🎬 Khalifa's Day 1 Opening Beats Last Film by 127%

Khalifa, the latest film from Malayalam superstar Prithviraj Sukumaran, had a mixed opening day trend. The movie opened in the range of 4.5 to 5 crore on Thursday, August 20th, in India. This marks a 127% jump compared to his last release, I, Nobody, which opened at 2.20 crore. The film achieved a 46% average occupancy across about 1,967 shows nationwide. Consequently, Khalifa secured the spot as the 5th biggest Malayalam film opener for 2026. 🎬

📢 Congress boycotts Rajasthan Assembly session

Congress MLAs staged a protest outside the Rajasthan Assembly on August 20, 2026, against the state government's new rule restricting outsiders in government schools. The boycott, led by Tika Ram Jully, demanded the resignation of State Education Minister Madan Dilawar. Congress highlighted that about 85,000 school classrooms are in poor condition and 1.25 lakh teaching posts are vacant. The BJP government cited 'safety and privacy' for barring outsiders and media access to these schools. The assembly proceedings were adjourned until August 21, 2026, despite the political clash.

🚨 US threat of harshest sanctions on Iran

The United States has announced its intention to impose the toughest sanctions in history on Iran. This action targets the Iranian government and its related entities across various sectors. The sanctions are set to be implemented following escalating geopolitical tensions and diplomatic deadlocks. The move is a direct response to Iran's regional activities and ongoing nuclear program concerns. Further details regarding the scope and timeline of these sanctions are expected in the coming weeks. 🚨

🧐 Tata Sons succession search informally kicks off

Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata informally started the search for the eighth chairman of Tata Sons. This meeting took place in Mumbai with former HDFC chairman Deepak Parekh. The search is for a successor to N Chandrasekaran, whose term ends in February 2027. A five-member succession committee is required by the Articles of Association to oversee this selection. The process faces hurdles regarding the joint nomination by the two trusts. 🧐

🌕 NASA spots crater from SpaceX stage crash on Moon

NASA released images on August 18 showing an 18-meter-wide crater from a SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage impact on the Moon. The impact occurred on August 5, with the upper stage used for Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission 1. The crater is less than 3 meters deep and features dark and bright ejecta rays. These rays expose shallow weathered material and fresh material from deeper lunar layers. South Korea's Danuri orbiter helped confirm the final impact coordinates at 19.4759 degrees north latitude and 266.7138 degrees east longitude. 🌕

🎤 Michael Jackson sequel to address abuse claims

Star Jaafar Jackson confirmed the second 'Michael' movie will explore the child abuse allegations Michael Jackson faced in the '90s. The nephew stated that he hopes the sequel will offer more insight into Michael's perspective during this time. The first film covered his career up to the 1987 release of 'Bad', preceding the 1993 allegations. This two-part feature aims to provide a deeper understanding of Michael and his complex circumstances. Jackson hopes the second movie will reflect Michael's enduring kindness despite everything he went through.

📈 Japan's inflation jumps to 1.9% in July

Japan's headline inflation rate reached 1.9% in July, marking the highest point this year. This increase was observed in Tokyo amidst rising energy costs linked to the Iran war. Wholesale inflation hit 7.2% for July, while fresh food prices climbed by 7%. Analysts note subsidies from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration have kept consumer inflation relatively low. The Bank of Japan now expects core inflation to accelerate above 2% starting in the second half of fiscal year 2026.

🤝 India to speed up foreign investor arbitration

The government plans to amend the model bilateral investment treaty to allow international arbitration after one year instead of five years. This change targets overseas investors, and the finance ministry moved a cabinet note for this revision. The proposal also expands the definition of investment from enterprise-based to asset-based, including long-term shares. This overhaul comes after facing record ISDS claims and losing a case in 2015. The Centre aims to balance investor appeal while ensuring adequate protection for Indian investors moving forward.

😠 Ariana Grande calls out Trump for music use

Ariana Grande publicly criticized the Trump administration for using her song, "We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)" in a Team Trump TikTok post. The post, from Thursday, featured the President with text stating, "Men can’t have babies and should never compete in women’s sports." Grande commented, "Never use my music again. Also, your truth is false," directly challenging the administration. This is the second time in two months she has addressed the usage of her tracks on social media. The White House has previously used her song "Bye" in a controversial TikTok video in June.

📈 Japan's Inflation Jumps in July, Rate Hike Talk Heats Up

Core inflation in Japan accelerated during the month of July, signaling a shift in the economic picture. This uptick was noted across the country, drawing attention from monetary authorities. The latest data showed a rise in inflation figures for July, moving beyond previous stagnation. This development strengthens the argument for the Bank of Japan to implement interest rate hikes. Policymakers are now closely watching these trends to decide on future monetary actions.

🎙️ Marvel drops new podcast before Avengers: Doomsday

Marvel has announced a new podcast titled Countdown to Avengers: Doomsday Official Podcast. The series will be hosted by Frank Alvarez and feature special guest Iman Vellani, known for playing Ms. Marvel. It will consist of five episodes starting on Aug. 27, 2026, covering key MCU films leading up to the event. The final episode, discussing Avengers: Endgame, drops on Sept. 25, coinciding with an encore release. This series is set to provide listeners with new perspectives before the film's December 18, 2026 debut.