🚕 Telangana auto drivers call off strike after government talks

Auto drivers' unions in Telangana have withdrawn their planned indefinite strike after meeting with Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar. The Joint Action Committee of Auto, Cab and School Van Drivers’ Unions had announced the strike starting August 24, 2026. The government assured the workers of forming a welfare board and agreeing in principle to a fare hike from 2012. A joint meeting is set for September 1 to finalize the board's modalities, and an app development will also commence. The government will consider the ₹12,000 annual assistance after discussions with key ministers. 🚕

🏆 Darwin win to Mackay crash: Bangladesh's mixed tour 🏏

Bangladesh experienced a massive swing in fortunes during their tour of Australia, moving from a fairytale win in Darwin to an embarrassing defeat in Mackay. The team, touring Australia after 23 years, secured their maiden Test win in Darwin, handing Australia a nine-wicket loss. This win saw Bangladesh rise to No. 6 in ICC Test rankings as of the dates mentioned. However, they subsequently lost in Mackay by an innings and 51 runs, highlighting consistency issues. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto stated the Darwin win is a proud moment, boosting confidence for the South Africa tour in November.

📉 Sensex drops amid geopolitical tension

The benchmark indices closed lower on Monday, August 24, 2026, due to rising geopolitical tension. The Sensex fell by 171.72 points to 77,369.11, while the Nifty50 settled at 24,219.05. Nifty PSU Bank saw the biggest decline sectorally, and SBI Life Insurance was a top Nifty50 loser. Traders anticipate high volatility on Tuesday as they react to new US sanctions on Iran. Support for Nifty is seen at 24,200/24,000 for the next trading session. 📉

🧘 Ramdev skips Kangana drama: 'No comments on shallow people'

Baba Ramdev has declined to comment on the ongoing public feud with Kangana Ranaut. The yoga guru and actress recently exchanged heated words after Kangana called Gen Z the 'gutter generation.' On the matter, Baba Ramdev stated he does not want to add to the controversy with 'shallow or narrow-minded people.' He previously criticized her by questioning her past and calling the remark about youth a sign of a distorted mind. Moving forward, he intends to maintain silence regarding the actress and the dispute. 🧘

🍿 New OTT drops for your binge session 🎬

A bunch of new movies and TV shows landed across major OTT platforms this week. Key releases include 'Bandar' starring Bobby Deol on Netflix and 'Knightfall Part 1' on Prime Video. 'The Last Salute' honors the MiG-21's 62-year IAF association, streaming on Netflix. Meanwhile, 'Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look' offers a deep dive into Leonida. Viewers can catch these and more throughout the period of August 24 to August 30.

💰 Crorepati husband, Rs 1k/month reality check

Anuradha, a widow from Jaipur, transitioned from a life of abundance to financial dependence after her husband's death. He was a crorepati businessman owning multiple properties and running a successful empire. She was left without knowledge of his finances, despite their prosperous life together. Today, at 66, she relies on her sons for just Rs 1,000 monthly for her expenses. This story highlights the critical need for financial transparency in marriage. 😔

🚀 Gas giant's atmosphere moves insanely fast 🪐

A gas giant named WASP-127b showed extreme equatorial atmospheric motion for 28 days in early 2025. This planet, located 520 light-years away, was observed by a team using the Very Large Telescope in Chile. Initial reports suggested wind speeds near 33,000 kilometres per hour, significantly faster than Neptune's winds. The study revealed that the planet has an equator and distinct polar conditions despite being unresolved by the telescope. Researchers used spectral lines to infer these speeds, showing a superrotating equatorial jet.

🇦🇺 Bangladesh's mixed bag tour in Australia

Bangladesh experienced a roller-coaster tour in Australia, securing a maiden Test win in Darwin but suffering an innings defeat in Mackay. The team achieved this milestone on March 29, 2023, and subsequently dropped to No. 6 in ICC Test rankings. This series showed their strength in Darwin but exposed issues with pressure handling in Mackay. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto feels the Darwin win was a huge confidence boost for future tours. The team now heads to South Africa in November to build on this progress. 🏏

😥 Ebola deaths hit 2,500 mark in Congo

The death toll from Ebola has surpassed 2,500 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Health officials confirmed this serious increase in fatalities across the region. As of the latest report, the count reached 2,500 cases as of a recent date. The outbreak continues to pose a significant public health challenge to local authorities. International aid efforts are intensifying to contain the spread of the virus. 😥

⚠️ Pence warns against US-Canada trade war escalation

Former US Vice President Mike Pence warned that the ongoing trade war between the US and Canada risks damaging Washington's economy. He made these comments while in Kyiv, Ukraine, following the US imposing 50% tariffs on Canadian goods. The tariffs were set after talks collapsed, prompting Ottawa to announce retaliatory duties. Pence urged both sides to pursue negotiations rather than confrontation for the sake of American families. He advised the president to drive a hard bargain while maintaining free trade with North American partners. 🤝

📈 Stock market picks for August 24th

The domestic stock market is anticipated to see gains on Monday, August 24th, with GIFT NIFTY futures predicting a 94-point rise for NIFTY50. Reliance Industries' potential expansion and Senco Gold's revenue target are key focus areas for investors. Crude oil prices dipped over 1% on Monday, affecting oil-linked stocks like IOC and BPCL. Furthermore, 28 listed real estate firms saw their collective sales bookings drop 21% to nearly ₹40,000 crore. Investors are also tracking Kaynes Technology's MoU with a Chinese firm and NTPC Green Energy's tender win. 📈