All Indian airlines will now check if pilots are high

Developer Builds Voice Reflection AI Agent in 15 Minutes Using Agora Agents SDK

A developer created a fully functional voice-based daily reflection companion called 'Compass' in under 15 minutes using the Agora Agents SDK. The app was built with a Python and FastAPI backend, combining Deepgram for speech-to-text, OpenAI's GPT-4o-mini as the language model, and MiniMax for text-to-speech output. The Agora SDK, built on the same real-time communications infrastructure used by hundreds of millions of video-call users, abstracts away complex audio pipeline tasks such as WebRTC streaming, interruption handling, and token management. Notably, the agent handled mid-sentence user interruptions cleanly without any custom interruption-handling code. The developer noted that the main setup hurdle was locating the Conversational AI feature toggle in the Agora console, found under Project Settings and Features.

Xi Jinping to Visit India for BRICS Summit on Sept 12-13, First Trip in 7 Years

China has officially confirmed that President Xi Jinping will travel to India to attend the BRICS summit scheduled for September 12-13. This will mark Xi's first visit to India in seven years. The visit was confirmed by Chinese authorities, signaling a notable diplomatic engagement between the two neighbouring nations. The BRICS summit serves as the occasion bringing the two leaders together on Indian soil.

OMP Tandem: Open-Source Tool Pairs Two AI Coding Agents for Independent Code Review

A developer has released OMP Tandem, an open-source bridge that connects a primary coding agent to a second, independent AI peer within the same development workflow. The tool links a host agent — such as Claude Code or Codex CLI — to a separate model configured via Oh My Pi, using MCP and the official omp_rpc client. Unlike typical single-agent setups, Tandem is designed so the peer model independently assesses a problem before seeing the host agent's explanation, reducing the risk of biased review. The peer can challenge architectural assumptions, investigate suspicious code paths, or implement discrete parts of a plan, with conversation history preserved across sessions. Tandem does not bundle model access or bypass provider policies; users must configure their own accounts and client support separately.

China develops autonomous J-50 stealth fighter with quantum navigation and drone control

China is developing next-generation stealth fighter jets with advanced autonomous capabilities, according to reports. The Shenyang Aircraft Design and Research Institute is leading the research behind these aircraft. Key features under development include pilotless flight and quantum-based navigation systems that function without satellite signals. The fighters are also being designed to coordinate large swarms of drones across multiple mission types. The initiative reflects China's broader ambition to leapfrog current global standards in combat aircraft technology.

'Be our co-traveller': PM Modi to France, other nations at space summit address

Emily St. John Mandel's New Novel Explores What It Means to Vanish from the State

Emily St. John Mandel's upcoming novel 'Exit Party' centers on a world where individuals can be erased from official existence. In the story, becoming a 'ghost' is not a voluntary escape but a consequence of crossing the government. The narrative follows a secret agent who discovers how little it takes to fall off the grid against one's will. An excerpt from the book has been published by Wired, offering readers an early glimpse into its themes of surveillance and state control.

HTTP 200 Status Alone Can Mask Broken Dependencies in Uptime Kuma Monitors

Uptime Kuma, a self-hosted monitoring tool, can falsely report a service as 'UP' even when a backend dependency like a database has failed, as long as the endpoint returns HTTP 200. Testing with version 2.5.3 showed that both status-code-only and broad keyword checks passed a response where the database field explicitly read 'down'. This happens because HTTP 200 only confirms the response was received, not that the underlying services are functioning correctly. Using the JSON Query monitor type to check a specific response field — such as checks.database — correctly detected the failure in all tested scenarios. Developers are advised to configure targeted JSON queries and verify alert delivery separately before relying on a green status badge.

How to Use DelegatingHandler to Build Middleware Pipelines for HttpClient in .NET

The DelegatingHandler class in .NET's HttpClient allows developers to build a chain of interceptors that process every HTTP request and response in sequence. Modeled after the Chain of Responsibility design pattern, each handler in the pipeline can inspect or modify requests before passing them along, and responses on the way back. Practical use cases include logging request durations, automatically injecting authentication tokens, propagating correlation IDs across microservices, and recording performance metrics. Multiple handlers can be registered and chained together using the IHttpClientFactory configuration in the dependency injection setup. This approach centralizes cross-cutting concerns and eliminates repetitive boilerplate code scattered across HTTP call sites.

Nine Major Streaming Subscriptions Now Cost $702 More Per Year Than in 2021

A new analysis published on HonestlyRanked reveals that the combined cost of nine popular streaming service subscriptions has risen significantly over the past few years. The total annual price for the same bundle of services is now $702 higher compared to 2021 prices. The findings highlight a broad trend of price hikes across the streaming industry, affecting consumers who subscribe to multiple platforms. The report serves as a cost comparison guide, tracking how individual service prices have changed over time.

When can you order new Apple products in India?

Private 17.83-acre Georgia island hits market for $2.5 million

Hawaii's Guinea Grass Spreads Wildfire Risk With 9,000 Seeds and 9-Foot Growth

Guinea grass, originally introduced to Hawaii in the 19th century for grazing purposes, has since become a serious ecological threat across the islands. The invasive perennial can grow up to nine feet tall and produce as many as 9,000 seeds per plant, enabling rapid and widespread proliferation. Its ability to recover quickly after fires makes it a significant contributor to wildfire risk by supplying large amounts of combustible fuel. The species serves as a cautionary example of how imported plants can cause lasting and unintended environmental damage.

Trump goes desi: First voter ID, now cash in the account

Xi Jinping to arrive Saturday for BRICS, first visit in 7 years

Satya Niketan Collapse: Legal Experts Say Disclaimer Clauses Won't Shield PG Owners

A building collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan locality claimed seven lives and left several others injured. The incident has raised questions about whether disclaimer clauses in rent agreements can protect PG owners from legal liability. Legal experts have clarified that such clauses cannot override statutory duties or excuse negligent conduct. Victims' families may still pursue compensation provided they can establish negligence and a direct causal link. Ongoing investigations are expected to determine the extent of responsibility of both property owners and relevant authorities.

Samsung Mocks Apple's iPhone Duo Launch, Calls It 'Boring' in Social Media Jabs

Samsung Mobile US launched a series of humorous social media posts targeting Apple's latest product event. The campaign took aim at Apple's new foldable phone, with Samsung highlighting its own established foldable technology in contrast. Language-learning app Duolingo also joined the exchange, adding to the public banter. The playful rivalry transformed a standard corporate product launch into a widely watched online conversation.

Vari Ergo Electric Standing Desk Offers Compact Design at Affordable Price

The Vari Ergo is an electric standing desk reviewed by Wired ahead of 2026. The desk is noted for its compact form factor and budget-friendly pricing. It features a gently sloped surface designed to align with the user's natural posture. Assembly is described as straightforward and user-friendly. Overall, the desk is positioned as a practical option for those seeking an ergonomic workspace solution.

Cargo Ship Fire in Eastern China Causes Significant Casualties

A cargo ship caught fire in eastern China, resulting in significant casualties among those on board. Chinese President Xi Jinping has responded to the incident by calling for urgent search and rescue operations. The fire broke out on a vessel in the region, prompting an emergency response. Authorities have been mobilized to assist survivors and manage the situation. The exact cause of the fire and the full extent of casualties have not yet been confirmed.

Developer builds reproducible Erlang learning environment using Nix flakes

A developer learning Erlang has published a GitHub repository combining a Nix-based development shell with small experimental programs written during the learning process. The setup uses Nix flakes to pin the environment to a specific Nixpkgs revision, ensuring that Erlang/OTP 29.0.6 is used consistently by anyone who clones and enters the shell. The repository is structured around two components: a flake.nix configuration file and a directory of programs written while working through the book 'Learn You Some Erlang for Great Good!'. The environment is deliberately minimal, currently including only Erlang itself, with tools like Rebar3 left out until more complex projects require them. The developer notes the setup may expand over time as the scope of their Erlang experiments grows.