🧬 Higher B12 in parents links to fewer birth defects

A new study from Fudan University in China revealed that higher Vitamin B12 levels in both mothers and fathers before conception are linked to a lower risk of birth defects. The research involved over 3,000 couples and 17,765 women tested around conception and early pregnancy. For mothers, the defect risk dropped from 49.6 to 16.2 cases per 1,000 pregnancies with high B12. Researchers noted that paternal B12 deficiency also impacts birth defect risk, something previous studies missed. This emphasizes the importance of nutrition for both parents before and during early pregnancy. 👶

😟 Nepal's Hydro Dreams Hit By Devastating Floods

Severe flooding has tested the hydropower ambitions of Nepal recently. The disaster struck various regions across the country, causing significant disruption. Reports indicate damage affecting multiple infrastructure projects as of late May 2024. This natural event puts pressure on the nation's energy goals and development plans. Authorities are now assessing the full impact and planning immediate recovery efforts. 😟

🚗 10-year-old dies in Jharkhand school van crash

A 10-year-old girl died after her school van had a head-on collision with a pickup van in Deoghar district, Jharkhand. The incident occurred near Narangi More on the Sarath-Chitra Main Road on Tuesday morning. Munni Kumari was killed, and four other children were injured in the crash. The injured are stable and receiving treatment at Deoghar's Sadar Hospital. Police have launched a manhunt for the fleeing pickup van driver while an investigation is ongoing. 😔

🌾 Home Minister wants drought declaration rules changed

Home Minister Priyank Kharge called for the Union government to relax the current drought declaration norms. He made this plea while addressing press persons in Kalaburagi city on Tuesday. The existing 2020 NDRF guidelines hinder swift action, especially with rainfall deficits up to 74% recorded in Jewargi during August. Kharge stressed that states need more autonomy based on ground realities to help farmers. The district administration has also asked for ₹18 crore in crop insurance compensation for 37,051 farmers. 🌾

🍲 Aranmula's big feast happening on September 4

The Ashtami Rohini Vallasadya is scheduled to take place at the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple on September 4. Thousands of devotees and representatives from 52 karas will gather at the temple premises for the feast. Preparations are underway to serve the vallasadya to over one lakh people, with cooking fire lit at 6.45 a.m. More than 600 people are involved in organizing this massive community event. This offering-based tradition runs until September 16, marking a record 565 vallasadyas this season. 🍲

🇺🇸 US Ambassador's trip in Bishkek sparks chatter

US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, showed up in Bishkek while the SCO Summit was happening there. He was there with Senator Steve Daines to support Team USA at the World Nomad Games. The Games started on August 31, featuring athletes from 104 countries. Gor met presidents from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan for diplomacy. This visit suggests a bigger agenda beyond just cheering on American athletes. 🧐

📉 Unacademy sold to upGrad for $206M

Unacademy has been acquired by its rival, upGrad, in an all-stock deal valuing the startup at over $200 million. This transaction took place with Unacademy shareholders receiving upGrad shares, while angel investors were cashed out. The deal closed in Monday, nearly six months after its announcement in March, despite Unacademy's financial position. The sale comes after Unacademy struggled following the pandemic's surge in edtech demand. Munjal will remain CEO, focusing on online operations and Airlearn under the new structure. 🤝

🎬 Madhur Bhandarkar rates Hanuman Ansh highly

Madhur Bhandarkar recently reviewed the film Hanuman Ansh, calling it a cinematic marvel. The director gave his assessment while watching the movie in Mumbai. He described the film as a 'case study' for the entire Bollywood industry. Bhandarkar acknowledged the high production value and narrative depth of the project. His comments suggest a potential shift in how major films are approached in the industry. 🎬

⚖️ Supreme Court allows compromise to end non-heinous cases

The Supreme Court ruled that criminal proceedings can be dropped based on a post-conviction compromise in non-heinous offences. This decision was made by a bench of Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, upholding the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order. The ruling references previous judgments from 2012 and 2021, empowering High Courts to quash cases where parties settle. However, the Court cautioned that this power should be used carefully, considering the offense's nature and injury. Consequently, the state's appeal regarding the incident between individuals was dismissed. ⚖️

🌟 SRK joins Vodafone Idea as new brand ambassador

Actor Shah Rukh Khan has been appointed as the brand ambassador for Vodafone Idea. This announcement coincided with the company rebranding its logo from "V!" to "Vi" and launching a new campaign. The telco is currently trying to secure funds for its ₹45,000 crore capex plan over the next three years. This move comes as Vi is gaining customer traction while aiming for double-digit revenue growth. The company plans to roll out strategic launches as part of its Vi 2.0 strategy.

🎮 CDPR: Can't build Witcher 4 if you're cost-driven

CD Projekt Red stated they cannot pursue a cost-driven development model for a title like The Witcher 4. The studio is currently managing three major projects: The Witcher 4, a Cyberpunk sequel, and Project Hadar. These projects are slated for releases around 2028, building on past successes like The Witcher 3's 65 million sales. Instead of speeding up to cut costs, the focus remains heavily on maintaining top-tier quality above all else. To manage this scale, they are switching from REDengine to Unreal Engine to simplify multi-project work.