♟️ Germany stuns USA at Chess Olympiad

Germany, India, and Uzbekistan are now tied for the lead in the Chess Olympiad after round five. Germany managed a big upset by beating the top-seeded United States team in Samarkand. The leaders achieved perfect 10/10 match points after decisive results across the key matches. India secured a 3–1 win over the Netherlands, while Uzbekistan swept Hungary 4–0. The competition heats up as all three nations maintain their top standing heading into the next rounds. 🏆

🤔 Annamalai clarifies his take on Periyar's legacy

K Annamalai has clarified his position following backlash over his tribute to Periyar on his 147th birth anniversary. The former Tamil Nadu BJP chief acknowledged Periyar's advocacy for women's liberation and caste eradication in Madurai. He explicitly stated that he completely rejects Periyar's atheistic views and anti-Brahmin stance. This clarification followed his tribute post on X on September 17, which sparked debate among his supporters. Annamalai now seeks to define the ideological path for his new political movement, We the Leaders. 🧐

🌧️ Kottayam rivers swell due to heavy rains

Heavy rain lashed the high ranges of Kottayam, Kerala, through Sunday night, causing major river levels to surge. The district recorded approximately 471.2 mm of rainfall by Monday morning, with Erattupetta getting 178 mm. The Meenachil River rose almost two feet overnight, and officials warned about possible flash floods. A landslide near Mangalagiri destroyed one house, and two people died in rain-related incidents. Traffic was disrupted on Pala-Erattupetta road until Monday morning as the water receded.

🏛️ Kalaburagi students take heritage tour for World Tourism Day

A four-day educational heritage tour is being organized by the Karnataka Tourism Forum to mark World Tourism Day. This initiative involves students from 12 institutions in Kalaburagi, which is home to the Gulbarga fort. Nearly 1,500 students are expected to visit sites like Buddha Vihar and Gulbarga fort starting September 21. The goal is to boost youth awareness regarding the rich history and cultural heritage of the region. The program will include morning sightseeing followed by daily quiz competitions throughout the four days.

💔 IIT-B student suicide sparks 18-point demand

Protests erupted after Sahil Wakode, a second-year student, allegedly died by suicide following an incident in the mid-semester exam. This happened at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, where he was caught using a mobile phone and ChatGPT. The incident occurred around September 18, 2026, leading to protests on September 19. An FIR was registered after his parents complained of harassment and casteist slurs, naming Professor Suryanarayana Doolla. The administration eventually agreed to an 18-point charter after 72 hours of pressure, with a Board of Governors meeting scheduled for Monday. 💔

🙏 Sabarimala facing Aravana tin crunch before pilgrim rush

The Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala has a serious shortage of Aravana tins as the monthly pilgrimage window closes. Around 17,000 devotees are expected, with 15,000 already booking darshan online before the 10 pm Monday closing. The Travancore Devaswom Board restricted sales to one tin per devotee due to the shortage. This happened because the Aravana production plant was shut for maintenance before the September 16 puja. The TDB plans to boost production by one lakh tins to prepare for the November 16 Makaravilakku season.

🔥 Manoj Tiwari's daughter gets slammed for insults

Manoj Tiwari's daughter, Rhiti, faced heavy backlash for aggressively hurling abuses at Qazi Touqeer in Bigg Boss 20. This incident occurred after Salman Khan exposed Qazi's prank during the recent Weekend Ka Vaar episode. The drama escalated after Qazi pretended to be sick, only to reveal it was an act for entertainment. Rhiti called him a "dhongi baba" and later used strong language when confronted by Qazi. Viewers criticized her behaviour, comparing her unfavourably to Priyanka Jagga. 😠

⚖️ CJI to try Mamata's symbol freeze plea this week

The Supreme Court agreed to attempt listing Mamata Banerjee's petition against the Election Commission's symbol freeze. This hearing is taking place before CJI Surya Kant on Monday, September 21, 2026. The petition was filed after the EC allotted new names and symbols to TMC factions on September 17. Mamata's camp argued the EC didn't properly check the party structure amid rival claims. The court stated it will try to hear all arguments this week. ⚖️

☕ Tom Hanks' coffee brand supports war veterans

Tom Hanks launched his nonprofit coffee brand in 2022, ensuring all proceeds benefit war veterans. The initiative, now called Hanks for Our Troops, supports military families across the nation. As of now, the brand has helped hundreds of military families over the past four years. The coffee offers ground and single-serve pods, aligning with the mission to honor veterans' service. Customers can order the 'coffee with purpose' from the official website or a popular chain store. ☕

🚨 IIT Bombay parents challenge cheating claims, demand video proof

Parents of a 22-year-old IIT Bombay student have strongly rejected cheating allegations against their son during an exam. They demanded concrete proof of the cheating and insisted that CCTV footage must be reviewed to establish facts. The incident occurred on Friday evening when the student was found dead in Hostel Number 4. The parents questioned the institute's narrative, noting his relaxed state before his death on Thursday. The Mumbai Police investigation is now under the Crime Branch after an FIR was filed. 😔

🏅 R Madhavan's son Vedaant at Asian Games

Vedaant, the son of actor R Madhavan, participated in his debut at the Asian Games. He represented India at the event held in Hangzhou, China. The games started on October 14th and are scheduled to run until October 29th, 2022. This marks his first time competing in such a major international sporting event. His performance provides a new chapter for the family's sporting journey.