🗳️ US cites India's voter IDs, but Modi's elections?

US President Donald Trump promoted India's election system for tougher US voter ID laws. The comparison was made after the Chief Election Commissioner advised on photo ID requirements. India's last election had 646,000,000 voters, with less than 1 percent voting by mail. While admired for scale, Indian elections face scrutiny over rolls and institutional independence under PM Narendra Modi. The government rejected fraud allegations, despite opposition claims of irregularities in 2024 elections. 🧐

🤰 TN extends maternity leave to 365 days for third child

The Tamil Nadu government announced that women government employees will receive 365 days of maternity leave for their third child. This change was declared by HR Minister D Sarathkumar during the state Assembly debate. Previously, employees with two or more children were entitled to only 12 weeks of leave. This policy move comes amid concerns about Tamil Nadu’s Total Fertility Rate dropping below 1.4. The government may explore incentives similar to Andhra Pradesh's for future childbirths. 🤰

🏥 5-year-old dies after eating takeout food in Surat

A five-year-old girl tragically passed away after consuming Kaju-Paneer Curry from a Surat restaurant. The incident occurred in Ranujadham Society, where the family ordered the dish from Sheetal Restaurant. Five family members were hospitalized following severe stomach pain reported around 4 am on August 16. Doctors confirmed food poisoning for the survivors, while Arya died shortly after reaching Sadvichar Hospital. Health Minister Praful Pansheriya ordered the immediate sealing of Sheetal Restaurant and strict legal action against those responsible. 🏥

🛡️ Dubai gets missile alert amid West Asia tensions 🚨

Dubai residents received a missile alert for the first time in weeks due to rising tensions in West Asia linked to the US-Iran conflict. The UAE's defence ministry confirmed its air defence systems detected a missile threat on Tuesday, prompting an emergency alert for citizens. The ministry later clarified that one missile fell within UAE territorial waters while another fell outside. This was the first such alert since a false alarm in June, showing heightened regional instability. Authorities later confirmed the situation was safe, allowing residents to resume normal activities.

📸 Pokemon x Polaroid cameras dropping soon

New Pokémon x Polaroid special edition instant cameras and accessories are launching soon. These collectibles feature designs inspired by Pikachu, Sylveon, and Poké Ball across three camera styles. Specific models include the red and black Pokémon Edition and two Go Generation 3 variants. Various specialized film options are available, depicting different Pokémon in the frames. All items will be available for preorder at Pokémon Center and Polaroid.com.

🚨 UAE alerts citizens to possible missile threats

The UAE issued its first missile threat warning in several months, advising residents to seek shelter immediately. The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) detected the threat targeting the country on August 18, 2026. This alert followed the expiry of the Iran-US MoU meant to quell Middle East conflict. The interior ministry also urged people to find the closest secure building due to the current situation. This follows the last real warning in May and a false alarm in June. 🚨

📱 Slim Moto Pad 70 lands in India now

The slim Moto Pad 70, the third in its family, is now officially available in India. It is available on Motorola.in and Flipkart, with the 8/256GB model listed at ₹34,000 on Flipkart. This tablet runs on the Dimensity 6400 chipset and features 5G connectivity natively. It boasts a 10,200mAh battery and is guaranteed two OS updates up to Android 18. The device comes in Pantone Sea Angel color and is IP52 rated for protection.

🚗 Skoda Superb Diesel is coming back to India

Skoda Superb Diesel has been confirmed to return to the Indian market. This model is expected to make its comeback via Skoda Auto in India. The return is anticipated for the upcoming fiscal year, starting in 2024. This revival aims to cater to the segment that prefers diesel engine options in large sedans. Skoda Auto is reportedly finalizing the details for the refreshed launch. 🚗

🎬 Documentary dives into writer Zacharia's journey

A new documentary titled Zacharia explores the life and writing of prolific author Paul Zacharia. The film was screened at Kairali-Sree-Nila Theatre complex in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday, August 18. The 81-year-old writer debuted in 1964 with the short story Unni the Child. The movie weaves his personal experiences with his diverse body of work, including short stories and screenplays. The documentary aims to resurrect the influence of filmmakers like John Abraham and G. Aravindan.

🚨 Texas official investigates visa scam allegations

Texas journalist Sara Gonzales brought DOL Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito to Mohammad Abbas's office in Texas to accuse him of selling H-1B visas and Green Cards. Whistleblowers claimed they paid Abbas for visas but never received them, leading to the inspection. The DOL is cracking down on H-1B scams, and this visit was part of a larger inspection into sponsoring companies. D'Esposito stated this fraud takes American jobs from American workers and encouraged victims to contact the Labor Department. Abbas allegedly operates through companies citing the same Dallas suite, with funds routed from Pakistan.

😠 CM says CPI(M) is running a smear campaign

Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan accused the CPI(M) of orchestrating a vilification campaign against the UDF government. This accusation stemmed from claims that the government didn't protest Adani Port's sale of 49% of Vizhinjam International Port shares to MSC. The government actually put the business group on notice for secrecy, and the UDF learned via SEBI. Furthermore, Satheesan denied claims that the UDF legally asked Meta to remove critical posts. He invited affected parties to sue Meta if posts were taken down arbitrarily.