🚀 NASA jets and balloons chase Aug 12 eclipse

NASA is planning major observations for the total solar eclipse on Aug 12. The WB-57 high-altitude research jet will track the moon's shadow globally to gather data. Ballooning teams, led by Angela Des Jardins, will monitor atmospheric changes during the event. Scientists aim to study the sun's corona and ozone levels during this rare daytime darkness. These efforts build on learnings from the April 8, 2024, eclipse to gain new insights. 🧐

🧑‍🌾 Andhra Pradesh aqua farmers get power relief

The state government has released G.O. No. 57, granting aqua farmers power at a rate of ₹1.50 per unit across Andhra Pradesh. This order was announced in Palakollu, West Godavari district, and it also lifts the previous 10-acre cap for the power subsidy. Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu mentioned that the NDA government has spent ₹1,150 crore on this subsidy since 2024. Furthermore, a committee will monitor aqua feed prices to prevent monopolistic practices in the sector. The government also plans to release ₹27 crore soon for the Aquaculture University of Andhra Pradesh. 🧑‍🌾

🧐 Fitch keeps India's credit rating at BBB-

Fitch Ratings reaffirmed India's sovereign credit rating at 'BBB-' with a stable outlook. This rating was maintained for India in the nation, as the agency projects 6.4% GDP growth for the current financial year. The agency noted India's resilience despite energy shocks and strong growth prospects. However, Fitch cautioned that recent youth protests over employment could increase fiscal spending demands. The government aims to reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio to 50% by March 2031. 🧐

🚑 Nine dead in two massive crashes in Zaheerabad

At least nine people were killed across two separate multi-vehicle crashes in Zaheerabad on Tuesday, August 11. The incidents occurred near each other on the Hyderabad-Bidar road, causing major traffic chaos. The first crash involved a lorry, tanker, and auto, killing seven people around 8 p.m. Separately, an Ertiga jumped a divider, killing two people in the Kohir police station area. Police are currently investigating both incidents to determine the exact sequence of events. 🚑

✨ Sabyasachi teams up with The Met for art collab

Sabyasachi Mukherjee and The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced a multi-year collaboration to fuse art and culture. The Indian designer will draw inspiration from The Met's collection for new jewelry and clothing lines. The first collection, inspired by the Byzantine Empire, debuts at NY Fashion Week on September 15. All pieces are conceived and handcrafted by Mukherjee's artisans in India. This partnership explores how centuries of creativity can be reinterpreted through modern design.

📈 India's direct tax collections surge early in FY27

Net direct tax collections jumped 23.09% year-on-year to ₹8.11 trillion by August 10th. This growth was registered by the government in India, fueled by non-corporate taxes and strong STT collections. Between April 1st and August 10th, the gross direct tax collections reached ₹9.55 trillion. This performance is crucial for the government to manage its expenditure and keep the fiscal deficit on track. Future trends suggest the pace of tax refunds is expected to increase over the coming months.

🚧 Mumbai-Goa highway potholes after Rs 16k crore project

The newly upgraded Mumbai-Goa National Highway (NH-66) has developed significant potholes despite years of work and a Rs 16,000 crore expenditure. The toll collection started at the Kharpada toll plaza between Panvel and Pen in mid-May, but commuters complain about the poor road quality. This deterioration is evident even on recently laid cement-concrete stretches following the first monsoon rains. Consequently, some locals are avoiding the toll plaza altogether by taking service roads to bypass the damaged stretches. Safety concerns were further raised by the collapse of a monkey overpass outside the Kannala Animal Sanctuary. 🐒

🔭 Scientists find hidden swirling patterns on the Sun

An international team discovered Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, appearing as tiny whirlpools on the Sun's surface. The research was conducted by scientists from the National Solar Observatory, NSF NCAR, and Max Planck Institut für Sonnensystemforschung. These findings were published in the journal Nature, using the NSF Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope near Haleakalā. This instability might explain why the Sun's outer atmosphere gets hot and fuels solar flares. The team's work offers the first experimental confirmation of this long-theorized solar phenomenon. 🔬

🌌 Artificial light is hiding our stars

Artificial skyglow is causing a dramatic change in what people see in the night sky. A 2023 study examined 51,351 naked-eye observations collected between 2011 and 2022. Sky brightness at participating locations is increasing by an average of 9.6 per cent each year. This means a child seeing 250 stars now could see fewer than 100 by age 18. The rate of change depends on light usage and direction, but the trend is clear. 🌌

🧐 AP Christian leaders want Centre to pause FCRA Bill

The Andhra Pradesh Christian Leaders Forum (APCLF) has called on the Central government to withhold the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026. They made this demand during a press conference held in Vijayawada on Tuesday. The bill is currently scheduled for introduction in Parliament on August 12 (Wednesday). APCLF leaders fear the amendments could become a 'confiscatory regime' impacting civil society autonomy. They are urging a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) review of the entire FCRA Act, 2010. 🧐

💻 Online course on Tech, Disability & Technoableism

NALSAR University's Centre for Disability Studies is launching an online certificate course focusing on Technology, Disability and Technoableism. This program is running from August 17 to September 11, 2026, exploring accessibility, law, AI, and disability justice. The course is open to everyone and includes an optional certification exam on October 17, 2026. The initiative seeks to broaden disability scholarship beyond academic circles. Participants also have the chance to get a paid internship with CDS.