⚖️ Wassim al-Assad gets death sentence for war crimes

Wassim al-Assad has been sentenced to death for crimes including premeditated murder and torture during the Syrian war. He is a cousin of Bashar al-Assad, and the sentence was handed down on Tuesday by the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus. This follows the sentencing of Bashar al-Assad, Maher al-Assad, and Atef Najib on August 11. Wassim al-Assad was charged with leading pro-regime paramilitary groups and targeting civilians in Eastern Ghouta. The court also ordered the confiscation of his assets as part of ongoing transitional justice efforts. ⚖️

🔪 Delhi worker stabbed to death, city sanitation halts

A 27-year-old MCD sanitation worker, Anil, was allegedly stabbed to death in East Delhi’s Kalyanpuri area. This tragic incident triggered massive protests and a subsequent strike among fellow sanitation workers across Delhi. The killing occurred recently, prompting workers to demand immediate action against the accused and financial support for Anil's family. Consequently, civic sanitation services have been severely disrupted, leading to large piles of uncollected garbage across the city. Workers plan to keep auto-tippers off the roads until they receive adequate compensation from the government.

📱 Fairphone 6+ drops in the US market

Fairphone has officially launched its new smartphone, the Fairphone 6+. This device is now available in the US through the official online store and Amazon. It features a 12GB RAM upgrade and the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 SoC, priced at $649. The phone boasts a 6.31-inch OLED screen and is guaranteed six major Android updates. Importantly, it maintains 12 user-replaceable parts and comes with a five-year warranty. 📱

😠 Bajrang Dal demands bandh over alleged cattle theft attack

Bajrang Dal activists called for a bandh in Shikaripur on Wednesday, August 19, following an alleged attack on their workers. This incident occurred in Harathalu village, Hosanagara taluk, where activists pursued cattle thieves. The attack happened on Sunday, August 16, when the accused rammed the activists' vehicle. Shikaripur MLA B.Y. Vijayendra and Shivamogga MP also lent their support to the protest. They are demanding immediate action from the state government against the accused individuals. 😠

💾 Space aims for the infinite computer concept

Space is tackling the huge file transfer delays plaguing cloud computing for many businesses. The San Francisco-based startup is raising $2.4 million in a pre-seed funding round. This issue affects sectors like video production and design, which deal with massive files across various clouds and devices. Their solution lets users access cloud files instantly, similar to streaming a film. This move aims to create an 'infinite computer' for humans and AI agents.

🏏 Babar out; Pakistan names new captain for England Test

Babar Azam will miss the first England Test match in the ongoing series. Pakistan has won two Tests and lost four in the current cycle. The first Test is scheduled from August 19–23 at Headingley. Pakistan has named a new captain for the series to lead the team. The next matches are set for August 27–31 at Lord's and September 9–13 at Edgbaston.

🧊 US and China's Arctic Route Drama

The provided text features a cartoon illustrating double standards related to the China-Europe Arctic route. It also mentions US actions concerning aircraft carriers in Asia and its focus on Iran. Furthermore, the World Bank cautioned that a long-running US-Iran conflict could reduce 2026 global economic growth to 1.3%. The US Treasury recently collaborated in Tokyo to stabilize the yen against the dollar. These events highlight complex geopolitical and economic tensions globally.

🕌 Religious ritual at protected Mehtab Bagh site

Unidentified men performed religious rituals, including Shiva puja and offering Gangajal, inside the ASI-protected Mehtab Bagh complex. This incident occurred on August 17 in Agra, north of the Taj Mahal across the Yamuna river. Officials noted that up to three people linked to Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha might be involved in the event. The ritualists claimed the Taj Mahal was originally a Shiva temple named 'Tejo Mahalaya'. An FIR has been registered, and an investigation is underway regarding the breach of site regulations. 🏛️

📢 BJP protest continues over Nagendra's resignation

The BJP's indefinite protest demanding Minister B. Nagendra's resignation entered its second day on Tuesday, August 18. Shivamogga MP B.Y. Raghavendra joined the protest at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Shivamogga. The BJP initially started the demonstration on Monday, August 17, to push for his removal. Raghavendra argued that Nagendra should not have been re-inducted due to corruption allegations. The party threatens to besiege the Vidhana Soudha if the state government does not act.

🤔 Mallika Sherawat's dress questioned on The Traitors

Shalini Passi questioned Mallika Sherawat's claim about wearing a Dolce & Gabbana dress on The Traitors season 2. This incident happened during the first three episodes, featuring both contestants in the show. The game is currently underway with 18 contestants, and Munawar Faruqui was eliminated on the first day. The show context involves high stakes as players try to uncover the traitors among the innocents. Viewers can catch The Traitors season 2 now on Prime Video.

🍎 Raisin water ritual: Hype or health boost?

A viral morning raisin-water ritual is being questioned for its health claims. Celebrity dietitian Simrat Kathuria discussed this trend in an interview with HT Lifestyle. She noted raisins have fibre and potassium, but the soaking water lacks special benefits. The ritual is good for hydration and relaxation, not a detox or weight loss fix. If enjoying, eat the raisins to get the nutrients, not just the water.