🏯 Japan's 118-year-old prison is now a luxury hotel

The century-old Nara Prison has been transformed into the Hoshinoya Nara Prison Resort, offering unique luxury stays. This conversion took place in Nara, Japan, where the building was originally constructed in 1908. Approximately 500 former cells were repurposed into 48 suites, amenities, and a restaurant for guests. Staying here helps fund the expensive preservation of this culturally significant building. One-night stays range from USD 317 to USD 1,114, depending on the suite type. 🏯

💰 Goldman Sachs rates 14 Indian banks

Goldman Sachs has initiated coverage on 14 Indian banks with varying ratings, focusing on ROA normalization as a key driver. Among the top picks, ICICI Bank and Kotak Bank received 'Buy' ratings with significant upside potential. Specific target prices were set, such as Rs 1,935 for ICICI Bank, suggesting a 37% upside. The brokerage also issued 'Sell' ratings for RBL Bank and Yes Bank, indicating downside risks. These ratings cover private, mid-sized, and PSU banks for future stock performance analysis. 📊

🏦 Fairfax gets two years for IDBI Bank deal

India is reportedly granting Fairfax two years to consolidate its holdings regarding the IDBI Bank deal. This news concerns the Canadian investment firm Fairfax and the Indian banking sector. The consolidation period is set for the next two years, as per sources. This move allows Fairfax time to structure its stake in the banking entity. The next steps will depend on Fairfax successfully completing this consolidation phase. 🏦

🚨 Vizag School Death Probe: Panel Formed

A three-member panel has been constituted to investigate the death of a student at a school in Vizag. This inquiry is being set up to look into the circumstances surrounding the student's passing. The incident occurred in Vizag, and the investigation is ongoing as of today's date. The panel aims to determine the exact cause and surrounding events of the student's demise. Further updates regarding the probe's findings are expected in the coming days.

📱 BGMI Lite pre-reg rumored for August 25

Online reports suggest that pre-registration for BGMI Lite might open for Android users on August 25, 2026. This potential lightweight version is being eyed by players with budget smartphones in India. The expected numbers are still unconfirmed, as KRAFTON has not made an official announcement yet. The Lite edition aims to make the battle royale game more accessible to lower-spec devices. Players must verify all links through official KRAFTON channels to avoid scams. 📱

🗳️ Karnataka issues millions of voter revision notices

The Karnataka Election Commission will issue 43.8 lakh notices during the next phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Bengaluru is the main recipient, with 24.05 lakh voters across its four districts slated to receive these notices. These notices follow the publication of draft electoral rolls on August 24th, with objections open until September 23rd. The notices flag discrepancies like age gaps or inability to map to the 2002 roll. Voters must appear for verification from August 31st onwards to avoid removal from the roll. 🧐

😠 Tension in Jaipur as CJP team alleges BJP attack

Tensions flared in Jaipur, Rajasthan, when a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) team visited a government school. The CJP team claimed they faced violence from locals while conducting their 'School Thik Karo' campaign in Rampura Kanwarpura village. This incident reportedly occurred on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, involving stone pelting and vehicle vandalism. CJP activists accused BJP workers of orchestrating the attack and criticized the police for not intervening in the situation. They are demanding arrests within 48 hours and the withdrawal of existing restrictions on school visits. 😡

🛰️ Elon Musk bets Starlink can fix rural India's internet gap

Elon Musk believes his Starlink satellite internet service is necessary for India's underserved areas despite high subscription numbers. He highlighted that 11,256 villages lack 4G connectivity, even with 1.093 billion total subscriptions. This comes as BharatNet has over 850,000 route-km of fibre deployed. Musk sees Starlink as a solution for the least connected populations across the nation. However, commercial launch awaits final regulatory and security clearances from Indian authorities. 🛰️

😟 DR Congo Ebola Outbreak Spirals Out of Control

The Democratic Republic of Congo is dealing with its deadliest Ebola outbreak ever recorded. This crisis began on May 15th in Ituri province, located in northeastern Congo. As of August 18, 2026, the outbreak has surpassed 5,000 cases and resulted in over 2,000 deaths. Health officials are particularly worried about the rapid speed of transmission across the region. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as it continues to expand geographically. 😟

😠 Activists attacked in Jaipur village, 48-hour ultimatum given

CJP activists were assaulted and their vehicle was smashed by villagers in Rampura, Jaipur during a school inspection. The activists alleged the violence happened at the state education minister's behest on August 21, 2026. They demanded immediate official action within 48 hours to prevent state-wide protests. Local police reportedly failed to stop the clash despite warnings of rising tension. The situation has since calmed down in the village.

🏍️ Yamaha sales hit 72k units in July 2026

Yamaha Motor India achieved strong domestic sales growth, reaching 72,579 units in July 2026. The company, operating in India, saw sales increase by 22,214 units compared to July 2025. RayZR led sales at 23,760 units, while R15 and MT15 contributed significantly to the total. Aerox saw a massive 102.95% YoY growth, reaching 4,544 units this month. Yamaha plans to launch the new R2 next week to keep the momentum going. 🚀