Two previously unknown subterranean fish species have been discovered in wells in Assam's Goalpara district, state environment and forests minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said on Wednesday.

Scientists have identified Gitchak nakana, a tiny, transparent and blind loach, and Rakthamichthys anchi, a transparent, eel-like fish, marking a significant contribution to biodiversity research, Baruah said in a social media post.

Gitchak nakana measures around two centimetres and has a reddish appearance because its transparent body reveals its blood and internal organs.

Tuticorin International Container Terminal (TICT) has been declared a 'green terminal ' after fully electrifying 100 per cent of its operational equipment, an official statement said on Thursday.

During a review meeting of ongoing projects valued at ₹18,000 crore this week, Union Shipping Secretary Vijay Kumar officially designated the terminal at Tuticorin's VOC Port as a green facility.

In a statement, VOC Port said: "TICT was declared a Green Terminal, with 100 per cent of its operational equipment electrified."

The Secretary on Tuesday also flagged off 13 electric Internal Transfer Vehicles (E-ITVs) to support cleaner and more energy-efficient container handling operations.

Following mixed fortunes with its two missions in 2026, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is set to return to the launch pad on October 30 to launch a navigation satellite, NVS-03, on board the GSLV Mk II, which delivered this year’s only successful mission in September.

Isro Chairman Dr V Narayanan indicated on Thursday that the NVS-03 launch, which had been slotted tentatively between October 15 and 20, was cleared for a launch attempt on October 30 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.

Since the second successive failure of Isro’s workhorse PSLV rocket on January 4, 2026, the space agency has adopted a cautious approach to launches—to understand and rectify the anomalies that caused the PSLV launch failures on May 18, 2025 and January 12, 2026.

Indian scientists have discovered that one of the brightest X‑ray pulsars, Centaurus X‑3, is gobbling up material through an accretion disk — a rare behaviour for pulsars of its kind, an official statement said on Wednesday.

The finding was made by researchers at the Raman Research Institute (RRI), an autonomous institution of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), led by Kinjal Roy.

The study has implications in developing better-informed models of the system, which is one of the most widely studied binary pulsars that has drawn the attention of scientists because of its intense brightness.

Further, it will lead to enhanced understanding of binary pulsars in general.

An X-ray binary pulsar consists of a pulsar— a highly magnetised neutron star, and a Sun-like star bound in a gravitational dance. A neutron star is a celestial body with the mass of our sun crunched into a ball the size of Bangalore.

It is thought they may have been infected in the east of the country, where it had circulating among animals during the spring and summer this year.

The virus normally affects livestock and until now it had been considered non-transmissible to humans, the French government said.

Authorities said there is currently no risk to the general population.

Shamonda virus is an insect-borne virus that has been found in animals.

It is believed to be primarily spread by Culicoides biting midges and mainly affects cattle.

Jaipur will turn 300 in 2027, and that's just one of the many more reasons for travellers to visit Rajasthan's capital. The city has made National Geographic's Best of the World 2027 list, which features 25 destinations across six continents.

The annual selection highlights places with something special to offer in the year ahead, from major cultural events and historic anniversaries to new outdoor experiences. For Jaipur, the focus is on its architectural heritage, traditional crafts and the 20th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival.

The destinations on the list all bring different experiences to the table. Luxor in Egypt, known for its ancient temples and tombs, is also preparing for a total solar eclipse on August 2, 2027. Penang in Malaysia draws visitors with its food culture and historic streets, while Japan's Niigata offers regional cuisine, sake and coastal scenery.

At the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, India have won a total of 23 medals so far, including five gold, eight silver, and 10 bronze. Indian para-athlete Deepthi Jeevanji clinched gold in the women’s 400m T20 event, setting a new Games record with a time of 56.36 seconds. Her victory marked India’s fifth gold medal at the competition. In another fixture, India’s Shrishti Arora marked her debut at the Asian Para Games 2026 with a bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol SH1 event, while Jehan Dorab Madan also won a bronze medal in Para Table Tennis Men’s Singles Class 1.

Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday launched the upgraded Agri Welfare Portal to provide farmers with single-window access to government schemes, financial assistance and reliable agricultural information through a mobile-friendly digital platform. The portal aims to simplify access to services, reduce procedural hurdles and intermediaries, and bring key agricultural initiatives under one roof.

Addressing the launch programme, Chouhan said the portal reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Digital India and his commitment to farmers’ welfare. He said technology must reach farms and rural communities to make farmers’ lives easier.

The upgraded platform will enable farmers to access scheme details, check eligibility and submit applications without visiting multiple government offices or navigating different websites. It will also connect Farmer Producer Organisations, Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, agricultural scientists, researchers and startups on a common digital platform, according to a press release by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.

India’s youngest National Karting Champion Arshi Gupta has become world’s youngest driver to win the Rotax MAX Challenge (RMC) Mini title. She won the Mini Max category of The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India- FMSCI RMC India National Karting Championship 2026 held in Bengaluru yesterday.

The title follows Arshi’s 2025 triumph in the Micro Max category, making her one of the rare drivers to win two successive Rotax MAX Challenge categories in consecutive years. Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi today, 10 year old Arshi who is from Faridabad shared her journey, achievements and ambitions in motorsports. She expressed her happiness at winning the Indian National Karting Championship 2025 and 2026.

Arshi is the youngest driver globally to be selected for the F1 Academy Discover Your Drive programme, a recipient of the FIA President’s Medal, and a podium finisher in the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

Nepal has banned Priyagold biscuits after an emergency virtual meeting, days after the Indian food regulator cancelled the licence and launched legal action against the cookie maker.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had underlined that it maintains “zero tolerance for food safety violations and compromises on public health under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006” while announcing legal proceedings against Surya Foods & Agro, the company that manufactures Cheese Cracker, Butter Bite and Marie Lite biscuits under the Priyagold brand.

Nepal’s Food Technology and Quality Control Department (FTDCQ) imposed restrictions on the import, sale, and distribution of Priya Gold biscuits and issued a notice on Monday, terming the product “sub-standard”.