🏛️ TN leaders united against parliamentary seat changes

Tamil Nadu leaders vowed a united front against the proposed delimitation exercise from the Centre. The meeting was held at Kalaivanar Arangam, attended by about 21 MPs from various parties. They unanimously agreed to oppose population-based constituency redrawing, aiming to keep Parliament at 543 seats with TN retaining 39. This stance is considered crucial for preserving Tamil Nadu's rights in the Indian Parliament. Leaders stressed that any alteration must be resisted, urging all parties to support this cause. 🏛️

🎓 Bhimavaram's college becomes AP's first private women's university

Vishnu Engineering College for Women transformed into Vishnu Women’s University, becoming Andhra Pradesh’s first private women’s university. This institution is located in Bhimavaram, a semi-urban town in the Godavari delta region. It expanded from 3 undergraduate programs to 9 B.Tech, 4 M.Tech, and 1 MBA, with an approved intake of 1,074 and over 5,000 students as of the 2026-27 academic year. The transition allows for new programs like law and architecture, emphasizing career linkage and research. The future plan includes becoming a national Centre of Excellence focusing on AI and Data Science. 🚀

🎣 Fishermen want release before Independence Day

Families are pleading with both governments for the release of 178 Indian fishermen held in Pakistani jails. These fishermen are currently detained across the border, with 198 Indians in Pakistani prisons and 54 Pakistanis in Indian jails. Of the Indian prisoners, 178 have finished their sentences but remain incarcerated, allegedly violating the 2008 agreement. Activists stressed that these men were fishing, not spying, and their long detention causes severe family strain. They urged both nations to prioritize humanitarian concerns for August 14 and 15.

📉 Calicut Varsity to cut staff contracts in self-financing colleges

The University of Calicut's Syndicate standing committee decided not to renew contracts for employees in its self-financing institutions after October 31. This affects 32 institutions across five districts, including teacher and engineering colleges. The move could lead to the termination of over 400 staff members, as the first phase begins by October 31. The staff union argues these long-serving employees, some with 25+ years of service, lack proper statutory benefits. They point to a 2017 case at Mahatma Gandhi University where compensation exceeded ₹50 crore.

🛡️ macOS has major security flaw allowing passwordless remote login

A critical security vulnerability, CVE-2026-65400, was discovered in macOS's Screen Sharing feature. Security researcher Calif disclosed this flaw, which affects users with screen sharing enabled on their computers. The vulnerability was reported on August 8 (UTC+8) and is classified as 'Critical' due to unauthenticated remote code execution. Apple has since released a patch in macOS 26.6.1 to fix the issue. Users are strongly advised to upgrade immediately or disable Screen Sharing temporarily. 🚨

🧐 Kerala ghee scam: former TDB officials booked

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has filed an FIR against former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) officials concerning a ghee procurement scam at Sabarimala. The case, registered on August 6, 2026, in Trivandrum, names former TDB president Prasanth P.S. and board member Aji Kumar among the accused. The investigation revealed a financial loss of ₹2,27,76,435 due to bypassing tender rules. The accused allegedly awarded the contract to Milma at an inflated rate of ₹510 per liter for over 1.61 lakh litres. The VACB has charged them under the Prevention of Corruption Act and BNS provisions. 🧐

👮 347 police recruits pass out in Kerala

A passing out parade for 347 recruits from various police units took place at Muttikulangara on Saturday. The recruits included members from KAP First and Second Battalions, alongside 110 police drivers from the India Reserve Battalion. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala addressed the graduates, emphasizing the duty to protect lives while upholding constitutional values. The rigorous training covered fitness, weapons, karate, and complex topics like cybercrime and forensic science. Several cadets were recognized for excellence in indoor, outdoor, and shooting categories during the ceremony. 👮

🤔 Bihar alcohol ban questioned after crime rise

A new research paper suggests Bihar should lift its alcohol ban because it failed to curb crimes against women. The study, conducted by NCAER, found that reported crimes against women actually increased post-2016. Furthermore, the ban coincided with a rise in illicit liquor and alternative intoxicants. Reinstating excise duty could boost state revenue by 14-15% while cutting enforcement costs. The paper recommends focusing on education, health, and women's empowerment next. 😥

🕵️ Police ramp up search for absconding Arjun Ayanki in Malappuram

Arjun Ayanki, an accused in multiple criminal cases, was reportedly spotted in Edappal while police were actively searching for him. He was seen visiting a private Ayurveda hospital in Edappal, with surveillance footage confirming his presence. The police intensified the search across various parts of Malappuram after reviewing the footage. Four individuals from Vattamkulam were initially detained and questioned before being released. Authorities are now focusing searches in Kuttippuram, Edappal, and Changaramkulam based on new information. 🕵️

🐘 Elephant tramples mahout at Konni camp

A mahout tragically died after being trampled by an elephant at the training camp in Konni on Friday, August 7, 2026. The deceased was identified as Mohanan Nair, a 65-year-old from Pulikkamannil, Cherimukku, near Konni. The attack happened when he was treating Priyadarshini, an elephant, by applying medicine to a trunk wound. Mohanan Nair had previously worked as the mahout for another elephant named Meena. His body was later moved to the Konni taluk hospital for the post-mortem examination. 🐘

🌟 RISE Centre boosts women's entrepreneurship in NTR district

NTR District Collector G. Lakshmisha visited the SHG Women Entrepreneurs-Self-Employment Expo at the RISE Centre on Saturday. The centre in Guntupalli is actively helping women identify and develop their entrepreneurial potential. So far, 30 workshops have been conducted, successfully reaching about 5,000 women. This centre provides training, mentorship, and market access, especially in food processing. Women are also learning modern tech like AI and FSSAI certification. 🚀