🔋 Motorola 5G phone drops ₹21k, huge battery inside

Motorola is offering a discount of up to ₹21,000 on one of its recent 5G phones in India. The phone features a massive 7000mAh battery and combines it with 5G connectivity and modern Android features. This promotion is aimed at making the device competitive in India’s highly saturated mid-range market. Buyers must check the final price as the saving depends on bank offers or exchange value. This deal is best suited for heavy users prioritizing long battery life. 🔋

🏆 Dulquer Salmaan wins Best Actor at IFFM 2026

Dulquer Salmaan secured the Best Actor award for his role in 'Kaantha' at the 17th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2026. He won this honor in a category featuring actors like Aamir Khan and Mammootty in Melbourne. 'Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra' was crowned the Best Film, while Rishab Shetty took home the Best Director award for his work. This recognition comes as Dulquer Salmaan gears up for 'I'm Game', which now has a new worldwide release date. The actor will also be featured in the upcoming film 'Sri Sri' alongside Pooja Hegde. 🎬

🎬 Weekend OTT drop: 10 new shows and movies to stream

A fresh lineup of 10 movies and shows is dropping across major OTT platforms this weekend. Highlights include Reacher Season 4 on Amazon Prime Video and Cocktail 2 on Netflix. The releases span various genres, from intense dramas like Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata to romantic comedies. Viewers can catch action thrillers, family dramas, and true-crime documentaries this weekend. This gives everyone plenty of binge-worthy content to enjoy. 🍿

🦟 Mosquito bites could become malaria immunity boosters

Researchers in Australia found a new malaria prevention method that changes mosquito bites into immune boosters. The study, conducted by WEHI, demonstrated a vaccination approach priming the immune system against malaria parasites. This novel strategy protected mice from malaria for up to two years across two seasons. The approach pairs parasites with drug compounds trapping them before bloodstream infection, triggering a strong immune response. A long-acting injectable based on this is now in preclinical development. 🦟

🏞️ Hyderabad land auction near heritage lake sparks uproar

The Telangana government announced an e-auction for 10.63 acres of prime real estate near Durgam Cheruvu lake. This land is located in the Raidurg Hyderabad Knowledge City area, with auctions set for August 21 and 28. Critics argue the site is within the lake's catchment area and near protected heritage hillocks. BRS leader T Harish Rao asked CM Revanth Reddy to cancel the sale, citing heritage status and ownership disputes. The TGIIC claims the layouts adhere to heritage conservation guidelines. 🏞️

🏅 Manpreet Singh aims for World Cup glory

Indian midfielder Manpreet Singh is intensely focused on winning the FIH Hockey World Cup to end a 51-year drought. The 34-year-old veteran is competing in his fourth tournament, aiming to secure a World Cup medal after recent Olympic successes. This tournament holds deep personal meaning for him, as it could be his final appearance at this global event. Singh stressed the team's readiness, noting they must treat every opponent with respect during the campaign. India kicks off its World Cup run by facing Wales on August 15. 🏆

🚩 Karnataka Minister Snubs Flag Hoisting Duty

A fresh political controversy has started in Karnataka because Congress minister Zameer Ahmed Khan reportedly asked for an exemption from hoisting the national flag in Vijayanagar. This incident is happening right before Independence Day celebrations on August 15th, sparking immediate political reactions. The Karnataka BJP has strongly criticized this move, questioning the minister's decision to skip the duty. This issue is expected to lead to a new political showdown between the ruling Congress and the BJP in the state. The opposition is anticipated to demand a clear explanation from the government regarding this matter.

🏅 Sabarimala probe officer gets President's Medal

SP S. Sasidharan, who investigated the Sabarimala gold loss cases, received the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service. He is from Kerala and was appointed in 2025 by the Kerala High Court to look into the alleged loss of gold. This award was announced by the Union government on Friday, August 14, 2026, during Independence Day celebrations. Sasidharan is the only officer from Kerala receiving the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service this year. The Sabarimala gold loss probe is nearing its end with chargesheets expected soon. 🏅

🤖 Google drops Gemini 3.7 Flash with better coding

Google has launched Gemini 3.7 Flash, its newest and most intelligent Flash model, specifically designed for coding and AI agents. This update was released just three weeks after Gemini 3.6 Flash and aims to boost workflows in software engineering and web development. The model achieved a 43.6% score on FrontierCode 1.1, up from 34.4% for its predecessor, and scores at $0.75 per million input tokens. This improved performance and lower cost aim to let developers scale AI agents more affordably. Gemini 3.7 Flash will also power Gemini Spark, enhancing its efficiency across Google Workspace. 🤖

😠 Rishika Singh slams Yash's 'Toxic' trailer

Actor Rishika Singh strongly criticized the romantic and intimate scenes in Yash's upcoming film, Toxic. She shared this strong reaction on Instagram, specifically targeting the portrayal of women in the trailer. Singh questioned the depiction of the five female actors, including Kiara Advani, while praising the film's potential. She warned that audiences would make him vacate Karnataka if women are disrespected. The film also stars Nayanthara and Huma Qureshi in major roles. 😠

📜 Kepler's mom faced witchcraft charges

Johannes Kepler, known for discovering the three laws of planetary motion, faced a huge personal crisis. His elderly mother, Katharina Kepler, was accused of witchcraft in Leonberg, Germany, in 1615. By August 1620, she faced 49 accusations and was imprisoned, leading Kepler to halt his scientific work. He spent nearly a year defending her, writing a major statement against the prosecution's claims. After six years, she was released in the autumn of 1621, though she passed away the next year. 😟