India

Victoria's 1987 forest thinning experiment yields surprising ecological benefits 30 years on

A long-term study conducted in Victoria's mountain ash forests has revealed unexpected ecological benefits from a tree-thinning experiment begun in 1987. Researchers found that heavily thinned areas produced trees with larger diameters and greater resilience to fire. These stronger trees are also more likely to develop hollows, providing habitat for various wildlife species. Notably, Leadbeater's possums were found thriving in thinned and acacia zones but were absent from untouched forest areas. The findings suggest that strategic forest thinning could offer significant ecological advantages for both flora and fauna.

India Completes First Comprehensive Catalogue of Butterflies and Moths

India has completed its first-ever national catalogue of butterflies and moths, documenting a total of 13,703 species. The landmark work was carried out by taxonomists Dr Rahul Joshi and Dr Navneet Singh from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). The final volume of the multi-part series has been published in the internationally peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa. The catalogue represents a significant milestone in India's efforts to systematically record and preserve its rich lepidopteran biodiversity.

MNS Sends Toy Cars to BMC in Protest Over Innova Vehicle Dispute

Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) sent toy cars to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) as a symbolic protest gesture. The move came in response to a dispute involving an Innova vehicle connected to the party. The toy cars, however, were not allowed inside the BMC premises by officials. They were subsequently returned to the MNS leader who had sent them.

LSU graduate's food rescue initiative delivers 10,000 meals to homeless shelter

Former Louisiana State University student Will Grand founded Giving Greek after noticing food being wasted by fraternities on campus. The student-run organisation collects surplus fraternity food and donates it to a homeless shelter in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. To date, the initiative has provided more than 10,000 meals to those in need. Grand's efforts have earned him recognition from US Senator Bill Cassidy, who commended the programme for encouraging community service.

Australian middle-distance runner Natasha Ward dies at 21

Australian athlete Natasha Ward passed away at the age of 21, as confirmed by NSW Athletics and the Sutherland District Athletics Club in a joint statement on Thursday, July 30. Ward was a competitive middle-distance runner who specialised in the 400m, 800m, and 1500m events. She had represented herself at the 2024 Australian Championships, competing alongside prominent athletes Morgan Mitchell and Claudia Hollingsworth. Ward was also a student at Macquarie University, where she recently earned a bronze medal at the UniSport Nationals.

BJP's Satish Patel wins Manjalpur by-election by 30,000-vote margin over Congress

BJP candidate Satish Patel secured a decisive victory in the Manjalpur assembly by-election in Gujarat, defeating Congress nominee Bhikhabhai Rabari by more than 30,000 votes. The seat had fallen vacant following the death of senior BJP legislator Yogesh Patel. With this win, the BJP's tally in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly has risen to 162 members. Congress, meanwhile, is left with just 12 seats in the house.

Manu Bhaker speaks out against abusive language in viral social media post

Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker shared a lengthy message on X on Sunday, calling out the growing use of abusive language in everyday interactions. She did not reference any specific incident but expressed concern about the trend becoming normalised. Bhaker made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by becoming the first Indian athlete since Independence to win two medals at a single Games. Her post quickly gained widespread attention on social media.

Kangana Ranaut's Confrontational Image May Be Losing Its Political Appeal

Bollywood actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has long built her public persona around being a lone, combative outsider who thrives on conflict. Over the years, her willingness to pick public fights with industry figures and political opponents earned her significant attention and a loyal following. However, analysts suggest that this strategy of perpetual rebellion may be reaching its limits as she runs low on credible new targets. With her controversies increasingly drawing criticism rather than sympathy, her confrontational brand risks diminishing returns in both political and entertainment circles.

Two Karnataka Congress MLAs Quit Assembly Over Cabinet Exclusion

Two Congress MLAs resigned from the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Monday, citing dissatisfaction over being left out of the state cabinet expansion. Supporters of one of the legislators staged protests, accusing the party of treating them unfairly. The resignations came on the same day that twenty new ministers were scheduled to be sworn in. The development has highlighted growing discontent within Karnataka's ruling Congress party.

West Bengal STF probes JeM recruitment ring using social media and gaming platforms

West Bengal's Special Task Force is investigating a terror recruitment network linked to Pakistan that allegedly targets young people through online channels. The suspected ring leader, Hamim Mondal, is accused of using social media and gaming platforms to identify and assign roles to recruits. One recruit, Arpita Sarkar, allegedly connected with Mondal via Instagram and was reportedly used in a honey-trap role. Another recruit, Aditya Singh, was drawn in through an online game and allegedly tasked with surveillance activities. The case highlights how extremist networks are increasingly exploiting digital platforms to radicalize and recruit youth.

USA Cricketer Akhilesh Reddy Banned 8 Years by ICC for Match-Fixing

USA cricketer Bodugum Akhilesh Reddy has received an eight-year ban from all forms of cricket following a ruling by an ICC tribunal. The India-origin player was found guilty of three separate violations of the ICC's Anti-Corruption Code. The charges relate to the 2025 Abu Dhabi T10 tournament and include attempting to fix matches, inducing a teammate to get involved, and destroying evidence during the inquiry. The ban officially takes effect from November 21, 2025.

Indian Railways takes up 2,455 km of works and surveys to improve Haldia Port connectivity

Humpback sightings drop 60% as warming oceans disrupt Southern marine life

Unusual sightings of humpback whales and weakened seabirds along Australia's east coast point to shifting ocean conditions in the Southern Ocean. Marine heat waves around Australia and Antarctica are disrupting food chains and forcing marine species off their usual routes. These thermal events are causing significant ecosystem disruptions that scientists are struggling to fully understand. Inadequate long-term monitoring is limiting researchers' ability to assess the scale of these changes. Experts are calling for improved data collection to keep pace with the rapidly accelerating shifts in marine environments.

IBM CEO Arvind Krishna says quantum computing will reshape business within years

IBM CEO Arvind Krishna has stated that quantum computing is closer to practical business use than most people assume. He cited quantum advantage research as evidence that quantum machines are already demonstrating efficiency gains over classical computers. Krishna attributed IBM's recent stock decline to customers delaying deals rather than any fundamental weakness in the company. He noted that businesses are currently reassessing their technology spending in light of advanced AI models. Despite this shift, Krishna maintained that IBM's software business remains insulated from AI-driven disruption.

112 Mumbai Civic Officials Facing Corruption Charges Remain Employed, RTI Reveals

An RTI inquiry has exposed that 112 officials of the Mumbai civic body who are named in corruption cases continue to remain in their posts. Out of a total of 207 accused employees, only 27 have been suspended so far. The revelation raises serious concerns about accountability within the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The data highlights a significant gap between the number of accused and the disciplinary action actually taken against them.

Vijay's Jana Nayagan Crosses Rs 206 Crore in India After 12 Days

Vijay's Jana Nayagan has crossed the Rs 200 crore mark at the domestic box office following its second weekend in theatres. The film has performed strongly since its release, accumulating total India collections of approximately Rs 206.38 crore by day 12. However, daily earnings have begun to taper off as the movie entered its second week of screening. The slowdown in momentum is typical for films transitioning past their opening fortnight.

Kangana Ranaut Says She Now Seeks a More Defined Hindu Identity

Bollywood actress and politician Kangana Ranaut has spoken about a shift in her personal religious outlook. She described her earlier self as a 'moderate Hindu' but said she now aspires to become more 'awakened' in her faith. Ranaut declined to address or defend allegations related to her past, choosing instead to focus on her current convictions. She framed her evolving beliefs as a desire to follow a more clearly 'defined' spiritual path.

Lok Sabha Passes Bill to Raise Supreme Court Judge Strength to 38

The Lok Sabha has passed a bill proposing to increase the number of Supreme Court judges from the current strength to 38. The legislation aims to address the growing backlog of cases pending before the apex court. An opposition-moved statutory resolution condemning the earlier promulgation of an ordinance on the matter was rejected by a voice vote. The bill marks a significant step toward expanding judicial capacity at India's highest court.

Share 'creative' ways to bring Iran to negotiating table: US military asks troops

'Women become Leftist after meeting Islamists': Kangana claims to be 'awakened Hindu'