India

Karnataka's Awais Ahmed builds satellite startup Pixxel, wins NASA contract

Awais Ahmed, who grew up in Karnataka without internet access, founded space-tech startup Pixxel after developing a passion for space through books encouraged by his parents. He studied engineering at BITS Pilani, where he met his co-founder. Together, they built Pixxel with the goal of deploying a constellation of hyperspectral Earth-observation satellites. The startup has since secured a contract with NASA for Earth-observation data, marking a significant milestone for the young company.

Amazon cuts jobs in AGI unit amid strategic AI restructuring

Amazon has laid off employees within its Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) division as part of an internal restructuring. The cuts primarily affect teams working on model customization and data services. This move follows recent leadership changes within Amazon's AI division. Despite the layoffs, Amazon maintains that it continues to invest heavily in AI development and infrastructure. The company says the restructuring is aimed at sharpening focus on customer-centric AI priorities.

Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Launched in India at Rs 1.45 Crore

Mercedes-Benz has launched the AMG E53 Hybrid in India at a price of Rs 1.45 crore. The vehicle offers an electric-only range of up to 100 km on battery power. It comes loaded with premium features including a Burmester sound system, head-up display, heated front sports seats, and ambient lighting with logo projection. On the safety front, the car is equipped with a 360-degree camera, tyre pressure monitoring system, and a driver monitoring camera. The E53 Hybrid targets buyers seeking a blend of performance, luxury, and electrified efficiency in the premium sedan segment.

Gas Cylinder Blast in Bengaluru PG Accommodation Injures Nine

A gas cylinder explosion at a paying guest accommodation in Bengaluru left nine people injured. The blast originated from a gas leak in the kitchen and was powerful enough to shatter glass windows and doors across the entire floor. Residents had kept the windows shut to keep out mosquitoes, which likely allowed the leaked gas to accumulate and intensify the explosion. The incident highlights safety risks associated with poor ventilation in shared residential spaces.

Kerala Man Allegedly Kills 89-Year-Old Father With Hammer in Property Row

A man named Radhakrishnan has been accused of killing his elderly father in Kerala, India. The incident occurred on the night of July 20 during an argument between the two. According to police, Radhakrishnan allegedly used a hammer to fatally attack his 89-year-old father. The dispute is reported to have stemmed from a disagreement over property. Authorities are investigating the case following the fatal assault.

Amazon and Uber Cut Jobs as AI Transforms Tech Industry Roles

Amazon and Uber have announced fresh rounds of layoffs as artificial intelligence continues to reshape workforce needs across the technology sector. At Amazon, the cuts are targeting employees within its AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) organisation, the division responsible for developing next-generation AI systems. The move signals a broader industry trend where companies are restructuring teams in response to growing AI capabilities. Both firms join a wave of major tech employers reducing headcount as automation and AI tools take over functions previously handled by human workers.

Shashi Tharoor quotes Pakistani poet to take a dig at PM Modi amid NEET paper leak row

Two AI Models Achieve Perfect Score on World's Toughest Math Olympiad

Huawei's Celia and RedNote's dots-note-3.0 have each achieved a perfect score on one of the world's most challenging school-level mathematics competitions. Both AI models successfully solved all six problems in the test, a significant benchmark in artificial intelligence reasoning capability. This milestone comes just months after AI systems first reached gold-medal performance levels at the competition in 2025. The achievement highlights the rapid pace at which AI is advancing in complex mathematical problem-solving.

UK June Heatwave Caused $1.5B Economic Loss and 24M Lost Work Hours

A record-breaking June heatwave in England inflicted an estimated $1.5 billion blow to the country's economy, according to a new study. Workers across sectors including construction and agriculture were forced to reduce their hours in order to cope with the extreme heat. The disruption resulted in approximately 24 million work hours being lost during the period. The findings highlight the tangible economic consequences of rising temperatures on outdoor and labour-intensive industries.

Alphabet Posts Record $119.8B Q2 Revenue Driven by Cloud and AI Growth

Alphabet reported a landmark second quarter with total revenue reaching $119.8 billion, marking a historic performance for the company. Google Cloud delivered an 82% year-over-year revenue surge, highlighting rapid enterprise adoption of its services. The Gemini app attracted 950 million active users, while Search AI Mode surpassed one billion users. YouTube's advertising revenue grew 13% to exceed $11 billion during the quarter. Underpinning these results, Google's AI models are now processing 22 billion tokens per minute across its platforms.

CBI says no evidence found against kingpin Sanjeev Mukhiya in NEET-UG 2024 paper leak case

PV Sindhu exits China Open in R2 after squandering four match points

Indian shuttler PV Sindhu was eliminated in the second round of the China Open, losing 21-16, 20-22, 18-21 to world No. 4 Chen Yufei. The match lasted 90 minutes and saw Sindhu hold four match points in the second game, only to let them slip away. Chen Yufei, the Tokyo Olympic champion, capitalized on the opportunity to stage a comeback and seal the win. The defeat came shortly after Sindhu's title victory at the Japan Open. Chen Yufei advances to the quarterfinals on the back of this hard-fought victory.

Two Terrorist Family Homes Razed in Kashmir After Anantnag Attack

Indian security forces demolished the homes of two terrorists' families in Kashmir, a day after a militant attack in Anantnag district. The action was taken as part of counter-terrorism measures following the attack. One of the demolished properties belonged to the Thokar family, whose home was being razed for the second time. Authorities have been increasingly using property demolitions as a punitive measure against families of active militants in the Kashmir Valley.

Mark Cuban warns AI agents lack human judgment needed in business decisions

Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban has cautioned that AI agents may miss critical human judgment when making business decisions. He argues that employees understand the real-world consequences of workplace decisions in ways that current AI models do not. A recent report by Anthropic indicates that AI has not yet caused a significant rise in unemployment rates. Experts suggest AI is currently enhancing human expertise rather than outright replacing workers. Nevertheless, analysts emphasize that human oversight remains essential even as AI technology advances rapidly.

Tony Parker's 53-Acre Texas Mansion With Private Water Park Relisted at $11M

Former NBA star Tony Parker's sprawling 53-acre Texas estate is now listed at $11 million following multiple price reductions. The property originally carried an asking price of $20 million, representing a significant drop in valuation. The luxury estate features a private water park and extensive sports facilities among its many amenities. Despite considerable media attention over time, the highly customized property has yet to find a buyer.

India's Rapid Vehicle Growth Strains Urban Parking Infrastructure

India is grappling with a serious parking shortage as vehicle numbers have doubled over the past decade, outpacing city infrastructure. Both historic districts and newer suburban areas are struggling to accommodate the surge in car ownership due to inadequate urban planning. While informal parking arrangements have proliferated, purpose-built multi-level parking facilities remain largely underused. Enforcement of parking regulations continues to pose significant challenges for civic authorities. Experts point to improved public transportation and technology-driven solutions as essential steps toward addressing the growing crisis.

Anna Hazare launches silent protest in support of Delhi students over exam irregularities

Veteran activist Anna Hazare has begun a silent protest (maun andolan) in Ahilyanagar in solidarity with students demonstrating in Delhi. The students are protesting against alleged examination irregularities and paper leaks. The Cockroach Janta Party has joined in demanding accountability and the resignation of the concerned minister. Tensions escalated in Delhi when clashes broke out between protesters and police during a demonstration march. Separately, activist Sonam Wangchuk continues to remain hospitalized following a prolonged hunger strike.

Indian Railways approves Rs 440 crore third line project in West Bengal to ease train congestion

Orcas filmed dismembering giant sunfish in newly documented group behaviour

Researchers have documented a previously unrecorded hunting behaviour in orcas in the Gulf of California. The orcas were observed cooperating to hold and repeatedly ram giant sharp-tail sunfish until the carcass shattered into thousands of pieces. The behaviour was captured on film, providing scientists with rare evidence of this coordinated activity. Experts suggest the technique may help younger orcas feed more easily on the broken-up carcass, though it could also be a form of play.

Model Recruiter Linked to Epstein Found Dead in France

A model recruiter accused of introducing women to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has been found dead in France. The individual had faced allegations of acting as a recruiter who connected women to Epstein. The death was reported in France, though circumstances surrounding it were not detailed in available information. The case draws renewed attention to the network of associates connected to Epstein.