business Barcelona received word that Manchester City rejected a second offer for Rodri. City is reportedly demanding a fee of £70 million (€82m) for the World Cup winner. This demand puts the decision back in Barcelona's hands for the summer transfer window. Rodri is rumored to want the move, and City is already looking at replacements like Enzo Fernandez. He is due back at City on Friday for pre-season training with Enzo Maresca's team. ⏳
sports Mitchell Starc etched his name in history by becoming the most successful left-arm bowler in Test cricket. This achievement happened during Australia's opening Test against Bangladesh in Darwin. Starc's wicket tally reached 434, surpassing Rangana Herath on Thursday. This milestone also placed him alongside Kapil Dev on the all-time wicket-takers list. He now needs just six more wickets to enter the top 10 of all-time Test wicket-takers. 🏏
business Tata Trusts has respected N Chandrasekaran's decision to step down as Chairman of Tata Sons. The move came after he informed the trust nominees on August 12 regarding his plan. The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust has started appointing a successor as his term ends February 20, 2027. This follows the failure of his five-year extension proposal to get unanimous board support. The trust vows to support a smooth and orderly leadership transition for Tata Sons. 🤝
sports Fatima Sana played a crucial innings for Birmingham Phoenix against MI London on Wednesday. She is a 24-year-old captain of Pakistan, drafted by Phoenix as a wild card in June. Phoenix struggled this season, sitting second from the bottom with only one win in seven games. Sana scored 66 runs off 52 balls, helping the team secure the victory. This marks a full-circle moment as she now plays alongside her former hero, Ellyse Perry. 🏏
world A top official of the Iran Guards suggested the conflict with the United States could be prolonged until January 20, 2029. Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a general in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, made these remarks while in an interview with PBS News Hour. He stated that prolonging the war would cause attrition to establish a clear cost for any future attacks on Iran. Naqdi also claimed Iran achieved victory in objectives like toppling leadership, noting American confusion. This comes as talks remain stuck despite mediation from Pakistan, Turkey, and Oman. 😠
science A landmark study from August 2026 revealed that the earliest bird, Archaeopteryx, did not take flight like modern species do. Researchers from the University of Southampton and the National Natural History Museum in Paris found it used rapid, two-legged jumps instead of immediate wing-powered take-offs. Simulations of the 400-gram creature showed up to 90% of the initial launch force came from its hind legs. This discovery supports a modified ground-up model, challenging older debates about dinosaur evolution. The research suggests modern birds like crows still use similar hopping techniques for takeoff.
science A concrete weir in Fresh Brook, Wellfleet, Massachusetts, has been planned for removal after decades of blockage. This barrier prevented native sea-run brook trout from accessing their spawning grounds in the stream. The weir was installed in 1953, effectively ending the trout's habitat in the stream. The Fresh Brook Restoration Project aims to restore natural flow and tidal influence for the trout. Construction and weir removal are estimated for fall/winter 2026. 🎣
H5N1 bird flu was detected in a brown skua on Tasmania's north-west coast, triggering urgent contingency plans. This discovery concerns authorities across Tasmania, as many unique species are now under risk of infection. The critically endangered orange-bellied parrot is prioritized for a vaccine rollout starting in September. Meanwhile, efforts for little penguins focus on habitat protection rather than vaccination due to permit requirements. Several seabirds, including shy albatross, are also identified as being at high risk from the virus. 🐦
business Parliament has successfully passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026. This legislation was passed by the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in New Delhi. The Bill was also approved by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, completing the legislative process. The key aim of this Bill is to restrict states' powers regarding the levying of taxes on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands. The law will officially become effective once it receives the President's assent. 🏛️
world The Supreme Court expressed serious concerns over the massive delays in resolving consumer disputes across the country. This issue was raised during a suo motu proceeding regarding the pay and allowances of consumer commission members. The Court directed the NCDRC President to submit a detailed report on the total pendency within two weeks. CJI Surya Kant questioned if these bodies were becoming rehabilitation centers for retired judges lacking accountability. The bench also ordered State Consumer Commission Presidents to evaluate District Commission performance over the last three years. ⚖️
India has significantly ramped up urea purchases from Egypt, Algeria, and Nigeria to secure supply. These three African nations collectively provided about 1.1 million tonnes during the first quarter of the current financial year. This marks a huge jump, as no urea was imported from these countries during the same period last year. This shift is driven by disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, forcing India to cut reliance on traditional Gulf suppliers. Consequently, the proposed fertiliser subsidy bill is now heading towards ₹3.54 trillion, reflecting higher global costs.
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