🚀 Honda and T-Hub launch big startup challenge 🚀

Honda and startup incubator T-Hub announced the launch of the Honda Innovation Challenge 2.0 on Thursday. This program is open to Indian startups focusing on digital mobility and customer experience solutions. The year-long initiative includes three new challenges and offers up to ₹4.8 crore in total funding. Each challenge will pick four startups, eligible for up to ₹40 lakh for proof-of-concept projects. Selected teams will work with Honda's teams during a 12-week sprint for real-world applications.

🏏 From dishwashing to 167: Shahbaz's epic cricket grind

Shahbaz Ahmed made a huge career shift, leaving his civil engineering path to pursue elite cricket. He moved about 1,500 kilometers from Mewat, Haryana, to Kolkata to join the club circuit. During tough times, he washed utensils to survive before debuting for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy. Recently, while playing for East Zone against North East Zone in the Duleep Trophy, he scored a career-best 167. He also took wickets, bowling 3 for 20, showcasing his complete match-winning skills.

🦾 14yo gamer builds custom VR controller

Fourteen-year-old Scott Merrow from New Hampshire created a 3D-printed adaptive VR controller due to his symbrachydactyly condition. With help from his uncle, a mechanical engineer, he developed three versions of the device. The latest prototype uses a sensor sleeve that translates pressure into controller inputs. This breakthrough allowed him to successfully use left-handed VR controls for the first time. Scott is currently presenting his invention and heading to the national convention next month. 🎮

🌐 Andhra Pradesh set to be India's third subsea hub

Andhra Pradesh is set to become India's third subsea internet hub due to major datacenter buildouts in the region. Google and Microsoft are bringing new subsea cables to the Visakhapatnam coast, as confirmed by Google executive Alexander Smith on August 27, 2026. The I-2SEA cable system, involving Microsoft, is slated to be ready for service by Q4 2029. These investments are driven partly by geopolitical derisking, aiming to boost resilience in India's internet connectivity. This expansion will create a robust new digital layer connecting major metros across India. 🌐

🧐 Census 2027: Caste Question 10 Sparks Debate

Census 2027 will ask about caste for the first time since 1931, sparking a major political debate. This data collection is happening across India, with the Registrar General notifying the questions on August 14. The census aims to gather demographic data, but the open-ended caste field is causing issues. Opposition parties are concerned about the lack of a dedicated OBC dropdown option. Moving forward, the debate centers on whether a pre-verified list or open response will be used. 🧐

🚨 11 booked over sugar factory irregularities

Police registered a case against 11 individuals for financial irregularities at the Malaprabha Cooperative Sugar Factory. The accused include former chairman Nasiruddin Bagwan and others in Belagavi district. The charges relate to abuse of power and fudging accounts at the MK Hubli factory in Kittur taluk. This action follows an investigation by a state committee after farmer agitation. The committee's 200-page report, examining over 300 pieces of evidence, recommended the case registration.

💔 Akanksha on Gaurav's Lock Upp visit

Akanksha Chamola revealed that Gaurav Khanna visited the show not for support, but to clear his name. This statement addresses the backlash she received after saying she'd rather have her parents or dog visit her over him. She clarified that she was in the process of divorce from Gaurav at that time in Lock Upp Season 2. Akanksha then urged social media users to stop what she termed as 'selective moral policing' regarding her comments. The couple, who married on November 24, 2016, in Kanpur, have reportedly been living apart for one year. 💔

📦 First Day as Blinkit Picker: A Real Look

The article shares the author's experience during their very first day working as a part-time picker at Blinkit. This initial experience took place at the Blinkit operational hub. While specific figures are not provided, the focus is on the onboarding process and initial tasks. The role involves picking orders efficiently to meet delivery timelines. Moving forward, the author plans to continue learning the ropes of quick commerce logistics.

😠 MNS leader threatens drivers over Hindi use

MNS leader Amit Thackeray stated that his party would beat any auto-rickshaw driver speaking Hindi. This came as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis gave drivers a one-year grace period to learn Marathi. The move followed earlier notices issued to 1,268 drivers who failed a Marathi test on August 20. Thackeray linked this extension to the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections and criticized the state government's stance. The party insists on protecting Marathi and its state identity moving forward. 😠

🙏 Singer Afsana Khan faces trolling over ritual

Singer Afsana Khan was heavily trolled on social media after participating in a Shivling Rudrabhishek ritual. This incident happened involving the Punjabi singer and ex-Bigg Boss 15 contestant, Afsana Khan. The backlash occurred around August 27, 2026, with some users questioning her religious identity. While some called it haram, others defended her right to her choices. She has previously been seen participating in Hindu religious activities with her husband, Saajz.

🌊 Actor Ankur Ratan narrowly escapes Nepal floods

Actor Ankur Ratan narrowly escaped the devastating flash floods in Nepal while on a pilgrimage. He was part of a group led by SAAD Mountaineers near Rasuwa, north of Kathmandu. The death toll rose to 362 on Thursday, with 290 Indian nationals still missing. This disaster has prompted urgent efforts by India's MEA to locate its citizens. Ratan plans to complete the Kailash Mansarovar Parikrama in memory of the victims. 😥