India
Tamil Nadu parties spar over state's stance on delimitation in assembly
A political clash erupted in the Tamil Nadu assembly over the state government's position on parliamentary delimitation. Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami questioned Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on whether the government had changed its stand on the issue. The dispute centred on whether the state's position had shifted from an earlier assembly resolution opposing delimitation. The resolution had previously reflected Tamil Nadu's concern that southern states could lose parliamentary seats due to slower population growth. The confrontation highlighted deepening divisions among Tamil Nadu parties on how to respond to the upcoming delimitation exercise.
Bihar Police Restricts Use of AK-47 and Heavy Rifles in Crowd Control
Bihar Police has issued a formal advisory placing restrictions on the use of heavy weapons during protest situations. The directive specifies that high-powered firearms including AK-47s, INSAS rifles, and Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs) will no longer be deployed routinely for crowd control. The advisory comes in the wake of an incident in which an AK-47 was reportedly fired at students during a protest. The move signals a policy shift aimed at regulating the use of force by personnel handling public demonstrations.

Kareena Kapoor's team denies third pregnancy rumours sparked by viral video
Kareena Kapoor Khan's team has confirmed she is not pregnant, dismissing speculation that spread after a viral video circulated online. Hindustan Times verified that the rumours of a third child are false. The actress and her husband Saif Ali Khan are already parents to two sons, Taimur and Jeh. The couple recently returned from a beach vacation where they celebrated Saif's 56th birthday. On the work front, Saif Ali Khan is set to reunite with Akshay Kumar in the upcoming film 'Haiwaan'.
Zuckerberg buys $35M Irish Gothic castle as family retreat
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have purchased Strancally Castle in County Waterford, Ireland, for approximately $35 million. The Gothic-style property dates back to around 1830 and had been renovated by its previous owners. The couple intends to use the castle as a private retreat during their visits to Ireland. The acquisition adds another international property to Zuckerberg's already extensive global real estate holdings.
Imran Khan Cites Health Problems From Isolation During Hospital Visit
PTI founder Imran Khan was taken to a hospital on Thursday, where he met with his sister Uzma Khan. Following the visit, Uzma held a press conference in Islamabad to share details of their meeting. Khan reportedly told his sister that his isolation in custody has been causing him health issues. Uzma relayed her brother's account of his condition to the media gathered at the press conference.

MEA Denies Political Clearance for Telangana CM Revanth Reddy's US Visit
India's Ministry of External Affairs has refused political clearance for Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's planned visit to the United States, citing the proposed programme as inappropriate. The MEA did, however, grant clearance for a separate leg of the trip to the United Kingdom. Consequently, the Chief Minister's office officially confirmed the cancellation of the US portion of the visit. Reddy is now expected to return to Hyderabad earlier than originally scheduled.
Aston Martin Runs Over Woman Crossing Road in Hyderabad, Victim Identified
A woman named Bharati Mukhi, originally from Mayurbhanj in Odisha, was fatally struck by an Aston Martin in Hyderabad. The incident occurred while she was crossing the road to return to work. The luxury car was allegedly travelling at high speed at the time of the collision. The crash left bystanders in shock, with the victim's body found on the road following the impact.

Apple cuts 60-member VR team ahead of John Ternus taking CEO role in September
Apple has laid off at least 60 employees from its virtual reality development division, effectively disbanding the entire VR group. The cuts come just days before John Ternus is set to replace Tim Cook as CEO on September 1. The move signals a strategic shift, with Apple redirecting resources toward Siri AI development and smart glasses projects. The Apple Vision Pro headset, priced at $3,699 and once championed by Tim Cook, now has a significantly reduced team supporting it.
TV Actor Arjun Bijlani Escapes Unhurt After Car Crash Post Promotions
Television actor Arjun Bijlani was involved in a car accident while returning from promotional activities, but escaped without any significant injuries. His companions in the vehicle were also reported to be safe and unharmed. Bijlani had recently appeared on an Indian game show to promote his upcoming Netflix project. Following news of the accident, fans took to social media to express relief and extend their well wishes to the actor.
Delhi Teen's Pellet Injuries at CJP Protest Trigger Rahul Gandhi-Police Standoff
Sahil Lochab, a teenager from Delhi, sustained multiple pellet injuries during a Congress Junior Party demonstration on July 20. After his complaint was ignored by authorities, Sahil sought police intervention to register a formal case. Rahul Gandhi stepped in to protest and demand the filing of an FIR on behalf of the injured teen. The incident escalated into a standoff between Gandhi and the Delhi Police. Sahil's career prospects have been significantly impacted due to the severity of his injuries.
Rajnath Singh Slams Congress Over Vande Mataram Opposition
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has sharply criticised the Congress party over its alleged opposition to Vande Mataram, calling the stance 'extremely regrettable'. He accused the party of revealing what he described as 'foolish and dangerous intentions' through its position on the national song. The remarks indicate a fresh political flashpoint between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress. The controversy centres on Congress's stance toward Vande Mataram, a song with deep national and cultural significance in India.

SBI to charge Rs 15 per cash withdrawal beyond four free monthly transactions
State Bank of India has revised its cash withdrawal policy, effective October 1, introducing a fee for Basic Savings Bank Deposit account holders. Customers will be allowed four free cash withdrawals per month, after which a charge of Rs 15 plus GST will apply. Transactions made through the Aadhaar Enabled Payment System will now be counted toward the free withdrawal limit. Digital transactions, however, will continue to remain free of charge. The policy change comes alongside other recent revisions at SBI, including updated interest rates on bulk term deposits.
From 41 in Class 10 Maths to IIT Bombay CS: Jainendrajeet's Turnaround
Jainendrajeet scored just 54% overall and 41 in mathematics in his Class 10 board exams, leaving him with a difficult academic path ahead. Determined to improve, he overhauled his approach to studying, focusing on smarter time management and targeted learning strategies. Three years later, his efforts translated into a remarkable 99.98 percentile in JEE Main. He also secured All India Rank 349 in JEE Advanced, one of India's most competitive engineering entrance exams. This result earned him admission into the Computer Science program at IIT Bombay.
Boston Woman's 140-Acre Donation Helped Found Acadia National Park
Eliza Homans, a Boston woman, donated 140 acres of Maine land that played a pivotal role in the establishment of Acadia National Park. Her contribution included notable landmarks such as the Bowl and the Beehive. The gift represented the first major donation made to the Hancock County Trustees of Public Reservation, effectively laying the foundation for the park's creation. In honor of her lasting contribution, a trail within the park was named Homans Path, preserving her legacy for future visitors.
JP Nadda Calls Health Review Meet as H1N1 Cases Rise in Delhi
Union Health Minister JP Nadda is set to chair a key review meeting on Friday to assess the rising H1N1 situation in Delhi. The surge in swine flu cases has been linked to unstable weather conditions in the region. Health officials attending the meeting will evaluate the current state of healthcare preparedness across the city. The review aims to strengthen disease surveillance and ensure hospitals have adequate resources to manage the outbreak. Authorities are focused on devising effective containment strategies to prevent further spread of the virus.
Nadda accuses Rahul of staging protest to deflect Vande Mataram controversy
BJP president JP Nadda criticised Rahul Gandhi for holding a sit-in outside a police station, calling it a publicity stunt. Nadda alleged the protest was a deliberate attempt to divert public attention from the Vande Mataram controversy surrounding the Congress party. Rahul Gandhi, however, stated his demonstration was aimed at highlighting alleged police brutality against students. The issue of police conduct stems from an incident on July 20, which is currently under review by the Supreme Court.