😌 Kerala govt clears salary dues for PRD contract staff

Former contract workers of the I&PRD’s PRISM project are finally getting their salary arrears ahead of Onam. Around 100 employees across Kerala started receiving the dues on Monday, after waiting for nearly six months. Their contract initially expired in January but was extended by three months for the Assembly election. Monthly pay ranged from ₹16,940 to ₹21,780, with total arrears estimated at around ₹53 lakh. Affected workers had recently submitted a letter highlighting their financial difficulties during Onam.

🎓 IIT Bombay awards 3,763 degrees at 64th Convocation

IIT Bombay celebrated its 64th Convocation, distributing a total of 3,763 degrees to 3,442 students. This included a record high of 620 PhD degrees, reflecting a focus on advanced research. The Autumn session alone saw 3,333 degrees conferred on 3,042 students. This substantial increase in doctoral degrees surpasses the previous five years' average of 300 to 500 annually. The Department of Chemistry led the Autumn session with 47 doctoral degrees awarded. 🎓

👽 Akshay Kumar diving into alien action with Samuk

Akshay Kumar has officially started shooting for his new survival-action thriller, Samuk. The filming is happening in London, and the production is a large-scale Pan-India release. Shooting commenced on August 23, 2026, with plans for 90% in England and the rest in Mumbai. The film blends military realism, survival horror, and alien mythology with international talent. The production is aiming for a 2027 release, making it one of his biggest projects yet. 👽

🐟 UP Minister weighs in on fish being veg

UP Cabinet Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar defended colleague Sanjay Nishad regarding fish being vegetarian. This came amid a controversy about fish being served at a Congress event in Ayodhya during Shravan month. Nishad earlier claimed fish prepared without garlic or onion is vegetarian, and Rajbhar suggested Congress should clarify the ingredients. However, Rajbhar later questioned how fish could truly be vegetarian, admitting Nishad had more knowledge. The incident sparked political rows, with BJP criticizing Congress for allegedly insulting Sanatan Dharma. 🐟

🩺 Sore throat vs. tonsillitis: know the signs

A persistent sore throat might actually be tonsillitis, which is an inflammation of the throat tissue. Dr. MK Singh explained that symptoms like fever, swollen tonsils, and difficulty swallowing indicate this issue. Cases are often viral, but bacterial tonsillitis requires specific medical intervention. Treatment depends on the cause, with rest and fluids helping viral recovery. Always consult a healthcare professional for accurate diagnosis and appropriate care. 🩺

🚨 Punjab Police confirm viral drug video source

Punjab Police have confirmed that the viral drug video circulating online originated from Jagraon. The investigation confirmed the footage was captured in Jagraon, Punjab. The video surfaced around late 2023 and has been widely shared across social media platforms. This incident has drawn significant attention to local drug issues in the region. Authorities are currently continuing their probe into the matter. 🚨

🚨 Drug video location confirmed in Jagraon

Punjab Police verified that a viral drug video was indeed recorded in Jagraon, which boosts Harbhajan Singh's anti-drug campaign. The confirmation follows a previous controversy where Singh shared footage later traced to Rajasthan in Sri Ganganagar. The clip, originally posted on X by Ravneet Singh Bittu, showed a man allegedly using drugs near the Jagraon Bridge in Ludhiana. The man in the video was subsequently arrested by Ludhiana Police on August 12. This development adds weight to Singh's ongoing focus on Punjab's drug crisis. 😔

🚨 Armed Attack Hits Taphou Kuki Village

Taphou Kuki Village reportedly faced an attack by heavily armed Nagas, with the local authority condemning the burning of a villager's house. A social media video allegedly shows voices directing attackers to Kuki civilians in the area. Despite security presence, villagers are concerned about perceived state bias and complicity in the ongoing attacks. The Village Authority demanded an immediate investigation and a 24-hour deadline for those involved in the arson. They stressed that homes represent safety and dignity for the affected families.

🌿 Bison comeback in Mexico's desert ecosystem

American bison have returned to Coahuila, Mexico, after being hunted to extinction for about 160 years. The reintroduction effort is being led by the Fundación Pro Cuatro Ciénegas in the Chihuahuan Desert. In 2025, nearly 50 bison were introduced into the UNESCO-recognized Cuatrociénegas reserve. This key species is helping to reactivate the ecosystem's health by promoting plant regrowth and improving soil. The return completes the broken food chain, allowing native predators to thrive once again. 🌿

🏆 Galaxy Buds4 Pro bags EISA award for Hi-Fi sound

Samsung's Galaxy Buds4 Pro won the EISA In-Ear Headphones 2026–2027 Award from the Expert Imaging and Sound Association. This recognition came from expert editors across over 25 countries, praising the Buds4 Pro's audio, call quality, and usability. The award highlights its two-way speaker system and 24-bit/96kHz UHQ audio capabilities. Experts also noted the effective combination of hardware and software for the overall listening experience. This solidifies the Buds4 Pro's status as a premium wireless audio device. 🎧

📚 CTET 2026 admit card update and test details

The Central Board of Secondary Education is set to hold the CTET 2026 examination on September 6. The admit card will be released soon on the official portal, ctet.nic.in, after informing candidates about their exam city. The test structure consists of multiple-choice questions with no negative marking for both Paper 1 and Paper 2. Paper 1 is for teaching Classes 1 to 5, while Paper 2 is for Classes 6 to 7. Candidates planning travel should watch out for the city intimation slip, expected about 10 days prior to the exam.