The Noise-Free Nations Index is created annually by an award-winning African tour company, Go2Africa by assessing countries using seven measures, covering population and visitor concentration, rural landscapes, protected areas, road traffic, airports and railways.
An Indian-born cheetah, KJP21, has given birth to five cubs in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, increasing India's total cheetah population to 60. These cubs, fathered by a Botswana cheetah, introduce a new genetic lineage, marking a significant milestone for Project Cheetah and conservation efforts.
India's top sprinters are set to compete in the International Invitation Relay Competition in Chandigarh, aiming to qualify for the World Athletics Relays in Botswana. Several national relay teams are hoping to secure their place at the World Relays in Gaborone.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will host US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Mumbai on October 20 for talks aimed at strengthening the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Discussions will cover energy, trade, defence, and critical technologies. The visit also includes celebrations for the 250th anniversary of US Independence. This meeting follows earlier confusion regarding Rubio's visit and will also touch upon the India-US bilateral trade agreement, which both sides are close to concluding. The MEA clarified that hosting foreign dignitaries outside Delhi is a common practice.
India's men's lawn bowls pair, Navneet Singh and Dinesh Kumar, secured their third consecutive victory at the Commonwealth Games by defeating Botswana in a tense tie-break. The duo showcased strong coordination and resilience, maintaining their perfect record and significantly boosting their chances of advancing to the knockout stage.
The inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship saw thrilling performances on its second day, with Audrey Werro defeating Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson in the women's 800m and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden clocking the season's fastest time in the women's 100m. Other notable winners included Kenny Bednarek in the men's 100m, Collen Kebinatshipi and Marileidy Paulino in the 400m, Haruka Kitaguchi in javelin, Klaudia Kazimierska in 1500m, Miltiadis Tentoglou in long jump, and Sandi Morris in pole vault.
Americans Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Kenny Bednarek secured double sprint gold at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, each winning the 100m and 200m titles and a $300,000 jackpot. Jefferson-Wooden's 200m time of 21.47 seconds made her the third fastest woman in history, while Bednarek, known as "Kung Fu Kenny," dominated the men's 200m. The event, designed for television, drew sellout crowds and featured other star athletes like Gianmarco Tamberi and Mondo Duplantis, with World Athletics president Sebastian Coe noting its potential for future Olympic and World Championship elements.
Indian national record holder Animesh Kujur finished sixth in his 200m semi-final heat at the Commonwealth Games, clocking a time of 20.65 seconds, which was below his personal best. This performance led to his elimination from the competition, as he failed to qualify for the final.
A female cheetah named Nirva, part of India's reintroduction programme, was successfully rescued from Shivpuri district after an 11-day search. The 6-year-old South African cheetah had gone missing from Kuno National Park, and her satellite collar was malfunctioning. Forest officials, with local support, located and replaced her collar, confirming she is healthy.
Indian boxers Sachin Siwach (60kg), Ankush (80kg), and Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg) have successfully advanced to the quarterfinals of their respective categories at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Sachin secured a 4-1 victory, while Ankush and Sakshi both won their bouts by unanimous 5-0 decisions, bringing them one win closer to securing a medal.
The question for the next 20 years is not whether India can become a $5 trillion or $10 trillion economy. Those are attractive targets, but the real question is whether India can create enough productive jobs, educate its children properly, make its cities liveable, and give hundreds of millions of people a substantially better life, asserts Ramesh Menon.
A delegation from Botswana visited Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh to review preparations for the translocation of cheetahs from Botswana. The team expressed satisfaction with the quarantine facilities and other arrangements.
Former world youth champion Sachin Siwach has advanced to the quarterfinals of the men's 60kg boxing competition at the Commonwealth Games. He defeated England's William Hewitt by a 4-1 points decision and is now one win away from securing a medal.
Indian boxers Sachin Siwach, Ankush, and Sakshi Chaudhary have successfully advanced to the quarterfinals of their respective categories at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Sachin and Sakshi secured unanimous victories, while Ankush also dominated his bout. Sumit, however, faced a narrow defeat in his round of 16 match.
Indian boxers Sachin Siwach and rising youngster Ankush have successfully advanced to the quarterfinals of their respective weight categories at the Commonwealth Games. Both athletes are now just one victory away from securing a medal for India.
Indian boxers Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), and Sachin Siwach (60kg) have advanced to the semifinals of the Commonwealth Games, guaranteeing at least a bronze medal each. Their victories showcased strong performances against international competitors, with Sakshi and Siwach winning by unanimous decisions, and Arundhati securing a hard-fought 3-1 win.
Heavyweight weightlifter Lovepreet Singh secured a record-breaking silver medal at the Commonwealth Games, while Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra and two other Indian javelin throwers advanced to the final, marking an eventful day for India.
Indian men's and women's table tennis teams began their 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships campaign with dominant 3-0 victories over Zimbabwe and Maldives respectively. The hosts showcased strong performances, with key players like Manav Thakkar, Harmeet Desai, Payas Jain, Sutirtha Mukherjee, Yashaswini Ghorpade, and Swastika Ghosh securing comfortable wins. Other nations also saw action, including a surprising close call for top-seeded Singapore against Sri Lanka.
India's top-seeded men's and women's table tennis teams secured identical 3-0 victories over Zimbabwe and Maldives, respectively, marking a commanding start to their campaign at the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships in New Delhi.
Indian athletes are set to compete across various disciplines including athletics, boxing, lawn bowls, swimming, and weightlifting on the seventh day of the Commonwealth Games, with several medal events scheduled.
India's boxing contingent had a stellar day at the Commonwealth Games, securing five more semifinal berths and bringing the total to nine. This achievement surpasses India's previous medal tally in boxing from Birmingham 2022, guaranteeing at least nine medals for the nation.
Indian boxers delivered a flawless performance at the Commonwealth Games, with four more pugilists - Ankush Yadav, Sakshi Chaudhary, Arundhati Choudhary, and Sachin Siwach - advancing to the semifinals. This brings the total number of Indian boxers in the semifinals to nine, ensuring a minimum of nine bronze medals for the country.
Julien Alfred became the third-fastest woman in 200m history with a 21.51-second win, while Emmanuel Wanyonyi broke a 27-year-old world record in the rarely contested 1,000m at the Monaco Diamond League.
India's top 400m runners, including Vishal Thennarasu Kayalvizhi and Jay Kumar, view the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as a more challenging competition than the Asian Games. They believe the higher standard of competition, especially from Australia and England, will serve as an ideal proving ground to improve their performance and achieve personal bests ahead of the continental showpiece.
India's top 400m runners, including Vishal Thennarasu Kayalvizhi and Jay Kumar, view the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as a more challenging competition than the Asian Games. They believe the higher standard of competition, especially from Australia and England, will serve as an ideal proving ground to improve their performance and achieve personal bests ahead of the continental showpiece.
Botswana created history by becoming the first African nation to win the men's 4x400 metres relay World title.
A 21-member Indian athletics team, led by Animesh Kujur, will participate in five events at the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana. The team includes eight women and will focus on events including the mixed relays and men's relays.
India's men's 4x400m and mixed 4x100m relay teams delivered impressive performances at the International Invitation Relay Competition in Chandigarh, significantly improving their chances of qualifying for the World Athletics Relays in Botswana. However, the men's 4x100m team faced disappointment due to a disqualification.
Usain Bolt said Australian sprint sensation Gout Gout must surround himself with a strong support team in order to stay focused on his career.
Five Indian relay teams are set to compete in the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, aiming to secure qualification for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing.
How India overcame umpteen odds to reintroduce the cheetah on its territory after the handsome cat became extinct in the country decades earlier.
India is set to bring eight cheetahs from Botswana in two phases, with four arriving by May 2025. This follows the successful reintroduction of cheetahs to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, with the population now at 26, including 14 cubs born in India. The initiative aims to boost cheetah conservation efforts and create inter-state collaboration for their protection. The project has already seen significant investment, with over Rs 112 crore spent on cheetah rehabilitation.
Brazil's Laura Cardoso has etched her name in cricket history by becoming the first player to take nine wickets in a T20I innings, achieving the feat against Lesotho at the BCA Kalahari Women's T20I Tournament.
Tensions escalate between Iran and the US following an attack on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Sea of Oman, with both sides trading accusations over maritime security and ceasefire violations.
Botswana declares half-day holiday to mark first Olympic gold
Letsile Tebogo became the first African to win the men's Olympic 200 metres title on Thursday when he powered clear of American duo Kenny Bednarek and a COVID-hit Noah Lyles to claim Botswana's first Olympic gold medal.
Top Indian athletes, including Animesh Kujur and Praveen Chithravel, are set to compete in the inaugural National Indoor Championships in Bhubaneswar, viewing it as crucial preparation for the Asian Games.
Top Indian athletes, including Animesh Kujur and Praveen Chithravel, are set to compete in the inaugural National Indoor Championships, using the event as preparation for the Asian Games later this year.
The United States continued their dominance of the Olympic 4x400 metres relay on Saturday but only just, as Rai Benjamin held off Botswana's Letsile Tebogo in a thrilling last-leg battle between two individual gold medallists.
Qatar's five-times winner Nasser Al-Attiyah was in second place for the Dacia Sandriders team, 40 seconds behind de Mevius.
