🕉️ 5-day no-clothes tradition in Himachal village

Women in the village of Bini, located in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district, observe a unique five-day festival with strict customs. This tradition is followed by all women during the last day of the Shravan month. During this time, women stay inside and avoid their husbands, while men avoid alcohol and non-veg food. Locals believe violating these customs could bring misfortune to the village. The practice is rooted in ancient beliefs about a deity defeating demons centuries ago. 🕉️

😔 Indian PhD student dies during solo hike in California

An Indian-origin PhD student was discovered deceased following a solo hiking trip in California. The individual's body was found while he was trekking alone in the region. No specific dates or exact numbers regarding the incident have been released by authorities yet. The student was pursuing his doctoral research in the United States when the tragic event occurred. Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this sudden death. 😔

🛡️ Trump's Gaza Board greenlights small military base

A small military outpost for Moroccan troops is set as the first project under Donald Trump’s Board of Peace in Gaza. This base will house about 150 personnel on a site roughly 100 by 120 metres, located within the 60% of Gaza under Israeli military control. The project, which includes quick exit provisions, is being handled by Arkel International, according to The Guardian. This is part of a limited reconstruction programme as the board scales back its wider development vision. Questions persist about troop contributions and the legal framework for the international stabilization force. 🛡️

💰 UPI charges: Sitharaman says merchants pay, not users

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman clarified that the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on digital transactions only applies to merchants, not to end consumers. She stated that the proposed rates aim to help banks and fintech invest more in security and infrastructure. This clarification followed claims from Congress leader Jairam Ramesh that costs would be passed to ordinary citizens. The MDR is pending a decision by the UPI and Services Steering Committee after Parliament passes the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. All UPI users will benefit from the increased investment once this bill is enacted.

🔬 NEET paper leak: experts allegedly used chits to cheat

The NEET-UG 2026 paper leak involved accused insiders memorizing and writing down questions on chits. This incident occurred in early May, rocking the nation and leading to Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as Education Minister. The CBI chargesheet names three NTA experts—PV Kulkarni, Manisha Mandhare, and Manisha Havaldar—among 13 arrested. They allegedly copied questions during moderation, motivated by financial gain and boosting coaching class success. The CBI has filed the chargesheet in Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court, and all 13 accused are in judicial custody. 🧐

🛡️ Saudi, Turkey, Pakistan sign new defence pact

Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan are set to sign a joint defence agreement in Jeddah on Friday. This meeting involves Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The pact comes amid rising military tensions due to the US-Iran conflict in the region. Pakistan is noted as the Muslim world's only nuclear-armed state, adding weight to the alliance. The three nations view this move as having significance beyond the immediate crisis. 🛡️

🏛️ RS Chairman pushes for Shah's statement on protests

The Opposition has been demanding a statement from the Home Minister regarding the police action during protests across Parliament. Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan asked Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to consider the request for Home Minister Amit Shah's presence. This followed Mallikarjun Kharge's demand on Thursday, Aug. 6, that Shah address the House about the July 20 Jantar Mantar protest. The Opposition seeks an independent inquiry into the alleged excessive force used against protesters. The government, however, maintains that the Leader of the Opposition cannot dictate proceedings. 😠

🐄 Dung found in SUV after checkpoint breach in Ramban

Dung was discovered inside a Scorpio after it allegedly breached a security checkpoint on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban. The vehicle, registered JK02AK-1743, was travelling from Srinagar towards Jammu when it fled from the Chanderkote naka at approximately 3:30 a.m. The three occupants abandoned the SUV and escaped into the Papria Peera forest. A joint operation involving J&K Police, CRPF, and Army is now searching for the unidentified men. Officials are investigating if the vehicle was modified for illegal bovine smuggling. 🐄

🌊 Gujarat well ripples mysteriously for five days

An 18-foot-deep well in a remote village in Gujarat's Morbi district started showing continuous waves for the past five days. Locals and commuters gathered to witness this unusual activity, which has puzzled the community. District Geologist J S Vadher ruled out any seismic activity, stating the phenomenon is likely due to air escaping from rocks. This assessment came after the Institute of Seismological Research in Gandhinagar confirmed no active fault line exists nearby. A team from Gandhinagar will investigate further, as informed by Morbi district collector Swapnil Khare.

✈️ IAF's Bhawana Kanth makes history as 'Top Gun' pilot

Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth has achieved a major milestone by completing the Fighter Combat Leader course at TACDE in Gwalior. She is a pilot from Darbhanga district, Bihar, and was commissioned into the IAF in June 2016. This rigorous 20-week program is equivalent to the US Navy's 'Top Gun' training. Her achievement boosts the presence of women in advanced operational and leadership roles within the IAF. This marks another significant breakthrough for women in military aviation.

🤖 OpenAI's puck-sized AI speaker drops in 2027

OpenAI is launching a new, hockey puck-sized smart speaker that will look like a doughnut. This device will be designed for portability and is expected to cost over $300. The release is slated for 2027, aiming to be an AI-first computer to compete with Amazon and Google. It will feature moving parts and advanced voice interaction similar to ChatGPT. OpenAI is pushing ahead despite ongoing legal battles with Apple Inc. 🤖