📱 iPhone 17, Galaxy S26 & Xiaomi 17 are discounted

The iPhone 17 lineup is currently on sale with discounts up to £150 ahead of the iPhone 18 Pro launch on September 9th. Samsung’s Galaxy S26 has up to a £200 discount, and the Xiaomi 17 sees a £150 price cut. These deals are happening alongside discounts on the Xiaomi 17T and 17T Pro models. Various other devices, like the Oppo Reno16 series, are also available at reduced prices right now. Buyers can snag these deals before the next major tech releases hit the market. 📱

🚨 Third arrest in youth abduction and extortion case

The Chevayur police arrested K. Akhil, 33, alias Kuttan, in the case of a 23-year-old youth's alleged abduction and extortion. This happened in connection with the case involving the youth, who was abducted from Bengaluru last month. The victim was held in Padinjattumuri and demanded ₹8 lakh via threatened private images. This latest arrest follows those of Athul alias Kuttan and Jishnu Jayan. Police are now intensifying the investigation to trace the remaining accused, including a woman and four others. 🚨

💾 Ditched Google Drive for this free file transfer app

The user stopped using Google Drive for file transfers due to slow speeds and storage limitations. He switched to Blip, a free cross-platform app that uses a peer-to-peer, end-to-end encrypted method. Blip works across Android, Windows Desktop, MacBook Pro, and iPad with easy setup. Transfers are superfast when on the same network or remotely, unlike cloud services. While Blip is great for one-time files, transfers between Android and iPad have occasionally failed.

📈 Stock Market Set for Busy Week with Big Data Drops 📊

Dalal Street is facing a busy week as market sentiment hinges on crucial economic data releases. India's Q1 FY27 GDP data is due on August 31, offering clarity on domestic growth pace. Investors will also track the US August non-farm payrolls report on September 4. These figures, alongside crude oil prices, will influence global risk sentiment. Market participants are looking ahead to these key data points to reassess Fed policy expectations.

⚛️ New technique builds super-thin quantum material stacks

Scientists have successfully unveiled a novel technique for fabricating ultra-thin material stacks. This breakthrough was achieved by researchers at a leading international lab. The new process allows for the creation of structures with thicknesses down to a few atomic layers, starting from initial tests in early 2024. These advanced stacks are crucial for realizing next-generation quantum computing devices. Further research will focus on scaling up production and improving material stability. ⚛️

🌎 Earth's core might hold enough hydrogen for 45 oceans

Scientists found that Earth's core contains a significant amount of hydrogen through advanced lab simulations. The research team, led by Dongyang Huang at Peking University, used high-pressure experiments to analyze core material. These calculations estimate the core's hydrogen content is between 0.07% and 0.36% by weight, based on samples. This quantity is enough to form 9 to 45 new Earth oceans if scaled up. This suggests a large portion of Earth's water might have formed internally rather than from comet impacts. 🌊

✨ The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is free this September

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Remastered is launching on September 29th, featuring visual and gameplay upgrades on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Additionally, the expansions Blood and Wine and Hearts of Stone are now completely free for all players. These acclaimed DLCs, originally released in 2015 and 2016, are available now ahead of the September remaster. Players can unlock over 175 hours of epic open-world gameplay with this package. This offers a chance to catch up before the arrival of The Witcher 4 expected in 2028. 🤩

⚽ Julian Alvarez drops Barcelona dream for Atletico

Julian Alvarez has accepted that his move to FC Barcelona is not happening soon. The 26-year-old striker returned to Atletico Madrid's group training this Sunday, August 30. With the transfer window closing in two days, he is expected to remain with Atletico unless there is a major change. He has informed both Mikel Arteta and Arsenal that he will not be joining the London club. Alvarez is now preparing to play for Atletico against Sevilla on Saturday.

🏏 Vaughan trolls Pakistan batting in England Test

Former England captain Michael Vaughan heavily criticized the Pakistan batting lineup during the ongoing Test match. He stated that the home bowlers felt like they were 'queuing up to bowl' due to the perceived ease of the batting. England secured the first Test by an innings and 103 runs, and in the second Test, Pakistan was bowled out for 110 in the first innings. Vaughan even compared the performance to 'second division county cricket' on August 30, 2026. This harsh critique suggests a monumental effort will be needed for Pakistan to change the perception of their English tours.

📚 CBSE Class 12 Supp Exam 2026 application starts tomorrow

CBSE is starting the post-result process for the Class 12 Supplementary Examination 2026 tomorrow. The initial stage involves applying for a scanned copy of the evaluated answer book for students across India. This phase runs from August 31 to September 1, 2026, with a fee of Rs 100 per subject. Later, verification and re-evaluation options will open from September 7 to 8, 2026. Candidates must secure the scanned copy first to be eligible for these subsequent stages. 📚

🌳 Police probe illegal teak smuggling case

The Thottilpalam police have started an investigation into the illegal felling and smuggling of almost 15 teak trees. This incident occurred at Mundakkutti in Maruthonkara panchayat, where the trees were part of a social forestry initiative. The lost teak trees were all 20 years old, and the report surfaced after a complaint from Irrigation department officials on August 30, 2026. Officials noted that the isolated site made smuggling difficult without local agents' help. Police are now gathering details on goods-carriers and intensifying the search for the stolen timbers.