India

Ladakh's tourist footfall continues rising; August sees most foreign visitors

AAP MP Raghav Chadha's Name Added to Delhi Voter List Amid Procedure Row

AAP leaders held a press conference to flag concerns over Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha's name appearing on the electoral rolls of Delhi's Rajinder Nagar Assembly constituency. They alleged that the inclusion was carried out without following the legally mandated procedure. The issue raises questions about the integrity of the voter registration process in the constituency. AAP leaders have called attention to what they describe as an irregular addition to the voter list.

Ontario couple donates 187-acre island sanctuary to land trust after 36 years

Jim and Anne Purvis have donated their 187.4-acre property on Wilson Island, Ontario, to the Northumberland Land Trust. The couple originally purchased the land in 1989 and spent 36 years stewarding it as a private family sanctuary. The property encompasses forests, wetlands, and grasslands, and also provides habitat for species at risk. The donation ensures the land will be permanently protected as a nature reserve.

Ladakh LG taps 90 million litres of glacial water after village head's appeal

Vigil Held in Manipur Over Musician's Death; CM Writes to Delhi Minister Rekha Gupta

A vigil was held in Manipur following the death of a musician, with attendees demanding swift justice. The Manipur Chief Minister wrote to Delhi Minister Rekha Gupta in connection with the case. Delhi Police have arrested eight persons allegedly linked to the musician's killing. Those gathered at the vigil also requested a meeting with the Manipur Chief Minister to press for faster action against the accused.

Army man breached PM Modi's BKC security with fake NSG card in 2023, trial pending

A retired assistant commissioner has recalled a past security breach involving an army personnel at BKC. The army man allegedly used a tampered NSG identity card and a fake pass to gain access. His reported motive was simply to see Prime Minister Modi as an admirer, not to cause harm. Authorities filed a chargesheet following the incident, though the trial remains pending. The man and his wife later attended a separate event through legitimate means with a valid pass.

Prince Harry and Meghan Return to UK, Surprised by King Charles Letter on Status

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, along with their two children, have returned to live in Britain after six years abroad. The couple had previously stepped down from royal duties and relocated to the United States. Their departure had marked a period of estrangement and strained relations with the royal family. Following their return, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were reportedly surprised by a letter from King Charles regarding their royal status.

Indian High Commissioner Holds First-Ever Meeting with Bangladesh President

India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh met with the Bangladeshi President in what marks the first such meeting between the two officials. The meeting focused on discussing bilateral ties between the two neighbouring nations. The development signals a diplomatic engagement at a significant level between India and Bangladesh. Such high-level interactions are seen as important for maintaining and strengthening relations between the two countries.

Tamil Nadu 2022 Minor Gang-Rape Case: One Gets Death, Two Jailed Up to 20 Years

A court in Tamil Nadu has delivered its verdict in a 2022 minor gang-rape case, handing down sentences to three convicted men. Chinnakutty has been sentenced to death for his role in the crime. Co-accused Murugesan received a 20-year prison term, while Muneeswaran was sentenced to 13 years in jail. The case dates back to 2022 and involved the gang-rape of a minor victim in Tamil Nadu.

Teen wins $100,000 Regeneron prize for quantum math research breakthrough

Rachel Chen, an 18-year-old student from Los Angeles, has won $100,000 at the Regeneron Science Talent Search. Her winning research builds upon a mathematical concept from 1997 involving Temperley-Lieb diagrams. Chen's work provides a visual framework for describing complex quantum particle systems and spin representations. The research could help scientists better understand relationships between different quantum-mechanical states.

Retired IAS Officer Rakesh Mehta Found Dead at Noida Home, Suicide Note Recovered

Rakesh Mehta, a retired IAS officer from the 1975 batch, was found dead at his residence in Sector 82, Noida. Police recovered an alleged suicide note from the scene. In the note, Mehta cited mental and health issues as the reasons behind his decision. He had previously served as a top official under former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit during the Commonwealth Games era.

Pentagon Set to Choose Between Boeing and Northrop for Navy's Next Stealth Fighter

The US Department of Defense is nearing a decision on a multi-billion dollar contract for the Navy's next-generation stealth fighter jet. The two contenders in the running are aerospace giants Boeing and Northrop Grumman. The new aircraft is designed to succeed the ageing F/A-18 Super Hornet, which currently serves as a core carrier-based fighter. The future jet will incorporate advanced stealth capabilities and is projected to enter active service sometime in the 2030s.

DU Students Protest Against VC Over Satya Niketan Building Collapse Deaths

Students at Delhi University publicly confronted Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh during a campus event, raising slogans demanding accountability. The protest came in the wake of a fatal building collapse at a Satya Niketan paying-guest accommodation, which claimed several student lives. Demonstrators called for structural safety audits across student housing and held a march to press their demands. Student groups have continued to question the university administration's response to safety and accommodation concerns following the tragedy.

Satya Niketan Students Vacate Homes After Nearby Building Collapse

A building collapse near Satya Niketan has prompted students living in the area to urgently leave their rented accommodations over safety fears. Some students have returned to their hometowns, while others have arranged temporary shelter within their college premises. Local property owners have reportedly removed paying-guest signboards, apparently to avoid regulatory attention following the incident. Volunteers have stepped in to assist with rescue efforts and distribute essential supplies to those displaced. The incident has highlighted growing concerns about the structural safety of buildings in the neighbourhood.

Weed-control flies in Montana linked to tripling of hantavirus-positive mice

A biological control effort against invasive spotted knapweed in Montana has triggered an unintended ecological chain reaction. Gall flies, introduced to curb the weed's spread, have become a key winter food source for deer mice, causing their populations to surge. The rise in deer mice numbers has corresponded with an increase in hantavirus transmission in affected areas. Regions with high knapweed density are reporting significantly more hantavirus-infected mice compared to areas with native grasslands.

Maine's Hog Island: 90 Years as a Conservation and Education Sanctuary

Hog Island Audubon Camp in Maine is celebrating 90 years of environmental education and research. The island was saved from deforestation by environmentalists Millicent Todd Bingham and Mabel Loomis Todd, who purchased it to prevent clear-cutting. It is notably the birthplace of Project Puffin, an initiative that successfully restored seabird populations in the region. Today, the 330-acre island continues to serve as a training hub for aspiring scientists, educators, and artists. Its conservation impact has spread well beyond Maine, influencing bird protection efforts across North America.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards Seize US Unmanned Submarine in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the seizure of an unmanned US submarine in the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel was described as a modern, unmanned underwater vehicle capable of advanced maritime operations. According to Iranian media, the submarine's functions included subsurface reconnaissance, surveillance, and seabed mapping. It was also reportedly equipped for mine detection and inspection of underwater cables and pipelines. The incident adds to ongoing tensions between the US and Iran in the strategically critical waterway.

Earthquake of magnitude 5.0 hits flood-ravaged Nepal

Former Delhi chief secretary Rakesh Mehta dies by suicide at Noida residence

Raghav Chadha enrolled in Delhi voter list after Punjab removal

AAP leader Raghav Chadha has been added to Delhi's electoral rolls through a special revision process. His name was specifically included in the Rajinder Nagar constituency, a move that drew questions from fellow AAP leaders over the procedure followed. Election officials clarified that his enrollment was carried out via the standard voter list updation process. Chadha's name had previously been removed from Punjab's electoral rolls following his election to the Rajya Sabha. His addition will be reflected in an upcoming supplementary electoral list.