⚽ Real Madrid vs Schalke in pre-season friendly

Real Madrid is wrapping up their pre-season with a friendly match against Bundesliga's FC Schalke 04 in Gelsenkirchen. The two clubs previously faced each other twice in the UEFA Champions League in 2014 and 2015. The 2014 match was notable for a 6-1 thrashing, while the 2015 game saw Madrid win 2-0 wearing their pink away kit. Carlo Ancelotti's starting XI included players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. This final tune-up is set before the start of the LaLiga season under Jose Mourinho.

✨ Chinese scientists find ripples in Milky Way's structure

Chinese researchers have discovered widespread corrugated structures within the Milky Way for the first time. This finding comes from a team at the Purple Mountain Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The study analyzed over 30,000 molecular clouds using data published on Aug. 7 in Nature Astronomy. These corrugations are likely vertical deviations caused by external gravitational disturbances from passing satellite galaxies. The team has now constructed the first global warp model for the molecular gas outer disk. 🌌

✨ Instagram gets a fresh, modern logo look

Meta officially introduced a refreshed Instagram wordmark logo on Thursday. Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced this change across Instagram and Threads. The wordmark, which hadn't updated in 10 years, features redrawn letterforms while keeping the familiar script style. Mosseri described the update as 'cleaner and more modern' with nods to the original design. Users have reacted with mixed feelings to the new aesthetic. 📱

✨ Perseid meteor shower visible across China

The Perseid meteor shower was visible across China recently. Several photos captured the event in locations like Jiamusi City and Tongjiang City within Heilongjiang Province. This annual shower peaks on August 12 and 13 of this year. The meteor shower typically runs from mid-July through late August each year. People can look up to catch this celestial display.

⛽ Oil prices tick up amid US-Iran tension drama ⛽

Oil prices saw a slight increase on Friday due to renewed supply worries caused by US threats against Iran. The US announced it could maintain a naval blockade on Iran indefinitely, heightening geopolitical risks. Brent crude futures rose 0.1% to $87.16 a barrel, while WTI climbed to $81.29 a barrel on Friday. This concern is set against weaker global demand forecasts and record-high US crude inventories. Future price movements will depend on whether supply risks outweigh demand and inventory concerns.

🏀 Hollywood star backs athlete on trans sports debate

Actor Hugh Laurie publicly supported Sophie Cunningham's stance on transgender athletes in women's sports. This exchange took place after Cunningham shared views in a July 21 ESPN profile regarding restrictions on transgender participation. Laurie stated on August 11 that he does not believe men should compete against women, directly supporting Cunningham's view. The WNBA task force discussed this issue on August 12 but issued no immediate eligibility rule changes. The future direction of this policy conversation within the league remains uncertain.

🏏 Gary Kirsten backs under fire India coach

Gary Kirsten publicly supported Gautam Gambhir, who is facing criticism over the India's World Test Championship campaign. The former Sri Lanka coach praised Gambhir's credentials, citing his T20 World Cup (2026) and ICC Champions Trophy (2025) wins. Kirsten noted his past association with Gambhir during his playing days and in the 2024 IPL. He maintained that Sri Lanka would focus on executing all their skills, not just targeting India's weaknesses. The focus remains on Sri Lanka's preparation, while acknowledging Prabath Jayasuriya's skill. 🏏

🏏 Galle pitch mystery: India likely sticking to safe play 🏏

Uncertainty surrounds the pitch conditions at Galle International Stadium before India's Test against Sri Lanka. The playing surface might not be the sharp turner expected, with generous watering suggesting no early aggression. Historically, Galle favors batting in the initial days, offering gradual turn as the game progresses. India is leaning towards three spinners for reliability, prioritizing batting depth as per Gautam Gambhir's preference. The team will focus on mental toughness and capitalizing on early batting opportunities at this venue.

☀️ Aditya-L1 mission sheds light on Sun's hot mystery

Scientists have used data from the Aditya-L1 mission to tackle the mystery of the Sun's super-hot corona. This research was conducted by Prof R Ramesh at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. The study analyzed a CME from August 5, 2024, to understand the energy balance. Findings indicate that tangled magnetic field lines supply 93% of the energy needed to keep the corona hot. This suggests the Sun replenishes lost energy by reconfiguring its magnetic structure.

🚨 Indian man pleads guilty to accessing CSAM in NJ

An Indian-origin man has pleaded guilty in a federal court in New Jersey to accessing child sexual abuse material. The individual, Abhishek Vijaykumar, resides in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, and accessed the illicit material in March 2024. Investigators discovered over 200 images, including one showing a three-year-old being sexually abused by an adult male. This guilty plea is part of the ongoing effort to combat child sexual exploitation. Vijaykumar faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on January 6, 2027.

💰 Last chance for Bizotic Commercial 5:1 bonus stock

Bizotic Commercial has set August 17 as the record date for its 5:1 bonus issue, making today the final day to buy the stock for eligibility. Only shareholders holding shares in their demat accounts by Monday will receive the bonus shares. The company plans to issue five bonus shares for every existing share held. This bonus comes from the company's securities premium account, which held around Rs 1.06 lakh crore as of March 31, 2026. Eligible shareholders are scheduled to receive the allotted shares on August 18.