✈️ France submits detailed proposal for 114 Rafale jets

France has submitted its detailed technical and commercial proposal for the 114 Rafale jet deal to India. This major deal involves large-scale local manufacturing and production of the multi-role combat aircraft in India. The proposal response is currently being studied by the Acquisition Wing of the Defence Ministry and the Indian Air Force as of August 6, 2026. Indian sides will closely analyze the inclusion of indigenous content and Astra missile variants as per their demands. This deal is expected to offer opportunities worth around Rs 1.6 lakh crore to Indian industry players.

🔬 Toxic metals still in city road dust

Scientists found that road dust in seven eastern US cities contains toxic metals from old factories and decades-old pesticides. Researchers sampled dust in Trenton, Wilmington, Richmond, Raleigh, Greensboro, Charleston, and Augusta during August 2025. One-third of the hazardous metal pollution originated from older sources like coal combustion. Children face a significantly higher exposure risk compared to adults across all surveyed areas. This research highlights the need to monitor legacy contaminants near urban communities. 🧐

🔬 Organs customize their internal body clocks

LMU researchers discovered how different organs adapt the same internal clock machinery for their unique needs. The study was led by Maria Robles and Fatih Aygenli at LMU, publishing in Nature Cell Biology. They found that protein interactions with DNA differ across tissues like the liver, kidney, and lung. Specifically, they identified PROX1, HNF1B, and HOXA5 as factors tailoring the clock to organ-specific functions. This could lead to better, organ-targeted treatments for diseases linked to circadian disruption. 🧬

🏏 Curran eyeing Test comeback for Pakistan series

Sam Curran was close to the squad for the Pakistan Test series due to fitness concerns. The selector, Marcus North, stated he is a player of interest since Ben Stokes' retirement. He missed the first two Tests, but could be an option for the third Test on September 9. His backroom staff is working with him to ensure he is physically ready for future roles. Curran's all-round skills make him a valuable asset for the team's balance.

🏦 Only 3 Co-ops meet RBI's big deposit mark

The RBI's draft guidelines for 'on-tap' UCB licensing have set a high deposit threshold. Currently, Buldana Urban Co-operative Credit Society, Lokmanya Multipurpose Co-operative Society, and Repco Bank are the only three meeting the Rs 10,000 crore deposit criterion. These societies must also meet net worth of Rs 300 crore and CRAR of at least 12%. The framework also demands strict governance and 'fit and proper' director criteria. Licenses will only be granted after comprehensive regulatory scrutiny on a case-by-case basis.

💰 Tiger Shroff's Salary Jumps to Double Digits

Tiger Shroff is actively reshaping his acting career with upcoming projects. The actor has signed on for Remo D’Souza's next film for a massive sum of Rs. 10 crores. This amount marks his biggest payday in the post-COVID era, significantly raising his fee from single digits. He is also reportedly negotiating two more films with fees between Rs. 10 crore and Rs. 12 crore. Lag Ja Gale is slated for a May 15, 2027 release, while the D'Souza film is shooting now and expected to wrap by September end. 🎬

⚖️ More judges won't fix court backlog, says MP

Rajya Sabha MP Haris Beeran called the Supreme Court Amendment Bill, 2026, a cosmetic change that won't reduce case pendency. Beeran highlighted that increasing judges from 34 to 38 is insufficient without structural reforms across courts. He proposed increasing the retirement age for judges and boosting their salaries to Rs 20 Lakh a month. Beeran also criticized the lack of transparency in judicial appointments, which he feels involves the Central Government. Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy added that the center only appoints judges aligning with its political ideologies. ⚖️

🎬 Salman Khan's 90s Ramayana shelved over affair

An ambitious cinematic adaptation of Ramayana was shelved in the early 1990s. Salman Khan was cast as Lord Ram, with Sonali Bendre confirmed for Sita, under director Sohail Khan. Approximately 40% of the film had reportedly been shot before the halt. The project stalled after Sohail Khan's relationship with Pooja Bhatt, disapproved by his father, Salim Khan. Eventually, Pooja exited, and the film was put on hold. 🎬

🚨 Big GST Fraud Network Busted in Assam

An Assam Special Task Force busted a massive multi-state GST and ITC fraud network, leading to 12 arrests in total. The alleged mastermind, Vinit Kumar Poddar, was taken into custody from Kolkata on Wednesday night. The fraud, mapped so far, amounts to Rs 33.73 crore across cases registered in June and July this year. This investigation is tracing the money trail to uncover more involved individuals in the scheme. Further legal proceedings are continuing as the STF scrutinizes financial transactions. 🚨

💬 Saif Ali Khan's sister reveals why she never married

Saba Ali Khan revealed that she has never gotten married in her life. Speaking on a vlog hosted by Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi, she shared that she never even had a boyfriend. She mentioned that at 19, she almost married someone in Kolkata but it didn't work out. Saba explained she remained open to marriage but couldn't find anyone truly compatible. She also cited her father's influence, resonating with the idea of needing a 'man' over a 'boy'.

🎬 Music composer hints at positive ending for Vishwanath & Sons

GV Prakash Kumar has shared some insights about the upcoming film 'Vishwanath & Sons'. The movie stars Suriya and Mamitha Baiju, and it is an emotional family entertainer. The composer confirmed the film features a breezy, feel-good story with a positive ending. He noted the music needed to reflect these natural emotions, while also discussing the song 'Pattampoochi/Neno Butterfly.' GV Prakash is confident the film will be worth the wait for cinema release. 🎬