India

Taxpayer wins Rs 5.31 lakh refund after IT dept rejects claim over missing original ITR

A taxpayer who had never filed an original income tax return under Section 139 received a tax notice under Section 148, prompting them to file a return claiming a refund of Rs 5.31 lakh. The Income Tax Assessing Officer rejected the refund claim, arguing that a refund cannot be sought through a return filed under Section 148 in the absence of an original filing. The taxpayer challenged this decision, ultimately winning the refund battle. The ruling clarified that a taxpayer's right to claim a refund cannot be denied solely on the grounds that no original ITR was previously filed.

US pauses fresh military action against Iran, turns to sanctions and maritime pressure

Scottish couple gifted island and Gaelic archives to National Trust after 43 years

Scottish Gaelic scholar John Lorne Campbell and American musician Margaret Fay Shaw purchased the remote Scottish islands of Canna and Sanday in 1938, establishing their home at Canna House. Over several decades, the couple dedicated their lives to collecting and preserving Gaelic songs, stories, photographs, and historical records. In 1981, Campbell donated Canna, their residence, and the entire archive collection to the National Trust for Scotland. The gift came 43 years after the couple first acquired the island, ensuring their life's work would be safeguarded for future generations.

Eight Bengaluru Clubs Face Action After Hygiene Violations Found in Inspections

Special inspection teams carried out raids at eight prominent clubs in Bengaluru, uncovering serious hygiene violations. The clubs inspected include Century Club, KSCA Club, Bowring Club, Catholic Club, Tennis Club, Vijayanagara Club, Mahalakshmi Layout Club, and Malleshwaram Club. Authorities found lapses including cockroach infestations at these establishments. The clubs now face regulatory action as a consequence of the findings from these inspections.

Meaningless Work Fueling Loneliness and Creativity Crisis Among Indian Employees

A new study has highlighted a growing creativity crisis among employees in India, linking it to a widespread sense of purposelessness at work. The research found that workers who consider their tasks meaningless are more likely to feel lonely and disengaged. Conversely, employees who view their work as worthwhile tend to invest greater time, energy, and attention into it. The findings raise concerns about workplace well-being and productivity across Indian organizations.

Two Sigma Co-Founder Faces Multibillion-Dollar Divorce Battle Over Hedge Fund Stake

John Overdeck, co-founder of prominent AI-driven hedge fund Two Sigma Investments, is embroiled in what is reported to be New Jersey's largest-ever divorce case. His wife, Laura Overdeck, is seeking a significant equity stake in the firm as part of her financial claims. The dispute centers on disagreements over the fund's valuation at the time of their marriage and how shared assets should be divided. The case also involves questions surrounding trusts established for the couple's children. Beyond the financial stakes, the legal battle has implications for leadership structure at Two Sigma itself.

HFT Firms in India Offer Interns Up to Rs 30 Lakh a Month Amid Talent War

High-frequency trading (HFT) firms in India are offering extraordinary compensation packages to interns as competition for quantitative talent intensifies. Companies like Quadeye and Graviton Research Capital are among those significantly boosting their internship offerings. Global trading firms are also joining the race to recruit top candidates from premier academic institutions. This surge in hiring activity comes against the backdrop of tighter derivatives regulations and a relatively subdued equity market. The trend reflects the growing premium these firms place on skilled quantitative professionals early in their careers.

Starc claims No. 1 Test bowler ranking for first time after 10-wicket haul

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has reached the top of the ICC Test bowling rankings for the first time in his career. He achieved the feat after a dominant match performance of 10 wickets, comprising figures of 6/12 in the first innings and 4/39 in the second. His outstanding display helped Australia secure an innings and 51-run victory. The result levelled the World Test Championship series. Starc's haul displaced India's Jasprit Bumrah from the No. 1 position.

Flash Floods From Tibet Kill 8 in Nepal, Border Villages Destroyed

At least eight people have died in Nepal following devastating flash floods that originated in Tibet. The floods sent torrents of muddy water surging through mountain valleys in Himalayan districts along the Tibetan border. Several villages in the affected areas were washed away by the force of the floodwaters. Videos shared by Nepal Police on social media captured the scale of destruction as the floods tore through the region.

Nepal Flash Floods Destroy Bridge and Homes at Rasuwa Border Crossing

Devastating flash floods struck the Bhote Koshi river in Nepal, causing widespread destruction in the region. The floods severely damaged Timure Bazaar, a local market area near the border. The Rasuwa border crossing, including its customs facilities, was also heavily impacted by the floodwaters. Videos circulating online captured the rapid destruction of bridges and residential structures within seconds.

Trump’s immigration crackdown: H-1B fee hike, visa appointments halted - changes explained

India's Rice Exports to Iran Likely to Continue Despite US Sanctions Pressure

India's rice exports to Iran are expected to remain largely unaffected despite the threat of tightened US sanctions. Iran continues to show strong demand for Indian rice, driven primarily by food security needs. Indian exporters have adapted by routing payments through third-party countries such as Turkey and the UAE. Essential commodities like rice and pharmaceuticals are generally less vulnerable to trade disruptions under such sanctions. However, overall bilateral trade between India and Iran has already fallen considerably from its historical peak.

India Stays Cooler Amid Global Warming: Scientists Probe the Anomaly

While the rest of the world experiences intensifying heat, India has been recording comparatively cooler conditions, presenting an unusual climate anomaly. Europe, which is warming at more than twice the global average, is preparing for increasingly severe climate impacts. Scientists and climate experts are trying to understand the factors behind India's relative coolness against a backdrop of global heating. The phenomenon is considered unexpected given broader warming trends affecting most regions of the world.

Flash Floods Kill at Least 8 in Nepal's Rasuwa District, Rescue Ops Underway

Sudden flash floods have struck Nepal's Rasuwa district, leaving at least eight people dead. The disaster caused significant destruction across the affected area. Rescue operations have been launched in response to the flooding. Authorities and emergency teams are actively working to assist those impacted by the disaster.

India's First Bullet Train Takes Shape Along 135-km Elevated Corridor

Construction is actively underway on India's first bullet train project, spanning a 135.45-kilometre elevated stretch. The corridor runs from Shilphata in Thane district to Zaroli village, located near the Maharashtra-Gujarat border. The project traverses diverse and scenic terrain across the two states. The elevated alignment reflects the engineering scale of this landmark infrastructure initiative.

IIT Student Dies by Suicide After Telling Mother He Was in Pain

An IIT student named Rishikesh died by suicide after confiding in his mother about his distress. His brother Abhishek Kumar revealed that Rishikesh had told their mother he was experiencing suicidal thoughts. The student had reportedly expressed that he was hurting before his death. The case has drawn attention to the mental health pressures faced by students at premier technical institutions in India.

Flash Floods Devastate Nepal Villages, At Least 8 Dead

Flash floods have struck villages in Nepal, killing at least eight people whose bodies have been recovered so far. The disaster caused widespread destruction, washing away settlements in the affected areas. Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah confirmed that authorities have mobilized a large-scale emergency response. Rescue and relief teams, along with police and military personnel, have been deployed to the affected regions. Efforts are ongoing to assist survivors and assess the full extent of the damage.

Uttar Pradesh Introduces New Rules for Private Sector Worker Safety and Health

The Uttar Pradesh government has approved a new set of regulations targeting the welfare of private-sector employees in the state. Under the revised rules, workers will be entitled to receive formal appointment letters from their employers. The new framework also mandates annual health check-ups for workers as part of improved occupational health standards. The move is aimed at strengthening safety, health, and overall working conditions across the private sector in the state.

Columbia's pigment-free polymer coating keeps surfaces 6°C cooler without electricity

Researchers at Columbia Engineering have developed a porous polymer coating capable of cooling surfaces below ambient air temperature without any power consumption. Instead of conventional white pigments, the coating uses nano-to-microscale air voids to reflect sunlight and radiate heat into the sky. Field tests conducted in Arizona showed the coated surface remained approximately 6°C cooler than the surrounding air, while trials in Bangladesh recorded a 3°C reduction. The passive cooling technology could offer an energy-free solution for reducing heat in buildings and infrastructure across hot climates.

Four Savannah officers arrested after audit uncovers misuse of plate-reader system

Four former Savannah Police Department employees have been arrested for allegedly misusing the Flock Safety license plate reader system. The misconduct came to light following an internal audit of approximately 39,000 database searches conducted by the department. Of those, 127 searches were flagged for closer review, and 34 were ultimately found to be unjustified. In total, six employees were dismissed from the department as a result of the findings. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is continuing to probe the case.