📰 RSS Chief's NY event organizers face X drama

The account of organizers for RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's New York event was temporarily suspended on X. This happened amidst opposition from interfaith and civil rights groups urging cancellation of the Madison Square Garden appearance. On August 27, 2026, the AHEAD Forum stated they were "botted" by opponents trying to game the X algorithm. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani had publicly denounced the RSS, citing a preference for a pluralistic society. Bhagwat is touring the US as part of the RSS centenary-year global outreach programme. 🗽

🎭 Chennai troupe brings Vaikom Basheer stories to Shivamogga

The Chennai-based theatre group Perch performed 'Under the Mangosteen Tree' in Shivamogga on Wednesday. This play is based on the short stories of renowned Malayalam writer Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. The performance featured a non-linear narration, covering stories like 'Poovan Banana' and 'Walls.' Director Rajiv Krishnan had Basheer himself take the role of the narrator for the show. The team is currently on a farewell trip and will next perform in Heggodu on Friday and Mysuru on Sunday. 🎭

📱 Meta's US settlement and what it means for the UK

Meta settled with nearly every US state for $18bn, agreeing to implement child safety measures on Facebook and Instagram. This deal applies to US children currently, but could influence global regulations. The UK already has the Online Safety Act, which includes a planned social media ban for under-16s in 2027. The settlement might empower the UK to demand similar restrictions from other platforms. Ultimately, scrutiny over Big Tech's impact on youth safety is expected to continue.

📸 Galaxy S26 FE drops with new cameras and One UI 9

Samsung has unveiled the new Galaxy S26 FE, which debuts with the One UI 9 software. This device is part of the Galaxy S26 range and will be available in Blueberry, Graphite, and Pistachio colors. It features an enhanced triple rear camera with 3x optical zoom and a 4,900mAh battery. New features include My FanCam and Photo Assist for advanced editing capabilities. The phone also promises up to seven generations of OS upgrades and a six-month Google AI Pro trial.

🏛️ NSE IPO approval near; CAS system remains unchanged

Sebi Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey confirmed that the capital market regulator plans no changes to the Closing Auction Session (CAS). He stated that approval for the National Stock Exchange's (NSE) Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) is very close. This development follows CAS introduction on August 3 to boost transparency and prevent manipulation. Pandey stressed moving from measuring risk to proactively anticipating network-level systemic risks. The regulator will assess any future proposal for NSE shares to trade on its own platform. 📈

🚦 NEET students get traffic pass for Aranmula exam

Police have rolled out special traffic guidelines for NEET students attending the exam at Aranmula Engineering College. This arrangement is in light of Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan's visit to Aranmula for the Uthruttathi regatta on August 30. Students entering from 7 a.m. for the 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. exam will face no restrictions on campus entry or exit. Specific alternate routes are provided for those heading to Pathanamthitta or Chengannur to bypass restrictions. Traffic will be entirely blocked at Aranmula Aikkara Junction and the stretch leading to Thekkemala Junction. 🚦

🛰️ Over a million names headed toward the Sun

NASA invited the public to send their names toward the Sun in 2018 for the Parker Solar Probe mission. A total of 1,137,202 names were submitted and confirmed by the public globally. This passenger list was loaded onto a memory card installed on the probe before its launch on August 12, 2018. The mission aims to study the Sun's environment, following Eugene Parker's 1958 solar wind theory. The names remain on the card as the spacecraft continues its journey through the solar atmosphere. 🛰️

🧑‍🌾 Judge warns against using kids in farm work

Senior Civil Judge Siddaramappa Kalyanrao urged stakeholders to stop employing children in agricultural labor. This warning was made during a workshop in Raichur district, where children are often engaged in farm work. The ILO has selected Raichur for a pilot study under the Child Labour Platform initiative. He stressed that ensuring compulsory education for all children under 18 must be a top priority. Collaboration between all government and NGO departments is needed to effectively eradicate child labor. 🧑‍🌾

🌊 Nepal flood toll rises amid Maharashtra driver rules

The death toll from the flash flood and mudslide in Nepal has tragically reached 359. Search and rescue operations are ongoing in Nepal, where over 1,380 people are currently missing. As of the latest updates, 21 Indians from Tamil Nadu have been successfully rescued from the disaster. Separately, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis granted auto and taxi drivers one year to learn Marathi. This comes after the state was inspecting drivers regarding the mandatory Marathi language rule. 😟

🏔️ Glacier melt fuels Nepal floods, signals climate danger

Glacier collapse is directly linked to recent flooding events across the region. This destructive event impacted areas in Nepal, severely disrupting local infrastructure. The recent floods occurred during the monsoon season, with specific damage reported around August 2023. This incident underscores the growing vulnerability of the region to climate change effects. Experts predict increased frequency of such natural disasters in the coming years.

🏛️ Bar Associations push for proper forum on HC issues

Rajasthan High Court Bar Associations stated that issues raised by Supreme Court Justice Sandeep Mehta regarding Acting CJ Sanjeev Prakash Sharma must be addressed through the proper forum. The associations, including one in Jaipur, emphasized the urgent need for a permanent Chief Justice for the court. These concerns were amplified by Justice Mehta's letters dated August 2, 10, and 17, detailing allegations of maladministration. Advocates stressed that public airing of such matters tarnishes the judiciary's image and requires resolution. The associations plan further meetings to determine their official course of action on these serious matters. ⚖️