✍️ GoT author George R.R. Martin shares personal update

Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin shared a candid update regarding his health and progress on his writing. He posted on his personal blog from his location, acknowledging a stressful year filled with both highs and lows. Martin, who turned 77 last September, mentioned battling sadness and depression during this period. He celebrated the nine Emmy nominations for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, hoping to catch up on posting soon. Martin confirmed there is no backup plan if he doesn't finish the Song of Ice and Fire series.

⚙️ China unveils world's first boring-blasting tunnel machine

China has unveiled the world's first boring and blasting machine (BBM) designed for tough underground conditions. This new system was developed by Tsinghua University and China Railway Science & Industry Group in Wuhan. Laboratory tests showed the BBM could boost excavation efficiency by 30 percent compared to older machines. It uniquely blends TBM technology with traditional drilling and blasting capabilities for adaptability. The machine will initially be tested at a pumped-storage hydropower station for further refinement.

🚨 FSSAI bans Dabur products over fake '100%' claims

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has banned several Dabur products due to misleading '100 per cent' purity claims. This action was taken against Dabur India in relation to products like Honey, Virgin Coconut Oil, and Coconut Milk. The ban, announced on a Monday, cites violations of the FSS (Advertising & Claims) Regulations, 2018. FSSAI determined these claims were ambiguous and unverifiable, potentially misleading consumers. Dabur has been ordered to stop sales and submit a compliance report within 15 days. 🚫

🚨 Assam rape-murder: Ex-boyfriend among 3 arrested

Three teenagers, including the victim's former boyfriend, were arrested in the Hailakandi rape and murder case. The accused were apprehended in Hailakandi district, Assam, on Saturday night. The investigation involves three suspects aged between 17 and 19, and the incident occurred around 11 pm. The victim's family is demanding capital punishment and a fast-track trial due to the alleged brutality. Police are continuing the investigation, analyzing evidence, and urging for swift judicial action. 💔

📈 macOS app to track salary growth

A new macOS menu bar app called Salary Ticker has been released to monitor salary increases. The application allows users to track their earnings directly from their computer's menu bar. It features functionality to display salary progression over time, with updates happening daily. This tool aims to provide users with a visual representation of their financial growth trajectory. Developers plan to continue adding features based on user feedback in the near future. 📈

🛰️ NASA payload lands on Intuitive Machines lunar satellite

NASA delivered the 3.5-pound NavCube3-mini receiver to Intuitive Machines on July 13 for Altus-1 integration. This receiver is designed to track weak GPS and Galileo signals at lunar distances for autonomous positioning. Intuitive Machines is targeting late 2026 for IM-3, which will launch the first of five planned lunar relay satellites. The instrument will demonstrate GNSS-based navigation for the relay spacecraft in the lunar environment. Eventually, the network plans to offer communications and positioning services for lunar missions. 🛰️

💥 Long-range strikes kill civilians in Russia and Ukraine

Escalating missile and drone strikes are causing a rising civilian death toll across both nations. Local officials confirmed at least five people died in Russia and four in Ukraine due to these long-range attacks. Reports detail drone strikes on warehouses in the Moscow region and attacks on cities like Sumy. Ukraine alleges that the e-commerce giant Wildberries supports Moscow's war effort by supplying dual-use items. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy aims to pressure Vladimir Putin to halt the conflict before winter. 💥

🛡️ Microsoft cuts costs with in-house AI security model

Microsoft has shifted the majority of its security workload to a proprietary in-house AI model called MAI-Cyber-1-Flash. This system is deployed within Microsoft Defender, featuring three teams of AI agents for probing, investigation, and fixing. The model now handles about 90% of the tasks, escalating only the hardest 10% to OpenAI's GPT-5.4. This strategic move has successfully cut the compute bill by roughly half while improving the system's performance. The 90/10 split demonstrates a shift where proprietary efficiency beats raw frontier model power in volume capture. 🛡️

🗺️ Kochi seeks state approval for master plan changes

The master plan special committee, chaired by Mayor V.K. Minimol, wrote to the Kerala government to amend issues in the Kochi city master plan. This plan, enacted on July 1, 2024, is under review based on public petitions. Recommendations include modifying the plan and adjusting the Konthuruthy canal and Church Landing Road width. The committee highlighted issues like undisclosed recreation zones and misplaced IT Special Zone designations. The changes are sought to address resident hardships and confusion over plan provisions.

🛰️ Top countries causing space junk problem 🛰️

Orbital debris is constantly increasing due to inactive satellites and rocket fragments orbiting Earth. According to Orbital Radar data from August 3, 2026, the United States leads the list with 12,674 tracked debris objects. Russia follows in second place with 1,301 objects, while China has 1,247 tracked pieces. This debris poses a significant risk to active satellites and future space missions worldwide. Global space agencies are now focusing on better tracking and removal technologies to manage this issue.

🎬 Ohh My Dog joins paid preview trend for just ₹149

The paid preview trend is picking up in Bollywood, following hits like Dhurandhar The Revenge and Bhooth Bangla. Ohh My Dog is scheduled for a paid preview on Thursday, August 6, the day before its full release on Friday, August 7. Tickets for these previews have been set at an unusually low price of just Rs. 149. This strategy helps generate word-of-mouth, showing confidence in the film despite not having big stars. The movie is written, directed, and produced by Amit Rai and stars Pankaj Tripathi.