📈 L&T wins big orders, signaling Middle East bounce back 🚀

Indian engineering giant Larsen & Toubro Ltd. has secured 13 orders since early July, with seven of them originating from the Middle East. This regional surge follows the disruption caused by the US-Iran war, showing a revival in infrastructure spending there. Bloomberg estimates the average order value for this quarter ending Sept. 30 to be about 1.11 trillion rupees. The Middle East already accounts for about a third of L&T's 2.86 trillion rupees revenue for the year ended March 31. The company now needs to convert these order wins into solid profits despite operational risks.

🎬 Toxic: A Bold but Mixed Fairytale Experiment

The film Toxic blends traditional fairytale tropes with gangster film elements, set in 1947 when Goa was still under Portuguese rule. It features Yash as Raya, a gangster involved in the opium trade, with Kiara Advani as Nadia. The movie runs over three hours and boasts arresting visuals by Rajeev Ravi and music by Ravi Basrur. However, the second half suffers from rushed writing, failing to fully subvert the hero's established persona. Ultimately, the film remains an interesting experiment despite its uneven execution. 🎭

🔬 AI material design gets a serious upgrade

MIT researchers have developed CrysVCD, an AI tool to speed up new material discovery before generation. This system focuses on applying key chemical constraints at the beginning of the design process, which was developed at MIT. In testing, it achieved high lattice-dynamics stability in nearly 70% of the generated materials. This drastically cuts down the computational cost, which previously took weeks or months for validation. The framework could help smaller labs and improve chip and data center cooling technology. 🔬

🏆 Starc tops Test bowling charts for the first time

Mitchell Starc secured the top spot in the ICC men's Test bowling rankings after his impressive performance in Mackay. He achieved this milestone with figures of 6 for 12 and 4 for 39 during Australia's innings victory over Bangladesh. This significant achievement marked the first time Starc has led the Test bowling table in his career. Jasprit Bumrah dropped to second place, while Pat Cummins moved up to fourth. The rankings shift also saw Ollie Robinson jump 15 spots to claim the 11th position.

⚖️ Delhi court convicts guy for judge impersonation

A Delhi Court convicted Sukesh Chandrashekhar for impersonating a Supreme Court judge to pressure a trial judge. This incident occurred while he was in police custody related to a 2017 corruption case. The court noted that he allegedly tried to impersonate both a Private Secretary and the Judge himself. This act was deemed an attempt to interfere with the administration of justice through a wholly impermissible method. The court emphasized that such deception strikes at the very foundation of judicial independence.

🎬 3 Tamil/Telugu OTT Drops This Week

Three new Tamil and Telugu releases are hitting OTT platforms this week with exciting titles available. 'Newton’s 3rd Law' stars Sumanth and streams on Netflix starting August 28, 2026. 'Aakali Rajyam' on Aha Video and 'Anbe Diana' on SonyLIV also premiere on the same date. These films cover thrillers, social dramas, and romantic comedies for viewers. Fans can check out these streams alongside other diverse language content.

⚠️ Nepal flood threatens Gandak surge in Bihar

A sudden flood in Nepal's Rasuwa district has put Bihar on high alert for a potential Gandak river surge within hours. Authorities in West Champaran's Bagaha area are bracing for this as excess water flows downstream from Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers. The alert follows a sharp rise in the Bhote Koshi's water level around 9 am local time, causing destruction in Timure and Syafrubesi. This mirrors a long history, as 65% of major Bihar rivers' catchment area is in Nepal and Tibet. Officials are now closely monitoring the Gandak levels to gauge the immediate risk. 🌊

🔋 TVS iQube base gets bigger battery for 2026

TVS has updated the base variant of the iQube by upgrading the battery to a 2.3kWh pack. This change is applicable to the base variant available in Delhi, priced at Rs. 1,16,310 ex-showroom. The larger battery increases the claimed IDC range by 20km to 11km. However, the top speed is slightly lower at 68kmph, and it features drum brakes and a simpler LCD console. This update aims to reduce range anxiety while maintaining a budget-friendly approach.

📉 India equity outlook slashed by poll

A recent poll indicates that the outlook for India's equity market has been downgraded once again. This shift is primarily attributed to foreign funds looking for better investment value in other parts of Asia. The latest data reflects a change in sentiment observed across various financial indicators. This move suggests investors are diversifying their portfolios outside of the Indian market for now. Analysts are now closely watching global economic trends to see future impacts.

📸 S27 Ultra camera bump might look suspiciously familiar

The initial renders for the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra show a rear camera island design heavily inspired by the iPhone 17 Pro. More detailed CAD renders confirm Samsung is only tweaking this design, while keeping the front and side profiles similar to the Galaxy S26 Ultra. These renders also suggest Samsung will drop the 3x 10MP telephoto lens in the next flagship. The device dimensions are rumored to be 163.76 x 78.25 x 7.97mm, featuring a noticeable 12.53mm camera bump. Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S27 family in late January or early February. 📱

⚖️ Allahabad HC: Hijab not essential religious practice in Islam

The Allahabad High Court observed that wearing a headscarf cannot be classified as an essential religious practice in Islam. This ruling came after a student sought permission to wear a hijab at Tagore Public School in Prayagraj. The court noted there was no evidence suggesting a Muslim woman would lose her faith if she opted not to wear one. The judgment, delivered on August 21, referenced prior rulings from Bombay and Karnataka High Courts. The final decision on the broader issue remains pending before a larger Supreme Court bench. ⚖️