🎤 BTS RM and j-hope hang with Chris Brown backstage

K-pop stars RM and j-hope took a break from their ARIRANG world tour to attend Chris Brown and Usher's R&B stadium tour. An Instagram post on Tuesday, August 12, showed the two BTS members posing with Brown backstage. This timing coincided with Brown's shows in Toronto on August 11 and 12. The members later shared videos of the event, including BTS bouncing to Brown's 2011 hit "Look At Me Now." They are next scheduled to perform in Arlington, Texas on August 15. 🎤

💧 Minister asks for fast-track plan for Mekedatu project

Karnataka's Water Resources Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy directed officials to create a time-bound action plan for the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir Project. He held a review meeting with senior officials on Thursday to discuss the project's current status and legal hurdles. The Minister stressed that this project is vital for securing future drinking water for Bengaluru and nearby regions. Specific focus areas included the Detailed Project Report (DPR) status and required central permissions. Concerned officials must now take necessary steps to move the project forward without any delays. 💧

🏏 UP T20 League 2026: Kashi Rudras vs Meerut Mavericks clash

The first match of the Uttar Pradesh T20 League 2026 pits Kashi Rudras against Meerut Mavericks on August 14th. The game is set at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Kashi Rudras are the defending champions, while Meerut Mavericks reached the finals last season. Key players to watch include Karan Sharma for Kashi Rudras and Swastik Chikara for Meerut Mavericks. Predictions suggest Kashi Rudras are favored to win this opening fixture. 🏏

📚 NEP 2020 not approved in Kerala, says KSHEC

Reports claiming the Kerala State Higher Education Council approved NEP 2020 are baseless, according to KSHEC vice-chairperson Achuthsankar S. Nair. The committee was actually set up to suggest changes for the FYUGP, which has been running in the State for three years. The committee lacks the power to approve major policies like NEP 2020. An interim report is scheduled for discussion at the executive committee meeting this Friday. Only the structural parts of NEP are currently active in Kerala.

🏛️ Delimitation is a constitutional must-do, says Law Minister

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal stated that delimitation is a constitutional mandate that must occur after 2026. He criticized the Opposition for objecting while not reading the Constitution's provisions. The Constitution freezes Lok Sabha seats until 2026, after which delimitation is required. This process redraws boundaries to ensure similar population sizes in constituencies. Southern states are concerned that population redistribution might lessen their representation.

🎾 Swiatek poised for ranking boost in Toronto

Iga Swiatek is set to gain a guaranteed ranking boost from the tournament. She is competing in Toronto, Canada, for the upcoming event. The tournament started on July 14th and runs until July 21st, featuring several top players. Securing the title could propel her up by three spots in the rankings. Her performance in this event will significantly impact her standing in the world. 🎾

🌠 Perseids peak: Shooting stars dazzle skies ✨

The Perseid meteor shower reached its peak, showcasing spectacular shooting stars across the globe. Various locations, including Semnan, Iran, Ohrid, Macedonia, and Negev Desert, Israel, captured the amazing display. Key dates for the sightings were August 11 and August 12, 2026, with some sightings continuing to August 13, 2026. These meteors result from Earth passing through the debris trail of the comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. More Perseids will be visible until August 24, though the hourly rate will be lower than the peak.

💥 Explosion hits Europe's biggest port in Rotterdam

A massive blast occurred at a petroleum storage facility in Rotterdam's port on Thursday. The incident involved maintenance work at a storage tank operated by energy commodities trader Gunvor. One person was killed, and six others were injured during the event. Authorities are investigating the cause, with no immediate sign of sabotage being found. This major energy hub incident is under close watch as Dutch gas storage levels are currently at 40% ahead of winter.

💰 Elon Musk's pay deal sparks CEO salary surge

Elon Musk's massive compensation plan at Tesla is influencing executive pay across S&P 500 companies. According to a study by Reuters, the average CEO compensation in the S&P 500 rose 21% to $22.8 million in 2025. Including Musk's potential deal, average compensation topped $340 million for the group. This massive package is being used by boards as a reference point for their own plans. Looking ahead, Musk's deals are tied to huge goals for Tesla and SpaceX.

🔬 Mom's gut bacteria shapes baby's health

New research shows a mother’s gut microbiome is a major source of bacteria colonizing an infant’s gut. This longitudinal study involved 714 mothers in the Dutch Lifelines NEXT birth cohort. Researchers found that a large proportion of infant gut strains matched maternal strains, with the maternal gut being the primary reservoir. Furthermore, the maternal gut composition could predict if an infant would develop eczema within the first year. Delivery mode and feeding style were identified as the strongest influencing factors on the infant gut microbiome.

📸 Iranian photojournalist gets 15-year sentence

Iranian photojournalist Yalda Moaiery has been sentenced to 15 years in prison by Iran's Revolutionary Court. The sentencing occurred under new legislation following the 12-day Iran-Israel conflict in 2025. She was accused of giving interviews to hostile media and providing photos to US and Israel-linked organizations. Moaiery previously served time for covering the 'Woman, Life, Freedom' protests in 2022. She now has only 10 days to appeal this latest verdict. 📸