The Economic Times

The Priceless Planet Coalition was founded in 2020 to restore 100 million trees globally within five years. Conservation International and World Resources Institute led the effort with significant funding and expertise. The coalition's initiatives resulted in the planting of over 10.7 million trees across six countries.

With midterm elections looming, soaring diesel prices are causing alarm among Republican candidates. In response to the economic strain, many are advocating for a ban on diesel exports, aiming to alleviate the financial burden on farmers and consumers alike. This call to action comes against a backdrop of escalating global energy challenges and ongoing geopolitical tensions. As voter frustration grows, GOP candidates must navigate a difficult electoral landscape.

Burt Reynolds sold his Hobe Sound estate for $3.3 million in 2015 after price reductions over the years. The estate was initially listed for $15 million in 2005, and the asking price changed multiple times. Following financial difficulties, Reynolds faced a foreclosure lawsuit regarding the property before its sale.

In a landmark move, Amazon will allocate $2.5 billion to settle issues arising from unauthorized Amazon Prime subscriptions. The Federal Trade Commission has broadened the scope for consumers, allowing claims of up to $200. This effort seeks to rectify the difficulties customers faced when trying to cancel subscriptions. Keep an eye out for more information on the claims process, which will be released soon.

Ground Control is launching an extensive woodland restoration initiative called Wildfell in Essex. Covering 116 hectares, this ambitious project focuses on planting new forests and improving current habitats. With the aim of enhancing biodiversity and sequestering carbon, multiple funding avenues are being explored. Furthermore, effective wildlife management practices will help the project thrive amidst various challenges, while also serving as a hub for environmental education and community inv

Bitcoin has surged to $86,000, continuing its upward trajectory despite the Federal Reserve's recent interest rate hike. The influx of nearly $1 billion into Bitcoin exchange-traded funds reflects robust investor confidence. Additionally, the CLARITY Act's failure to pass seems to have alleviated concerns, prompting a positive market reaction.

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Chinese mindset of the day: Choosing a home is about more than just the house itself, as location and community matter greatly. The saying, 'Examine the neighbourhood before you choose your dwelling,' reflects this important consideration. Neighbourhoods shape daily experiences and interactions within a community, emphasizing their significance.

Athens Church transformed vacant retail property in Athens, Georgia, into a sprawling church campus with a 2,100-seat auditorium, children's spaces and youth facilities. The project reused existing structures, technology and materials, while shipping containers became high school breakout rooms. Designers created an industrial environment focused on flexibility, function and connection.

The rise of LED lighting in residential and commercial spaces has sparked discussions among health experts. Some researchers suggest that these lights might influence metabolic processes and heighten diabetes risk. One study indicates that using broader-spectrum lighting could provide enhanced health benefits over standard LEDs. Despite these discussions, there is currently insufficient evidence to assert a direct link between LED usage and diabetes in humans.

Researchers have identified the Uhackatik impact crater in Quebec, which is about 25 kilometers wide. The crater was discovered by amateur astronomer Jol Lapointe using satellite imagery while looking for camping spots. Geological confirmation came through the discovery of shatter cones, indicating a historical extraterrestrial collision. This discovery sheds light on Earth's geological history and the difficulty of finding ancient impact structures.

China has announced new export permit requirements for two chemicals linked to illegal drug production. The chemicals are related to fentanyl precursors, which are closely monitored due to their proliferation. This expands the total number of controlled substances to 18, indicating China's increased regulatory focus. The US has urged China to strengthen regulations on chemicals used in synthetic drugs.

Oratilwe DJ Arch Jnr Hlongwane is a South African young DJ whose interest in music began when he was just eight months old. After his father bought him an iPad Mini, Oratilwe started using DJ apps and continued developing his skills. At three, he won South Africas Got Talent in 2015. By age five, he officially became the worlds Youngest club DJ after performing an hour-long set at a bar in Cosmo City, Johannesburg, before an audience of 100 people. Using professional DJ decks, he secured a Guinn

Prime Minister Andy Burnham emphasized Britain's role as a 'trusted partner' in the EU's 'Made in Europe' initiative, advocating against exclusion that could harm the UK's vital automotive sector. He highlighted the interdependent UK-EU automotive trade worth 80 billion and urged both sides to collaborate to avoid unnecessary trade barriers.

Elias 2-24 b is young enough that astronomers are seeing it before its planetary neighborhood has finished taking shape. Yet the planet is already roughly Jupiter-sized. It orbits about 55 times the Earth-Sun distance, far out in a disk where assembling such a massive world should be difficult and slow. That mismatch is what makes the discovery so intriguing: astronomers are not looking at an old planet and guessing how it formed. They may be watching a giant world grow in real time.

An NRI who spent 23 years in the US has shared why he eventually moved back to Mumbai, saying he felt safer there. After building a career in biomedical engineering, working in the pharmaceutical industry and starting a business, he decided to return following his father's death and to support his ageing mother. His account has drawn supportive reactions online.

Iran and the United States are hinting at the possibility of reviving negotiations to resolve their conflict. Both nations will be represented at the UN General Assembly, where discussions may take place. Diplomatic efforts may restart if the US announces a desire to resolve issues diplomatically. Iranian officials have indicated a willingness to ease tensions if their demands are met.

Drugmakers for months have been warning they could curtail investments and delay the release of new medications in Europe, widening a disparity in access with the US, unless the region's healthcare systems agree to boost spending.

Afghan cyclist Fariba Hashimi won a silver medal in the women's road race at the Asian Games near Nagoya, Japan, after overcoming restrictions on women in Afghanistan and leaving the country following the Taliban's return to power in 2021. Hashimi, who once trained disguised as a man, said she hoped her medal would inspire Afghan women and future generations to pursue their dreams without fear.

Trump called for the complete economic isolation of Iran in his UN speech, while saying he expected a deal with Tehran after the November midterm elections. Iran said it could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if US military pressure and the blockade on Iranian ports were eased. Trump also described Cuba as a failed state.

The UK has decided to assist Saudi Arabia's military by providing defensive air-to-air refueling support. This agreement follows a request made by Saudi Arabia to enhance their operational capabilities against the Houthi militants. Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed that this military help would be the first of its kind from a foreign country. Saudi Arabia has also sought similar support from the Americans to bolster their defenses.

US midterm elections 2026: Forecasts suggest that Democrats could clinch around 226 seats in the House during the 2026 midterm elections, while the Senate election is shaping up to be a tightly contested affair. This period will be pivotal for Congress as it navigates funding the government and raising the debt ceiling for President Trump.

Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned the wide gap between the price to retailer and MRP of some cancer medicines, calling inflated pricing a serious issue for patients and taxpayers. The bench said such disparities could lead to excessive costs under government health schemes and sought greater scrutiny of medicine pricing. The court was hearing a petition on generic prescriptions and price controls.

State agriculture minister Dattatray Bharane has confirmed a large contraction in the production of cotton and soybean, while the agriculture department has initiated an early crop assessment to calculate compensation as farmers are removing wilted crops from fields.

New genomic research has resolved a century-old debate over gentoo penguins, revealing four distinct species rather than one with several subspecies. The newly recognised Kerguelen gentoo lives on remote islands in the Southern Indian Ocean. Scientists warn that warming temperatures could shrink habitats for several island populations, making conservation increasingly important.

Sitharaman made a strong pitch for better-governed family businesses and greater corporate spending on research and development. She said the next 20 years would require Indian businesses to move beyond the creation of startups towards building enterprises that could scale, professionalise and endure.

Gondal Taluka police in Rajkot district have initiated proceedings against 26-year-old Deep Virdiya, who allegedly set his overturned car on fire to create the appearance of accidental damage and claim insurance money. Police said petrol was poured over the vehicle before it was ignited, while Virdiya allegedly told investigators the fire was caused by a short circuit.

India co-sponsored the first-ever Partners for Multilateralism Summit at the United Nations with several other nations. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted the need for more cooperative and transparent global governance. The summit addressed critical issues such as climate action, health preparedness, and international security. Additionally, a V4+India foreign ministers' meeting occurred, focusing on enhancing cooperation in various sectors.

In 2024, Arup invested 1 million in Nattergals Boothby Wildland project in Lincolnshire, supporting restoration activity across 71.24 hectares and securing 10,000 tonnes of future carbon removal credits over 50 years. The project forms part of an approach focused on using upfront private-sector finance to support nature restoration while recognizing benefits beyond carbon removal. Boothby Wildland is a 617-hectare former degraded arable farm where Nattergal has gradually moved away from arable f

Japanese Mindset: Kodawari is a Japanese mindset centered on uncompromising personal standards and the belief that meaningful work deserves genuine care. It teaches us to resist shortcuts, pay attention to important details, and pursue quality not for praise, but because doing something well matters to us.

October brings the next round of Social Security payments after the Sept. 23 deposit. Regular benefits will arrive on Oct. 14, 21 and 28, based on birth dates. SSI follows a different calendar, with payments on Oct. 1 and Oct. 30. The latter is Novembers benefit, moved forward because Nov. 1 falls on a Sunday.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has accused BJP Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari of targeting the Opposition similarly to Mamata Banerjee. He stated that Adhikari is using state power against Opposition parties, mirroring Banerjee's tactics. Chowdhury pointed out the inconsistency of TMC candidates in the ongoing byelections for West Bengal assembly. He emphasized that only Congress remains as a consistent force opposing the BJP's actions.

The Calcutta High Court recorded the West Bengal government's submission that five of the six cases challenged by Congress' Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan had been closed. The court verbally observed that Pradhan should contest the polls. Pradhan's lawyer said the court had granted protection until October 12, while Congress leaders urged Nandigram voters to support the jailed candidate.

Former judge RC Chavan tendered his resignation from the seven-member committee, citing differences over the panel's public consultation process and objecting to the involvement of an official from outside the state.

The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, also highlighted the importance of the waterway for global food security.

Rebel Members of Parliament from Trinamool Congress have requested additional time to respond to disqualification petitions. These petitions were filed by Abhishek Banerjee against the MPs who merged with NCPI. The Election Commission of India has frozen the party symbols of both factions of Trinamool Congress. Some NCPI leaders anticipate that the ECI may recognize their faction as the legitimate Trinamool Congress.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that people who respectfully refuse to sing one or all stanzas of Vande Mataram on grounds of religion or conscience should not face criminal consequences. The bench cited its 1986 Bijoe Emmanuel judgment, while noting that the government could determine the national song and its prescribed stanzas under the law.

The first meeting will be held at Seva Teerth on Wednesday, beginning around 4 pm, and followed by a full-day session on Thursday, with Modi attending both. Sources said all Cabinet ministers, including those not coordinating the groups, are expected to make brief interventions.

UP has been directed to appoint a senior public prosecutor for the trial and place the decision on record in two weeks. The alleged disappearance of the site plan relating to the incident from the trial court record was also raised.

Neil Armstrong, renowned for his monumental achievement as the first human to set foot on the Moon, faced an unexpected breach of trust when his barber, Mark Sizemore, sold his hair without permission, leading to a legal clash. Despite initial resistance from buyer John Reznikoff to return the clippings, he eventually committed to donate proceeds to charity.