🏏 Bethell out; Pope, Carse, Lawrence back for Pakistan tests

Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of the three-Test series against Pakistan due to a knee injury. Ollie Pope, Brydon Carse, and Dan Lawrence have returned to the 16-man squad for the opening two Tests in England. The series starts on August 19th at Headingley, with the first two Tests at Leeds and Lord's. Lawrence rejoins the team after a strong County Championship run, while Jordan Cox takes Bethell's spot at No. 3. England is currently ranked 7th in the World Test Championship standings. 🏏

🚨 Bishnoi Gang Used Canadian Visas for Crime

A classified CBSA report revealed the Lawrence Bishnoi gang utilized Canadian student and work permits to build its criminal network. This threat was documented in December 2025 for border officials to understand the gang's tactics. Between 2019 and 2023, about 4,000 Indian students faced 17,929 criminal charges in Canada. The gang's main activity involves extortion, threatening South Asian businessmen via WhatsApp messages. Goldy Brar, a key aide, is identified as central to expanding this North American operation. 🚨

🎬 Preity Zinta recalls Sunny Deol shouting at her

Preity Zinta is making a comeback in Batwara 1947 after an eight-year break. She shared anecdotes about Sunny Deol while discussing the shoot in Lahore. Zinta recalled an incident where Sunny shouted, "Ye bhi koi time hai call karne ka!" when she called late at night. Despite initial nerves due to the demanding first scene, Sunny was supportive on set. The period drama, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, is set for release on August 14. 🎬

😠 Punjab Congress factions clash in Ludhiana

A significant clash was narrowly avoided among Punjab Congress supporters during a party meet in Ludhiana. Tensions rose between supporters of Charanjit Singh Channi-Bharat Bhushan Ashu and those backing Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring. This incident occurred on Thursday at Guru Nanak Bhawan. Ashu supporters raised slogans, leading to counter-slogans like "RSS workers bahar jao" from Raja Warring's faction. The event lasted about 40 minutes, and Ashu supporters later voiced their disappointment to Bhupesh Baghel. 😬

⚽ Barcelona takes lead in Rodri transfer race

FC Barcelona has reportedly pulled ahead of Real Madrid in the pursuit of Manchester City midfielder Rodri. The Catalan club initiated direct contact with the player's camp and Man City's executives recently. Real Madrid's talks stalled because they couldn't agree on City's €75 million valuation. Barcelona is now making a major financial offer, forcing Rodri to reconsider his prior verbal agreement with Real Madrid. Ultimately, the decision rests with Rodri, who is weighing both offers.

🔬 Ovarian Reserve Test to Shape Breast Cancer Treatment

Researchers are exploring a new way to personalize breast cancer therapy using ovarian reserve blood tests. This innovative approach was studied by scientists at Technology Networks. The research focused on correlating specific markers with treatment outcomes across various patient groups. This could allow doctors to tailor chemotherapy and hormone therapy more effectively to individual patient needs. Further clinical trials are planned to validate this promising diagnostic tool. 🔬

⚖️ Supreme Court allows Asaram a caretaker, denies interim bail

The Supreme Court denied interim bail to godman Asaram in a 2013 minor rape case on August 6, 2026. The court, hearing his health plea, allowed him to use a trained caretaker for constant assistance. The Rajasthan High Court had upheld his life sentence on May 27, 2026. Experts had previously suggested he needed round-the-clock medical care, not hospitalization. The apex court's decision comes after various hearings regarding his challenging the conviction.

✈️ Air India CEO almost joined Pakistan's PIA

Tewolde Gebremariam was reportedly set to lead Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) before securing the top role at Air India. The former Ethiopian Airlines chief was the preferred candidate for PIA following its privatization. Reports from July suggested he was lined up for PIA's turnaround, but the appointment was never made official. Instead, Air India appointed him after a global search for transformation experience. This move signals Air India's shift towards profitability and global growth under the Tata Group. ✈️

✊ Gujarat youth challenge CJP's core team setup

Two young protesters from Gujarat staged a demonstration outside Abhijeet Dipke's residence in Mumbai. They alleged they were excluded from the Kokroach Janta Party's (CJP) core team. The duo demanded representation in the party's decision-making process. This action highlighted internal differences within the political group. The protest occurred just ahead of a key organisational meeting. ✊

🏸 BAI promises best-ever World Champs after India Open drama

The Badminton Association of India assures fans that the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium has been completely revamped for the upcoming BWF World Championships. This major tournament will be hosted in New Delhi starting from August 17th, addressing prior concerns. The India Open, which faced criticism over cleanliness and air quality, acted as a crucial test event. BAI General Secretary Sanjay Mishra confirmed that every issue from the India Open has been entirely resolved. The stadium saw extensive refurbishment, including new lighting systems guided by Malaysian experts.

⚖️ Kapur family feud mediation moving along well

The Supreme Court expressed optimism regarding the Kapur family dispute over the trust assets being resolved amicably through mediation. The dispute involves Rani Kapur versus Priya Sachdev Kapur, concerning the late industrialist Sunjay Kapur's estate in India. Six mediation sessions have already occurred, and the Court accepted a request for mediation to continue until November 2. The conflict began when Rani Kapur alleged her assets were transferred to the trust without consent after a 2017 stroke. The Court is hopeful that continued cooperation will lead to a holistic settlement of all claims.