Srinagar, Aug 25: A long-term study conducted by researchers at the University of Washington has revealed that crows possess impressive memory, particularly when it comes to recognizing people who pose a threat. The research found that these birds can remember human faces for years and may respond with hostility if they associate someone with danger or distress.

So don’t be surprised if it squeaks aggressively at you on every encounter, along with all its feathery pals, who now hate you equally, by the way.

The study, led by wildlife biologist Dr. John M. Marzluff, used masks to test crow memory. A specific “dangerous” mask was worn by researchers while they captured and released wild crows. Over time, the birds began to react aggressively whenever they saw that mask—even when worn by different people and even years after the initial incident.

Crows that had never seen the masked individual still responded with hostility—cawing, mobbing, and diving. This indicates that the birds had learned about the perceived threat from their peers. The ability to share social information about danger highlights their advanced cognitive and communication skills.

According to studies, if you upset one crow, you may find yourself on the wrong side of the entire neighborhood flock.

Scientists have found that crows have brain structures remarkably similar to the human amygdala—the region that processes emotions and fear. This could explain why emotionally charged memories, such as traumatic or threatening events, stick with them for years. Such neurological wiring gives them the capacity not only to remember but to respond emotionally to specific individuals.

The study sheds light on just how intelligent and socially aware crows are. They’re not just scavengers or background birds in urban life—they’re observant, emotionally complex, and capable of forming long-lasting social memories. Whether it’s sharing information about a dangerous person or remembering a specific act for over a decade, crows exhibit intelligence once thought to be unique to primates and humans.

Srinagar, Aug 25: Australia’s top-order trio delivered a dominant performance against a depleted South African bowling attack, each scoring blistering centuries to seal a historic win in the third and final ODI on Sunday. The 3rd ODI saw South Africa suffer their heaviest defeat in ODI history, a record dating back to their debut in 1991.

Travis Head (142), captain Mitchell Marsh (100), and Cameron Green (118), who notched his maiden ODI century*, powered Australia to a mammoth total of 431/2 — their second-highest score ever in ODI cricket.

All-rounder Cooper Connolly, playing his first game of the series, took 5-22 to rattle South Africa as the tourists fell to 155 all out in 24.5 overs.

None of the South African batters could score more than Dewald Brevis’ knock of 49 as Connolly ran through the lower order with his left-arm spin and helped lead Australia to its 276-run win.

Fast bowler Shaun Abbott (2-27) had picked up the wickets of Aiden Markram (2) and captain Temba Bavuma (19) inside the batting powerplay before Connolly closed out the game quickly.

South Africa’s bowlers endured a tough day in the field as Kwena Maphaka, in just his third ODI, was taken for 73 runs in six overs, while Wiaan Mulder returned with bruising figures of 0/93 from seven overs. Spinner Senuran Muthusamy didn’t fare much better, conceding 75 runs in nine overs and managing a solitary wicket.

Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh kept the scoreboard ticking aggressively. Head reached his half-century off just 32 balls as Australia raced to 86/0 in the first 10 overs, laying a perfect foundation for a massive total.

Marsh played the anchor role, bringing up a run-a-ball fifty, while Head continued reaching his century off 80 balls with a single off Muthusamy. His knock featured 17 boundaries and five sixes, and he powered Australia to a 200-run opening stand by the 28th over. Head smashed 19 runs in a single over from Aiden Markram, accelerating the momentum.

Maharaj eventually broke the stand when Head holed out to long-off, and Marsh followed shortly after, top-edging a slog sweep off Muthusamy to be caught by Ryan Rickelton, who ran in from behind the stumps to complete the catch at square leg.

Australia plundered 126 runs without loss in the last 60 balls, as Green brought up his half-century off 28 balls, including a pulled six off Maphaka. The young pacer also had a forgettable moment in the field, dropping Alex Carey when the batter was on 29.

Green’s finish included three consecutive sixes off Muthusamy, and he surged into the 90s with two more sixes off Mulder before calmly running two to bring up his maiden ODI hundred.

Tehran, Aug 25: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said that the United States confronts Iran because it wants the country to be “obedient,” a demand he called “offensive” and vowed the nation would resist.

Speaking in Tehran, on Sunday, Khamenei rejected calls for direct negotiations with Washington and said US hostility has been consistent since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the official news agency IRNA.

He referred to a June 13 attack on Iran, saying that US-linked groups met in a European capital the next day to discuss a “post-Islamic Republic” order, even proposing a monarch. Those efforts, he said, were thwarted by the resilience of the Iranian people and state institutions.

The rare Israeli and US attacks in June, which targeted key nuclear sites and prompted Iranian retaliation, were designed to destabilise the Islamic republic, Khamenei argued.

He said that a day after “Iran was attacked” by Israel at the start of the war, “American agents” met in Europe “to discuss what government should rule Iran after the Islamic republic”.

Khamenei urged domestic unity and support for President Masoud Pezeshkian, warning that Iran’s adversaries were now seeking to stir divisions at home.

He also condemned Israel’s campaign in Gaza, called on Western states to halt support for it, and praised actions by Yemen’s Houthi movement against Israel as justified.

Relations between Tehran and Washington were cut off after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the resulting hostage crisis at the US embassy. Since then, Washington has imposed multiple waves of sanctions on Tehran, most recently due to its nuclear program.

Cairo, Aug 24: Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen’s capital on Sunday, days after Houthi rebels fired a missile toward Israel that its military described as the first cluster bomb the rebels had launched at it since 2023.

The Iranian-backed Houthis said multiple areas across Sanaa were hit. The Houthi-run health ministry said at least two people were killed and 35 others were wounded.

The rebels’ Al-Masirah satellite television reported a strike on an oil company, and video on social media showed a fireball erupting there.

Israel’s military said it struck the Asar and Hizaz power plants, calling them “a significant electricity supply facility for military activities,” along with a military site where the presidential palace is located.

Sanaa residents told The Associated Press they heard explosions close to a closed military academy and the presidential palace. They saw plumes of smoke near Sabeen Square, a central gathering place in the capital.

“The sounds of explosions were very strong,” said Hussein Mohamed, who lives close to the presidential palace.

Ahmed al-Mekhlafy said he felt the sheer force of the strikes. “The house was rocked, and the windows were shattered,” he told the AP by phone.

The Houthis have launched missiles and drones toward Israel and targeted ships in the Red Sea for over 22 months, saying they are attacking in solidarity with Palestinians amid the war in Gaza.

Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, vowed to continue attacks on Israel, writing on social media that “our military operations supporting Gaza won’t stop, God willing, unless the aggression is stopped, and the siege is lifted.”

The Israeli strikes were the first to hit Yemen since a week ago, when Israel said it targeted energy infrastructure it believed was used by the rebels.

The latest strikes follow the Houthis’ claim of launching a newly equipped missile toward Israel on Friday, targeting the country’s largest airport, Ben Gurion. There was no reported damage or injuries. Israel’s military said it fragmented mid-air after several interception attempts.

An Israeli Air Force official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with military regulations, called Friday’s projectile a new threat — a cluster munition, meant to detonate into multiple explosives on impact.

The use of cluster bombs makes interception more difficult and represents additional technology provided to the Houthis by Iran, the official asserted.

The official also said over 10 Israeli fighter jets carried out Sunday’s strikes.

Defense Minister Israel Katz in a statement said Israel continues to “impose an air and naval blockade,” without details.

Houthi attacks over the past two years have upended shipping in the Red Sea, through which about USD 1 trillion of global goods passes each year. From November 2023 to December 2024, the Houthis targeted more than 100 commercial and naval ships with missiles and drones.

The rebels stopped the attacks during this year’s brief ceasefire in Gaza and later became the target of a weekslong airstrike campaign ordered by US President Donald Trump.

In May, the United States announced a deal with the Houthis to end the airstrikes in return for an end to attacks on shipping, although the rebels said the agreement did not include halting attacks on targets it believed were aligned with Israel.

Last month, the Houthis said they would target merchant ships belonging to any company that does business with Israeli ports, regardless of nationality, as part of what they called a new phase of operations against Israel.

In May, Israeli airstrikes hit the Sanaa airport in a rare daytime attack that destroyed the terminal and left craters in its runway. At least six passenger planes were hit, including three belonging to Yemenia Airways, according to airport authorities.