🚂 Heritage rail trail from Bengaluru to Kolar 🛤️

An offbeat journey explored a 81-km narrow gauge line featuring four restored British-era stations between Bengaluru and Kolar. These stations, including Doddajala, Devanahalli, Avatihalli, and Nandi, were restored by INTACH Bengaluru using CSR funding. Avatihalli hosts a Silk Museum detailing mulberry silk cultivation and the silkworm life cycle. Authorities plan to develop each station with amenities like art galleries and a rail museum to boost tourism. This trail highlights Karnataka's role as India's largest silk producer.

📢 Rahul's team questions leaders on Pune event posts

The AICVC, a Congress support group, questioned why senior leaders didn't post about Rahul Gandhi's Pune event. This group released a detailed list showing some high-profile leaders were lacking in social media support. The query comes as Rahul Gandhi is reportedly upset over the lack of visible backing from party colleagues. This echoes past complaints by Gandhi about insufficient support during his campaigns. The Congress now wants its leaders to align with social media strategies to engage Gen Z. 🧐

🕌 Shivamogga DC bans bike rallies ahead of Eid Milad

The Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner has issued strict orders banning several activities across the district. Prabhulinga Kavalikatti issued the directives for August 25 to August 28 to maintain peace during Eid Milad celebrations. Specifically, the bans cover bike rallies, bursting crackers, and using DJ systems. These restrictions are in place because such activities could harm places of worship or disturb public peace. The order was issued under the Karnataka Police Act, 1963, to ensure smooth festivities. 🕌

👑 Rautela defends tri-colour dress at Miss Universe

Urvashi Rautela faced scrutiny for her tricolour gown worn as a judge at the Miss Universe India pageant in Jaipur. The outfit, featuring saffron, white, and green, led to debates about the Flag Code of India versus artistic expression. The designer created the couture piece over three months, aiming to communicate India's sentiment artistically. Critics argued the lower-body design violated flag guidelines, but Rautela insisted it was not a literal reproduction. No official legal action has been reported regarding her statement. 🇮🇳

🥗 Veg diet + 14hr fast helps Type 2 diabetes control

A study found that a lacto-vegetarian diet paired with a 14-hour fast significantly improves blood glucose in women with Type 2 diabetes. Researchers enrolled 96 women aged 25–60 years in a multicentre trial across India. After 24 weeks, the intervention group showed an adjusted mean HbA1c of 6.53%, versus 7.65% in the usual care group. This combined approach also boosted weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity markers. Future trials are needed to separate the impact of diet from the fasting period.

💄 Anti-blush trend is officially here

The anti-blush aesthetic is making waves in the beauty world, suggesting a shift away from heavy contouring and blush. Vogue Adria is highlighting that consumers already possess the necessary products to embrace this new look. This trend is gaining traction across social media platforms and beauty forums globally. It represents a move towards a more natural and understated makeup style. Expect this minimalist approach to influence upcoming beauty campaigns and consumer habits. 💄

🩺 Mobility tests show aging signs, but context matters

Mobility tests like grip strength and balance checks can hint at how a person is aging and predict fall risk. These tests are used by doctors to pinpoint specific weaknesses rather than predicting life span. For instance, the 30-second chair-stand test is designed for those over 60. Researchers in Brazil studied these tests and found higher scorers were less likely to die within a decade. Ultimately, a full health picture requires looking at cognition, diet, and exercise alongside these scores. 🩺

🤖 Accel-backed Keenable is indexing the web for AI agents

Keenable is building a specialized web search index tailored for AI agents, moving beyond traditional human-centric search models. The startup, founded by Andrey Styskin and Matthias Petri, recently secured $26 million in seed funding led by Accel. Keenable claims to have indexed over 100 billion documents and its API is actively used in AI labs. The company aims to offer a more cost-efficient alternative to giants like Google for agentic queries. With 15 staff, Keenable plans to double its headcount by year-end to push its go-to-market strategy. 🚀

🛡️ WhatsApp beefs up security with passkeys and better 2FA

WhatsApp is rolling out major security upgrades, including multi-platform passkeys and stronger two-step verification. This update lets users add multiple passkeys across Android and iOS devices, while 2FA now accepts alphanumeric passwords instead of just a six-digit PIN. Additionally, call screens will show more context for unknown numbers to combat scams. These features are part of WhatsApp's wider push against fraud, which also includes a 'Scam Alert' beta. These enhancements aim to protect the over 3 billion users across 180 countries.

🚀 Qualcomm's next Snapdragon chip hits 5 GHz CPU speed

Qualcomm is previewing its next-generation Snapdragon flagship platform, starting with the new Oryon CPU. This upcoming chip will feature the Oryon CPU, which is the first mobile CPU to reach 5 GHz. This breakthrough is credited to a fully custom microarchitecture design and implementation choices. The architecture includes two Prime Cores and six Performance Cores, boosting real-world performance. Full specs are pending, with the official preview happening at Snapdragon Summit from September 22-24.

🛡️ WhatsApp boosts security with stronger verification features

WhatsApp announced new security features, including stronger two-step verification and multi-passkey support, on Tuesday. These updates are rolling out across the Meta-owned app for all users. The two-step verification now allows for longer, alphanumeric passwords instead of just a six-digit PIN. Furthermore, users can now add multiple passkeys, which is useful for cross-platform use like iOS and Android. Android users will also get more context about calls from unknown numbers.