⚓ Iran rejects US claim over Hormuz Strait control

Iran has strongly rejected US President Donald Trump's assertions of 'total control' over the Strait of Hormuz. This stance was voiced by Iranian consul general Saeid Reza Mosayeb Motlagh in Mumbai on Thursday. Tehran insists the strait will only reopen once the US meets its demands outlined in a 14-point MoU. The commitments include lifting the blockade and releasing frozen Iranian assets. Iran remains ready to mount a military response if these terms are not met.

🏸 Sindhu loses Worlds streak to Wang Zhi Yi

PV Sindhu lost to Wang Zhi Yi in a tough women's singles match at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi. This defeat ended Sindhu's unblemished 9-0 winning streak against Chinese shuttlers at the Worlds. The match concluded with a score of 11-21, 21-15, 17-21 after 68 minutes. Despite cramping incidents, Zhi Yi secured the victory, extending her winning record against Sindhu to 3-6. Sindhu will now refocus her energy and efforts towards the upcoming Asian Games. 🏸

🚀 Odyssey beats Deadpool for top R-rated film spot

Universal's The Odyssey has officially surpassed Deadpool & Wolverine to become the highest-grossing R-rated movie globally. This achievement was made by the film, which starred Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Zendaya, in 2026. As of Wednesday, it has grossed $1.352 billion worldwide, beating the $1.33B earned by Deadpool & Wolverine. The Odyssey is now Nolan's highest-grossing film, surpassing The Dark Knight Rises' previous record. It is currently in its sixth weekend of release after opening on July 17th. 🚀

😠 Karnataka committee slams rally venue 'purification'

The Constitution Protection Committee-Karnataka condemned the 'purification' of the venue where AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge held a rally in Haldwani, Uttarakhand. B. Gopal, the State president, stated this act was an insult to Kharge and the entire Dalit community. The incident occurred two days after Kharge addressed the Vijay Shankhnaad rally on August 8, with the purification happening on August 10. Gopal criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah for not taking action against this 'unconstitutional purge'. The committee demanded the Union government immediately take strict legal action against the culprits. 😠

🧠 Brain waves unlock cognition and consciousness theory

A new theory explains how the brain produces cognition and consciousness using traveling waves of rhythmic neural activity. This research comes from three scientists at The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT. The findings are supported by years of experimental evidence and published in The Journal of Neuroscience. The theory suggests brain waves facilitate efficient analog computation, going beyond simple circuit metaphors. Future steps include testing for signatures of these analog computations in brain wave patterns. 🧠

😟 JD(U) says Ganga Water Treaty hurts Bihar

JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha has strongly opposed the renewal of the 1996 India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Treaty, claiming it negatively impacts Bihar’s interests. These remarks were made amidst current political tensions between India and Bangladesh regarding the treaty's expiration on December 31, 2026. Jha stated that data from the last 30 years clearly shows Bihar's interests have been hurt by the existing agreement. Although the treaty had some international messaging value, the state's interests were compromised, he added. The Ministry of External Affairs has not yet responded to the queries about these statements. 😟

🏡 New Land Records Aim to End Disputes in Telangana

Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy stated that the Telangana Bhu Bharathi Act, 2025, will act as a referendum on the Congress government's performance. He announced that land resurveys are ongoing in Khammam district using advanced rover technology for transparency. This initiative aims to make Telangana a land-dispute-free state within one year. Reddy accused BRS leaders of spreading false propaganda regarding "Section 22A lands" for political advantage. The new system will assign a unique "Bhoodhar" number to every land parcel for security. 🏡

🏏 Cricket honors shared on shortened day

Haines and Booth were recognized for their performances at Edgbaston. The recognition took place on a truncated day at the venue. Specific dates or exact match details are not provided in the source material. This acknowledgment comes as part of the ongoing cricket season's accolades. Further details on the honors awarded are expected to be released soon. 🏏

📈 Dollar tries to bounce back after big sell-off

The U.S. Dollar Index is attempting a rebound following a sharp sell-off triggered by Treasury buyback announcements. This action occurred while Initial Jobless Claims showed 206,000 Americans filing for benefits on the date mentioned. GBP/USD climbed as traders reacted to bond buybacks, while USD/JPY moved towards 159.00 due to rising Treasury yields. EUR/USD remains mostly flat amidst profit-taking following Germany's PPI report. Further upward movement for the Dollar Index could push it towards resistance levels like 99.25 – 99.40.

😠 Shweta Tiwari calls out abuse from Marathi supporters

Shweta Tiwari revealed she is facing online abuse on Instagram from some people who support Raj Thackeray. The actor shared screenshots detailing the abusive messages she received on her social media. She expressed deep concern about the derogatory language used against women in her region. Tiwari questioned Raj Thackeray if he accepts this behavior from his supporters. She stressed that respecting women is crucial, regardless of disagreement. 😠

🎖️ Pakistan's top military gets major power boost

Asim Munir, Chief of Defence Forces, will now hold sweeping authority over Pakistan's armed forces under new legislation. This power is granted to Munir, who heads the unified command structure for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Defence Forces of Pakistan Act, 2026, was passed by the National Assembly on Thursday, Aug 20, 2026. This legal framework formalizes the military hierarchy established by the 27th Constitutional Amendment. Moving forward, Munir will also act as the Prime Minister's principal military advisor on national security. 🫡