🎤 Kriti Sanon speaks up on Rakhi ad controversy

Kriti Sanon finally addressed the massive online backlash regarding her Rakshabandhan jewellery commercial. This controversy arose because several users criticized her outfit, claiming it looked like a bralette instead of traditional festive attire. The criticism intensified after Kangana Ranaut labeled the ad as 'intentionally creepy.' Sanon defended her fashion choice, questioning why women are constantly judged based on their clothing. She concluded by asserting that culture resides in a woman's heart, not her neckline. 💖

🥭 Dinosaurs ate fruit? Ancient seeds show prehistoric forests were fruity

Ancient flowering plants produced a rich variety of fruits and seeds over 74 million years ago. Researchers studied 450 fossilized diaspores from South central New Mexico between 1992 and 2016. These findings reveal that over a third of the fossils were fleshy, similar to berries. This challenges the old theory that complex fruits only evolved after the Cretaceous Period ended. Scientists now believe Cretaceous animals, like pterosaurs and early mammals, were consuming these early fruits. 🥭

🤖 BlackBerry sees robotics as a major growth area

BlackBerry's CEO stated that robotics is one of the company's fastest-growing sectors within its software division. The company, previously known for mobile phones, is now focusing on physical AI applications like industrial and medical robotics. QNX, their safety-critical software, is embedded in 275 million vehicles and is now also being utilized in robotics. The CEO noted a $950 million backlog for QNX, with a portion dedicated to robotics orders. BlackBerry is strengthening this focus via an expanded partnership with Nvidia. 🤖

🗓️ NSE, BSE Holiday for Eid-e-Milad 2026?

The stock market holidays for 2026 are being checked for specific observance dates. Investors need to know if the NSE and BSE will be closed on Wednesday for Eid-e-Milad. The full list of market holidays for the year is available on Moneycontrol.com. These closures are scheduled based on official religious observances and government notifications. Traders should review the complete schedule before making any investment decisions.

💰 Kerala Sthree Sakthi SS-534 results are out

The Sthree Sakthi SS-534 lottery draw took place on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at Gorky Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram. This weekly draw offers a grand first prize of Rs. 1 crore along with other prizes. The second prize was won by SL 541135 from Kollam, and the third prize was won by SK 838192 from Kottayam. Participants must check the official Kerala State Lottery Department results to claim any winnings. This lottery is available for Rs. 50 per ticket.

🪁 Israel warns Hamas, asks Gaza parents to stop kite flying

Israel has warned Hamas operatives in Gaza to cease certain activities, specifically mentioning the flying of kites. The warning was issued to parents residing in Gaza who are involved in these kite-flying actions. This comes amid ongoing tensions in the region and security concerns. The kite flying has been linked to potential militant activities by Hamas factions. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely to prevent further escalations. 🪁

💨 Xiaomi drops two new smart air purifiers in India

Xiaomi has launched two new air purifier models, the Mijia Smart Air Purifier 6 and Mijia Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact, in India. These devices are part of the Mijia brand and cater to different space requirements across the market. The Mijia Smart Air Purifier 6 is priced at ₹19,999 for up to 940 sq ft, while the 4 Compact is ₹7,999 for up to 400 sq ft. Both support voice commands via Alexa and Google Assistant for smart home integration. These purifiers will be available starting September 2, 2026, on various online and offline platforms. 💨

🏫 Kejriwal challenges BJP to school comparison

Arvind Kejriwal issued an open challenge to the BJP to compare 1,000 schools in Punjab and Gujarat. He asserted that the BJP was using doctored, AI videos to defame Punjab government schools. Kejriwal pointed out that the BJP has been in power in Gujarat for 30 years, compared to AAP's four-and-a-half years in Punjab. He claimed AAP has significantly improved Punjab's 19,700 schools since 2022. The comparison exercise was proposed to be done jointly with press coverage.

📉 US wants to isolate Iran: key trading partners revealed 🌍

The US Treasury Secretary unveiled "Operation Economic Outcast," imposing new sanctions on nearly 60 entities to isolate Iran from global trade. Iran's top export partners in 2024 included China with $14.58bn, followed by Iraq and the UAE. For imports, the UAE led with $21bn, while China provided $17.8bn worth of necessary goods. These sanctions aim to cut off every economic lifeline sustaining the Iranian government. Next, the US is pressuring world leaders to stop all dealings with Tehran.

🇨🇳 Xi Jinping heads to India for BRICS summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping is reportedly visiting India for the BRICS summit next month with a large delegation. He is expected to arrive in New Delhi on September 12-13, making it his first trip to India in seven years. Sources indicate his contingent will be around 400 officials, significantly more than the less than 200 during his 2019 visit. This visit occurs while India and China are actively trying to stabilize their relations amid border tensions. Further details on his agenda and potential talks with PM Narendra Modi are still pending finalization. 🤝

🏆 East Zone dominates North East in Duleep Trophy

East Zone secured an innings and 210-run victory over North East Zone in the Duleep Trophy Quarter-Final. The match took place in Bengaluru from August 23 to August 25, 2026. East Zone posted a massive total of 467 runs, while North East Zone was bowled out for only 111. This win propelled East Zone into the semi-finals of the tournament. They will now face Central Zone, the previous season's champions, starting August 30. 🏏