The Economic Times

In 2010, a study suggested the coolest solution to global warming might also be the simplest; a fresh coat of white paint could help cool the planet. Researchers used computer models to examine how white roofs could reflect sunlight, lower city temperatures, and reduce the urban heat island effect. The study also explained possible benefits for buildings and energy use while noting that practical challenges still need more research before large-scale adoption.

Psychology says people who brush their teeth after every meal even when they are in office or home aren't always driven by obsession. The habit can reflect discipline, health awareness, routine, and self-care. Psychology explains that repeated healthy actions often develop through habit formation and personal values. Understanding this behavior helps people avoid making quick judgments and shows how daily routines can support physical health, confidence, and emotional well-being over time.

Parliament updates: Govt launched a 3-month drive to clear 16,033 labour disputes, ESIC disbursed 5.26 crore under ABVKY, approved polymer note trials, and said FPI outflows reflect global trends.

Today's Chinese proverb of the day comes from one of the best-known sayings in ancient Chinese philosophy: The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials. This timeless proverb reminds us that growth has never come from comfort alone. Every challenge teaches a lesson. Every setback builds strength.

The Pig War began in 1859 after an American farmer shot a British-owned pig on the disputed San Juan Islands, triggering a tense territorial standoff between the United States and Britain. The incident escalated into a military confrontation, with troops and naval forces deployed by both sides, but no human lives were lost. Years of diplomatic negotiations followed before international arbitration in 1872 awarded the islands to the United States. The unusual dispute remains one of history's best

JC Flowers Asset Reconstruction Company is in talks to merge with ACRE. This move would create one of the largest bad-loan aggregators in India. The two companies are in advanced discussions for a stock-swap deal. JC Flowers would wind down its India operations and surrender its license. A formal proposal is expected to be submitted to the RBI soon.

The Rings of Power Season 3 will premiere on November 11, 2026. This new season focuses on the height of the War of the Elves and Sauron. Sauron attempts to forge the One Ring in Mordor, which is a significant event. Galadriel leads the Elves in preparing for war to stop him. The series is planned for five seasons and production for Season 4 is underway.

The Bombay High Court permitted Union minister Nitin Gadkari's application for a civil suit. This suit addresses alleged deepfake and defamatory content circulating online. The content is reportedly linked to the ethanol-blended petrol programme. Justice Abhay Ahuja orally granted permission for Gadkari's application.

The Education Ministry's latest data highlights deep structural challenges in India's education and employment landscape, with nearly three-fourths of the workforce having only basic education, employability among youth remaining below 55% and formal skilling limited, underscoring concerns that extend beyond the recent NEET-UG paper leak protests.

The Andhra Pradesh government's State Investment Promotion Committee (SIPC) approved the project last week. According to highly placed sources, about 200 acres of land have been identified at Jagnadhapuram village in Visakhapatnam district.

The Supreme Court on Monday said its immediate focus is ensuring a speedy, fair and impartial investigation into alleged embezzlement of Ayodhya Ram Mandir funds. The court directed the reconstituted SIT to submit a status report at the next hearing and ordered the inclusion of a forensic auditor in the probe.

The Centre on Monday informed the Supreme Court that it has constituted a high-level committee led by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani to recommend reforms in India's competitive examination system following recent paper leak incidents. The panel includes former ISRO chief S Somanath, former IB director Tapan Deka and other experts.

Quote of the day by Mozart: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart emphasized lifelong learning beyond classrooms. He believed discussions and experiences foster growth and societal progress. Mozart, a renowned Austrian composer, displayed exceptional musical talent early. His extensive compositions shaped classical music and continue to influence it.

The Supreme Court on Monday said the right to peaceful protest is constitutionally protected and observed that police excesses during demonstrations cannot be justified. Hearing petitions over alleged force against students protesting examination paper leaks, the court said any excess should be independently examined and stressed the need for uniform policing protocols.

Vowing to honour every commitment this country has made to Ukraine, Burnham said Britain was going further and was providing new, home-grown jamming technology to protect Ukrainian drones as both Moscow and Kyiv intensify drone and missile strikes.

Actor Ram Kapoor shared a deeply personal story on Lock Upp 2, revealing that he helped honour his father's final wishes after his cancer returned. He said the difficult decision permanently affected his relationship with his mother and sister. Ram also recalled staying by his father's side until his final moments. According to the actor, the experience profoundly changed his perspective on life, death and inner strength.

Gujarat's 207 reservoirs currently hold 54% of their total storage capacity. This figure is lower than the 61% recorded on July 27 last year. Thirteen dams have reached full capacity, and twenty-one others are on high alert. The Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam holds 69.25% of its storage capacity. Other regions show varying storage levels, with Kutch having the lowest at 25%.

West Bengal plans sustainable tourism development for the Sundarbans mangrove forest. Two Bengal destinations will be promoted globally under a national program. Eco-resorts, river tourism, and e-vessels will be introduced in the Sundarbans. A comprehensive tourism policy is scheduled for release in August. Kolkata will also be promoted as a heritage and riverfront tourism hub.

Kuwait has ratified a broad defense cooperation agreement with Pakistan. This pact establishes a framework for military partnership and intelligence sharing. The agreement focuses on training, logistics, and defense technology exchanges. It was approved through a decree-law three years after its initial signing. A joint military committee will oversee the pact's implementation and renewal.

Today's famous Japanese proverb of the day says, The moon lives in the heart of the water. This timeless saying from ancient Japanese wisdom reminds us that a calm mind reflects life's deepest truths. It teaches inner peace, mindfulness, emotional balance, resilience, and self-discovery. Sometimes the answers we seek appear only when our thoughts become still and our hearts remain clear.

In 2003, powerful solar storms during Halloween set off a chain reaction that damaged the Arctic Ozone layer and led to an unexpected decline in ozone over the Arctic in the spring of 2004. Scientists found that solar storms, strong upper-level winds, and chemical reactions combined to reduce ozone by as much as 60 percent. The findings improved understanding of how space weather and atmospheric conditions can influence Earth's protective ozone layer.

India summoned Ukraine's ambassador after a drone attack killed an Indian national. The ministry condemned attacks on merchant shipping, citing threats to global commerce. India also previously summoned Russia's envoy over a separate deadly attack. An advisory urges Indian nationals to assess security risks before working on Black Sea vessels. The situation remains volatile due to the ongoing conflict and increased attacks.

Fourteen wrecked slavers' ships were identified in the Bahamas. These vessels transported enslaved Africans during the 18th and 19th centuries. The wrecks reveal a previously unknown route for the transatlantic slave trade. Historical research identified these ships as part of a larger maritime traffic. The findings bear witness to the colonial past and its horrors.

Quote of the day by Sting: Musician Sting found meditation through songwriting and later yoga. He realized quiet focus occurred during creative and mindful activities. This shows mindfulness can be discovered in various personal pursuits. There is no single path to finding inner peace and balance. Exploring new habits can lead to lasting calm and self-understanding.

Google Apprenticeship Program 2027: Google's India Apprenticeship Program applications are now open for 2027. The initiative does not guarantee a permanent job after completion. Apprentices gain transferable skills for the wider technology sector. The program welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and age groups. Career changers and those with limited experience are also encouraged to apply.

Erratic rainfall is reshaping India's kharif sowing patterns this season. Farmers are shifting acreage from staples to hardy crops and vegetables. Sunflower acreage has jumped significantly, and other crops like sesamum have also risen. Seed companies report increased demand for short-duration vegetables and onion seeds. Sweet corn has also emerged as another preferred crop for farmers.

Psychology says people who don't talk politely to others aren't always trying to hurt or insult people. Psychology explains that speech patterns can be shaped by stress, emotions, personality, habits, childhood experiences, communication skills, and social learning. This article explains what this behavior means, why it happens, the psychology behind it, research findings, lessons people can learn, and when rude communication may require attention or change.

Police shot dead the man suspected of the Berlin Pride attack. Abdul Ballout, a German citizen of Lebanese origin, was killed Sunday. He had a previous conviction for preparing a serious act of violence. Ballout also had earlier criminal offenses for assault and robbery. German authorities continue investigating the circumstances of the attack.

Bindyarani Devi won bronze in the women's 58kg weightlifting event. She finished behind Nigeria's Rafiatu Lawal and Canada's Ann Sophie Taschereau. Bindyarani Devi's total lift was 199kg, securing her second Commonwealth Games medal. This bronze medal contributes to India's overall tally of six medals at Glasgow 2026. India's medal count includes one gold, three silver, and two bronze medals.

ChatGPT users across the world are reporting issues with AI image generation, with OpenAI acknowledging the disruption and confirming that it has identified the root cause and is rolling out a fix.

Quote of the day by Julianne Moore reminds people that becoming a parent changes the way they understand their own mother. The quote explains how raising a child helps people see the care, sacrifice and love that parents give every day. It also shows why gratitude, empathy and family relationships become stronger with time. The message continues to connect with parents and children across generations.

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar will meet his Tamil Nadu counterpart C Joseph Vijay on August 3. They will discuss the Cauvery water-sharing issue amid a weak monsoon and water scarcity. Shivakumar also alerted Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the state's worsening drought situation. He mentioned critically low storage levels in most major reservoirs across Karnataka.

Cristiano Ronaldo is stepping into the world of television drama as both an executive producer and actor in 'Day 1s', where he teams up with Thierry Henry. This scripted series delves into the complexities of the modern football industry, focusing on the perspective of an agent. Filming has already kicked off at Barnet FC's stadium in London and is predicted to generate significant buzz among major streaming services.

AITC leader Abhishek Banerjee has urged the Lok Sabha Speaker to expedite disqualification petitions. These petitions concern twenty Members of Parliament elected on the AITC ticket. The MPs have now aligned themselves with the unrecognized NCPI political formation. This action follows the invitation of these MPs to an all-party meeting. A meeting between NCPI MPs and WB CM Adhikari is scheduled for tomorrow.

Mixing leftover coffee grounds with liquid dish soap creates a powerful, zero-waste cleaning paste that easily cuts through heavy grease and burnt-on food. This natural abrasive works exceptionally well on durable cookware like stainless steel pots, metal baking trays, and oven grates. However, it should never be used on nonstick coatings, polished aluminum, or marble surfaces, as the grit can scratch sensitive finishes and cause dark staining.

Bihar government will not pursue legal action against NEET protest participants. All arrests and detentions related to protests before July 26 will cease. The government will immediately begin withdrawing all related FIRs and notices. This decision ensures no future action will be taken against these individuals. The state aims to resolve issues stemming from the NEET-UG examination irregularities.

U.S. manufacturing showed resilience in June with increased equipment investment. New orders for capital goods excluding aircraft rose significantly last month. Shipments of core capital goods also improved, indicating strong business spending. This trend supports expectations for steady economic growth through the second quarter. Artificial intelligence expansion continues to drive this manufacturing and economic activity.

Eric Bieniemy's wife Mia Bieniemy shot news: Mia Bieniemy, wife of Eric Bieniemy, was shot at their Virginia residence. Her son, Elijah Zion Bieniemy, has been arrested and charged with the shooting. On Sunday, Eric Bieniemy was present at the Kansas City Chiefs' training camp in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Astronaut Anil Menon will perform spacewalks to upgrade solar arrays and antennas. These spacewalks will prepare the orbital lab for future solar array installations. A critical communication antenna will be replaced during the second spacewalk. New data and power cables will be connected for ongoing station maintenance. Menon is scheduled to spend eight months conducting scientific experiments in orbit.

Xbox Outage Update News : Thousands of Xbox users faced login and game access issues due to a major service outage. Microsoft engineers identified the problem but a complete fix remained elusive for many gamers. The 0x87e107df error prevented access to owned digital games, causing significant frustration. This disruption reignited debates about digital game ownership and service reliability. Affected users are advised to wait for Microsoft to fully restore Xbox Live services.

Quote of the day by Jesse Jackson: Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson spoke about resisting money and fear. He believed these forces could control people's decisions and actions. Jackson's life demonstrated courage and a commitment to principles. He was a prominent figure in the American civil rights movement.