📱 5 phones better than Vivo V80 Lite 5G

The mid-range phone market is competitive, offering many alternatives to the Vivo V80 Lite 5G. OnePlus Nord CE 6 boasts an 8,000mAh battery and 144Hz display, while Samsung Galaxy A37 5G offers six years of software support. Redmi Turbo 5 is a gaming powerhouse with a Dimensity 8500 Ultra and 100W charging. Nothing Phone 4a Pro excels in design and camera features with a 144Hz display. Poco X8 Pro provides balanced performance with the same chip as the Redmi Turbo 5. 🔋

🚢 Hormuz cleared; US carrier heads to Middle East

US Central Command declared the Strait of Hormuz mine-cleared, reopening vital oil shipping lanes. This happened as Qatar's PM met Iran's President in Tehran to push for de-escalation efforts. The operation supported over 1,500 vessels, with the clearance confirmed by Admiral Brad Cooper. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump hinted at sanctions and announced a new US carrier deploying to the region. Iran insists diplomacy is possible if Washington stops applying pressure. 🚢

🏠 Carpenter turned artist with end-times house

In 2005, Isaiah Robertson began covering his Niagara Falls home with intricate religious art, believing the world would end in 2014. The Jamaican-born carpenter transformed nearly every surface inside and out with brightly painted wooden motifs. After his death in 2020, the Kohler Foundation acquired the property, gifting it to the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area. Now known as Prophet Isaiah’s Second Coming House, it is preserved as a community landmark. Guided tours, costing $15 for adults, allow visitors to explore this faith-driven masterpiece. 🎨

🏛️ CM Vijay breaks tradition in Tamil Nadu Assembly

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay notably broke established protocol on Thursday in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. He moved from his designated chair to sit beside ministers in the front row during the afternoon session. This unusual seating arrangement occurred amidst discussions concerning the presence of officials within the House. Opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin had raised concerns about the absence of department secretaries during proceedings. Speaker JCD Prabhakar subsequently agreed to ensure senior officials remain present during the Assembly's functioning.

⌚ Top smartwatches dropping in 2026

The market for smartwatches in 2026 features several top contenders for different users. Apple Watch Series 11 offers hypertension notifications for iPhone users, launching with a 24-hour battery life. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 boasts a rugged build and a 35% larger battery for outdoor enthusiasts. Pixel Watch 5 introduces Breathing Emergency Detection for Google users, while Garmin Fenix 9 excels with up to 57 days of battery. Amazfit Balance 3 provides a capable value option without the flagship price tag. ⌚

🌡️ San Antonio tests cool pavement, sees surface temp drops

San Antonio tested cool pavement treatments at six sites during the summer of 2023 to combat extreme heat. Researchers from the University of Texas at San Antonio evaluated three products in June and July 2023. One coating, SolarPave by SealMaster, lowered afternoon road temperatures by about 3.6°F. However, this surface cooling did not result in a similar significant drop in the surrounding air temperature. The city now sees cool pavement as one tool, not a complete fix for urban heat. 🥵

🏗️ Old office buildings turn into trendy apartments

Two vacant 1980 and 1982 office buildings in Norwalk, Connecticut, are getting a massive $120 million conversion. Developers Saber-Hightower LLC and Granoff Real Estate are turning the 511,000 sq ft space into 286 loft-style apartments. This project includes 42 studios and 26 affordable units, with units expected by 2027. The plan reuses existing structures instead of demolishing them, keeping costs down. The complex will also feature a resort-style amenity area with a pool and putting green. 🏡

🚨 PaperCut software hit by zero-day attack

The print management outfit, PaperCut, is currently under a severe zero-day attack impacting its products. University security teams alerted the company to the vulnerability in PaperCut NG and PaperCut MF products. This issue has been confirmed with customer incidents as of Thursday's urgent security advisory. The flaw appears to let external access deeper into user networks via the web interface. Customers are advised to apply an emergency patch or take their public-facing servers offline immediately. 🚨

😥 Orry slams Amrita Singh over trauma, cuts ties with Sara Ali Khan

Orry revealed a deeply traumatic experience involving veteran actress Amrita Singh back in 2021. He shared this story in a conversation with Pinkvilla, describing it as one of the darkest times in his life. This difficult phase significantly impacted him, ultimately making him stronger and mentally tough. The fallout from this incident also damaged his friendship with Amrita's daughter, Sara Ali Khan. Following public tension in 2025, Orry confirmed he is no longer in touch with them. 😥

🏔️ 500 people rescued from flood-hit Nepal project site

Around 500 people, including 200 Indians, were rescued from the Trishuli-1 power project site in flood-hit Nepal. These rescues involved power project workers and some tourists near the Tibetan border. As of the report, the death toll from the flash flood has climbed to 469, with over 1,000 people still missing. The disaster, which was caused by a glacial collapse and debris flow, necessitated large-scale rescue operations. Nepal and China are warning of fresh flooding risks as border lakes approach bursting points. 😮

🚀 Nifty IT Index Jumps 3% on Strong US Market Closes

The Nifty IT index surged by 3.2 percent during Friday's trading, driven by a strong finish in US markets following Nvidia's positive revenue forecast. LTM rallied 5 percent, while TCS, HCL Technologies, and Coforge all gained 4 percent on Friday. This rally comes after the Nifty IT index outperformed the market by 15 percent over the last two months. Analysts suggest future upside depends on specific company execution rather than broad sector gains. 📈