🚀 French astronaut to do first spacewalk

Sophie Adenot is set to become the first French woman to conduct a spacewalk outside the ISS on Tuesday. She will be joined by American astronaut Anil Menon during the EVA. The spacewalk is scheduled to last six and a half hours, starting around 1435 CET. The main goal is to replace a space-to-ground antenna crucial for high-speed communications. Adenot, 44, is the second European woman to perform this activity after Samantha Cristoforetti in 2022.

🚢 Iran Strait talks hit snag; US demands met first

Iran's top negotiator stated that the Hormuz Strait will stay closed until the US meets certain interim agreement conditions. This statement was made in the context of ongoing diplomatic discussions regarding the strait's control. Previously, President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Oman if it obstructed a US deal with Iran. Qatar's Foreign Ministry noted that mediators await a bilateral agreement between Oman and Iran before continuing broader talks. The market is also showing signs of recovery, with gold rebounding in August. 🪙

💬 Gen Z's period leave email sparks office debate

A Gen Z employee's candid leave email mentioning severe menstrual pain went viral after a Gurgaon CEO shared it on LinkedIn. Jasveer Singh, CEO of Knot Dating, highlighted how Gen Z is making workplace talks more direct and less awkward. The email detailed inability to come to the office due to pain, while remaining available remotely. This sparked a huge internet debate about workplace privacy and the need for official menstrual leave policies. Some users felt disclosure isn't necessary, while others pushed for formalizing such leave. 💖

💀 Skeletal remains found in sand dump at Visakhapatnam

Two sets of unidentified human skeletal remains were discovered among sand heaps in Sheela Nagar Junction, Visakhapatnam on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. These remains, one suspected to be female, were found at a site undergoing construction for the Sheela Nagar-Sabbavaram road. The police noted the remains were wrapped in white cloth and adorned with flower garlands. This suggests the sand might have come from a burial ground during excavation work. Gajuwaka police have registered a case and are continuing their investigation.

🧐 500kg contaminated paneer busted in Mathura

Authorities destroyed 500 kg of contaminated paneer worth Rs 15,000 in Mathura during a food safety raid. The Food Safety and Drug Administration seized chemicals like Tinopol and 2,000 litres of milk at the unit. This action is part of a broader crackdown on analogue and adulterated dairy across India. Madhya Pradesh recently banned analogue paneer, following similar moves in other states. The raid also targets a wider illegal dairy trade operating across North India. 🧐

🔭 JWST's red dots might just be galaxies

Astronomers are rethinking the mysterious 'little red dots' seen by the JWST in the distant universe. A new analysis suggests these dots might be bright nuclei of galaxies whose dimmer parts faded over cosmic time. The team focused on the 'Saguaro' galaxy at redshift 2, which looked like a LRD when viewed further away at redshift 7. They found evidence of an active galactic nucleus harboring a supermassive black hole within these objects. Ultimately, LRDs could be a brief evolutionary stage of black hole-dominated galaxies, not a completely new type of object. 🌌

🚗 Japanese SUV drops price by nearly 2.5 lakh

A Japanese SUV has seen a significant price reduction recently. This change affects the specific model available in the market. The price was reduced by Rs 2.45 Lakh from its original Rs 17 Lakh tag. This price drop is aimed at boosting sales in the current automotive sector. Buyers can check the new pricing details for this vehicle soon. 🚗

🚨 Disaster relief funds mystery: where did the cash go?

Over half of the allocated disaster relief funds failed to reach the affected states. This issue has been flagged regarding the distribution process across various regions. Specifically, data points to a significant portion remaining unaccounted for as of the recent audit. The funds were intended to aid communities recovering from recent calamities. Authorities are now investigating the discrepancies to ensure proper allocation moving forward.

🏳️‍🌈 Old trans ID cards safe from new 2026 changes

The Union government informed the Supreme Court that transgender identity cards issued before 2026 amendments will not be invalidated. This submission was made after the court sought clarification on the status of trans persons who obtained cards pre-amendment. The amendments redefine transgender status and mandate medical evaluation for legal gender recognition, clearing Parliament in March. Petitioners, like Ankani Biswas, argued against the cancellation of existing cards, citing issues with new replacements. The Supreme Court previously stated the 2026 changes could not revoke rights already granted to individuals.

🎬 Flop movie turns massive hit via meme culture

A Chinese animated film, Niu Lai, initially flopped, earning only $1,480 after being mocked online for its poor animation. The film, directed by Xin Yu Meng with his mother, saw its fortunes change around August 14 after its clips went viral across social media platforms. By August 17, Niu Lai had amassed $2.5 million at the box office, ranking among China's top 10 animations for 2026. This unexpected surge saw it briefly overtake Spider-Man: Brand New Day on August 18. The movie was made on a tiny budget of about $4,450 by a two-person team. 🤯

🤝 US Envoy asks India to fix trade issues

US Envoy Sergio Gor stressed that India and the US must tackle existing friction points to boost economic ties. Speaking at the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce's convention, he emphasized the need for predictable taxation and regulatory frameworks. Bilateral trade has surged from USD 20 billion to over USD 240 billion in the last two decades. Gor also called for greater trust and transparency concerning export controls and technology flows. Both nations aim to reach a USD 500 billion bilateral trade target by the year 2030.