🌾 Punjab amps up anti-stubble burning drive 🌾

Punjab's CM Bhagwant Mann called for an intensified, multi-level awareness campaign to curb paddy straw burning. This directive was given while citing an 86% decline in stubble fire incidents across the state. Specifically, incidents dropped from 36,663 in 2023 to 10,909 in 2024 and further to 5,114 in 2025. The state needs to build on this progress by involving NGOs and social workers at the grassroots level. The government plans to use both field-level and digital outreach to promote sustainable alternatives for farmers.

🇮🇳 India rejects Indus ruling; Ladakh diverts glacier water

India rejected the ruling from the Court of Arbitration in The Hague concerning hydroelectric projects, stating the court lacked jurisdiction. This decision came after India held the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance following state-sponsored terror attacks. Meanwhile, in Ladakh, authorities diverted about 90 million litres of glacier water daily into the Igoo-Phay Canal. This water diversion aims to irrigate over 1,000 acres across 12 local villages. Separately, Pakistan's PM faced scrutiny over an edited SCO photo during the Bishkek summit. 🇮🇳

🖌️ Best tablets for drawing on the go

Six tablets are highlighted to give artists the freedom to create anywhere without being stuck at a desk. These options include the Redmi Pad 2 Pro and the Xiaomi Pad 8, available in various configurations. Specifications feature displays up to 3.2K and processors like Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 and 8s Gen 4, with dates mentioning releases and features. The devices balance drawing precision with general daily use capabilities, making choice difficult. Buyers weigh display quality and stylus responsiveness when making their final selection. 🎨

🦟 Airport Malaria Strikes Frankfurt Staff

Two aviation staff members tragically passed away after contracting 'airport malaria' in Germany. This incident occurred at Frankfurt Airport, where six employees fell ill between July 4 and July 6. The cause is believed to be a single Anopheles mosquito surviving a long-haul flight and biting workers during servicing. Doctors initially struggled with diagnosis because the victims had not recently traveled abroad. Health officials are now urging doctors to include malaria in their checks for unexplained fevers. 🦟

🛰️ NASA's Crew-13 Mission Launch Delayed

NASA announced the postponement of the Crew-13 mission, which was set to send four astronauts to the International Space Station. This crew includes Jessica Watkins, Luke Delaney, Joshua Kutryk, and Sergey Teteryatnikov, launching from Florida. The delay occurred after an oxidizer leak was found on the Dragon spacecraft during prelaunch processing. The mission is part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, aiming for scientific experiments in microgravity. NASA is currently reviewing data, but no new target launch date has been set for the flight. 🚀

🦷 Bioelectric toothbrush beats manual brushing for gums

A 4-week clinical trial tested the effectiveness of bioelectric (BE) toothbrushes versus manual and sonic options. The study involved 99 healthy adults with mild-to-moderate gingivitis across three groups. At week 4, the BE group showed a significantly lower Gingival Index score of 0.82 compared to the others. Both BE and sonic brushes controlled plaque better than the manual brush, though not significantly different from each other. The findings suggest BE toothbrushes significantly reduce gum inflammation and improve bleeding on probing. 🦷

⚖️ Codeine cough syrup diversion faces NDPS Act

The Allahabad High Court ruled that diverting codeine cough syrup for intoxication triggers the strict NDPS Act, 1985. This decision was made by Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal concerning the case Bhola Prasad v. State of U.P. If such syrup is used for substance abuse, it loses its therapeutic immunity and is classified as a 'manufactured drug'. The Court clarified that the entire formulation weight, not just pure codeine, counts for commercial quantity over 1 kg. They directed guidelines to prevent trivial FIRs under the NDPS Act for minor lapses. 💊

📱 Samsung rolling out One UI 9 beta to older foldables

Samsung is expanding the One UI 9 beta program to include more Galaxy devices. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 have been officially confirmed as eligible for the test. The rollout started today in India, Korea, the UK, and the US markets. While the stable One UI 9 is on the Fold 8 and Flip 8, older phones are getting an early look. Users can join this beta test through the Samsung Members app.

⚽ Man Utd eyeing fourth midfielder before deadline

Manchester United is currently in talks with Leicester City to sign midfielder Louis Page before the transfer deadline. The deal involves the 18-year-old from Leicester's under-21s squad, who has made four senior appearances this season. United already signed three central midfielders this summer, spending £155million on Tielemans, Santos, and Baleba. Leicester is demanding over £8million, and a potential loan back to Leicester is also being considered. The club's manager remains cautiously optimistic about adding more talent to the squad.

🏏 Ireland posts big total thanks to fifties

Lewis and Hunter both scored fifties, helping Ireland reach a total of 281 for 5. This innings took place in a recent match, contributing significantly to the team's performance. The batting effort was crucial for setting a strong foundation in the game. This high score places them in a competitive position for the tournament. The focus now shifts to the bowling attack to secure the win. 🏏

🎗️ Apollo launches cancer support community

Apollo Cancer Centres has launched 'Apollo Nambikkai', a new cancer survivorship support community. This initiative was unveiled at Apollo Cancer Centres in Vanagaram for survivors and caregivers. Around 100 survivors and caregivers gathered for the launch event on September 1, 2026. The program aims to acknowledge the ongoing challenges faced by patients post-treatment. This WhatsApp community will offer expert sessions and wellness guidance across all Apollo units. 🎗️