😔 TMC leader found dead at party office in Birbhum

Former TMC leader Ashish Banerjee was discovered dead inside a party office in Rampurhat, Birbhum, on Sunday, August 16. The local police indicated it was primarily a suicide case after recovering a note from the spot. The note allegedly denied corruption allegations and expressed regret about entering politics. Banerjee had served as a Deputy Speaker and MLA for the TMC for many years. His passing comes after the TMC lost power in West Bengal following the 2026 Assembly elections. 😔

😠 CM Yadav slams Gandhi over Vande Mataram song

CM Mohan Yadav accused Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi of insulting Vande Mataram during a Congress event. This accusation followed BJP claims that the leaders showed 'utter disrespect' at the Independence Day event on Saturday. Yadav stated the national song's singing was disrupted, thereby insulting Vande Mataram. He highlighted PM Narendra Modi's address where the complete song was sung at the Red Fort. Yadav demanded that Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi issue an apology to the nation for the alleged insult.

🎬 Ranveer Singh's 'Pralay' action thriller shoots in Mumbai

Ranveer Singh's end-of-the-world action thriller, 'Pralay,' has officially kicked off filming in Mumbai. The movie is being produced by Birla Studios, True Story Films, and Maa Kasam Films, and is directed by Jai Mehta. It stars Singh alongside Kalyani Priyadarshan and is set against the backdrop of Mumbai. The film tells an original survival story amidst a global catastrophe, shot at live locations. This project follows Singh's previous successful duology, 'Dhurandhar' (2025) and 'Dhurandhar – The Revenge' (2026).

🚀 Batwara 1947 surges with 160% spike on Independence Day

Sunny Deol's film, Batwara 1947, saw a massive 160 percent surge on Independence Day. The movie, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, collected Rs 13 crore nett in Day 2 in India. The running cume for the film is now Rs 18 crore nett as of Day 2. This production, backed by Aamir Khan Productions, was made after the success of Gadar 2. It is currently projected to cross the Rs 25 crore nett mark by the end of the day. 🚀

🚨 Big Bollywood stars face FDA notice over Vimal ad

Maharashtra's FDA, led by Tukaram Mundhe, has issued show-cause notices to Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff. The notice concerns their endorsement in an advertisement for Vimal Elaichi, allegedly a tobacco-related product. These notices were issued on August 11, 2026, under the FSS Act, 2006. The FDA claims the campaign might indirectly promote prohibited pan masala products in Maharashtra. The actors have 15 days to explain and must immediately stop the ad promotion. 🎬

💣 US-Iran tension sparks Middle East chaos

Yemen's Mokha port has suspended operations following attacks by Iran-backed Houthis, which resulted in seven deaths and $16 million in losses. This action comes as US and Iran trade jabs over the critical Strait of Hormuz waterway. Additionally, deadly Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 11 people on Saturday. The Houthi group, known as Ansar Allah, has escalated attacks, raising regional war fears. These events show deepening instability amid the wider US-Iran conflict. 💥

🎂 Kareena's sweet birthday wishes for Saif Ali Khan

Kareena Kapoor Khan posted a loving birthday tribute for her husband, Saif Ali Khan, on his 56th birthday. The post, shared on Instagram, featured pictures from their family vacations with their kids, Taimur and Zeh. This sweet message emphasized how much he means to her, asking how boring life would be without him. Meanwhile, his upcoming movie 'Haiwaan' is set to release on September 11, 2026. Filmmaker Priyadarshan recently described Saif as obedient and a mature child during their collaboration. 🎂

🔑 UGC NET June 2026 answer key is out now

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the UGC NET June 2026 provisional answer key for 84 subjects. Candidates who appeared for the June session can check the key on the official UGC NET website. Objections can be raised from August 16 to August 18, 2026, with a Rs 200 fee per question challenged. This fee is fully refunded if the subject experts accept the challenge. The final answer key will be declared after considering all the submitted challenges.

😔 Former Minister Ashish Banerjee Found Dead

Former West Bengal Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Ashis Banerjee was found deceased on Sunday, August 16, 2026. The 75-year-old leader was discovered inside a party office in Birbhum district, West Bengal. He had served as a five-term MLA and Deputy Speaker until 2026. A note found with the body claimed he was innocent of corruption allegations. The body has been sent for autopsy, amidst ongoing political investigations. 😟

💣 Escort Planted Bomb Killing Ukrainian Defector

A deadly blast in Russian-occupied Crimea killed Robert Shageev, a high-ranking Ukrainian defector who was formerly an officer in the Kremlin's Black Sea Fleet. Russian authorities have accused 32-year-old Margarita Reut of carrying out the attack in Sevastopol, Crimea. The incident occurred on a date not specified, where Reut allegedly planted an explosive device in a trash bin near Shageev. Reports suggest this bombing was linked to an alleged operation ordered by Kyiv, though the connection is unclear. If convicted of terrorism resulting in death, Reut could face up to 30 years in prison. 💣

🌕 Lunar eclipse coming up; don't sleep on it

A near-total lunar eclipse is scheduled for the end of August, offering a spectacular view of the Moon. UNH astronomer John Gianforte discussed this event on NHPR's Cosmically Curious segment. The partial eclipse starts on August 27, with the peak occurring around 12:12 to 12:13 a.m. on August 28. The Moon will pass through the Earth's shadow, gaining an orangish glow. Viewing is completely safe and lasts for several minutes, so plan accordingly. 🌕