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News18
Jul 28, 2025 09:03 IST
Scientists warn of enduring toxic legacy from 2021 Sri Lanka ship disaster
The environmental fallout from the 2021 X-Press Pearl cargo ship disaster off Sri Lanka has a far more enduring and toxic legacy than initially assessed, with scientists now confirming persistent and widespread contamination, BBC says in a report. The primary pollutants are billions of pre-production plastic pellets, known as nurdles, and hazardous chemicals which continue to degrade into microplastics. This ongoing contamination poses a significant long-term threat to marine ecosystems and biodiversity, severely impacting the livelihoods of local fishing communities through reduced and contaminated fish stocks. The disaster has also created a substantial economic burden for Sri Lanka, which is still pursuing full compensation for cleanup and damages through complex legal proceedings, while the incident prompts calls for stricter international maritime regulations on transporting hazardous materials.
Jul 28, 2025 09:03 IST
Israeli strikes in Gaza reportedly kill 63 amid deepening hunger crisis
Israeli military strikes in Gaza have reportedly killed 63 people, with attacks occurring even in designated 'safe zones' despite declared tactical 'pauses' in fighting, according to a report in Al Jazeera. The humanitarian situation continues to worsen, as health officials in Gaza reported that six more Palestinians, including two children, have died from malnutrition and dehydration. These events compound a severe and deepening hunger crisis that humanitarian agencies have warned is pushing the population toward famine.
Jul 28, 2025 09:03 IST
Green algae proliferation threatens French oyster industry
A significant proliferation of green algae in Brittany's Morlaix Bay is posing a direct threat to the local oyster industry, according to a report in France 24. The algal blooms, primarily fed by farm waste and nitrogen fertilizers from the region's intensive agriculture, are creating adverse conditions for oyster farming. This long-standing environmental issue, which also impacts local tourism and public health, is reportedly being exacerbated by the effects of global warming, threatening the economic livelihoods of France's oyster farmers.
Jul 28, 2025 09:03 IST
Google acknowledges its earthquake alert system failed to warn millions in Turkey
Google's Android Earthquake Alerts System (AEAS) sent only 469 serious warnings ahead of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Turkey, failing to alert millions of people, BBC says in a report. While the system detected the quake, Google acknowledged its performance was limited by the event's depth and complex rupture, which hindered its ability to assess the magnitude in real-time and issue critical 'take action' alerts on a mass scale. The incident has prompted Google to review its system's algorithms and has raised significant questions about the reliability of AI-driven public safety systems. This failure underscores the need for multi-layered disaster preparedness strategies that combine supplementary tech solutions with traditional government-operated seismic networks and may impact public trust in smartphone-based warning systems.
Jul 28, 2025 09:03 IST
US and EU announce new trade framework
The United States and the European Union have announced a new trade framework from Edinburgh, Scotland, as per a report in AP. The report did not include specific provisions or details of the agreement.
Jul 28, 2025 09:03 IST
Deadline passes on CK Hutchison's US$23 billion global ports sale
The deadline for exclusive negotiations regarding CK Hutchison Holdings' US$23 billion sale of stakes in 43 global ports to a consortium led by Terminal Investment Limited (TIL) passed without an agreement on Sunday, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The complex transaction, which includes strategically vital ports at both ends of the Panama Canal, is reportedly being complicated by intense US-China geopolitical rivalry. Analysts expect that the talks will be extended, as the deal faces scrutiny due to US national security concerns over foreign influence in critical infrastructure, despite the buyer, TIL, being an affiliate of the Swiss-Italian Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).
Jul 28, 2025 09:03 IST
China designates 'drone flight planner' as official profession amid economic push
China has officially recognized 'drone flight planner' as a new profession to address a talent shortage in its rapidly growing low-altitude economy, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and is part of a larger government strategy to develop the low-altitude sector as a new engine for economic growth. This new designation is one of 17 new occupations announced, which also include roles like cross-border e-commerce operation manager, signaling a shift in labor market demands toward high-tech and specialized skills.
Jul 28, 2025 09:03 IST
US and China reportedly planning autumn visit for President Trump
US President Donald Trump is reportedly keen to visit China in the autumn of 2025, with officials working to arrange a trip for October or November, the South China Morning Post said in a report. While hurdles remain in the bilateral relationship, high-level officials from both Washington and Beijing are said to share a consensus on the need for the visit. The report clarifies that a potential trip in September to attend a parade in Beijing commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II will not be happening.
Jul 28, 2025 09:03 IST
Alibaba enters AI smart glasses race with Quark preview
Alibaba Group Holding has entered the competitive smart glasses market by previewing its first AI-powered device, the Quark AI glasses, at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, South China Morning Post said in a report. Named after the company's AI assistant, the glasses' development is complete, with an official launch planned for later this year. The move places Alibaba in direct competition with global tech giants like Apple, Meta, and Google, as well as domestic rivals such as Huawei and Xiaomi, in the growing market for smart wearables and edge AI devices. The unveiling at China's largest annual AI event highlights the country's strategic push for leadership in artificial intelligence and its application in consumer technology.
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Business Standard
3 hours ago
- Business Standard
Gangs, merchants sell food aid in Gaza, where IDF shattered security
Since Israel's offensive led to a security breakdown in Gaza that has made it nearly impossible to safely deliver food to starving Palestinians, much of the limited aid entering is being hoarded by gangs and merchants and sold at exorbitant prices. A kilogram of flour has run as high as $60 in recent days, a kilogram of lentils up to $35. That is beyond the means of most residents in the territory, which experts say is at risk of famine and where people are largely reliant on savings 21 months into the Israel-Hamas war. Israel's decision this weekend to facilitate more aid deliveries under international pressure has lowered prices somewhat but has yet to be fully felt on the ground. Bags of flour in markets often bear UN logos, while other packaging has markings indicating it came from the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation all originally handed out for free. It's impossible to know how much is being diverted, but neither group is able to track who receives its aid. In the melees surrounding aid distributions in recent weeks, residents say the strong were best positioned to come away with food. Mohammed Abu Taha, who lives in a tent with his wife and child near the city of Rafah, said organised gangs of young men are always at the front of crowds when he visits GHF sites. It's a huge business, he said. Every avenue for aid is beset by chaos The UN says up to 100,000 women and children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition, aid groups and media outlets say their own staffers are going hungry, and Gaza's Health Ministry says dozens of Palestinians have died from hunger-related causes in the last three weeks. When the UN gets Israeli permission to distribute aid, its convoys are nearly always attacked by armed gangs or overwhelmed by hungry crowds in the buffer zone controlled by the military. The UN's World Food Program said last week it will only be able to safely deliver aid to the most vulnerable once internal security is restored likely only under a ceasefire. In the meantime, given the urgent need for families to access food, WFP will accept hungry populations taking food from its trucks, as long as there is no violence, spokesperson Abeer Etifa said. In the alternative delivery system operated by GHF, an American contractor, Palestinians often run a deadly gantlet. More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops while seeking food since May, mainly near the GHF sites, according to the UN human rights office, witnesses and local health officials. The military says it has only fired warning shots when people approach its forces, while GHF says its security contractors have only used pepper spray or fired in the air on some occasions to prevent stampedes. You have to be strong and fast A man in his 30s, who insisted on anonymity for fear of reprisal, said he had visited GHF sites about 40 times since they opened and nearly always came back with food. He sold most of it to merchants or other people in order to buy other necessities for his family. Heba Jouda, who has visited the sites many times, said armed men steal aid as people return with it and merchants also offer to buy it. To get food from the American organization, you have to be strong and fast," she said. Footage shot by Palestinians at GHF sites and shared broadly shows chaotic scenes, with crowds of men racing down fenced-in corridors and scrambling to grab boxes off the ground. GHF says it has installed separate lanes for women and children and is ramping up programs to deliver aid directly to communities. The UN's deliveries also often devolve into deadly violence and chaos, with crowds of thousands rapidly overwhelming trucks in close proximity to Israeli troops. The UN does not accept protection from Israel, saying it prefers to rely on community support. The Israeli military did not respond to emails seeking comment about the reselling of aid. Israel denies allowing looters to operate in areas it controls and accuses Hamas of prolonging the war by not surrendering. There is no policy of starvation in Gaza, and there is no starvation in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday. The situation changed dramatically in March For much of the war, UN agencies were able to safely deliver aid, despite Israeli restrictions and occasional attacks and theft. Hamas-led police guarded convoys and went after suspected looters and merchants who resold aid. During a ceasefire earlier this year, Israel allowed up to 600 aid trucks to enter daily. There were no major disruptions in deliveries, and food prices were far lower. The UN said it had mechanisms in place to prevent any organized diversion of aid. But Israel says Hamas was siphoning it off, though it has provided no evidence of widespread theft. That all changed in March, when Israel ended the ceasefire and halted all imports, including food. Israel seized large parts of Gaza in what it said was a tactic to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages abducted in its Oct 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war. As the Hamas-run police vanished from areas under Israeli control, local tribes and gangs some of which Israel says it supports took over, residents say. Israel began allowing a trickle of aid to enter in May. GHF was set up that month with the stated goal of preventing Hamas from diverting aid. Since then, Israel has allowed an average of about 70 trucks a day, compared to the 500-600 the UN says are needed. The military said Saturday it would allow more trucks in 180 entered Sunday and international airdrops have resumed, which aid organizations say are largely ineffective. Meanwhile, food distribution continues to be plagued by chaos and violence, as seen near GHF sites or around UN trucks. Even if Israel pauses its military operations during the day, it's unclear how much the security situation will improve. With both the UN and GHF, it's possible Hamas members are among the crowds. In response to questions from The Associated Press, GHF acknowledged that but said its system prevents the organized diversion of aid. The real concern we are addressing is not whether individual actors manage to receive food, but whether Hamas is able to systematically control aid flows. At GHF sites, they cannot, it said. Hamas has denied stealing aid. It's unclear if it's involved in the trade in aid, but its fighters would be taking a major risk by operating in a coordinated way in Israeli military zones that UN trucks pass through and where GHF sites are located. The UN says the only solution is a ceasefire UN officials have called on Israel to fully lift the blockade and flood Gaza with food. That would reduce the incentive for looting by ensuring enough for everyone and driving down prices. Another ceasefire would include a major increase in aid and the release of Israeli hostages, but talks have stalled. Hamas started the war when its fighters stormed into Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 hostages. Fifty captives are still being held in Gaza. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 59,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which has said women and children make up more than half the dead. It does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and is run by medical professionals. Israel has disputed its figures without providing its own. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Mars Transit Virgo, Saturn in Pisces: August 2025 Spells Trouble for These Zodiac Signs
Mars transit in Virgo from 29th July to 13th September 2025, and Saturn's current presence in Pisces, is a rare and powerful astrological combination. This period is not 'just another transit'—it marks a time when several signs need to be alert, take wise steps, and avoid impulsive moves. Let's decode what this means for you, sign by sign. Why is this Transit So Important? Mars, the planet of action and drive, is at its most detail-oriented when in Virgo. Here, energy is focused on analysis, routines, health, and practical problem-solving. You'll find yourself wanting to improve, fix, and streamline everything around you—but sometimes with stress and impatience. Saturn, the great teacher, is transiting Pisces (Meena Rashi), bringing a strong call for spiritual growth, patience, and facing hidden fears. Saturn in Pisces tests our compassion, dreams, and commitment to discipline. When Mars and Saturn sit in opposition (Virgo vs Pisces), tension rises—action and logic clash with emotion and faith. For some signs, this brings powerful breakthroughs; for others, it's a test of patience and self-control. Which zodiac signs need to be most careful during Mars in Virgo and Saturn in Pisces? Here's your sign-wise guide, with practical advice and the right astrology keywords for Google search. Impact on Zodiac Signs Aries This period is demanding for you, Aries, as Mars in Virgo energises your house of work and health, making you feel compelled to get everything done quickly and perfectly. Saturn in Pisces, meanwhile, sits in your twelfth house, drawing out your hidden anxieties and possibly disrupting your sleep. You might feel extra pressure from office or family to deliver more, while minor health issues like acidity or headaches could surface if you ignore rest. It's important to stick to a daily routine, eat on time, and manage stress with simple relaxation techniques. If you feel overwhelmed, don't hesitate to delegate tasks and take a breather. Taurus For Taurus natives, Mars in Virgo fires up your zone of love, children, and investments, making you impatient for results and prone to quick decisions, especially in matters of the heart or with money. At the same time, Saturn in Pisces slows down gains from friends and your wider social circle, making you feel like your hard work isn't being recognised. Disagreements with friends or disappointments in group settings are likely, so avoid lending money or investing based on someone else's advice. Stay patient with your partner or kids, and avoid risky shortcuts. Focus on steady, honest efforts and let things unfold naturally. Gemini Geminis may find home and career life colliding during this transit. Mars in Virgo makes you restless at home—maybe you want to renovate, relocate, or resolve some family matters in a hurry. Saturn's influence on your career zone means professional rewards are slow or delayed, causing frustration. You might feel torn between wanting comfort at home and pressure from work or superiors. Avoid taking work stress out on family members, and don't rush into property decisions. Instead, balance your time carefully, seek advice from elders, and let patience be your ally at both home and office. Cancer Cancer natives should tread carefully with travel, paperwork, and communication. Mars in Virgo stirs up your daily routine and interactions, making you eager to get things done but also easily frustrated by small delays. Saturn's position in Pisces, related to travel and higher learning, means trips may not go as planned, and studies could require more focus. Siblings or neighbours may be a source of arguments. Double-check documents, especially if planning to travel, and don't rush into arguments—choose your words wisely and exercise patience in all communication. Focus on step-by-step progress. Leo For Leo, finances and family life take centre stage. Mars in Virgo increases your urge to earn, save, or even splurge, but Saturn in Pisces cautions against hasty financial moves and points towards unexpected expenses, possibly connected to family or hidden matters. You may also find yourself in arguments about money at home, or tempted by risky investments. This is a good time to budget strictly, avoid lending or borrowing, and handle all financial matters transparently. Speak kindly to family members and keep your plans practical, rather than extravagant. Virgo This is an intense phase for Virgo, as Mars passes through your own sign, giving you lots of energy, drive, and sometimes restlessness. You might feel like taking on the world, but Saturn in Pisces sits opposite, testing your patience in relationships—whether personal or professional. You could find yourself easily irritated by partners or colleagues, or feeling unappreciated for your efforts. Watch out for burnout or health issues due to overwork. Don't try to control others or take everything on yourself. Instead, balance self-discipline with self-care, listen more in your partnerships, and maintain your routine for stability. Libra For Libra, mental peace and health are the main themes. Mars in Virgo can make your mind race and bring up worries, while Saturn in Pisces stirs up old problems at work or with health. You may feel tired or anxious, or find it hard to sleep well. Debts, past mistakes, or hidden enemies might crop up, making you feel like you can't catch a break. Focus on sleep, eat on time, and don't chase perfection. If work problems resurface, handle them calmly. Prioritise your mental and physical well-being, and don't hesitate to seek help if needed. Scorpio Social life gets complicated for Scorpios in this period. Mars in Virgo energises your network of friends and groups, making you eager to connect and collaborate, but Saturn in Pisces means not everyone can be trusted. Misunderstandings or conflicts can arise in group projects or friendships, and investments done with friends may not bring expected results. Be selective in sharing your ideas and avoid risky group ventures. Focus on building genuine connections and be honest about your feelings. Children or younger people may need more of your time and guidance. Sagittarius Career moves and home life are both highlighted for Sagittarius natives. Mars in Virgo drives your ambition, making you want to achieve more in your professional life, but Saturn in Pisces in your home sector may create tension between career demands and family comfort. You might face work pressure that spills over into your personal life, or find yourself longing for more appreciation at home. Try to keep work and home matters separate, communicate clearly with family, and avoid rushing decisions regarding your career or property. Trust that hard work will be recognised in due course. Capricorn Capricorns may face delays and challenges in travel, education, or dealing with relatives. Mars in Virgo brings a desire for learning and new experiences, but Saturn in Pisces suggests hurdles, paperwork delays, or arguments with siblings. If you're planning to travel, study, or relocate, expect some obstacles—so prepare documents in advance and avoid last-minute rush. Patience will serve you better than force. Don't get involved in unnecessary arguments or try to push your views on others; instead, focus on your own growth and keep an open mind to advice. Aquarius Financial management and shared resources are sensitive areas for Aquarius during this time. Mars in Virgo heats up issues around loans, inheritance, taxes, and shared assets, while Saturn in Pisces in your savings sector warns against careless spending or hidden expenses. There may be arguments about money with family members or partners. Avoid lending or borrowing unless absolutely necessary, and make all financial dealings transparent. Be extra careful with investments, especially anything involving joint finances. Use this time to clean up your money matters and strengthen your financial foundation. Pisces Personal and relationship stress is in focus for Pisces. With Mars transiting your partnership sector, and Saturn moving through your own sign, you may feel pulled between your own needs and others' demands. Arguments with spouse, business partners, or close friends could increase, and you might feel misunderstood or taken for granted. Take care of your health, watch your mood swings, and don't let frustration build up inside. Instead, practise patience, communicate openly, and set realistic expectations for yourself and others. Remember, this phase is for learning, not for rushing. Discover everything about astrology at Times of India , including daily horoscopes for Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , and Pisces . Read your detailed Horoscope Today and Horoscope Tomorrow here.
India Today
12 hours ago
- India Today
Aid and food reach Gaza after Israel pauses attacks in some regions
Truckloads of food reached hungry Gazans on Monday after Israel promised to open secure aid routes, but humanitarian agencies warned vast amounts more were needed to stave off starvation. Israel says the UN and aid agencies were able to pick up 120 truckloads of aid. (Photo by AFP) With Gaza's population of more than two million facing famine and malnutrition, Israel bowed to international pressure at the weekend and announced a daily "tactical pause" in fighting in some the first time, I received about five kilos of flour, which I shared with my neighbour," said 37-year-old Jamil Safadi, who shelters with his wife, six children and a sick father in a tent near the Al-Quds hospital in Tel al-Hawa. Safadi, who had been up before dawn for two weeks searching for food, said Monday was his first success. Other Gazans were less fortunate; some complained aid trucks had been stolen or that guards had fired at them near US-backed aid centres."I saw injured and dead people. People have no choice but to try daily to get flour. What entered from Egypt was very limited," said 33-year-old Amir al-Rash, still without food and living in a imposed a blockade on Gaza on March 2 after talks to extend a six-week ceasefire broke down. Nothing was allowed into the territory until late May, when a trickle of aid the Israeli defence ministry's civil affairs agency says the UN and aid agencies were able to pick up 120 truckloads of aid on Sunday and distribute it inside Gaza, with more on the way SUPPLIESJordan and the United Arab Emirates have begun air-dropping aid packages by parachute over Gaza, while Egypt has sent trucks through its Rafah border crossing to an Israeli post just inside UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, cautiously welcomed Israel's "humanitarian pauses" but warned Gaza needed at least 500 to 600 trucks of basic food, medicine and hygiene supplies daily."We hope that UNRWA will finally be allowed to bring in thousands of trucks loaded with food, medicine and hygiene supplies. They are currently in Jordan and Egypt waiting for the green light," the agency said."Opening all the crossings and flooding Gaza with assistance is the only way to avert further deepening of starvation among the people of Gaza."Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly denied Israel was deliberately starving civilians as part of its intense 21-month-old war to crush the Palestinian group spokesmen say the UN and aid agencies should quickly make use of the lull in fighting and secure aid routes, urging them to pick up and distribute aid delivered to Gaza border additional 180 trucks entered Gaza and are now awaiting collection and distribution, along with hundreds of others still queued for UN pickup," said COGAT, a defence ministry body that oversees Palestinian affairs."More consistent collection and distribution by UN agencies and international organisations equals more aid reaching those who need it most in Gaza."UNRWA insisted it was ready to step up distribution, with 10,000 staff inside Gaza, waiting for deliveries."According to our latest data, one in every five children is malnourished in Gaza City. More children have reportedly died of hunger, bringing the death toll of starving people to over 100," the statement the weekend, aid trucks began arriving from Egypt and Jordan and dropping their loads at distribution platforms just inside Gaza, ready to be picked up by agencies working inside the war-shattered their number still falls far short of what is needed, aid agencies warn, calling for a permanent ceasefire, the reopening of more border crossings and a long-term large-scale humanitarian HOSPITAL C-SECTIONTruce talks between Israel and Hamas — mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States — have stumbled, and Netanyahu remains determined to push on with the campaign to destroy Hamas and recover Israeli hostages held in civil defence agency said 16 people were killed by Israeli fire on spokesman Mahmud Bassal said they included five people killed in an overnight strike on a residential building in the southern Gaza district of Al-Mawasi.A pregnant woman was amongst the dead, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent, which said its teams saved the woman's foetus by performing a Caesarean section in a field violence in Gaza came against the backdrop of a UN conference in New York where France and Saudi Arabia will lead a diplomatic effort to revive the moribund push for a two-state peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.- EndsTune InTrending Reel IN THIS STORY#Israel#Gaza Strip
