⚛️ Deepak Dhar wins prestigious Dirac Medal

Theoretical physicist Deepak Dhar has received the esteemed Dirac Medal for his significant contributions to statistical physics. He is being honored alongside Bernard Derrida, Marc Mézard, and Haim Sompolinsky by the ICTP in Trieste, Italy. The award is given annually on the birthday of Paul A.M. Dirac, and Dhar is the second Indian recipient after Ashoke Sen in 2012. His acclaimed work involves the Abelian sandpile model, which helps predict complex natural phenomena like earthquakes. Dhar, who studied at Caltech, now serves as an INSA Distinguished Professor at ICTS, Bengaluru.

🕯️ Parents mourn 12yo victim, shooter father apologizes

Parents of 12-year-old victim Naphat Chaimar mourned at a temple north of Bangkok after the school shooting last week. Nithi Yimruang, the father of the 14-year-old shooter, approached the grieving couple to offer a tearful apology. The attack occurred at Debsirin Nonthaburi school, resulting in nine deaths, including the teenager who later took his own life. The King and Prime Minister have shown support, granting royal patronage for the victims and their families. The funeral services continue, highlighting the loss of Naphat's bright future. 💔

🚫 UP police bust non-veg food sellers on Kanwar route

Four individuals were detained for selling non-vegetarian food along the designated Kanwar Yatra routes in Bareilly district. The Uttar Pradesh Police took action on Sunday after receiving information about violations. The month of Sawan, running from July 30 to August 28, prohibits such sales near pilgrimage paths. Authorities demolished parts of one shop and detained two more people from a separate establishment. Further violations during the Yatra period will result in legal action, the police warned. 🚫

🏏 Sarfaraz Khan back in Test squad after big change

Sarfaraz Khan received a Test recall after showing relentless fighting spirit and undergoing a significant physical transformation. The 28-year-old Indian batter replaced Sai Sudharsan in the squad for the Sri Lanka Test series starting Monday. This comeback comes after 19 months out of the national setup following previous selector doubts. Sarfaraz has impressively lost 17 kgs in a year while focusing on fitness. He will now use the practice sessions in Colombo to prepare for the upcoming two-match series. 🏏

🌍 Venezuela quake toll climbs, homes flagged as risky

The death toll in Venezuela has risen to 6,301 following two powerful earthquakes that struck on June 24. National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez shared these latest figures on Monday via his Telegram channel. Authorities have assessed 53,314 homes, classifying over 9,567 as high-risk. This massive disaster has caused an estimated $19.6 billion in direct physical losses. Reconstruction efforts must now address major housing challenges in the coming months. 😥

⚖️ Goa rape case sets major privacy precedent

The State of Goa v. Tarun Tejpal case dealt with allegations from November 2013 where assault occurred in a hotel lift. The High Court reversed the trial court's acquittal, which had buried the survivor's privacy during cross-examination. The court condemned the trial court for invasive questioning into her sexual history and private messages. It established that a victim's character is irrelevant to consent under rape-shield provisions. This ruling upholds bodily, decisional, and informational privacy for sexual assault complainants. 🛡️

🚀 Nifty Next 50 gets a big shake-up this month

The NSE indices are undergoing their semi-annual rejig this month, bringing several major changes to the Nifty Next 50. Vedanta Aluminium, Polycab, Hitachi Energy India, and Vodafone Idea are joining the index, replacing Indian Hotels, United Spirits, REC, Shree Cement, and Lodha. These changes are happening around November 1st, with Wipro also joining after being excluded from the Nifty 50. Potential inflows are estimated for several new entrants, like Vedanta Aluminium expecting $145 million. Moving forward, analysts are watching these shifts closely for market impact. 📈

🛰️ Starlink Satellites Map Earth's Thermosphere

Kyoto University researchers have successfully used Starlink satellites to map Earth's thermosphere. They analyzed orbital changes from approximately 1,200 Starlink satellites for this study. The research produced the first tomographic map of this elusive upper atmospheric layer. This mapping revealed atmospheric density patterns around 482 km above Earth. The thermosphere itself spans a height range from about 100 to 1000 km above the planet. 🛰️

🚨 Man posing as Rapido driver gets called out

A woman in Hyderabad was approached by a man claiming to be a Rapido driver near Charminar. She became suspicious because he could not show his ID and his scooter lacked a number plate. The man, who identified himself as Irfan, then tried to download the Rapido app instead of verifying his credentials. Siddeshwari Sugandh ultimately asked him to leave after questioning his inconsistent story. Rapido responded, advising passengers to verify captain and ride details directly through the app. 🛑

🚨 Hyderabad woman spots red flags with fake Rapido driver

A Hyderabad woman confronted a man near Charminar who falsely claimed to be a Rapido driver. She became suspicious because he could not show his driver ID and his scooter lacked a number plate. This incident occurred on Saturday night when he approached her without any prior booking. The man, identifying as Irfan, tried to divert attention by downloading the Rapido app from the Play Store. Rapido responded by urging all passengers to verify rider details directly on the official app. 🧐

💰 India's disinvestment strategy has seriously changed

The Union government completed its Offer for Sale (OFS) of LIC last week, aiming for its FY27 disinvestment target of ₹80,000 crore. This move involved selling a base 2.5 per cent stake in LIC, which is located in India. Since 1991 liberalization, the strategy shifted from strategic privatization to gradual stock market stake dilution. Previously, before 1991, the public sector held dominant control in many key industries. Moving forward, the government continues OFS sales while major deals like BPCL privatization are pending. 📈