📸 'Beyond Words' photo show kicks off in Kozhikode

The 'Beyond Words' news photography exhibition officially started on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at the Lalithakala Akademi Art Gallery in Kozhikode. Great Bombay Circus artistes Tulsidas Choudhary, Pappu Thakur, and Ajay Naik jointly inaugurated the five-day event. The exhibition showcases around 30 photographs from various Kozhikode dailies. These photos cover diverse topics like Wayanad landslides, transgender issues, football, and cattle races. The event was held to mark the occasion of World Photography Day. 📸

😴 Vijay Deverakonda's rainy day chill goes viral

Vijay Deverakonda shared a cute photo of himself napping between his parents after his shoot was cancelled due to rain. The actor posted this on his official Instagram handle on Wednesday, showing a throwback to his childhood comfort. He gave credit to his wife, Rashmika Mandanna, for the picture. The pair is set to star together in the upcoming period drama, 'Ranabaali'. This movie is reportedly inspired by real, untold incidents from the 1850s.

🙅 Gavi shuts down Man Utd's £35m bid

FC Barcelona midfielder Gavi has firmly rejected an offer from Manchester United. The English club, looking to boost its midfield, made a substantial bid of £35 million for the La Masia graduate. This interest comes as United seeks a third reinforcement after signing Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos. Gavi has made it clear he intends to stay at Barcelona and still has much to prove there. He aims to regain his crucial role under Hansi Flick at the club.

😠 CPI(M) slams EC over voter roll issues

CPI(M) leader Ch. Babu Rao criticized the Election Commission for sending notices to voters regarding electoral roll discrepancies during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). He stated that he received a notice even after submitting all required documents for his name, listed as voter No. 467 in Vijayawada Central Assembly constituency. Officials cited discrepancies in his father’s name, leading to an enquiry on August 18 at LBS Nagar. Babu Rao alleged that 45 lakh names were already deleted from Andhra Pradesh rolls, with 44 lakh more receiving notices. He demanded the withdrawal of notices and door-to-door verification to protect voters' franchise.

🎬 Kushal Tandon clears air on viral comment with Gauahar

Kushal Tandon addressed his viral remark about ex-girlfriend Gauahar Khan in an exclusive interview. He clarified that the comment was a simple joke with Zaid Darbar, stating the context was heavily edited by the showmakers. Tandon confirmed there is no bad blood with Gauahar, as their relationship ended 15 years ago. He also mentioned meeting Gauahar and Zaid recently at an Alliance party with warmth. The controversy arose from Zaid sharing an incident where Kushal made the pointed remark.

🛶 DTDC uses boats for last-mile delivery in Kerala

DTDC Express Ltd has launched 'DTDC Vallam Express' to bring doorstep parcel deliveries to water-bound communities in Kerala. This service partners DTDC professionals with traditional oarsmen for navigation through waterways inaccessible by road. It is currently operational in Kuttanad, a sub-district of Alappuzha covering 14 villages with about two lakh residents. This initiative aims to be a long-term solution, bridging accessibility gaps in these regions. DTDC anticipates this service will handle over 5,000 deliveries in the next year. 🛶

🏆 KAU honours agri achievers and top FPOs

Kerala Agricultural University's Agri Business Incubator hosted a merit day to celebrate academic high-achievers, award-winning entrepreneurs, and FPOs. Vice-Chancellor T. Sajitha Rani attended the event, praising the ABI's role in moving farmers to value addition and markets. The university prioritizes capacity building and market linkages for FPOs through programs like FPO Linkage Programme. Juz Crush, a processing enterprise, was highlighted for successfully exporting value-added products after receiving support. Additionally, PALA Santhom Factory FPO was recognized as the state's best FPO for its collective action and growth.

🛣️ Karnataka assembly moves to seize private roads

Bills to empower municipalities to take over private streets and drains were tabled in the Karnataka Assembly on Wednesday. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Krishna Byre Gowda introduced the Karnataka Municipalities (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Karnataka Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Bill, 2026. These bills allow takeover if the infrastructure is in poor condition and risks public safety and health. Crucially, the legislation stops previous landowners from claiming compensation or a Development Rights Certificate for these areas. The takeover can happen independently by the municipal authority or upon request from property owners.

🚨 Hate crimes rise in US against Sikhs and Hindus

The FBI has reported an increase in anti-Sikh and anti-Hindu hate crimes across the United States. These incidents affect various communities throughout the US jurisdiction. Data indicates a notable uptick in these specific hate crimes during the reporting period. This rise occurs even as the overall trend for hate crimes shows a general decline nationally. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely as more cases come to light.

😠 Calicut varsity SFI leader clash ignites controversy

A request by an SFI leader for readmission to his postgraduate course at the University of Calicut has caused a major controversy. M. Abhinand, the campus unit secretary, is involved, and the incident occurred at the University of Calicut. The rejection order was dated August 18, 2026, while the SFI leadership claimed it was a revengeful act by V-C P. Raveendran. University officials state the rejection followed a violation of conditions set on his temporary attendance permission. The situation is expected to escalate as the political fallout continues. 😠

📉 SEBI takes action on Sensex expiry day manipulation

SEBI has issued a swift order against market manipulation observed during the Sensex expiry day. The regulatory body targeted specific entities involved in the suspicious trading activities. The impounding order amounts to Rs 3.68 crore, which has been placed on these involved parties. This action comes as part of SEBI's ongoing efforts to maintain fair practices in the Indian stock market. The regulator is expected to monitor the situation closely for further compliance. 📉