Water reservoirs in drought-prone districts of Vellore, Ranipet, Thirupathur, and Tiruvannamalai are at 55% capacity, sparking concerns over water scarcity. Authorities reserve the remaining water solely for domestic use due to extreme heatwave conditions, with temperatures expected to hit 44°C. The drying Palar River intensifies the crisis. Tamil Nadu's agriculture department advises farmers to switch to water-efficient crops like maize, ragi, and groundnuts, offering higher returns than water-intensive crops such as sugarcane and paddy. This move aims to mitigate the impact of water scarcity on agriculture while ensuring domestic water needs are met.

A massive forest fire in Nainital has led to urgent action, with the Indian Air Force and Army stepping in to help after over 36 hours of raging flames. Helicopters are being used to fight the fire. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has called for a meeting in Haldwani to tackle the crisis. Dhami acknowledges the seriousness of the situation, calling it a big challenge, and has requested military assistance. This emphasizes the need for quick and coordinated efforts to stop the fire and protect both people and the environment.    

As heatwaves engulf parts of India, the only saviour that we all are looking at is a juicy yellow mango. The plump, sun-kissed fruits, known for their distinctive taste, hanging from branches, bending under their weight fills the heart with delight. A large pot of cool water with mangoes submerged in it is a sight to behold. The wait to peel and devour them feels endless, yet blissful.     This mango season brings a taste of luxury with some of the world's most expensive mango varieties. From Pakistan's Sindhri Mango, known for its sweetness and a price tag of Rs 3,000 per piece, to India's Kohitur Mango, crafted for royalty and priced between Rs 3,000 to Rs 12,000 per piece. India's Alphonso Mango reigns as the "king of mangoes," reaching up to Rs 1,500 per kilogram during peak season. The Noorjahan Mango, hailing from Afghanistan and named after a Mughal queen, weighs a hefty 3.5 kilograms and can cost up to Rs 1,000 per piece. Lastly, Japan's prized Miyazaki Mango steals the show with a staggering price of Rs 3 lakh per kilogram. Some farmers in West Bengal, India, have also started cultivating this prized variety.

In a suspected militant attack in Manipur's Bishnupur district, one CRPF personnel was killed and three others injured. Militants fired from a hillside towards a security post in Naranseina village, with one bomb detonating within the outpost. The assault lasted from midnight to around 2:15 am. The deceased belonged to CRPF's 128 Battalion stationed at Naranseina. The attackers fired indiscriminately and hurled bombs, leading to casualties. The injured personnel are receiving treatment. The incident underscores ongoing security challenges in the region.

WhatsApp warns of closure in India if forced to compromise encryption, citing user privacy protection. Legal battle with Delhi High Court ensues over IT Rules 2021, challenging message traceability mandate. Meta-owned platform, with 400 million Indian users, emphasizes privacy features as key attraction. CEO Mark Zuckerberg lauds India's messaging embrace. WhatsApp and Meta contest rules as undermining encryption and violating constitutional rights. Concerns raised over extensive message storage requirements under regulations, differing from global standards. Complex legal standoff unfolds amidst debate on privacy versus security.

Authorities issued a Lookout Circular against Anmol Bishnoi, linked to the firing outside Salman Khan's home. Traced to Portugal, his Facebook post IP led to Kenya. Police are pursuing his brother, Lawrence Bishnoi, contemplating invoking MCOCA. Recently, two men were arrested from Punjab for supplying pistols to the shooters. A gun, used in the incident, was found in Gujarat's Tapi River. Investigations reveal the weapon was provided just before the attack. With international connections emerging, the case takes a complex turn, implicating a broader network in the incident.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) unearthed arms, including foreign-made pistols, and ammunition during raids in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali, following an attack on an Enforcement Directorate team. Allegations suggest the involvement of local Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan. NSG commandos have been deployed, and the raids are ongoing. Meanwhile, the West Bengal government has challenged the CBI probe in the Supreme Court. The high court previously instructed CBI to investigate alleged offences, including land grabbing and sexual assault in Sandeshkhali. The incident adds to concerns over the area's law and order situation amidst escalating tensions.

The Supreme Court dismissed petitions advocating for paper ballot voting and cross-verification of EVMs with VVPAT, affirming the credibility of Electronic Voting Machines. However, it directed the Election Commission to seal symbol loading units in the presence of agents and candidates and verify 5% of EVMs' memory semicontroller after the results' announcement. Candidates bearing verification expenses will receive refunds if tampering is found. Justice Datta emphasized meaningful criticism for strengthening democracy's pillars. The court's decision follows a clutch of petitions raising doubts about EVM efficacy, highlighting the necessity for trust-building measures in electoral processes.

A 24-year-old man, Sangeet Singh, was arrested at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport for pretending to be a Singapore Airlines pilot. Singh, hailing from Gautam Buddha Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, was caught by CISF guards wearing a pilot's uniform and sporting a phony airline ID. Investigation unveiled that Singh crafted the fake ID using an online app called Business Card Maker and purchased the uniform and accessories from Pilot 18, Sector 9, Dwarka. It was also discovered that Singh completed a 12-month Aviation Hospitality course in Mumbai in 2020. Authorities are now probing further into the matter to ascertain any other potential breaches or accomplices.

The Supreme Court turned down requests to verify all votes cast through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and revert to paper ballots. Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta rejected pleas from groups like the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). Instead, they ordered the Election Commission of India (ECI) to seal Symbol Loading Units (SLUs) after symbol loading and to allow engineers to inspect EVM memory post-results, upon candidates' request within seven days. This reaffirms the use of EVMs with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips in elections, emphasizing procedural safeguards.