India

India Sends Medical Aid to Kenya to Strengthen Ebola Preparedness

India has dispatched medical aid to Kenya as part of efforts to enhance the country's readiness against Ebola. The assistance is aimed at bolstering Kenya's capacity to respond to potential Ebola outbreaks. This latest shipment builds on India's earlier humanitarian efforts on the continent. In May and June, India had already supplied more than 45 tonnes of medical assistance to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

CRPF may seek explanation from officer viral for ‘dead cockroach’ Insta story

Ashok Sharma earns India T20I debut after standout IPL and domestic season

Ashok Sharma made his India T20I debut against Zimbabwe in Harare, marking a significant milestone in his cricket career. The pacer rose to prominence through strong performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and IPL 2026, where he clocked speeds of 154.2 kmph. Sharma hails from a small village, and his path to international cricket was built on family support and personal sacrifice. He has now secured a place in India's bowling lineup as part of a balanced attack for the Zimbabwe series.

Shreyas Iyer breaks MS Dhoni's record with eighth consecutive T20I toss win

Shreyas Iyer set a new Indian T20I captaincy record by winning his eighth consecutive toss during the first T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare. This surpasses the previous record of seven consecutive toss wins held by MS Dhoni. Opting to bowl first, Iyer cited the expected bounce on the pitch as the reason for his decision. Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza, meanwhile, predicted a high-scoring match despite some early conditions favouring the bowlers.

CCPA Fines Chaayos Rs 50,000 for Forcing Service Charge on Customers

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a Rs 50,000 fine on café chain Chaayos for automatically adding service charges to customer bills. The consumer watchdog ruled that restaurants cannot compel customers to pay what are classified as voluntary tips. As part of the order, Chaayos must refund the service charge amount to the complainant who raised the grievance. The company is also directed to remove default service charges from all its billing systems going forward. The ruling reinforces the legal position that service charges in restaurants are optional, not mandatory.

Musk Directs Tesla Engineers to Switch from Claude to xAI's Grok

Elon Musk has instructed Tesla employees to adopt Grok, the AI model built by his company xAI, as their primary tool. The move is backed by a new internal policy that restricts spending on competing AI platforms. Grok 4.5's lower token costs have been cited as a key advantage driving the transition. Tesla engineers have been testing beta versions of Grok for some time, though many still prefer Anthropic's Claude for day-to-day work. Staff have been asked to submit their feedback on the switch via email.

2,500 youths picked up across Kashmir in crackdown over cop’s killing

Arshad Warsi Restores 150-Year-Old Goa Villa, Opens It for Rent at Rs 75,000/Night

Actor Arshad Warsi and his wife Maria Goretti have restored a 150-year-old Portuguese-style bungalow located in Saligao, North Goa. The property, now named Casa Zen, features five bedrooms with vibrant interiors, a swimming pool, solar panels, and landscaped gardens. The couple transformed the heritage structure while preserving its colonial architectural character. Casa Zen is now open to tourists as a rental property, priced at Rs 75,000 per night, excluding taxes.

Thane Man Loses Rs 12.6 Lakh to Trio Posing as German Firm Recruiters

A man from Thane, Maharashtra was defrauded of Rs 12.6 lakh by three individuals who contacted him with a fraudulent job offer. The scammers, identified as Payal Sharma, Anuj Kumar, and Shrikant Dhavapanti, reached out to the victim over the phone. They lured him by falsely claiming to offer employment at a well-known German company. The victim fell prey to the scheme and lost a significant sum of money before realising he had been deceived. Authorities have identified the three accused in connection with the fraud case.

China Develops High-Speed Asteroid Deflection System Using Long March 5 Rocket

China is working on a planetary defense system capable of striking asteroids at speeds reaching Mach 26. The mission will deploy the Long March 5 rocket to generate a powerful impact velocity against potential asteroid threats. The high-speed approach is designed to shorten response time when dealing with incoming cosmic dangers. China's initiative is positioned as a contribution to global efforts to protect Earth from asteroid strikes.

Slogan vs slogan at Parliament entrance as NDA, Opposition hold protests

Govt Invites Opposition for Unconditional NEET Debate to Break Parliament Deadlock

The Indian government has reached out to opposition leaders in an effort to resolve the ongoing Parliamentary deadlock triggered by the NEET paper leak controversy. Disruptions have repeatedly stalled proceedings since the Monsoon session commenced, with opposition protests forcing multiple adjournments. The Centre has expressed willingness to hold a debate on the issue but without any preconditions, including demands for a ministerial resignation. A meeting of floor leaders is expected shortly to build consensus around holding the discussion. The outreach reflects growing pressure to address concerns over alleged irregularities in the national medical entrance examination.

Water cannon, tug of war and a stolen gate: Patna NEET protest goes viral

Gulf Nations Invest Billions in Pipelines to Bypass Strait of Hormuz

Gulf countries are fast-tracking major pipeline projects designed to transport oil without passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The push comes as nations seek to protect their oil exports from potential disruptions at the strategically critical waterway. Several large-scale pipeline initiatives are currently under construction or in advanced planning stages. The diversification strategy reflects growing concern over the vulnerability of the region's energy supply chains. However, analysts note that these alternative routes carry their own logistical risks and come at significantly higher costs.

Centre Invites Protesting Farmers for Talks at Their Convenient Time

The Indian central government has extended an open invitation to protesters for dialogue, offering flexibility on the timing of discussions. A senior minister made the appeal, signaling the government's willingness to engage and resolve the ongoing standoff. The minister confirmed that Union Minister JP Nadda would also participate in the proposed talks. The government's outreach suggests an effort to de-escalate tensions through direct negotiation with the protesting groups.

Meet Evan Budz: Canadian teen builds AI turtle to detect microplastics

Iran Claims Drone Strikes Destroyed US Air Defense Systems in Jordan and Kuwait

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has claimed that its strikes destroyed Patriot air defense systems and a THAAD radar at US military bases in Jordan. The Iranian Army also stated it conducted separate drone strikes targeting three Kuwaiti military installations, reportedly damaging fuel tanks and supply depots. These strikes follow the recent deaths of US service members in the region, which have heightened tensions between the two countries. The US military has not confirmed or verified any of Iran's claims regarding the extent of the damage.

5 Dead, 2 Hurt as Car Falls Into Pond in Odisha

A tragic road accident in Odisha claimed five lives and left two others injured. The victims, all aged between 25 and 28, were travelling together when their car plunged into a roadside pond. The group was on their way to attend a friend's wedding at the time of the mishap. Two survivors were rescued from the scene following the incident.

Niger Farmers Restore 200 Million Trees Using Low-Cost Root Revival Method

Australian agronomist Tony Rinaudo introduced a simple technique that helped farmers in Niger regenerate over 200 million trees by reviving dormant underground root systems. The low-cost method restored millions of hectares of degraded farmland across the country's dry landscapes. Regenerated indigenous trees provided shade, reduced soil erosion, and improved soil fertility. The initiative significantly boosted food security for local communities in the region. The approach has since gained international recognition and is now being adopted as a global model for land restoration.

Fast-track trial for NEET leak cases at four High Courts: Arjun Ram Meghwal