Daily digest

Daily Current Affairs — 20 August 2026

Thursday, 20 August 2026

Verified current affairs for 20 August 2026 — readable in about 10 minutes.

US Visa Expedited Appointment Pilot: $750 Fee for Faster B1/B2 Interviews

NIV Expedited Appointment Pilot Program updated on August 18, 2026.
Applicants with urgent travel needs can secure interview within 10 business days.
$750 fee for faster B1/B2 interviews, subject to appointment availability.

Texas Governor Proposes Total Ban on H-1B Workers in Public Schools

Governor Greg Abbott seeks a total ban on H-1B workers in public schools in Texas.
Abbott announced the proposal at a campaign event in Austin.
He will ask the Texas Legislature to pass a law for the ban.

Telangana CM seeks faster US visa processing, more slots

Telangana CM Reddy met US Ambassador Gor for 30 minutes.
Reddy raised concerns of residents traveling to US for work and higher education.
He sought faster visa processing and more interview slots to prevent delays.

Israel opens tenders for West Bank settlement east of Jerusalem

Israel announced tenders for a settlement project east of Jerusalem.
The project would divide the occupied West Bank in two.
The plans have long been internationally condemned.

Israel confirms troops fired at car in Hind Rajab death, probes

Israel confirmed its soldiers fired at the car in which Hind Rajab was killed.
A criminal investigation has been opened by Israel into the incident.
Hind Rajab was a five-year-old Gaza girl who initially survived the attack and pleaded for help.
Her body was recovered later with those of six of her relatives.

Maharashtra CM Fadnavis can overrule ministers under new 2026 rules

Maharashtra government notified the 'Maharashtra Government Rules of Business, 2026'.
The new rule gives CM Fadnavis power to overrule any minister's decision.

US expands public charge rule, creates green card hurdles from Sept 18

US expands public charge rule from September 18.
Green card seekers availing Medicaid, food stamps, or subsistence aid can be denied.
Indians are among those affected by the new rule.

Jharkhand students suspend stir, govt given two-month ultimatum

Jharkhand students suspended their 26-day stir and gave the government a two-month ultimatum.
The move follows cancellation of 22 recruitment exams and probe into 23 others.
JSSC-CGL appointees are protesting and fear loss of government jobs.
The stir was active for 26 days before suspension.

Protesters in Manipur burn effigies, demand no NRC or census

Protesters in Manipur staged rallies and burned effigies of CM and Home Minister.
Slogans raised included 'No NRC, No Census'.
They demanded census not be conducted until IDPs return to native places.

E20 Ethanol Rollout Hits Two-Wheeler Owners Hardest, Economist Says

Economist says hurried E20 rollout has hit two-wheeler owners hardest.
Two-wheeler owners rely on their vehicles for daily livelihoods.
Economist calls for E10 choice at fuel stations till 2030.

FSSAI cracks down on '100 pc' claims; firms withdraw labels

FSSAI took enforcement action against six companies for misleading '100 per cent' claims.
Amway, Emami, and Bonn Biscuits withdrew labels following the crackdown.
Companies removed misleading claims from products and advertisements.

US Ambassador Sergio Gor calls J&K important part of India

US Ambassador Sergio Gor made the statement during his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
He called Jammu and Kashmir an important part of India.
He signaled a possible review of the US travel advisory for the region.

Centre caps sugar stockholding at 15 days for bulk buyers

Order issued August 19 restricts bulk consumers using over 10 tonnes sugar monthly to 15-day stock limit.
Sugar stocks rallied up to 8% after government tightened inventory limits amid record-high sugar prices.
Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar led gains; Balrampur Chini and other stocks also advanced.
Concerns over domestic and Brazilian supply, festive demand, and possible import duty cut supported prices.

Unauthorised structures outside Pakistan High Commission demolished in Delhi

Visuals showed rubble, broken metal railings, gates, and debris outside the Pakistan High Commission.
Authorities in New Delhi removed queue-management barriers outside the Pakistan High Commission.
The removal happened days after similar action in Islamabad.
No explicit confirmation of who carried out the demolition is in the excerpts.

SC warns Odisha to decide Dara Singh remission or face court action

The Supreme Court urged Odisha to decide Dara Singh's remission plea.
The court warned it would take its own decision if the state failed to act.
The Supreme Court's message was: 'If you don't take a decision, we will.'

SC seeks NTA report on NEET reform implementation steps

Supreme Court asked NTA to detail steps and timelines for implementing NEET reforms.
Reforms were recommended by the Radhakrishnan and Nandan Nilekani committees.
The court is seeking a report from NTA on the status of implementation.

TN hikes milk procurement price by Rs 3 per litre

Tamil Nadu increased milk procurement price by Rs 3 per litre.
The hike is linked to Aavin, the state milk cooperative.
Farmers have faced difficulties as procurement price had not been increased for years.
The report questions if the hike is enough to fix Aavin's problems.

South Korea, US shorten military drills after Trump order

Drills with US end Aug 21, not Aug 27 as initially planned.
Allies agreed to downsize some joint field training exercises.
Reduction follows Trump's order to reduce military drills.

TN govt withdraws order preventing students from joining CJP

TN government withdrew an order seeking to prevent students from joining CJP.
The College Education Department withdrew its August 17 circular.
The withdrawal followed SFI's announcement of a statewide protest.
The circular involved coordinated monitoring of students.

How India's Private Hospitals Are Expanding in Different Forms

Private hospitals in India are expanding.
Expansion occurs in different forms.

India's only singing, swinging ape: Western hoolock gibbon

Western hoolock gibbon is India's only singing, swinging ape.
It is found in the forests of northeast India.
Pairs often duet to mark territory, reinforce pair bonds, and communicate.
Every morning, whoops and hoots rise through the canopy in a melodious crescendo.

Hidden Greater Hog Badger Population Found in Kaziranga

Greater hog badgers (Arctonyx collaris) were spotted on camera traps in Kaziranga.
Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve conducted its first scientific assessment of the species.
The scientific assessment was published in June, based on camera trap sightings.
Earlier, only occasional night patrol sightings of the species were recorded by forest officials.

New vaccine trial extends cancer-free survival time

A new jab extended the length of time patients were cancer free in a trial.
It is unclear for how long the vaccine's benefit lasts.
The vaccine is described as a breakthrough in stopping cancer returning.

UK publishes behaviour guidelines booklet for asylum seekers

Nine-page booklet published for asylum seekers in UK.
Covers respect in public, sex and consent, and gender equality.