🔋 Indian Battery Giants Still Rely on China for Key Materials

Major Indian battery manufacturers are still heavily dependent on China for critical materials like cathode to graphite. This reliance is creating a strategic vulnerability within the country's growing battery ecosystem. As of the latest reports, the dependence levels remain significant across several key production lines. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges in building a completely localized supply chain for EV batteries. Companies are now urgently looking for ways to diversify sourcing to meet future demand.

🏏 India reaches 460/9 in Test against Sri Lanka

India reached a score of 460/9 at the stumps during Day 2 of the first Test against Sri Lanka. This match was being played in Galle, Sri Lanka, where play resumed after a rain-truncated session. On August 16, 2026, the team posted this score, with Dhruv Jurel scoring a fifty and Devdutt Padikkal making 167 runs. This performance helped India build a strong position despite losing several wickets in the final session. The focus now shifts to how the teams proceed in this ongoing Test series. 🏏

🇮🇳 Pralhad Joshi takes aim at Congress in Vande Mataram row

Political tensions flared up following the Vande Mataram issue, leading to strong criticism from BJP leader Pralhad Joshi. Joshi specifically targeted the Congress party regarding the ongoing debate. The controversy gained traction around recent political statements and public reactions. This incident highlights the deep ideological divide between the two major parties in the country. Further political maneuvers are expected as the debate continues to heat up. 🇮🇳

⚖️ SC rules: Residence exemption is personal to debtor

The Supreme Court ruled that a judgment-debtor's plea for residential house exemption under Section 60(1)(ccc) of the CPC is personal to the debtor. The bench, consisting of Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe, stated this cannot be claimed by legal representatives after death. This arose from Punjab & Sind Bank's recovery proceedings against M/s Sterling Malt & Foods Pvt. Ltd. in New Delhi. The Court also confirmed that lack of notice did not invalidate the auction conducted by the DRT. Therefore, the Supreme Court upheld the auction, allowing the appeal. ⚖️

🤝 Iran President calls ties with India a 'valuable asset'

Iran's President emphasized the importance of the relationship between the two nations on India's 80th Independence Day. This statement was made by the Iranian leader during the celebrations held in New Delhi. The two countries have a long-standing diplomatic and economic partnership spanning many years. The president highlighted that ties with India are considered a significant and valuable asset for Iran's strategic interests. Both sides plan to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the coming years. 🤝

🧊 Liquid nitrogen found rising on Pluto's surface

NASA has found evidence suggesting liquid nitrogen is emerging through cracks near the northern edge of Sputnik Planitia on Pluto. This discovery was made by analyzing images captured by the New Horizons spacecraft during its 2015 visit. The findings, published on July 31 in the Planetary Science Journal, indicate that liquid may occasionally appear on the dwarf planet's surface. Researchers believe this rise suggests a new, changing feature on Pluto, distinct from rainfall. This new evidence strengthens the possibility of subsurface liquid reaching the icy crust. 🧊

⚖️ Trump backs Saritha Komatireddy against Letitia James

Republican candidate Saritha Komatireddy has become a major challenger to Democrat Letitia James for NY Attorney General. She is an Indian-American lawyer and former federal prosecutor hailing from Brooklyn and Missouri. Her campaign currently shows about $1.16 million in total contributions for the 2026 race. Komatireddy is running on a platform focusing on public safety and crime prosecution over civil matters. The endorsement from President Donald Trump significantly raises the profile of her campaign against James. ⚖️

💥 Black hole eats star, but something weird survives

A massive star was shredded and consumed by a black hole in a major cosmic event. Astronomers observed this encounter, which took place and was presented at the AAS conference in Phoenix, Arizona. The energy released reached about 400 billion times the Sun's output, surpassing known supernovae. This phenomenon helps scientists understand black hole formation and growth mechanisms. A strange signal of fast-moving helium suggests a dense structure might have survived the blast. 🌌

📊 Bribe Stats Comparison Tool Dropped

A new platform, Bribes.fyi, has been launched to allow users to compare bribery statistics across different government departments. This tool helps track corruption levels within various administrative bodies. It provides data visualizations for users to analyze trends from various reporting periods. The platform aims to increase transparency and hold public officials accountable for their actions. Users can now access this detailed comparative data to monitor governance effectively.

🏏 Shakeel faces new challenges in England Tests

Saud Shakeel played a commanding unbeaten hundred in a warm-up match, helping Pakistan chase down 262 comfortably. He is returning to the Test squad after a fitness concern spell, having struggled recently with an average under 19 in his last ten innings. Pakistan is facing mid-order form slumps and injury issues like Abdullah Fazal's absence. Shakeel anticipates a different challenge in Yorkshire due to potential bounce and dry pitches. He notes his batting average drops sharply outside of Asia, despite his recent good form. 🏏

😠 Opposition slams Modi's 'dimagi Naxals' jab

The Congress party called PM Modi's remark labeling opponents as “dimagi Naxals” a sign of desperation. This statement was made by Modi while addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day. Jairam Ramesh stated this, noting the term evolved from 'urban Naxals' previously used since 2018. Critics argue this tactic is used to stigmatize dissent instead of addressing youth demands for reforms. Opposition leaders suggest the PM is 'rattled' and should answer citizens' questions directly. 😠