🚜 Maharashtra farm loan waiver helps over 12.5 lakh farmers

A total of 12,58,243 farmers have benefited from the loan waiver scheme, receiving ₹10,115 crore in assistance. This was announced by Chief Minister Fadnavis during the second tranche release in Mumbai. The scheme has identified around 17 lakh farmers, with nearly one lakh more expected to get relief soon. Officials stress that KYC and Aadhaar authentication are crucial for benefit distribution. The government is actively working to cover the remaining eligible farmers promptly. 🚜

🏏 Dhruv Jurel: India's quiet batting game changer

Dhruv Jurel played a crucial role in the Colombo Test despite his hand injury forcing a late retirement. He batted alongside Rishabh Pant for the majority of the morning session at the Colombo Test. Jurel has faced over 100 deliveries in this Test, demonstrating high control and technique. His steady innings provides India with an essential batting cushion, especially in tough conditions. This partnership shows how India is stronger with both Pant and Jurel in the lineup. 🏏

⚠️ Big E-commerce Apps Lose Food Licenses Over Poisonous Sales

Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, and BigBasket had their food licenses suspended by the Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration Department. This action followed complaints regarding the sale of poisonous Datura fruits and seeds on their platforms for human consumption. The department found these toxic products were listed for sale, sometimes with fake FSSAI numbers, across various e-commerce sites. While BigBasket stopped sales and promised better labeling, the regulator found all responses unsatisfactory. The licenses and supplier registrations are suspended until further orders following a hearing. 😟

⚖️ New $103,265 H-1B fee proposal is still just a draft

The Trump administration recently proposed a new H-1B fee, increasing it to $103,265 for every petition. This new rule changes the scope, meaning all lottery winners, not just those needing consular processing, must pay. Previous attempts, like the $100K fee from September 2025, were blocked by court rulings, including one from June 8, 2026. Immigration attorney Emily Neumann suggests this is a tactic, noting that litigation is expected if the proposal becomes final. For now, nothing has changed, and the fee would only apply to new H-1Bs in next year's cap lottery.

📚 Textbook supply delay hits PU students

JD(S) MLC K. Vivekananda reported that science and language textbooks are delayed for government pre-university students. This issue affects 131 government colleges across Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan, and Chamarajanagar districts. As of August 24, 2026, only 13,72,096 out of 27,22,363 required copies had been distributed. Vivekananda urged the government to ensure textbooks arrive before the academic year starts and are distributed at once. School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa confirmed steps are being taken for immediate supply.

⚠️ Critical Zimbra bug being actively exploited

A critical OS command-injection vulnerability, CVE-2026-73570, is being actively exploited in the wild. CERT Polska has warned about this issue affecting Zimbra Collaboration Suite installations where SNMP trap and swatchdog services are enabled. This vulnerability was reported on a timeline where immediate incident response is necessary, not just a routine update. Zimbra has patched this by releasing version 10.1.20, requiring users to upgrade ASAP. Organizations must check logs and directories for signs of compromise immediately. 🚨

💥 Gun and Bomb Cache Found in Sopore

A significant cache of illegal weaponry was discovered during an operation in Sopore. Security forces recovered AK-47s, grenades, and an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the site. This recovery was made in the Greater Kashmir region. The seizure is part of ongoing efforts to curb militant activities in the area. Authorities are continuing investigations into the source and intended use of these materials. 💥

⚽ 3 ways Arsenal can replace Martinelli if he leaves

Arsenal might lose Gabriel Martinelli this summer, with a move to the Saudi Pro League being the likely destination. Three options are suggested for the Gunners to find a replacement for the winger. One idea is signing Antonio Nusa from RB Leipzig for around €60m. Another possibility involves trying to sign Iliman Ndiaye from Everton, despite his commitment there. Finally, the club could strategically give more playing time to Eberechi Eze in the left wing position. ⚽

🔥 Trump's Iran plan shifts after 60-day talks end

The 60-day window for U.S.-Iran peace talks officially closed on August 17th, leading to a major strategy shift. President Donald Trump declared the Strait of Hormuz an "American territory" and launched 'Economic D-Day' sanctions. Naval blockades have stopped Iranian crude exports, while Iran calls the new measures a 'declaration of war.' Tehran demands sanctions removal, lifting the blockade, and withdrawal of U.S. forces for talks to restart. Trump's initial goals remain: stopping nuclear development, degrading missiles, regime change, and curbing proxy support. 💥

🛰️ SpaceX sets reuse record with 100th Falcon 9 launch

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to launch 29 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on August 25. This flight will mark the 100th Falcon 9 mission of 2026 and the 37th mission for booster B1067. The Falcon 9 is currently the busiest rocket, having flown 165 successful missions last year. The booster is set to land on the drone ship "A Shortfall of Gravitas" in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX continues to push limits with its plans for the fully reusable Starship next. 🚀

🩺 Hodgkin lymphoma survivors face higher mortality risk

Long-term survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma showed nearly double the all-cause mortality compared to the general US population. This was observed in a cohort of over 20,000 adults across 16 SEER registries. The study followed patients up to December 2023, noting cumulative mortality rates at 10 and 15 years. Mortality from noncancer and cardiovascular causes was the largest contributor to excess deaths. This highlights the need for integrated survivorship care beyond just monitoring for lymphoma recurrence. 😟