🕊️ Messi steps back from Miami after father's passing

Lionel Messi has temporarily paused his football commitments following the death of his father, Jorge Messi. The Argentine captain was in the US this week to attend his father's funeral in Rosario. Jorge Messi, who was 68, passed away after a long illness earlier this week. He was instrumental in Messi's early career, advising him and helping with his move to Spain. Messi's return to Inter Miami is currently undecided and depends on his readiness. 😔

🇮🇳 Insulting Vande Mataram is now a crime

President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to the 2026 Prevention of Insults to National Honour Amendment Bill, making it law. This legislation applies across India, establishing legal protection for the national song Vande Mataram. The bill mandates that intentionally preventing or disrupting the singing of Vande Mataram can lead to up to three years in jail or a fine. This grants Vande Mataram the same statutory protection as the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. The law is being enacted as the Union government commemorates the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram. 🇮🇳

🤝 Women's Panel Wants Mandatory Pre-Marital Counseling

The State Women’s Commission has recommended implementing mandatory premarital counseling to bolster marital bonds and prevent disagreements. Commission members V.R. Mahilamani and P. Kunjaisha proposed this during a meeting held at the Collectorate on Monday. The sitting processed 33 complaints, covering issues like domestic violence and boundary disputes. Furthermore, they suggested counseling for couples post-marriage to tackle issues early and minimize conflict. This move aims to support stronger relationships moving forward.

⚛️ MIT student hunts for elusive dark matter particle

Jessica Fry, an MIT physics PhD candidate, is actively searching for the axion, a top dark matter candidate. She is working at MIT and Stanford University on experiments like ABRACADABRA and DMRadio. These projects aim to detect a faint electric current generated by axions in a strong magnetic field. Fry's dedication stems from early high school experiments and her unique background blending physics with theater. Her team is focused on data analysis for DMRadio, believing a dark matter discovery is near. 🔬

🏥 Supreme Court tells 19 states to notify cancer

The Supreme Court directed 19 remaining States and Union Territories to declare cancer as a notifiable disease for better early detection. This order followed a PIL filed by Dr. Anurag Srivastava, concerning the lack of uniform policy across India. As of August 11, 2026, only 17 out of 36 States and UTs had notified cancer, highlighting data fragmentation. The court stressed the need for a unified policy to ensure citizens' fundamental right to health and dignity. Authorities must now file compliance affidavits regarding these crucial national directives. 🏥

🏏 Shaheen confirms he's ODI captain for now

Speculation is rising about Babar Azam taking over the ODI captaincy from Shaheen Shah Afridi. Shaheen stated to reporters that he remains the captain for the time being, though he offered no further details on the matter. He was appointed ODI captain after the team missed the Champions Trophy semi-finals, replacing Mohammad Rizwan. Afridi also discussed the impact of frequent injuries on team preparation for major tournaments. The National Champions Cup will help build player depth to ensure better replacements are available for the World Cup. 🏏

🚨 Speeding BMW kills woman in Delhi, road blocked

A 48-year-old house help named Jaiwanti was fatally struck by a speeding BMW car in Mehram Nagar, Delhi on Tuesday afternoon. The driver, 38-year-old Deepak from Pratap Nagar, was apprehended by police after the incident. This tragedy occurred around noon while she was crossing a zebra crossing to return home for lunch. Local residents protested the accident, leading to a road blockade near the T-3 terminal. Further investigation is ongoing, with legal action initiated against the driver. 💔

🌾 Farmers tell Punjab govt to talk, not just oppose E20 policy

Punjab farmer unions attacked the AAP government for opposing the Centre’s E20 ethanol-blended fuel policy. This happened during a Kisan Vidhan Sabha organized by the Azad Kisaan Morcha in Chandigarh. Sixteen farmer unions participated, and the resolution called for assessing the policy's impact before confronting the Union government. They urged the state to push for safeguards to protect farm incomes and ensure fair prices. Moving forward, the focus is shifting to negotiations and agricultural future debates.

⚖️ Lebanon ditches death penalty, big deal for region

Lebanon's parliament officially abolished the death penalty, marking it the first Arab nation to take this step. The 128-member parliament voted in favor, though Hezbollah's bloc dissented from the decision. The sentence is now replaced with life imprisonment combined with aggravated hard labour. Justice Minister Adel Nassar called this a major historic move for the nation. This change occurs while parliament debates a large general amnesty law. ⚖️

📱 iQOO Z11 India specs dropped: big battery & screen 🔥

iQOO is set to launch the Z11 in India on August 20, featuring the Dimensity 7500 Turbo SoC. The Indian version boasts a 7,050 mAh battery and a 6.83" curved AMOLED 1.5K display. This phone will be priced under INR40,000, making it quite competitive. It also includes AI Creation and AI Captions for enhanced user experience. More color options for the Z11 are expected before its official release.

😠 BJP to challenge Nagendra's cabinet induction

BJP MLA S.N. Channabasappa announced the party will oppose B. Nagendra's induction into the cabinet. This move was made by the Congress and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in Karnataka. The party plans to prioritize this issue during the Legislature session starting on August 13, 2026. Furthermore, they will raise concerns regarding the suspension of social security pensions for vulnerable groups. Over 6,000 people in Shivamogga alone have missed out on their pensions for over six months. 😠