💧 Nilgiris monsoon shortfall threatens Coonoor water supply

A low rainfall in the Nilgiris district has caused the Ralliah Dam in Coonoor to nearly dry up over the past week. Sources from the Horticulture Department reported over 55% rain shortfall around Udhagamandalam this year. Activists fear a tough year ahead if the northeast monsoon fails, noting low dam levels and aquifer depletion. Residents criticized local bodies for poor preparedness and lack of dam desilting. The Coonoor Municipality assures locals that water is being supplied every seven to ten days via the Combined Water Supply Scheme. 💧

🧐 Trump's friend? Brother slams aide's 'obsession'

Natalie Harp, a close aide to President Donald Trump, is facing scrutiny over her intense closeness to the President. Her estranged brother, Preston Harp, stated she is fiercely loyal, calling the bond an “unhealthy obsession.” He detailed that her devotion stems from shared political values and her belief Trump saved her life. Preston suggested Trump's closest allies are essentially his fan club, reinforcing her status as his biggest supporter. Eric Trump defended her, calling her a hardworking cancer survivor, while CNN defended its reporter against White House attacks.

✈️ RSS Chief heads to US, Canada, UK soon

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is set to embark on an international tour starting August 25. He will be visiting the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom during this trip. The visit is part of his ongoing outreach and engagement activities across these nations. This tour aims to connect with various communities and promote cultural understanding. Further details regarding the itinerary will be announced as the travel dates approach.

🤔 Rishabh Pant's Cricket Crossroads

Rishabh Pant is currently facing a significant dilemma regarding his career trajectory in cricket. The situation revolves around whether he should adapt to the current cricketing environment or attempt to fundamentally change it. Specific details regarding the match or tour dates are not provided in the source material. This decision will heavily influence his future performance and standing within the team. The next steps depend entirely on his strategic choices moving forward.

🌱 How farming setup changes tiny life in plant food

This study looked into how different soilless farming systems affect microbial life in nutrient solutions and bok choy. Five systems—DWC, KR, NFT, EF, and DI—were tested over two growing cycles to see the impact. The DI system showed the highest aerobic plate count in the nutrient solution across both cycles. Microbial community composition varied significantly by system type and growing cycle. These results show that farming setup really changes the microbial dynamics in Controlled Environment Agriculture. 🔬

🎧 CMF Buds Neo drops with ANC and huge battery life

CMF's sub-brand officially launched its new wireless earbuds in India. The CMF Buds Neo feature an in-ear design with 12.4mm dynamic drivers and ANC capabilities. They promise up to 52 hours of total playback when ANC is off, available starting August 26th. These earbuds come with IP55 dust and water resistance and are priced at INR 1,999. The device will be available in Black, Dark Blue, and White color options.

🧑‍⚕️ Mark Cuban's AI vision for doctor's office

Mark Cuban detailed his plan for using AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini in a private medical practice. He envisions these large language models acting as collaborative assistants between doctor and patient appointments. Doctors would configure these AI assistants with specific instructions tailored to each patient's treatment plan. For instance, the AI could prompt patients with health questions every evening at 5:00 pm and email records to the doctor. Ultimately, the goal is to teach patients how to use AI to help providers deliver superior healthcare. 🧑‍⚕️

😥 6-year-old dies after being slapped for homework

A six-year-old boy, Pranay Tej, collapsed and passed away inside a classroom at Little Garden School. This incident occurred in the Town Kotharoad locality under Vizag city on Thursday. The boy's family alleged he was beaten by a female teacher for failing to complete his homework. After collapsing in the teacher's lap, he was taken to KG Hospital but was declared dead. Police have started an investigation and expect the medical cause to be clear after the post-mortem report. 😥

🏛️ Karnataka HC eases travel for Nagendra, but not abroad

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday lifted travel restrictions across the country for Minister B. Nagendra. The court maintained the restriction preventing him from travelling abroad without prior permission. This order modifies conditions set by the trial court during his bail in an ED money laundering case. The case involves alleged misappropriation of over ₹89 crore from the Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd. He was arrested after resigning in June 2024 following fraud allegations while being a minister.

💻 New Malware Blends Social Engineering with Defense Evasion

A new malware-as-a-service campaign combines social engineering with defense evasion tactics. eSentire’s Threat Response Unit observed this sophisticated operation in late July 2026. The attack starts via compromised WordPress sites using ErrTraffic JavaScript linked to the Ethereum blockchain. Victims are tricked into running a malicious PowerShell command, sideloading the Cruciferra DLL. This loader disables 145 security processes using a vulnerable driver, injecting the Remus information stealer. 💻

😠 Congress cracks show in Pala municipality politics

Tensions are surfacing within the rebel Congress councillors following the LDF-led ruling combine taking control of Pala municipality. The discord erupted after Biju Mathews and Tony Thaiparambil disagreed on legal action initiated by the District Congress Committee. Mathews blamed DCC president Nattakom Suresh, alleging influence from Binu Pulikkakandam's Independent Collective. Thaiparambil distanced himself from Mathews' statements, defending Suresh's actions as fulfilling his duty. The UDF parliamentary party also objected, and Sebastian J. Panakkal sought disqualifications for four councillors. 😠