💰 Gold rally might continue? Check August 18 outlook

Spot gold is expected to maintain a positive short-term trend due to reduced rate hike possibilities. Praveen Singh, Head Currencies and Commodities at Mirae Asset ShareKhan, advises buying on dips for investors. Spot gold extended its weekly winning streak to the second straight week, closing 0.70% higher at $4376. Geopolitical tensions, including the US-Iran ceasefire expiring on August 17, are adding uncertainty to the market. Upcoming major US economic data, such as June TIC flows and ADP employment change, are scheduled for August 18.

🚨 ED raids in Kerala over CMRL payoff case

The Enforcement Directorate is conducting raids across eight locations in Kozhikode, Kerala, concerning alleged financial dealings. These operations are linked to Exalogic Solutions, a firm owned by former CM Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter T. Veena, and Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL). Previous searches on May 27, 2026, led to the freezing of ₹18.36 crore across 242 accounts. The Kerala High Court confirmed PMLA investigations are valid, noting a predicate offence existed since SFIO filed a complaint. Allegations include CMRL paying ₹2.78 crore to Veena's company and uncovering ₹182 crore in fake expenses.

🎧 CMF hints at new earbuds instead of a phone

CMF, Nothing's sub-brand, appears to be focusing on audio gear instead of a new smartphone this year. A recent teaser strongly suggests the next product will be a new pair of stem-style earbuds. These earbuds feature a white/silver color scheme accented with an orange tip. Given past releases like the Buds Pro 2 in 2024, this could be the Buds 3 or a related model. CMF is expected to continue teasing the product before a full reveal in the coming days and weeks.

🗳️ 92 lakh voters in Telangana flagged for roll anomalies

Draft electoral rolls for Telangana were published on Monday, August 17, following the Special Intensive Revision exercise by the ECI. Out of 2.64 crore remaining voters, 92 lakh people will receive notices due to 11 types of anomalies. Sixty lakh were flagged for name mistakes matching 2002 SIR details, while 32 lakh weren't mapped. Voters can file claims and objections between August 17 and September 16. The final electoral rolls are scheduled to be released on October 19. 🗳️

🚨 11-year-old crushed by truck after bike skids

An 11-year-old boy tragically died in a road accident in Pune on Monday evening. The incident occurred in the Balewadi-Mhalunge area when his motorcycle slipped due to a pothole. The accident, captured on CCTV, happened around 7 pm while he was traveling to a tuition class. This tragedy has fueled residents' anger over Pune's bad road conditions. Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde has since ordered immediate pothole-free repairs across the state. 😥

🚕 Mumbai Auto Drivers Facing New Rules Today

New regulations are set to impact Mumbai's auto-taxi drivers starting immediately. The Maharashtra state government implemented these changes affecting drivers across the city. These new rules specify updated operational guidelines effective from today, marking a significant change for the profession. The move comes as part of a larger push to modernize and regulate the local transport sector in Mumbai. Drivers will need to comply with these revised protocols moving forward. 🚕

💰 Investment manager warns middle class about retirement risks

A top investment manager warned salaried professionals about the financial danger if they haven't started investing by age 35. Swarup Mohanty, Vice Chairman and CEO of Mirae Asset Investment Managers, issued this caution during a Finnovate podcast. He noted that starting later increases required monthly investments significantly, impacting long-term wealth goals. Mohanty also stressed the necessity of securing good medical insurance due to rising healthcare costs. Retiree strategist Milind Deogaonkar added that even with savings, withdrawal anxiety remains a major issue. 😟

🚨 Delhi Police on FRS use during NEET protests

Delhi Police submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court regarding the use of facial recognition technology during the NEET-UG paper leak protests. This deployment took place in New Delhi during the Cockroach Janta Party Protest at Jantar Mantar. The police stated they found 2,873 persons with serious criminal antecedents, of which 92 were involved in over 10 cases. They maintained the FRS was a legitimate and proportionate policing measure, not for indiscriminate surveillance. The police clarified that tear smoke shells were used only as a last resort on July 20. 👮

📉 US opinion of India dips below 50%

For the first time, more Americans view India unfavourably than favourably, according to Pew Research Center findings. This shift was noted among adults in the US, as of the Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey. Specifically, 45% now hold a favourable view, while 50% hold an unfavourable one, marking a low since 2008. The decline follows previous drops, as favourable views fell from 51% in 2023. Moving forward, this trend shows a weakening of India's standing among the American public. 📉

⚽ Rodri picks Barca over Madrid despite equal offers

Rodri chose to join Barcelona instead of Real Madrid despite receiving nearly identical contract offers from both clubs. The Spanish midfielder valued the sporting project more than the financial package during his decision. Reports indicate that Barcelona offered a more stable and clearly defined environment under Hansi Flick. Rodri felt the direction at Barcelona matched his experience with the Spain national team. This choice highlights his focus on career stability as he enters his thirties. ⚽

😟 Why India was unhappy with its image in Sweden

In the 1960s, Indian diplomats were frustrated by unfavorable coverage of India in Scandinavian press. Indian missions in Copenhagen and Stockholm noted heavy reliance on British and American news agencies for reporting. The Indian Embassy in Copenhagen reported this dependency to the Ministry of External Affairs in 1964. Ambassador Khub Chand criticized the emphasis on 'filth and squalor' and blamed British media influence. He suggested changing the tone of British press to improve India's image abroad.