🚧 Rights panel orders safety check at risky quarries

The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) ordered the Ernakulam district administration to inspect dangerous abandoned quarries. SHRC Chairperson Alexander Thomas issued the directive after a The Hindu report highlighted threats from around 70 quarries in the district. Officials must identify owners and legally mandate protective fencing installation. If owners fail to act, the District Collector must arrange fencing using the District Mineral Foundation funds. A report detailing actions taken must be submitted within six weeks. 🚧

🧐 India's Census 2027 brings major changes

India's Census will ask citizens about their caste for the first time since Independence, recording it exactly as declared by residents. This is happening in Ladakh and parts of J&K, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand starting August 17, with door-to-door counting until September 30. The survey now includes questions on Aadhaar, mobile numbers, and Covid-19 vaccine status. The data collection is part of the second phase, which follows the housing operations already completed. Final results are expected to be published two to three years after data collection concludes. 🧐

⚖️ Judge tells Google to fix rival app store visibility

A judge declared the current visibility of third-party Android app stores on Google Play as "not acceptable." This ruling was made during Google's ongoing court battle following the debut of Aptoide Games earlier this week. The judge demanded that every relevant search phrase should correctly display these stores within one week. Google agreed to make changes, treating third-party stores like standard apps with an "Install" button. Furthermore, the judge criticized the "are you looking for" banner as unnecessary friction.

👑 Prince James dropping royal titles for uni

Prince James, the youngest grandchild of the late Queen Elizabeth II, will not be taking on his royal titles as an adult. He is the 18-year-old son of Prince Edward and Sophie, and he will start at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. This decision was announced by the palace on Thursday, August 13, with the course beginning this fall. James is choosing a path focused on personal career over public royal duty. He will first gain hands-on experience as a farmhand on King Charles’ Sandringham estate before starting his studies. 👨‍🌾

📉 Tata uncertainty drags Indian stocks down

Indian equities saw a drop this week as leadership questions at Tata Sons and a slump in metals impacted the market. The Sensex fell 0.09% to 78,009.25 on Friday, while the Nifty 50 declined 0.12% to 24,366.00. This weakness comes as Tata Group's market cap fell nearly 2% on Wednesday. Investors are selectively buying in sectors like pharma and telecom amid global volatility. The market is lagging behind major Asian rallies driven by AI and semiconductors. 📉

⚖️ BCI's batch freeze order faces legal heat

The Bar Council of India initially ordered State Bar Councils not to enrol any NALSAR 2026 graduates following student protests. This directive came after an inquiry into a campaign opposing CJI Surya Kant's convocation participation. The initial ban was later modified, allowing graduates to enrol while the investigation continued. Critics argue the blanket restriction lacks statutory basis, as enrolment is primarily a State Bar Council function. Future actions depend on how the BCI defends its supervisory powers against legal challenges. ⚖️

📢 Shivamogga groups protest ESA notification

Cooperative forums in Shivamogga are organizing protests against the draft ESA notification for the Western Ghats. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued this draft notification for 20,668 sq.km on July 27. Currently, there is a deadline until September 26 for filing objections regarding the 473 villages in Shivamogga district. Leaders argue these restrictions will harm local agriculture and daily life, especially for areca growers. They plan protest marches starting August 29 and a mega rally in October to raise awareness. 🌳

🏛️ Trump asks Supreme Court to greenlight ballroom build

Donald Trump has petitioned the US Supreme Court to permit the ongoing construction of a ballroom at the White House. The request was filed by his legal team, appealing a previous injunction against the project. The specific details of the construction and the injunction date were not provided in the filing. This move is part of broader efforts to proceed with planned renovations at the official residence. The court will now review the petition to determine if construction can continue.

💧 Hungary sinking barges near nuclear plant for cooling

Hungary is taking an unusual measure to secure adequate cooling for its nuclear facilities. The decision involves sinking two barges in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant. This action was reportedly taken on October 25, 2023, to manage water levels effectively. The measure is part of ongoing operational procedures to maintain safety standards during periods of high demand. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation to ensure the cooling process remains stable moving forward. 💧

🇮🇳 India emphasizes strong ties with Italy amid Congress jabs

India stressed the importance of mutual respect and acknowledged deep ties with Italy following jabs from Congress leaders. The Ministry of External Affairs made this statement today after Rahul Gandhi mocked PM Narendra Modi's foreign policy handling. This followed an incident yesterday where Rahul Gandhi gave a 'mock hug' to Sandeep Dikshit at a Delhi event. BJP leaders strongly criticized this behaviour, calling it indecent and immature. India plans to continue strengthening its bilateral relationship with Italy going forward. 🇮🇳

👂 Samsung buds get FDA clearance for hearing aids

Samsung's Galaxy Earbuds have secured FDA clearance for a new hearing aid feature, entering the OTC hearing aid space. This move puts Samsung in competition with Apple's AirPods in this growing market. The feature allows people 18+ with mild to moderate impairment to use the earphones without a prescription. Samsung plans to roll out the Hearing Aid and Hearing Test on Buds3 Pro and Buds4 Pro in Q4 2026. This development aims to improve hearing aid accessibility and reduce stigma. 👂