🔥 Priyanka Gandhi joins Rahul Gandhi at police station

The political tension over a complaint regarding an alleged pellet-gun injury during the CJP protest has intensified significantly. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reached the police station where Rahul Gandhi is currently holding a sit-in. A large crowd of Congress workers and supporters gathered outside during this standoff. The Congress party is putting pressure on the authorities regarding the alleged police action during the protest. The next steps on this CJP protest pellet-gun row remain uncertain. 🧐

🌌 Milky Way ate a galaxy right after the Big Bang

Our Milky Way galaxy grew by consuming smaller galaxies over billions of years through galactic cannibalism. Scientists found proof of a merger with the dwarf galaxy Low-energy-Kraken-Heracles, or LKH, shortly after the Big Bang. This event occurred about 11.8 billion years ago, just two billion years after the Big Bang. Absorbing LKH added a massive chunk of weight to the young Milky Way at that time. This discovery shows that external mergers were key to building our galaxy's foundation. 🔭

🏸 Jolly-Gopichand reach BWF World Champs semis

Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand advanced to the semi-finals of the BWF World Championships. They secured their spot in the tournament held in Japan. The pair defeated their opponents with impressive performances on the court. This victory guarantees India a medal at the prestigious world event. The athletes will now compete in the semi-final stages to reach the finals. 🏸

😟 Woman found dead in Vizianagaram; TET marks questioned

A 24-year-old woman named Thanuja was discovered deceased at her residence in Vizianagaram district early Friday, August 21, 2026. Police are investigating whether distress related to her Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) marks contributed to her passing. Her husband, a private teacher, and she had been married for only six weeks. Authorities sent the body to the government hospital for a post-mortem examination. The police advised those in distress to call 100 for counseling or Tele-MANAS at 14416. 💔

⚖️ Jharkhand HC halts cancellations of CDPO and JSSC-CGL jobs

The Jharkhand High Court stayed the notifications that cancelled the appointments of Child Development Project Officers and those hired via JSSC-CGL. This decision came after the court had previously stayed the cancellation of the 11th and 13th Jharkhand PSC exams on August 19. The JMM-led government had cancelled 22 exams and ordered probes into 23 others since 2014 amidst a 25-day protest. The stay order was issued on Friday, August 21, 2026. This action impacts ongoing recruitment processes in the state.

🚗 BMW i5 LWB bookings live in India now

BMW has officially opened bookings for the new i5 Long Wheelbase in India. This model will debut as the i5 LWB First Edition, exclusively manufactured at BMW's Chennai plant. Initially, only 99 units of this locally produced electric sedan will be available. It features an 81.6 kWh battery providing a 669 km range and 264 BHP power. Future updates are expected to roll out after this initial limited run.

⚖️ Israel Minister Shares Gallows Site With Viewing Booths

Israel's far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has publicized the construction of a gallows site for Palestinians. This site, located near an unidentified prison, will feature viewing booths for the families of the condemned. The development follows the Knesset passing the Death Penalty for Terrorists law in March of this year. This controversial law mandates military courts to use hanging for terrorism cases, exclusively targeting Palestinians. Ben-Gvir, who has faced sanctions, stated these measures fulfill his promises regarding stricter prison conditions.

⚽ Mourinho says no trophies, no success at Real Madrid

José Mourinho stated that finishing without any trophies at Real Madrid would not be considered a successful season. He made these comments during a press conference as the team prepares for their La Liga opener against Espanyol. The club has three competitions plus a minor one to aim for in this campaign. Mourinho believes the team is strong and united, though he anticipates future challenges. He expressed confidence in the players' ambition and the work ethic shown so far. ⚽

💥 DMK vs TVK: Delimitation Standoff Heats Up 🔥

A heated debate erupted in the Tamil Nadu Assembly regarding the state's stance on the upcoming delimitation exercise. Udhayanidhi Stalin challenged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay over the omission of the 'freeze' term during a zonal meeting. The TVK government previously passed a resolution to keep Lok Sabha seats at 543, with the DMK demanding this be maintained. Minister Adhav Arjuna defended the government, countering that the DMK has historically changed its position on the matter. This clash follows Vijay urging the Union Government to assure no state will lose parliamentary representation due to population-based delimitation.

🧱 UAE turns desert sand into eco-friendly bricks 🧱

Researchers from the University of Sharjah developed a method to transform desert sand into eco-friendly bricks. This innovation combines local Sharjah region sand with alkali-activated binders and industrial by-products. The study, published in February 2026, showed these bricks cut cement needs by nearly half and cure at room temperature. These bricks also showed superior sulfate resistance, performing well in coastal environments. The technology is currently experimental but aims to offer a sustainable alternative to high-emission Portland cement.

🤖 Apple Music is tagging AI-made songs

Apple Music will start labelling songs created with artificial intelligence later this year. This move affects all industry partners across the streaming service. The new AI Transparency Tags will be visible to listeners when a material portion of a track is AI-generated. This follows calls from the RIAA and IFPI for similar AI disclosures. The platform is joining Spotify's push to label AI-related content.