Irish singer and activist Sinéad O'Connor has died at the age of 56.

Her family announced the news "with great sadness", saying "her family and friends are devastated". The cause of death has not been made public.

She was best known for her single Nothing Compares 2 U, released in 1990, which reached number one and brought her worldwide fame.

Taoiseach (Irish PM) Leo Varadkar said her music "was loved around the world and her talent was unmatched".

Anurag Kashyap’s directorial Kennedy has been selected as the closing film for the 14th iteration of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM). The film be screened at the closing night in Melbourne on August 20 this year. Earlier, the film was screened at the Cannes Film Festival where it received a seven-minute standing ovation from the audience. The film has received critical acclaim and attention for its gripping storyline and outstanding performances by the lead cast, Sunny Leone and Rahul Bhat.

A statement from IFFM read, “The closing night ceremony promises to be a star-studded affair, as it will be graced by the presence of the visionary director himself, Anurag Kashyap, who is known for pushing the boundaries of Indian cinema with his bold and unique storytelling. Alongside him, the lead cast of ‘Kennedy,’ the talented Sunny Leone and Rahul Bhat, will also be present to share their experiences and insights into their roles in the film." A day ahead of the closing night, on August 19, Anurag Kashyap and the lead cast will participate in an exclusive session about Kennedy with a live audience.

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Patna Director Professor TN Singh has said that his institute is a pioneer in implementation of New Education Policy (NEP). Talking to media persons about strategy of implementation of NEP Professor Singh said today in Patna the mentoring program for hand-holding polytechnic institutes and colleges has been launched in which the IIT provides faculty, sophisticated lab, and other logistics in the state.
 
The Director said the IIT Patna has also started initiatives for its pupils to improve their mental strength by collaborating with senior students and other faculties. He said it has been visualized in NEP.

Zoji La Tunnel, which is said to establish all-weather connectivity between the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, is expected to be completed by December 2030, an army official said on Thursday.

Captain IK Singh, office incharge, BRO detachment Matiyan told ANI, "The revised length of the tunnel is 13. 15 km. The total length is 14.15 km. It is a horseshoe-shaped shaft single tube and a two-lane road tunnel.”

Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav on Thursday launched a Resource Efficiency Circular Economy Industry Coalition (RECEIC), conceptualised under India’s G20 Presidency, to promote the practices of resource efficiency and circular economy globally.

This industry-driven initiative was launched at the G20 fourth Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group and Environment and Climate Ministers meeting here. The coalition is envisioned to be a self-sustaining entity that will continue to operate beyond India’s G20 Presidency, making a lasting impact on environmental sustainability.

Change is the only irreversible process that goes on continuously, said President of India Droupadi Murmu while laying the foundation of the ‘Divine Light House’ of Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya at Dasbatia here.

Launching the Brahma Kumari theme ‘The Year of Positive Change-2023’, the President said, “It is not possible to step into the same river twice. Like a river, time keeps flowing. Time and society remain dynamic on the path of continuous change.”

Open AI’s Sam Altman, who introduced ChatGPT, launched eyeball scanning cryptocurrency project Worldcoin. The project is aimed at using blockchain to store World IDs to enhance security and control, as per the project whitepaper.

Worldcoin aims at offering World ID, by authenticating a “digital passport” through iris scanning with the help of a device called ‘orb’ to ensure that an individual is a human and not an AI bot. The orb device would guarantee the genuineness of a human and in turn, generate World ID. Interested ones can download World App, and get their World ID by scanning iris by Orb.

Worldcoin is backed by Tools for Humans organisation, operating in San Francisco and Berlin.

The 4th Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) and Environment and Climate Ministers meeting began in Chennai today, July 26.

The three-day meeting brings together around 300 delegates from G20 member countries, invitee countries, and several International Organisations, with a focus on finalising the Ministerial Outcome and the Presidency Documents.

The 4th ECSWG & Minister's Meeting will focus on three key areas - land restoration, circular economy, and blue economy. These topics will take centre stage during the meeting to address environmental and sustainability challenges. On the first day of the event, there will be two parallel sessions -: the Environment Track and the Climate Track. These sessions will delve into different aspects related to environmental and climate issues, with a focus on in-depth discussions about land degradation, biodiversity, and climate change.

BJP’s S Phangnon Konyak on Tuesday became the first woman member from Nagaland to preside over Rajya Sabha. On July 17, she became the first ever woman member of Rajya Sabha to be appointed to the panel of vice-chairpersons.

“Marking a significant moment in history, the first woman member from Nagaland in the Rajya Sabha, S Phangnon Konyak presided over the House today,” an official statement said.