🐠 Rebuilding deep-sea coral after oil spill

Sixteen years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in April 2010, scientists are actively working to restore damaged deep-sea coral habitats. NOAA divers and researchers are using lab-grown coral colonies in the Gulf of Mexico for this crucial recovery effort. The 2026 mission involved planting 26 mesophotic corals on artificial domes at about 66 meters deep. This work utilizes specialized gear like the 'coral torpedo' and highly trained technical divers. Monitoring will continue as the long-term goal is to rebuild these foundational ecosystems injured by the spill. 🐠

🤕 Sukhbir Singh Badal injured in Nanded gurdwara attack

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked inside a Gurdwara in Nanded, Maharashtra on Thursday. The alleged attack was carried out by a group of Nihang Sikhs at Gurdwara Mata Sahib. Badal sustained injuries to his arm and shoulder but is reported to be in stable condition. One person has been arrested, and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis ordered an inquiry into the motive. The incident is the second public attack on Badal since an earlier incident on December 4, 2024. 🤕

🌳 Muttil tree-felling case: Roji Augustine surrenders

Roji Augustine, first accused in the Muttil tree-felling cheating case, surrendered to the Ernakulam court on Thursday, August 13, 2026. Jose Kutty and Anto Augustine had already surrendered on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. The prosecution alleges they cheated M. M. Aliyar of ₹1.4 crore by selling timber from the Meppadi Forest Range. This case originates from an FIR dated July 13, 2021, concerning illegal wood sales. All three accused must appear on August 18 to have charges framed. 🌳

🏏 Sony gets Afghanistan T20I rights; match date request

Sony Sports Network has secured the TV rights for India's T20I series against Afghanistan. The matches will be hosted by the Afghanistan Cricket Board at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The three games are currently scheduled for September 13, 15, and 17. ITW Universe has formally asked the ACB to move one game to September 14, Ganesh Chaturthi. This request aims to show respect for Indian culture and cricket fans. 🏏

⚖️ Imran Khan's jail time: What's the deal?

Rumors about former PM Imran Khan's death in custody were dismissed by the Pakistan Army's ISPR as false claims. Khan has faced over 100 criminal cases since his removal from office in 2022, including corruption charges. The primary case keeping him imprisoned is the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case, where he was sentenced to 14 years in January 2025. Other cases like the cipher and Iddat allegations have been overturned, while his appeal in the Al-Qadir Trust case is ongoing. He has been detained at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi since August 2023.

🔎 Old Modi-Congress video resurfaces online

A video claiming to show PM Narendra Modi with Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is currently being shared widely. The video allegedly took place at the wedding reception of MP Supriya Sule's daughter. However, fact-checkers determined the footage is not recent, pointing to posts from March 2025 and May 2026. The visuals were actually shared in relation to the 'Aashirwad Ceremony' of Shivraj Singh Chouhan's sons. Therefore, the video is old and completely unrelated to the recent wedding event. 🧐

⛈️ Monsoon Parliament Session Wraps Up After Protests

The Monsoon Session of Parliament concluded after facing unexpected disruptions this time around. The government and the BJP had scheduled a full legislative agenda in New Delhi. Initially, the government aimed to clear FCRA amendments and push the Delimitation Bill again. These plans were affected by what were described as stormy GenZ protests. The session finished despite the initial optimistic political outlook.

🏏 Morkel on Quicks: Needs Intense Overs in Galle

Morkel stated that quick bowlers must maintain high intensity while bowling together to achieve success in Galle. He specifically addressed the fast bowlers during a recent interaction. This advice was given ahead of the upcoming matches scheduled for October 2023. The focus is on tactical consistency in high-pressure game situations. Players need to build momentum through sustained effort to perform well. 🏏

🔫 Sukhbir Badal attacked again outside Golden Temple

Sukhbir Badal was recently attacked in Nanded, Maharashtra, during a visit to a gurudwara. The 64-year-old Akali Dal chief sustained a hand injury in the incident. This follows a previous assassination attempt in 2024 at the Golden Temple entrance in Amritsar. The shooter, Narain Singh from Gurdaspur district, was immediately arrested. Security sources suggest Narain Singh has links with the Babbar Khalsa terrorist group.

🏛️ Advocates as Insolvency Pros must register for GST

The Delhi High Court ruled that advocates working as insolvency professionals must register under GST. This judgment was delivered by Justices Pratibha M. Singh and Shail Jain on a petition by advocate Kanwal Chaudhary. The court directed these advocates to follow the forward charge mechanism, effective from the challenge to an IBBI order dated March 9, 2021. This applies only when the advocate serves in the specific capacity of an insolvency professional. Legal services provided by the same person as an advocate remain under the existing reverse charge mechanism. ⚖️

🤒 Measles deaths hit 890 in recent count

Five more people have passed away due to measles symptoms in the last 24 hours. This latest update from the DGHS on Thursday, August 13, concerns measles cases across the country. Since March 15, the total death toll from confirmed and suspected measles cases has reached 890. Of the newly identified patients, 74 tested positive, with 951 seeking care for measles-like symptoms. Authorities are continuing to monitor these measles infections and suspected cases nationally. 📈