🍿 New OTT Drops: Jungle, Jana Nayagan & Toy Story 5

Several big titles are hitting streaming platforms this week, including Welcome To The Jungle and Jana Nayagan. On August 21st, Welcome To The Jungle will be on JioHotstar, while Jana Nayagan premieres on Zee5. Toy Story 5 arrives on Apple TV on August 18th, showcasing a new tech battle for toys. Other releases include Outer Banks Season 5 on August 20th and Lanterns starting August 17th. Viewers should check out the specific platform dates for their favorite genre. 🎬

🦟 Anti-CD20 drugs boost arbovirus risks, says CDC 🦟

The CDC is warning clinicians about increased risk of neuroinvasive disease from tick- and mosquito-borne viruses in anti-CD20 therapy users. This warning comes as the US started a strong West Nile virus season, with 30 states reporting disease in 2026. Through August 11, 181 cases were reported, 129 of which were neuroinvasive. These patients are vulnerable because anti-CD20s impair the antibody response, making diagnosis hard. Clinicians are advised to take bite precautions since no known treatments exist for these viruses.

🇨🇦 Canada updates Express Entry candidate scores

The Express Entry pool saw a drop of over 2,200 candidates between August 3rd and August 16th, according to IRCC's latest figures. This change occurred across various score bands, with a notable decrease in the 351–400 and 501–600 ranges. Despite this contraction, the number of top-scoring profiles actually increased from 19,096 to 20,205 during that period. This activity was influenced by four Express Entry rounds, leading to 8,807 ITAs issued. Moving forward, the system continues to issue invitations, with the last draw on August 17th having a lowest CRS score of 760.

🎬 Mohanlal's daughter film hits safe zone

Vismaya Mohanlal's debut film, Thudakkam, has entered the safe zone after 10 days at the box office. The movie, directed by Jude Anthany Joseph, features the superstar's daughter in her acting project. It has grossed 24 crore in India with a net collection of 20.34 crore as of Day 10. Given an estimated budget of 20 crore, the film has recovered 101.7% of its budget. Its run will continue until August 20 before competition increases. 🎬

🎭 Veer Pahariya's new role in Prem Keetanu review

The teaser for Prem Keetanu, set for October 2 release, showcases Veer Pahariya in a college student role. The film, directed by Apoorv Singh Karki, stars Aafiya Sayed and Aparshakti Khurana. While hints suggest a link to the Malayalam blockbuster Premalu, the teaser focuses on the protagonist's college struggles. Critics note that Veer's portrayal of a college student feels unconvincing so far. The film aims to be a fun campus movie, but needs a strong screenplay to match its inspiration. 🎬

🩺 Semaglutide and depression risk: study finds no clear link

A systematic review found no significant association between semaglutide use and an increased risk for depression. This research was conducted by Gaurab Bhaduri at Park View Super Speciality Hospital in Kolkata, India. The analysis included five studies, comparing semaglutide against placebo or other drugs, through January 2026. Despite the findings, the certainty of evidence for these psychiatric outcomes was judged to be very low. Clinicians are advised to maintain routine psychiatric monitoring for patients with existing vulnerabilities. 🧐

🕸️ Spider-Man: Brand New Day Holds Strong in China 🕸️

Spider-Man: Brand New Day dropped out of the top 3 in the China box office but maintained a solid presence. In China, the movie collected $10 million during its third three-day weekend on various dates. Currently, it stands at $210.7 million in China after 19 days, which is close to F9's $215 million total. The film has already crossed the $2 billion milestone worldwide and is expected to challenge F9's milestone soon. It will face competition from The Odyssey this coming weekend.

💨 Air pollution linked to rheumatoid arthritis flares

Exposure to fine particulate matter, specifically PM2.5, is strongly linked to increased disease activity and flares in rheumatoid arthritis patients. This was found in a large prospective study of 1070 patients in South Korea between 2021 and 2024. Each standard deviation increase in monthly mean PM2.5 concentration corresponded to an 11.3% higher risk of an RA flare. Clinicians are advised to consider poor air quality exposure when assessing unexplained flares and reducing strenuous outdoor activity. This highlights the urgent need for stricter emission regulations to protect vulnerable populations. 💨

🔥 DC hits top 4 grosser spot in Kollywood 🎬

Lokesh Kanagaraj’s film DC has continued to perform well at the box office after 10 days. The Tamil film, directed by Arun Matheswaran, has entered the top 5 highest-grossing Kollywood films of 2026. As of Day 10, its net total stands at 54.76 crore, surpassing Parasakthi and securing the 4th spot. This performance is strong as it currently trails Thaai Kizhavi at 62.46 crore. DC is projected to overtake Thaai Kizhavi by the end of week 2.

🕷️ Spider-Man hits $2 Billion worldwide

Spider-Man: Brand New Day recently crossed the historic $2 billion mark globally. The film, starring Spider-Man, achieved this milestone across all territories. It grossed $785.8 million over 17 days, placing it ahead of Avatar: The Way of Water. This massive haul solidifies its status among the highest-grossing films of all time. Future performance will depend on upcoming releases like Coyote vs. Acme.

🔥 Israeli minister suggests killing 30-40 Palestinians nightly in Gaza

Israel's far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, suggested Israeli forces should kill 30 to 40 people in Gaza nightly. He made these extreme remarks to Rom Braslavski, a former Israeli captive in Gaza, during a podcast that surfaced on Sunday. Ben-Gvir further stated that some people there are not worthy of life. This comes as Israel continues its military campaign following the Hamas-led attacks in October 2023. He also called for Palestinians to be encouraged to leave Gaza permanently.