Author: News Desk

London: A university study has found that one in seven food businesses operating on major delivery platforms such as Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats is now a ‘dark kitchen,’ highlighting the scale of the rapidly growing but largely hidden takeaway industry. The research revealed that 15 percent of all online food retailers in England operate as delivery-only kitchens with no customer-facing premises. Also known as cloud, ghost, or virtual kitchens, these businesses prepare food solely for delivery. Despite their rapid expansion, dark kitchens have until now lacked a clear and consistent definition, creating regulatory challenges for local authorities, food…

Melbourne Park, Australia: Melbourne Park witnessed one of the most thrilling matches of the 2026 men’s Australian Open draw. Fans felt the matches were one-sided, lacking memorable moments, and that Carlos Alcaraz, nicknamed ‘SinCaraz,’ was a foregone conclusion. Those doubts were silenced during the first five-set match on Rod Laver Arena, as Alcaraz overcame Alexander Zverev 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-7 (4), 7-5 in a five-hour and 27-minute epic, the third longest in Australian Open history. The match delayed the second men’s semi-final by over an hour and had thousands watching on big screens across the grounds. The encounter…

Northern US: During winter cold spells, reports of exploding trees often capture attention. In reality, trees are not literally exploding; the sounds come from frost cracks forming when water inside the tree freezes and expands. Trees have natural protections against freezing. Their bark acts as insulation, and during winter, their cells dehydrate and increase sugar concentrations, acting as a natural antifreeze. However, if temperatures drop rapidly, trees may not have fully acclimated. Water and sap trapped in the outer layers freeze and expand, creating internal pressure, especially when the outer wood cools faster than the interior. Uneven contraction between bark…

Cape Town, South Africa: Sometimes the sky seems impossibly vivid, appearing much bluer than the clearest summer days at home. Places like Cape Town in South Africa and Briançon in France are celebrated for their strikingly deep blue skies, but is this effect just perception, or is there a scientific reason behind it? The color of the sky is determined by Rayleigh scattering, which affects shorter wavelengths of light, scattering blue light more than red. The blue we see is essentially the blue component of scattered sunlight. Factors that can alter the sky’s color High humidity, dust, smoke, or pollutants…

Bengaluru: Fans of celebrated Indian singer Arijit Singh have been sharing emotional tributes after he announced that he will no longer take on new playback singing assignments, signalling the close of a defining era in contemporary Bollywood music. Many described his voice as “the sound of our heartbreaks and celebrations,” while others said it felt present “in every corner of our lives.” Playback singing, the practice of recording songs in studios for actors to lip-sync on screen, remains a foundational element of Indian cinema. Over the years, Singh’s voice became deeply intertwined with this tradition, shaping romantic ballads and chart-topping…

San Francisco: Amazon appeared to have prematurely disclosed plans for layoffs within Amazon Web Services (AWS) after an internal email and a team-wide meeting invitation were sent to employees hours before the intended announcement. Amazon was preparing to lay off thousands of corporate employees beginning this week. The company has not yet formally notified affected staff and has not publicly confirmed the layoff plans. The internal email, sent and signed by Colleen Aubrey, Senior Vice President of Applied AI Solutions at AWS, incorrectly stated that employees in the United States, Canada, and Costa Rica had already been informed of their…

London: Seven out of 10 mothers in the UK say they feel overloaded, while almost half report experiencing mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, or burnout, according to new research examining the impact of motherhood across Europe. The findings come from a report by the pan-European campaign group Make Mothers Matter, which surveyed 800 mothers in each of 12 European countries to assess the psychological impact of giving birth and managing the pressures of motherhood. The study also found that most mothers in the UK continue to carry the main burden of household chores and caregiving responsibilities, and that…

London: A red flood warning, indicating a danger to life, has been issued for a river in south-west England as Storm Chandra brought heavy rain and strong winds to many parts of the UK. The Environment Agency (EA) said severe flooding was expected on January 27 in Ottery St Mary, a town situated along the River Otter. Floodwaters were forecast to be deep and fast-flowing. Emergency services and local authorities are working alongside the EA, which has advised residents in threatened parts of the town to move family members, pets, and vehicles to safety if possible, and to turn off…

Paris: France’s National Assembly has voted in favour of legislation that would ban children under the age of 15 from using social media, along with growing concern over online bullying, mental health risks, and the broader impact of digital platforms on minors. Lawmakers approved the bill by 130 to 21. The proposed law would prohibit under-15s from accessing social media platforms, as well as ‘social networking functionalities’ embedded within broader online services. The legislation will now move to the Senate before returning to the lower house for a final vote. President Emmanuel Macron has identified social media as one of the…

Amazon Rainforest, Brazil: High-definition footage of an Amazonian jungle tribe with no contact with the outside world has been released by American environmental activist Paul Rosolie. Described as the clearest video ever captured of such a community, the footage shows members of the tribe emerging from within the forest. Initially appearing cautious and armed, they later lowered their weapons and displayed curiosity toward the observers. Unlike earlier images of uncontacted tribes, which were often unclear and captured from great distances, these new visuals were recorded using high-resolution equipment. https://youtu.be/CEQam0pVLx8?si=1Z65_TOVnJSByPgO This allows viewers to clearly observe the tribe members’ facial expressions,…