⛽ India lowers diesel export tax, petrol duty hits zero

The Indian government has decided to reduce the windfall tax imposed on the export of diesel and Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF). This move applies across the country, affecting various oil companies. Specifically, the petrol duty has been set to zero starting from the announced date. This policy adjustment aims to keep fuel prices more accessible for consumers amid global price fluctuations. The government will monitor the market response to this significant tax change moving forward. ⛽

🎬 Batwara 1947 opens, lags behind Awarapan 2

Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta's partition drama, 'Batwara 1947', hit theatres on Friday, August 14, 2026. The film, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, grossed Rs 5.75 crore in India across 8,721 shows on its debut day. This collection was notably lower compared to Emraan Hashmi's 'Awarapan 2', which earned Rs 21 crore net. The movie features Preity Zinta's comeback and stars alongside Shabana Azmi and Karan Deol. It is currently competing against 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' in the box office race.

💀 Cambridge professor found dead amid plagiarism claims

Jason Arday, a former Cambridge professor, was discovered deceased in London on Friday afternoon. He was found unresponsive at an address in Battersea, London. Arday had resigned last week after facing plagiarism accusations and questions about his athletic claims. His family stated he suffered from a sustained campaign of abuse due to the misinformation. The Metropolitan Police are treating the death as unexpected, while Cambridge is reviewing its hiring process. 😔

🇮🇳 PM Modi's big announcements on Independence Day 🇮🇳

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered an Independence Day speech touching on manufacturing and critical minerals sectors. He addressed the nation from the Red Fort, marking India's celebration on August 15, 2026. Key announcements included free online coaching for students and a nationwide sports talent hunt for ages 5-15. Modi urged youth to help achieve the 'Viksit Bharat' dream and set a goal for 50 Indian firms in the Fortune 500. These initiatives aim to boost national growth and empower the younger generation.

☀️ Sun's magnetic dance explains super-hot corona

Indian researchers found evidence that the Sun's magnetic fields heat its extremely hot outer atmosphere. The team from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics studied observations from Aditya-L1, which is 1.5 million km from Earth. Their findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal, suggest magnetic field reconfiguration provides most of the energy transfer. This explains why the corona is millions of degrees hot compared to the visible surface's 6,000 degrees. The IIA team now plans to analyze more coronal mass ejections to confirm these results. 🧐

🚨 Speeding Govt SUV Hits Bike in UP

A speeding government SUV tragically collided with a bicycle, resulting in severe consequences. The incident occurred in Uttar Pradesh, where local police confirmed the accident details. Authorities reported that two people were killed and one person sustained injuries from the crash. The police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this high-speed collision. Further updates on the probe and the affected individuals are expected soon.

🔭 Webb spots three black holes in ancient galaxy

Astronomers found a young galaxy hosting three active supermassive black holes, which is a first. This discovery was made by Hannah Ubler's team using the James Webb Space Telescope in the distant galaxy J0148-4214. The observation, published on Wednesday, shows two black holes are near merging, dating the galaxy to within roughly 1 billion years of the big bang. This evidence confirms black holes have been growing and shaping galaxies since the universe started. The two merging black holes are estimated to combine in about 700 million years.

🇮🇳 India hits 80th Independence Day milestone

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the nation on India's 80th Independence Day, paying tribute to the freedom fighters. He made the post from his social media account on August 15, 2026, referencing their sacrifice. Modi stated that India, powered by 140 crore Indians, is scaling new heights of progress across sectors. This year's celebrations also mark 150 years of the National Song 'Vande Mataram'. The PM will address the nation from the Red Fort in Delhi for the 13th straight time. 🇮🇳

🚀 NASA feels good about Artemis III launch in 2027

NASA is expressing high confidence regarding the Artemis III mission's launch timeline. The mission involves the Artemis program and is scheduled to occur in 2027. This projected date follows previous planning stages and updates. The Artemis III mission aims to return humans to the lunar surface. Further details about the crew and landing site will be announced later.

📉 Nvidia slashes financial backing for OpenAI's Ohio campus

Nvidia has reportedly reduced its proposed financial guarantee for OpenAI’s massive Ohio data center project to under $120 billion. This change affects the 10-gigawatt campus planned by OpenAI in Pike County, Ohio. The initial proposal had involved a guarantee of around $250 billion, which was considered in late July. Investor worries over the project's financial risks prompted Nvidia to reassess its level of support. The project’s ultimate scale depends on resolving power availability and financing challenges moving forward.

🩺 India tightens grip on $2.1B beauty market

The health ministry has rolled out the first binding standards for India's $2.1 billion cosmetology industry to ensure patient safety. This move mandates that clinics must be run exclusively by registered dermatologists and surgeons across India. The new rules came following complaints about unqualified staff and patient harm in the fast-growing sector. Procedures are now split into Level 1 and Level 2, each with specific infrastructure requirements. Non-compliant clinics face penalties, bringing India closer to international regulatory norms. 🩺