⛽ Rahul Gandhi slams E20 fuel rollout; Centre pushes back

Rahul Gandhi strongly criticized the Centre's E20 fuel rollout, claiming the ethanol-blended petrol is damaging cars and people's lives. He made these allegations on Friday, targeting the government's policy implementation. According to the Union Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, the programme has strong results, citing daily visits by 6 to 7 crore customers. Puri noted that testing across 2,000 petrol stations daily found only four contamination cases out of 107,000 pumps. The debate continues between the opposition's concerns and the government's claims of scientific validity.

🏛️ Judges appointed for four High Courts

The Central Government officially notified appointments for judges across several High Courts on Friday. These appointments were made for the Madras, Calcutta, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh High Courts. Madras received five judges and three additional judges, while Calcutta got eight new judges. Karnataka was awarded six new judges, and Madhya Pradesh saw one advocate appointed as a judge. These judicial appointments strengthen the judiciary in these key regions of India. ⚖️

✈️ Air India boosts pilot pay and career path

Air India revamped its pilot pay and career progression to fight crew attrition across the airline. This change applies to Tata Group-owned airlines, including Air India Express. Pilots will see an 8–15% fixed salary hike, with commanders getting the most, alongside revised flying pay. Training compensation is now linked to fleet type, protecting earnings during extended training periods. Additionally, a new path requires pilots to stint at Air India Express to become captains. ✈️

🚀 iQOO Z11 drops with Dimensity 7500 Turbo

The iQOO Z11 is set to launch on August 20th as India's first smartphone featuring the MediaTek Dimensity 7500 Turbo chipset. This device will be available in Celestial Blue and Aurora Green colors, boasting a 3D curved AMOLED display. The processor supports a 144Hz display and up to 200MP camera compatibility, with an expected AnTuTu score of 1.2 million. The standard Dimensity 7500 is built on a 4nm process and supports Wi-Fi 6E and 5G connectivity. Full specs and pricing for the iQOO Z11 are anticipated to be revealed at the launch event. 📱

🥋 Mohanlal's daughter shines in martial arts thriller

The movie 'Thudakkam' is a typical revenge thriller that gets a boost from Vismaya Mohanlal's martial arts skills. It features Vismaya Mohanlal and Sai Kumar in this film directed by Jude Anthany Joseph. The movie runs for 139 minutes and was released on August 07, 2026. The screenplay, co-written by Jude with Akhil Krishna and Linish Nellikkal, relies on overused tropes. Ultimately, Vismaya's Muay Thai mastery elevates the film from generic to average. 🥋

🏛️ Parliament Showdown: BJP vs Congress Battle

The monsoon session in Parliament ended with a standoff between the government and the Opposition over key bills. The conflict centers on the Constitution Amendment Bill (delimitation/women's reservation) and the FCRA Amendment Bill. The government has one week left to pass these contentious pieces of legislation. Internal divisions in Congress, coupled with potential DMK support, are influencing the deadlock. A final strategy is expected to be set over the next two days, with decisions looming by Monday.

📜 Ancient Telugu script decoded in Nallamala forest

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has successfully deciphered an 11th-century Telugu inscription. This discovery was made by the ASI Epigraphy Division near Satakodu village in Markapuram district. The survey took place in the Nallamala forest from June 11 to 13, 2026. The text records land donations made by Muttu Malaredi Nayaka and Praralaya Peggada for temple worship. This finding adds significant insight into regional history and ancient land records. 📜

😠 iThrive CEO's strong statement about PM Modi

Mugdha Pradhan, the CEO of iThrive, recently made a highly controversial public comment. This statement was directed towards the Prime Minister of India, PM Modi. The CEO reportedly expressed strong dissatisfaction with certain government policies during a recent interaction. This comment sparked immediate debate across social media platforms regarding corporate accountability. Further actions from both the CEO and the government are awaited on this matter. 😠

💻 New Huawei Tablets Drop in India 📱

Two new tablets, the Huawei MatePad SE 11 and MatePad 11.5 PaperMatte Edition, have launched in India. They are available through Flipkart, with the MatePad SE 11 starting at ₹25,999. The premium MatePad 11.5 PaperMatte Edition is priced at ₹45,999, featuring a PaperMatte Display. The MatePad SE 11 has a quad speaker setup, while the 11.5 version boasts a 2.5K FullView display. Both devices are now ready for pre-order and purchase in the Indian market.

🏏 Ashwin on Manjrekar's criticism and his comeback

Ravichandran Ashwin revealed that he was initially very upset by Sanjay Manjrekar's fitness-related remarks. This happened after Manjrekar questioned his bowling and fielding during his first Australia tour. Ashwin stopped talking to Manjrekar for four years, working hard to improve his game. Their relationship improved in 2015 when Manjrekar wrote an article praising his performance. Ashwin ultimately thanked the criticism as it became a turning point in his career.

🗑️ One man's cleanup turns into 100-volunteer movement

Andrew Beaver started by clearing illegally dumped trash alone in south Houston. He is a real estate investor who began this effort in November in underserved areas like Sunnyside and Third Ward. A recent Sunday cleanup involved about 100 volunteers clearing waste from alleys and vacant lots. This movement gained traction through partnerships and social media, encouraging community involvement. Beaver plans to continue his daily cleanups despite ongoing logistical and funding challenges. 🗑️