🔬 Prior biologic affects anti-TNF durability in IBD patients

The study found that using anti-TNF therapy after different mechanism biologics linked to higher discontinuation risk in ulcerative colitis. This research was conducted using ENEIDA registry data from 2018 to 2025 across 117 UC and 66 CD patients. In UC, discontinuation risk was significantly higher (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.89; P < .001), while CD showed no such association. This suggests the specific mechanism of previous therapy critically influences the subsequent treatment response in IBD. The findings offer real-world evidence on sequential biologic use in IBD management.

🔬 Bisphosphonates linked to better outcomes in HR+ breast cancer

Using bisphosphonates for at least one year post-diagnosis lowered all-cause and breast cancer-specific mortality in women with HR+ breast cancer. The study involved 3696 women aged 20-69 from Albuquerque and Seattle between June 2004 and June 2015. HR+ patients showed reduced mortality risks with post-diagnostic use, while TNBC cases faced increased risks with pre- or continued use. Further research is needed to confirm BP efficacy in TNBC participants. This new cohort study sheds light on BP usage across different breast cancer subtypes. 🧐

🎬 Nivin Pauly's new film hits big pre-sales in Kerala

Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju's film, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, has been released in theaters today. It is in Kerala, marking the second Onam release after Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Khalifa. The film garnered 1.75 crore gross in pre-sales, ranking as the 9th biggest of 2026. This performance surpassed Nivin Pauly’s last hit, Sarvam Maya (2025), which earned 1.24 crore in pre-sales. The film is a heartwarming rom-com about first love and second chances.

💰 Lokesh Kanagaraj's DC hits 84% profit in North America

The film DC, starring Lokesh Kanagaraj and Wamiqa Gabbi, has shown huge success in North America. The movie premiered on August 6 in the USA and Canada, performing well despite having no massive star face. In just 13 days, it grossed an impressive $735K, significantly exceeding its breakeven target of $400K. This strong performance means the film has accumulated an 83.75% profit for distributors. Further runs will be challenged by new South Indian releases in the territory. 🚀

🕷️ Spider-Man: Brand New Day set to beat No Way Home

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is rapidly becoming the biggest comic book movie in North America's box office history. The film is currently at number one in North America, having grossed $810.4 million in just 20 days. It is less than $5 million away from surpassing Spider-Man: No Way Home's domestic haul of $814.86 million. Globally, the movie hit $2.046 billion after its July 31 release. This success positions it to become the third-biggest film domestically of all time.

🎬 Ravi Teja's Irumudi: The Comeback Attempt

Ravi Teja has released his latest film, Irumudi, on August 21, aiming for a major comeback after a string of setbacks. The Tollywood star is in the spotlight in Irumudi, which is written and directed by Shiva Nirvana. His last hit was Waltair Veerayya in 2023, after six consecutive flops followed. Irumudi has received unanimously positive initial audience reactions, boosting its chances. The film has a 5-day clean run before Yash’s Toxic on August 26, which is key for its fate.

🔬 600+ cancer models boost drug discovery research

An international effort has created over 600 patient-derived cancer models to help with drug discovery. These models were developed by researchers from over two dozen institutions across the US, UK, and Netherlands. The initiative involved collecting 2,700+ patient tumor samples over the past decade. This collection provides functional systems to validate cancer targets found through genomics. The data is now available at ATCC for further preclinical research. 🔬

🔥 Yash's 'Toxic' smashes advance booking records

The highly anticipated film 'Toxic' has achieved massive success in its early advance bookings. The movie, starring Yash, Kiara Advani, and Nayanthara, is currently booking across Indian box offices. Within just 10 hours of tickets going live, the film crossed the 11 crore gross mark in pre-sales. Karnataka leads the bookings with over 7 crore, while the Hindi version has surpassed 3 crore. The period gangster action thriller is set for its official release on August 26.

📈 3 Stocks Poised for EdTech Boom in India

The Indian EdTech market is set to grow significantly, reaching a market size of Rs 41,450-crore. This massive opportunity is being driven by several key players across the sector. Analysts project this market will achieve a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 26% over the coming years. This growth reflects the increasing digital adoption and demand for online education across the country. Investors are keenly watching these three specific stocks for potential gains in this evolving landscape. 🚀

🎬 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.