🔬 Armenia study checks medicinal plant oils for bacteria 🌿

Researchers conducted chemical characterization and initial antibacterial screening on essential oils from five medicinal plants in Armenia. These oils, sourced from Thymus vulgaris, Ocimum basilicum, Syzygium aromaticum, Boswellia sacra, and Cinnamomum verum, yielded between 1.85 and 6.10% extracts. The study tested these against nine bacterial strains, including resistant isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Boswellia sacra and Cinnamomum verum oils showed the strongest antibacterial action, inhibiting bacterial growth significantly. These results suggest these two oils are promising for future antimicrobial research.

🔬 Spotting PMOS: 5 Signs to Watch Out For

Several seemingly minor changes like acne, hair thinning, and irregular periods could signal Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS). Dr Rashmi Talwar explained that these symptoms might be connected to an underlying hormonal imbalance in women. Patients should monitor patterns in skin, hair, weight, and periods, especially if changes are occurring simultaneously. If symptoms are consistent, she advises speaking to a doctor promptly instead of waiting for them to worsen. Doctors may recommend hormone profiles, blood glucose, or metabolic tests for diagnosis.

⚖️ SC strikes down Maharashtra's methanol rules

The Supreme Court struck down Maharashtra's rules mandating methanol denaturing before sale to non-drug manufacturers. This decision was made by a bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K. Vinod Chandran on September 18, 2026. The rules, which stemmed from the Maharashtra Poisons Rules, 1972, faced challenges from methanol product manufacturers. The Court found these regulations disproportionate and lacking a sufficient connection to preventing liquor misuse. Consequently, the SC ruled the impugned provisions violated Articles 14 and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution. 🚫

⚖️ Manju Warrier sues filmmaker over Facebook remarks

Actress Manju Warrier has filed a defamation suit against filmmaker Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, Meta, and journalist Shajan Scaria in a Kerala court. The case was initiated after Sasidharan allegedly made false and defamatory statements about Warrier on Facebook. Warrier claims Sasidharan fabricated a story about their personal and romantic relationship to tarnish her reputation. She also sought directions to remove the content from social media and prevent future circulation. The matter is scheduled for its next hearing on November 5th. ⚖️

😠 Congress slams IIM Jammu over attendance fine

The Congress criticized IIM Jammu for issuing a fine notice to students absent from the PM's birthday event. Syed Naseer Hussain raised concerns about mandatory attendance at the lamp-lighting ceremony held on Thursday, September 17, 2026. IIM Jammu fined absent students ₹500 if no reply was submitted by Sunday, September 19, 2026. Hussain questioned whether PM Modi's publicity should be a compulsory exercise in an IIM setting. He asserted that educational institutions should foster independent thinking, not enforce political celebrations.

🏆 Yash Dabas addresses rigging claims after DUSU win

ABVP's Yash Dabas has been elected President of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) for the 2026-27 term. He defeated NSUI's Vijay Shankar Meena in the presidential race at Delhi University. Dabas secured 24,576 votes, while Meena polled 22,523 votes in the contest. The newly elected DUSU president responded to political allegations surrounding the election process. These claims included questions raised by NSUI and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

😥 Mother brutally beaten to death in Karnataka

A woman named Sneha was brutally murdered in the Raichur district of Karnataka, allegedly beaten to death with a stone. The crime occurred in the Sindhanur sub-district, where her one-and-a-half-year-old daughter was found clutching her body. Police have taken her husband, Amit, and her lover, Shubham, into custody following the incident. Sneha, 25, had been married to Amit for four years and allegedly had an affair with Shubham for four months. Her body is now at Sindhanur Taluk Hospital for a post-mortem examination. 😥

❤️ Beta-blocker timing in heart attack patients

Researchers investigated the optimal timing for starting oral beta-blockers in critically ill patients after an acute myocardial infarction. The study, conducted using MIMIC-IV data from 5,899 patients, compared early (≤ 24h) versus delayed (> 24–72h) initiation. The 90-day mortality rates were found to be 25.7% versus 25.2% for the two groups. This research suggests that the timing of oral beta-blocker initiation isn't strongly linked to 90-day mortality in these patients. Further research is needed to confirm these findings. 🧐

📱 S26 FE alternatives that actually slap 🔥

Samsung's Galaxy S26 FE is facing value complaints because it costs $50 more than its predecessor despite minor upgrades. Consumers in the U.S. have several alternatives from Google, Motorola, and Nothing under $600. The Google Pixel 10a starts at $499, boasting great cameras and a 6.3-inch OLED display. The Nothing Phone 4a Pro is also priced at $499, featuring a bright 6.83-inch OLED and a telephoto shooter. Motorola Edge (2026) is another option at $600, offering a compact design and a 5,200 nits peak brightness display.

👑 Fortnite x Kingdom Hearts drops on Sept 19th

Fortnite is hosting a special Kingdom Hearts Power Hour event on September 19, 2026. This crossover happens across the Fortnite island for fans in various global regions. There are two two-hour sessions scheduled: one at 2 PM ET and another at 9 PM ET. Players will spawn with a Kingdom Key and Sea Salt Ice Cream, plus boosted Hacker Sprite spawns. Keep an eye on the listed timings to join the action across all time zones.

🥇 Asian Games 2026: Bigger than Paris Olympics?

The Asian Games 2026 have officially kicked off in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, featuring over 11,000 athletes from 45 countries. This continental event surpasses the athlete count of the Paris Olympics, which had around 10,700 participants. The games run from September 19 to October 4, showcasing 43 different sports, including regional ones like Kabaddi. The schedule is intense, with some competitions starting well before the formal opening ceremony on Saturday. Accommodation is unique, using hotels, containers, and even the Costa Serena cruise ship. 🚢