India

NCERT Revises Class 8 Social Science Book: Hitler References Out, Savarkar Added

NCERT has released a revised Class 8 Social Science textbook following a Supreme Court directive. The updated edition removes a chapter on the judiciary, replacing it with content focused on the judiciary's constitutional role and structure. Historical revisions include dropping references to Hitler and modifying the portrayal of the Congress party's position on the 1947 Partition. The revised history chapter also introduces Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's demand for Swaraj, which was absent from the previous version.

India's Credit Card Market Grows But User Penetration Stays Low

India's credit card industry has expanded considerably over the last ten years, yet adoption rates remain well below global standards. Younger demographics and semi-urban populations have begun embracing credit cards at higher rates than before. However, the sector faces stiff competition from digital payment alternatives, particularly UPI, which has gained widespread traction. The overall quality of credit card portfolios has improved following the financial stress caused by the pandemic.

Prince Harry loses Daily Mail lawsuit, faces £50 million legal bill

Prince Harry and several other high-profile individuals have lost their lawsuit against Associated Newspapers Ltd, the publisher of the Daily Mail. They had alleged that the company used unlawful methods to gather private information over an extended period. The presiding judge dismissed all claims, ruling that the claimants had failed to provide sufficient evidence of any wrongdoing. As a result, the losing parties are now liable for an estimated legal bill of approximately £50 million. Associated Newspapers Ltd welcomed the verdict, describing the allegations as baseless and misguided.

Parallel donation system ate into donations at Madhya Pradesh’s Baglamukhi Temple, probe ordered

Meet Dr Robert Sola Okojie: The Nigerian engineer inducted into Nasa’s Inventors Hall of Fame after 21 years

Egypt file FIFA complaint over refereeing decisions in Argentina defeat

Egypt have lodged a formal complaint with FIFA following their loss to Argentina, expressing dissatisfaction with several key refereeing calls during the match. The Egyptian camp was aggrieved by a goal that was disallowed following a VAR review. They also took issue with a penalty appeal that was not put to VAR review in the lead-up to Argentina's match-winning goal. Egypt have gone further by demanding that the referee involved be removed from future duties in the tournament.

Prashant Kishor Faces Toughest Challenge Yet as He Enters Electoral Politics

Political strategist Prashant Kishor, long known for engineering election victories for major parties, is now attempting to win one himself. Having guided campaigns for numerous political leaders across India, he must now demonstrate that his expertise translates to direct electoral success. This marks a significant shift from his behind-the-scenes role to being a frontline political contestant. The transition puts his credibility and strategic acumen to its most personal and demanding test yet.

China warns of backdoor risk in Anthropic's Claude Code, urges users to upgrade

China's National Vulnerability Database has issued a security alert warning that Anthropic's AI coding tool, Claude Code, contains a backdoor vulnerability. The flaw is said to be capable of secretly transmitting users' location and identity data to remote servers without their knowledge or consent. The alert affects Claude Code versions 2.1.91 through 2.1.196, and users have been advised to uninstall or upgrade the software immediately. The warning comes amid escalating US-China tensions in the AI sector, and follows Alibaba's recent decision to ban employees from using the tool.

Punjab Police Officer Transferred After US Charges Him in Gang Extortion Case

A Punjab police officer has been transferred following charges filed against him in the United States. He is accused of collaborating with gangsters to extort $400,000 from a family based in Los Angeles. The alleged scheme involved threatening to lodge false murder charges against the family's relatives in India. The case highlights concerns over links between Indian law enforcement personnel and criminal gangs operating across borders.

Indian Automakers Post Record June Sales Amid Geopolitical and Weather Concerns

India's automobile sector achieved its best-ever June sales figures, defying concerns over the Iran conflict and an uncertain monsoon forecast. Industry experts attributed the strong performance to resilient consumer confidence and robust demand from rural markets. The results are seen as a broader indicator of the underlying strength of the Indian economy. Automakers across segments benefited from sustained purchasing momentum despite external headwinds.

Welcome to the Jungle crosses Rs 100 crore, targets Rs 125 crore milestone

Ahmed Khan's action-comedy 'Welcome to the Jungle', led by Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal, has surpassed the Rs 100 crore mark at the domestic box office in its second week. The film, the third entry in the Welcome franchise, has accumulated Rs 120.66 crore in domestic net earnings through its regular weekday run. Despite significant screen competition from YRF's spy-thriller 'Alpha' featuring Alia Bhatt and Anil Kapoor, the film has managed to hold its position. The movie continues to attract family audiences and is now targeting the Rs 125 crore milestone.

Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma hold T20I top two batting spots after India's UK tour

Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma have retained the top two positions in the ICC T20I batting rankings following India's tour of the United Kingdom. Shreyas Iyer was a notable mover, jumping 425 places to reach joint 93rd among batters. England's Jacob Bethell climbed seven spots to reach eighth in the batting charts, while Sam Curran rose 12 places to 108th. On the bowling front, Adil Rashid re-entered the top three in the T20I rankings.

450-Million-Year-Old Crinoid Fossil Preserves Rare Soft Tissue Detail

Scientists have identified a rare fossil of an ancient crinoid, a sea creature that lived over 450 million years ago, predating dinosaurs by roughly 200 million years. The remarkable specimen preserves soft tissue, including tube feet that the animal used for feeding. Such preservation of delicate biological structures in fossils of this age is exceptionally uncommon. The discovery offers valuable insight into the biology and behavior of early marine life. The find emerged from existing museum collections, highlighting their ongoing importance to paleontological research.

Trump Pushes for US Control of Greenland, Citing Global Security; Denmark Refuses

US President Donald Trump has renewed his push for American control over Greenland, arguing the Arctic island is essential for global security. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen firmly rejected the demand, stating that Greenland is not for sale. Greenland's own leadership has also opposed any prospect of US acquisition of the territory. The dispute has continued to strain diplomatic relations between the United States and Denmark.

Batman: The Animated Series Explored AI Themes Three Decades Before ChatGPT

The 1992 animated television series Batman: The Animated Series touched on themes that closely mirror today's debates around artificial intelligence. Decades before tools like ChatGPT became mainstream, the show raised questions about machine intelligence and its implications. Analysts and fans have noted the show's surprisingly prescient storytelling on the subject. The series is now being revisited as a cultural reference point in conversations about modern AI development.

ED freezes TMC bank deposits worth Rs 440 crore in Kolkata

Kareena Kapoor calls Saif Ali Khan ‘hot Husband’; fans ask, ‘where are Taimur and Jeh?’

16 Workers Feared Trapped After Building Collapse at Pune Waste-to-Energy Plant

A three-storey administrative building at the PCMC Waste-to-Energy plant in Pune collapsed during heavy rainfall. The incident, which occurred in the afternoon, left an estimated 15 to 16 workers feared trapped beneath the rubble. The PCMC fire brigade swiftly launched a large-scale rescue operation at the site. National Disaster Response Force personnel were also deployed to support the ongoing efforts. Rescue operations remain underway as teams work to locate and free those believed to be trapped.

Trump Threatens Spain Trade Cuts, Revives Greenland Bid at NATO Summit

US President Donald Trump issued a trade warning against Spain at a recent NATO summit, signaling ongoing tensions with European allies. Trump also renewed his push to acquire Greenland, a territory belonging to NATO member Denmark. The remarks came amid broader friction between the US and Europe over Trump's stance on the Iran conflict. Trump's dual moves reflect his continued willingness to pressure both allies and partners on separate geopolitical fronts. The statements underline persistent strains within the NATO alliance under his administration.

EPFO Launches Revamped Portal With Auto-Settlement and Unified Dashboard

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation has successfully completed its portal migration and restored online services for members. The upgraded platform introduces automated claim pre-validation and real-time error detection to streamline the filing process. Members can access a unified dashboard that consolidates all their membership information and account balances in one place. Advance claims of up to Rs 5 lakh will now be eligible for automatic settlement, reducing processing time. Additionally, interest credits for the financial year 2025-26 will be auto-processed and reflected in accounts by July 15.