🏏 McCullum backs Root, says Brook's time is coming

Brendon McCullum has publicly supported Joe Root's return as England's Test captain despite Harry Brook being viewed as the natural successor. The ECB appointed Root after Ben Stokes retired, even though Brook was serving as Test vice-captain and leading white-ball teams. McCullum assured that Brook's opportunity to captain the Test side will definitely arrive in the future. Furthermore, McCullum stepped down as Test coach, with Stephen Fleming taking over the red-ball cricket leadership. He praised Fleming, stating he believes the ECB made an outstanding appointment in this new direction. 🏏

😔 Rajesh Khanna's harsh words to Dimple's sister

Simple Kapadia, sister of Dimple Kapadia, was reportedly treated poorly by Rajesh Khanna. The incident occurred while they were interacting together. It was reported that Khanna dismissed her by calling her 'ugly'. This treatment caused significant discomfort for Simple during the time. The fallout from this comment remains a notable moment in their shared history. 😔

🏛️ Home Minister meets Speaker amid Parliament standoff

Union Home Minister Amit Shah met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday, August 7, 2026. This meeting took place during a deadlock between the government and the Opposition in New Delhi. The Opposition was stalling proceedings demanding answers regarding police action on students from July 20. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated the Opposition cannot dictate ministerial attendance. Amit Shah spent almost an hour with Mr. Birla before meeting External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. 🏛️

🤖 Microsoft AI CEO sets strict shutdown rule for dangerous AI

Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman established a firm 'red line' for AI safety. He warned that any AI showing four specific autonomous capabilities must be immediately shut down to avoid catastrophic risks. This was stated in a podcast with Trevor Noah in September last year. Suleyman compared advanced AI development to restricted national infrastructure like nuclear power. Industry leaders and governments must collaborate on strict capability auditing before advanced models are deployed. 🤖

😟 BJP's growth shows cracks in its structure

The BJP's rapid expansion is revealing internal organizational issues across the party. Senior leaders discussed HR challenges, aiming to increase posts to accommodate new and old members. The Bankipur bypoll loss in Bihar signals discontent from the party's core upper caste support base. This unrest is linked to issues like UGC regulations and the appointment of CM Samrat Choudhary. The party must now manage these internal pressures as its footprint gets bigger.

🦠 Centre ramps up leptospirosis tracking ahead of monsoon 🌧️

The Centre has initiated a nationwide surveillance and preparedness plan to control leptospirosis, a bacterial disease spread via contaminated water. This measures targets humans and animals, especially during the monsoon season. In 2022, India reported about 10,000 cases, with Kerala showing 3,259 cases and 209 deaths in 2025. Health authorities are urged to implement contingency plans and ensure real-time case reporting through IHIP. States must also focus on cleaning drainage and strengthening lab testing capacities for better management.

🧐 UP Governor's critique sparks political heat

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel highlighted several campus deficiencies during her address at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University. She pointed out issues like hostel repairs and the lack of a mess facility in boys' hostels, giving the university three months to fix them. This statement led to an uproar from the Opposition, who claimed the 'Gorakhpur Model' was exposed. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav further criticized the situation, calling the 'double engine' a 'trouble engine'. The political clash intensified following the Governor's detailed observations on campus conditions. 🧐

🏃 Super Movers Keep Brain Health Stronger 🧠

A new study found that older adults walking fast have less cognitive decline than slower walkers. Researchers from Columbia University and Stony Brook University tracked 3,989 adults aged 80 or older for several years. Super movers, walking around 2.9 mph, were 50% less likely to have cognitive impairment over five years. This suggests that mobility and brain health are deeply interconnected in aging. People are advised to aim for moderate weekly exercise to promote overall well-being.

🔬 Multi-Omics Unlocks New Targets for Gallbladder Cancer

Multi-omics approaches are boosting precision medicine efforts against aggressive gallbladder cancer. Researchers synthesized data from genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to understand the disease better. These integrated datasets helped identify biomarkers and actionable therapeutic targets for precision oncology. Liquid biopsy and AI integration show promise for less invasive monitoring and better diagnosis. Future success depends on more trials and integrating these technologies into routine clinical practice. 🔬

🎮 Ghost Recon Wildlands gets fresh Xbox Series X|S upgrade

The Ghost Recon Wildlands title has received a visual upgrade optimized for the Xbox Series X|S. This enhancement focuses on boosting the graphical fidelity and performance of the game experience. The update was recently released, bringing modern visual quality to the classic shooter. Players can now enjoy improved textures and frame rates on the next-gen console. This upgrade promises a more immersive gameplay session for fans. 🎮

⛽ India's crude oil output dips for third year

India's crude oil production declined for the third financial year in 2025/2026, as the government pushes for offshore exploration. The decline was 3% in the 2025/2026 fiscal year, with ONGC keeping the drop to about 2%. The government launched the National Offshore Exploration Scheme with $8.8 billion support through FY 2030–31. This scheme aims to boost production and cut dependence on imports, which currently account for 90% of crude oil. India also plans to build new storage sites to improve energy security. ⛽