entertainment Actor Faria Abdullah faced intense backlash for attending the Bonalu festivities in Hyderabad. She participated at the Sri Mahankaleshwara Ammavari Temple on August 10, carrying a Bonam and dancing. Critics targeted her Muslim background, even calling her a 'kafir.' Faria countered by citing her father's Hindu background before converting to Islam. She concluded by wishing well to all those who criticized her choices. 🕌
sports Sonal Dinusha scored a century on day three of the India vs Sri Lanka test match in Galle. The Sri Lankan batter starred while the hosts managed to build a significant lead. Sri Lanka scored 284 in their first innings, giving them a 178-run advantage before the day ended. This performance helped the host nation despite India's 462 remaining untouched. The teams will continue the battle in the ongoing cricket series. 🏏
business The Chief Economic Adviser suggested offering E10 petrol as an option for older vehicles in India. This proposal is aimed at protecting the estimated 75-80 million older two-wheelers that were designed for lower ethanol blends. While India is moving to E20 nationwide, the CEA argued this bridge would calm public concerns and lower total ethanol use initially. He stressed that older components face compatibility issues with higher ethanol blends regardless of the energy penalty. This approach balances the national ethanol push with the needs of the existing vehicle fleet. ⛽
india Prashant Kishor, the chief of the Jan Suraaj Party, officially took the oath as the MLA for the Bankipur constituency. This event took place at the Bihar Legislative Assembly in Patna on Monday, August 17, 2026. He secured 64,151 votes, defeating the BJP's Neeraj Kumar by a margin of 19,324 votes on August 3. This victory marked a major upset for the BJP, which had held the seat since 1995. The bypoll was needed because BJP president Nitin Nabin vacated the seat for the Rajya Sabha.
business The romantic action drama Awarapan 2, starring Emraan Hashmi and Disha Patani, achieved a strong opening weekend globally. The film grossed a massive Rs 116.50 crore across three days worldwide. In India, it collected Rs 97.50 crore, while international markets brought in around Rs 19 crore. This performance marks the biggest opening weekend for a solo Emraan Hashmi film. The movie has potential for a Blockbuster verdict with upcoming holidays, despite competition.
Taiwan's president declared that the nation's record defense spending should be viewed as an investment in peace. He stated this sentiment during a recent address to the public. The spending figures mentioned reflect a significant increase in the defense budget for the current fiscal year. This stance comes amidst rising geopolitical tensions in the region. The administration plans to continue bolstering its defense capabilities moving forward.
business Gold prices are expected to continue trending upwards despite potential short-term consolidation. Senior Analyst Manav Modi notes that the weekly bias is bullish as long as gold stays above Rs 152,000. For the week of August 17, 2026, the immediate resistance hurdle is set at Rs 157,600–158,000. A sustained breakout could aim for Rs 160,000, while support rests around Rs 153,500. Future movements will depend on Fed expectations and geopolitical developments like the Strait of Hormuz situation.
sports Bangladesh made history by defeating Australia in the first Test match held in Darwin. The victory was secured by Bangladesh in Darwin, Australia, on Sunday. The match saw Bangladesh win by nine wickets, with this statistic being shared by Iceland Cricket. This fact became viral, noting both nations have won only one Test in Australia in the last 15 years. The comparison sparked debate despite England being considered a bigger cricketing nation. 🏏
business Reliance Jio has rolled out several affordable prepaid plans starting from just Rs 123 for August 2026. These plans cater to different needs, offering voice-only, 4G feature phone, and data options across the range. Specific plans like Rs 448 and Rs 1,748 feature unlimited voice and SMS without data usage. Furthermore, the Rs 1,234 plan provides 336 days of validity along with 0.5GB daily data. Users can choose options based on their connectivity requirements to stay digitally linked. 📱
india The National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the UGC-NET papers for English, Commerce, and Sociology after an expert committee found multiple errors. This setback occurred three months after the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak incident. The three exams, originally held between June 22 and June 30, are rescheduled for September 9 and 10. These issues included factual, typographical, and question repetition errors across the subjects. No extra fee will be charged for affected candidates taking the re-conducted exams. 😟
india The Rajasthan government issued an order barring entry and filming in government schools on Sunday evening. This move followed the Cockroach Janta Party's announcement of inspecting schools allegedly in poor condition across nine districts. The restrictions were enacted amid protests over teacher shortages and basic amenity gaps in these schools. The directive cites protecting children's safety, dignity, and privacy under constitutional guidelines. Principals can now deny access, and unauthorized individuals face police action. 🏫
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