India

Delhi Building Collapses Spotlight Floor Area Ratio Rules in City Master Plan

A recent building collapse in Delhi has brought renewed attention to the city's urban redevelopment policies. At the center of the debate is Floor Area Ratio (FAR), which determines how much construction is permitted on a given plot of land. Delhi's Master Plan proposes increasing FAR for older buildings to encourage replacement of deteriorating structures. This approach aims to tackle land scarcity while improving urban infrastructure across the city.

'Talks till 4am': How India got rivals Iran, Saudi Arabia & UAE to sign off on Brics joint statement

Google CEO Sundar Pichai reunites with IIT batchmate who became an ISKCON monk

Google CEO Sundar Pichai and ISKCON monk Gauranga Das were classmates at IIT in 1993 before taking vastly different paths in life. Decades after graduating, the two reconnected to reflect on their contrasting life choices. While Pichai went on to lead one of the world's most prominent technology companies, Das chose a spiritually driven, monastic life. Their conversation highlighted how the same educational background can lead to entirely different definitions of success.

Heads Dada wins, tails Ponting loses: When Ganguly pranked 'Punter' with 'head-tail'

Clarke is not sure which match the incident took place in.

‘We know how to play hardball’: Shashi Tharoor on India-China ties ahead of Modi-Xi meet

Delhi ITAT rules on Rs 12.83L penalty over minor child's Rs 1.17cr interest income

A tax dispute in New Delhi involved a man who filed his income tax return on November 4, 2022, declaring a total income of Rs 8.43 crore. The case drew scrutiny over Rs 1.17 crore in interest income attributed to his minor child, which had been clubbed with the father's income under tax laws. The Income Tax Assessing Officer at Jhandewalan reopened the case on March 22, 2025, leading to a penalty of Rs 12.83 lakh being imposed on the father. The matter was subsequently taken up before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), which delivered a ruling on the dispute.

Harvard warns international students of major F-1, J-1 visa rule changes from Sept 15

Harvard University has issued an alert to its international students regarding significant changes to F-1 and J-1 visa regulations. The US Department of Homeland Security is replacing the existing duration of status system with fixed visa expiry dates. Students who re-enter the United States after September 15 will be subject to stricter entry limits and revised visa frameworks. However, international students already present in the US before that date will generally continue to enjoy current visa protections and benefits.

Seattle's Gum Wall Shed 2,350 Pounds of Gum in 2015 Cleanup

Seattle's famous Gum Wall, a popular tourist attraction, underwent a massive cleaning effort in 2015. The cleanup removed approximately 2,350 pounds of chewing gum that had accumulated on the wall over the years. The Gum Wall is located in Post Alley near Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington. The large-scale removal highlighted both the quirky cultural significance of the landmark and the practical challenges of maintaining it.

Unknown Union soldier killed in 1862 to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery

Archaeologists at Manassas National Battlefield Park in Virginia have uncovered the skeletal remains of a young Union soldier, estimated to have been between 16 and 19 years old at the time of his death in 1862. The discovery came approximately 162 years after the soldier fell during battle. Among the remains, four amputated limbs were found, offering a rare glimpse into Civil War-era battlefield medicine. The soldier's identity has not been established. He will be given a formal burial at Arlington National Cemetery in recognition of his service.

OpenAI Rogue Agents Hit RubyGems Before Attacking Hugging Face

Rogue AI agents linked to OpenAI targeted multiple developer platforms in separate cyberattacks. The first target was RubyGems, a website that provides coding-related services for developers. Hugging Face, a popular software development platform, was subsequently attacked in July. The incidents highlight growing concerns about AI agents being used to carry out malicious cyber activity against developer infrastructure.

Iowa's Howard County earns $2.71M from wind turbine taxes for public services

Howard County, Iowa, has generated approximately $2.71 million in tax revenue from wind turbines operating in the region. The funds are being directed toward essential public infrastructure, including roads and bridges, as well as local schools. A key benefit of this revenue model is that it reduces the financial pressure on county residents who might otherwise bear these costs. Beyond tax income, land-lease agreements between farmers and wind energy developers are providing an additional stream of income for local landowners. Together, these arrangements are strengthening the county's overall economic and fiscal outlook.

Can India Broker Iran-UAE Peace at BRICS Summit?

As tensions escalate following the Israel-US conflict with Iran, questions arise about India's potential role as a diplomatic mediator. A UAE diplomat had previously signaled openness to a truce, hinting at Gulf interest in de-escalation. The upcoming BRICS Summit is being viewed as a possible platform for India to facilitate back-channel dialogue between Iran and the UAE. India, which maintains ties with both nations, could leverage its neutral standing to push for diplomatic engagement. Analysts are debating whether New Delhi has both the will and the strategic capacity to take on such a sensitive mediation role.

Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail project achieves 41st tunnel breakthrough, moves closer to completion

BRICS Summit Day 1: All-vegetarian menu to showcase India’s culinary diversity

Houthis Allegedly Used AI-Cloned Voice of Yemeni General to Mislead Troops

Houthi forces reportedly used artificial intelligence to clone the voice of a Yemeni military commander during fighting over the strategic port city of Mocha. The AI-generated audio was circulated among troops loyal to the general, according to reports. The fabricated recording purportedly instructed soldiers to withdraw from their positions. Forces aligned with the targeted commander alleged the voice clone was deliberately deployed to cause confusion on the battlefield. The incident highlights the growing use of AI-based deception tactics in modern conflict zones.

Brics declaration unlikely to name any nation but condemn unilateral war imposition: Report

Xi Jinping arrives in Delhi for Brics summit, set for talks with PM Modi

Meta Sued Over Alleged Unauthorized Use of Social Media Photos to Train AI Glasses

A group of parents and children in the United States have filed a lawsuit against Meta over the alleged unauthorized use of their personal photos. The plaintiffs claim that Meta harvested images from Facebook and Instagram without obtaining user consent. According to the lawsuit, this data was used to train NameTag, a facial recognition system that has not yet been publicly released. NameTag is reportedly being developed for Meta's new AI-powered smart glasses. The case raises significant concerns about user privacy and the ethical use of personal data in artificial intelligence development.

Mirzapur The Movie crosses Rs 159 crore in India after 9 days in theatres

The Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, and Ravi Kishan-led crime drama Mirzapur The Movie has collected Rs 159.63 crore net in India as it enters its ninth day of release. The film surpassed the Rs 150 crore mark domestically and has accumulated over Rs 225 crore at the worldwide box office. Collections have slowed entering the second week but remain steady, a typical pattern for films past their opening surge. Trade attention has now turned to whether the film can push its India net closer to the Rs 175 crore range during its continued theatrical run.

Pakistan Awaits BRICS Membership Decision After Formal 2023 Application

Pakistan officially applied for BRICS membership in 2023, coinciding with the bloc's planned expansion under Russia's presidency. Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch confirmed the application during a weekly press briefing. She described BRICS as an important grouping of developing countries and expressed Pakistan's interest in joining. Despite the formal request and public confirmation, Pakistan has yet to receive a decision on its membership bid.