🦠 DRC Ebola outbreak hits deadly levels

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has now become the deadliest in the country's history, with deaths crossing the 2,300 mark as of August 18, 2026. This deadly situation is centered in the DRC, where cases are mounting despite ongoing containment efforts. The WHO reports over 2,325 deaths and 4,945 confirmed cases, with a fatality rate nearing 47%. The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, is complicated by conflict and lack of approved treatments. The WHO is urging speed and solidarity as the virus reportedly continues to outpace the response. 🦠

🗳️ SP targets 5 new voters per booth for 2027 polls

The Samajwadi Party has launched a booth-level strategy to boost its voter base ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. This push involves asking booth-level agents to add at least five new voters to each of the state's 1.77 lakh polling booths. This effort aims to build on their 2024 Lok Sabha performance where they led in 224 of 403 constituencies. Party workers are visiting households to discuss issues like exam leaks and misuse of Ram Temple donations. The strategy faces dismissal from the BJP, which claims its own booth network is already very strong.

😠 Trump snaps at reporter over Korea questions

US President Donald Trump dismissed concerns about the USS Abraham Lincoln's condition, labeling the criticism as "fake news." This happened during a tense Oval Office exchange involving reporter Kristen Holmes, who questioned him about North Korea. The carrier, deployed since November 21, 2025, has been at sea for over 250 days, drawing scrutiny over sailor welfare. Trump told Holmes to "be quiet" and called her a "fake reporter" when she asked about military exercises. CNN defended Holmes, stating she was doing her job by asking a tough question. 🚢

😠 Trump snaps at reporter over North Korea query

US President Donald Trump dismissed concerns about the USS Abraham Lincoln's conditions, labeling the criticism as "fake news." This occurred during an Oval Office exchange where CNN reporter Kristen Holmes questioned him about North Korea. The carrier has been at sea for over 250 days since leaving San Diego on November 21, 2025. Trump aggressively told Holmes to "be quiet," calling her a "fake reporter." CNN subsequently defended Holmes, stating she was doing her job by asking a tough question.

🚨 ED raids KPSC ex-chairman over vet recruitment issues

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids across multiple locations in Karnataka regarding irregularities in the veterinary officer recruitment process. The raids specifically targeted the former chairman of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC). The investigation pertains to recruitment procedures that took place around the specified period. This action follows allegations of malpractice within the selection process. Further probes are expected to determine the extent of the irregularities.

💥 CRPF vehicle collides with truck in J&K

At least seven people were injured in a head-on collision involving a truck and a CRPF mini-truck. The accident happened on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Levdura in Qazigund on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. Specifically, five CRPF personnel, including four officers, sustained injuries during the crash. The truck's driver and conductor also suffered injuries from the incident. All the injured individuals were taken to a hospital and their conditions are reported as stable.

📱 Govt sent mass blocking orders to social media platforms

The government issued nearly 1.95 lakh blocking orders across social media platforms between March and July this year. These orders were primarily directed at Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, with Instagram receiving the most. This intense activity averaged one order every 68 seconds during that five-month period. The surge followed student protests in Delhi and showed a massive increase from last year's low figures. Moving forward, the government may expand its content takedown powers to more ministries. 😟

🔬 AI made 16 brand new viruses at Stanford

Researchers at Stanford University created 16 functional viruses not found in nature using artificial intelligence this month. The work involved Brian Hie and Samuel King, who are studying solutions for antibiotic resistance that was a threat in places like Israel. The AI model, EVO 2, generated thousands of genomes, leading to 16 viable bacteriophages designed to target bacteria. These new phages could lead to better antibiotics because a mixture is harder for bacteria to resist. However, some scientists caution that the open-source AI needs stricter global oversight to prevent misuse. 🦠

📉 Batwara 1947 sees big drop on first Monday

Batwara 1947 is struggling at the box office following its release. The film, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, saw a major earnings drop on its first Monday. On Day 4, it collected a net of ₹2.00 crore across 6,771 shows in India. The total India net collections now stand at ₹28.50 crore, with worldwide gross hitting ₹40.20 crore. Next, the film continues its run, despite the recent dip in earnings.

🚨 Bihar govt tells SC about AK-47 firing during protests

The Bihar government informed the Supreme Court that a police constable fired an AK-47 during recent student protests in Siwan. Constable Abhishek Kumar allegedly fired four rounds into the air on July 25 near JP Chowk after getting trapped by the crowd. The state claimed no protestors were injured by the AK-47, though three suffered minor injuries from other police action. Kumar has since been suspended and faces departmental proceedings for his conduct. The government also reported 69 FIRs and 500 arrests across the state between July 22 and July 25.

🧬 Helicase: The DNA's molecular zipper 🧬

Helicase acts as a molecular motor enzyme that unwinds double-stranded nucleic acids during critical processes. This enzyme operates in cells, specifically initiating DNA replication by breaking hydrogen bonds between complementary strands. The process involves helicase traversing the DNA while hydrolyzing ATP, forming a replication fork. Beyond replication, helicase is vital for transcription, genome stability, and DNA repair mechanisms. Further research into helicases is crucial for advancing biotechnology and understanding genomic health.