🎬 Sunny Deol's Batwara 1947 ticket sales are low

Sunny Deol's film, Batwara 1947, has seen a lower-than-expected advance booking for its genre. The movie stars Sunny Deol alongside Preity Zinta and Shabana Azmi, set to release soon. Only 20,000 tickets have been booked in major national chains like PVR Inox and Cinepolis for opening day. The film is facing stiff competition from Awarapan 2 at the box office right now. Its success will heavily depend on positive audience reception and subsequent spot bookings. 🎬

⛽ Thieves Tap Into HPCL Pipeline in Rajasthan

Eight petty thieves successfully mapped an underground HPCL pipeline in Rajasthan. They carried out this operation in the state of Rajasthan, where the theft took place. The thieves managed to siphon off a massive 20 tonnes of crude oil. This daring act highlights significant vulnerabilities in infrastructure security across the region. Authorities are now investigating the incident to bring the culprits to justice. ⛽

🏛️ Centre delists 18 monuments since 2021

The Centre informed Parliament that it has delisted 18 protected monuments because they were no longer deemed of national importance. Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat stated that ASI manages 3,688 centrally protected sites under its care. These 18 delistings occurred since 2021, including sites like Delhi's Bara Khamba Cemetery. Furthermore, 662 artefacts have been retrieved from four countries up to June 2026. No audit under the Public Records Act, 1993, has been conducted in the last 12 years because the law lacks provisions for it. 🧐

🤖 Robot finds 4,500-year-old sealed door in Giza Pyramid

A robot explored a hidden passage inside Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Giza using modern scanning technology. The device navigated a narrow, 100 feet long corridor to a solid, sealed barrier. This discovery renews questions about what secrets the ancient monument holds inside. Egyptologist Zahi Hawass plans to release an official report regarding these findings after 2026. This potential breakthrough could radically change our understanding of ancient Egyptian construction.

🏛️ UPSC delays Odisha DGP selection meeting

The Supreme Court directed the UPSC to postpone the selection meeting for the Odisha Director General of Police. This came after a petition, filed by P. Chidambaram, alleged the selection process violated the Prakash Singh judgment. The meeting, initially set for August 13, was deferred until the next apex court hearing on August 18. The core issue involved allegations that a junior officer was being unfairly included in the candidate list. The court's 2006 judgment mandates DGP selection from the top three officers empanelled by UPSC.

📵 Mobile phones banned at Kanaka Durga Temple

Mobile phones are now completely banned inside the Kanaka Durga temple premises in Vijayawada. The Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam implemented this ban to boost devotee safety and ensure smooth darshan. These measures were announced via a release on Thursday, August 14, 2026. Devotees must deposit their phones at designated counters before joining the darshan queues. Authorities also shifted service counters to manage crowds better.

🚧 Tunnel disaster in Chamoli leaves six dead

Water and debris entered an under-construction tunnel at a hydroelectric project site in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. Six workers have died and 14 others were injured out of 22 workers initially trapped. The incident was reported around 7:05 p.m. on Thursday, August 13, 2026, during heavy rainfall. Rescue operations involving multiple agencies are ongoing to locate the remaining workers. 😟

🚧 Six workers potentially stuck in Uttarakhand tunnel

Six workers are feared trapped inside an under-construction tunnel after water and debris entered the site. This incident occurred in the Pipalkoti area of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, on Thursday, August 13, 2026. Preliminary reports indicated 22 workers were inside when the event took place. Rescue efforts involved the Indian Army, ITBP, NDRF, and SDRF, with CM Pushkar Singh Dhami ordering a war footing rescue. The district has recently faced heavy rainfall, causing other infrastructure damage.

📊 Lok Sabha's Monsoon productivity hits 15% mark

The Monsoon Session concluded with the Lok Sabha functioning only 15 percent of its planned time. This low productivity level was recorded by PRS Legislative Research in the Lok Sabha in New Delhi. The session ended on Thursday, placing it among the weakest since 2004. This reflects persistent disruption within the Parliament over various issues. Future parliamentary functioning will be monitored based on these historical data points. 📉

🏗️ GVMC speeds up city upgrades before big summit

Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) is fast-tracking all infrastructure and beautification projects in the city. Commissioner Ketan Garg reviewed arrangements for the International Partnership Summit scheduled for November in Visakhapatnam. Major and urgent development works must be finished by September 15, while a regional summit might happen in early October. Officials must repair roads, improve drainage, and enhance greenery across the city. Sanitation maintenance and development of Street Vendor Zones must also be completed by August 25.

🤝 Barca and Man City close in on Rodri transfer

Barcelona is actively pursuing midfielder Rodri, but Manchester City is holding firm on the transfer fee. The clubs are currently separated by only £5 million in fixed payments during talks. Barcelona has offered £55 million, while City demands at least £60 million, plus variables. Rodri has committed to joining Hansi Flick's project for the next four seasons. The deal needs to finalize by Friday for him to avoid delaying his return to City. 🏃‍♂️