😠 Palaniswami claims Madurantakam bypoll was forced

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami stated that the Madurantakam Assembly constituency bypoll was forced due to horse trading. He alleged that the previous MLA was bought, leading to her resignation on advice from TVK founder C. Joseph Vijay to save the government. The MLA subsequently joined the TVK and is now the TVK candidate for this bypoll. Palaniswami criticized the TVK candidate for lacking gratitude towards the Madurantakam electorate. He recalled that the electorate originally voted for the AIADMK candidate in the previous Assembly polls.

🧪 New Chemistry Breakthrough in Dienes

Researchers have achieved stereodivergent telomerization of linear functionalized dienes using amines. This significant work was conducted by the team at the institution. The study details reactions involving specific dienes and amines, published in Science. This method offers new ways to synthesize complex organic molecules with controlled stereochemistry. Future research will focus on expanding the scope of this novel catalytic process.

🗳️ Goa voter list issues: More names added

Concerns arose when 97 eligible electors were missing from the final voter list published in February in Goa. The Chief Electoral Officer stated that many of these cases have since been added through house-to-house visits by BLOs. Although the CEO sent communications between February 11 and 17, the initial 97 were not in the February 21 roll. Opposition leaders accused the BJP of sabotaging elections during the SIR process. Authorities assured that no eligible elector would be left behind as they continue processing the remaining cases. 🗳️

🤖 Feather is building the 'Android of robotics' for devs

Feather Robotics is developing a modular humanoid robot platform to act as the 'Android of robotics' for developers. This startup was founded last year by Hoa Mai and Parsa Bakhtiari, who are based in the US. They recently secured a $7.6 million pre-seed round and have surpassed $1 million in revenue. The company offers a customizable hardware and software toolkit, allowing integration with leading AI providers. Feather plans a big product launch after resolving issues from field testing. 🤖

🔬 Anna University partners with Boeing for lab

Anna University's Madras Institute of Technology (MIT) recently signed an MoU with Boeing India Pvt. Ltd. (BIPL). This partnership aims to establish a globally unique Flammability Learning Laboratory at the campus. The agreement was officially signed on September 22, 2026, by key university and Boeing officials. This facility will offer MIT students advanced knowledge in flammability science and safety. It is expected to boost academic-industry collaboration in aerospace research and training.

🌎 AI predicts where river soil erosion comes from

Researchers developed a machine learning framework to predict sediment sources for better watershed management. This study analyzed 142 sediment tracing studies across 267 watersheds globally. The model achieved robust accuracy (R2 = 0.40–0.53) across subsurface, cultivated, non-cultivated, and infrastructure sources. Testing in the US and UK showed different erosion patterns, like subsurface dominance in the Upper Mississippi. This tool offers a data-driven way to map sediment sources for targeted environmental action. 🌎

🧠 Ministers briefed to focus on grassroots schemes

Union ministers participated in a two-day brainstorming session aimed at reviewing progress for 'Modi 3.0'. The session was held with the goal of achieving a 'Viksit Bharat' and focused on ground-level implementation of welfare schemes. All 68 ministers were divided into four groups of seventeen for detailed discussions. Topics covered self-development, good governance, and shifting public trust to public support. More sessions are planned for September 30 and October 1, potentially focusing on youth and women. 🚀

🇮🇳 Vande Mataram: Clash over National Song Stanzas

The Congress Working Committee resolved in 1937 that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram should be sung at national gatherings. After Jana Gana Mana became the National Anthem on January 24, 1950, Rajendra Prasad vowed to honour Vande Mataram equally. Recently, the BJP-led Union government has pushed for all six stanzas to be recited, especially around its 150th anniversary in 2025. In 2026, the MHA issued directions and Parliament passed an amendment extending penalties to the National Song. The Supreme Court must apply the Bijoe Emmanuel ruling to protect conscientious objectors from state compulsion. 🇮🇳

🌟 Andhra University shines in NSS activities

Andhra University has been recognized as a model for National Service Scheme (NSS) activities within the state. NSS State Officer M. Sudhakar made the announcement during an NSS Day programme held at the university on Thursday. The university hosted the highest number of special service camps in the state last year, following Andhra Pradesh's national lead. Jaladi Ravi urged volunteers to respond actively during any disasters. University and district-level awards were distributed to officers and volunteers. 🌟

🧐 India's political party funding is super murky

A recent BBC investigation exposed extraordinary donations received by six Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs). The Association for Democratic Reforms reported a 223% rise in RUPP declared income in FY2022-23. The ECI has delisted 334 RUPPs as part of its effort to clean up the electoral system. Political parties continue to enjoy income-tax exemptions despite their ambiguous legal status. Researchers note that over the last decade, the exchequer lost ₹11,813 crore in taxes from political donations. 💸

🎸 Xiaomi's Pocket Guitar makes phones into instruments

Xiaomi has launched the Pocket Guitar, a gadget designed to turn smartphones into musical instruments. It works with the Xiaomi 18 Pro and Xiaomi 18 Pro Max, and also supports iPhones running iOS 14 or newer via the Changba app. The device features a 630 mAh battery that lasts over 30 days with one hour of daily use. It also includes magnets, allowing it to function as a compact stand when not being used musically. Xiaomi is selling this accessory for CNY 599, though a global launch seems unlikely.