🚀 India's BRICS glow-up: from doubt to powerhouse 🇮🇳

India has dramatically transformed its role within the BRICS grouping over the last fourteen years. In 2012, India faced questions about its place as a potential 'weak link' in the emerging powers bloc. By 2026, it is now viewed as a major growth engine providing significant economic and strategic weight. This shift is marked by India's A- sovereign rating from Japan Credit Rating Agency in September 2026. Moving forward, India now actively shapes the agenda of the expanded BRICS bloc.

🎬 Mandaadi beats Sardar 2 in box office clash

Soori's sports drama Mandaadi is performing strongly despite the clash with Sardar 2. The film was released alongside Sardar 2, starring Soori, with reports that he charged 25 crore for the role. On Day 2, Mandaadi earned 6.55 crore, which is a 35% increase from its opening day collection of 4.85 crore. The net total for Mandaadi after two days is 11.4 crore, putting it 64% ahead of Sardar 2. It remains to be seen how both movies will perform over the opening weekend. 📈

🎬 DC's run ends, big profits for makers

The movie DC, starring Lokesh Kanagaraj and Wamiqa Gabbi, concluded its theatrical run after five weeks. The film was released on August 7, 2026, and enjoyed strong reception from critics and audiences. It earned a worldwide gross collection of 105.11 crore, with 69.33 crore net in India. Despite a 25 crore budget, the film achieved a 177.32% ROI, securing a super hit verdict. The movie is now available for streaming online on Sun NXT. 🎬

🧐 Woman Calls Out Microsoft's Mess

A woman recently shared her brutally honest feedback regarding issues with Microsoft products. This critique was directed at the company's practices and software performance. She detailed several glitches and user experience problems she encountered over a period of several weeks. Her comments highlighted deep frustration with the ongoing technical hurdles faced by consumers. It is expected that her feedback will contribute to wider discussions about tech company accountability. 🧐

🤝 SP Group wants ₹25k Cr from Tata Sons

Shapoor Mistry, chairman of Shapoorji Pallonji Group, has asked Tata Sons for approximately ₹25,000 crore within the next two years. This request is for a portion of the 18.37% stake held by SP Group in the unlisted Tata Sons company. The proposal was written to Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata and is expected to be discussed by Tata Sons executives. SP Group needs the cash to manage debt requirements while allowing Tata Sons to stay a private company. Lenders are pressuring the group to show progress on monetizing the stake before September repayments are due. 💰

🤩 Ishan Kishan teases young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 🤩

Ishan Kishan and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi shared a funny moment after East Zone's Duleep Trophy 2026/27 win. This exchange happened in New Delhi following the final against South Zone. Kishan scored over 350 runs, including a 270 in the first innings, and was named Player of the Match on that date. Kishan jokingly credited Sooryavanshi for the DRS calls, hinting at his future captaincy potential. Sooryavanshi responded by questioning who took the reviews while they were off the field. 👍

🌳 School kids learning under trees in Vellore

Two classrooms were demolished mid-2024 at Government Panchayat Union Middle School in Kottaiyur, Vellore, due to fragile conditions. Consequently, most of the 134 students, including 67 girls, are now attending classes under tree shade on campus. The 8,000 sq.ft school, established in 1954, had three buildings, and the demolition promised new construction. Residents worry about safety, especially with the monsoon approaching, and lack of boys' washrooms. Officials have promised the District Collector will be apprised to build safe, permanent classrooms. 🌳

🚨 Saudi Arabia halts East-West pipeline after drone strike

Saudi Arabia has shut down the East-West pipeline following a drone attack incident. The attack reportedly targeted infrastructure vital to regional energy transit. Specific details regarding the exact date and scale of the damage were not immediately disclosed. This closure poses a significant risk to the crucial Hormuz oil bypass routes currently in use. Authorities are assessing the situation to determine the timeline for pipeline restoration.

🌍 BRICS presidency shows 50 outcomes, but declaration is stuck

India's BRICS presidency has generated over 50 practical outcomes across four key pillars. Indian officials noted key gains included condemning terrorism and supporting India's UNSC bid. However, a unified declaration remains unclear due to differences between the UAE and Iran regarding West Asia. Despite this, India feels confident due to strong support for its chairship. The summit starts Saturday with PM Narendra Modi leading a session on multilateralism. 🤝

🔥 Fire Erupts at Old Central Theatre in Madurai

A major fire broke out this evening at the old Central Theatre complex near the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai. Fire and rescue personnel responded to the incident, deploying 15 fire tenders to manage the blaze. The fire was successfully contained within the building and did not spread to neighboring structures. Local reports indicate the theatre had been used as a storage facility for plastic goods since closing post-COVID. The exact cause remains under investigation as consecration rituals are underway at the nearby temple. 🔥

🦕 Dino poop reveals feather clues for bird survival

A 66-million-year-old feather specimen was found inside fossilized dinosaur feces, known as a coprolite. This discovery was made by David DeMar, Jr., while fieldwork was underway in northeastern Montana. The finding, reported in Current Biology, provides insight into why birds survived the Cretaceous Period mass extinction. Researchers noted that the feathers were from a hesperornithiform bird, an aquatic relative of modern birds. This suggests feather structure or molting patterns might explain Neornithes' survival over other bird lineages. 🦖