expose violations to international bodies and the global public. The ministers condemned policies aiming to change Jerusalem's identity and are calling for immediate international action. They also requested a joint meeting at the UN General Assembly in September to discuss these escalating issues.

💊 Pharmacy owner and delivery boy busted with Tramadol stash

Police raided a local pharmacy after receiving a tip-off regarding illegal drug sales. The operation took place at Prime Pharmacy in Ayyappa Society, Madhapur on Wednesday. Authorities seized 6,568 Tramadol Hydrochloride 50 mg tablets, weighing about 328.4 grams, from the premises. The arrested individuals were the owner, Thorri Venkatesham, and delivery boy, Barlakadi Srikanth, who allegedly sold the drugs without proper prescriptions. Investigations are now tracking the absconding supplier, Rathod Prakash, and the estimated 100 to 150 customers. 🚨

💔 Russian 'black widows' scamming war death payouts

A disturbing trend involves Russian women falsely marrying army recruits to claim state compensation after the soldiers are killed in Ukraine. These alleged scams target vulnerable recruits, who are rushed into marriages shortly before deployment to secure the payouts. One case involved a woman from St Petersburg whose father married a much younger woman two days before leaving for the front. Lawmaker Leonid Slutsky has called for stricter protection against these fraudsters reaching serious proportions. Meanwhile, Ukrainian 'vidmas' are using female resistance operatives for crucial intelligence inside Russian-occupied territories. 😟

📉 Dad's single stock gamble wipes out family savings

A son shared his father invested all family savings into one stock, which has since dropped to Rs 30 lakh. This happened after his father, lacking market knowledge, repeatedly bought the same stock across three demat accounts since 2013. The initial total investment reached Rs 75 lakh, representing his parents' life savings. The son is now seeking rational advice to manage the situation instead of reacting emotionally. Social media users are divided on whether he should cut losses or hold onto the remaining amount. 💸

💡 3D prints now show info without electronics

Researchers combined lenticular optics with 3D printing to create ShiftLens, electronics-free objects with changeable appearances. This system was developed by teams at MIT, Technical University of Munich, and Northeastern University. The technology allows objects to display high-resolution, discrete visuals, like telling if they are used correctly. One prototype acts as a meeting room display, while another warns when a bottle lid is incorrectly fitted. The next step involves scaling this up for applications like smart pipework systems. 💡

🌿 Kerala explores indoor saffron farming to meet demand

The Spices Board is investigating the viability of growing saffron indoors in Kerala due to high market demand. Spices Board Chairperson Sangeetha Viswanathan discussed this lucrative opportunity with Agriculture Minister T. Sidhique. The proposal aims to boost income for the farming community by promoting this cultivation model. Furthermore, the board requested action against excessive pesticide use on Idukki’s cardamom plantations. The state government was also urged to expedite Cardamom Registration certificates and support climate-resilient farming. 🌿