📈 Dollar tries to bounce back after big sell-off

The U.S. Dollar Index is attempting a rebound following a sharp sell-off triggered by Treasury buyback announcements. This action occurred while Initial Jobless Claims showed 206,000 Americans filing for benefits on the date mentioned. GBP/USD climbed as traders reacted to bond buybacks, while USD/JPY moved towards 159.00 due to rising Treasury yields. EUR/USD remains mostly flat amidst profit-taking following Germany's PPI report. Further upward movement for the Dollar Index could push it towards resistance levels like 99.25 – 99.40.

😠 Shweta Tiwari calls out abuse from Marathi supporters

Shweta Tiwari revealed she is facing online abuse on Instagram from some people who support Raj Thackeray. The actor shared screenshots detailing the abusive messages she received on her social media. She expressed deep concern about the derogatory language used against women in her region. Tiwari questioned Raj Thackeray if he accepts this behavior from his supporters. She stressed that respecting women is crucial, regardless of disagreement. 😠

🎖️ Pakistan's top military gets major power boost

Asim Munir, Chief of Defence Forces, will now hold sweeping authority over Pakistan's armed forces under new legislation. This power is granted to Munir, who heads the unified command structure for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Defence Forces of Pakistan Act, 2026, was passed by the National Assembly on Thursday, Aug 20, 2026. This legal framework formalizes the military hierarchy established by the 27th Constitutional Amendment. Moving forward, Munir will also act as the Prime Minister's principal military advisor on national security. 🫡

🤖 Ramp drops its own AI model router, Router

Corporate expense management platform Ramp has launched its AI model routing service called Router. This new service allows users to switch between various large language models via an API, and it is currently only available in the United States. The service is free to use for the rest of 2026, though users still pay for model inference costs, and it includes a $26 credit offer. Router integrates models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and others, offering various routing strategies for users. This move lets Ramp tap into the booming AI inference market while complementing its existing product suite.

🔬 AI won't cure cancer anytime soon, says CEO

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei stated that the idea of AI curing cancer is now a tired cliché and often deceptive. He highlighted that the AI industry has not yet delivered on its big promises to benefit the world, despite over $70b invested between 2020 and 2024. Even with 30GW of computing power harnessed globally, over 188,000 people still die from cancer weekly. Unlike protein folding, cancer involves complex biological processes that require real-world, time-bound data. Superintelligence cannot bypass the natural pace of aging and complex disease progression. 🔬

📉 Wall St dips as bonds and Walmart weigh it down

Wall Street experienced a downturn, hitting two-week lows across major indices. This dip was driven by increasing bond yields and disappointing financial results from Walmart. The market action occurred recently, reflecting broader economic pressures. Investors are closely watching how central bank policies influence future market direction. Analysts anticipate continued volatility in the near term. 📉

⏳ Govt may extend job application deadlines due to caste certificate delays

The government is considering extending the last dates for job applications because of reported delays in issuing caste certificates. Minister for Medical Education Sharan Prakash Patil stated this on Thursday while informing the Legislative Council about the possibility. Congress member K. Shivakumar previously suggested Karnataka adopt a blockchain model to curb fake certificates. Since 2021, Karnataka has seen 2,583 start-ups register, with 762 receiving ₹175.94 crores in funding. Deep-tech start-ups under Elevate Next get up to ₹1 crore, and farmers receive ₹4 lakh assistance.

📉 Market Dips After Three Days of Decline

Major stock indexes saw a pullback today following a three-day consecutive decline. Oil prices, Treasury yields, and Bitcoin experienced an uptick across various global markets. Specifically, Walmart's stock saw a notable drop during the trading session. This movement reflects broader market sentiment shifts amid global economic indicators. Investors will be closely watching these trends for future market direction. 📉

🎭 Kangana slams Sharmila Tagore on art vs religion

Kangana Ranaut reacted strongly to Sharmila Tagore's remarks regarding Vande Mataram. The veteran actor expressed reservations, noting parts of the National Song might clash with monotheistic beliefs. Kangana questioned how one can reduce art and poetry to mere religious practice, citing metaphors and the spirit of freedom. Sharmila clarified that some stanzas mention multiple deities, making it challenging for strict monotheists. Neither party has made further comments on this ongoing discourse. 🧐

🔬 HIV medicine: 6-month refills are safe and save cash

A randomized trial investigated if giving HIV patients 6 months of medication at once was safe. Researchers in China studied 1,588 stable adults who were on ART from December 2022 to March 2023. The 6-month group saw up to a 27.7% cut in operational costs and a 16.7% drop in lost workdays. Health metrics remained comparable, with viral suppression rates of 94.2% in the extended group. This approach lowers the financial load for both patients and healthcare facilities. 💰

🌧️ Karnataka monsoon hitches, only two districts normal

Only two out of 31 districts in Karnataka have received normal southwest monsoon rainfall between June 1 and August 20. Belagavi and Bagalkot registered normal rainfall, though both showed slight deficits in actual amounts. The state overall recorded 435 mm against a normal of 629 mm, placing it in a deficit category. IMD scientists noted severe deficits across regions like Bengaluru city at 50%. Bengaluru is expected to see light to moderate rain soon. 🌧️