🪐 Mars Rover's Self-Drive Mission is a Huge Success

The first self-driving vehicle on Mars has proven to be a smashing success in Jezero Crater. This rover is studying ancient rocks on Mars, which are older than any rocks on Earth, dating back to about 4 billion years ago. Perseverance is exploring this terrain to understand past geological and environmental conditions, possibly when large lakes existed. The redesigned wheels show no appreciable wear and tear, unlike Curiosity's older model. Because it runs on RTG power, the vehicle could potentially keep driving itself across Mars for many years. 🚀

🤕 Lewis Hall update: Man Utd eyeing transfer

Newcastle United left-back Lewis Hall has been sent home from the La Manga pre-season camp due to a minor injury. The 21-year-old, who is a target for Manchester United this summer, has returned to Tyneside to recover. Newcastle has already lost players like Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali this window. Despite speculation, the club remains firm that Hall will not be sold this summer. He will not feature in the first match under new coach Matthias Jaissle against Valencia. 🤕

🎬 Odyssey nears ₹200 Cr milestone with strong Friday showing

Christopher Nolan's epic, The Odyssey, added ₹3 crore on its 4th Friday, showing a 20 per cent jump from the prior day. The film is starring Matt Damon and is currently playing in India. As of the 4th Friday, its running gross reached ₹191.75 crore, with over two-thirds coming from IMAX. The movie is expected to earn ₹13 crore in its fourth weekend to cross the ₹200 crore mark. Nolan's brand is driving this success despite the film's non-genre appeal.

💰 NBFC gold loans boom despite RBI crackdowns 📈

Outstanding NBFC loans against gold jewellery grew by 69.3% year-on-year to Rs 3.41 lakh crore by June 2026. This growth was observed across various NBFCs operating in the financial sector. The expansion far outpaced the overall 20.3% growth in NBFC retail loans for the same period. This surge continues even after the RBI introduced a harmonised regulatory framework in June 2025. Looking ahead, the industry will continue to operate under this stricter regulatory oversight.

📈 Mahindra sales hit 60k+ units in July 2026

Mahindra posted total dispatches of 60,048 units in July 2026, marking a healthy 20% year-on-year growth compared to July 2025. The Scorpio range remained the top seller across India, dispatching 16,009 units in the month. This strong performance was driven by SUVs, as four high-volume models saw double-digit YoY growth. However, the electric SUV portfolio showed weaker dispatches during the July period. Mahindra will now monitor the EV momentum as it moves into the second half of FY2026-27.

✈️ 5 must-have health items for your next flight

Travelers should pack five essential health items before boarding their next flight. These recommendations come from experts to keep passengers safe during air travel. The list covers items like hand sanitizers, face masks, and basic medications for various ailments. This advice is crucial given ongoing health concerns and the crowded nature of airplanes. Passengers are advised to check these items before heading to the airport. ✈️

🌧️ Delhi youth swept away in heavy rain drain

An 18-year-old man named Ankit was swept away in an overflowing drain in Delhi’s Priyanka Camp on Friday evening. He was returning home to southeast Delhi after working at a company in Noida. The incident occurred around 8 pm, and search teams, including NDRF, have been looking for him since. Locals are concerned as the drain safety issue has been raised repeatedly with authorities. The search operation continued despite the heavy rainfall that caused widespread waterlogging across Delhi-NCR.

🌧️ Delhi rain easing after August 9, says IMD

Heavy rain lashed Delhi-NCR on Friday, causing significant waterlogging and traffic jams. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi under a heavy-rain warning for August 8 and August 9. IMD data showed Palam received 104.6 mm of rain in 24 hours ending Saturday morning. The intense spell is expected to ease after Sunday, August 9, with lighter showers from August 10. Commuters are advised to check traffic conditions as minor disruptions may persist. 🌧️

🛣️ MP asks Gadkari to fast-track Anantapur road works 🛣️

Anantapur MP Ambica Lakshminarayana urged Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to speed up national highway projects in the district. The MP submitted a representation addressing issues like expanding National Highways and building service roads across Anantapur. Specifically, the MP wants priority for widening the busy Hyderabad–Bengaluru National Highway (NH-44) and expediting Gooty-Guntakal National Highway tendering. Residents are facing danger without a service road near Sakshi office underpass, leading to safety concerns. The MP also proposed an 'East Bypass' to ease city traffic congestion for better development.

🕵️ Syrian spy chief linked to 2015 massacre found in Moscow

Former Syrian intelligence chief Hussam Luka, accused of the 2015 'Children's Massacre,' has been traced to Moscow. The BBC investigation traced him from his abandoned Damascus apartment, revealing a network of contacts. Allegations include premeditated murder and torture, with a warrant issued by Syria's new authorities. Luka reportedly disappeared after Assad's overthrow in December 2024, possibly to Russia. The Russian government has not responded to requests regarding his location or extradition.

🚂 Karnataka station upgrades lagging behind targets

Only 12 out of 61 Karnataka stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme have finished development work. This was revealed in a Rajya Sabha reply from Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on August 7, 2026. Overall, only about 19% of the 1,340 targeted stations nationwide are complete as of that date. While the scheme started in December 2022, the actual progress is much slower than anticipated. The delay is attributed to complex brownfield challenges and necessary statutory clearances. 🚧