🇮🇳 Red Fort gears up for Independence Day bash

Authorities are making major arrangements for the upcoming Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort in Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the 80th celebrations on August 15th, where 'Vande Mataram' will be sung for the first time in 150 years. Around 27,000 footfall is anticipated, with NCC and My Bharat volunteers involved in floral displays. Facilities include 25 cloak rooms, 200 helpdesk volunteers, and free metro service starting at 4 AM. The event is themed around '150 Years of Vande Mataram' and 'Yuva Shakti for Viksit Bharat@2047'.

🚨 Gangsters plotting attacks in Delhi busted

Several gangland shooters were arrested while reportedly planning violent attacks and extortion activities across Delhi. The individuals were apprehended by authorities while actively searching for potential 'soft targets' within the city. The crackdown took place over the past few days, with multiple arrests reported in various parts of the capital. These gangs have been linked to a rise in local crime rates and organized intimidation tactics. Authorities are continuing the investigation to uncover the full extent of their criminal network. 🚨

🤖 Apple is buying news access for Siri AI

Apple is acquiring news access rights for its AI-powered Siri feature. This strategic move involves negotiations with various publishers across the board. The deal promises publishers hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation. This aims to integrate real-time, high-quality news directly into Siri's capabilities. Further details on the rollout and specific partnerships are expected soon. 📰

😠 Putin's first trip to Kuril Islands sparks Japan's anger

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the far-eastern Kuril Islands for the first time, causing significant anger in Japan. Tokyo's Foreign Ministry subsequently summoned the Russian ambassador to lodge a strong protest regarding the visit. The four disputed islands, including Iturup, were seized by the Soviet Union near the end of World War II in 1945. This unresolved territorial dispute remains a key roadblock in formalizing the WWII peace treaty between Moscow and Tokyo. Moving forward, the situation remains tense despite previous talks since 1991. 😠

💼 Natarajan Chandrasekaran steps down from Tata Group

Natarajan Chandrasekaran resigned as the chairman of Tata Sons on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. This decision stemmed from a lack of board approval for his reappointment amid internal tensions. The deadlock over his tenure was triggered by one director withholding support for the extension. Mr. Chandrasekaran had dedicated 40 years to the Tata Group, becoming the first non-Parsi in the role. His announcement immediately caused a sell-off in Tata Group stocks, with TCS dropping 3.71% on the BSE.

🧐 Farage vs Binface in UK election

Boris Johnson's former ally, Nigel Farage, is set to contest an election against Count Binface. This political battle is taking place in the UK, representing a clash of different political ideologies. The contest is scheduled for an upcoming election date, though specific numbers were not provided in the source. Farage is a prominent figure known for his Eurosceptic views, while Binface is a newer challenger. The outcome of this matchup will be closely watched by UK political observers. 🧐

🐬 Dolphin shelling trick caught on camera 🐬

Scientists filmed bottlenose dolphins using a rare hunting trick called "shelling" off the coast of Queensland, Australia. This behaviour involved dolphins trapping fish inside large seashells and draining them into their mouths. The observation, made in Hervey Bay's Great Sandy Marine Park, documents this technique outside Shark Bay. A key finding is an adult female dolphin demonstrating the skill to her calf in October 2025. This suggests a possible vertical social learning method in dolphin generations.

📈 Gold and silver might be on a bull run again

MCX Gold has started showing a bullish bias after breaking out of a consolidation pattern. This trend is observed by Abhilash Koikkara from Nuvama Professional Clients Group, focusing on MCX Gold and Silver. Key support for gold is the 149,000 level, while silver's strong support is at 230,000 on August 13, 2026. Any dips towards these support levels are viewed as buying opportunities, maintaining the positive trend. Gold is eyeing 160,000, and silver aims for 251,000, suggesting continued uptrend momentum. 📈

💰 Govt asks ride-share apps to ditch pre-ride tipping prompts

The government has instructed ride-sharing apps like Uber and Rapido to remove prompts asking passengers to tip before accepting a ride. This change aims to ensure that the entire tip amount goes directly to the driver. The directive was issued to these major mobility platforms to improve driver compensation. This move addresses concerns regarding how tips are currently being managed within the apps. The apps will need to update their systems to reflect this new policy moving forward.

⚖️ 13 acquitted in 2020 Delhi riots case

A Delhi court acquitted 13 accused in a 2020 northeast Delhi riots case after scrutinizing the prosecution's testimony. The court noted that the key witness suddenly became an eyewitness, casting a 'shadow of doubt' on their statement. This case stems from an incident on February 25, 2020, near New Usmanpur police station. The judge found the CCTV footage too weak for accurate identification, especially since FSL couldn't help. Consequently, the prosecution failed to meet mandatory procedures, leading to the acquittal. ⚖️

⛏️ Centre aims to control mineral tax across states

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2026 was passed by both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. This move seeks to bring mineral-bearing land regulation under the Central government, impacting state tax powers. The bill addresses heavy tax burdens caused by multiple state levies on mineral rights and land. This is amidst Opposition criticism claiming it violates a 2024 Supreme Court judgment. The amendments aim to bring fiscal stability to boost India's lagging mining sector. ⛏️