🏭 Google AI push displaces farming families in Andhra Pradesh 😥

Google acquired land in Tarluvada, Andhra Pradesh, for a massive data center project championed by the Indian government. This acquisition affected families like Relli Ramakrishna's, who farmed cashew and mango groves on the land. Fifty-one families were offered eight million rupees for their acquired plots, with compensation already distributed. Activists argue the state subsidized Google by acquiring land below market value, impacting Dalit communities. While some build new homes, others remain uncertain about the future impact of these massive tech projects.

🐀 Six girl students bitten by rats at hostel

Six girl students at Adavimallela Gurukul were reportedly bitten by rats during the night. The students are from the Telangana Social Welfare Residential School and College for Girls located in Adavimallela village, Penuballi mandal. They received treatment at the Primary Health Centre in Lankasagar on Tuesday. This incident happened while the students were sleeping in the hostel near an agricultural field. Parents have demanded urgent sanitation improvements and rat control measures from officials.

🏞️ Old mill site turns into salmon sanctuary

More than 20 acres of asphalt were removed from a former lumber mill site along Prairie Creek in Northern California. The Yurok Tribe’s crews planted over 420,000 native plants over five years to restore habitat for salmon and steelhead. Construction finished in 2025, creating wetland and floodplain areas to support juvenile salmon. Early monitoring showed the 2023 juvenile coho cohort had a 2.6% marine survival rate, up from about 1%. Continued monitoring is needed to see if this improvement lasts for future salmon generations.

🏗️ Pune firms ditch Chakan due to traffic woes

Twenty companies have announced plans to relocate from the Chakan industrial area. These firms are based in Pune and have cited major infrastructural and traffic issues as the primary reasons for their decision. The move affects multiple businesses operating within the Chakan region. This exodus highlights significant strain on the existing industrial infrastructure in the area. Future relocation patterns will likely reshape the industrial landscape around Pune. 🏗️

⚽ Barcelona and City still debating Rodri's fee

Barcelona has not yet agreed on a transfer fee with Manchester City for Rodri. The Spanish champions made an initial bid of £38.4m last week, which was rejected by City. City reportedly wants around £60m for the Ballon d’Or winner, whose contract expires next year. Rodri, who had minor back surgery, is keen to move back to Spain after seven years in Manchester. City is open to negotiation but does not want to let him leave for free next summer.

🥛 Maharashtra to use MCOCA against food adulteration

Maharashtra is considering invoking the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against organized adulteration of milk and paneer. This move was directed by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a review meeting at Sahyadri Guest House. The decision follows ongoing concerns regarding fake dairy products, specifically noted around August 12, 2026. Shinde stressed that systemic profit-driven adulteration warrants a tougher legal response than standard regulatory offenses. The government is also forming a specialized legal team to ensure cases are judicially sustainable.

🎓 Prisoners ace SSC exams, get special relief

Seventy-eight jail inmates successfully cleared the SSC examination via the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). This achievement took place across Telangana prisons, including Central Prison, Cherlapalli, and Central Prison, Nizamabad. The successful candidates were part of 108 prisoners enrolled for the Class X program during 2026. The DG of Prisons announced special remission as an incentive for their educational success. The department plans to push these inmates towards Senior Secondary education and ITI courses next. 🎓

🚔 Ex-cop arrested for smashing car glass in Kochi

A former police officer was arrested by the Cheranalloor police after allegedly vandalizing a woman's car windshield. The accused, Bijoy, a resident of Cheranalloor, was reportedly expelled from the force in 2021. The incident happened around 11 a.m. on Monday on Friends Road in Edappally North Village. He allegedly objected to the woman's parking, claiming it obstructed his way. Bijoy was booked under multiple charges and subsequently remanded in custody. 🚔

🧠 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.