😠 Ex-teacher calls Bhumi Pednekar 'disrespectful' amid NEET row

Spiritual psychotherapist Shruti Desai publicly recalled Bhumi Pednekar as 'disrespectful' towards her teachers. This incident occurred after Bhumi faced backlash for her social media comments on the NEET-UG 2026 protest controversy. The controversy began in early June over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 exam, leading to protests demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. Bhumi condemned abusive language against the PM, but critics pointed out her silence on police action during the July 20 Sansad March. Desai's remarks have divided online opinion regarding the actor's current stance. 😥

⚖️ Gujarat drops cases against NEET protest participants

The Gujarat government has ordered the withdrawal of all criminal cases against students involved in the NEET-UG paper leak protests. This directive was issued by the State Home Department to DGP G.S. Malik on July 31. This follows the Supreme Court's July 28 judgment restraining coercive action against minor protesters. The protests, held in Ahmedabad and other cities, supported the CJP demonstrations in Delhi. The agitation concluded on July 25 after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned. 📚

😠 Kharge mocks students: Fast first, then lathi-charge

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge made controversial remarks regarding student protests over exam irregularities. The comments were made after hundreds of aspirants boycotted the Civil Police Constable exam in Vijayapura district. Kharge stated they could fast for 25 days before facing a lathi charge, after which he would resign. The BJP strongly criticized this, accusing the Congress of hypocrisy. Authorities denied any irregularities, maintaining the exam followed the KEA SOP.

🎓 UGC approves 15 foreign universities in India

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has approved the establishment of 15 foreign universities within India. These new campuses will be set up across major cities across the country. The approval covers a diverse group of institutions with varying specialization fields. This move aims to boost higher education opportunities and international exposure for students. The process will now move into the implementation and operational phase for these new entities.

🛰️ NASA and SpaceX planning to stop future moon crashes

A Falcon 9 upper stage is headed for an unintentional collision with the moon on August 5th, impacting near Einstein crater. SpaceX and NASA are now collaborating on methods to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. This upcoming impact is due to a mix of solar activity and gravity forces, not intentional. Previous impacts occurred during the Apollo program and the 2022 Chang’e-5 mission. Future lunar bases raise concerns, prompting work on better disposal paths for high-energy missions. 🚀

📊 Census 2027 Phase 2 kicks off in J&K, Himachal

Census Phase 2 is starting on August 17 in Ladakh, J&K, Himachal, and Uttarakhand. For the first time since 1931, caste enumeration and parents' birth details will be collected in these four northern regions. This enumeration is set to run from September 1 to September 30, with a revisional round following. No caste certificate is needed as caste will be self-declared by the respondent. The data collection aims to help estimate citizenship criteria without affecting individuals. 🧐

⛽ Oil bounces back amid Hormuz tensions ⛽

Oil prices rebounded modestly on Tuesday after experiencing a significant single-day drop in the previous session. Brent crude rose to $84.26 a barrel, and WTI crude climbed to $80.75 a barrel around 7:20 am IST. This recovery followed Monday's 7% slide, which brought the benchmark to its lowest level in three weeks. Despite US President Donald Trump pausing military action against Iran, prospects for a negotiated resolution remain uncertain. Fresh concerns arose Tuesday when a cargo vessel near Oman was reportedly hit by an unknown projectile.

💡 New tech boosts organic electronics with molecular design

A research team developed two molecular design techniques to boost the electrical conductivity of organic electronic materials. This work was conducted by Professor Kang Bosoek's team at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, Korea. The studies detailed in Nature Communications and JACS showed conductivity improvements up to 3,000 S cm−1 and 109 times better in heterostructures. These advancements tackle charge generation and transport limitations crucial for next-gen displays and sensors. The team plans to expand this research toward high-performance electronic devices next. 💡

💡 Light-Triggered Circuits in Semiconductor Tech

Researchers have demonstrated the creation of temporary circuits using a Floquet topological insulator material. This breakthrough was achieved by F. Chassot et al. using SnTe semiconductor material. The demonstration confirmed the possibility of optical control over topological insulators. The effect relies on band inversion caused by brief light pulses, lasting only as long as the femtosecond pulses are maintained. This fundamental research opens doors for potential new electronic technologies. 💡

😠 Kanwar Pilgrims Attack Police Van in Meerut

A group of Kanwar pilgrims reportedly assaulted a police van during a procession. The incident took place in Meerut, where the pilgrims allegedly pulled out and beat several policemen. The exact number of people involved in the assault was not specified in the initial reports. This clash occurred during the ongoing Kanwar Yatra, a significant religious pilgrimage in the region. Authorities are now investigating the matter and taking steps to maintain peace in the area. 😠

🎧 Astell&Kern PD5: Big Battery, Big Sound 🎶

Astell&Kern has launched its new digital audio player, the PD5, which is the successor to the SR35. This device features a switchable Quad/Octa-DAC architecture and is set to debut at the Hong Kong AV show this weekend. It boasts up to 28 hours of continuous playback and is encased in an aluminum body. The PD5 supports up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and features an intelligent EnviroTune for optimal sound in any setting. Following Hong Kong, it will be shown at Shenzhen and CanJam SoCal in August 2026.