🌳 School kids learning under trees in Vellore

Two classrooms were demolished mid-2024 at Government Panchayat Union Middle School in Kottaiyur, Vellore, due to fragile conditions. Consequently, most of the 134 students, including 67 girls, are now attending classes under tree shade on campus. The 8,000 sq.ft school, established in 1954, had three buildings, and the demolition promised new construction. Residents worry about safety, especially with the monsoon approaching, and lack of boys' washrooms. Officials have promised the District Collector will be apprised to build safe, permanent classrooms. 🌳

🚨 Saudi Arabia halts East-West pipeline after drone strike

Saudi Arabia has shut down the East-West pipeline following a drone attack incident. The attack reportedly targeted infrastructure vital to regional energy transit. Specific details regarding the exact date and scale of the damage were not immediately disclosed. This closure poses a significant risk to the crucial Hormuz oil bypass routes currently in use. Authorities are assessing the situation to determine the timeline for pipeline restoration.

🌍 BRICS presidency shows 50 outcomes, but declaration is stuck

India's BRICS presidency has generated over 50 practical outcomes across four key pillars. Indian officials noted key gains included condemning terrorism and supporting India's UNSC bid. However, a unified declaration remains unclear due to differences between the UAE and Iran regarding West Asia. Despite this, India feels confident due to strong support for its chairship. The summit starts Saturday with PM Narendra Modi leading a session on multilateralism. 🤝

🔥 Fire Erupts at Old Central Theatre in Madurai

A major fire broke out this evening at the old Central Theatre complex near the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai. Fire and rescue personnel responded to the incident, deploying 15 fire tenders to manage the blaze. The fire was successfully contained within the building and did not spread to neighboring structures. Local reports indicate the theatre had been used as a storage facility for plastic goods since closing post-COVID. The exact cause remains under investigation as consecration rituals are underway at the nearby temple. 🔥

🦕 Dino poop reveals feather clues for bird survival

A 66-million-year-old feather specimen was found inside fossilized dinosaur feces, known as a coprolite. This discovery was made by David DeMar, Jr., while fieldwork was underway in northeastern Montana. The finding, reported in Current Biology, provides insight into why birds survived the Cretaceous Period mass extinction. Researchers noted that the feathers were from a hesperornithiform bird, an aquatic relative of modern birds. This suggests feather structure or molting patterns might explain Neornithes' survival over other bird lineages. 🦖

🌍 Russia and Iran challenge US at BRICS summit

Russia and Iran strongly criticized the US and Western powers for imposing sanctions and acts of aggression during a recent meeting. These nations voiced calls for BRICS to develop stronger strategies against global pressures and challenges. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian highlighted that economic security is tied to national and regional safety. Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced Western leaders for using physical force to regain dominance in global affairs. India now faces the task of balancing these tensions with its own policy of flexible multi-alignment. 🌍

🚀 Roblox levels up with major platform upgrades

Roblox is rolling out significant updates to boost platform innovation and creator empowerment. These changes were announced during the Roblox Developers Conference on September 11, 2026, by Roblox Corporation. Key features include collaborative branch/merge, intelligent asset generation, and advanced avatar tools. New engine features like native persistence and offline play are also being introduced to improve quality. These enhancements aim to empower creators and elevate the overall user experience going forward. 🚀

🎬 'Haiwaan' opens modest despite big stars

The film 'Haiwaan' opened with a net collection of Rs 3 crore at the box office. It features Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, and the release occurred in 2026. The opening registered 11 per cent occupancy across 7,224 shows on Day 1. The film is facing heavy competition from 'Hanuman Ansh' and 'Mirzapur The Movie'. Its budget is estimated to be around Rs 130 crore.

🏔️ Friends lost in Broad Peak avalanche

An avalanche tragically claimed the lives of climbers Nirmal Purja and Kili Pemba Sherpa on Broad Peak. The incident occurred in July in Pakistan while the two Nepali climbers were ascending the mountain. Initial reports suggest the avalanche was caused by an ice slab collapse, despite heavy snowfall earlier that week. Mingma Gyalje Sherpa, a Sherpa guide, later recovered their bodies from the treacherous slope. He vowed to bring his friends home after the devastating event.

🤝 Goyal pushes BRICS to drop trade hurdles

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal called for dismantling trade barriers among BRICS nations during the BRICS Business Forum. He urged members to link payment systems and conduct trade in local currencies to boost resilience. Goyal stressed opening service markets so professionals can move freely and their qualifications are recognized. This comes as some countries impose visa restrictions on Indian professionals and others restrict exports. He also highlighted India's digital public infrastructure, like UPI, to promote global digital trade. 🌐

🔬 AI spots Palladium in complex samples in mass spec

A new machine-learning approach using a graph algorithm is able to automatically recognize Palladium ions in mass spectra. This technology was developed by researchers at the Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry in Moscow, Russia. The method works for multi-component mixtures down to concentrations of 10–8 mol L–1, published on September 11, 2026. This is crucial because Pd is vital in catalysis, contamination, and environmental pollution studies. The scalability allows this workflow to be extended to elements like Ni, Cu, Ag, Cl, and Br. 🧪