🏛️ VC appointments settled under old government's watch

Higher Education Minister Roji M. John confirmed that the V-C appointments for A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technological University and Digital University Kerala were finalized previously. The dispute over these appointments actually emerged during the tenure of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. Both the State government and the Chancellor approached the Supreme Court, which then sent it to a Special Lok Adalat for mediation. Eventually, regular V-Cs were appointed to both universities based on a mutual agreement between all involved parties. The government later permitted the technical closure of the Supreme Court case as the proceedings became irrelevant.

🏊 Lake swimming linked to skin rashes and stomach issues

Swimming in fresh water is linked to higher risks of skin rashes and stomach trouble, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of East Anglia conducted this randomized controlled trial in Hungary. The study tracked 2,368 participants across four freshwater areas in Hungary. Higher levels of E. coli correlated with a 77% increased risk of GI illness among swimmers. Monitoring freshwater sites is vital for public health across areas like the UK. 🏊

🏭 India launches Semicon 2.0 scheme for chip manufacturing

The Government of India officially notified the Semicon 2.0 scheme on August 31, 2026, as the next phase of the Semicon India Programme. This major scheme allocates a fiscal outlay of ₹1,27,500 crore to boost semiconductor activities across the nation. Silicon wafer fabs with ₹20,000 crore investment get 40% fiscal support, while chip design incentives are available for startups. The government aims to train 100,000 more engineers and expects the scheme to attract ₹4 lakh crore in investments. A high-level expert panel will guide strategic chip incentives moving forward. 🚀

💰 PVR INOX greenlights ₹300 Cr share buyback

PVR INOX has officially approved a significant share buyback worth ₹300 crore. This corporate action involves the company repurchasing its own shares at a price of ₹1,450 per share. The approval was confirmed by the company's board. This move is generally seen as a way to return value to shareholders. The process is expected to move forward according to regulatory timelines.

🚨 Two-wheeler ban on Bengaluru flyovers after 41+ deaths

Over 41 people died on the Electronics City and KIA Road flyovers in the last 19 months, prompting new restrictions from the BTP. The BTP has banned two-wheelers on the Electronics City flyover starting September 11. Additionally, two-wheelers are restricted on the KIA Road flyover from September 4. Data showed Electronics City saw 14 fatal accidents in 2025 and 12 in 2026. This drastic measure follows a sharp spike in accidents, which often involve two-wheelers. 🏍️

🔬 AI makes deepfake detection way more stable

Researchers introduced Momentum-Adaptive Switching (MAS) to fix high cross-fold variance in temporal deepfake detection models. This work was conducted by various researchers using datasets like Celeb-DF and FaceForensics++. The framework significantly reduced cross-fold variance and outperformed optimizers like AdamW during testing. MAS blends Adamax's gradient scaling with SGD's heavy-ball momentum for better training stability. Future work will focus on applying this stable framework across varied sequence lengths and probabilistic modeling. 🧐

👩‍⚖️ Madras HC adds women to State Bar Council

The Madras High Court nominated retired Justice VM Velumani and advocate Sudarshana Sundar as women members for the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Chief Justice Justice SA Dharmadhikari made these nominations after consulting the elected members of the State Bar Council. This move adheres to the Supreme Court’s August 4 order in Yogamaya MG v Union of India. The directive aimed to fix inadequate representation of women in legal bodies. The Registrar General has now asked the Bar Council Secretary to implement these nominations. 👩‍⚖️

⚠️ Galaxy S26 Ultra fix brings new screen issue

Some Galaxy S26 Ultra users are reporting new tiny dot-like marks on their screens. This issue appeared after receiving Samsung's calibration fix for a prior reddish tint problem in South Korea. The fix was distributed via the August 2026 software update or at a service center. Samsung has not confirmed any link between these new dots and the calibration process. Affected users are advised to monitor their displays and contact a service center if the marks persist. 📱

👓 AI Smart Glasses Market Set for Major Growth 🚀

The global AI Smart Glasses market is rapidly expanding due to wearable AI and real-time assistance features. This growth is happening across various regions, with North America being strategically important for adoption. The market was valued around US$592 million in 2025 and is forecast to hit US$3,386 million by 2032. This surge is fueled by generative AI improvements and the demand for hands-free computing in industries. Future trends show AI glasses evolving into more socially acceptable, everyday consumer eyewear.

🔫 Agra Police Nab Man, Seize Illegal Pistol

Agra's Etmad-ud-Daulah police recently made a significant arrest related to illegal weapons. They apprehended one man in the area of Agra. The police recovered an illegal 315-bore country-made pistol along with cartridges from the individual. This action highlights ongoing efforts to curb illicit arms trafficking in the region. Authorities are expected to proceed with further legal action against the arrested person.

🛑 Manipur Census postponed by Centre

The Centre has decided to defer the Census operations in Manipur as of Monday, August 31, 2026. This decision followed a high-level review meeting in New Delhi attended by Amit Shah and CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh. The postponement comes in response to demands from Meitei, Pangals, and Nagas for an NRC update before the Census. The Chief Minister thanked leaders for listening to the aspirations of Manipur's inhabitants. The High Court of Manipur also directed the deferral until further orders. 🗓️