🎆 Paterna, Spain lights up for La Corda festival

The traditional La Corda pyrotechnic festival took place in Paterna, Spain, on August 31, 2026. Participants set off over 70,000 rockets along the city's closed main street during this event. This long-standing festival is a significant part of Paterna's cultural identity. The display filled the area with intense sparks and smoke, showcasing the city's fiery legacy. Paterna is famously known as the "City of Fire" because of these historic traditions. 🔥

💥 Tanker hit by unknown projectiles in Hormuz Strait

A tanker was struck by three unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz. The incident took place 31 kilometres east of Khasab, Oman. According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations, this happened on Monday amid escalating tensions in the US-Iran conflict. No reports of casualties or environmental damage have come out of the situation yet. The maritime agency continues to monitor the situation closely.

🫡 Army Secretary Driscoll Steps Out Amid Pentagon Shake-up

US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned after serving for approximately 18 months in the post. This departure is happening at the Pentagon while facing tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Driscoll was confirmed in February 2025 and his exit adds to major leadership changes occurring now. The White House praised his work on defense and the Russia-Ukraine war efforts. This resignation highlights the unusually turbulent period for the US Army under the current administration. 🫡

🏏 Pakistan sacks coach, sends 7 players home for 3rd Test

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made a major overhaul, sacking head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and sending seven squad members home. This decision was made on Monday, August 31, 2026, ahead of the final Test against England. Seven players, including Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq, were released from the touring squad. These sweeping changes followed heavy losses in the first two Tests played at Leeds and Lord's. The replacement players will join the squad for the third Test starting September 9 in Birmingham. 🏏

⚡ Jaipur power cuts cancel AIIMS CRE exam ⚡

A power supply failure disrupted the AIIMS Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) 2026 at two centres in Jaipur. This incident occurred at the TCS-operated iON Digital Zone in Sitapura, similar to a recent NEET-PG glitch. The disruption happened on August 31, affecting 2,000 registered candidates across centres RJ0101 and RJ0102. AIIMS cancelled the test to ensure fairness and rescheduled it for September 7 for all affected individuals. The exam recruits for various Group B and Group C posts across AIIMS and central government institutions.

💥 US threatens hard response after Iran clash 🔥

The US President, Donald Trump, threatened to hit Iran 'hard' following the first exchange of fire in weeks. This tension erupted after US strikes on an Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz on August 30th. The conflict, now in its sixth month, saw the Islamic Republic retaliate against US military targets in the Middle East. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed a continued economic pressure campaign against Tehran. Furthermore, a tanker was struck by three unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.

😠 Father slams IAS officer over daughter's prize

A father strongly objected to an IAS officer bestowing a prize on his daughter. The incident took place when Sriram, the IAS officer, was involved in the situation. Details surrounding the confrontation are not specified in the provided context. The father expressed his strong belief that a murderer should not be awarding prizes to his child. Further actions regarding this public confrontation are pending.

⛽ Venezuela grants huge oil concessions to NABEP

Venezuela has awarded 100-year concessions for 17 oil fields to North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP). This privately held producer is set to pay approximately $200 billion in royalties and taxes across the initial 25 years. The White House revealed this Monday, following an agreement between Washington DC and Caracas regarding oil reserves. NABEP plans to invest $100 billion to boost production and create jobs. Furthermore, the US State Department has the right of first refusal for 80% of the oil produced. ⛽

💅 Kareena Kapoor serves a fierce boss look

Kareena Kapoor continues to impress with her latest fashion statements, proving her enduring popularity in Bollywood. She was spotted in a chic olive-green co-ord set featuring a structured jacket and straight-fit trousers. These striking pictures were shared while she is promoting her upcoming film, Daayra. The crime thriller is directed by Meghna Gulzar and stars Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead role. Daayra is set to release in theaters on September 18, 2026.

🚀 Türkiye joins NASA's Artemis Accords as 71st nation

Türkiye has officially joined NASA’s Artemis Accords, making it the 71st signatory to this pact. The signing took place at NASA headquarters in Washington on Monday, represented by Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir. These accords, set up in 2020, promote peaceful and transparent space exploration across the Moon and Mars. This move follows recent milestones like Alper Gezeravci becoming Türkiye's first astronaut in 2024. Furthermore, Türkiye will host the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya this October. 🚀

⏳ Indian Green Card Wait Times Could Be Extreme

A new analysis reveals that some Indian professionals applying for a US green card could face waits up to 179 years. Nearly one million Indians are currently stuck in the employment-based backlog, making up 79% of all applicants waiting. Specifically, those applying in January 2026 or later face 179 years in EB-2, 38 years in EB-3, and 5 years in EB-1. This disproportionate impact is due to nationality-based green card caps, affecting Indian professionals more than others. The backlog continues to grow, complicating US companies' ability to hire top Indian talent. 😥