🌟 TiE Women Asia Summit lands in Hyderabad 🚀

The TiE Women Asia Summit 2026 is scheduled to take place in Hyderabad over three days starting September 24th. It will gather 29 women founders from over 25 Asian TiE chapters, alongside 100 delegates and 50 investors. The event aims to foster learning, collaboration, investment, and cross-border growth for these entrepreneurs. Participating founders will present their ventures and compete for a spot at the TiE Women Global Finals in Indore. This summit supports women building innovative solutions to create societal impact.

☕ Coffee and heart health: what the science says ☕

AHA experts reviewed decades of research regarding caffeine and cardiovascular disease for a new scientific statement. They found that consuming up to 400 mg of caffeine daily, or five eight-ounce cups, is generally safe for most adults. Moderate caffeine intake was linked to lower risks of heart failure, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, coffee drinking has been associated with lower rates of liver disease and dementia. Experts still urge more research to fully grasp coffee's complex health benefits.

🤰 TN govt gives 365 days leave for third child

The Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government announced a big change in maternity leave policy. This applies to women employees working in the state government of Tamil Nadu. The leave for a third child will now be 365 days, matching the benefit for the first two. Minister D Sarathkumar stated this aims to boost social welfare and women's empowerment in the state. A detailed government order will be released shortly to implement this announcement.

👩‍🍼 Tamil Nadu boosts maternity leave for third child

The Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government has announced a major update regarding maternity leave for female government employees. This change extends maternity leave to 365 days for a third child, matching the benefit for the first two children. Minister D Sarathkumar made this announcement during the state assembly's demand for grants. The decision emphasizes the state's focus on social welfare and women's empowerment initiatives. A detailed government order is expected to be issued soon to implement this enhancement. 👩‍🍼

🕵️ Tax dept checks 400 entities for weird foreign money transfers

The Income Tax Department started a nationwide probe into nearly 400 entities suspected of making large, unexplained foreign remittances. This investigation is happening in New Delhi, targeting 394 entities and 36 professionals who certified these transactions. The probe began on August 18th, as preliminary checks showed remittances didn't match reported turnovers. This action is part of the government's push to tighten rules for foreign contributions, referencing the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026. Further investigations are still ongoing to determine the full extent of the irregularities. 🧐

🗣️ Kerala CM shuts down CPI(M)'s power accusation

Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan strongly denied the CPI(M)'s claim that the UDF government ceded power to the RSS-controlled Governor. Satheesan noted that Lok Bhavan has previously summoned department heads without government approval during the LDF dispensation. He also stated the government will soon investigate a firm that allegedly defrauded the exchequer of ₹22 crore regarding Messi's 2025 visit. Furthermore, the CM refuted accusations that Jamaat-e-Islami or IUML controlled the UDF administration. He also dismissed claims that a specific arrest slowed down the anti-narcotics operation.

🐍 Students pitch tech to fight snakebites 🐍

College students presented innovative solutions at the Nagathon Snakebite Innovation Challenge. Prarthana and Chaitanya from team NAGAM won first prize at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) on August 16, 2026. Their idea is a digital platform to help patients locate antivenom via a cloud-based dashboard. This aims to reduce delays and unnecessary transfers when seeking life-saving resources. Other teams proposed AI first-aid and community awareness campaigns for better response.

🌱 Biomining clearing old waste at Njeliyanparamba

Biomining operations are steadily progressing to remove decades-old legacy waste at Njeliyanparamba. The Kozhikode Corporation Mayor, O. Sadasivan, confirmed this during a high-level meeting on August 18. The project aims to clear 2.33 lakh cubic metres from the 12.6-acre site by July 2027. Once cleared, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited will establish a CBG plant on seven acres, which will treat city organic waste. This coordinated effort will also lead to the development of a park on the remaining 4.5 acres.

🚢 Tiruppur exporters want Vizhinjam port to work for MSMEs

Coimbatore and Tiruppur exporters see Vizhinjam International Seaport as a key logistic fix for Western shipments. The Tiruppur Exporters’ Association highlighted opportunities due to the port's location and deep-water capabilities. They noted that logistics costs, transit time, and container availability are major concerns for their MSME-dominated industry. The TEA is pushing for a Tiruppur-Vizhinjam EXIM cargo corridor and direct links to the EU, UK, US, and West Asia. They also requested the Kerala government to hold a trade meet in Coimbatore for better cargo movement. 🚢

🌿 Nilgiris wetland gets a big ecological glow-up

A wetland restoration initiative was recently launched at Wellington in the Nilgiris region. This project involves Arulagam, Upstream Ecology Foundation, MRC-Wellington, and State Street Foundation volunteers. The goal is to remove invasive species like Milk Thistle and Alligator Weed from the habitat. This effort aims to boost local ecological balance and protect indigenous biodiversity. The restoration was inaugurated by Brigadier Krishnendu Das, Tanushree Das, and Major K. Deepak.

🐘 Abhimanyu's Journey at Mysuru Dasara

Abhimanyu transitioned from a wild elephant taskmaster to the lead elephant carrying the golden howdah. He served in the squad and was involved in Dasara festivities for over 25 years in Mysuru. He was named the lead elephant in 2020 after Arjuna retired at age 60, but will now be relieved after turning 60 in April. For five years, he performed this prestigious duty with great skill during the Jamboo Savari. He was also known for controlling rogue elephants in forest operations. 🐘