🤔 Iran President's secret meeting raises questions

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reportedly had a secret meeting with Mojtaba Khamenei in Tehran. The meeting took place in a dark, heavily tinted commercial car, and Pezeshkian couldn't even see the man beside him. This alleged encounter differed from the president's public claim of a two-and-a-half-hour cordial discussion. The meeting was reportedly arranged after Pezeshkian threatened to resign. Pezeshkian later questioned aides if he actually met the Supreme Leader.

💰 Zendaya tops 2026 box office charts

Zendaya has officially become the highest-grossing actor of 2026, achieving this status through major film releases. She reached this milestone in 2026 after starring in Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. These two films, alongside The Drama, generated nearly $2 billion worldwide for her this year. This success cements her status as a bankable star in Hollywood, joining Tom Holland in major roles. Furthermore, Zendaya is scheduled to star in Dune: Part Three, which could boost her record even further. 🚀

🚨 Wall Street firms face cyberattack threats

Several major Wall Street firms have reportedly been targeted by attempted cyberattacks recently. These incidents involve high-profile financial institutions across the US market. The attacks have been observed over the past few weeks, with no major breaches confirmed yet. Cybersecurity experts are monitoring the situation closely to prevent any significant financial fallout. Authorities are investigating these probes to understand the threat actors' motives. 🚨

✊ Congress protests police action in Kolkata

Hundreds of Congress workers and leaders marched in Kolkata against alleged atrocities on workers and hawker evictions. The protest march, called Lalbazaar Satyagraha, started from College Street and went to Lalbazaar on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. Workers claimed they were attacked while heading to the July 21 Martyrs’ Day rally, with several admitted to the hospital. State president Subhankar Sarkar threatened sit-in demonstrations if police actions continued unchecked. They demanded an impartial investigation into the violence from police minister Suvendu Adhikari.

🚢 25 ships near Hormuz; India prepping evacuation

Around three dozen Indian and other India-bound ships are currently in the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea. Specifically, 25 vessels are located in the Hormuz region, and 13 of these are set for evacuation. These ships include eight carrying fertilisers for Kharif crops and three with energy products. Since the war started in West Asia, 4,052 stranded Indian seafarers have safely returned to India. The DGMA is monitoring alerts 24/7 while providing support to affected families. 🚢

🏛️ Odisha Varsity Wardens Quit Over MLA Interference

Wardens from all hostels at Ravenshaw University tendered their resignations after protesting interference by a BJP MLA. This incident involved MLA Prakash Chandra Sethi's visit to the East Hostel where student unrest was ongoing. The confrontation escalated after Mr. Sethi argued with staff and was allegedly insulted before students. As a result, 29 wardens and deputy wardens submitted their resignations by August 6, 2026. Student groups are now planning protests to defend the university's autonomy. 🏛️

💡 Nano-corral changes quantum light control

Researchers have developed an electrostatic nanocorral structure to gain better control over charged excitons and quantum light. This breakthrough was achieved by scientists at the University of Oxford. The study details the use of this structure to manipulate quantum phenomena with high precision. This technology opens new avenues for advanced quantum computing and light applications. Further research will focus on scaling up this nano-corral design for practical use. 💡

⛈️ Uttarakhand on high alert for heavy rain ⛈️

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered all departments to be on high alert due to continuous rainfall. He met with Vinod Kumar Suman to coordinate efforts across various agencies for emergency response. The IMD issued an orange alert for Dehradun, Chamoli, and Bageshwar districts for Thursday. This heavy rain is expected to bring lightning and strong winds to isolated spots. Schools up to Class 12 will be closed in Chamoli and Bageshwar on Thursday.

🐜 Ant Colonies Show Phase Transition

Researchers have observed a fascinating phase transition occurring within ant colonies. This phenomenon was studied by scientists from the American Physical Society at various locations. The observations were documented across multiple colonies over several weeks. This transition suggests complex collective behavior emerges from simple individual interactions. Further research aims to map out the exact mechanisms driving this colony-level change. 🐜

🏛️ Bankers' Books Bill passes Lok Sabha without debate

The Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill was approved by the Lok Sabha without any debate on Wednesday. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced this bill to update old laws for modern banking practices. It replaces the Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 1891, recognizing digital and virtual records as court evidence. Opposition parties protested heavily, disrupting the proceedings and forcing an adjournment. The bill was ultimately passed via a voice vote before the Lok Sabha adjourned. 🏛️

👋 Nikita Bier leaves X as Head of Product

Nikita Bier has stepped down from his position as head of product at X, Elon Musk’s social media platform. He took over the product lead role in July 2025, overseeing the launch of 30 new products. During his tenure, Bier also managed the platform amidst several scandals, including the Grok chatbot's issues. He stated that it is time for him to take a break from the 24/7 commitment of running the app. Bier plans to continue advising the company moving forward.