The fourth and final test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is set to begin on Thursday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Currently, India leads the four-match series 2-1. If India manages to win the final test, they will secure a spot in the ICC World Test Championship final in June, where they will face Australia at the Oval in London. Led by Rohit Sharma, Team India will be determined to win the match and secure their place in the final. Additionally, this test match is expected to break the record for the most number of viewers on the first day, which is currently held by a test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia.
Fans of Allu Arjun are in for a treat as the actor is set to team up with director Trivikram Srinivas for a pan-India film. The shooting of this highly anticipated project is expected to begin in June 2025, after the release of Pushpa 2. Allu Arjun's entire focus is currently on Pushpa 2, which is set to hit theaters on December 5, 2024.
Kiwibank announced changes to its six-month and one-year term deposit rates, with the former increasing by 20-basis points and the latter decreasing by 25-basis points. This comes as Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan notes that term deposit rates have been falling at a slower rate than home loan fixed rates since June, suggesting that there may be more downward pressure on them in the future. With banks needing to balance their lending and funding terms, it is likely that term deposit rates will remain competitive in the current low interest rate environment.
After years of anticipation, legendary actor Kamal Haasan and director Mani Ratnam have come together for their much-awaited film Thug Life. After facing several delays due to Haasan's political commitments, the makers have officially announced the release date of the tent-pole project with a fiery glimpse that oozes action and drama. With a star-studded cast including Simbu, Trisha, and Ashok Selvan, Thug Life is set to hit the cinemas on June 5, 2025. The glimpse also reveals that Simbu will be playing Haasan's protege in the gangster action drama, replacing earlier cast members Dulquer Salmaan and Jayam Ravi. With AR Rahman composing the music and a strong supporting cast, Thug Life is definitely a film to look forward to.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen put on a stunning performance at the Brazilian Grand Prix, starting from 17th place and overcoming wet weather to secure his first victory since June and his eighth win of the season. This extends his lead over McLaren's Lando Norris by 62 points, after the British driver started on pole position and finished sixth. Verstappen's win was a result of precise driving and strategic calls, putting him in a strong position for his fourth straight F1 title.
NASA has announced plans to resume spacewalks on the International Space Station in 2025, following a suspension of activities in June due to a leaky spacesuit. The agency's operations and integration manager confirmed the decision during a press conference after the successful completion of SpaceX's Crew-8 mission. The need for spacewalks is determined by a schedule that considers spacecraft arrivals and departures, as well as astronaut research activities. The June incident involving a coolant leak did not pose any immediate danger to the astronauts or the ISS.
The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission has announced the results for the TNPSC Group 4 recruitment exam, held on June 9. With over 6,000 positions in the entertainment category, the exam tests candidates on subjects like General Studies, Aptitude and Mental Ability, and other specific subjects. The results can be checked on the official website of TNPSC, which also provides the merit list for candidates.
The US federal prosecutors have indicted Indian intelligence official Vikash Yadav and charged him with "murder-for-hire and money laundering" for allegedly trying to kill pro-Khalistan separatist figure Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. According to the allegations, Yadav communicated with Nikhil Gupta between May and June 2023 to arrange the assassination, offering to pay $100,000 to a hitman through a confidential source introduced by Gupta. However, the US statement also notes that the charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The European Central Bank has made its third interest rate cut since June, lowering its benchmark rate to 3.25% in an effort to combat falling inflation and a weakening economy. The ECB predicts a temporary increase in inflation before it returns to its target rate of 2% next year. However, analysts believe the slowdown in the eurozone may prompt further rate cuts in the future. Other central banks, such as those in the U.S. and U.K., have also seen a decline in inflation as they raised borrowing costs during the coronavirus pandemic.
NASA faces uncertainty as it awaits Boeing's ability to resolve certification issues plaguing its Starliner spacecraft. After propulsion problems during Starliner's first crewed test flight in June 2024, NASA had to delay the next potential mission to the ISS to 2025. With the spacecraft's certification still incomplete, NASA is questioning if a second test flight will be necessary before regular missions can proceed. As a result, astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will now return to Earth on SpaceX's Crew Dragon in 2025, instead of the originally planned Starliner-1 mission. NASA's ISS operations will continue uninterrupted with the upcoming Crew-10 mission in February 2025, featuring astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers.