☀️ States shifting to solar subsidies to cut power losses

Several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Bihar, are starting to offer financial aid for rooftop solar installations. This is happening as states seek to reduce revenue losses from subsidizing electricity for consumers. The Pradhan Mantri – Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojna aims to install RTS in one crore households by March 2027. Some states are opting for a one-time capital expenditure under the Utility-Led Aggregation Model instead of ongoing costs. The current scheme offers 300 units of free power monthly, with 52 lakh households already installed as of August 13.

🏛️ CM praises rivals, seeks opposition teamwork

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed political outreach by praising predecessors during his first Legislative Council speech in Bengaluru. He specifically commended H.D. Kumaraswamy's vision for projects like the Peripheral Ring Road, despite their current differences. The CM also lauded former PM H.D. Deve Gowda for irrigation and the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor. Shivakumar stressed that friends are permanent and urged the opposition to point out his government's mistakes. He concluded by stating he is open to any investigation into his administration. 🤝

🚫 No off-roading near Kudremukh National Park

The Range Forest Officer requested organizers to halt planned off-road activities near Kudremukh National Park this weekend. This directive was issued to organizers after promotional posters for events on August 15 and 16 were noticed. Kudremukh National Park is a protected zone under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, with no permission granted for such activities. Unauthorised entry or activities inside the park could lead to punitive action, including vehicle seizure. Meanwhile, similar activities in Alageshwara, Koppa taluk, are expected to proceed as they are outside forest limits.

🥊 Boxer Prichard Colon Dies After Brain Injury

Former Puerto Rican boxer Prichard Colon has passed away at the age of 33, as confirmed by his father on Thursday, August 13th. The life-altering injury occurred in 2015 during his fight against Terrel Williams at the EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia. This fight resulted in a brain hemorrhage, leaving him in a vegetative state for the rest of his life. Despite surviving the initial coma, the injuries forced his retirement, and his family pursued a lawsuit seeking over $50m. His father fulfilled his final wish by bringing him to Puerto Rico for a vacation. 😥

🗣️ Mourinho reveals Abramovich vetoed big Chelsea move

Jose Mourinho revealed that Roman Abramovich blocked his preferred Chelsea transfer. This decision was reportedly made in favour of Andriy Shevchenko instead. The alleged veto occurred during his time managing the club. The move highlighted internal disagreements regarding squad building strategy. Mourinho suggests this impacted the club's transfer dealings at that time.

📉 Yen keeps dropping despite big currency moves

The Japanese yen has started sliding again over the last two weeks, losing ground after massive US and Japan interventions near four-decade lows. The currency briefly hit 155 per dollar after late July intervention but is now trading around 159 to the dollar. This renewed decline is moving towards the 160 yen level, which pressures officials in Tokyo and Washington. The yen's future hinges on the Fed's policy and the Bank of Japan's interest rate hikes. The US dollar remains strong against the yen due to the favorable carry trade. 📉

🧑‍⚖️ CJI slams Bar Council over NALSAR student action

The Chief Justice of India strongly criticized the Bar Council of India's earlier directive against NALSAR students. This action involved the council instructing state bar councils not to enroll the 2026 graduating batch as advocates in Bangalore. The council had attempted this in response to student protests regarding the CJI's convocation invitation. The CJI asserted that students have a right to protest, ultimately directing that no punitive action be taken. He further told the students to enroll as advocates and join the Supreme Court Bar. 🧑‍⚖️

🚨 Apple warns 110 countries about spyware threats 🚨

Apple has issued a new spyware warning to iPhone users across 110 countries. This alert was seen by Reddit users on August 13th, prompting concern about its legitimacy. The notifications, which are real, are designed for users individually targeted by mercenary spyware attacks. Since 2021, Apple has sent these alerts multiple times a year to users in over 150 countries. Users are advised to enable Lockdown Mode and apply iOS updates for prevention.

📈 Gold Prices Rise Amid US Dollar Weakness

Gold prices are trending upwards as selling pressure on the US Dollar increases across markets. This movement is occurring following fading expectations about potential interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. Specifically, the dollar's weakening is driving investor interest back towards precious metals. Market analysts suggest this shift reflects a change in global risk sentiment. Investors will continue to monitor central bank policies for further direction. 📈

🧬 Normal cholesterol? DNA might still flag heart risk.

Even with normal cholesterol and healthy vitals, some people have an inherited risk for heart disease. A 31-year-old man in West Bengal developed severe coronary artery disease despite routine tests looking fine. Genetic testing, using polygenic risk scores, helps uncover this hidden susceptibility across hundreds of genes. This is especially relevant for South Asians, where specific genetic scores are being developed. The results guide doctors to monitor and manage risks proactively, not replace standard checkups. 🧬

🚨 18 kg ganja seized in Tirupati raids

Tirupati district police seized 18 kg of ganja across two separate incidents on Friday, August 14, 2026. Nine people were arrested during the operations conducted in the Tiruchanur and Tirupati West police limits. Specifically, 5 kg and 13 kg of the contraband were recovered from these areas. Officials stated that the drugs were secretly transported from Visakhapatnam for sale around Tirupati. Cases under the NDPS Act 1985 have been registered against the nine accused individuals. 🚨