🏛️ CM Vijay breaks tradition in Tamil Nadu Assembly

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay notably broke established protocol on Thursday in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. He moved from his designated chair to sit beside ministers in the front row during the afternoon session. This unusual seating arrangement occurred amidst discussions concerning the presence of officials within the House. Opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin had raised concerns about the absence of department secretaries during proceedings. Speaker JCD Prabhakar subsequently agreed to ensure senior officials remain present during the Assembly's functioning.

⌚ Top smartwatches dropping in 2026

The market for smartwatches in 2026 features several top contenders for different users. Apple Watch Series 11 offers hypertension notifications for iPhone users, launching with a 24-hour battery life. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 boasts a rugged build and a 35% larger battery for outdoor enthusiasts. Pixel Watch 5 introduces Breathing Emergency Detection for Google users, while Garmin Fenix 9 excels with up to 57 days of battery. Amazfit Balance 3 provides a capable value option without the flagship price tag. ⌚

🌡️ San Antonio tests cool pavement, sees surface temp drops

San Antonio tested cool pavement treatments at six sites during the summer of 2023 to combat extreme heat. Researchers from the University of Texas at San Antonio evaluated three products in June and July 2023. One coating, SolarPave by SealMaster, lowered afternoon road temperatures by about 3.6°F. However, this surface cooling did not result in a similar significant drop in the surrounding air temperature. The city now sees cool pavement as one tool, not a complete fix for urban heat. 🥵

🏗️ Old office buildings turn into trendy apartments

Two vacant 1980 and 1982 office buildings in Norwalk, Connecticut, are getting a massive $120 million conversion. Developers Saber-Hightower LLC and Granoff Real Estate are turning the 511,000 sq ft space into 286 loft-style apartments. This project includes 42 studios and 26 affordable units, with units expected by 2027. The plan reuses existing structures instead of demolishing them, keeping costs down. The complex will also feature a resort-style amenity area with a pool and putting green. 🏡

🚨 PaperCut software hit by zero-day attack

The print management outfit, PaperCut, is currently under a severe zero-day attack impacting its products. University security teams alerted the company to the vulnerability in PaperCut NG and PaperCut MF products. This issue has been confirmed with customer incidents as of Thursday's urgent security advisory. The flaw appears to let external access deeper into user networks via the web interface. Customers are advised to apply an emergency patch or take their public-facing servers offline immediately. 🚨

😥 Orry slams Amrita Singh over trauma, cuts ties with Sara Ali Khan

Orry revealed a deeply traumatic experience involving veteran actress Amrita Singh back in 2021. He shared this story in a conversation with Pinkvilla, describing it as one of the darkest times in his life. This difficult phase significantly impacted him, ultimately making him stronger and mentally tough. The fallout from this incident also damaged his friendship with Amrita's daughter, Sara Ali Khan. Following public tension in 2025, Orry confirmed he is no longer in touch with them. 😥

🏔️ 500 people rescued from flood-hit Nepal project site

Around 500 people, including 200 Indians, were rescued from the Trishuli-1 power project site in flood-hit Nepal. These rescues involved power project workers and some tourists near the Tibetan border. As of the report, the death toll from the flash flood has climbed to 469, with over 1,000 people still missing. The disaster, which was caused by a glacial collapse and debris flow, necessitated large-scale rescue operations. Nepal and China are warning of fresh flooding risks as border lakes approach bursting points. 😮

🚀 Nifty IT Index Jumps 3% on Strong US Market Closes

The Nifty IT index surged by 3.2 percent during Friday's trading, driven by a strong finish in US markets following Nvidia's positive revenue forecast. LTM rallied 5 percent, while TCS, HCL Technologies, and Coforge all gained 4 percent on Friday. This rally comes after the Nifty IT index outperformed the market by 15 percent over the last two months. Analysts suggest future upside depends on specific company execution rather than broad sector gains. 📈

😔 Four Naga bodies retrieved from Manipur ambush

The bodies of four Naga civilians killed in an ambush were finally retrieved on Friday morning, August 28, 2026. This attack happened in Kangpokpi district, Manipur, near Makui Ashang and Thanamba Naga villages. The violence occurred around 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 27, 2026, leaving four dead and one injured. CM Y Khemchand Singh directed security forces to take action against those responsible for the incident. The United Naga Council (UNC) has accused Kuki National Front (P) and Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) of involvement. 😔

😔 Education system overhaul called after IIT Delhi student's death

Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party, has demanded a complete overhaul of India's education system. This comment followed the death of 31-year-old IIT Delhi MSc Physics student, Rishikesh Kumar, at IIT Delhi. The incident occurred on August 22 after he fell from the sixth floor of the Lecture Hall Complex. Dipke cited 65 student suicides in IITs over the last five years as evidence for systemic change. An external inquiry committee, headed by Justice Mukta Gupta, is now set to investigate the circumstances.

🐒 Humans affect wildlife beyond just landscape changes

Scientists found that animals react not just to built environments but also to the simple fact that people are physically nearby. Researchers combined GPS data from 37 species with cellphone location data across the United States. This study analyzed records from 4,581 mammals and birds during 2019 and 2020. The findings show that 57% of species were affected by both human presence and landscape modification. This research suggests that species-specific conservation strategies are critically important moving forward. 🐒