⚠️ Nepal flash floods: 60 Keralites safe, 8 missing

Sixty people from Kerala confirmed safe after flash floods in Nepal, while eight individuals remain unreachable according to NORKA Roots. The agency compiled a list of 82 people after receiving information through Thursday evening from various state bodies. This includes a 23-member Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage group expected to reach Saga by Friday evening. Details of the missing individuals have been shared with the Ministry of External Affairs. Arrangements are being made for Keralites returning from Nepal to travel back to their homes.

📱 iPhone 17 Pro prices drop before 18 Pro launch

Flipkart has dropped the prices for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max ahead of the iPhone 18 Pro launch event. This pricing action is happening just before Apple's scheduled September 9 event in India. The iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at Rs 1,49,900, potentially dropping to Rs 1,35,900 with bank offers. The smaller iPhone 17 Pro, originally Rs 1,34,900, is now available for lower prices too. Buyers can now decide if the Pro Max's larger display and battery are worth the extra cost.

🧠 Apple's new Mac is quietly winning the AI race

Apple has released its latest Mac upgrades, challenging the dominance of cloud-based AI solutions. These new models, unveiled recently, feature significant on-device AI processing capabilities. The updates specifically target improved local performance across various demanding applications. This shift emphasizes powerful, self-contained computing rather than constant reliance on remote servers. Future software rollouts are expected to leverage these enhanced local AI features heavily.

✅ Sebi approves Jio Platforms IPO and six others

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has approved the Initial Public Offering (IPO) for Jio Platforms. This approval clears the path for Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries telecom arm to move forward. The Jio IPO will feature a fresh issue of up to 270 million shares with a face value of ₹10 each. This decision came after the offer, filed on June 19, received an observation letter on Friday. Sebi also gave the go-ahead for IPOs from Paras Healthcare and five other companies this week.

🔬 New tech promises cheaper protein production

A spin-out technology called VNp is set to dramatically cut the costs of producing various proteins. Kent scientists and the Science and Technology Facilities Council demonstrated this versatility in protein manufacturing. The technology increases yield and simplifies purification for proteins used in diagnostics and therapeutics. This process helps overcome issues like protein instability and toxicity within bacterial cells. Ultimately, this could lead to cheaper drugs and faster development across many industries.

👑 PM Modi mourns Norway's King Harald V

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sadness over the passing of King Harald V of Norway. He shared that he fondly remembered meeting the monarch during his visit to Norway earlier this year. King Harald V, who was Europe's oldest monarch, passed away at the age of 89. The King had modernized the royal house but chose not to abdicate like other monarchs. His son, King Haakon VIII, has now automatically taken the throne. 👑

📈 FCNR(B) Inflow Nears $85 Bn, FX Flow Hits $100 Bn

Citi India's CEO, K Balasubramanian, stated that the Foreign Currency Non-Resident (B) inflow could reach $85 billion. This influx is happening within the Indian financial markets. He projected the total Foreign Exchange (FX) flow to be close to $100 billion. This indicates strong foreign investor confidence in the Indian economy. Further monitoring will be necessary to track these significant capital movements.

⚖️ India forms Mediation Council under new Act

The Central government officially established the Mediation Council of India (MCI) under the Mediation Act, 2023. This council will be headquartered in Delhi following a gazette notification on August 27th. The Act mandates trying to resolve civil or commercial disputes via mediation before going to court. The MCI is responsible for registering mediators and recognizing service providers and institutes. Successful agreements from mediation are legally binding and can be extended up to 360 days.

🎤 BIGBANG concert setup faces FTC probe

A complaint has been filed with the Fair Trade Commission regarding issues with BIGBANG’s recent concert seating arrangement. The group held their world tour XX : COSMOS at Goyang Stadium from August 21 to 23. Specific floor seats in sections F1 and F2, costing ₩253,000 KRW, were reportedly obstructed by a stage extension. Authorities are now investigating if the E-Commerce Act was violated, especially since there was no prior notice about the obstructed view. Fans are demanding refunds and severe penalties for YG Entertainment's alleged oversights. 😠

🥛 Milma milk sales surge this Onam season

Milma, the Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, saw a significant jump in dairy product sales during the Onam festivities. During the period starting August 20th, Milma recorded a total milk sale of 1,45,76,846.63 litres, marking a 5.61% increase from last year. Specific regions like TRCMPU showed a 5.86% milk sales growth in the five days before Uthradam. ERCMPU registered 4.62% milk growth, while MRCMPU reported an 8.7% increase in curd sales. KCMMF chairperson K.S. Mani thanked consumers for their loyal support in achieving these strong figures. 🥛

📱 Z Fold 8 camera setup has new quirks

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 features a redesigned foldable format that changes how its cameras are used compared to the Ultra model. Reports from Android Authority on August 25th noted the selfie-camera cutout could cover content in portrait mode. SamMobile reported on August 22nd that testers accidentally blocked rear lenses due to the shorter body. These issues highlight design trade-offs rather than hardware defects in the new shape. The Ultra model retains superior reach with a dedicated 10MP telephoto lens.