⛽ Rahul Gandhi targets E20 fuel policy crackdown

Rahul Gandhi announced that the Congress party will soon campaign against the Centre's E20 ethanol-blended fuel programme. He made these remarks in New Delhi, accusing the government of 'stealing directly out of people's pockets.' According to Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, consumers spent an extra Rs 88,234 crore between April 2023 and March 2026 due to lower mileage. Ramesh argued the government failed to deliver promised price reductions despite initial assurances. The Centre counters that E20 helps reduce dependence on imported crude oil and supports farmers. ⛽

📱 Pixel 11 vs S26: APAC price showdown coming

Google Pixel 11 pricing is still unconfirmed as the Aug. 12 launch approaches, while Samsung Galaxy S26 already has set APAC prices. The Galaxy S26 launched with prices around US$920 in India and US$1,110 in Singapore. Leaks suggest the base Pixel 11 might start at $899 with 256GB, a $100 increase from the Pixel 10. Component cost rises are pressuring both phones' pricing strategies globally. The final pricing and offers will determine the value gap for APAC buyers. 📱

⚠️ Chittoor police warn against fake tax WhatsApp scams

Chittoor district police issued a warning about fake WhatsApp messages impersonating the Income Tax Department. Superintendent of Police Tushar Dudi stated that fraudsters are sending messages with subjects like “Pay Tax” to scare people. These messages trick recipients into clicking malicious links or installing APK files containing sensitive data. The police advised citizens to only use official government portals for tax transactions. Victims of cyber fraud should immediately call 1930 or report it online.

🌊 Super El Niño meets Indian Ocean Dipole

The WMO warns that a rapidly intensifying Super El Niño will combine with a positive Indian Ocean Dipole between August and October. This event affects regions worldwide, with record sea-surface anomalies expected above 2.9°C. The El Niño, declared on June 11 by NOAA, is hotter than the 1997-98 event. While El Niño typically suppresses Indian monsoon rain, the IOD might offset this effect. Governments have a chance to anticipate risks before these impacts unfold. 😥

🌧️ Delhi-NCR grinds to a halt due to heavy rains

Heavy rainfall has caused significant disruption across the Delhi-NCR region. The downpour has resulted in severe waterlogging across multiple areas. As of the latest reports, many major roads are completely submerged, making transit extremely difficult. Residents are facing major inconvenience due to the lack of functional public and private transport options. Authorities are monitoring the situation and are expected to issue advisories soon to manage the ongoing crisis. 🌧️

🦠 Singapore lab working on Ebola vaccine doses

Hilleman Labs in Singapore will develop and produce Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine doses for clinical trials. The collaboration is between Hilleman Laboratories and Norway's CEPI, focusing on affordability for outbreak areas. With up to $8.5 million in CEPI funding, the vaccine development uses the rVSV platform. MSD will advise Hilleman, adapting a process from their Zaire ebolavirus vaccine. This work aims to speed up the response to large Ebola outbreaks, mainly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 🦠

🔬 Singapore lab developing Ebola vaccine for trials

Hilleman Labs is developing and producing CEPI-backed Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine doses for clinical trials. This initiative is happening in Singapore, with collaboration from the Norway-based CEPI. The project has up to $8.5 million in CEPI funding to advance the vaccine supply. This effort is crucial as scientists respond to one of the largest Ebola outbreaks affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Hilleman Labs will leverage rVSV know-how to accelerate the path to these necessary clinical trials. 🔬

🛡️ Chrome 151 drops, patching 41 security flaws

Google released Chrome 151 to the Stable channel, fixing 41 security vulnerabilities across the browser. This update is rolling out for Windows and macOS systems, with Linux users receiving version 151.0.7922.108. The patch addresses serious issues like use-after-free flaws in WebGL and Aura. These vulnerabilities could let attackers execute malicious code via specially crafted websites. Users are advised to update immediately as the rollout continues over the coming days and weeks.

📉 NFP shock drops dollar, gold jumps past $4,300

US nonfarm payrolls unexpectedly fell by -23K in July, against expectations for an 85K gain, while May and June reports were revised down by 103K. This led markets to cut September Fed hike odds to around 42%, causing the Dollar to weaken and Gold to surpass $4,300. The weak labor data signals real growth concerns, making risk assets less certain despite rate-cut hopes. Furthermore, geopolitical risks are rising with Hormuz talks and new US-China tariffs. Investors will now watch for sustained metal rallies versus cautious equity movements.

🌾 Govt vows justice for drought-hit farmers

Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan visited drought-affected areas in Vijayanagara district on Friday, August 7th. He assured farmers that the State government would provide justice and compensation for crop losses from monsoon failure. The district faced a nearly 60% rainfall deficiency, with crops on over 1.25 lakh hectares suffering stress. Officials are conducting a joint survey for a report to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar for relief decisions. The Minister urged 1,43,903 farmers to register under crop insurance before the August 15th deadline.

🎬 Simple Kapadia's tough Bollywood journey revealed

Simple Kapadia revealed she felt mistreated by Rajesh Khanna during her acting career. She debuted in 1977 in 'Anurodh' but faced uncooperativeness from Khanna. After 25 films, she shifted to costume design, winning a National Award for 'Rudaali' in 1994. She admitted acting was for necessity, not passion, due to comparisons with Dimple Kapadia. Simple later became Dimple's fashion advisor, solidifying her design career.