🏔️ New Himalayan plant honors legend Nirmal Purja

A new Himalayan plant, Impatiens nimspurjai, has been named in honor of the legendary mountaineer Nirmal Purja. This discovery was made in the Myagdi district of Nepal, located at an altitude of around 2,800–2,900 metres. Researchers Bhakta Bahadur Raskoti and Rita Ale are credited with finding this species, which belongs to the Impatiens genus. Purja is famous for climbing all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre-plus peaks in 2019. This naming reflects his passion for both climbing and environmental conservation in the mountains. 🏞️

📱 boltt Ace 5G & Evo 4G screen specs revealed

Fire-Boltt confirmed the display specs for its new boltt Ace 5G and boltt Evo 4G smartphones. Both devices feature an identical 6.79-inch HD+ punch hole display with 600 nits peak brightness. These phones will officially launch in India on August 25, 2026, in the ₹10,000 to ₹20,000 range. The key difference between the models is 5G support on the Ace 5G versus 4G on the Evo 4G. Sales will be exclusively available through Flipkart for this debut.

😮 WWE RAW drama: Solo Sikoa defies Roman Reigns

WWE RAW aired its August 17, 2026 episode from the Keybank Center in Buffalo, New York. Roman Reigns returned to the show, with The Usos hand-delivering Solo Sikoa to him. High-stakes matches included Rey Fenix advancing in the World Heavyweight title #1 contender tournament. Meanwhile, Sol Sikoa refused to join Roman Reigns, leading to Jacob Fatu attacking him. The show concluded with Solo Sikoa hitting Reigns with the Spike, supported by LA Knight. 😮

🕯️ London mourns Cambridge professor Jason Arday

Thousands gathered in Trafalgar Square for a vigil for Jason Arday, a former Cambridge University professor who recently passed away. The event took place in London, United Kingdom, on Monday following his death on Friday. The controversy stemmed from plagiarism allegations regarding his 2015 doctoral thesis and biographical details. Many attendees blamed relentless and 'racist' media coverage for the academic's tragic end. A petition demanding a public inquiry into the press's conduct has gathered over 96,000 signatures.

📱 iPhone 17 Pro Max price drops in India

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is now available in India at a reduced price point. This pricing update affects the model available through various retailers across the country. Specifically, the price drops to Rs 1,03,300 when utilizing a Rs 9,000 bank offer and an exchange deal. This new pricing structure is part of Apple's ongoing promotional strategy in the Indian market. Consumers should check retailer websites for the exact terms and conditions before purchasing. 📱

😟 Bihar woman found dead with two daughters; murder probe started

A 32-year-old woman, Nida Khatoon, was discovered hanging in a locked room along with her two young daughters in Nawada, Bihar. The two daughters, Sariya Khatoon (four) and Sidra Khatoon (two), were found deceased on a bed at the home. Police are investigating the incident, which occurred on Monday, from both suicide and potential murder angles. Suspicion exists that Nida's death was not a suicide, given some parts of her body touched the bed. The bodies were sent for post-mortem examinations after family members alerted the authorities.

💻 TN makes plot and flat sales online only

The Tamil Nadu government has made online and presence-less registration mandatory for the first sale of plots and flats. Chief Minister Vijay launched this initiative at the Secretariat in Chennai on 17.8.2026. Under the new system, all first-sale documents must be submitted digitally via the TNREGINET portal. This transition to STAR 3.0 aims to boost transparency and cut down on physical visits to sub-registrar offices. Registered documents will feature the sub-registrar's digital signature and a QR code for verification.

🔫 Student and teen gunman dead in rare Philippine school shooting

Two students were killed in a shooting at a high school in the southern Philippines on Tuesday. The incident occurred at a school attached to Ateneo de Zamboanga University in the city of Zamboanga. The gunman, a grade 9 student, killed himself, and the victim was a male student a grade above him. University president Ernald Andal confirmed the shooting was over with no more fatalities or injuries reported. This event follows another attack in June at a public high school in Tacloban City. 😔

🚀 Top Stocks to Watch: Mirae Asset Picks for Aug 18, 2026

Mirae Asset ShareKhan's Somil Mehta recommended Mphasis, Supreme Industries, United Spirits, and Kfin Technologies for August 18, 2026. These stocks show strong bullish signs based on technical analysis across the board. For instance, Mphasis has a target of Rs 2610-2650 with a stop loss at Rs 2415. Supreme Industries is expected to hit Rs 3750-3825, while United Spirits aims for Rs 1620-1650. Traders should keep an eye on these movements for potential upside moves. 📈

📈 Nasdaq to run almost 23-hour trading day

Nasdaq is planning an extended trading session that will last nearly 23 hours starting in December. This operational change will affect the Nasdaq exchange in the US. The new schedule is set to begin in December and will significantly alter normal market hours. This move is being implemented to accommodate global trading demands and increased market activity. Details on the exact implementation phases are expected to be released in the coming weeks.

📚 AI chaos hits book publishing industry 🤯

AI use is causing massive turmoil in the book publishing world recently. Allegations surfaced against authors like Jerry Falade and Mia Ballard in the US. These incidents occurred following recent scandals, including in March and July. The situation forces a reckoning on authorship and the industry's future viability. Publishers are currently reacting to fires while grappling with necessary safeguards.