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Photo: Getty Images | Photo Credit: carlo alberto conti Imagine a place where the sun never sets for months, and time almost seems to stand still. Welcome to Sommarøy, a tiny island in Norway. What looks like a scene straight out of a dream, this small island and its old fishing village in the Arctic feel like a different world—one without the usual boundaries of time. Sommarøy is a small island located above the Arctic Circle, surrounded by sparkling blue waters and rugged, scenic landscapes. Snow-capped mountains, white sandy beaches, and crystal-clear fjords make it look like a place from a…

It is rare in Indian stock markets for hours to equal a year or more. Yet this is precisely what happened between the closing bells on February 1 and the opening bells on February 3. Here is the brief story:February 1 – Key indices Sensex and Nifty tanked in response to the Union Budget. The Sensex closed at 80,722.94, down 1,546.84 points, or 1.88 per cent, while Nifty fell 495.20 points, or 1.96 per cent, to settle at 24,825.45.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADFebruary 2 – The BSE Sensex rose 943.5 points, or 1.17 per cent, to close at 81,666.46, while…

An artist’s impression of the LHS 1903 planetary system. | Photo Credit: Reuters Astronomers have observed a planetary system that challenges current planet formation theories, with a rocky planet that formed beyond the orbits of its gaseous neighbors, possibly after much of the planet-forming material had been used up.The system, observed using the European Space Agency’s Cheops space telescope, consists of four planets – two rocky and two gaseous – orbiting a relatively small and dim star called a red dwarf about 117 light-years from Earth in the direction of the Lynx constellation. A light-year is the distance light travels…

People queue up to vote at a polling station in Srinagar on . | Photo Credit: Reuters Locals of Srinagar district continued to be reluctant voters on Wednesday (September 25, 2024), which was evident with the low voter turnout of 29.24% in spite of the high-pitch, violence-free poll campaigning by parties in the second phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election. Also read | Second phase sees over 56% voter turnoutSrinagar district, which consists of eight Assembly segments, was among the three districts of Kashmir Valley, including Ganderbal and Budgam, that witnessed polling on Wednesday (September 25, 2024). Unlike the…

Leaders from several farmer unions meeting Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over the U.S.-India trade deal at Parliament complext, in New Delhi on Friday. | Photo Credit: ANI Highlighting the possible impact of the Indo-U.S. trade deal on the textile sector, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday (February 14, 2026) claimed that the agreement would either “destroy” the industry, which provides employment to about five crore families, or severely harm the cotton farmers.In a video posted on his X handle, Mr. Gandhi, the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, referred to his speech in Parliament…

Babar’s role is to play through the middle overs. | Photo Credit: AFP Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson on Friday (February 20, 2026) explained his team’s decision to not send talisman Babar Azam at No. 4 in its last group-stage game against Namibia, stating that he would not have been ‘the best person to come in’.“The other day, we got to the 12th-over mark and at that point Babar Azam was not the best person to come in. We’ve got plenty of other options who can come in and perform that [finishing] role. And Babar’s actually the first to acknowledge…

It is the bluest of blues I have ever seen. Not the rich turquoise of the Andaman Sea that brings thrill-seeking holidayers to the beaches of Thailand. Or the deep sapphire of the Mediterranean, characteristic of destinations like Santorini or the Amalfi Coast. Here, in the tiny archipelago of Maldives, the Indian Ocean unveils its full spectrum of rarefied blues. And it is this calming view I keep returning to during my 72 hours at the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, a 25-minute private speedboat transfer from Malé International Airport. Set on a meticulously manicured garden island overlooking a lagoon, within…

I am not here to debate the political angles of the infamous Epstein Files, nor to moralise. What is shocking is the public perception: many seem genuinely stunned by what occurred on Epstein Island and within his network.The Epstein Files (like Watergate, Wikileaks, Cablegate, and the Steele Dossier) may appear sensational, but they reveal a grim truth: the concentration of wealth and power enables behaviour that can be intolerable—and criminal—for most. Politicians and the ultra-rich often operate with impunity.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADF Scott Fitzgerald describes how extreme wealth fosters a sense of superiority, cynicism, carelessness with consequences, and emotional…

India’s post-Independence service rules were designed to ensure stability through generalist administrators — an approach that was essential for nation-building. However, governance has since become increasingly shaped by science, technology, and environmental challenges. As scientists joined government service, they remained governed by rules created for a different era. This mismatch has limited the effective integration of scientific expertise into policymaking. Unlike many advanced countries with dedicated scientific cadres, India lacks a specialised framework for scientific governance, making the case for separate scientific service rules increasingly compelling.A paradox — administrator and scientistCivil services recruitment is highly competitive, reflecting the rigour of…

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi during an interaction with professionals from various sectors, in Jammu, on September 25, 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI Intensifying his agitation over the issue of Statehood, Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday threatened to wage protests inside and outside the Parliament to “force the BJP to grant Jammu and Kashmir its Statehood”.Follow LIVE updates from the phase-2 polling on September 25, 2024“Statehood is your right and your future. J&K cannot move forward without it. The INDIA alliance will build pressure on the BJP-led government to…