🏏 Usman hits 5-wicket haul but admits bowling slip-up

Usman achieved his first Test five-wicket haul, but acknowledged Pakistan's collective bowling failure against England. This happened at Headingley where England leads by 195 runs with two wickets remaining. The five-wicket haul came on the day, while the match is still far from over. Usman stated Pakistan must maintain a positive approach with the bat in the upcoming sessions. The pitch is expected to offer more spin over the next three days. 🏏

⚖️ SC acquits two after 30-year bribe case

The Supreme Court acquitted two government employees in a corruption case from 1996. The case involved accusations of taking a Rs 20 bribe to issue an income certificate in New Delhi. The court found no evidence proving that the bribe was demanded, despite the trial court convicting them. The bench noted that merely possessing the Rs 20 note was insufficient to uphold the conviction. The employees, now senior citizens, fought legal battles for three decades to prove their innocence. ⚖️

😠 Thackeray slams Fadnavis over Mumbai land deals

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray accused CM Devendra Fadnavis of selling Mumbai's open land to BJP MLAs and friends. This claim was made on Thursday, August 20, 2026, in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He alleged plots worth ₹550 crore ten years ago are being given for ₹21 lakh yearly. The issue involves BMC approving turf conversion and leasing 4 acres of MHADA land. Thackeray called for a public protest on Sunday, August 23, 2026, in Bandra. 😠

📱 iPhone Ultra might follow iPhone X's launch pattern

Apple is expected to debut its foldable iPhone, dubbed iPhone Ultra, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. This launch mirrors the 2017 iPhone X unveiling, with pre-orders starting later. Due to manufacturing hurdles, pre-orders for the iPhone Ultra might not begin until the fourth quarter of 2026. The starting price is estimated around $2,299 to $2,499 in the U.S. Suppliers are projected to ship 7–8 million units in 2026.

🔬 Aggressive Colon Cancer's Immune Evasion Tactics

Highly aggressive colon cancer cells are demonstrating sophisticated methods to bypass the body's immune system. Researchers are studying these evasion mechanisms in various tumor samples. The study focuses on how these cancers suppress T-cell responses and promote an immunosuppressive microenvironment. This knowledge is crucial for developing better cancer therapies. Future research aims to target these immune checkpoints for more effective treatment protocols. 🔬

🏴‍☠️ Indian crew aboard hijacked ship near Somalia

Six Indian nationals were part of a 10-member crew on a Cameroon-flagged cargo ship hijacked by pirates off Somalia’s Puntland coast. The vessel, M/V LUTUF, was seized on Monday near Marraya and was transporting Turkish weapons to Mogadishu. Eight pirates were reportedly involved in the hijacking, linking them to a previous incident on April 26. Later, Turkish forces monitored the area, and an airstrike followed after a boat delivered khat. The strike resulted in four men being killed and two others being injured.

⚛️ Microscopic Big Bang recreates early universe matter

Researchers successfully recreated primordial matter, akin to a Little Big Bang, by colliding small atomic nuclei. This work was conducted by the Niels Bohr Institute and the ALICE collaboration at CERN in Switzerland. The experiment used Neon-20 and Oxygen-16 collisions, publishing findings on Physical Review Letters on a recent date. This advances understanding of the universe's earliest moments and fundamental nuclear physics. Next, the team plans experiments with even lighter nuclei like helium-4. ⚛️

🔬 Immune cells keeping deadly fungus in check

Most people carry the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans in their lungs, kept dormant by the immune system. Researchers at Virginia Tech identified that several distinct CD4 T-cell populations are responsible for this control, not just one cell type. This finding was published in the journal mBio on July 22, 2026. The fungus becomes deadly when immunity weakens, causing over 150,000 deaths globally each year. Future preventive treatments must protect this entire network of immune cells. 🔬

🛰️ NASA snags pics of Falcon 9 crash crater on Moon 🌕

A SpaceX Falcon upper stage crashed into the Moon on August 5th after an orbital conflict occurred. This incident happened near the Einstein crater on the Moon's near side. NASA's LRO imaged the new crater between August 11th and 12th, revealing it is about 18 meters wide and 3 meters deep. The data collection was aided by images from the Republic of Korea's Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter, Danuri. SpaceX stated this was a one-off event, claiming they follow all responsible space debris disposal rules.

🧑‍⚖️ US visa limits spark lawsuit against Trump admin

A coalition of unions and advocacy groups sued the US government to block new visa limits affecting international students and journalists. This lawsuit was filed on August 18 in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts, challenging DHS regulations from President Donald Trump's administration. The new rules limit F and J visas to four years, while I visas generally cap at 240 days, starting September 15. Groups argue these changes could discourage international scholars and harm US universities. DHS defended the rule, stating it aims to strengthen oversight of the immigration system. 🧑‍⚖️

🧠 Brain structure changes spotted 7 years before Alzheimer's plaques

New MRI data suggests brain cortical thickness changes can happen up to seven years before amyloid plaques appear in Alzheimer’s disease patients. Researchers combined longitudinal MRI data with amyloid-beta (Aβ) PET imaging to spot these subtle structural shifts. The analysis showed thicker cortical regions in those who later developed elevated Aβ plaques compared to Aβ-negative individuals. This evidence points towards earlier structural alterations potentially signaling future AD development before high amyloid burden is visible. Further studies are required to confirm how these structural changes connect with amyloid accumulation. 🧠