🚨 US Gov work: Startup's core duty, not a side gig

Meta AI head Alexandr Wang urged American startups to treat serving the US government as a fundamental principle. This statement was made in response to concerns about Chinese companies sourcing training data from Silicon Valley firms. The Forbes report revealed top six Chinese AI labs spend around $500 million annually with American data-labeling companies. Wang and Aakash Sabharwal warned this undermines American AI leadership and risks national security. Startups must prioritize US service over commercial convenience to maintain technological edge.

☔ Kerala faces heavy rain warnings across seven districts 🌧️

Relentless heavy rains caused disruptions across Kerala, leading the IMD to issue a red alert for seven districts. The red alert covers Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kannur, and Kasaragod as of Friday morning. Isolated areas expect intense rainfall over 15 mm per hour with winds up to 50 kmph for the next three hours. Various districts announced holidays for educational institutions while rescue operations continued in flood-hit zones. Coastal areas also face high wave warnings until 11:30 am on August 7, urging residents to stay safe.

🗳️ SC won't throw out election challenge against Baghel

The Supreme Court dismissed former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel's request to reject an election petition challenging his 2023 victory. The plea was filed by his BJP rival Vijay Baghel in the context of the Patan Assembly constituency. The petition alleged a violation of the 48-hour silence period via a roadshow on November 16, 2023. Baghel argued the allegation was only an electoral offence, not a corrupt practice, and that it couldn't affect the result. Ultimately, the Court allowed Baghel to argue his points during the trial before the High Court. 🗳️

⚖️ SC dismisses NEET OMR discrepancy plea

Six NEET candidates filed a plea alleging that their marked answers differed from the OMR sheets uploaded by the NTA. The Supreme Court, comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe, decided not to examine these individual concerns. The bench stated that its focus is on the larger issue of NTA institutionalization and strengthening its mechanism. The court advised the candidates to raise these specific grievances before the Delhi High Court. This dismissal comes as counselling for the exam is already underway. ⚖️

♻️ 4 startups giving old clothes a glow-up

Textile waste is piling up across India, leading four innovative startups to tackle the issue. NoKasa in Bengaluru offers doorstep pickup for old clothes, while MuddleArt in New Delhi manages factory scraps. MuddleArt has already diverted over 7,000 tonnes of textile waste with 250+ partners as of 2019. Tooused helps users across 18,000+ pin codes by recycling old items for credits, and Canvaloop turns agricultural waste into new fibres. These companies are revolutionizing waste management through reuse and upcycling. ♻️

🌧️ Minor mudslides spotted near Kerala tunnels

Two minor mudslips were reported above the Kuthiran twin tunnels on National Highway 544 on Friday. District Collector Shikha Surendran, MLA K. Rajan, and officials inspected the site in the western side of the tunnels. These incidents occurred amid continuing monsoon rain, and the slips were deemed minor. Authorities confirmed there is no current traffic disruption as the debris remains trapped between rock faces. NHAI engineers and the Forest Department will conduct a detailed inspection to check the slope's stability.

🧠 Fast walkers keep brains healthy, study reveals

Super movers are defined as individuals who can walk much faster than their aging peers. A study found that these fast walkers are about half as likely to experience cognitive decline. This research focused on the benefits of maintaining a high pace as people age. The findings highlight the importance of regular, vigorous physical activity for brain health. Therefore, becoming a 'super mover' is linked to a healthier mind in later years.

😠 CM rejects all-party meet on Cauvery water row

CM C Joseph Vijay rejected the DMK's demand for an all-party meeting concerning the Mekedatu Dam and Cauvery water dispute. This decision was made in New Delhi, addressing opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin's request. The issue has been ongoing, with the DMK demanding a resolution for the people's livelihood. Vijay asserted his government will pursue the matter through legal means without political drama. Next, the ruling party remains firm on protecting Tamil Nadu's water rights. 😠

💹 Jefferies shifts Indian portfolio focus

Christopher Wood is removing HDFC Bank and PolicyBazaar from his India long-only model portfolio. These stocks are being replaced by Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) and Lenskart Solutions in his GREED & fear report. MCX and Lenskart will each have a 4% weighting, alongside other changes like swapping REC for Bajaj Finance. This reshuffle happens amidst mixed Indian equity performance and strong domestic credit growth. Wood anticipates rupee stabilization due to current capital inflows and RBI policy decisions. 📈

🎓 Punjab Cabinet greenlights digital universities & fee rules 📚

The Punjab Cabinet approved several major decisions aimed at boosting education and improving governance on August 05, 2026. Three new Digital Open Universities—Cloud, MS Digital, and Physicswallah—were greenlit for establishment across the state. The Cabinet also passed a bill to regulate unreasonable fee hikes by private un-aided educational institutions. Furthermore, the Punjab State Outsourced Personnel Transition to Contractual Engagement Bill, 2026 was approved. These moves are set to bring quality education and better fee oversight to Punjab.

🏍️ New Pulsar 150 spotted with big upgrades 🏍️

The new generation Bajaj Pulsar 150 has been spotted in showrooms ahead of an official launch. This updated model features a revised fascia with new LED lights and a major switch to a mono-shock rear suspension. The bike now boasts an oil-cooling setup for its engine, which previously was air-cooled. It also includes a colour LCD cluster with navigation capabilities, similar to the new Pulsar 125. Bajaj is expected to unveil the full range of variants soon, potentially including dual-channel ABS.