😥 Social media giants face addiction lawsuits

Major social media platforms like Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat are facing numerous lawsuits regarding intentionally addictive product designs for minors. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied their appeal based on Section 230 protections on August 10, 2026. These thousands of consolidated suits include claims from individuals, governments, and school districts. The court suggested the appeal might have been premature as it usually follows a trial. The outcome remains uncertain, although Meta previously lost two similar lawsuits. 😥

🔮 Daily zodiac vibes for August 11, 2026 ✨

Today, daily astrological predictions are out for all twelve zodiac signs for August 11, 2026. Aries faces negative vibrations and should make independent decisions, while Taurus feels confident in their professional life. Libra is set for financial gains with minimal effort, and Virgo's delayed projects are likely to resume with elder blessings. Aquarius should be productive at work, potentially leading to promotions, while Pisces experiences warmth in their love life.

🪐 Jupiter orbits the Sun's balance point, not its center

Jupiter technically orbits the Sun around a shared center of mass called the barycentre. This point is located roughly 742,000 kilometers from the Sun's center at Jupiter’s average distance. Given the Sun's 695,700 kilometer nominal radius, the barycentre sits about 46,000 kilometers beyond the visible solar surface. This concept is key to understanding how planets orbit stars in reality. This principle is also used by astronomers to detect exoplanets via stellar wobbles. 🪐

📈 Vodafone Idea Q1 Revenue Jumps 6%

Vodafone Idea reported a 6% year-on-year revenue growth, hitting ₹11,689 crore for Q1 FY27. This performance was recorded by the telecom giant in India, with the quarter ending on June 30, 2026. The company's ARPU saw a significant 10.2% jump to ₹195 from ₹177 in the prior year. This growth was driven by customer upgrades and a total subscriber base of 193.1 million. Vi plans to continue expanding its 5G coverage across over 200 cities going forward. 📱

😠 TN Govt's 4-year UG plan faces student/faculty pushback

The Tamil Nadu government's proposal for four-year undergraduate degree programs has met strong opposition from both students and faculty members. They argue that poor infrastructure and teacher vacancies in government institutions will severely hinder its rollout. The plan was announced around August 10, 2026, sparking concerns about academic disparity and increased student dropout rates. Critics also questioned the government's stance, as it previously opposed aspects of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The opposition groups are urging the government to withdraw the proposal due to these systemic issues. 😠

🚔 Police officer faces probe in Nithin Raj death case

An oral inquiry has begun against DSP Sudheer Kallen for lapses in the arrest of M.K. Ram, the prime accused in Nithin Raj's death. Minhaj Alam directed this probe into Mr. Kallen's alleged omissions in the investigation. The report found he used Malayalam notices for an Andhra Pradesh native and had an incorrect arrest memo date. He also failed to brief the prosecutor and miss the chance for police custody. Justice A. Badharudeen questioned the oral inquiry over suspension. 🚔

📈 YouTube raises earning requirements for creators

YouTube announced new higher thresholds for creators wanting to earn money from ads and subscriptions starting February 1. New creators now need 8,000 watch hours or 20 million Shorts views, compared to the old 4,000 hours or 10 million views. This update won't affect those already in the YouTube Partner Program. The changes aim to keep pace with YouTube's massive daily growth, which exceeds 200 billion Shorts views. YouTube also expanded its Premium Lite subscription globally to boost creator earnings.

📱 Pixel 11 and Watch 5 drop on Aug 12

Made by Google event will unveil the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and Pixel Watch 5 on Wednesday, Aug. 12. The event, held at 3 p.m. PT, is expected to also debut the standard Pixel 11 smartphone. Rumors suggest a new HiLight notification and 256GB base storage for the Pixel 11 series. All Pixel 11 devices will ship with Android 17, and the Watch 5 might see a price increase. Google could also introduce a new Pixel Tag tracker. 📱

🕵️ Mumbai thieves use WhatsApp codes for heists

Mumbai police busted a pickpocketing ring that used encrypted WhatsApp chats for coordination in Andheri. The 'Dhakka gang' operated with specialized roles, using daily changing codes to check safety and plan operations. This operation was uncovered last week by MIDC police in Andheri. The thieves stole at least five high-end phones daily, and police recovered 135 phones worth between Rs 90,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh. After two members were arrested, the remaining gang shifted from Andheri to Juinagar in Navi Mumbai.

🤖 Rihanna's Fenty AI Advisor Changes Beauty Game

Rihanna's Fenty Beauty launched 'Rose Amber,' an AI beauty advisor on WhatsApp, to offer personalized recommendations. This advisor helps users with shade preferences, skin undertone, and more. The system processes sensitive data, including details about skin conditions and hair texture. This data is highly protected under privacy laws as it can infer racial or ethnic origin. The brand now faces a responsibility in managing this deep level of consumer insight.

👃 Wind shapes how animals track smells 🌬️

New research from the University of Colorado Boulder reveals that wind plays a crucial role in how animals track odors. This study, part of the Odor2Action network, focused on how turbulent air systematically changes odor whiffs for navigation. The team found turbulence filters, spreads, and generates new odor frequencies as air carries the scent. Understanding these transformations helps scientists better model animal navigation, which could benefit search and rescue efforts. Future work aims to analyze how the nervous system uses this transformed information.