🏡 'I am a TamPunj and Chennai is home'

Ramesh Lamba, general secretary of The Punjab Association (Madras), shares his deep connection to Chennai. His family moved to Madras in 1965 after leaving Coonoor for work and education opportunities. He praises the city's initial kindness, noting how people helped newcomers navigate the area. Despite current traffic, he highlights Chennai's safety and affordability, especially during COVID-19. Lamba concludes that the city's spirit makes him a 'TamPunj' who wouldn't live elsewhere. 💖

⌚ Smartwatch wore for 10 days, changed daily habits

The author wore a smartwatch continuously for 10 days to see its real-world impact beyond specs. They noticed noise monitoring helped them be more aware of loud environments unexpectedly. Heart-rate tracking provided better insight into the body's response to daily activities and workouts. The device also made it easier to pause with quick breathing exercises and reduced the need to constantly check the phone. This overall experience showed how a smartwatch can subtly improve routine and awareness. ⌚

🩺 BMI hides the real health story

Health expert Nickhil Jakatdar shared that he was diagnosed with heart disease despite having a healthy BMI of 22.1. In that instance, his visceral fat was 11, significantly above the healthy range, while his muscle mass stood at 65%. This shows BMI only measures height versus weight, ignoring body composition differences. Now, his BMI is 21.2, but his visceral fat is 3 and muscle mass is 81%. Jakatdar advises focusing on internal health markers beyond just the scale. 🩺

📉 India lacks anaemic women data for three decades

India currently has no estimate of anaemic women and children following the latest National Family Health Survey. This survey, the sixth round, was conducted between 2023-’24 and its findings were released in May. The survey did not collect haemoglobin data, despite previous rounds showing fluctuations in anaemia rates. Health policies, like Anemia Mukt Bharat, struggle without this reliable data to assess their impact. A more accurate survey, SAMPADA, is ongoing but has not released its findings yet.

🗳️ BJP wins Rajasthan civic polls, but things are nuanced

The BJP secured victories in the recent civic polls across Rajasthan. This electoral outcome involved various municipal bodies throughout the state. The results were tallied on a specific date, showing shifts in local power dynamics. The win suggests continued support for the ruling party at the local level. Future political maneuvering in Rajasthan will now depend on these nuanced results. 🗳️

🔪 Businessman's son got 6 calls from killer on murder night

A 63-year-old pharmaceutical businessman named Vineet Minocha was brutally stabbed to death on September 5 in his Kanpur flat. His son, Subrat, was out partying with his family when the murder occurred. Police found the alleged killer made six calls to Subrat from a new SIM card. The investigation revealed that Minocha's daughter-in-law, Shalu, allegedly plotted the murder due to domestic frustrations. Authorities are now examining Subrat's possible involvement after these calls were traced. 🔪

🚨 DMK leader's home searched in 100-crore school fraud case

The Central Crime Branch raided the home of DMK leader Anbil Mahesh in Tiruchirappalli on Wednesday morning. The search is linked to an alleged Rs 100-crore fraud involving private school managements. The allegations suggest money was collected by promising government approvals and clearances. This investigation follows the June arrest of another DMK functionary, BT Arasakumar. The CCB is expanding its probe amid numerous complaints from school managements.

🎬 Haiwaan box office shows no growth after day 5

Priyadarshan's film Haiwaan has shown no signs of growth since its initial release. The movie stars Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar and was released in the domestic market. As of Day 5, the film collected a net of Rs 0.70 crore across 2,976 shows. The movie is a remake of the 2016 Malayalam film Oppam, and critics noted its glossy nature. The film marks the seventh project for Saif and Akshay together. 🎬

📈 Gold's Surge Amidst Fed Rate Speculation

Gold prices have seen a noticeable gain as market focus sharpens on the upcoming Federal Reserve rate decision. This movement is being tracked across global exchanges, with traders monitoring key indicators closely. Specific figures for the gains are not detailed in the initial report, but market sentiment is high. The anticipation surrounding the Fed's policy shift creates volatility in the precious metals sector. Investors are now waiting for concrete signals from the central bank before making major moves. 📈

📈 UPI MDR fee boosts banking and payment stocks

Shares of payment and banking companies rallied on Wednesday, September 16, after NPCI introduced a 0.4% MDR on UPI payments above ₹2,000, effective October 15. This new charge applies only to person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions exceeding ₹2,000, while P2P transfers remain free for users. Analysts believe this move creates a significant revenue pool for banks and payment providers. CITI estimates the new MDR framework could generate an incremental ecosystem revenue of ₹16,000–17,000 crore annually. This development is seen as a structural monetization event for the UPI ecosystem. 📈

🔥 TMC's internal war heats up with MLA notices

The West Bengal Assembly Secretariat issued disqualification notices to 10 rebel TMC MLAs. These notices were served to legislators including Ritabrata Banerjee, Arup Roy, and Firhad Hakim. The action came a day after Sovandeb Chattopadhyay approached the Supreme Court seeking disqualification of these MLAs. This marks a formal anti-defection battle in the Assembly against the faction led by Mamata Banerjee. The situation continues to escalate across multiple legal forums, with a final decision still pending.