🎓 Kerala University honors four big names

Kerala University's Syndicate recommended honorary doctorates for Madhu, Sreekumaran Thampi, K. Radhakrishnan, and P.R. Sreejesh on Thursday, August 13, 2026. Dr. Radhakrishnan will get an honorary DSc, while the others receive honorary DLitt degrees. Left-backed members walked out protesting the appointment of T. Vijayalakshmi as director of UGC-Malaviya Mission TTC. The Syndicate also delegated a committee to review a PhD case involving Vipin Vijayan. Additionally, 32 PhD degrees were awarded and 248 aided-college teachers got promotions.

🏏 Gardner gets safeguards after Voll relationship reveal

Cricket Australia is keeping Ashleigh Gardner as women's vice-captain but implemented new selection safeguards. The board discussed this on Wednesday, showing support for her leadership role. New measures were added to the Respect at Work policy to address potential conflicts. Specifically, Gardner will recuse herself from discussions involving teammate Georgia Voll's squad spot. This move ensures policy keeps up with high-performance environment realities. 🏏

🚧 Tunnel collapses in Uttarakhand, workers trapped

An under-construction tunnel at the THDC project in Chamoli district collapsed on Thursday evening after debris and water entered the site. Rescue teams managed to evacuate 13 people safely, while efforts continue for those still inside. Preliminary info suggested 18 to 19 workers were inside when the incident occurred around 7.05 pm. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed authorities to handle the rescue operation on a war footing. The government prioritizes the safe evacuation of every trapped person amidst ongoing operations.

🗳️ Calicut University Student Union Polls on Aug 14

Elections for the University of Calicut students’ union are set to take place on Friday, August 14, 2026. The voting timing has been shifted from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the vote counting will commence at 2 p.m. Over 500 councillors from five affiliated districts will vote for key functionaries. The Students’ Federation of India has fielded candidates, with the Kerala Students’ Union and Muslim Students’ Federation forming an alliance.

🎣 Kerala fishers fight corporate push for black sand wealth

Kerala's fishing community is uniting to oppose the Centre's move to open black sand and offshore mineral resources to large corporations. T.N. Prathapan, chairperson of the Kerala State Fishermen Coordination Committee, stated the Bill challenges local livelihoods in Kerala. The proposal involves amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, despite earlier resistance in Kollam. This move risks limiting the state's ability to collect cess and levies from private entities. Fishermen vow to resist this policy, especially after the Chief Minister's assurance on private mining. 🎣

🐠 Fish reveal how brain power evolved fast or slow

Researchers studied two closely related fish species to understand cognitive evolution. The study focused on how different brain processing speeds emerged in these aquatic creatures. Data collected covered observations over several years, specifically regarding neural pathways. This research helps scientists decode the mechanisms behind complex thought in animals. Future studies aim to map these evolutionary changes across various species. 🐠

⚖️ Bar Council challenges BCI's NALSAR enrollment ban

A Bar Council of India member strongly opposed BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra's order barring NALSAR graduates from enrollment. Advocate N. Manoj Kumar, from the Bar Council of India and Kerala, expressed deep anguish regarding the August 13 direction. This order targeted all 2026 NALSAR law graduates pending an inquiry into a student campaign against the CJI's convocation participation. Manoj Kumar argued that threatening enrollment denial for expressing views is unwarranted and arbitrary. He urged the BCI Chairman to immediately withdraw the blanket prohibition against the entire 2026 batch. ⚖️

🎾 WTA Toronto Final: Swiatek vs Rybakina Showdown

The WTA Toronto Final is set to feature a massive clash between Iga Swiatek and Jessica Rybakina. The matchup is taking place in Toronto, Canada, promising high-stakes tennis action. Key statistics for the final are still pending release for the specific match dates. Both players are highly ranked contenders with strong records heading into this major tournament. Fans are eagerly anticipating an intense and thrilling final showdown this week.

⚽ 2027 Spanish Super Cup moves to Istanbul 🇹🇷

The 2027 Spanish Super Cup is shifting its location to Istanbul for the upcoming tournament. The competition will feature four teams: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, and Real Sociedad in Istanbul. This change happened because Saudi Arabia became unavailable due to an AFC Asian Cup scheduling conflict in 2027. The event is expected to return to Saudi Arabia in 2028, though Riyadh Season will sponsor the Istanbul edition. All games will be held at Istanbul’s Atatürk Olympic Stadium.

🤔 Barça managers clash over Alvarez backup

Barcelona is still hoping to sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, despite his refusal to be sold this summer. Villarreal striker Georges Mikautadze has surfaced as a potential alternative option for the club. Sporting director Deco likes Mikautadze's profile, but manager Hansi Flick is not fully enthusiastic about the move. The potential transfer is complicated by Villarreal demanding €60 million to €65 million for the 25-year-old. Alignment between Deco, Flick, and a sensible fee is needed for the signing to happen.

🌳 Hampi rolling out 'Clean and Green' drive

The Tourism Department has directed officials to start a 'Clean and Green Hampi' campaign. This initiative involves the Hampi Development Authority and the Vijayanagara Deputy Commissioner. The plan, set for implementation, will cover cleanliness, plastic control, and infrastructure maintenance. Stakeholders, including tourists and locals, must actively participate in keeping the heritage site clean. Furthermore, a tender process is starting to manage overall cleanliness at various Hampi sites.