🏏 Sarfaraz Khan's cryptic post after Sri Lanka snub

Sarfaraz Khan posted a cryptic message after being overlooked for the Indian national team. The player, who has a strong first-class average of 64.73, has been waiting for a senior XI spot for nearly two years. He last played for India in November 2024 during the 1-4 series loss in Australia. India is now set to play a two-Test series against Sri Lanka, starting August 15th in Galle. Sarfaraz will be representing the West Zone in the upcoming Duleep Trophy. 🏏

🎾 Alcaraz pulls out of Cincinnati tournament

Carlos Alcaraz recently withdrew from the Cincinnati tennis tournament. The withdrawal came after he was participating in the major event. Specific details regarding his withdrawal date or exact performance metrics were not provided in the report. This move suggests he might be managing his physical condition or focusing on other priorities. The immediate future will see updates on his comeback schedule. 🎾

🛡️ Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye sign defense pact

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye signed a joint defense agreement on Friday amidst the ongoing conflict in West Asia. The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This pact aims to strengthen collective deterrence and enhance defense cooperation among the three nations. While it is purely defensive, the agreement does not detail specific military commitments or obligations. The alliance builds on existing defense ties among these major Sunni Muslim-majority states. 🤝

💰 FIIs get tax breaks on Indian government bonds

The Lok Sabha passed the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, granting tax exemption to foreign bond investors. This applies to Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) investing in Government Securities (G-Secs) across India. The exemption covers both interest earned and capital gains arising from sales, effective on or after April 1, 2026. Previously, interest was taxed at 20% for FIIs, and capital gains were taxed at 30% or 12.5%. This move aims to attract stable, long-term foreign capital into the Indian bond market. 📈

🔬 Allergy & Immunology Workshop at GIMS

A multidisciplinary workshop on 'Allergy and Immunology Across Specialities' was inaugurated on Friday, August 7th. This event was held at the Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) by the ENT and Pulmonary Medicine Departments. Dr. Gautam Modi highlighted that nearly 80% of diagnosis relies on listening to patient medical history. He stressed that modern tools like Skin Prick Test and CRD help in targeted treatment. The workshop aims to deepen postgraduate student knowledge on managing various allergic disorders. 🔬

🎬 Kavin and Nayanthara's 'Hi' shifts release date

The film 'Hi,' starring Kavin and Nayanthara, has officially changed its theatrical release date. The movie was originally set for August 14, but it has been rescheduled to August 28. This change allows the production team to avoid a box office clash with Suriya's 'Vishwanath & Sons' and Vishal’s 'Magudam.' Nayanthara is also producing the film, which is directed by Vishnu Edavan. The makers plan to intensify their promotional campaign leading up to the August 28 debut. 🎬

🌘 Total Solar Eclipse 2026 sweeps Northern Hemisphere

A rare total solar eclipse is set to cross parts of the Northern Hemisphere on August 12, 2026. The event will pass over regions including Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Portugal. Totality is expected to occur with maximum duration just off Iceland's western coast before reaching Spain. India, however, will not witness any phase of this celestial event due to the alignment. Experts are stressing the need for safe viewing practices for partial phases across the globe.

📸 Samsung Galaxy F70 Pro 5G drops in India

Samsung launched the Galaxy F70 Pro 5G on August 8th during the Flipkart Freedom Sale. It is available in India, featuring a 6.7-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED display and a 50MP OIS camera. The base variant starts at ₹23,999, with configurations up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. This phone aims to be a 'creators' phone' offering OIS and a 6000mAh battery. Buyers should note the 45W charger is sold separately. 📱

⚽ Real Madrid drops squad for Hungary friendly

Real Madrid has officially announced the squad list for their upcoming preseason friendly match. The game is scheduled to take place in Hungary against Ferencvaros. The match is set for August 8, 2026, at 19:00 CET. Key players like Vinicius, Brahim, and Silva will feature after rejoining the squad on Monday. Viewers can catch the action on Real Madrid TV.

🤝 BRICS pushes unity on education challenges

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi urged BRICS nations to collaborate on shared educational issues during the ministers' conference. This meeting took place in Bhubaneswar and concluded with a five-point declaration being adopted. The declaration focuses on five key areas: access, skills, research, innovation, and sustainability in education. Joshi emphasized that education systems must be resilient to global changes like pandemics and climate shifts. Moving forward, India will continue hosting BRICS ministerial meetings before the 18th Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, 2026.

🚑 8 new Arogya Kavach ambulances launch in Mysuru

Eight new state-of-the-art Arogya Kavach ambulances were flagged off on Friday in Mysuru. The Minister for Urban Development, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, inaugurated the fleet at the Mysuru District Hospital. This new set of ambulances is aimed at boosting emergency healthcare across the district’s urban and rural regions. They feature advanced life-saving gear to ensure timely care during critical emergencies. These vehicles will be connected to a central Command and Control Centre for faster response.