A political row has erupted between Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over police action against students protesting at Jantar Mantar. While Rijiju claimed the police action was minimal and no students were seriously injured, Rahul Gandhi shared a video of injured students calling the government's claims false and insensitive. Gandhi accused the government of hiding facts due to arrogance and demanded free treatment for injured students and action against police excesses during the protests related to NEET and exam irregularities. https://odishasambad.in/rahul-targets-centre-over-police-action-accuses-government-of-whitewashing-and-hiding-truth/

Revenue Inspector (RI) Suraj Bala of Jharapalli in Malkangiri district was arrested by the Vigilance Department while accepting a bribe of ₹8,000 for issuing a caste certificate. This is the second time he has been caught; he was previously arrested in November 2023 for taking a ₹15,000 bribe regarding land documents. Public demand for strict punishment has risen following his repeated offenses. https://odishasambad.in/ri-of-jharapali-circle-under-malkangiri-district-nabbed-by-odisha-vigilance-while-taking-bribe/

Russian missile and drone attacks have hit the ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih steel plant in Ukraine, owned by Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal. The attack resulted in two deaths and injured over 10 workers and contractors. The company has partially suspended operations following the damage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the casualties and noted that strikes also occurred in the city of Sumy. ArcelorMittal is the world's second-largest steelmaker, and its Ukrainian unit is the country's largest steel producer. https://sambad.in/india-and-beyond/russian-missile-strikes-lakshmi-mittals-steel-plant-in-ukraine-2-dead-12347809

Parents in Pattamundai, Kendrapara district, took matters into their own hands to rescue their children from Kulasahi Ashram School, which has been surrounded by floodwaters for two days. Around 255 students were stranded on the school's upper floor due to rising river levels. Frustrated by administrative delays in evacuation, parents used small boats to bring their children home. Many students reported health issues like fever and skin infections. While medical teams provided basic care, the lack of early administrative action has sparked public anger. https://odia.news18.com/news/odisha/parents-rescued-students-trapped-in-floodwaters-bks-ws-l-405878.html

MasterChef India winner Pankaj Bhadouria shared her painful experience of hair loss during chemotherapy on social media. The article explains that chemotherapy targets fast-growing cells, which affects hair follicles along with cancer cells, leading to thinning or total hair loss. This change often impacts a woman's identity and mental health, causing distress and loss of confidence. While this hair loss is usually temporary and hair regrows after treatment, experts emphasize the need for emotional support and psychological preparation for patients facing these physical changes. https://sambad.in/lifestyle/chemotherapy-and-womens-hair-loss-12393847

World Photography Day is celebrated annually on August 19th to honor the art and science of photography. The day commemorates the announcement of the 'Daguerreotype' process, developed by French scientist Louis Daguerre in 1837 and made public in 1939. This day encourages photographers to experiment with new techniques and styles while highlighting photography's power to preserve memories and tell stories. It also serves as a platform to discuss technical advancements and the evolution of visual storytelling across the globe. https://sambad.in/special/world-photography-day-12393817

National Aluminium Company (NALCO) has inaugurated a 50 kg per day capacity pilot plant at its Research and Technology Centre (NRTC) in Bhubaneswar to recover rare earth elements and industrial residues from fly ash. Developed in collaboration with CSIR-IMMT, the plant aims to extract alumina, silicates, quartz, and scandium. Additionally, a foundation stone was laid for a pilot plant to evaluate bauxite residue (red mud) for recovering ferro-titanium alloys and metallic iron, which are vital for EV, defense, and renewable energy sectors. https://sambad.in/business/rare-earth-elements-will-be-recovered-from-fly-ash-12393843

The Tamil Nadu government has announced that female government employees can now avail 365 days (one year) of maternity leave for their third child, increasing it from the previous 12 weeks. Minister for Human Resources Management, D. Sarathkumar, made this announcement in the Assembly. This move ensures that women employees receive full paid leave for their first, second, and third children equally. The decision aims to support social welfare and address the declining fertility rate and demographic shifts in the state. https://www.dharitri.com/government-announcement-one-year-maternity-leave-for-government-employees-for-third-child/

Due to severe flood conditions and heavy rainfall in Odisha, the state government and district administrations have declared holidays for schools in three districts. All schools in Sundargarh district, six blocks in Bhadrak, and four blocks in Jajpur will remain closed today to ensure student safety. https://odia.news18.com/photogallery/odisha/schools-closed-due-to-floods-sps-ws-l-406066.html

The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has arrested former Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain, former Delhi Jal Board CEO Udit Prakash Rai (IAS), and four others in connection with a multi-crore corruption case involving sewage treatment plant tenders. Investigations revealed that tender conditions were manipulated to benefit a specific private firm, and approximately 1.52 crore rupees in bribes were allegedly funneled through shell companies into the accounts of the CEO and his relatives. The ACB is currently tracing the full money trail and investigating the source of the bribe money used for property purchases. https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/zeeodisha/national-international/former-minister-satyendar-jain-arrested-in-jal-board-stp-tender-corruption-case/3290719