🚢 Iran says Hormuz deal close, but not enough for waterway opening

Iran stated on Saturday that a deal with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz is nearing completion. This agreement focuses on the strategic waterway, which has been largely shut since the conflict began in late February. The IRGC insists reopening depends on the US fully accepting Tehran's conditions. Oman reported positive negotiations while condemning attacks on ships in the strait. Meanwhile, the US Pentagon asked defense firms to speed up key weapon production amidst the ongoing tension. 🚢

🏛️ Trump admin pressures oil magnate over Venezuela ties

The Trump administration is increasing pressure on Harry Sargeant III regarding his business in Venezuela. The Treasury department froze the assets of Sargeant’s offshore company involved in Venezuelan oil ventures on Friday. Additionally, a license was issued allowing him to unwind his interests in the firm. Sargeant previously acted as a key channel between Washington and Caracas during periods of high tension. The department can employ various tools to restrict financial dealings with entities violating US foreign policy.

🧐 Bangladesh accuses India of 'Hasina card' play

Bangladesh has accused India of 'playing the Hasina card' amidst discussions about Sheikh Hasina's December homecoming. Home minister Salahuddin Ahmed made this accusation at a function in Dhaka. The government suspects Hasina is conspiring against the current regime and making provocative remarks from Indian soil. Ahmed stated that India cannot simultaneously play this card while wanting friendly relations. These relationships must be based on mutual respect and sovereignty.

🎬 The Odyssey keeps rolling strong at Indian box office

Christopher Nolan’s epic film, The Odyssey, continued its strong run at the Indian box office. The movie, starring Anne Hathaway and Matt Damon, is currently in India. On Day 23, it added 4 crore, marking a 67% jump from the 2.40 crore collected on the previous Friday. The film's cumulative net total in India now stands at 161.41 crore. It is currently chasing The Jungle Book’s lifetime total of 188 crore to secure a top Hollywood spot.

👷 BC invites 500 workers for provincial nomination

British Columbia’s Provincial Nominee Program issued nominations to 500 priority workers across five key sectors. These invitations were targeted at highly qualified individuals in fields like healthcare, construction, and childcare on August 6. This marked the 11th Skills Immigration draw of the year, aligning with the province's 'care and build' objectives. Future draws might change factors considered, such as educational level or work experience. Currently, over 4,236 invitations have been given out through this SI category. 👷

🎬 Nolan's Odyssey sets box office records in China

Christopher Nolan's movie, The Odyssey, is hitting major milestones in China even before its full release. It pulled in $3.4 million from over 1896 limited previews on Saturday in China. This marks the biggest previews ever for Hollywood under 2k screenings, and it scored 9.7 stars on Maoyan. The film has already secured $8.4 million in funding from China prior to its premiere. It is anticipated to become one of the biggest non-franchise Hollywood releases there. 🤩

🎬 Varun Tej's Korean Kanakaraju crosses big box office mark

Varun Tej's horror-comedy, Korean Kanakaraju, has achieved significant box office success across both domestic and international markets. The film, directed by Merlapaka Gandhi, grossed 12.85 crore worldwide within just 48 hours. In India, it earned a net collection of 8.35 crore, while overseas collections totaled 3 crore. This performance surpasses the entire lifetime gross of his previous film, Matka, by 166.6%. The film has managed to recover 21.97% of its 38 crore budget so far.

🌊 Moana beats MCU's Hulk at the box office

The live-action movie Moana has recently surpassed the worldwide haul of the MCU flop The Incredible Hulk. It is a Disney film starring Dwayne Johnson, which was released on July 10. So far, Moana has grossed $266.1 million worldwide, including $119.5 million domestically. The Incredible Hulk, released earlier, made $264.7 million globally despite a $150 million budget. This win marks a significant box office achievement for Moana. 🌊

🌟 Suriya's next film targets huge 2026 opening

Suriya's upcoming film, Vishwanath & Sons, has received positive buzz following its trailer release. The movie stars Suriya and Mamitha Baiju and is set to release on August 14, 2026. It is aiming to secure the 3rd highest opening of 2026 for Kollywood, needing ₹12.35 crore. This target would surpass Parasakthi, which is currently the third biggest Tamil opener this year. The film is expected to perform well due to the extended Independence Day holiday weekend. 🎬

🎬 Mamachya Govyala Jauya hits top 10 in Marathi cinema

The comedy film Mamachya Govyala Jauya achieved a 137% jump on Day 9, collecting 19 lakh rupees. Starring Ankush Chaudhari, it is performing in the Marathi film industry in India. The cumulative total reached 1.41 crore as of Day 9 in 2026. Despite a 7 crore budget, the makers have only recovered 20% of the investment so far. The movie has now entered the top 10 highest-grossing Marathi films of 2026.

🎬 Main Vaapas Aaunga's box office finish

The romantic drama Main Vaapas Aaunga concluded its 8-week theatrical run, achieving a worldwide gross of 98.85 crore. Starring Diljit Dosanjh, it earned 65.15 crore net in India, making it the 8th highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2026 domestically. Despite overseas success, the film ultimately suffered a deficit of 4.85 crore against its 70 crore budget. The footfall dropped after its Netflix release on August 7, 2026, which impacted its run. Imtiaz Ali's directorial now stands as his 3rd highest-grossing film overall. 🎬