Times of India

The Lok Sabha passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026. This bill seeks to increase the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges. The legislation will now be sent to the Rajya Sabha for its consideration. The government argues this increase will improve judicial efficiency and speed. The sanctioned strength was last increased in 2019.

A Telangana consumer commission found a photography studio liable for service deficiency. The studio failed to deliver all promised birthday photos and provided AI-generated images. This caused significant mental agony and embarrassment for the complainant's family. The commission ordered the studio to pay compensation and litigation costs. The studio did not contest the allegations before the commission.

The Supreme Court stated police using excessive force and hardened criminals will not be protected. States can withdraw FIRs against students from the NEET-UG protest as per law. The court may issue guidelines on pellet gun usage during protests. "Criminal antecedents" will only cover grave and heinous offences, not minor cases. The matter has been listed for further hearing on August eighteenth.

A video has emerged showing a deadly avalanche on Broad Peak, situated in PoK, that swept away a 10-member international expedition including renowned climber Nirmal Purja.

BJP leader Ramesh Bidhuri alleged locksmiths and puncture repairers outnumbered students at a recent protest. He criticized the abusive language used against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his family. Bidhuri claimed opposition leaders misled youth into gathering at Jantar Mantar for the protest. Prime Minister Modi expressed pain over abuses directed at his late mother. He called for forgiving the misguided youth and guiding them instead.

The luxury real estate market in Palm Springs is witnessing notable price drops following an unprecedented surge. Properties are lingering on the market longer and frequently selling for less than their listed prices. This trend suggests a cooling off as inventory levels rise. On average, home values have slightly dipped compared to last year, marking a shift after a period driven by remote work opportunities and attractive low rates.

The survey indicated that resilient demand continued to support the sector, although the pace of growth in new orders, input purchases and hiring moderated during the month.

On Monday, Jammu and Kashmir seamer Auqib Nabi replaced injured Jasprit Bumrah in the India squad for the upcoming two-match Test tour of Sri Lanka. With his maiden call-up to the senior national team, he became the first player from the valley to get selected in India's Test squad. The J&K seamer's rise is driven by a simple philosophy: if you want to play for India, excuses are not an option.

Indian cities face constant road digging due to uncoordinated utility projects. This repeated excavation wastes fuel and causes significant traffic congestion for commuters. Many agencies work separately, leading to roads being dug up multiple times. Integrated planning and digital mapping are needed to manage infrastructure better. Smarter governance is essential as India's urban population continues to grow.

Yanbu has become a critical export hub for Saudi Arabia after the Iran war disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. To maintain crude exports, the kingdom has been transporting millions of barrels of oil each day via pipeline to the Red Sea port.

Abhijeet Dipke stated protests in Bangladesh and Nepal are being used to defame his group. Taslima Nasreen had drawn parallels between CJP protests and a past Bangladeshi student movement. The CJP founder asserted that their protests are fundamentally different from those abroad. In a separate development, the CJP extended support to students protesting examination irregularities. A student leader in Jharkhand began an indefinite hunger strike demanding an investigation.

Southwest monsoon has caused widespread devastation across Assam, Gujarat, and Kerala. Assam reported the highest death toll, with 82 people dead and nearly 1.78 lakh affected. Gujarat faced severe flooding after heavy rainfall, recording 35 rain-related deaths. Kerala battled rain-induced landslides and flash floods, leaving 15 people dead. Relief operations are ongoing in all affected states.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says AI has “net created a lot of jobs” thanks to the massive infrastructure buildout, dismissing fears of AI job losses. His remarks come months after Meta laid off 8,000 employees—10% of its workforce—in an AI-first restructuring, while committing $130-145 billion to AI spending in 2026. Meta’s Q2 free cash flow crashed 91% as shares fell 10%, even as revenue jumped 28% to $60.8 billion.

A consumer commission ordered Cordlife Sciences India to pay over Rs 2.16 lakh. The company discarded a newborn's cord blood sample due to delayed payment. The commission found the company acted unfairly and engaged in unfair trade practices. It noted the couple never refused payment and were not given a chance to pay. The company was directed to refund the initial payment and pay compensation and costs.

Lauren Sanchez's career evolved from a teenage waterpark job to ocean conservation leadership. She recently explored the Galápagos Islands, highlighting shark importance. The Bezos Earth Fund supports significant marine conservation projects in the region. These initiatives protect vast ocean areas and numerous marine species. Sanchez's work now focuses on protecting vital ocean ecosystems.