🔬 HIV fight: long-acting tools help while vaccine search continues

Researchers reviewed various non-vaccine strategies to combat HIV transmission, noting the difficulty in developing an effective vaccine. Strategies like long-acting injectables and gene-editing offer potential pathways toward the 2030 AIDS goal. For instance, lenacapavir showed 100% and 96% prevention efficacy in Phase III trials with every six-month injections. Long-acting cabotegravir also showed significant reduction in HIV acquisition compared to daily oral treatment. These tools, alongside U=U and VMMC, are key parts of the current prevention landscape. 🔬

💥 Israel strikes South Lebanon amid soldier deaths

Israel conducted a military strike on South Lebanon following reports of soldier casualties. The action took place in the ongoing regional tensions between the involved parties. Specific numbers regarding casualties or the exact date of the strike were not provided in the initial report. This military escalation is occurring while diplomatic talks are still underway in Rome. Future developments will depend on the outcome of these ongoing negotiations. 🇱🇧

😠 Musk slams Mayor Mamdani's grocery store plan

Elon Musk strongly criticized New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's plan to launch city-backed grocery stores offering lower prices. The criticism was made after a post on X questioning the proposal's operations in New York City. The program is set to open five stores across the boroughs, with the first in Hunts Point by the end of 2027, backed by $70 million. Mamdani's administration claims shoppers can save about 30% on a core basket of groceries, saving an average New Yorker $90 monthly. Musk countered, labeling Mamdani a 'thief and a liar,' suggesting AI and robots will deliver free goods.

🎬 Aditya Dhar's Big Spend on Dhurandhar's Look

Madhavan has disclosed that director Aditya Dhar invested an extra Rs 10 Crore for the 'Peak Detailing' of the film Dhurandhar. This significant expenditure was made for the visual and aesthetic perfection of the movie. The detailing costs were incurred during the production phase of the film. This investment highlights the high production value expected from the project. Further updates regarding the film's release date are anticipated soon.

🚀 China's growing missile arsenal breakdown

China is significantly upgrading its military power projection across the Indo-Pacific with an expanding ballistic missile arsenal. The People's Liberation Army operates these missiles across short, medium, and intermediate ranges. As of last year, the DoD estimated China fielded about 600 boosted hypersonic missiles. These systems are designed to support a potential Taiwan contingency while threatening US and allied forces. The newer DF-27 is assessed to have a range of 5,000 to 8,000 kilometres. 🚀

🧠 Brain cells split early, changing how we see it

A new study reveals that precursor cells in the cerebral cortex split into two distinct neuron lineages early on. This research was conducted by Irene Varela-Martínez at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA). The findings, published in Science Advances, show that ET-PNs and IT-PNs arise from parallel developmental branches. This refutes the old idea that a single program sequentially produces different neuron types. The work now informs her ongoing investigation into how cortical size evolved over time. 🧠

🏥 Bengaluru woman sues Rapido after bike crash costs Rs 20 lakh

A Bengaluru interior designer has sued Rapido after a bike taxi accident caused life-threatening injuries. The incident occurred on June 17 when the accident happened in Bengaluru after her commute from Byrasandra to Domlur. The resulting hospital bills exceeded Rs 20 lakh, leading to her legal action against the platform. She alleges Rapido failed to support her despite advertising safety features and offered minimal assistance. She plans to take the case to consumer court to seek accountability from the company. 🏥

💰 Gold Bulls Eye Hormuz Reopening Amid NFP Focus

Gold bulls are strengthening their hold on hopes for the Hormuz Strait reopening. This sentiment is being observed amid the focus on the upcoming US Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) data. Market watchers are closely tracking the upcoming economic indicators around this period. The uncertainty surrounding global energy flows continues to influence precious metal prices significantly. Investors are now positioning themselves based on the incoming US employment figures.

🚨 Thane student arrested for assaulting minor girl in Nagpur

A 20-year-old BBA student from Mumbai, identified as Nirmay Madhav Pakhare, was arrested for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a Class 12 girl. The accused, who lives in Thane, befriended the minor on Instagram last May using a fake account. After a 20-hour hunt, police rescued the traumatized girl tied up in a Dighori flat on Tuesday morning. Investigators seized items like handcuffs and belts, and the accused has been remanded to police custody. Police are now examining his digital devices to check for prior offenses. 😟

⚽ FIFA backs Infantino after World Cup plan drama

FIFA's senior directors gave full support to President Gianni Infantino after the controversy surrounding the World Cup privatisation plan. This was following a crisis meeting in Rabat, Morocco, where the leadership acknowledged various errors made during the process. The shelved plan aimed to raise up to $4.2 billion through the FIFA Forward Enterprise, potentially giving $20 million to each of the 211 member associations in early 2027. UEFA responded to the proposal with threats, leading Infantino to withdraw the plan by Saturday. A review will now take place, and an apology was issued for the mistakes made. ⚽

✨ Google Home gets smarter with AI storytime 🤖

Google rolled out major updates for Gemini for Home and the Google Home app on August 5th. The updates introduce an interactive AI Storytime feature allowing users to modify stories via voice commands. Furthermore, Gemini is now better at understanding alarm and timer requests in natural language. The Google Home app now supports more smart camera brands, including Eufy and Tapo. Home app automations are also becoming available in more countries and languages.