🏛️ SC upholds MLA's disqualification after Congress switch

The Supreme Court dismissed Danam Nagender's appeal against his disqualification after defecting to the Congress party. The ruling upheld the order from the Telangana High Court concerning this party-switching incident. This decision was made on Thursday by a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant. Nagender, the Khairatabad MLA, was disqualified from April 23, 2024, for contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on a Congress ticket. Consequently, the High Court's decision regarding his status remains in effect. 🏛️

🩺 IARC weighs in on lung cancer screening

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has provided guidance regarding the use of lung cancer screening. This perspective was put forward by IARC researchers based on ongoing epidemiological studies. The guidelines reference data from various studies conducted up to 2023, detailing risk profiles. These recommendations aim to help healthcare providers decide on appropriate screening protocols for high-risk individuals. Future research will continue to refine these screening criteria further.

🎬 The Paradise: Epic feels emotionally distant

The Paradise is a new film by director Srikanth Odela, paying tribute to Telangana roots and cinema legends. It stars Nani and is set in Secunderabad's Paradise locality in the 1980s. The movie runs for 178 minutes, chronicling a tribal community's fight for survival and identity. Despite its ambitious world-building, the film lacks the emotional depth to make the audience connect with the characters. The narrative falters in establishing the tribe's plight, making the intense violence feel hollow.

📉 Nokia shuts down China R&D hub, cuts jobs

Nokia is winding down its radio technology R&D center in Hangzhou by the end of 2026, affecting approximately 1,600 jobs. This move is happening in Hangzhou, China, as part of a decade-long unravelling of its China strategy. Greater China sales plummeted by over 58%, dropping from €2.2 billion in 2018 to €913 million in 2025. This shutdown echoes CEO Justin Hotard's past concerns about vendor risk in Europe. Nokia is now pivoting towards booming AI and cloud orders for future growth. 😥

⛽ Florida gas prices are seriously spiking ⛽

Gas prices in Florida are increasing rapidly, with some stations now charging over $5 a gallon for regular fuel. The American Automobile Association reported the statewide average hit $4.29 on Wednesday, September 23. A specific DeLand station was charging $5.39 cash and $5.49 by card at that time. This surge is mainly due to sharp rises in global oil prices caused by geopolitical tensions. Prices continue to climb, showing big differences from the overall state average.

🌿 Giant stick insects spotted in Queensland rainforest

Australian 'insect detectives' discovered two new stick insect species during a University of Sydney investigation. The research team studied museum and fresh samples in Queensland, expanding the genus Anchiale from two to five species. One new species, Anchiale mabienesis, measures up to 16cm, while another, Ctenomorpha gargantua, reaches 60cm. This work highlights the importance of protecting Australia's biodiversity before species are lost. Further samples are needed to officially identify an additional, undescribed species found at Cape York. 🧐

🌡️ What's a super El Niño and its weather impact?

A 'super El Niño' refers to an unusually strong warming of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. This phenomenon is currently being monitored by meteorological agencies worldwide. The event has been tracked since early 2023 and is projected to influence global weather patterns significantly. It typically causes changes in rainfall and temperature across different continents. Scientists are closely watching the situation to predict future climate shifts.

☀️ Sun storms pose huge threat to global power grids

Intense magnetic phenomena from the Sun are increasingly recognized as threats to modern digital and electrical infrastructure globally. Recent studies indicate that a 1-in-a-100 years solar storm can impact 3.5 million people and 91,000 businesses in the US. A rarer 1-in-a-250 year storm could affect 5 million people, leading to daily losses of about $1.81 billion in the US economy. A joint disaster management evaluation merging space physics, engineering, and economics is now necessary. This conversation will discuss how India should prepare for these sun-induced disasters given its massive infrastructure footprint.

🧐 Andhra liquor shop renewal deadline changes

The Andhra Pradesh Excise Department is not extending the deadline for A4 liquor shop license renewals for 2026-27. As of September 23, 3,650 shops were notified across the State, with 3,236 applying for renewal. A total of 2,873 shops paid the full Retail Excise Tax, while 80% recorded payments overall. Fresh applications for unrenewed shops will be invited starting September 24. The process includes application submission until October 1, followed by allotment via draw of lots on October 5. 🧐

⚡ India's power crunch hits new highs due to El Nino

India is facing power shortages surpassing previous summer levels because the monsoon is expected to be one of the driest in 17 years. This situation affects the nation, with nighttime shortfalls reaching up to 7.7 gigawatts this month. Hydropower generation dropped 12% in the first three weeks of September, while coal production increased by 18% this month. The deficient rainfall, linked to El Nino, is forcing more reliance on coal plants. The government needs to act quickly to manage dwindling coal inventories and prevent a bigger crisis. 😟

🔬 Deep-sea microbes unlocked with robotic platform

Scientists are successfully isolating and characterizing deep-sea bacteria using a sensors-driven robotic platform. This platform maintains in situ deep-sea conditions from sampling right through to lab cultivation systems. The research was published on September 24, 2026, in Nature Sensors. This advancement helps unlock the secrets of the dark ocean ecosystem. Future work will focus on further understanding these unique microbial life forms. 🔬