💉 CEPI backs Egyptian Ebola vaccine push

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has pledged up to $16.5 million to advance Minapharm's Bundibugyo vaccine candidate into human trials. This support targets the ongoing Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak, which has seen over 2,700 deaths mainly in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The funding will allow the Egyptian drugmaker to move the vaccine through preclinical tests and into an early-stage safety study in Africa. This candidate is notable because it aims to induce both B- and T-cell responses for lasting immunity. This initiative also helps secure Phase 1 trial capacity within Africa for various vaccine developers.

❤️ Pomegranate & Walnut Compound Boosts Heart Function

A new study discovered that urolithin A, a compound from gut bacteria, can improve heart function by up to 80% in models. This compound is linked to consuming foods like pomegranates and walnuts, which were studied at King’s College London. The research used animal models and engineered human heart tissue to test the effects. Scientists found the compound helped heart muscle relaxation mechanisms, which is key for heart health. Further human clinical trials are required to confirm its potential as a heart failure treatment. 🍎

🇮🇳 Congress demands Kargil-style probe on Operation Sindoor

A fresh political debate started regarding Operation Sindoor following new details shared by former CDS General Anil Chauhan. Chauhan clarified that Indian forces did not intentionally target Pakistan’s Kirana Hills during the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict. He stated that a loitering munition near Sargodha might have accidentally struck the area after losing its capability. Consequently, the Congress party has called for a detailed review, similar to the Kargil Review Committee. This demand has sparked a broader discussion about operational secrecy versus formal assessment. 🇮🇳

🏡 Hyderabad Indiramma flat lottery streams go live

Lucky draws for 7,340 affordable Indiramma flats in Hyderabad's CURE will run from August 28 to August 31, 2026. The draws will take place across 16 Assembly constituencies, with four constituencies featured daily. Viewers can watch the lottery live on the Telangana Housing Board's website and social media handles. Those not selected can apply in the next phase, as the government plans to build one lakh Indiramma Houses. Furthermore, an application window for 1,920 flats in four more constituencies is open until September 3, 2026.

🎮 Bad Fable combat clip going viral, but context matters

A recent combat video from the Xbox game Fable is circulating widely, showing a sluggish fight against a miniboss. This footage, shared by Playground Games, appears to be misleading because it is played on a high difficulty setting. The clip also runs at a low framerate, making the enemy reactions look worse than they are. Furthermore, combat in Fable is more varied when viewed outside this isolated moment against a single enemy. The game is still six months away from its February 23, 2027 release, allowing time for polish.

🔥 Police destroy 30 kgs of seized ganja in Nandyal

Police officials destroyed 30.276 kgs of ganja stock in Nandyal district on Thursday. This seizure involved 15 cases registered across 12 police stations in the area. The destruction happened under the NDPS Act and was supervised by Superintendent of Police Sunil Shoran. The contraband was scientifically incinerated at JSW Cement Limited following strict environmental norms. Further action is expected as part of ongoing anti-narcotics operations in the district.

✊ Kerala MPs protest railway division split on Thiruvonam

More than a dozen UDF MPs and MLAs staged a satyagraha on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, in front of the Palakkad Divisional Railway Manager’s office. They demanded that the proposed truncation of the Palakkad railway division be dropped, specifically opposing the transfer of the Mangaluru region to the Mysuru division. MPs warned that this move could result in over ₹1,000 crore in annual revenue losses for the Palakkad division. The protest was inaugurated by KPCC president Sunny Joseph, who warned of further action. If the proposal isn't reconsidered, the MPs stated they would take their protest to New Delhi.

🏗️ ₹1,437 crore infra boost for Amaravati villages

The APCRDA has greenlit infrastructure projects worth ₹1,437 crore across 29 villages in the Amaravati capital region. This approval came during the 65th APCRDA meeting chaired by CM N. Chandrababu Naidu at the Secretariat on Thursday. Of the total, ₹904 crore was already sanctioned, with an extra ₹533 crore cleared, covering roads and water. The authority will also upgrade drinking water supply, currently at 40 litres per day, to meet the required 135 litres. Furthermore, a draft master plan for a district cooling system will be prepared for the area.

📱 Vivo Y31t 5G drops in India with Snapdragon chip

Vivo has launched the Y31t 5G as a new lower mid-ranger smartphone in India. It features a Snapdragon processor and a 7200mAh battery, available in three colors. Pricing starts at Rs 25,999 for the 4 GB + 128 GB variant, with offers valid until August 31. The phone boasts a 6.75-inch 120Hz LCD display and dual rear cameras. Buyers can purchase it from partner stores, the vivo India e-store, and Flipkart. 📱

🚨 76% see illegal immigration as big threat

The latest Mood of the Nation survey revealed that 76% of respondents consider illegal immigration a serious national security threat. Furthermore, 60.2% supported the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to remove bogus voters. This survey utilized data from 25,184 people surveyed between July 1 and August 25, 2026. The findings highlight a division between supporting the roll cleaning objective and concerns over its implementation bias. Public confidence in the fairness of elections has also seen a noticeable dip recently.

🩺 AI scans mammograms for heart disease detection

An AI model was successfully trained to spot hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, and stroke from mammograms in a study. This research was conducted by Dr. Viana Copeland using data from 29,921 women in Israel. The study involved 97,364 mammography examinations with a median age of 54 years. This could allow routine mammograms to screen for CVD early, addressing current underdiagnosis issues. Researchers are now focusing on boosting the model's accuracy for future clinical use. 🩺