📚 Archaeologist R. Nagaswamy's work now open access

Tamil Arts Academy has announced that all works by eminent archaeologist R. Nagaswamy will be released under open access rights. The Academy, which includes his children Uma and Mohan Nagaswamy, made this announcement on social media platforms. These works, which include over 50 books, are available as of August 12, 2026. This move ensures his valuable scholarship can continue to inspire future generations freely. His publications cover areas like archaeology and epigraphy, and are accessible on the academy's website.

😟 Villagers push back on Vaniyambadi STP plan 💧

Residents of Valayambattu village are strongly opposing the installation of a Sewage Treatment Plant by Vaniyambadi municipality. This conflict is happening along the Palar River where Valayambattu village, with over 4,000 families, resides. The proposed 10-acre site, near the confluence of Kallar and Palar rivers, was identified recently. Villagers fear groundwater pollution, as their agriculture heavily depends on the area's water quality. Officials insist the STP will stop illegal sewage discharge, but alternative land sites are being requested.

😠 Villages protest merger with Tiruvannamalai Corporation

Residents from 18 villages staged a protest at the Collectorate office in Tiruvannamalai on Tuesday. These villages surround the Girivalam path near the Arunachaleswarar temple. Each affected village has about 5,000 residents across nine wards, as of August 12, 2026. Protesters claim the merger reduced MGNREGA work and increased taxes without improving amenities. Officials assured the villagers that necessary steps would be taken to address their concerns. 😠

🏥 Court asks for funds for Indore girl's SMA treatment

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has requested the Centre and state government to help fund the treatment for a three-year-old Indore girl with SMA Type-2. The court noted that an additional Rs 1 crore is needed for her injections, even after central aid and crowdfunding efforts. The total treatment cost is approximately Rs 9.55 crore, with about Rs 8 crore already raised by NGOs. Justice Sandeep N Bhatt stressed that the treatment must start ASAP and set the next hearing for August 18. The court directed the lawyer to submit details of the collected funds to expedite the process.

🏫 Gen Alpha students protest bad road in Hamirpur

Generation Alpha students and residents from Chandupur marched to the Collectorate on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, demanding a road construction. Over 200 students and at least 50 parents from Chandupur gram panchayat participated in the demonstration. They highlighted that the unpaved road becomes nearly impassable during monsoon season, complicating access to school and medical facilities. Previous temporary fixes with soil failed when the rain started again. After officials tried to intervene, the protestors were eventually pacified near the DM’s office. 😥

🛡️ Telangana Woman Safe After 25 Days in Oman

A Telangana woman was successfully brought back home after enduring 25 difficult days in Oman. The rescue operation involved the intervention of KTR to secure her safe return. The ordeal reportedly spanned from a specific date in 2023 until her safe arrival. This incident highlights the challenges faced by citizens abroad and the need for consular support. Authorities are now expected to provide updates on her well-being and the investigation.

✨ Mojo programming language hits 1.0 milestone

Modular's Mojo programming language has officially reached its 1.0 milestone, offering a stable, general-purpose language for developers. This language aims to unify the AI software stack across diverse hardware systems like GPUs and CPUs. The release follows Chris Lattner's work since 2023, with Modular being acquired by Qualcomm in June. Mojo combines Python's readability with Rust-like memory safety, unlike proprietary platforms such as Nvidia's CUDA. Modular plans to open-source the Mojo compiler this year, addressing community concerns about Qualcomm's involvement. 🚀

📈 'Dream To You' climbs ratings before final week

ENA's drama "Dream to You" saw a small bump in viewership heading into its last week. The show, which is airing on ENA, achieved an average nationwide rating of 2.5 percent on August 11th. This drama has consistently stayed in the 2 percent range throughout its entire run so far. Meanwhile, tvN's new show "My Bias, My Boss" hit a higher rating of 3.6 percent for its fourth episode. Viewers can watch both series on Viki.

🌎 Colombia searches for survivors after massive quake

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, resulting in at least 254 reported deaths across the nation. Rescue teams are currently sifting through rubble in Cali, where at least 95 people died and 45 structures collapsed. The quake hit on Monday at 7:34 am, causing damage to around 5,000 homes nationwide. Rescuers are urgently trying to find approximately 20 trapped people, including 17 children in a collapsed nursery. Authorities have imposed a curfew amid fears of looting while aid arrives from Bogota and Medellin.

🚨 ED arrests Bijnoriya in massive Nexa Evergreen fraud case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Subhash Chandra Bijnoriya concerning the Nexa Evergreen money laundering investigation. The arrest took place by the Jaipur zonal office of the ED, with Mr. Bijnoriya being a key operator of the Nexa Evergreen Group. The investigation relates to ₹2,676 crore collected from investors, with the arrest happening on Monday, August 10, 2026. Investors were tricked with promises of 3% weekly returns for 60 weeks in Dholera Smart City projects. The ED has now remanded him to custody until August 13 while the probe continues.

🚢 US forces fire on ship near Iranian blockade

US forces fired on a Panama-flagged ship named Vela Nova in the Gulf of Oman. The ship was attempting to breach the American blockade of Iranian ports on Tuesday. A US helicopter targeted the vessel's rudder, resulting in a fire that was subsequently extinguished. All 17 crew members were accounted for, and no casualties were reported from the incident. This action occurred amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region. 🚢