🏛️ UPSC hiring for 80 Provident Fund Commissioner roles

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has opened applications for 80 Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner posts in the EPFO. This recruitment drive is for the Ministry of Labour and Employment, with applications open from August 22 to September 11. Of the 80 spots, 29 are for unreserved, 8 for EWS, 18 for OBC, 15 for SC, and 10 for ST categories. Selected candidates will be placed at Level 10 in the Pay Matrix, requiring a university degree for eligibility. The role involves statutory functions like handling claims and administrative duties.

🤝 CM invites Bidadi protestors for talks after 540 days

After 540 days of ongoing protests, Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar has invited opposing farmers for discussions concerning the Bidadi Township project. These farmers had been protesting at Bairamangala Circle before moving to Bengaluru's Freedom Park. The invitation targets 25 representatives from Samyukta Horata Karnataka and the Bairamangala-Kanchugaranahalli Horata Samithi, as of August 18, 2026. Farmer leaders, including Badagalapura Nagendra, will meet the CM at Vidhana Soudha to voice their demands. Their main plea is to cancel the Bidadi Township project and halt the ongoing land acquisition process.

🚨 Third player penalized in India vs Sri Lanka Test

Sri Lankan spinner Prabath Jayasuriya received an official reprimand and one demerit point for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct. This sanction occurred during the second Test against India in Colombo. The incident happened on Monday after Jayasuriya was dismissed on the second day's play. This follows punishments given to Yashasvi Jaiswal and Asitha Fernando for a previous on-field confrontation. Now three players have been sanctioned during this ICC World Test Championship contest. 🏏

🏏 Another Lankan player gets sanctioned in India vs SL Test

Sri Lankan spinner Prabath Jayasuriya received an official reprimand for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the ongoing Test match. This disciplinary action took place in Colombo during the second day's play against India. Jayasuriya struck the boundary wedges with his bat after being dismissed on Monday, leading to the sanction. This marks the third player punished in the Test, following incidents involving Yashasvi Jaiswal and Asitha Fernando. The demerit point is added to his record, concluding the disciplinary issues for this series. 🏏

🚀 Astronaut Menon's 3rd spacewalk in a row

NASA astronaut Anil Menon is set for his third consecutive spacewalk on August 25th. He will join Sophie Adenot of the European Space Agency aboard the International Space Station. This EVA is part of three planned spacewalks for NASA in August, marking the 283rd ISS EVA overall. The pair aims to replace a high-speed antenna and potentially fix a retroreflector. Live coverage will be available on the NASA+ app starting at 7 a.m. ET. 🧑‍🚀

🚨 US sanctions four India firms over Iran imports

The US has sanctioned four India-based companies for importing petroleum and petrochemical products from Iran. This action was announced by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday, August 24, 2026, during a press conference in Washington, D.C. The companies were involved in transactions worth around $69 million and $25 million each. These firms were listed for knowingly engaging in transactions related to Iranian petroleum products. The US is broadening secondary sanctions to cut off Iran's financial lifelines.

🏏 T20 Premier League kicks off: Rotterdam vs Amsterdam clash

The first match of the European T20 Premier League 2026 is set between Rotterdam Dockers and Amsterdam Flames on August 26th. The game will take place at Sportpark Westvliet in The Hague. The average first innings score there is 144, while the second innings averages 130. Rotterdam Dockers, led by Faf du Plessis, are predicted to win this exciting contest. Steve Smith and Faf du Plessis are noted as top batting contenders for the match. 🏏

🌧️ Gurugram's flooding: what's really causing it?

Gurugram experiences frequent flooding due to urban development patterns. This issue is happening across the city due to infrastructure changes. Recent reports highlight that the city's built-up area has significantly increased over the past decade. The rapid construction has replaced natural water absorption areas, leading to poor drainage. Authorities are now looking at comprehensive urban planning solutions to mitigate future flood risks. 🌧️

🔬 Rectal spacers show safety in advanced prostate cancer

Rectal spacers demonstrated comparable prostate-to-rectum separation and an acceptable short-term safety profile in patients with cT3 prostate cancer. The prospective study involved 181 men across cT1 to cT3 stages between 2022 and 2024. Among the cohort, 62 patients had cT3 disease, and no grade 3 or higher toxicity was recorded in either group. This suggests spacers retain their protective effect even with higher dose radiotherapy regimens. Further long-term follow-up is needed to fully assess cancer control and late toxicity outcomes. 🔬

✈️ China's J-16s train with Egypt's Rafales

Chinese fighter jets recently engaged in combat training with their Egyptian counterparts during a joint exercise. This operation involved the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force deploying J-16s, YU-20 tankers, KJ-500 aircraft, and Z-20 helicopters to Egypt. The PLA aircraft traveled over 6,000km in nine hours, arriving at an airbase on August 21. The drills tested the air force's long-range force projection and rapid deployment capabilities. Pilots participating noted that the exercises helped improve their combat skills.

🧙 HBO Harry Potter Season 2 casting shakeup

HBO Max's new Harry Potter reboot series is moving into its second season, which adapts The Chamber of Secrets. Nicholas Hoult was initially cast as Gilderoy Lockhart for Season 2, set to premiere after Season 1 in December. However, scheduling conflicts forced Hoult to drop the role, a casting decision that could have marked a full-circle moment for him. Kit Harington has since replaced Hoult as Lockhart, undoing a possibility that dates back to the original films. This shift highlights how production logistics can change major franchise narratives.