🏏 Anushka and Yastika lead India A vs Australia A

Anushka Sharma and Yastika Bhatia have been named captains for India A's upcoming multi-format series against Australia A. This series is scheduled to take place across September and October, as announced by the BCCI on Thursday. The tour includes three T20s in New Chandigarh, plus one-dayers and a multi-day match in Dharamsala. Anushka will captain the T20 squad, while Yastika leads the one-day and multi-day matches. The teams feature several players, including Sujata Dey and Anushka Sharma.

🛡️ RSS Chief's Event Organizer X Account Restored

The X account of AHEAD, organizing Mohan Bhagwat’s event in New York, has been successfully restored after a temporary suspension. AHEAD stated that misguided opponents used automated activity to block the account, which was unavailable on Thursday. Mohan Bhagwat is scheduled to speak at the 'Universal Oneness Celebration' on August 29 at Madison Square Garden. The event is expected to gather around 5,000 Indian Americans as part of RSS's global outreach. Security advisories are in place amid controversy, including scrutiny from USCIRF. 🛡️

🚨 RSS chief's event organizer X account suspended

The X account of AHEAD, the organizer for RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's event, was suspended two days before the Madison Square Garden program. This event is scheduled for August 29 at the Infosys Theatre, aiming to attract around 5,000 Indian Americans for RSS's global outreach. NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani previously voiced his lack of support for the gathering, sparking diaspora criticism. Meanwhile, USCIRF urged the US government to consider sanctions against RSS members involved in religious freedom issues. India's Ministry of External Affairs has dismissed USCIRF's assessments as biased and provocative. 🇮🇳

💉 CEPI funds Minapharm's Ebola vaccine trials

CEPI has provided financial backing to Minapharm for its experimental Ebola vaccine development. This support is designated for the vaccine trials being conducted by Minapharm. The funding amounts to up to $16.5 million and is being allocated for the next phase of research. This initiative aims to accelerate the availability of a protective vaccine against Ebola outbreaks. Further updates on the trial progress are expected as the research moves forward. 💉

💡 Heat meets ice: Thermal shock powers green energy

New thermal shock technology is revolutionizing green energy sources. Researchers at the National Institute of Advanced Materials in Bangalore developed this innovative method. The process involves subjecting materials to extreme temperature changes, achieving a 30% efficiency boost. This advancement helps in creating more durable and sustainable energy components. Further testing is planned to scale up production for wider application. 💡

🎬 Meghna Gulzar on Kareena's Daayra glow-up

Filmmaker Meghna Gulzar revealed that Kareena Kapoor brought an entirely unseen facet to her role in Daayra. The film pairs Kareena Kapoor with Malayalam star Prithviraj Sukumaran, both playing police officers with opposing views on justice. The trailer is set to release on August 31, with the film finally hitting theatres on September 18. Meghna highlighted the contrasting dynamic between Kareena's stoic Ajooni and Prithviraj's caged Raman. This movie explores the spectrum of grey in society, moving beyond simple right or wrong.

🩺 Tamil Nadu NEET UG Counselling Round 1 List Out

The seat allotment list for the Tamil Nadu NEET UG Counselling 2026 has officially been released. This crucial list was published for candidates participating in the counselling process across Tamil Nadu. The first round saw specific seat allocations finalized as of the recent announcement date. This process is a vital step for students securing admission into medical colleges. Candidates are advised to check the details immediately to proceed with further steps.

🤖 Trump admin eyeing new tariffs on chips

The Trump administration is reportedly considering a new broad tariff package aimed at semiconductors and related electronics. This discussion is happening in the US, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick supporting relief for foreign investors. The proposed measures could target products like laptops and gaming consoles starting around Thursday. The goal is to boost domestic chip production and secure supply chains from reliance on Asian suppliers. The framework might change significantly over the coming weeks or months. 🧐

📊 NDA expected to secure 326 seats in Lok Sabha polls

The BJP-led NDA is projected to retain power with 326 seats if the Lok Sabha elections take place today. This projection from the MOTN survey shows a drop of 26 seats compared to the January survey which predicted 352 seats. Despite the numbers being lower than the '400 paar' target, voter trust in the NDA remains somewhat intact. The Congress-led INDIA bloc is also expected to see modest gains, with 185 seats predicted. The August 2026 MOTN was conducted by CVoter using a sample of 25,184 people between July 1 and August 25.

🏏 Kashi Rudras vs Noida Super Kings T20 clash 🏏

The 23rd match of the Uttar Pradesh T20 League 2026 is set between Kashi Rudras and Noida Super Kings on August 28th in Lucknow. Noida Super Kings currently sit in 3rd place with 4 wins, while Kashi Rudras are at 5th with 3 wins. Their previous game saw Noida Super Kings win by 5 wickets after Kashi Rudras scored only 89 runs. Predictions suggest Noida Super Kings will win the toss and the match itself. The top batter for Noida Super Kings is Ravi Singh, and the match is expected to have a handicap in their favour.

🧐 US officials slam entrepreneur Ankit Gupta over H-1B remarks

Indian-origin entrepreneur Ankit Gupta faced a major backlash after controversial comments about the H-1B visa on social media. The US Department of Labor's Inspector General publicly criticized him, calling out his supposed "sense of entitlement." This followed his comment on JD Vance's post, where he linked hiring Americans to DEI. Subsequently, FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson criticized YC, stating such individuals do not serve American interests. Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan later issued a statement confirming support for hiring and funding Americans. 🧐