🏏 Australia locks in XI for first Test vs Bangladesh

Australia has confirmed the playing XI for the opening ICC World Test Championship match against Bangladesh. The squad is set to play at Marrara Stadium in Darwin, kicking off on Thursday, August 13. The team features a pace attack with Starc and Hazlewood, and Marnus Labuschagne bats at number three. Scott Boland was left out but is expected to feature in future matches due to the busy schedule. The next Test in the series is scheduled for August 22-26 in Mackay. 🏏

📉 Sensex dips as crude prices keep investors cautious

The Indian equity benchmarks dropped on Wednesday, August 12, due to cautious investor sentiment amid rising crude prices. The SENSEX fell up to 273 points, while NIFTY50 hit an intraday low of 24,390, pressured by heavyweights like ICICI Bank. As of 9:24 am, the SENSEX was down 159 points at 77,995, and NIFTY50 was at 24,440. This downturn was influenced by Brent crude futures near $90 a barrel due to Strait of Hormuz concerns. Going forward, individual stocks showed mixed performance, with Bata India surging significantly. 📉

📉 US inflation cools slightly but costs remain high

U.S. inflation slowed last month as consumer prices rose 3.4% in July from a year ago. This occurred in Washington, reflecting the impact of global factors on costs. Core inflation also slipped to 2.5% in July, which matches a post-pandemic low from January and February. While this could ease pressure on the Federal Reserve, prices are still outpacing average wages. The Fed is now deciding whether to keep interest rates steady or potentially raise them. 📈

🤖 Meta CTO shuts down 'Meta Days' perk idea

Meta's CTO, Andrew Bosworth, strongly dismissed a suggestion during a townhall to use AI productivity gains to revive 'Meta Days.' The employee asked if saved time could fund the perk, which was scrapped in 2022. Bosworth stated the extra hours should go into building better products for the billions of daily app users. He even suggested the employee ask their parents about asking for more time off. Despite an apology, the company's stance remained firm on this point. 🤖

🦠 Ebola Cases Climb in Congo Nation

The number of confirmed Ebola cases has officially increased to 4,449. This outbreak is currently being tracked in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The latest figures were reported as of a recent date, reflecting the ongoing health crisis. Health officials are intensifying efforts to contain the virus spread across the region. Authorities plan to continue monitoring the situation closely to prevent further escalation.

🔮 LoL Patch 26.17 sneak peek: what's next?

Patch 26.17 is expected to bring further balance adjustments following recent changes to the bot lane meta. Riot Games has officially confirmed three new skins for this update, including a legendary one for Seraphine. The update is scheduled to hit live servers on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. Players should anticipate more tweaks targeting the bot lane dynamic and buffs for weaker champions. The next patch is slated for release on Thursday, September 10.

🎮 Why Gamers Love 'Friendslop'

Gamers are showing a strong preference for 'friendslop' content within the gaming community. This trend is being observed across various platforms where player interactions are central. Data suggests a significant increase in engagement metrics over the past quarter. This preference points to a desire for social connection alongside gameplay experiences. Industry experts predict this focus on community content will continue to grow.

☕ Coffee lovers, check this out: less risk

Moderate coffee consumption might actually help lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases. A neurology advisor suggested this finding based on ongoing health studies. The research indicates that regular, moderate intake can be beneficial for heart health. This insight challenges old beliefs about coffee being entirely bad for you. More detailed studies are needed to confirm these positive long-term effects. ☕

🩺 Endo linked to higher type 2 diabetes risk

A new study found that endometriosis could increase the risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 46% in women. This research, conducted using data from the Utah Population Database, involved nearly 3 million women over 25 years. The findings showed ovarian endometriosis linked to a 61% higher risk, published in Diabetologia. Experts suggest chronic inflammation from endometriosis might affect insulin sensitivity. Therefore, routine screening isn't recommended unless other high-risk factors are present. 🩺

📚 Karnataka schools likely staying open on Aug 13

Schools across Karnataka are likely to remain open on Thursday, August 13, as KAMS withdrew its earlier call for closures. This decision was made by KAMS in response to the Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The association had previously called for bandh closures amid the ongoing water conflict. KAMS stated that further shutdowns would severely impact academic schedules, especially in teacher-short aided schools. Schools are advised to use the day for educational sessions on the dispute rather than participating in the bandh.

💰 India's big families now worth more than Saudi's GDP

India's top family businesses are now valued at $1.46 trillion, surpassing Saudi Arabia's GDP. Mukesh Ambani's family remains the richest in India, with a fortune of ₹25.8 lakh crore. The combined value has risen 27.5% since 2024, adding nearly ₹30 lakh crore. This massive economic footprint contributes ₹1.9 lakh crore in taxes to India's corporate collection. Many groups are now adopting professional governance as ownership passes across generations.