✨ Pimple patches: the real lowdown from a derm

Pimple patches help spots look smaller and absorb fluid, but they don't cure acne's root cause. Dermatologist Dr Chandani Jain Gupta explained that patches work best on superficial, fluid-filled pimples and whiteheads. Patches must be applied to clean, dry skin after cleansing, but before applying any other skincare. It is best not to put serums or moisturizers under the patch to maintain its effectiveness. Patches can be worn overnight, and they are useful even on already oozing spots. 🩹

💬 Shubhra Shetty on dating Anurag Kashyap

Shubhra Shetty addressed rumors regarding her relationship with director Anurag Kashyap. The pairing involves a significant age difference, which has been commented upon by her family. Shetty mentioned that her mother has jokingly referred to him as 'bakra' due to the age gap. This public discussion highlights the scrutiny faced by celebrity couples in India. The pair continues to be subjects of public interest amidst these ongoing conversations.

🎭 Vijay Varma fires back at Dolly Singh's jab

Content creator Dolly Singh jokingly called actor Vijay Varma the "nation's biggest red flag" during IFFM 2026. This happened while Varma was accepting the Best Performance award for his role in 'Matka King' at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. Dolly's comment referenced his reputation for playing intense, morally grey characters. Vijay Varma responded humorously, telling her to buy a red cloth for her flags. The exchange went viral, with netizens reacting strongly to the lighthearted roast. 🎬

📈 Investors are super bullish according to BofA

Bank of America's August survey reveals a significantly bullish sentiment among investors. This outlook was tracked across various global markets by BofA analysts. The survey data reflects current investment confidence levels as of August. This positive trend suggests strong optimism regarding future market performance. Investors are expected to maintain this aggressive stance in the coming period.

🛡️ Ransomware gangs exploiting Windows Task Host flaw

CISA confirmed that ransomware gangs are actively exploiting a high-severity Windows Task Host vulnerability. This security flaw, tracked as CVE-2025-60710, affects Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025 devices. It was patched by Microsoft in November 2025, and CISA listed it as actively exploited on April 13. Successful exploitation allows local attackers with basic permissions to gain full SYSTEM control over unpatched systems. CISA is advising agencies to apply vendor mitigations immediately to prevent further breaches. 🚨

🤖 Tecno Pova 8 Pro 5G drops in India with cool AI features

Tecno has officially launched the Pova 8 Pro 5G smartphone in the Indian market. This new handset features an Alive Matrix Display and powerful AI call assistant capabilities in India. It will be available from August 21, 2026, starting at Rs 49,999 on Flipkart and retail stores. The phone boasts a 1.5K 144Hz AMOLED screen and a 50MP Sony LYTIA 700C sensor for photos. An instant cashback of Rs 3,000 makes the effective price Rs 46,999. 📱

🏸 Lakshya Sen stages epic comeback win at BWF Worlds

Lakshya Sen pulled off an incredible comeback win against Collins Filimon at the BWF World Championships. This match took place in New Delhi, India, on August 18, 2026. Sen won in three games, defeating Filimon 16-21, 21-8, and 21-4. His turnaround came after struggling in the first game due to wind and initial tactics. He now progresses to the second round of the tournament. 🏸

🗓️ Tripura banks closed on Aug 19 for Maharaja's birthday

Banks across Tripura will be shut down on Wednesday, August 19, to observe the birthday of Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur. This specific holiday is regional and does not affect banks elsewhere in India. Later in the month, closures are scheduled for August 25 and August 26 across various states. Customers can still use digital services like UPI and mobile banking during the closure. Transactions needing a physical branch visit must be completed beforehand.

🔭 Milky Way growth started way earlier than thought

Astronomers found proof of a major galactic collision that happened nearly 12 billion years ago using the Hubble Space Telescope. This event involved the dwarf galaxy Low-energy-Kraken-Heracles (LKH) merging with the young Milky Way about 11.8 billion years ago. The discovery, published on 17 August in Nature Astronomy, pushes back the Milky Way's growth history by 1.8 billion years. This merger added significant stars, gas, and dark matter to the galaxy when it was still small. The team plans to study more clusters to reconstruct the Milky Way's turbulent history. 🔭

🩺 Endometriosis linked to higher diabetes risk in women

A new study suggests that women dealing with endometriosis face a 46 per cent higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers at George Mason University followed nearly three million women in the Utah Population Database from 1996 to 2021. This finding indicates that the risk varies across different types of endometriosis. Chronic inflammation from the condition might be leading to insulin resistance and diabetes. Future research could help clinicians screen these women earlier for diabetes prevention. 🩺

🌱 Farmers now earn from carbon, not just crops

Several Indian startups are enabling farmers to generate income from sequestering atmospheric carbon. Varaha, Mitti Labs, Boomitra, and Prithu are key players in this emerging climate-tech space. These companies use AI and satellite data to verify carbon removal from practices like regenerative farming and AWD. Farmers receive a significant share of the revenue generated from these verified carbon credits. The goal is to create sustainable income streams beyond traditional agricultural yields. 🌾