🇮🇳 Vande Mataram row: Congress's 1937 stance explained

Tensions rose on August 20, 2026, as Amit Shah called Congress's two-stanza singing 'anti-national' during the Vande Mataram row. The Congress, based in New Delhi, defended its decision by referencing a 1937 resolution from its highest body. This resolution, adopted in 1937, limits the singing to the first two stanzas, influenced by Rabindranath Tagore's advice. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stated this reflected the view of freedom movement leaders like Mahatma Gandhi. Moving forward, the party will adhere to this historical resolution for all events.

🛰️ NASA cancels Swift telescope upgrade plan

NASA has decided to scrap its plans for an upgrade to the Swift telescope. This decision follows the unsuccessful outcome of a recent rescue mission for the satellite. The scheduled enhancements, which were set for later this year, will not proceed as planned. The Swift telescope is crucial for observing gamma-ray bursts and other space phenomena. Researchers will now focus on alternative data acquisition methods to compensate for the setback. 🛰️

🚑 Bus overturns near Hiriyur, students injured

A private bus overturned on NH 48 near Aimangala in Hiriyur taluk in the early hours of August 21, 2026. Two people, the driver Guruprasad and cleaner Shankar, died instantly in the incident. Twenty-six students from Universal Nursing College, Arekere, Bannerghatta, were injured and taken to Chitradurga. The bus was carrying about 56 students returning to Bengaluru after a Goa trip around 5:30 a.m. Police suspect the driver's negligence led to the vehicle toppling into a drain. 😥

🧠 Seizure meds + blood thinners: risk breakdown

Combining antiseizure medications with DOACs shows different vascular and mortality outcomes in adult epilepsy patients. Researchers analyzed 9,529 adults to check clinical safety across various drug strategies. Specifically, levetiracetam raised thromboembolic hazard by 1.98, while strong inducers showed a 55% rise in thromboembolic risk. Valproate therapy was linked to a threefold increase in major intracranial hemorrhage. Clinicians must carefully assess risks when co-prescribing these medications.

💰 Big investment shakes up Liverpool ownership

FSG announced a definitive agreement to sell a minority equity stake in Liverpool FC to 1892 Holdings on July 21. This deal involves Amit Bhatia-led consortium and is believed to be around 40% for an estimated £1.65 billion. The consortium partners will work with FSG to evaluate opportunities enhancing the club's objectives on and off the pitch. This significant investment comes as FSG sought financial resiliency after pandemic fallout. There is a clause allowing the syndicate option to buy a controlling stake within the next 12 months. 💸

🏀 Quiz challenge for Dhruv and Tara

Dhruv and Tara, rivals, are involved in a tense standoff over a past prank in their school. Principal Surya later confronts Dhruv about his complacency during a basketball game. He teaches Dhruv that being big in a small pond isn't enough for real growth. Surya challenges Dhruv to compete in a national quiz competition televised across India. Dhruv agrees but must pick a teammate who scored higher than him in history.

🚀 India's defence push: engine tech is the real hurdle

India has achieved record high defence production and exports, showing major self-reliance progress. This is seen across 5,417 items in six Positive Indigenisation Lists. However, deep tech like propulsion and weapons remain heavily reliant on foreign knowledge. Despite high production, India is still a huge importer of major arms globally. The focus now shifts to mastering core technologies to truly make the ecosystem independent. 🛠️

✈️ IndiGo booking system glitches briefly

IndiGo's ticket booking system experienced temporary issues on Friday, August 21, 2026, preventing some users from accessing online services. The airline acknowledged the intermittent problems via its website on the same day. Teams were working with partners to fix the issue promptly, and it has since been resolved. IndiGo runs around 2,200 daily flights, holding a 67.4% domestic market share in July. This follows similar platform disruptions reported on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.

🔪 Nagpur drama: Gangster killed over love triangle

A gangster who was out on bail was fatally shot by another criminal. The incident took place in Nagpur, involving two individuals. The killing occurred around October 2023, though specific dates were not provided. The motive appears to be a dispute over a woman that both criminals were interested in. Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this violent confrontation. 🔪

🏛️ 105-year-old murderer walks free after SC closes case

Convict Rasik Chandra Mondal, who is 105 years old, has been declared a free man by the Supreme Court. This decision was made in relation to a murder case stemming from 1988, involving Mondal from Malda district, West Bengal. The court finalized its order on Friday, waiving any remaining sentence due to his advanced age. Even if his life sentence isn't fully served, he will not be re-arrested, the CJI stated. This follows previous dismissals of his appeals by the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court.

🚨 US warns tough sanctions on Iran amidst PMI data

The United States has issued a warning regarding potentially tough sanctions targeting Iran. This comes amid the anticipation of upcoming Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data releases. The specific figures and dates for the PMI reports are pending release. The heightened geopolitical tension is significantly influencing current market movements globally. Investors are closely watching these developments to gauge future economic stability. 🌍