🏅 P.V. Sindhu launches Centre for Sports Excellence

Badminton star P.V. Sindhu and Andhra Pradesh IT & HRD Minister Nara Lokesh laid the foundation stone for the P.V. Sindhu Centre for Sports Excellence on Wednesday. This massive campus is located in Arilova, Visakhapatnam, and spans nearly two lakh square feet. Initially badminton-focused, the project now covers seven disciplines, set to be completed by May 2028. The center aims to nurture elite athletes by providing integrated sports and education pathways for young talent. Sindhu stated this facility is her way of giving back and building generations through sport. 🏅

📚 IIM CAT 2026 registration is live now

The IIM Indore started the registration for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 on August 3rd. The exam will be conducted on November 29, 2026, across three sessions in approximately 170 cities. The application window is expected to close by September 15, 2026, via the official website iimcat.ac.in. Candidates will face a 120-minute test split into three sections, each allotted 40 minutes. The application fee is Rs 1350 for SC, ST, and PwBD candidates, and Rs 2700 for others.

😔 Newborn Sold for House Fund

A newborn baby boy was allegedly sold by his family to finance house construction. This heartbreaking incident reportedly took place in a specific area, though the location details were not provided in the source. The transaction reportedly involved a sum of Rs 3 lakh. The family allegedly resorted to this extreme measure due to financial difficulties related to their housing plans. Authorities are expected to launch an investigation into this deeply disturbing matter soon. 😔

🔥 Record El Nino hitting, what's the impact on India? 🌡️

A record-breaking El Nino event is forecast to intensify in the tropical Pacific, potentially influencing worldwide weather patterns. This unusually intense event, projected to be the strongest since 1950, is set to cause droughts in Indonesia and Australia. It is specifically expected to lead to a drier-than-usual summer monsoon across India. Furthermore, the event could cause milder winters in the Northern USA and push global temperatures to peak levels in 2026 and 2027. Policymakers are advised to prepare for resource disruptions while farmers consider drought-resistant crops.

📱 Galaxy S25 Ultra drops on Amazon before big sale

Amazon has slashed the price of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra by up to Rs 41,999 before the Great Freedom Sale. The flagship phone, originally launched at Rs 1,29,999, is currently priced around Rs 88,000 on the desktop site. Amazon is teasing further discounts for the Independence Day sale starting on August 7th. This price drop makes the powerful phone more accessible, even though it is an older model. Buyers must decide whether to grab this deal or wait for the rumored Galaxy S27 Ultra. 📱

💧 Telangana pushes for higher barrage at Tummidihatti

Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy strongly advocated for increasing the height of the Tummidihatti barrage to the Central Government. He met Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil in New Delhi on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, with his ministers and MPs. The proposal seeks to raise the height from 148 meters to 152 meters, citing studies showing no submergence issues. This height increase is crucial for adequate water release to benefit the Adilabad district. Mr. Patil confirmed a Central Water Commission meeting and subsequent state-level talks will be organized.

🔥 Indian cargo ship hit by projectile off Yemen

An India-flagged tanker, the MSV Faize Noore Oliya, was struck by a projectile in the Red Sea, causing it to catch fire and sink. The incident occurred off the western coast of Yemen on August 4, near the port city of Hodeidah. The vessel was carrying 14 crew members, which included 13 Indians and one Yemeni sailor. All 14 individuals were successfully rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard and transported to the port of Mokha with no injuries. The Indian government condemned the attack and called for the restoration of free navigation.

🏏 Namibia chair tells Associates to see the bigger picture

Rudi van Vuuren, Namibia Cricket chair, urged Associate nations to contextualize the altered 2027 ODI World Cup schedule. Speaking at the launch in Johannesburg last week, he acknowledged the frustration regarding the new Super Series format. Van Vuuren believes the changes align with the bigger picture of ODI viewership and popularity trends. He suggests more opportunities for Associates might come through T20 World Cups, where funding mechanisms are shifting. The ICC is consulting on the future of the game, with a McKinsey report due in November.

🏏 Namibia Cricket chair pushes for T20 focus in ODI changes

Rudi van Vuuren, Namibia Cricket chair, urged Associate nations to view the changed 2027 ODI World Cup schedule in context. This statement was made during the 2027 ODI World Cup launch in Johannesburg, following criticism from teams upset by the Super Series format. Van Vuuren suggested that funding mechanisms will shift towards T20 World Cups, offering more opportunities for Associates. He believes the 'bigger picture' shows more scope for Associates in the T20 world format. The ICC is currently consulting, with a McKinsey report due in November for future planning.

🌊 Social media sparks massive migrant surge in Ceuta

A Spanish Supreme Court ruling allowed migrants swimming to Ceuta not to be immediately returned to Morocco. Online, this was quickly framed as an open invitation by various social media accounts. Smuggling networks used personal pages and local groups across Morocco and Africa to promote the journey. This led to a mass surge of people arriving at Ceuta, peaking around July 28th and the following days. Authorities confirmed at least 67 bodies were recovered during this intense crisis. 😥

📊 IIM Kozhikode launches Bloomberg Finance Lab

IIM Kozhikode has launched a Bloomberg Finance Lab on its Kunnamangalam campus to boost student financial skills. This setup puts IIMK alongside over 1,200 global academic institutions integrating the tech. The lab features about a dozen terminals, giving students access to real-time market intelligence. This move emphasizes experiential learning for the data-driven finance industry. The initiative aims to prepare talent capable of contributing to India's growing financial stage.