🧠 Childhood screen time linked to better teen brain power

A Finnish study found that more screen time since childhood correlated with better cognitive processing in adolescents. This research was conducted on 124 girls and 136 boys, with an average age of 15.8 years, as part of the PANIC study. The findings suggest screen time can boost thinking if used for active problem-solving and learning. The study highlights the need to balance screen time with physical activity for optimal brain health. Further intervention studies are required to determine causal relationships and sex-specific benefits. 🧠

🌟 BTS's 'SWIM' hits major Billboard milestone

BTS's song "SWIM" has tied the record for their longest-charting track on the Billboard Hot 100. This achievement was revealed by Billboard on August 11 local time, as "SWIM" reached its 20th consecutive week at No. 91. It now shares this record with the 2021 hit "Butter," which spent 20 weeks on the chart previously. The song also held strong at No. 4 on the Global Excl. U.S. chart this week. BTS also ranked at No. 38 on Billboard's Artist 100, marking their 362nd week. 🎶

✨ Windows 11 got a big August update 💻

Microsoft released the Windows 11 August 11, 2026 update, bringing several new features and interface fixes to the OS. This mandatory update, KB5121003, upgrades Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2 to build 26200.9168 and 26100.9168, respectively. The patch also addressed nearly 400 vulnerabilities across Microsoft products. New additions include uninstalling AI models and enhanced Windows Hello security for external fingerprint sensors. File Explorer now uses better size units, and Windows Search has improved typo handling.

🤔 Ex-selector claims Pakistani players chase money over skill

Former chief selector Iqbal Qasim criticized the current generation of Pakistani cricketers for prioritizing earnings over skill development. Qasim, who served on committees on an honorary basis, noted that selectors now receive high salaries, leading to a lack of vision in decisions. He observes that many young players focus on PSL contracts instead of dedicated skill improvement. Qasim believes true success comes from individual dedication, not just chasing money. Moving forward, he suggests players need to spend more time individually working on their abilities. 🏏

😔 Tractor hits Kanwariyas, two killed in UP

Two Kanwariyas were tragically killed and one was injured when a tractor struck them while they were walking to Gola Gokarnath. The incident occurred near Jamour in Shahjahanpur, UP, on Wednesday. The deceased were identified as Nitish Kumar (14) and Pradeep Kumar (23), while Rahul Gangwar (23) sustained injuries. The pilgrims were walking from Panchal Ghat in Farrukhabad carrying their Kanwars at the time of the accident. Police have taken the bodies for post-mortem examination and Rahul is hospitalized for treatment. 😔

🎒 Kids risk rivers for school across India

Millions of children in India daily risk their safety by crossing dangerous rivers and streams to reach school. In Madhya Pradesh's Vidisha, nine students use concrete pillars to save distance to a secondary school. In Maharashtra's Palghar, kids cross the Rakhadi River without a bridge, while Odisha's residents built a temporary bridge. Mumbai saw an NGO build a 100-foot bamboo bridge over a sewage canal in just eight days. These efforts highlight the need for better infrastructure for every child's education. 📚

🌍 Two quakes hit Palghar in one hour

Palghar felt two consecutive tremors of magnitude 3.4 in a single hour on Monday night. These seismic events occurred in the Jawhar taluka of Palghar district, which is 100 km from Mumbai. The tremors were recorded at 10:04 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on August 10th, according to the National Centre for Seismology. This marks the second such episode in the last two months, following three tremors last month. Officials are monitoring the changes and advising people to stay calm. 🙏

🏆 India vs Pakistan clash reserved for medal rounds at Asian Games

There will be no early-stage match between India and Pakistan at the Nagoya Asian Games, but if they meet, it will be a medal contest. The Asian Games run from September 19 to October 4, with cricket starting on September 17. For the men's event, both India and Pakistan are seeded into the quarterfinals on September 28. Consequently, any rivalry clash can only happen in the gold-medal match or the bronze-medal play-off on October 3. 🏏

⚖️ Telangana HC pauses two government welfare schemes

The Telangana High Court has halted the operation of the Kalyana Lakshmi and Shadi Mubarak schemes until September 9. This order was issued by Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar in a writ petition filed by advocate Vijay Gopal. The challenge questioned the legal basis for eligibility criteria, like income limits, set by the State government. The petitioner argued the schemes misused Consolidated Funds contrary to the Constitution of India's Articles 202, 204, 266, and 283. The court previously asked the government to file a counter affidavit, and the counsel requested more time on Wednesday.

🧠 Oxytocin boosts trust specifically in low-trusting men

A new study provides strong evidence that oxytocin selectively enhances trusting behavior in men who naturally have a low disposition to trust. The international team at the University of Zurich recruited 359 men who were rated as low in trust disposition for the research. In the study, men receiving oxytocin entrusted about 15% more money compared to the placebo group in the trust game. A pooled analysis of 578 low-trusting men showed an almost 17% increase in trusting behavior. Future research will investigate the biological mechanisms behind this selective effect and its applicability to women. 🧠

💧 Karnataka eyes SC over Cauvery water dispute

Karnataka is planning to file a plea before the Supreme Court against the Cauvery Water Management Authority's ruling. This decision came after the authority upheld the CWRC's direction for Karnataka to send 12,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days. The Minister stated this new order is too hard to implement, potentially releasing around 15 tmcft of water. Karnataka needs to prioritize drinking water needs until June 2027 due to poor monsoon forecasts. The state had previously managed to adhere to a difficult order releasing 3,500 cusecs daily.