🤖 OpenAI scoops up presentation tool NextSlide

OpenAI has officially acquired the presentation startup NextSlide, integrating its team into the work on ChatGPT. The startup's founder, Ahmed Beshry, described the product as one that transforms notes and research into polished presentations. The main goal remains making visual communication accessible to more people globally. This acquisition took place earlier this year, although the announcement was delayed by a few months. The team will now focus on building AI products that help people create and communicate effectively.

📉 Market watches soft CPI after weak US jobs report

The market is feeling uneasy following the Federal Reserve meeting at the end of July. China's consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.5% year-on-year in July, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Sunday. This figure was lower than the 1.0% rise seen in June and slightly below expectations. The US CPI report on Wednesday and PPI release on Thursday are key events for USD/JPY. These releases will help shape expectations for core PCE later this month. 📉

🔬 Laser tech solves accelerator hurdle

Researchers have successfully demonstrated a 'flying focus' laser technique that addresses a major limitation in plasma-based particle accelerators. This breakthrough was achieved by scientists at the University of Washington in the United States. The experiment involved specific plasma configurations and was documented on Phys.org. This development significantly improves the efficiency and stability of these advanced accelerators. Future work will focus on scaling up this technology for more powerful applications. 🔬

💉 Noida ramps up measles and rubella drive

Noida is starting a special measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign to cover missed doses. This drive targets children aged five to ten across various schools and institutions in the district. The campaign is scheduled to run from August 18 to August 28, with specific dates set for sessions. Health officials noted that Covid-19 disruptions caused some children to miss their routine immunizations. Furthermore, the district must ensure 100% HPV vaccination for eligible 14-year-old girls. 💉

🛂 US might cut 60-day visa grace period for workers

The US is reviewing a proposal from DHS that could scrap the 60-day grace period for certain foreign workers after job loss. This change impacts various visas, including H-1B, L-1, and O-1 holders, and their dependents. Currently, Indian nationals made up about 71% of successful H-1B applicants in fiscal 2024. If implemented, workers might need to leave the US immediately instead of having 60 days to find a new job. The proposal is still under review by OMB, so the existing rules remain for now. 😥

🌿 New eco-hub launched in Lucknow by Jitendra Singh

Science and technology minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated the CSIR-NBRI ‘eco-educational hub’ named Prakriti Gyan Dham in Lucknow on Saturday. This unique facility, located at Maharishi Parashar Bioresource Centre (MPBC), showcases India’s rich botanical and cultural heritage. It features the Indian Heritage Garden, holding trees from places like Fatehpur and Champaran. The hub aims to bring scientific knowledge closer to society for broader access. Additionally, a new herbal formulation for male reproductive health was launched during the event. 🌿

🏚️ Smart village still stuck in mud for 11 years

Sadullapur, once earmarked as a smart village in 2015, still faces severe infrastructure issues. This village, located in Greater Noida, has 7,000 residents living with unpaved roads and no proper drainage system. Eleven years have passed since the development promises were made, and residents continue to wait for basic amenities. In response to administrative delays, some residents proposed changing the village's name to 'Bharatpur' last year. The state government has officially started the name change process, pending a no-objection certificate from GNIDA. 🏘️

💻 Why I ditched Chrome, Firefox, and Opera for Zen

A tech journalist has switched from Chrome, Opera, and Firefox to the Zen browser. This open-source Mozilla Firefox fork was released on July 11, 2024, and is available on macOS, Windows, and Linux. Zen retains Firefox's privacy features but adds unique functions like vertical tabs and Workspaces. Features like the Glance mode help manage numerous open links efficiently for heavy browsing. The journalist feels Zen's minimalist and functional setup is superior to flashier AI-native alternatives. 💻

❤️ Association asks govt for special HIV/AIDS welfare board

An association for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) has officially asked the State government to set up a dedicated welfare board for them. This request came from the Namakkal District HIV Positive People Welfare Society. The demands include covering private college education costs and providing dedicated dialysis machines. The group also wants priority in government schemes and free land for housing. Furthermore, they seek increased monthly financial aid for those in extreme poverty.

🎭 New play based on Shantarasa's novel hits Kalaburagi

The play 'Sannagowdasani,' adapted from Nadoja Shantarasa's acclaimed novel, is set to be staged by Rangayana's repertory. This production will take place on August 10 at 6 p.m. and 11 a.m. at the Dr. S.M. Pandit Rangamandir in Kalaburagi. The event is jointly organized by the Department of Kannada and Culture and Rangayana, Kalaburagi. B. Venkata Singh, the Karnataka Information Commission Chairman, will inaugurate these performances. The play delves into the social and political dimensions of village life in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region. 🎭

🔭 Wandering black hole found outside galaxy center

Astronomers discovered a supermassive black hole acting outside the typical galactic center. This rogue black hole, estimated to be a million times the Sun's mass, was found tearing apart a star 30,000 light-years from its galaxy's core. This event was detected on November 4, 2025, by the Zwicky Transient Facility using a specialized program. The finding challenges the long-held assumption that these massive black holes always reside in galaxy centers. Future observations from the Rubin survey should help determine how this wandering black hole got there. 🌌