The Durand Cup Trophy Tour concluded in Kolkata, with organizers, the Indian Armed Forces, expressing enthusiasm for introducing a women's competition in future editions. The 135th men's tournament will feature 24 teams across five venues, including new host Ranchi, with the opening derby between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC.
RMIT University scientists developed a reusable magnetic material that removes over 95% of micro- and nanoplastics, heavy metals, and drug residues from water within an hour. The cost-effective technology, showing early promise against PFAS, is being tested for commercial deployment in Australia, the US, and Europe.
Senator Bernie Moreno has introduced a bill to restrict the use of vehicle software and hardware from companies with significant Chinese ownership in the US, citing national security concerns. The bill would prohibit connected vehicles if their manufacturer is more than 15% owned or controlled by Chinese entities.
The EU has enacted its 21st sanctions package, expanding measures against Russia's financial and banking sector with asset freezes and transaction bans on 94 institutions. It also targets a Kyrgyz bank and three other non-Russian banks for circumventing sanctions, and introduces a new instrument for a full third-country ban on crypto-asset services used by Russia.
Polymarket, piattaforma internazionale di mercati di previsione, è stata bloccata in Italia dall'Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli dal 27 luglio, considerata un operatore di scommesse non autorizzato. Simili restrizioni sono state imposte anche in Francia, Turchia, Spagna e Paesi Bassi.
The US House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including provisions to prohibit the Pentagon from using Chinese-made humanoid robots due to national security and data privacy concerns, while commercial sales remain unaffected.
Centenarian performance artist Ken Turner, ahead of a new exhibition in Penzance, reflects on his rebellious life and career. He discusses his journey from creating immersive inflatable sculptures in the 1960s to driving a tank over a Tesla last year, consistently challenging art conventions and the establishment with socially conscious work.
A study reveals how the tapeworm Anomotaenia brevis extends the lifespan of Temnothorax nylanderi worker ants. The parasite alters the ant's gene expression, making its fat body resemble that of a long-lived queen, while dampening brain activity to reduce work and increase survival for the parasite's life cycle.
Plainclothes police at a Monday protest in New Delhi faced criticism for lacking uniforms and identification while engaging in crowd control. Senior police acknowledge the ambiguity but cite operational necessities like intelligence gathering and managing large crowds, though police brass has reportedly advised discouraging the practice unless situations turn violent or manpower is short.
India's MHA defended proposed Foreign Contribution Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, by citing comparable foreign funding laws in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, emphasizing global concerns about unregulated foreign money affecting democratic institutions.
A study reveals how the tapeworm Anomotaenia brevis extends the lifespan of Temnothorax nylanderi worker ants in Germany. The parasite alters ant gene expression, making their fat bodies queen-like for longevity, while dampening brain activity for a quieter, lazier existence, aiding its own life cycle.
A US judge has set June 1, 2027, as the trial date for Venezuela's ousted president Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Brooklyn on drug trafficking charges. They pleaded not guilty and face potential life sentences if convicted.
Rosaviatsiya has restricted flights in the Moscow air hub until August 12, limiting altitudes to 4,900 meters and prohibiting transit flights for safety. The Association of Tour Operators of Russia expects no significant impact on Russian passengers, primarily affecting carriers flying through Moscow airspace without landing.
Venezuela's ousted president Nicolas Maduro is set to appear in a New York court for his third public hearing on Wednesday, facing drug trafficking and firearms charges. Captured by US forces in January, Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have pleaded not guilty, with prosecutors proposing a June 2027 trial date.
British sculptor Ray Exworth, who died in 2015, created a vast, unseen body of work over six decades, hidden in sheds on his Cornish smallholding. Photographer Jem Southam's new book, "Ray's Sheds," offers the first public access to these intricate, salvaged-material sculptures, aiming to establish Exworth's legacy in 20th-century British art.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed rules to ban imports of advanced drones, primarily from China, equipped with swarming capabilities and infrared sensors, citing national security risks. This action follows previous bans on Chinese telecom equipment and extends exemptions for non-Chinese components until 2028.
France has approved a nationwide ban on social media for children under 15 and mobile phones in high schools, becoming the first EU country with such a restriction. President Macron aims for implementation by September, pending a constitutional review, amid growing concerns over social media's impact on youth mental health.
Booksellers at a seven-day event, likely the Hong Kong Book Fair, reported dampened business due to shifting consumer habits and unstable weather. Sally Ng Wai-shan, an editor at Match Media, estimated overall sales could drop by 30 to 40 per cent, noting significantly reduced foot traffic compared to last year's already subdued levels. An SCMP reporter observed fewer visitors carrying purchases, highlighting a stark contrast to past bustling fairs.
Deribit's July 31 options board shows over 20,000 Bitcoin call contracts open at $70,000 and $72,000 strikes, representing significant bullish positioning. This concentration, expiring two days after the Federal Reserve's policy decision, sets a tactical test for Bitcoin's price.
Former Australian Attorney General Mark Dreyfus has urged governments to consider banning protests near synagogues and Jewish schools, citing a High Court decision on safe access zones for abortion clinics. His testimony to the antisemitism royal commission highlighted a "substantial and ongoing threat" to the Jewish community, with security needs doubling since October 2023.
A federal judge in California has temporarily paused the $110 billion merger between Paramount, Skydance, and Warner Bros Discovery for 14 days. The decision follows a lawsuit from 12 states challenging the deal over potential anticompetitive concerns, despite prior Justice Department approval.
Mumbai Police issued prohibitory orders restricting public gatherings of five or more people from July 23 to August 6, following a protest by the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) against alleged police actions on protestors and demanding the Union Education Minister's resignation over exam irregularities.
The Hong Kong Palace Museum and Uzbekistan's Islamic Civilisation Centre signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Hong Kong, aiming to foster cultural exchange through joint exhibitions, research, and training, following a recent delegation visit.
Apple's new ad guidelines for Maps, launching in summer 2026 in US/Canada, indicate a focus on local businesses like coffee shops and restaurants, while explicitly prohibiting "home services" ads, differentiating its approach from competitors like Google Maps.
