💡 Monk turned Meta engineer starts rival to Accenture

A former Buddhist monk who was a software engineer at Meta accidentally founded FSH Technologies in 2021. This new company is based in California and now aims to compete with Accenture in government contract bidding. The company secured its first pre-seed funding of $1 million in March 2021. Unlike traditional consultants, FSH focuses on end-to-end fixes for administrative systems. The founders started the venture after building a fun project during a pandemic-era hackathon.

🚄 Third Vande Bharat train coming to Jammu-Srinagar

Indian Railways is adding a third Vande Bharat train service connecting Jammu and Srinagar via Udhampur. This new route will increase capacity between the two major cities in Jammu and Kashmir. Currently, two Vande Bharat trains operate four services, with the latest extension starting April 30, 2026. Both existing trains have maintained full occupancy since their June 6, 2025, launch, prompting a coach upgrade. The new service, Train number 26407/26408, will run with four stops and cover 269 km in 4:45 hrs. 🚄

🏃‍♂️ 85-year-old athlete still crushing runs and training kids

At 85, Andhuram Das continues his daily rigorous training routine, refusing to let age slow his journey. He previously won bronze in both 5,000 m and 10,000 m races in December 2025 at the 31st Assam Inter District Masters Athlete Championship. Since 1967, he has coached over 1,000 students in Kho Kho and Kabaddi, inspiring many to compete at various levels. His disciplined life includes running about 10 km four days a week starting at 5:30 am. His next big goal is to emulate Fauja Singh by completing a 10,000 km race, even if he reaches 105 years old. 🏃‍♂️

🏥 Niki Walia recalls SRK's hospital visit after crash

Niki Walia recounted a secret hospital visit by Shah Rukh Khan following a car accident. The visit took place in Mumbai, where Walia witnessed Khan's presence. Specific dates or numbers were not mentioned in the recalled incident. This recollection sheds light on the personal moments surrounding the actor's accident. Further details regarding the event remain private to the individuals involved.

⛽ Oil prices surge as US-Iran talks stall ⛽

Brent Crude futures surpassed $93 per barrel on Thursday morning in Europe. This rise came as President Trump announced an unprecedented economic pressure campaign against Iran. On Thursday, oil prices continued their rally for the fifth straight day following Trump's threats. Concerns over stricter sanctions enforcement against Iran fueled anxiety about Middle East supply risks. Analysts note that while crude is rising, downstream fuel shortages remain a bigger issue.

🎮 BGMI Lite drops soon with pre-reg details

Krafton India is releasing a lighter version of the battle royale game, BGMI Lite. Pre-registration for this new game begins on August 25th, initially only for Android users in India. The Android download size is around 1GB, while the iOS size is reportedly 2GB. The game is expected to be fully released in India by the end of 2026. Players will not need to transfer their existing accounts to this new version.

🧐 Food politics: who decides what Indians eat?

Public health doctor Dr. Sylvia Karpagam questioned who dictates Indian diets, arguing power dynamics are key, not just personal choices. Speaking in Bengaluru on Tuesday, August 18, she noted caste and privilege affect food decisions, like meat exclusion in schools. She highlighted that representation in food policy is lacking, stressing diversity in researchers. Her book, published by HarperCollins India, explores how caste and economics shape health programs. Ultimately, she urged better government support for school meal programs across states. 🧐

✈️ Flight crew face top cancer risk from radiation

A new study revealed that flight crew face the highest risk of dying from radiation-related cancers among 503 occupations studied in the US. This research, led by Dr. Vishal Patel, analyzed over 12 million US death certificates from 2020 to 2024. Flight attendants had about 50% higher odds, while pilots faced roughly 36% higher odds of these cancers. This suggests workplace exposure, not lifestyle, is the likely cause for these elevated rates. Researchers now recommend annual skin exams and earlier mammograms for aircrew. 👩‍⚕️

🇨🇳 China tells South Korea to stay neutral amid US tensions

China has urged South Korea to maintain neutrality amidst escalating geopolitical tensions. This diplomatic message was directed towards South Korea, which is currently navigating complex international relations. The friction points involve US policy, which has been cited as a key source of the current tensions. Beijing is actively trying to de-escalate the situation and prevent the region from being pulled into a larger conflict. Moving forward, China hopes for a more stable diplomatic environment in Northeast Asia. 🇨🇳

📱 Sony drops new Xperia phone next week

Sony is officially launching a new phone to its Xperia lineup next week. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, and will be streamed on YouTube. Leaks suggest the upcoming model is the Xperia 10 VIII (MK8). This launch is earlier than expected, as the previous model launched in September. The MK8 is rumored to keep the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset from its predecessor.

👟 Agra's ODOP scheme is changing local lives

The One District One Product (ODOP) scheme is transforming lives in Agra by offering more than just financial aid. Lakshmi learned leatherwork skills after 90 days of training in Nawada village, gaining confidence in her own work. Rajendra Soni expanded his generational footwear business by attending exhibitions in Delhi and Lucknow, securing bigger orders. This support system, including loans and market access, is helping artisans grow beyond local limits. The initiative aims to turn trained workers into successful entrepreneurs in the city. 👟