📢 Telangana ensures voters get hearing notices early

The Telangana Chief Electoral Officer held a meeting on Saturday, August 29, to address electoral procedures. He instructed Booth Level Officers to remind electors about hearing details at least two days beforehand. Officials must ensure all prescribed documents are publicized widely for the voters. Furthermore, every notice must be delivered in person with proper acknowledgement by the BLOs. The CEO also reviewed the progress of notices and the preparation of hearing schedules.

🍿 The Odyssey stays strong in box office chart

The Odyssey is maintaining a strong position in the box office, remaining above more than a dozen newer releases. Christopher Nolan's movie, featuring Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway, is currently ranked No. 3 in theaters. As of Saturday morning, it is projected to earn a 3-day domestic gross of $14.6 million by its seventh weekend. This success is supported by near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes scores and its IMAX format. The movie's next challenge is the Labor Day weekend, with new releases potentially challenging its standing.

🤝 Telangana vows to back Telugu culture in Mauritius

Telangana has pledged to offer comprehensive support for the promotion of Telugu language, culture, and ancient epics in Mauritius. This assurance was given by Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka to a delegation led by Mauritius Minister Lachmuna Raj Pentiah at Praja Bhavan on Saturday. The support covers areas like education, culture, research, arts, and language initiatives. The Telangana government will also help push forward the Ram Bhajanam programme currently run by the Mauritius government. This move strengthens the historical and cultural bonds between the two regions.

📰 Penguin drops Sonia Gandhi memoir; Congress alleges pressure

Penguin Random House has decided not to publish the memoir by Sonia Gandhi. The Congress party has publicly alleged that the publisher gave in to pressure from the central government. The book was reportedly set to be released on October 15th, marking a significant moment for the party. This decision has sparked debate about political influence in publishing houses. The party is now demanding transparency regarding the cancellation of the memoir.

🩺 Fitbit founders launch tracker for aging parents

Fitbit co-founders have launched a new screen-free wearable called Luffu Link to monitor family members, including aging parents. The device is from Luffu and aims to help families coordinate care remotely. It is priced at US$300, with preorders starting Tuesday, and offers health sensing and location sharing. The accompanying app uses AI to organize data and provide caregivers with real-time insights. Luffu plans to expand into home assistance devices later on. 👵

🗳️ Telangana CM asks for voter roll extension

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has asked the Election Commission to extend the period for filing voter roll objections by four weeks. This request was made to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar regarding the SIR process in Telangana. The current window runs from August 17 to September 16, with the final publication set for September 19. Reddy argued this timeframe is too short for a large-scale exercise, especially for ASDD category voters. He also suggested setting up help desks and widening the list of acceptable documents. 🗳️

😥 Assam professor and husband missing in Nepal floods

Several individuals from Assam have gone missing following the devastating floods in Nepal. The missing persons include Deepali Sarkar, a former professor from Guwahati, and her husband, Manash Ghosh. Around 30 people traveled to Kathmandu with a group organized by a travel agency. Contact with Sarkar and Ghosh was lost after around 10:30 pm, despite being contacted earlier that evening. Families are now anxiously waiting for updates from the authorities and rescue teams in Nepal.

🏛️ New faces join Kerala State Planning Board

Four new members have been appointed to the Kerala State Planning Board by the State government. The appointees include G. Vijaya Raghavan and P.P. Balan, joining environmentalist Sridhar Radhakrishnan and Varun Santhosh. This decision, made via an August 29 order, aims to strengthen the board’s advisory and planning capacity. The UDF government is planning to turn the board into a 'think tank' for the government. This move is being closely watched despite opposition criticism regarding the shift from the Planning Commission. 🧐

😔 Suryakumar shocked after World Cup win drop

Suryakumar Yadav expressed confusion after being dropped from the Indian team. This happened while he was set to lead India for the 2028 Olympics and next T20 World Cup. He led India to victory in 42 of 50 completed T20Is and won the World Cup in March 2026. He questioned the change when the team was performing well after winning the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup. Suryakumar remains ready to play for India if selectors deem it right in the future. 😔

🙏 WB CM may send team to Nepal for rescue

West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari stated the State Government could send a rescue team to Nepal if the Ministry of External Affairs grants permission. The delegation would include one Minister, one MLA, an IG-rank police officer, and a senior IAS officer. Out of 39 missing from West Bengal, two individuals have been located and are being arranged for return as of August 28, 2026. Most of the 37 untraced people were undertaking the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra with a specific travel agency. Adhikari also spoke with families over a video call on Friday night to offer support.

😥 Nepal floods leave devastation, bodies buried in slush

Khalsa Aid volunteers are witnessing extreme devastation in Nepal's flood-ravaged valleys following a Himalayan glacier collapse. These volunteers are currently in Nuwakot, Rasuwa, and Dhading, observing the severe impact on local communities. As of Saturday, August 29, at least 676 people have died, with nearly 2,400 still missing in Nepal and Tibet. Many families are showing extreme distress, refusing even offered food while desperately seeking news of their loved ones. Khalsa Aid is now focused on relief, with more international teams expected to arrive on Sunday, August 30. 😥