Times of India

France has started deploying military resources to Saudi Arabia to protect its oil facilities from regional attacks. This decision follows an agreement aimed at enhancing defense cooperation, especially amid increased drone and missile threats. President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the deployment, which includes soldiers and defense systems to bolster security. Recent attacks by Houthi militants have escalated tensions in the area, raising concerns for energy stability.

A sandwich idea at 15 led Miami student Gabriella Rothberg to develop genetically engineered tomatoes designed to produce heme, an iron-containing molecule associated with meat flavour. Now 17, she is listed alongside her father on a US patent issued in June 2026. The project remains experimental, with taste and nutritional benefits yet to be established.

In a unique twist to the Ramleela celebrations in Pitampura, New Delhi, a massive 30-foot cockroach effigy will be introduced, symbolizing the fight against filth as part of the Swachh Bharat initiative. Intended to convey the triumph of cleanliness over corruption, the event will also include classic effigies like Ravan and Meghnad. Amidst the festivities, the Cockroach Janata Party's protests highlight ongoing political discontent, merging tradition with modern issues.

Divya Mittal, an ex-IAS officer, has established the Jan Neeti Bharat party in preparation for the forthcoming elections. With a focus on enhancing citizen participation in policymaking rather than adhering to conventional governance methods, she aims to make a significant impact. Her decision to retire after 13 years in civil service aligns with a trend of bureaucrats entering politics.

Stephen Curry, the NBA icon, reflects on LeBron James' decision in the new season.

While a Summary Revision focuses on new eligibles and routine corrections, SIR goes far deeper, involving statewide house-to-house verification, detailed scrutiny of entries, and large-scale data audits. For instance, under a Summary Revision, a voter who has shifted homes must file a form to update their address. Under SIR, the Booth Level Officer visits that address, confirms whether the voter still lives there, checks if anyone new has become eligible, and updates the roll based on physical verification rather than waiting for the voter to initiate the change.

Brics began with five members and grew to eleven after the 2024 expansion, with Indonesia the newest, joining in 2025. Brazil opposed the enlargement, particularly because of the one nation. Iran. It feared that adding the avowedly anti-West Islamic Republic would cost the group its cohesion. Like India, Brazil wants Brics to be reformist and not revolutionary, thereby limiting it to a body that argues for change inside the existing order rather than one that tries to replace it.

In the heart of San Francisco, the former military hospital site has been ingeniously repurposed into the Letterman Digital Arts Center. This vibrant digital arts hub, established by George Lucas in 2005 post-demolition, now serves as a creative haven for Lucasfilm and other innovative firms. Careful attention to open spaces fosters community interaction and leisure, showcasing a successful model for urban redevelopment and creative collaborations.

California cement worker Elmer Long transformed discarded glass bottles and scrap metal into an unusual art forest along Route 66. His two-acre Bottle Tree Ranch, featuring around 200 trees and over 1,000 bottles, became a popular tourist attraction. As Route 66 celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026, Long's family continues to preserve his creations.

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens, a vibrant masterpiece by Isaiah Zagar, comprises stunning mosaics made from found objects that capture his personal journey and artistic influences. In 2004, when demolition loomed, local advocates banded together to form a nonprofit, securing the beloved site. Over the years, Zagar enriched the gardens with imaginative tunnels and diverse mosaics, right up to his death in 2026.

The athletes presented the PM with memorabilia, including signed jerseys and a bow from 17-year-old archery sensation Kumkum Mohod.

Sachin Pilot remarked on the potential for Captain Amarinder Singh's return to Congress, emphasizing that politics is unpredictable. While Singh expressed dissatisfaction with the BJP, he has not discussed his future political plans with Pilot. Singh previously led the Congress in Punjab and left over internal conflicts within the party. He later formed the Punjab Lok Congress which did not succeed in recent elections.