President at Jagannath Dham
President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Puri and offered prayers at the Lord Jagannath Temple. Before entering the shrine, she performed pind daan rituals at the sacred Swetaganga pond around 7 AM. She reached Singhadwar by 7:40 AM, where Gajapati Maharaja welcomed her.

Governance Goes WhatsApp
In a major citizen-centric move, Odisha’s Revenue Department will now offer services via WhatsApp. Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari said the 24×7 facility will handle land and property complaints, reduce corruption, and cut repeated tehsil visits. Strict action is promised for unresolved grievances or corruption complaints.

Top Maoist Surrenders
A hardcore Maoist carrying a reward of Rs 21 lakh surrendered before the Malkangiri Superintendent of Police, marking a major success in anti-Maoist operations. Sukhram Markam, an Area Committee Member active across Odisha and Chhattisgarh, had been involved in extremist activities for nearly 16 years.

Parliament War of Words
A heated verbal exchange broke out between Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu during a demonstration at Parliament. Gandhi termed Bittu a “traitor friend,” while Bittu retaliated by calling Gandhi a “enemy of the nation.” Bittu joined BJP ahead of the 2024 elections.

Solar Storm Alert Issued
Powerful solar flares have triggered global alerts, with ISRO closely monitoring the situation for possible radio blackouts. Officials said intense solar storms can disrupt satellites, TV signals, radars, and power grids. Over 50 Indian satellites are under constant watch amid heightened solar activity.

Fatal Addictions
Three minor girls — aged 16, 14 and 12 — died after allegedly jumping from a ninth-floor building in Ghaziabad. Police said the parents had objected to their excessive online gaming and Korean content consumption and confiscated their phones, a move that reportedly preceded the tragic incident.

Melinda Gates Breaks Silence
Melinda Gates reacted to fresh Jeffrey Epstein file revelations, suggesting her ex-husband Bill Gates’s association with the convicted sex offender contributed to their divorce. Speaking to NPR, she said such disclosures revive painful memories and stressed that those named in the documents must answer for their alleged actions.

Rajpal Yadav Ordered Jail
The Delhi High Court rejected actor Rajpal Yadav’s plea seeking more time to surrender in multiple cheque bounce cases. Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma said no leniency was warranted as Yadav repeatedly violated court assurances, directing him to surrender by 4 PM on Wednesday.