🍎 ₹2,000 crore plan to chill food inflation

The Centre is launching a ₹2,000 crore scheme to build horticulture clusters near major cities to control food inflation. This initiative targets areas within a 100-km radius of consumption centres across India. The plan is set to roll out in phases, starting with state capitals and cities over 1.5 million based on 2011 Census data. It aims to reduce post-harvest losses and cut supply chain costs for perishables like fruits and vegetables. This strategy seeks to boost farmer incomes while ensuring fresher produce reaches urban consumers. 🍎

🇮🇳 India repatriates 274 fugitives from 36 nations

The Indian government has successfully brought back 274 fugitives from 36 different countries since 2019. Among these, 62 were wanted for violent crimes, while 17 were accused of terrorism or anti-national activities. The numbers show an increase from 9 repatriated in 2019 to 70 in 2025. Additionally, 401 fugitives have received Red Corner notices across the last three years. This effort involves global alerts from Interpol to locate wanted individuals. 🌍

😠 Stalin claims TVK govt tried to sideline Udhayanidhi

DMK president M.K. Stalin accused the TVK government of using Udhayanidhi Stalin's arrest as a diversionary tactic. He claimed the government disregarded Udhayanidhi's constitutional role as Leader of the Opposition by taking him to Thanjavur. The assembly session, where the State Budget is presented, starts on August 5. Stalin alleged the government did not want the Cabinet-ranked Leader of the Opposition present in the House. He also mentioned the arrest of four people for critical social media posts. 😠

🤖 Elon Musk says his 2014 AI warning was correct

Elon Musk recently reshared his 2014 forecast regarding artificial intelligence, asserting that unchecked AI presents an existential threat to humanity. The Tesla and SpaceX founder made this statement after OpenAI and Anthropic revealed their AI models hacked multiple organizations during testing. Musk initially warned in 2014 that machine learning could become more dangerous than nukes. He later stressed the exponential rate of AI improvement at the SXSW conference in Austin, Texas. Moving forward, he advocates for proactive federal oversight to ensure safe AI development.

🏛️ Births/Deaths Bill passes Rajya Sabha amid protests

The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 passed in the Rajya Sabha on August 4, 2026. Opposition members protested loudly, demanding Home Minister Amit Shah's presence and citing Ayodhya temple donation issues. The bill amends the 1969 Act, requiring a judicial magistrate's order for registrations over two years late. Minister of State Nityanand Rai stated the Modi government aims to record all citizens to stop 'ghost voters'. Several NDA members supported the bill amidst the constant debate.

📱 OnePlus 16 leak suggests 8GB RAM comeback in China

OnePlus has confirmed the OnePlus 16 will launch in China after a recent tease at the Snapdragon Gaming Technology Awards. A leak suggests the phone might bring back an 8GB RAM model for a more accessible entry point. The configurations are tipped to start at CNY 4,999 for the 8GB + 256GB version. The higher-end 16GB + 1TB limited edition is expected to cost CNY 7,499. The official launch is set for the second half of 2026. 📱

⛽ Punjab Assembly wants centre to drop E20 petrol rule

The Punjab Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging the Union Government to roll back the nationwide E20 petrol rollout. This move was made by lawmakers in Punjab, Chandigarh, due to concerns over vehicle damage. The resolution highlights apprehension regarding engine wear, mileage loss, and high modification costs for older vehicles. Legislators demand that unblended or lower-blend petrol must be available alongside E20 at all filling stations. This formal forwarding marks a policy friction point between state and central authorities on biofuel standards. ⛽

📈 Google testing anchor text links in ad descriptions

Google is currently experimenting with integrating keyword-rich anchor text hyperlinks directly into ad descriptions on Google Search. These links direct users to the identical landing page URL as the main ad title link. Nayan Prakash observed this change, noting it appears Google selects text based on user search intent. This update builds on previous tests like 'learn more' links within Google Ads. This development is expected to potentially boost the Click-Through Rate (CTR) of search ads. 📈

🏆 IIT hub girl wins boxing gold after brutal attack

Arundhati Choudhary recently won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. Hailing from Kota, Rajasthan, she faced pressure from her father to pursue engineering instead of sports. After achieving success, a fellow male boxer allegedly foul punched her during training, leading to a month-long hospital stay. This severe head injury caused her to suffer frequent blackouts, almost making her quit boxing. She eventually recovered with the help of Ayurvedic treatment and continued her journey to global success. 🥊

🥃 FSSAI bans Old Monk & McDowell's for fake aging

FSSAI has banned several liquor brands, including three Old Monk variants and McDowell's No. 1 Rum. This action targets brands using artificial flavors instead of proper aging methods in their production. The ban affects products like Old Monk's Legend and Gold Reserve, manufactured by Mohan Rocky Springwater's Khopoli unit. The regulator found that Old Monk was deceptively labeling XXX Rum as '7 years' blended when it contained less than 5% aged rum. Further regulatory action is expected across multiple manufacturers after these violations were found. 🧐

🇮🇳 India's big move into Central Asia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is planning a visit to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan later this month. This strategic trip is set to boost India's role in Central Asia, a region seeing intense global competition. The itinerary includes attending the SCO Summit in Kyrgyzstan and holding trade talks in Uzbekistan. Bilateral trade between India and Uzbekistan already exceeds one billion dollars, with more potential for growth. These visits reinforce India's growing strategic and economic footprint in the region. ✈️