⚽ Barca passes on Carlos Espi due to high fee

Barcelona turned down a chance to sign Carlos Espi, despite viewing him as a good player. The club considered rejecting the deal because they were unwilling to activate his €25 million release clause. This decision came as Barcelona was looking to strengthen their centre-forward position this summer. They chose this route because they felt a €25 million investment was too risky for a potential reserve player. Instead, Barcelona is banking on Hamza Abdelkarim, who cost €1.5 million. 🧐

🚀 New AstroRad Vest: Astronaut Protection

A new device, the AstroRad vest, has been introduced to offer protection to astronauts during space missions. This technology was developed by researchers at the institution to combat the effects of space radiation. The vest is designed to mitigate radiation exposure, which can pose significant health risks to crew members. Radiation is a major concern for long-duration space travel, especially on missions to Mars. Further testing will determine the vest's effectiveness in various deep-space scenarios. 🚀

🏞️ Old CA ranch becomes massive public wilderness area

One of Northern California’s oldest cattle ranches, AP Ranch, is being acquired by The Wildlands Conservancy. Located in Siskiyou County near Gazelle, the 14,177-acre property is being bought for $15.5 million. This purchase will merge with the existing preserve, creating a public area over 20,000 acres across the Scott River watershed. The deal aims to protect vital headwaters and provide habitat for various native species like elk and bears. The Conservancy plans to gradually shift from commercial operations to public access for hiking and wildlife viewing. 🏞️

🚀 Samsung's new fast SSDs drop, prices are steep

Samsung has launched its new P9 and P7 portable SSDs featuring USB4 connectivity for enhanced performance. These devices, which build on the legacy of T7 and T9 models, are available in capacities from 1TB up to 8TB. The top-tier P9 boasts sequential read speeds up to 4,000 MB/s and hits the market in early September. While the P9 is positioned for heavy professional use, the P7 targets more everyday tasks. Prices for the P9 start at $339.99 for the 1TB model, with the 8TB version reaching $2,699.99. 🚀

😔 Pune man beaten to death over mutton request

A 30-year-old man, Mahesh Bhagwat Gaikwad, was allegedly beaten to death by his father in Pune. The incident occurred in the Warje-Malwadi area of Pune, India. The argument started after Mahesh returned home drunk on August 25, 2026, and demanded mutton during Shravan. His parents were arrested by the Warje-Malwadi police for the fatal altercation. The mother allegedly tried to destroy evidence after the incident. 😔

😠 IIT Delhi Director Warns Students Over Protests

The director of IIT Delhi has issued a strong warning to the protesting students regarding the ongoing demonstrations. This stern notice was directed at the students involved in the protests taking place at the IIT Delhi campus. The warning specifically addressed the use of 'escalation' and 'threatening slogans' during the student movements. This action comes amid increasing tensions surrounding the student activism on campus grounds. The director expects an immediate de-escalation of the current protest situation. 😠

😮 Meta exec jumps to OpenAI amidst India scrutiny

Meta's India and Southeast Asia VP, Sandhya Devanathan, is leaving the social media giant for OpenAI. She will be based in Singapore, reporting to Kiran Mani to handle consumer growth and regulatory engagement across Southeast Asia and Australia. Devanathan departs after over a decade at Meta, which faces increasing scrutiny over online safety and content moderation in India. This move follows Prabhjeet Singh joining OpenAI as its India head recently. Meta's India managing director, Arun Srinivas, will now report to Benjamin Joe. 😮

🔬 Quantum physics sees unexpected laser effect

Researchers at Paul Scherrer Institute PSI and ETH Zurich directly observed the optical Magnus effect for the first time. This took place while targeting a single trapped calcium ion. The experiment showed a maximum interaction shift occurring sideways, with precision measurements down to a few hundred nanometres. This finding is important because accounting for this effect is crucial for precise qubit control in quantum computing. The forces generated could ultimately allow for coupling qubits to enable more complex computations. 🔬

🤔 Amit Malviya jabs at Sonia Gandhi memoir fact-checking

BJP leader Amit Malviya mocked Penguin Random House India's decision to fact-check Sonia Gandhi's memoir. He questioned whether the checking was for memories or the mix of fact and fiction. The publisher clarified on Friday that fact-checking is a routine part of the publishing process. The memoir, 'Belonging: A Journey of Love in India', is set to be released on November 10 via Alfred A Knopf. This book details her life, from Italy to declining the PM post in 2004.

📱 Easier VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling on Pixel Phones

A new version of the Pixel IMS app by developer TakaiSaisei simplifies enabling VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling on Pixel devices. This updated app removes the need for the Shizuku system tool and maintains settings across device reboots. The features became visible and enabled on the Pixel 9 Pro XL, with Wi-Fi calling confirmed working. Setup involves sideloading the app and enabling wireless debugging via developer options. Crucially, the 'Apply on boot' option ensures connectivity settings persist after restarts.

🧪 Maharashtra CET Pharmacy Merit List 2026 is out

The provisional merit list for Maharashtra CET Pharmacy 2026 has been released for aspirants. The list was published by the relevant authorities in Maharashtra. This list contains the names and ranks of candidates who qualified, based on their performance. The list is crucial for students planning their higher education in pharmacy. Candidates are advised to check the direct link for their specific details.