🚀 Mars Express captures video of 'The Martian' crater

Europe's Mars Express orbiter recently captured new, detailed video imagery of the Schiaparelli Crater on Mars. The orbiter, operated by the European Space Agency (ESA), flew low over the Southern Highlands region of the Red Planet. This crater, over 285 miles across, was shaped by water flows 3.7 billion years ago. This location is famous as the site where Mark Watney was stranded in Andy Weir's 'The Martian'. ESA uses its camera to build complex 3D maps for scientific models of Mars. 🛰️

🇮🇳 Rajiv Gandhi's IT and Youth Impact Remembered

Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's role in boosting the IT sector and empowering youth was celebrated on his birth anniversary. Government adviser V. Hanumantha Rao and Congress leaders honored his statue on Thursday. Mr. Jagga Reddy specifically mentioned the crucial move to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 years. The event also included a Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Run with many students participating. Public representatives and party workers gathered to remember his significant contributions.

🚨 Govt flags almost 3 lakh URLs for takedown

Government departments flagged nearly 2.98 lakh URLs for removal between March and July 2026 due to various online offenses. A significant 82% of these takedown requests originated from various state governments across India. Specifically, the I4C flagged around 51,000 URLs related to cybercrime and fraud during this period. This action follows recent changes to the IT Intermediaries Rules, 2021, which drastically reduced response times. Authorities plan to continue regulating unlawful content online through these official channels.

⚖️ SC dismisses SLP challenging Telangana High Court ruling

A Supreme Court Bench has dismissed a Special Leave Petition filed against a Telangana High Court judgment. The petition, lodged by Vundavalli Arun Kumar, was against the criminal case involving Margadarsi Financiers. The judgment was delivered on August 20, 2026, by Justices M.M. Sundaresh and Prasanna Varale. Margadarsi Financiers highlighted that over ₹2,591 crore had already been refunded to its depositors. Furthermore, ₹5.23 crore remains secured in an Escrow account for any future claims.

🦌 Reindeer invasion cleared from South Georgia after 100 years

Norwegian whalers initially released 10 reindeer on South Georgia in 1911 for hunting and food. A century later, this small herd became a major issue as they damaged native vegetation across the island. Authorities removed nearly 7,000 reindeer during operations in early 2013 and early 2014. This uncontrolled growth happened because whaling stopped and natural predators were absent. The removal is allowing damaged habitats and native plants to begin recovering now. 🦌

😠 High Court Slams Meghalaya Violence, Orders Action

The Meghalaya High Court took suo motu cognizance of the violence from a bike rally held by the Khasi Students' Union in Shillong. The incident on August 19 saw stone-pelting, vandalism, and assaults across parts of Shillong. At least 31 vehicles were damaged, 16 people were injured, and two vehicles were set ablaze. The court noted endangered citizens and the desecration of national hero statues during the rally. Authorities must file an action taken report by August 24, and the matter will be heard again then. 😠

🦠 Mpox cases hit Guinea-Bissau, children most affected 🦠

Mpox has been identified in Guinea-Bissau, with children making up half of the suspected cases. Sixteen children under the age of four are among the total of 46 suspected cases reported in the West African country. This outbreak was officially declared on July 4th, with seven confirmed adult cases as of Tuesday. UNICEF notes that newborns and children are at higher risk for severe disease compared to adults. Authorities are seeking over $150,000 for campaigns and surveillance improvements.

⚓ Iran rejects US claim over Hormuz Strait control

Iran has strongly rejected US President Donald Trump's assertions of 'total control' over the Strait of Hormuz. This stance was voiced by Iranian consul general Saeid Reza Mosayeb Motlagh in Mumbai on Thursday. Tehran insists the strait will only reopen once the US meets its demands outlined in a 14-point MoU. The commitments include lifting the blockade and releasing frozen Iranian assets. Iran remains ready to mount a military response if these terms are not met.

🏸 Sindhu loses Worlds streak to Wang Zhi Yi

PV Sindhu lost to Wang Zhi Yi in a tough women's singles match at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi. This defeat ended Sindhu's unblemished 9-0 winning streak against Chinese shuttlers at the Worlds. The match concluded with a score of 11-21, 21-15, 17-21 after 68 minutes. Despite cramping incidents, Zhi Yi secured the victory, extending her winning record against Sindhu to 3-6. Sindhu will now refocus her energy and efforts towards the upcoming Asian Games. 🏸

🚀 Odyssey beats Deadpool for top R-rated film spot

Universal's The Odyssey has officially surpassed Deadpool & Wolverine to become the highest-grossing R-rated movie globally. This achievement was made by the film, which starred Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Zendaya, in 2026. As of Wednesday, it has grossed $1.352 billion worldwide, beating the $1.33B earned by Deadpool & Wolverine. The Odyssey is now Nolan's highest-grossing film, surpassing The Dark Knight Rises' previous record. It is currently in its sixth weekend of release after opening on July 17th. 🚀

😠 Karnataka committee slams rally venue 'purification'

The Constitution Protection Committee-Karnataka condemned the 'purification' of the venue where AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge held a rally in Haldwani, Uttarakhand. B. Gopal, the State president, stated this act was an insult to Kharge and the entire Dalit community. The incident occurred two days after Kharge addressed the Vijay Shankhnaad rally on August 8, with the purification happening on August 10. Gopal criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah for not taking action against this 'unconstitutional purge'. The committee demanded the Union government immediately take strict legal action against the culprits. 😠