📉 India's GDP growth set to slow to 6.8% in FY27

India's GDP growth is projected to decrease to 6.8% in the current fiscal year, down from 7.6% in the previous year. This forecast comes from India Ratings & Research, noting risks from the West Asia conflict and El Niño impact. For FY27, the agency estimates the average crude oil price at $85 per barrel and a rupee-dollar exchange rate of ₹93.98. The slowdown is mainly linked to higher fuel and food inflation caused by global uncertainty and agricultural concerns. The agency forecasts quarterly GDP growth at 6.9%, 6.6%, 6.7%, and 6.9% for the coming quarters. 📉

⚽ Rodri on joining Barca: 'First choice' ✨

Rodri officially joined Barcelona, stating that the move to Catalonia was his first choice despite leaving Manchester City. He mentioned speaking with Hansi Flick, who motivates him for the new campaign under the manager. Rodri feels it is a privilege to be compared to Sergio Busquets and is ready to play after a minor procedure. The midfielder also praised young Marc Bernal, vowing to help him develop skills. He expressed high hopes for the squad's future, praising Lamine Yamal's team-first attitude. 🚀

💣 Trump allegedly threatens bomb Oman over Iran deal

Donald Trump reportedly threatened to bomb Oman due to its proposed deal with Iran regarding navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. This threat was made against Oman, as cited by two regional officials, while Iran neared a joint statement on shipping traffic. The claims emerged after Trump expressed displeasure with Oman's stance during talks about the vital waterway. Washington allegedly felt Oman was too lenient in negotiations, especially concerning voluntary vessel fees. The situation remains tense as global energy supplies rely on this critical passage. 💣

⚖️ Lebanon hands over Assad-era general to Damascus

Lebanon's judicial authorities decided to hand over a former senior Syrian military officer to Damascus after questioning him regarding alleged war crimes. The officer, Maj. Gen. Adel Issa, is from Syria and is being transferred from Lebanon to his home country. This action takes place on August 18, 2026, following questioning over crimes in Deir el-Zour and Raqqa. The handover adheres to a 1951 agreement between the two nations concerning suspected criminals. Issa denies the charges, stating he was just following military orders. 😥

🏏 Root keeps Bazball blueprint for Pakistan series

Joe Root stated that the Bazball playing style will not be scrapped before the Pakistan series. He confirmed feeling as ready as any other captain for the three-Test series starting Wednesday at Headingley. This comes after the 2-1 series loss to New Zealand and Ben Stokes' retirement. Root emphasized the need to keep the good elements while adapting to changing game situations. The series will be live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10 am, with the first ball at 11 am. 🏏

👶 Birth under torchlight during massive earthquake

A 39-year-old woman, Maria Florida Nogo Kelen, gave birth via emergency C-section under torchlight after a magnitude-7.7 earthquake hit eastern Indonesia. The event occurred in East Nusa Tenggara on Saturday while she was eight months pregnant, necessitating immediate delivery to prevent fatal seizures. The baby girl, named Gempita, weighed 1.3kg and was born amidst continued aftershocks and hospital damage. Kelen survived a subsequent hemorrhage, and the baby remains stable in a tent incubator in Nagekeo. The disaster has claimed at least 68 lives and left over 1,300 homes damaged. 😥

🕌 BJP promotes two Muslim leaders in national team

The BJP has made organizational reshuffles by appointing Kunwar Basit Ali as Minority Morcha chief and retaining Tariq Mansoor as national vice-president. Both individuals hail from Uttar Pradesh and are linked to the party's Pasmanda outreach efforts. These appointments were made on Monday as the party gears up for the crucial 2027 Assembly elections. The move reflects the BJP's ongoing strategy to strengthen its connection with Muslim voters across the state. This strategic elevation aims to expand the party's ground presence in key demographic segments.

🧑‍⚖️ 4 lawyers recommended for Orissa High Court judgeship

The Supreme Court Collegium recently recommended the appointment of four advocates to serve as judges for the Orissa High Court. These recommended individuals are Sasmita Tripathy, Aditya Narayan Das, Rajjeet Roy, and Gautam Misra. The Collegium approved these proposals during a meeting held on August 18, 2026. Currently, the Orissa High Court operates with only 17 active judges, including Chief Justice Harish Tandon. With two judges retiring this year, the court is short of its sanctioned strength of 33 judges. 🧑‍⚖️

🧐 Exam body overhauls with 600 experts removed

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is undergoing major reforms to boost public trust in national exams. Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi ordered the removal of 600 experts and the introduction of a four-tier checking system. These changes come after controversies like the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak, which led to a CBI probe. Additionally, 20-25 officials will be inducted in the next two to three weeks, and offices will move to reinforced premises. These steps aim to create a more secure testing environment for millions of aspirants. 🧐

🗣️ Dhruv Vikram addresses personal life scrutiny

Dhruv Vikram has spoken out about the intense scrutiny surrounding his personal life. This discussion came after actress Anupama Parameswaran made viral comments about narcissism in her past relationship. Vikram shared at the India Today Tamil Roundtable that anchoring oneself in reality is key to handling such attention. He mentioned that he prefers staying off social media despite enjoying creating videos and edits. The actor stated that when one is aligned with the truth, public scrutiny has limited reach. 🎬

✅ Kerala CM shuts down Onam kit irregularity claims

Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has strongly denied reports suggesting irregularities in the distribution of free Onam kits. He stated that 75,885 ration cardholders have already received their kits as of Tuesday. The government prepared 6,02,609 kits, and 3,06,092 kits have been delivered to ration shops so far. Satheesan dismissed claims of delays, asserting the distribution is running exactly on schedule. Furthermore, ten essential items are available at subsidized rates through Supplyco outlets. 🥳