🏏 India Women's tour of South Africa expands with T20Is

India's upcoming tour of South Africa has been expanded to include three T20Is alongside three ODIs and one Test match. The revised schedule now runs from December 9 to December 30, featuring the Test first, followed by ODIs and T20Is. These added T20Is are designed to help both teams prepare for the inaugural Women's Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka this February. The fixtures will take place in locations like Benoni and Potchefstroom during the festive season. This adjustment means India will spend an extra week in South Africa to build up for major tournaments.

🏏 England reveals squad for Pakistan Tests

England has unveiled its squad for the opening two Tests against Pakistan. Jordan Cox is replacing the injured Jacob Bethell in the team selection. The first Test is scheduled from August 19-23 at Headingley, Leeds. England currently ranks seventh in the WTC Standings while Pakistan is eighth. The second Test will take place from August 27-31 at Lord's, London. 🏏

🏛️ Stalin Slams Vijay's Budget as 'Hollow'

MK Stalin criticized the budget presented by Vijay, calling it completely hollow. The statement was made by Stalin in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, during a recent political discussion. Key aspects of the budget included specific financial allocations across different sectors, though the exact figures were not detailed in the announcement. Stalin argued that the presented financial plan lacked substance and real impact for the people. Political analysts suggest this critique will fuel ongoing debates in the state assembly. 🏛️

🔬 AI finds hidden health risks in sleep studies

Researchers used an AI model to analyze over 10,000 full-night sleep studies and linked them to long-term patient health records. This study, published in Nature, found AI could predict cardiovascular and neurological risks beyond just sleep apnea. The AI categorized patients into five subtypes, with the highest-risk group facing double the five-year mortality risk. This group also showed significantly higher odds of heart failure, heart attacks, and cognitive impairment. The findings were validated in a separate cohort of over 6,000 patients. 🧠

🤝 UP to give every nomadic community a say

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that the state will ensure representation for every denotified and nomadic community on the new development board. This initiative is being established for the denotified and nomadic communities in Uttar Pradesh. The board was recently approved by the Cabinet, and the CM noted this is a step towards inclusive development. Historically, these communities faced neglect, despite the 1871 Act being abolished by B R Ambedkar in 1952. The board aims to help identify members and ensure they receive all government welfare benefits.

⏳ Galaxy S26 One UI 9 beta update delayed

Samsung has confirmed a minor delay for the fifth One UI 9 beta 5 update for the Galaxy S26 series. This update is being postponed due to final reviews and quality improvements to boost system stability and fix bugs. The over-the-air rollout will target enrolled Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra devices. This release is scheduled for next week across the US, UK, India, Germany, Poland, and South Korea. Users in the beta program must wait a bit longer for the more polished software experience.

⚖️ Tarun Tejpal gets 10-year jail term

The Bombay High Court delivered a landmark judgment, sentencing former journalist Tarun Tejpal to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. This decision overturned his previous acquittal in the 2013 rape case, concluding a highly public criminal matter in India. Following the verdict, Tejpal alleged that the case was a political vendetta. He drew parallels between his situation and those of activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. This ruling has subsequently ignited renewed public and political discussions across the nation.

🤖 S26 FE FCC filing shows Qualcomm twist

The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE FCC filing reveals unexpected hardware combinations for the upcoming device. Specifically, the listing points to the presence of both Qualcomm and Samsung Exynos wireless technologies in the model. The phone is expected to launch in the coming weeks, with the filing detailing 45W charging and reverse wireless charging. This suggests the S26 FE likely features an Exynos modem/chipset alongside a Qualcomm local networking chip. This approach differs from the S25 FE and could be due to cost or efficiency benefits. 📱

👑 Miss India's unfiltered thoughts before Miss World

Miss India Nikita Porwal shared candid details about her pageant life before heading to Vietnam for the 73rd Miss World. She confessed that pageant preparation demands more than just passion, requiring rigorous routine over a year and a half. Her initiative, MAATI, taught her about different perspectives, highlighted when a tribal girl desired city life. Nikita, who started writing at eight, feels imposter syndrome despite her success in theatre. She is looking forward to experiencing Vietnamese coffee and getting professionally glammed up in Vietnam. 🤩

💰 New tax bill boosts FDI, impacts UPI fees

The Lok Sabha passed the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 on Thursday to attract foreign money and factories. This bill simplifies rules for fund managers relocating to India, which could boost job creation. While UPI transactions are currently unaffected, the bill removes the legal barrier for banks to charge MDR later. Additionally, REIT and InvIT dividends remain tax-free for small investors. Foreign electronics suppliers get an extra ten years of tax breaks to promote local manufacturing. 📈

🪐 Liquid nitrogen flows under Pluto's heart glacier

Scientists discovered evidence that liquid nitrogen is rising to the surface of Pluto’s Sputnik Planitia. This discovery was made through a new analysis of images captured during NASA's New Horizons flyby in 2015. The ice sheet covers over a million square kilometers and forms the planet's heart-shaped feature. This suggests Pluto is geologically active, which is surprising for a distant world. Further study could help understand other icy moons like Europa. 🪐