🏏 Ball split in half for dual five-for celebration

The cricket world witnessed an unusual sight at Headingley during the England vs Pakistan Test. Pacemen Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue each took five wickets, dismissing the visitors for 171 in the first innings. Because both bowlers achieved a five-for on the first day, the cricket ball was literally cut in half for souvenirs. This unique tradition, usually reserved for one bowler, was accommodated by the ground staff. Both players expressed excitement over keeping their halves of the special commemorative ball. 🏏

⚖️ Nine lawyers get HC judge roles in Punjab & Haryana

Nine advocates have been appointed as Additional Judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court by the Centre. This decision was made following the Supreme Court Collegium's May 4 recommendation of 10 names. The appointments are set to boost the court's strength, which currently stands at 55 out of a sanctioned 85. One recommended name, Navdeep Singh, was notably excluded from this Thursday's notification. The newly appointed judges are expected to significantly aid in handling pending cases across Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh. ⚖️

🗣️ Parties clash over Gen Z vote in big debate

A televised panel featured Supriya Shrinate, Siddharth Yadav, and Ashutosh Ranka discussing India's youth and politics. The discussion centered on Gen Z voters, employment, and education policy across the country. Shrinate criticized the ruling administration over paper leaks and high unemployment rates. Yadav countered by pointing to Modi's leadership and growth in startups and AIIMS. Ranka urged parties to offer real solutions instead of just social media stunts. 🗣️

🚀 Japan is sending a probe to Mars moons

Japan is set to launch a new probe specifically aimed at studying Mars's moons. This mission will be carried out by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The launch is scheduled for October, targeting the celestial bodies orbiting Mars. This probe aims to gather crucial data about the geology and potential habitability of these moons. Future missions will depend on the findings from this initial exploration. 🚀

💪 Tycoon's humble start: living on ₹21 rent

Anil Agarwal recalled his tough beginnings while building his business in Mumbai. He moved to Mumbai from Bihar at age 19 with minimal funds and intense drive. He once lived with seven people in a room paying only ₹21 per month near Mumbai's Cotton Exchange. This tiny 8 ft x 9 ft office in Kalbadevi taught him crucial business lessons beyond textbooks. Agarwal concludes that this experience taught him to dream big and work hard.

🏡 Harry and Meghan's pricey Montecito mansion saga

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Montecito mansion costs over $650,000 annually due to high expenses. They purchased the 7.38-acre estate for $14.65 million in 2020 after leaving royal duties. The property features 18,000 square feet, nine bedrooms, and an ocean view. Despite plans to move to Britain, speculation suggests they might sell for $55 million to $65 million. The final decision hinges on their long-term setup in the UK. 💰

🚢 US carrier swaps out in Middle East

A new US aircraft carrier has arrived in the Middle East region. This vessel is there to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has completed an extensive deployment. The Lincoln's mission spanned a record-breaking period of operations. This deployment was part of ongoing US military commitments in the volatile region. The handover marks a routine rotation of US naval assets in the area. 🚢

🩺 Gates Foundation backs UW health research with huge grant

The Gates Foundation has made a $540.2 million, 10-year donation to the University of Washington's IHME. This massive grant will help the institute expand health data availability for global use by governments and researchers. The investment will scale the Global Burden of Disease study from 925 locations to almost 5,000. This funding supports health forecasting and tracking global health spending worldwide. Ultimately, this work aims to provide reliable evidence for better health decision-making. 🩺

🦠 DRC fights Ebola along Congo River

The Democratic Republic of the Congo launched an emergency initiative called "Congo River Without Ebola" on Thursday. This action targets the Congo River corridor to prevent wider Ebola transmission toward cities like Kinshasa and Mbandaka. The initiative includes stronger surveillance and community warning networks, starting with a three-month intensive phase. This is crucial because heavy river traffic could accelerate virus spread, according to WHO. The plan is supported by the WHO and others, backed by $9 million in UN funding. 🦠

⚖️ SC asks for CBI probe into Jharkhand exam mess

A petition has been submitted to the Supreme Court of India seeking a time-bound CBI probe into alleged irregularities during the Jharkhand JPSC preliminary exam. Activist Harisharan Devgan filed the petition, arguing for an impartial investigation over the current State CID probe. The controversy surfaced after a candidate's OMR carbon copy allegedly showed evaluation issues following the July 2, 2026 results. This led to student protests and the State government agreeing to cancel the 14th JPSC Combined Civil Services preliminary exam. The court is urged to ensure all physical and digital evidence remains secure for proper accountability.

🔬 NCSA joins iDLab to make supercomputing easier

NCSA is partnering with UCLA on a new national initiative called iDLab to simplify supercomputing access. This project aims to create a unified, browser-based environment across several NSF-supported national centers and two cloud platforms. The initiative is part of a $9 million NSF award, with NCSA integrating its Delta and DeltaAI systems. iDLab will replace complex command-line interfaces to broaden access beyond STEM fields. This move intends to provide researchers with an intuitive tool to drive innovation across disciplines. 💻