🚗 Bitumen price hike messes up Kochi road repairs

Soaring bitumen prices are severely impacting road construction projects across Kochi. This issue affects motorists as local bodies struggle with the cost escalation of ongoing infrastructure work. From March 5th to September 16th, the price rose by ₹4,822 per 156-kg barrel. Kochi Corporation is now looking at approving extra estimates to manage the price gap in ongoing projects. The state has around ₹1 lakh crore in works underway, and a wider directive is awaited from the Finance department. 🚧

🔒 GrapheneOS picks first Motorola for privacy focus

GrapheneOS has confirmed a partnership to support the first Motorola device on its privacy-focused Android fork. This will be the Motorola Signature 27, marking the first non-Pixel phone to receive this OS. The official confirmation came from the GrapheneOS account on X, though full details are pending release. The Signature 27 runs on Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, which supports necessary security features. Other Motorola phones might join later, but must meet strict hardware requirements.

🔬 MIT builds handheld tool for early cancer cell collection

MIT researchers have developed a handheld device to gently collect living cells for cancer detection. The team, working with Johns Hopkins University, created this tool to test for ovarian and other cancers in specific tissue areas. The system enables targeted sampling of excised tissue, allowing for living cell recovery and cultivation. This could lead to earlier cancer detection and personalized treatment development for patients. The technique aims to improve upon traditional, destructive pathological sample collection methods. 🔬

🚨 Morgan Stanley Asia deals leak in email attachment

Sensitive Morgan Stanley Asia deals were accidentally leaked through a missent email attachment. This security lapse involved internal documents sent from the financial giant. The leak was discovered recently, involving confidential trade information. The incident highlights potential vulnerabilities in large institutional data handling. Morgan Stanley is now expected to launch an internal investigation into the breach. 🚨

🎭 Ripley's SF museum closing after 59 years

Ripley's Believe It or Not! is shutting down its 400-artifact museum and 2,000-sq-ft mirror maze by the end of 2026. This iconic attraction, located at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, opened its doors on February 2, 1967. The company plans to sell several city-linked exhibits, such as toothpick Golden Gate Bridges. This move reflects a broader shift in the neighborhood's changing landscape and company strategy. The closure marks the end of a long-standing, quirky chapter in San Francisco tourism. 😢

🏏 India series: West Indies check ODI progress

The upcoming India series offers a crucial opportunity for the West Indies team to evaluate their One Day International performance. This assessment will take place in India against the Indian national team. The fixtures are scheduled to start on October 25th and conclude around November 10th. This tour allows the West Indies to test various strategies and player combinations in a high-pressure environment. The results from this series will significantly influence their future ODI planning and squad selection. 🏏

🩺 Your Lungs = Whole Body Health Check 🌬️

Lung health is crucial not just for breathing, but also for the heart, brain, and overall well-being, according to Dr Sushant Meshram. This insight comes ahead of World Lung Day on September 25th. Globally, over 500 million people face asthma and COPD, causing nearly four million deaths yearly. TB remains a huge issue, with 10.7 million global cases in 2024, and lung cancer affects millions worldwide. Experts advise avoiding smoking and staying active to maintain respiratory health.

🏅 India's Asian Games Medal Tally Update

India secured 17 medals overall at the ongoing Asian Games competition. This achievement was recorded by athletes competing across various sports disciplines. The medal count reflects performances up to Thursday of the games. This tally showcases the country's growing presence in regional multi-sport events. Further medal wins are anticipated as the Asian Games continue into their later stages.

⚖️ Stalin claims DMK didn't protect anyone in Veeramani case

M.K. Stalin stated that spreading false allegations against the DMK regarding the Veeramani child sexual assault case is reprehensible. He emphasized that no order was issued during the DMK regime to protect anyone involved in the case. Veeramani was arrested, and Stalin insisted that anyone who connived with him should face consequences. He asserted that the DMK took proper action in crimes against women, filing charges and ensuring court punishment. Stalin urged the ruling party to stop using the tragedy as a tool for political gain. ⚖️

🦟 Chennai Corp teams up with colleges on dengue fight

The Greater Chennai Corporation conducted a review meeting focusing on dengue prevention across educational institutes. The meeting was chaired by Commissioner G.S. Sameeran and involved principals from 112 colleges and higher educational institutions via videoconference at Ripon Buildings. Institutions were instructed to remove waste and prevent water stagnation from containers and discarded tires by September 25, 2026. Furthermore, colleges must monitor student absences and report fever cases immediately to the Corporation. Students showing fever were advised to get medical help and rest until fully recovered. 🦟

🐘 Eight-year-old elephant Hiralal reaches Tiruvannamalai temple

An eight-year-old elephant named Hiralal arrived at the Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai on Thursday evening. The animal was received after the death of a 30-year-old elephant, Rukmani, in March 2018. The Assam government is handing over five elephants to Tamil Nadu temples, including Hiralal. Special arrangements are being made, such as a 1,600 sq.ft swimming pool costing ₹42 lakh. Devotees will be allowed to view the elephant while safety protocols are in place.