🏏 India's spin future hangs in balance vs Sri Lanka

Former cricketer Murali Kartik stated the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka is vital for India's spin attack. He highlighted the need for players like Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar as Ravindra Jadeja nears the twilight of his career. Manav Suthar showed promise after taking seven wickets in the one-off Test against Afghanistan in June. Kartik questioned if Kuldeep Yadav can become the next spin leader amid team transitions. The first Test kicks off at Galle International Cricket Stadium from August 15 to 19. 🏏

🎬 Yash's Movie Gets A Certificate Despite Controversial Plot

A film featuring Yash has been granted an 'A' certificate by the censors. This decision was made after revealing a toxic plot within the movie. The film is scheduled for release on August 26. The rating suggests mature themes that the board deemed acceptable for viewing. Audiences can now look forward to this highly anticipated release date.

🚭 Smoking risks aren't sinking in for many

An international study revealed that awareness about heart disease from smoking remains low despite two decades of global efforts. Researchers from the University of Waterloo and CDC analyzed data from over 240,000 smokers across 46 nations. While 90% knew about lung cancer, only 80% linked smoking to heart disease, and less than half in some rich countries knew about second-hand smoke risks. This lack of cardiovascular awareness is worrying because smoking causes over 2 million deaths globally each year. Governments need to boost public education using strong policies to encourage quitting. 🚭

📈 Tech Stocks Jump on Cooling Inflation News

The Nasdaq and S&P 500 indices moved up today after the release of relatively mild inflation data. This positive sentiment propelled tech shares higher across the market. Specific figures showed that Cisco stock acted as a drag on the Dow Jones industrial average. Furthermore, global oil prices experienced a noticeable decline during the trading session. Investors are now keenly watching upcoming economic reports for further market direction. 📊

😠 BJP slams Rahul Gandhi over Parliament disruption

The BJP accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of causing chaos during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. Senior BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad made these remarks on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at a press conference. Prasad specifically criticized Gandhi for his protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence last month. Furthermore, he alleged Gandhi changed goalposts by demanding Amit Shah's resignation despite offers for a debate. The BJP leader also pointed out Gandhi's silence regarding protests in Jharkhand. 😠

📸 Instagram drops new logo, users roast the design

Instagram rolled out a new logo on Thursday, marking its first update in a decade, according to Adam Mosseri. The change was implemented across the platform by Meta's Instagram team. This refresh included a modernized wordmark, though initial feedback noted potential confusion between letters like 'r' and 'z'. Some users questioned its readability and accessibility, while others praised the fresh look. Meanwhile, critics pointed out that the logo change ignores bigger issues like AI content filtering and creator account losses. 📸

👻 AHS Season 13 Drops Spooky First Teaser

The highly anticipated American Horror Story Season 13 has released its initial teaser trailer. This glimpse into the new season features the main cast members. While specific episode counts or release dates were not disclosed in the teaser, the trailer showcased a dark atmosphere. The show continues its tradition of elaborate horror narratives and unsettling themes. Fans are now eagerly awaiting the full release details for this new installment.

🏏 Bangladesh stuns Australia on home turf 🏏

Bangladesh secured a huge win against Australia on Day 1 at the Marrara Oval. The victory was achieved by the Bangladeshi team, featuring players like Hasan Mahmud, against the Australian squad. This happened on Thursday, signaling a major performance in the series. The team managed to dictate terms against the hosts in their own conditions, earning global applause. The focus now shifts to how Australia might respond to this strong showing.

⚛️ Quantum chip isolates light by 30 decibels

Researchers demonstrated a new chip-scale optical isolator achieving 30 decibels of peak isolation to cut back-reflections in sensitive photonic devices. The work, led by Junyeob Song, was done at Abdullah Al Salem University using a magnet-free design. This technology maintains over 24 decibels of isolation across a 30-nanometer span and operates between 770-800-nanometer. This innovation minimizes signal corruption for applications like atomic spectroscopy and laser cooling. The approach uses dynamic rotating destructive interference, paving the way for scalable, integrated optical systems. ⚛️

🥵 Workers demand Ministry recognize heat stress hazard

Workers and civil society groups urged the Labour Ministry to officially recognize heat stress as an occupational hazard. This demand was raised by various groups at the Press Club of India on Thursday. Over 380 million workers in India face hazardous heat exposure annually, while globally, 34 million potential job losses are cited by 2030. These organizations argue that current policies must account for lost wages and actual working conditions, not just temperature alerts. They called for a National Framework including mandatory rest and income protection.

🚢 US can keep blockade on Iran ports forever, says Pentagon

The Pentagon chief stated that the United States has the capability to maintain a naval blockade on Iranian ports indefinitely. This strategic move pertains to ongoing tensions involving Iran. Specific numbers or dates regarding the blockade's implementation were not detailed in the report. The action is part of the broader geopolitical stance taken by the US towards Iran. Future actions depend on evolving international relations and diplomatic developments. 🚢