🇮🇳 Vande Mataram: Clash over National Song Stanzas

The Congress Working Committee resolved in 1937 that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram should be sung at national gatherings. After Jana Gana Mana became the National Anthem on January 24, 1950, Rajendra Prasad vowed to honour Vande Mataram equally. Recently, the BJP-led Union government has pushed for all six stanzas to be recited, especially around its 150th anniversary in 2025. In 2026, the MHA issued directions and Parliament passed an amendment extending penalties to the National Song. The Supreme Court must apply the Bijoe Emmanuel ruling to protect conscientious objectors from state compulsion. 🇮🇳

🌟 Andhra University shines in NSS activities

Andhra University has been recognized as a model for National Service Scheme (NSS) activities within the state. NSS State Officer M. Sudhakar made the announcement during an NSS Day programme held at the university on Thursday. The university hosted the highest number of special service camps in the state last year, following Andhra Pradesh's national lead. Jaladi Ravi urged volunteers to respond actively during any disasters. University and district-level awards were distributed to officers and volunteers. 🌟

🧐 India's political party funding is super murky

A recent BBC investigation exposed extraordinary donations received by six Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs). The Association for Democratic Reforms reported a 223% rise in RUPP declared income in FY2022-23. The ECI has delisted 334 RUPPs as part of its effort to clean up the electoral system. Political parties continue to enjoy income-tax exemptions despite their ambiguous legal status. Researchers note that over the last decade, the exchequer lost ₹11,813 crore in taxes from political donations. 💸

🎸 Xiaomi's Pocket Guitar makes phones into instruments

Xiaomi has launched the Pocket Guitar, a gadget designed to turn smartphones into musical instruments. It works with the Xiaomi 18 Pro and Xiaomi 18 Pro Max, and also supports iPhones running iOS 14 or newer via the Changba app. The device features a 630 mAh battery that lasts over 30 days with one hour of daily use. It also includes magnets, allowing it to function as a compact stand when not being used musically. Xiaomi is selling this accessory for CNY 599, though a global launch seems unlikely.

🤔 Jungkook's visuals face age comments in photos

BTS's Jungkook's visuals were criticized in unedited photos shared online. The idol attended a Hublot event in Japan on September 24th as a global ambassador for the brand. These images sparked mixed reactions, with some users commenting that he looked older. However, many fans quickly defended him, attributing the changes to natural aging. They argued against unrealistic beauty standards set by cosmetic procedures. 🧐

🔋 Mivi One 5G drops in India with huge battery

Mivi has officially launched its new One 5G smartphone in India this week. The phone features a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor and a massive 6,000mAh battery. It will be available starting October 8th through Flipkart at prices beginning at Rs 14,999. This device is aimed at young, budget-conscious users needing a reliable daily phone. Plus, it will be even cheaper during the Big Billion Day sale starting from Rs 11,999.

🦖 T. rex trackway reveals how dino moved

The first known trackway of an adult Tyrannosaurus rex has been discovered, offering insights into its movement. This crucial find was made by Kent Hups in North Dakota's Hell Creek Formation. The trackway measures approximately 7 meters long and was documented around July 2025. This allows scientists to study locomotion, providing data on stride length of about 4 meters. Researchers estimate the walking speed was between 1.5 and 2 meters per second. 🦖

🏏 India series offers WC prep for West Indies

The upcoming series against India provides a valuable opportunity for the West Indies cricket team. This tour allows the players to assess their progress in One Day International (ODI) cricket. The matches are scheduled to take place starting on November 15th. This series is crucial for the West Indies as they prepare for future major tournaments. Teams will use this time to fine-tune strategies and build momentum. 🏏

🪐 Venus's acid clouds might host life forms

New research suggests that peptides can form omega loops within Venus's sulfuric acid clouds. This study, involving Sara Seager's team, found that amino acid chains remain intact in concentrated sulfuric acid. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, challenge previous assumptions about acid's destructive nature. This discovery expands the potential search areas for extraterrestrial life. Scientists are now exploring sulfuric acid as a possible solvent for biology. 🧪

🏏 Milnes keeps Gloucestershire in check on Day 1

Kent led the County Championship battle after Day 1 at Canterbury, with Gloucestershire trailing by 158 runs. Matt Milnes, who took 4 for 55, bowled the promotion-hopefuls for 229 runs. James Bracey scored the highest with 86 runs, while Ollie Price contributed 52 runs. Kent opted to bowl due to the green track, despite it not being overly difficult to play on. The match continues as both teams aim for their promotion goals. 🏏

🔬 New way to build complex amino acids 🧪

Researchers developed a straightforward and efficient method for creating diverse enantioenriched $\alpha$-amino acid derivatives. This breakthrough was achieved by combining nickel hydride catalysis and hydrogen atom transfer, performed by experts at the Technical University of Denmark. The protocol yields good results, with high enantioselectivities, and was published on September 24, 2026. This reaction is practical because it operates under mild conditions and tolerates various functional groups. This platform offers a robust way to synthesize chiral building blocks for medicinal chemistry.