🎶 Tribal artists in Kerala gain new music rights access

New professional avenues are opening for artists from tribal communities in Kerala to protect their work and earn royalties. Eight artists from Wayanad, Paniya, and Kattunaika communities attended a workshop in Kolkata, West Bengal. The five-day 'Living Roots Originals' program ran from August 3rd, supported by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs. This initiative addresses past financial exploitation in the commercial music industry for these artists. All participants will be enrolled for free at the IPRS and retain authorship rights for their original songs. 🎶

💧 State plans to fight drought in Raichur

The state government has launched key initiatives to tackle the ongoing drought situation in Raichur district. Minister Ajay Dharam Singh surveyed affected areas in Raichur after being instructed by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. The administration holds ₹4.95 crore, and the CM announced ₹100 lakh for each taluk for the drinking water crisis. The Agricultural Department supports farmers, achieving 2.73 lakh hectares of sowing this kharif season. A state delegation will visit New Delhi to push for pending Union government grants for the Kalyana Karnataka region. 💧

🚨 Police PRO confronts Congress leader over Hansi clash post

A controversy started after the Hisar police PRO called Congress leader Kiran Malik about her WhatsApp post concerning Hansi clashes. The PRO asked Malik to take down the post claiming the Hansi SP threw stones at protesters. Malik argued that the senior-most officer, the SP, was seen pelting stones at the mob during the violence. This dispute surfaced following clashes during the Independence Day function on August 15th. Malik threatened to file a petition in the high court on Monday regarding the events.

🇮🇳 AP Minister faints during Tirupati Independence Day event

Minister for Endowments Anam Ramanarayana Reddy fainted while addressing the public during the 80th Independence Day celebrations. This incident occurred in Tirupati on Saturday at the Police Parade Grounds after he hoisted the Tricolour. Security personnel quickly caught him as he became unwell, and the on-site medical team provided first aid. Following the necessary care, the Minister was declared safe and continued participating in the festivities. This event took place on August 15, 2026. 🇮🇳

💔 Bigg Boss star claims ex pressured her to change religion

Bigg Boss 13 contestant Himanshi Khurana shared shocking details about her past relationship with Asim Riaz. She spoke to former co-contestant Paras Chhabra about being pressured to leave her Hindu faith. Khurana stated Asim Riaz praised Islam and urged her to accept it during their four-year relationship. Despite considering conversion, she decided to complete the Char Dham Yatra as a goodbye to her beliefs. She ultimately realized she could not renounce her faith, citing deep internal connections.

💥 US loses 46th Reaper drone in Iran War

The US has lost a total of 46 MQ-9 Reaper drones since Operation Epic Fury commenced on February 28, 2026. These losses occurred near the Strait of Hormuz, with reports attributing them to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The tally has significantly increased since a May 2026 report noted 24 losses in the conflict. This rise is linked to the resumption of hostilities over control of the vital Strait of Hormuz. Despite the heavy losses, the USAF Chief of Staff still called the Reaper the Most Valuable Player.

🏏 UP T20 League: Kashi Rudras vs Kanpur Superstars Clash

The 4th match of the Uttar Pradesh T20 League 2026 is scheduled for August 16th between Kashi Rudras and Kanpur Superstars. The game will take place at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Kashi Rudras currently sits in 2nd place while Kanpur Superstars is in 3rd place in the points table. Predictions suggest Kanpur Superstars will win the toss and the match, with Priyanshu Pandey being the top batter. The final predicted team scores are Kanpur Superstars at 150+ and Kashi Rudras at 145+.

🇮🇳 Gandhi Temple buzzes for 80th Independence Day

The Mahatma Gandhi Temple in Shanti Nagar, Srikakulam, saw a huge crowd for the 80th Independence Day celebrations on Saturday. People from all walks of life, including students from schools and colleges, paid respects to freedom fighters whose statues were added in 2022. The event was organized by Surangi Mohana Rao and Jami Bhimashankar. Furthermore, the association plans to install a 'Jai-Jawan-Jai Kisan' statue soon to honour soldiers and farmers. This new statue is currently under brisk construction at the premises.

🚢 Trump on USS Abraham Lincoln's deployment

Donald Trump commented on the recent deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln. The deployment took place in the context of military operations involving the US Navy. Specific dates and duration details were not provided in the available report. Trump stated that the mission was 'not nearly long enough' for its intended objectives. Further statements from the administration regarding the deployment timeline are expected soon.

🤖 Gemini 3.7 Flash drops with huge coding boost

Google released Gemini 3.7 Flash, significantly upgrading its coding capabilities for developers. The new model shows a DeepSWE v1.1 jump to 65.3% compared to previous versions, as reported by Google DeepMind. Introductory pricing is 50% off until December 31, 2026, before doubling on January 1, 2027. This release positions Gemini as a powerful workhorse for agentic and coding tasks. Teams should evaluate the unit economics before the price increase takes effect. 🚀

🩺 AP gears up for health emergency simulations

The Department of Health is organizing simulation exercises across various districts to beef up emergency response capabilities. Commissioner K.V.N. Chakradhar Babu confirmed these sessions will test the whole system's performance, not just specific procedures. The first exercise on leptospirosis is set for Machilipatnam, Krishna district, on August 18 and 19. Subsequently, an HPAI drill will take place in Bhimavaram, West Godavari district, on August 20 and 21. Future exercises will cover dengue, scrub typhus, and cholera in different districts.