The Supreme Court has deferred the hearing on the appointment of Odisha's Director General of Police (DGP) to September 2. During the hearing, the Odisha government submitted its response in a sealed cover through Advocate General Pitambar Acharya. The case involves allegations that the state did not follow the Supreme Court's 2006 Prakash Singh judgment guidelines. Currently, IPS officer Binayatosh Mishra holds additional charge as DGP, while senior officers like Sudhanshu Sarangi and others remain in the selection list amidst the ongoing legal dispute. https://www.samayalive.in/odisha-news/state-dgp-selection-hearing-postponed-to-september-2/article-38178

Two 8-foot-long snakes were spotted at Shah Rukh Khan's Mumbai residence, Mannat, on Nag Panchami. The incident occurred on August 17 while renovation work was ongoing. A rescue team was called, which managed to capture one snake, identified as a non-venomous rat snake, while the other remains missing. Shah Rukh Khan and his family were not at home as they are currently residing in a rented apartment in Pali Hill during the renovations, ensuring no harm was caused. The incident has gained significant social media attention due to its timing on the festival of Nag Panchami. https://argusnews.in/entertainment/nag-panchami-mannat-shah-rukh-khan-house-8-foot-snake-rescue

Reliance Jio has announced new benefits for its popular 299 INR plan, offering 1.5GB daily data, 5000GB free storage, Google Gemini Pro, and Jio Hotstar subscription. Amidst Airtel's price hikes, Jio introduced 'Jio Prime' for 300 INR, allowing users to lock their current plan rates until September 5, 2027. Members also get 600 INR worth of cashback vouchers and priority customer support. This service is available from August 20 for both existing and new users. https://odia.news18.com/news/odisha/jio-299-recharge-plan-jiohotstar-subscription-plus-storage-dkp-ws-l-405976.html

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested Mohammad Zafar, an associate of the terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed, from Meerut. Investigations revealed that Zafar was involved in terror funding by sending money to Pakistan via cryptocurrency. He allegedly collected donations in the name of madrasas and used them for anti-national activities. Zafar was also responsible for circulating provocative messages from Masood Azhar to incite youth towards jihad. Originally from Bihar, he had been operating across Meerut and Hapur. He has been sent to jail by a special court, and authorities are further investigating his links and financial transactions. https://odishasambad.in/ats-arrests-jaish-e-mohammed-terrorist-from-mosque-in-meerut24-yr-old-considered-masood-his-mentor/

Due to heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas, the water level of the Hirakud Dam has crossed 620 feet. To manage the inflow, 7 more sluice gates were opened on Tuesday in two phases. Currently, a total of 14 gates are open to discharge floodwater. The reservoir is receiving approximately 2,24,614 cusecs of water per second, while 2,54,137 cusecs are being released through gates, canals, and power channels. https://www.dharitri.com/water-level-of-hirakud-reservoir-crosses-620-feet-7-sluice-gates-reopened/

Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL) has launched the Aakash National Talent Hunt Exam (ANTHE) 2026 for students from classes 5 to 12. The exam will be conducted in both online and offline modes between October and November 2026. Top performers can avail up to 100% scholarship and a share of the 2.5 crore rupees cash prize pool. Over 1 crore students have registered for this assessment platform since its inception, helping them gauge their potential for competitive exams like NEET and JEE. https://odishatazanews.com/?p=210181

Former Australian cricketer David Warner has been convicted by a Sydney local court for drink driving. He was caught on April 5 while traveling with his family, with blood alcohol levels twice the legal limit. The court fined him 1,500 AUD and ordered the installation of an alcohol interlock device in his vehicle. Despite his lawyer's plea regarding the impact on his commercial deals, the judge prioritized road safety due to the presence of children in the car. https://odishasambad.in/former-australia-batsman-david-warner-fined-for-drink-driving/

Over 15 families and their livestock in Bhadrak, Odisha, have been living under polythene sheets for more than 15 days due to continuous flooding. The floodwaters have forced these families out of their homes, leaving them in a dire state without proper shelter or essentials. The situation remains critical as repeated waves of flooding continue to affect the region. https://otvkhabar.in/videosodisha/society/it-has-been-more-than-15-days-more-than-15-families-and-pets-have-been-trapped-12392496

A massive voter list revision is underway in Karnataka following a Special Institutional Review (SIR). Around 1.08 crore names are expected to be removed due to inconsistencies, deaths, permanent migration, and duplicate records. The draft list will be published on August 24, allowing citizens to file claims or objections until September 23. A similar situation is reported in Delhi, where 33% of voter forms are yet to be digitized. The final electoral roll for Karnataka is scheduled for release on October 27. https://argusnews.in/national/karnataka-sir-1-08-crore-names-may-be-removed-voter-list

In Baleswar district of Odisha, families have been living under plastic tarpaulins for the past 16 days due to severe flooding and continuous rainfall. As their houses remain submerged in water, they are forced to cook meals on makeshift brick stoves. The visual highlights the dire situation and suffering of the flood-affected poor people in the region. https://otvkhabar.in/videosodisha/society/due-to-the-rain-and-floods-the-house-has-been-flooded-for-16-days-and-they-have-been-eating-food-in-bricks-12392501