⚽ Barcelona stars shine in 5-2 Basel win

Barcelona secured a dominant 5-2 victory over FC Basel during their pre-season friendly match. Hansi Flick's squad played in Switzerland, with several new signings and youngsters making notable impacts. Jesse Bisiwu scored a brace, while Karim Adeyemi netted a goal and provided an assist on the day. Lamine Yamal also impressed after his introduction by scoring a penalty and setting up Bisiwu's second goal. The team must now address defensive issues before facing Elche in the LaLiga opener. ⚽

🔥 Belgium battles record-breaking mega wildfire 🔥

Belgium is currently battling its largest wildfire on record, which has scorched approximately 3,000 hectares in the High Fens nature reserve. Firefighters from across Belgium, Germany, and Luxembourg are working alongside the Belgian army and local farmers to control the blaze. The fire, which started on Friday, has burned more than double the area of the 2011 record. The EU deployed three helicopters and two water-bombing aircraft after Brussels requested international reinforcements. Authorities are focused on containing the fire front moving towards the German border.

🤖 Anthropic CEO: AI backlash is a trust issue

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei countered claims that his warnings fueled an AI backlash in the US. He stated his messaging was balanced between risks and benefits, not disproportionately negative. Amodei believes the current negativity stems from a fundamental crisis of trust in tech and governments. He argues the real issue is failing to deliver on AI's world-changing promises. Furthermore, he contends regulation can manage risks without just concentrating power. 🧐

⚽ Liverpool takes on Como: Live Updates

Liverpool faced off against Como in a recent match. The game took place at Anfield, the home ground for Liverpool FC. The latest updates show the score and team details. This fixture is part of the ongoing league schedule for both clubs. Fans will continue to follow the match progression live.

🚀 Techie dodges H-1B lottery with O-1 visa

An Indian healthcare AI professional, Sohan Sethi, successfully secured an O-1 'extraordinary ability' visa after facing three H-1B lottery rejections. He was based in Chicago, US, and pivoted his strategy when his STEM OPT was set to expire on July 5. By February 2026, he compiled a 700+ page portfolio costing him around $13,000 in legal fees. Instead of leaving the US, he built his O-1 profile through media coverage and publishing scholarly articles. This allowed him to maintain his career in cutting-edge healthcare analytics for the next three years.

🤫 US Secretly Talked to IRGC About Iran Deal

A report surfaced indicating that the US maintained a secret backchannel communication with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This clandestine dialogue allegedly involved the IRGC supporting the Iranian negotiators involved in recent talks. The details mentioned suggest these communications occurred around the time of the negotiations. The context points to efforts to influence the direction of the ongoing diplomatic discussions. It remains to be seen what further steps, if any, will follow from these covert interactions.

💣 Bomb found in Amritsar, terror plot foiled

Amritsar Rural Police successfully thwarted a terror plot by recovering a 690-gram IED and an electronic detonator. This seizure occurred in the jurisdiction of the Gaggomahal police post during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. The bomb disposal squad safely defused the explosive material at the scene. The incident followed increased monitoring of government establishments after Independence Day. A case has since been registered under the Explosive Substances Act at Ramdas police station.

⚽ Real Madrid closes pre-season with big win

Real Madrid wrapped up their 2026 pre-season campaign with a solid 3-0 victory over Schalke 04. The match took place at the Veltins-Arena, featuring Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Thibaut Courtois in the lineup. Kylian Mbappé scored after 6 minutes, and Dean Huijsen doubled the lead before halftime. Carlos Espí added the third goal in the second half to seal the win for Los Blancos. The team is set to start their official season on Saturday against Espanyol in Barcelona. ⚽

🏏 Pant's collapse ruins India's big Test chance 🏏

India missed a huge opportunity to dominate the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle on Sunday. The collapse was triggered by Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul, who fell for just 70 runs. This happened on Day Two, despite India starting at 288/2, aiming for over 500 runs. Experts noted the pitch's changing nature, suggesting Sri Lankan batsmen could thrive if there is no rain tomorrow. Dhruv Jurel's 51 runs was crucial in preventing a complete disaster for the hosts.

🏏 Galle Day 2: Weather drama and batting battles 🔥

Day 2 at the Galle cricket stadium began under a gloomy, intermittent rain threat for the team. Sri Lankan ground staff worked diligently to manage the changing weather conditions throughout the early hours of the day. Around 11 AM, the skies cleared, allowing players like Sitanshu Kotak and Gautam Gambhir to assess the pitch. Devdutt Padikkal maintained his solid batting form, aiming for more than just a century milestone. However, the session concluded with a wicket, showing a tight exchange between both sides.

💰 Iran offers $30k bounty for US soldier capture or death

Iran's military announced a $30,000 bounty for killing or capturing US soldiers on Sunday, August 16, 2026. Army chief Amir Hatami stated this reward is doubled if the act is carried out by a woman. The current conflict began on February 28 when the US and Israel attacked Iran. Currently, 17 US military personnel have been killed outside of Iran in countries like Jordan and Iraq. Iran continues to demand the US leave West Asia, maintaining its call for peace talks.