Stretching across the heart of South America, the Amazon River is the largest river on Earth by water discharge and one of the planet’s most extraordinary natural systems. It flows through vast tropical rainforests, supports unrivalled biodiversity and sustains millions of people. Yet despite spanning more than 6,400 kilometres (4,000 miles), one remarkable fact continues…
Seaweed is no longer just an aquatic flora, it has now transformed into a nuisance, especially for scientists. Sargassum, a genus of brown macroalgae that was once largely confined to the Sargasso Sea has evolved into the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt that stretches across 5,000 miles. In May alone, scientists detected 37.5 million tons of…
Prithviraj Sukumaran’s much-awaited thriller ‘I, Nobody’ has finally reached theatres, and early social media reactions are largely positive. Directed by Nisam Basheer, the film opened to packed shows following impressive advance bookings. Fans have praised the film’s unique style, slick visuals and engaging screenplay, with many calling it one of Prithviraj’s best recent performances. As…
The UAE’s Federal National Council (FNC) has passed a draft federal law aimed at strengthening the protection of the nation’s cultural heritage, imposing strict penalties that include fines of up to Dh10 million and prison sentences for offences such as damage, theft, and smuggling of heritage assets.The measure was approved during the council’s 13th session…
Heatwave grips UK as 36C forecast and NHS faces rising demand / Image – file Large parts of the United Kingdom are enduring another spell of extreme summer weather, with temperatures expected to climb well above 30°C and potentially reach 35–36°C in parts of England by the end of the week. Weather forecasters say the…
NEW DELHI: There were tears, and heartbreaking scenes as Afghanistan cricket bid an emotional farewell to former fast bowler Shapoor Zadran. Star spinner Rashid Khan, wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran and several other Afghanistan cricketers were seen breaking down while paying their final respects to their former teammate, whose death has left the country’s cricket…
Donald Trump, Lincoln Memorial (AP file photo) The legal battle over the Trump administration’s renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is becoming more complicated. Along with criminal cases against people accused of damaging the landmark, the renovation itself is also facing legal scrutiny.US president Donald Trump announced the renovation plans in late April and…
Mangrove forests rank among the world’s most valuable coastal ecosystems, shielding communities from storms, storing vast amounts of carbon and providing nurseries for countless marine species. For decades, scientists warned that these unique forests were disappearing faster than many tropical rainforests because of coastal development, aquaculture and pollution. Now, new satellite observations from Nasa present…
NEW DELHI: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday announced the formation of a seven-member panel, headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Desai, to draft legislation for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC).The committee comprises former high court judges R C Chavan and S G Mehare, former Maharashtra chief secretary D K Jain, former…
In March 1974, a gaunt, uniformed figure walked out of the jungle on Lubang Island in the Philippines and handed over his sword, ending a war that had, for him, never actually stopped. Hiroo Onoda was a Japanese army lieutenant who had been sent to Lubang late in the Second World War with orders never…