🔬 CAR T therapy company gearing up for big trial

A CAR T-cell therapy company is preparing to advance to a pivotal Phase III clinical trial using donor cells. This company, Caribou Biosciences, is making strides in making allogeneic CAR T therapies as effective as autologous ones. They achieved this using gene editing and optimizing product selection, including using donors under 30. This off-the-shelf approach aims to solve access issues, as 75 to 90% of eligible patients currently do not receive CAR T. They plan to start their randomized-controlled Phase III study in the coming months for their product, vispa-cel. 🔬

🧐 Lawsuit targets Trump's paid Truth Social access

Two US media groups sued President Trump over TMTG’s plan to charge for early access to his Truth Social posts. The lawsuit was filed in New York by The Intercept and Freedom of the Press Foundation. The paid service, called Truth API, reportedly has over 10 subscribers, with monthly fees up to $100,000. Critics claim this scheme is profoundly corrupt because it allows subscribers to get market-moving info before the general public. Trump’s company defends the service by calling criticisms ideological opposition to free markets. 🧐

💧 CM orders water lifting from three irrigation projects

The State Government has instructed Irrigation department officials to lift water from Yellampalli, Devadula, and Sitarama lift irrigation projects. This directive was issued by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy during a review meeting with senior officials on Wednesday. The goal is to ensure maximum utilization of available water in the Godavari river. Furthermore, the CM directed officials to expedite compensation payments to farmers whose lands were acquired for these projects. This action is vital for filling the Baswapur and Gouravelli projects with water.

🏦 BofA bags big stake in Jio Financial

Bank of America is investing up to $1.92 billion to secure a 49.9% stake in Jio Credit. This investment is set to make BofA a joint venture partner in Jio Financial's non-bank lending arm. The deal initially grants Bank of America a 26.5% stake, which can increase with warrants. This transaction marks a major entry into India's fast-growing financial services sector. Both companies stated this will help BofA expand its presence using local expertise.

🎮 Phantom Blade Zero PS5 demo leaks before State of Play

A demo of the game Phantom Blade Zero has unexpectedly leaked online ahead of Sony's upcoming State of Play event. This leaked footage features gameplay from the highly anticipated title on the PlayStation 5 console. The leak surfaced close to the event scheduled for next week. Phantom Blade Zero is one of the key titles expected to be showcased during this major gaming showcase. Fans are eagerly awaiting the official reveal and more details about the game.

⚽ Spain World Cup Stars Back in Barcelona Camp

Spain's World Cup winners have returned to Barcelona following their post-tournament break. Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Pau Cubarsí, and Dani Olmo arrived at the club headquarters on Wednesday for medical tests. Ferran Torres is the only player absent, waiting for his transfer to Paris Saint-Germain to complete. With these stars back, Barça is now in full strength for preseason preparations. They will play a friendly against FC Basel and the Joan Gamper Trophy next week.

🏦 Bank of America inks deal for Jio Credit stake

Bank of America is acquiring a 49.9 percent stake in Jio Credit for Rs 18,268 crores. This deal was announced on Wednesday, involving Jio Financial Services and Bank of America. As of June 30 this year, Jio Credit managed assets worth Rs 30,667 crore. The venture merges Jio Financial Services' market knowledge with BofA's global financial expertise. This investment is seen as a strategic move into the key Indian market.

🔬 Wearable rings level up health tracking with new study

A major study published in npj Digital Medicine introduces the first large-scale bilateral ring-PPG benchmark. This research, involving Ninenovo, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Mianyang Central Hospital, analyzed 97,559 valid PPG samples from 1,810 participants. The findings showed that synchronized dual-hand tracking significantly improved heart rate estimation accuracy. While blood pressure gains were smaller, the results confirm signal consistency is vital for reliable wearable monitoring. This work paves the way for more trustworthy, everyday digital health solutions. 🔬

⚽ East Bengal vs Al-Arabi: ACL Two clash tonight

East Bengal will face Kuwait's Al-Arabi SC in the AFC Champions League Two Preliminary Qualifier at Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata. FC Goa is also playing FK Arkadag on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. East Bengal aims to qualify for the ACL Two group stages for the first time, while Al-Arabi seeks group stage entry. For FC Goa, the match against the Turkmenistan heavyweights presents a tough challenge. The outcome of both matches will determine progression in the tournament. ⚽

🤝 India and SADC restart trade talks

India and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) have reignited discussions regarding a new trade agreement. These talks involve representatives from both nations and the SADC bloc. The negotiations aim to boost bilateral trade volumes, targeting specific sectors for growth. This move comes after a period of stalled diplomatic engagement between the parties. Both sides are expected to continue detailed discussions over the coming months. 🤝

📶 Airtel simplifies prepaid plans, drops low-data options

Bharti Airtel has restructured its prepaid daily-data portfolio by removing overlapping lower-data plans. The Rs 199 plan now serves as the entry-level option, while the Rs 349 plan offers 2GB of 4G data daily with unlimited 5G for eligible customers. This change, effective now, aims to give customers a clearer pricing structure based on their data usage needs. Furthermore, Airtel discontinued three other higher-priced plans alongside the Rs 299 offering. This move supports ARPU growth and better network investments moving forward. 📶