🚀 India unveils first private 800kN rocket engine

A Bengaluru-based space company unveiled India's first privately built 800 kN Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) LOX-Methane rocket engine on Friday. Astrobase Space Technologies developed this engine, named EVEREST, making India the fourth nation with this FFSC technology, alongside Russia, the U.S., and China. The engine boasts 800 kN thrust and 340 seconds of specific impulse, designed for reusable medium-lift vehicles. This milestone strengthens India’s indigenous launch infrastructure and supports launch-on-demand capabilities. The next step involves a full-engine hot-fire test, followed by vehicle integration and orbital launch development. 🚀

😠 Kerala residents restart protest against poultry waste unit

Residents resumed their protest against the Freshcut poultry waste rendering unit in Ambayathode, Kozhikode, on Friday, August 7. This facility, operational since 2014, has faced controversy for over five years due to foul odours and water contamination concerns. The protest followed the Kerala High Court staying the Kerala State Pollution Control Board’s order to shut down the factory. Action committee members vowed to stop waste lorries and block operations, while MLAs offered legal support. Soon, a joint inspection report on the factory's functioning will be submitted following the High Court's latest instructions. 😠

🔬 AI to predict tiny chip flaws

Researchers are developing the Materials Discovery Cloud to understand how small flaws affect microelectronics performance over time. This project involves Argonne National Laboratory, Berkeley Lab, ORNL, and Northwestern University. It leverages data from August 7, 2026, onwards, as part of DOE’s Genesis Mission. The AI framework will connect defect distributions in materials to key electrical and thermal properties. This aims to help design better next-generation devices by integrating experiments and simulations. 🔬

☔ Delhi-NCR floods streets amid heavy rain chaos

Heavy rain pounded Delhi-NCR throughout the day on Friday, causing widespread waterlogging and severe traffic disruptions across the region. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Delhi due to the relentless monsoon showers. This weather event led to submerged roads and major commuting issues for thousands of people. A rare combination of weather systems intensified the monsoon spell, prompting further warnings from the IMD. Residents are expected to face more heavy rainfall and localised flooding in the near future. ☔

🏠 Tirupati Property Expo kicks off with 2000+ listings

The CREDAI Tirupati Property Expo 2026 officially started at Sree Convention Centre in Tirupati on Friday. Tirupati MLA Arani Srinivasulu inaugurated this three-day event alongside several other dignitaries. Over 2,000 properties, ranging from ₹40 lakh to ₹4 crore, are currently on display for buyers. The expo features 56 stalls from 20 builders and offers home loan assistance from leading banks. Organizers anticipate around 4,000 visitors and 300 property bookings by the end of the event.

⚖️ Meta hit with massive fine over child safety issues 🚨

A US judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million because its platforms exposed children to harmful content and sexual exploitation. This ruling specifically targeted Instagram and Facebook in New Mexico. The judgment, made following a previous $375 million penalty, totals $942 million in financial liability. The court deemed Meta a “public nuisance” due to the harm caused to young users. The judge also mandated new safety measures, as Meta has announced it will appeal the decision.

😟 Modi's job promise vs reality check

Prime Minister Modi had made promises regarding job creation in the country. However, the available data suggests a different trend than what was projected. According to reports, the employment figures showed a dip in certain sectors during the period ending March 2024. This situation raises questions about the effectiveness of current economic policies. Authorities are now expected to address these employment challenges in the coming quarters.

🚨 Brother of fugitive Arjun Ayanki detained in Thrissur

Police detained Akhil, the brother of fugitive Arjun Ayanki, in Thrissur on Friday. Authorities tracked him using his mobile phone tower location for questioning. Intensified searches are underway across Thrissur city to find Arjun, who is wanted for threatening an SHO via Facebook. Investigators also secured CCTV footage showing Arjun's car at the Paliyekkara toll plaza. The case relates to an incident in May this year where Arjun was arrested for criminal conspiracy.

💾 Google Drive stops photo backups on August 10

Google is ending support for automatic syncing between Drive desktop backups and Photos on August 10, 2026. This change affects users who rely on Drive for seamless photo backups across their computers. After this date, users must manually upload any new images directly to Google Photos via the web interface. Existing photos stored in Google Drive will remain safe, but new uploads won't transfer automatically to Google Photos. Users should consider alternative backups to prevent data loss. 💾

🌧️ Delhi downpour continues; IMD warns of more rain

Heavy rainfall in Delhi caused traffic disruptions and waterlogging across several areas. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert, forecasting continued showers for Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi on Saturday, August 8. Sector 17 in Faridabad recorded a high of 119.4 mm of rain between midnight and 5 pm. A low-pressure system is now causing heavy to extremely heavy rain warnings across many parts of India. The agency also warns of flash flood risks in Odisha, West Bengal, and Jharkhand. 🌧️

🙏 Parole granted for gangster sons to attend funeral

The Allahabad High Court granted parole to jailed brothers Ali and Umar Ahmad to attend their younger brother Aban's funeral. This order was passed by Justices Ajay Bhanot and Divesh Chandra Samant after a petition from Atiq Ahmad’s sister, Parveen Qureshi. Aban Ahmad died in a road accident in Jhansi on Thursday, and the funeral is scheduled for Saturday morning. Ali is in Jhansi jail, while Umar is currently in Lucknow jail. The court's decision allows the brothers to attend the last rites near their father's grave. 😔