Jyotirmayee Nayak from Odisha has won the Indian Idol Season 16 title, becoming the first girl from the state to achieve this feat. She received a trophy and a cash prize of 20 lakh rupees. The grand finale featured judges like Shreya Ghoshal and Badshah, alongside veteran singers like Udit Narayan and Kumar Sanu. Her victory has brought immense pride and joy to the people of Odisha. https://www.dharitri.com/jyotirmayee-nayak-winner-of-indian-idol-season-16/

Niladri Bije marks the return of the deities to the Jagannath Temple in Puri. After Suna Besha and Adhara Pana, the idols are taken in a procession called Goti Pahandi to the Ratna Singhasana. A unique ritual involves a dialogue between Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Jagannath, where the Lord offers Rasagola to appease the Goddess. This is the only day Rasagola is offered to the Lord inside the temple, prepared with great purity by the Bhitarachha Mahapatra. https://www.samayalive.in/feature/niladribije/article-37781

A massive explosion occurred at the Kade Global Infrastructure LLP rod manufacturing factory in Cachar district, Assam, around 11:30 AM. The blast resulted in the deaths of four workers and left several others critically injured. Part of the factory structure collapsed due to the intensity of the blast. Local police and rescue teams have shifted the injured to a nearby hospital. Preliminary investigations suggest a gas cylinder explosion as the likely cause of the incident. https://sambad.in/india-and-beyond/assam-rod-factory-blast-cachar-four-workers-killed-many-injured-12200116

LPG cylinder prices are expected to undergo revision on August 1st by state-owned oil companies like IOCL, HPCL, and Bharat Gas. Global factors, including the Iran-USA conflict, have led to significant volatility in fuel prices. In the first half of the year, domestic gas prices rose by 89 rupees. While previous months saw consistent hikes, the upcoming revision on the first of August will determine whether prices decrease or increase for consumers. https://argusnews.in/national/lpg-cylinder-price-change-august-1-domestic-commercial-gas-rates

The Communist Party of India (CPI) Ganjam district committee held a meeting in Chhatrapur to celebrate the success of the youth student movement held at Jantar Mantar, Delhi. During the assembly, CPI leaders demanded the resignation of Odisha's School and Mass Education Minister, Nityananda Gond, citing errors and mismanagement in school textbooks. They also called for the abolition of NTA and NEP, demanding extensive reforms in the education sector to ensure transparency in examinations. https://www.dharitri.com/public-education-minister-should-resign-cpi-furious/

An IndiGo flight (6E 1452) flying from Dubai to Mumbai made an emergency landing at Rajkot airport in Gujarat after smoke was suspected in the cargo hold. All 194 passengers and crew members are safe. The airport authorities declared a full emergency to ensure a safe landing. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the smoke. https://otvkhabar.in/national/indigo-flight-with-194-onboard-lands-safely-after-mid-air-smoke-scare-12202439

A policeman named Abhishek Patel in Bihar's Siwan district has been suspended after a video of him firing an AK-47 during a student protest went viral. The incident occurred during a statewide shutdown called by student unions over the NEET paper leak. Superintendent of Police Puran Kumar Jha ordered the suspension and a departmental inquiry. Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav has condemned the incident, criticizing the state government for the police action against protesters. https://sambad.in/india-and-beyond/bihar-cop-seen-on-camera-firing-at-protesting-students-with-ak-47-suspended-12202423

India has summoned the Ukrainian Ambassador after an attack on a commercial vessel, MV AGN Ragnar, near Odesa port in the Black Sea. The ship had four Indian crew members, two of whom are confirmed safe while information on the others is awaited. This follows a previous incident on July 18 where an Indian national died in an attack on the vessel MV Omorfi. The Ministry of External Affairs expressed serious concern over maritime security and the safety of international trade routes. https://sambad.in/india-and-beyond/india-summons-ukraine-envoy-as-strikes-kill-indian-seafarer-5-nationals-dead-in-black-sea-ship-attacks-12202500

The iPhone 16 Plus has received a significant price cut of over ₹12,000 on Flipkart, bringing its price down from ₹89,900 to ₹77,900. Customers can get additional discounts through Axis or SBI Bank credit cards, potentially lowering the effective price to ₹74,055. The deal also includes no-cost EMI options starting at ₹6,492 per month and exchange bonuses up to ₹60,750. The device features a 6.7-inch display, A18 chipset, and a 48MP primary camera. https://argusnews.in/tech/iphone-16-plus-bumper-discount-bank-offers-best-price-india

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has been permitted by the Bombay High Court to file a civil suit against social media giants Meta, X (formerly Twitter), and Google. The lawsuit addresses AI-generated deepfake videos and digital content intended to defame him, particularly concerning ethanol blending initiatives. Justice Abhay Ahuja's bench granted the permission on Monday. The court will later hear applications for interim relief regarding the immediate removal of the controversial content. https://sambad.in/india-and-beyond/bombay-hc-allows-nitin-gadkari-to-sue-meta-x-over-alleged-e20-deepfakes-12202243