🎬 Manoj Bajpayee to play Gandhi in new film

Manoj Bajpayee will star as Mahatma Gandhi in an upcoming theatrical feature directed by Sudhir Mishra. The film, backed by Anubhav Sinha, will focus on a lesser-known 21-day period during India's Independence. This narrative explores Gandhi's personal decision to step away from Delhi as it gained political prominence. The project is produced by Anubhav Sinha and Narendra Hirawat under Benaras Mediaworks. Further details about the cast and characterizations are yet to be revealed.

🏆 Tan Zhongyi bags Cairns Cup while Alice Lee hits GM norm

Former world champion Tan Zhongyi won the Cairns Cup after securing enough points despite a defeat in round nine. She clinched the trophy and $65,000 prize money following a close race with Alice Lee in the tournament held at the Saint Louis Chess Club. The final standings saw Lee earn her first GM norm after her game against Carissa Yip. Stavroula Tsolakidou finished fifth, having defeated both Tan and Lee once. Moving forward, the players will likely focus on upcoming high-stakes matches after this intense competition. 🏆

🤖 US Army scrapping top drone warfare unit

The US Army has decided to disband its most specialized unit focused on drone and ground robot warfare. This move involves the 3rd Battalion of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in the US. The decision is part of the 'back-to-basics' approach under the Donald Trump administration. This contrasts with global trends where drones are transforming modern warfare, as seen in West Asia. The unit, established in January, was meant to learn from the Russia-Ukraine war.

⛽ Russia faces major petrol shortages across stations

Fuel availability dropped significantly across Russian stations as a second wave of shortages hit the country. This crisis is currently affecting areas like Moscow, where queues are forming at gas pumps. As of Wednesday, monitoring showed only 28% of filling stations had petrol, down from 41% a week prior. The shortage stems from Kyiv's drone attacks on Russian oil infrastructure since early July. Further supply gaps are expected in September when Belarus's Novopolotsk refinery goes offline. ⛽

🔋 Atomic defects boost lithium-ion speed in batteries

Researchers have discovered that atomic defects can open up new routes for rapid lithium-ion movement within materials. This breakthrough was achieved by a team at Nanowerk. The study details the mechanism observed in specific material structures. This finding helps scientists understand how to enhance battery performance significantly. Future research will focus on applying this knowledge to next-gen battery designs. 🔋

🕊️ Congress leader Sajjan Kumar passes away at 80

Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, who was convicted in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases, passed away on Thursday. He breathed his last at Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital. These riots occurred after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984. The assassination was retaliation for the Army's Operation Blue Star held in June of that year. Further updates regarding his passing are currently developing.

😔 Ex-MP Sajjan Kumar, convicted for riots, dies in jail

Sajjan Kumar, a former Congress MP, was declared brought dead at Safdarjung Hospital on Thursday at the age of 80. He was serving a life sentence in Delhi's Tihar Jail for his role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Delhi Police named him a key instigator in the violence following Indira Gandhi's assassination on October 31, 1984. Despite not being named in initial commissions for over 30 years, an SIT was formed in 2015 to re-examine the cases. His death closes a long chapter related to the massive violence that year. 😔

⌚ Apple Watch Series 12 might bring back ceramic case

Rumors suggest the Apple Watch Series 12 will feature a return of ceramic as a case material. This development is expected from Apple, diversifying the material choices for the watch. The last ceramic model was the Apple Watch Edition Series 5, which launched in 2019. The Series 12 is anticipated to debut in early next month, possibly September 8 or 9. This unveiling is set to happen alongside the announcement of the iPhone 18 Pro and other models.

🩺 Pakistan honours doctors who kept Jinnah's illness secret

Pakistan is awarding its highest civilian honour to two Parsi doctors for keeping Jinnah's terminal illness confidential. Jal Ratanji Patel and Jal Daeboo are receiving the Nishan-e-Imtiaz posthumously. Jinnah was suffering from tuberculosis leading up to the Partition. These doctors maintained professional secrecy during this critical period. Their actions are noted as an extraordinary service contributing to the circumstances of Pakistan's creation. 🩺

💧 Karnataka CM pitches Mekedatu for TN water issues

Karnataka CM D K Shivakumar has pitched the Mekedatu project across the Cauvery river as a solution for both states. This pitch was made at the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting in Mahabalipuram, attended by Tamil Nadu CM Vijay. Shivakumar stated every drop from the project would help farmers in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The project has long faced opposition from Tamil Nadu regarding Cauvery water flow concerns. He argued this cooperation is needed to resolve the ongoing water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. 💧

✈️ Pak MP claims UAE hotel denied stay post-flight cancellation

A Pakistani Member of Parliament reported being denied a hotel stay in the UAE after his flight was cancelled. This incident allegedly occurred in Dubai, where the MP was attempting to find accommodation. The report details that only Indian and American citizens were permitted access to the hotel. The MP stated this happened following the flight cancellation event. Future actions regarding this issue are not yet clear. 🤨