😔 EPFO employee's death sparks road anger in Bengaluru

A 32-year-old EPFO official, Medha Akarsh from Kerala, died in a vehicle accident on Thursday, August 13. The incident happened on Ananth Nagar Main Road near Electronics City Phase II in Bengaluru. The mishap occurred after a sudden brake caused the scooter to skid on a damaged road stretch. Residents are blaming years of poor road conditions, potholes, and waterlogging for the tragedy. An urgent meeting is scheduled for Thursday morning to discuss repairs and accountability.

🤖 Is Google actually winning the AI race?

Google recently underwent a major reorganization of its AI division, Google DeepMind, amid industry speculation about its AI competitiveness. Demis Hassabis became chairman to focus on bigger research, while Jeff Dean left to start a new lab on Google Cloud. These moves come as many suggest Google is no longer competitive on the AI frontier despite its massive resources. Sundar Pichai and Demis Hassabis acknowledged needing to improve, signalling a "next chapter" for the company. Ultimately, Google's huge user base and Search product remain a significant safety net for its future efforts. 🤖

🧐 Forward Bloc asks PM Modi to stop ashes move

The All India Forward Bloc urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to accept the Mukherjee Commission report and halt efforts to bring Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's ashes from Japan. The commission, formed in 1999, investigated Netaji's disappearance, concluding in 2005 that the Renkoji Temple ashes are not his. Repeated attempts to retrieve the ashes ignore these findings and prioritize publicity over truth. This follows a Supreme Court notice to the Centre regarding a plea from Netaji’s daughter, Anita B. Pfaff. The bloc also demanded declassification of files and a fresh investigation team. 🧐

🏛️ Ministers review new retail excise policy in AP

A Group of Ministers discussed the formulation of Andhra Pradesh's new retail excise policy on Thursday. The meeting took place at the Prohibition and Excise Commissioner’s office in Mangalagiri. Officials reviewed the 2024-26 policy performance up to July 2026, presenting several proposed models. The Ministers examined these proposals in detail, taking stakeholder feedback into consideration. They have directed officials to revise and resubmit the proposals with more complete supporting data.

🏗️ DDA signs massive deal for new Grand Hyatt in Dwarka

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has officially signed a major agreement to develop a Grand Hyatt hotel project. This deal involves the construction of the luxury hotel in the Dwarka area of Delhi. The contract is valued at a whopping Rs 1000 crore and was finalized recently. This development aims to boost infrastructure and hospitality in the region. Authorities are now moving forward with the planning and execution phases of this large-scale project. 🏗️

⚖️ Police can freeze accounts without magistrate's prior nod

The Karnataka High Court ruled that police do not need prior magistrate approval to freeze bank accounts during an investigation. This decision was made while allowing petitions from the city police regarding JAR Gold Retail Pvt. Ltd. The court noted that Section 106 of the BNSS empowers police to freeze assets first and then inform the magistrate. Delaying action for permission could allow fraudulently obtained money to disappear across multiple accounts. Therefore, immediate freezing is crucial to protect victims of online fraud effectively. 💸

🛡️ Microsoft patches major Exchange Server security flaws 🚨

Microsoft released crucial security updates addressing several vulnerabilities in Exchange Server. These flaws affect Exchange Server Subscription Edition, 2019, and 2016. The updates cover issues disclosed on August 11, 2026, including critical RCE and DoS bugs. Exploitation could allow attackers to bypass auth, execute code, or disrupt services. Organizations running on-premises Exchange must apply these patches ASAP.

🐟 Eating fish with the season: Why it matters

Scientists and fishers are pushing for Indians to eat fish based on its natural breeding cycles. This initiative, Know Your Fish, is being developed for India's west coast to guide seafood choices. It incorporates breeding cycle data and biological traits for specific species. The goal is to help consumers make informed decisions to protect marine ecosystems. This effort aims to reconnect people with ocean knowledge despite modern market demands. 🐟

🌌 Dark matter and star clusters reshape galactic cores

A galaxy simulation shows nuclear star clusters and stellar disks grow together as a stellar bar funnels gas to the galactic center. This process occurred in a Milky Way-mass galaxy over four billion years. The stellar bar acts like a conveyor belt, driving gas inward to feed both structures simultaneously. While they share a common origin, their relative sizes drift apart over time, making the connection hard to spot. A merger with a massive star cluster around 2.1 billion years abruptly altered the star cluster’s structure. 🌌

🍚 Kerala's price hikes ahead of Onam criticized

G.R. Anil accused the UDF government of failing to control essential commodity prices before the Onam festival. This criticism stems from the current situation in Kerala, a major consumer state dependent on external food sources. During Onam 2025, white-card holders got 15kg of rice at ₹10.90/kg, but now they receive only 7kg. Furthermore, the former minister noted that rice is now available through ration shops at ₹26 per kg, a new practice. He asserted that previous LDF administrations successfully managed prices by ensuring adequate supply.

🎗️ Manisha Koirala on her scary cancer diagnosis

Manisha Koirala recalled the intensely difficult night she learned about her Stage IV ovarian cancer in 2012. She was diagnosed at Nepal’s Norvic International Hospital, which felt like the scariest and loneliest space. After treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, she was declared cancer-free in April 2013. The battle taught her about patient isolation and made her re-evaluate her priorities and relationships. Now, she values a close-knit family and nature over a big crowd. 💖