The UAE wants to move towards 'zero Hormuz dependency', regardless of the situation in the strait, where threat levels have changed many times across the course of the war.

Every generation believes that young people today have it easier than those who came before them. And in some ways, they probably do. They have access to opportunities, information, and experiences that previous generations could scarcely have imagined. The world is more connected, knowledge is...

DoPT Secretary Rachna Shah outlined reforms spanning recruitment, civil service training, grievance redressal, transparency measures, pension administration, and digital governance.

The court has also questioned delays in conducting an independent study into the long-term environmental impact of the 'MSC Elsa 3' shipwreck.

India is making significant strides in lunar exploration by developing artificial heating systems for future Moon landers, a joint initiative between ISRO and the Department of Atomic Energy, aimed at extending lander operational life from the current 14 days to an impressive 100-200 days by overcoming the extreme cold of lunar nights, which previously caused missions like Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander to cease functioning. This technological advancement, inspired by successful strategies employed by other nations like the Soviet Union, China, and the United States using radioisotope heater units and advanced insulation, is crucial for upcoming complex missions such as Chandrayaan-4, scheduled for around 2028, which requires prolonged surface operations for sample return.

Sports prodigies are athletes who defy age barriers, rising to fame at remarkably young ages. Throughout history, legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Pelé, and Kylian Mbappé have showcased this phenomenon, achieving greatness before reaching adulthood. Modern sports, however, seem to be accelerating this trend, with teenagers displaying extraordinary skills and achievements. Current examples like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in cricket, Lamine Yamal in football, and Andrea Kimi Antonelli in Formula 1 are rewriting the definition of early success...

In Dehradun's Patel Nagar, Riya Kumari, a 23-year-old NEET aspirant preparing for a reexamination, was found dead by hanging in her locked room on Tuesday, with her father being a retired army personnel and her mother discovering the scene. Police, who arrived after her parents forced the door open, recovered a suicide note in which she apologized for her decision and attributed it to her incompetence, not anyone else's fault, and the family subsequently cremated her body without a postmortem, stating no noticeable behavioral changes. While initial statements from parents and neighbors did not indicate visible emotional distress, authorities have confirmed a probe will be conducted to ascertain if she was under pressure or in distress, noting her intense study habits and isolation in her room while preparing for multiple exams.

Julian Alvarez, who is currently part of Argentina's FIFA World Cup defence, is all set to make a comeback to England, a new report said. The Atlético Madrid striker, who is reportedly tired of Diego Simeone's defence-heavy tactics, has agreed to join Premier League champions Arsenal, the report...

A Delhi court has refused anticipatory bail to Satish Kumar, who is accused of luring a 23-year-old woman into a sexual relationship with a false promise of marriage, thereby interpreting Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) by holding that the allegations establish a prima facie case of obtaining consent through deception warranting custodial interrogation. The woman met Kumar online, developed a relationship, and travelled to Delhi where they cohabited and became physically intimate for 19 days, after which Kumar allegedly ceased communication and blocked her. The court, citing extensive WhatsApp conversations showing Kumar referring to the complainant as his "future wifey" and discussing marriage, distinguished this situation from a mere breach of promise, concluding that his actions suggested a deceitful intent from the outset, and that granting bail would impede the investigation and recovery of digital evidence.

Tom Holland has officially confirmed his marriage to long-time partner Zendaya in an interview with Esquire, putting an end to months of speculation that began after Zendaya's stylist hinted at a wedding in January, which subsequently fueled the creation of AI-generated images of the event...

The Kerala Maritime Board (KMB) is leasing out a 750-square-meter transit shed at its minor Vizhinjam port, with bids closing July 25, 2026, and a minimum monthly rent of ₹1 lakh, as an interim measure to generate revenue and signal investor interest. This initiative aims to capitalize on the success of the adjacent Adani-operated Vizhinjam International Seaport, which has rapidly achieved significant cargo milestones and created demand for logistics space, with the KMB hoping to ferry cargo between the two ports. While this warehouse lease is a short-term solution, the KMB's long-term vision involves a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to fully integrate the minor port's facilities with the international seaport into a unified cargo ecosystem, a proposal currently awaiting government approval. The tender, open to private companies and government entities with specific financial and experience requirements, offers access to a strategically located, customs-notified port with infrastructure including a wharf, weighbridge, crane, and tugboat.

Kerala will continue with the PM SHRI scheme, with the current UDF government stating the previous LDF government committed the state by signing the agreement and accepting funds, thus limiting their options. The Kerala government asserts its right to determine its school curriculum and which schools are included in the PM SHRI scheme, forming a Cabinet subcommittee to communicate its ideological and policy stance to the Centre...

Snap, the company behind Snapchat, has launched SPECS, a pair of standalone augmented reality glasses priced at $2,195 with pre-orders now open and shipping expected this autumn in the US, UK, and France, notably excluding India despite its large Snapchat user base. Positioned as a distinct middle ground between bulky headsets and basic AI glasses, SPECS are designed to overlay digital content onto the real world with a 51-degree field of view, powered by dual Snapdragon processors for a low 7-millisecond latency, and offer up to 4 hours of mixed-use battery life per charge, extendable to 20 hours with a charging case, representing over a decade of Snap's investment in AR technology.

Amidst heightened speculation of a potential split within Shiv Sena (UBT) affecting Maharashtra's political landscape, Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is reportedly experiencing internal concern, leading Pawar to schedule an urgent meeting with the party's nine Members of Parliament to discuss the evolving situation and directly address them. While Pawar has remained silent on the Shiv Sena (UBT) developments, his grandson Rohit Pawar voiced strong criticism via X, condemning the alleged "buying and selling of MPs and MLAs" amidst pressing public issues like job losses, women's safety, and agricultural distress, and urging the public to hold betrayers accountable democratically. Concurrently, rumors of a merger between NCP (SP) and Congress have surfaced, fueled by Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole's claim of a merger proposal from Pawar, though the Pawar faction has denied these reports, and Patole was subsequently summoned to Delhi by the Congress high command.

Argentina secured a 3-0 victory over Algeria, largely thanks to a historic hat-trick from Lionel Messi, which saw him equal Miroslav Klose's World Cup goal record and join Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to score in five World Cups, though his performance was overshadowed by a controversial studs-up tackle on Aissa Mandi in the 32nd minute that, surprisingly, went unpunished by both the on-field referee and VAR...

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has accused Reliance, partially owned by Meta (WhatsApp's parent company), of orchestrating a deliberate sabotage of Telegram's accessibility for millions of users globally, including in the UAE, through BGP hijacking, suggesting this is a competitive maneuver potentially linked to lobbying efforts to ban Telegram in India. Durov also highlighted that India's IT ministry temporarily banned Telegram for a week due to leaked exam questions, a decision the platform is challenging in the Delhi High Court, while a senior telecom industry source dismissed Durov's allegations against Reliance as fake news, differentiating Reliance Communications (which operates Jio) from Reliance Industries Ltd. The Indian government ordered Google and Apple to delist Telegram to prevent the distribution of leaked or fake exam papers for upcoming re-examinations, citing concerns about fraud and timestamp manipulation via the platform's editing features.

An alleged plot to attack President Donald Trump's UFC event at the White House was thwarted after the mother of 19-year-old Tycen Proper alerted authorities to her son's escalating obsession with firearms, tactical gear, and secretive online communications, leading to the arrest of five men. Court documents filed by the FBI reveal the plan involved using explosive-laden drones to direct attendees towards an exit where snipers would open fire, with Proper's mother noting his research into Washington D.C. area locations, receipt of maps, and discussions of "recon" and "hit and run missions" with an online group of self-described "Christian-based former military personnel" on TikTok. Investigators discovered encrypted messages detailing escape routes, the need for a safe house, and specific attack plans including drone usage, after Proper's parents contacted local police, who then involved the FBI.

A 27-year-old software engineer from Delhi, P Radha Gayathri, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a Mussoorie homestay while vacationing with her husband, Saumya Sricharan, a fellow software professional. The couple, married in November 2025, had arrived from Rishikesh and checked into the homestay late Sunday night, sending a selfie to Gayathri's father around 1:36 am Monday. Sricharan reported waking up to find his wife unresponsive, naked, and bleeding from the nose, with bloodstains on the bedsheet and a puddle of urine, though the post-mortem revealed no external injury marks. Despite these disturbing details, Gayathri's father, a retired army man, stated he does not suspect foul play and is awaiting the postmortem report, which will include viscera analysis, to determine the cause of death, while police have collected evidence from the scene, including two empty liquor bottles and food, and noted the deceased had been treated for low blood pressure.

Indian equity markets reached new highs on Wednesday as the Sensex touched 77,176.51 and the Nifty surpassed 24,000, extending a four-session winning streak, primarily driven by a significant drop in Brent crude prices to around $78.44–$78.6 a barrel following a US-Iran peace deal that could boost global oil supply and the US waiving sanctions on Iranian oil. The rally was further supported by a near 0.8 per cent rise in the IT sector, with companies like TCS and Infosys gaining, ahead of an anticipated stable interest rate decision from the US Federal Reserve. While most major sectors saw gains, including small and mid-cap segments, and many IT stocks performed well, Axis Bank, Bajaj Finance, NTPC, and Adani Ports were among the laggards, and Foreign Institutional Investors returned to net selling on Tuesday, offloading ₹749.18 crore in equities.

A ProPublica investigation reveals that Texas oil billionaire Jeffery Hildebrand, a significant donor to Donald Trump, is poised to be the primary beneficiary of the Trump administration's EPA engineering a rollback of US methane emission rules, particularly those targeting "stripper wells" which, though accounting for only 6% of US oil and gas output, are responsible for roughly half of the industry's potent methane emissions. Hildebrand, whose company Hilcorp has been identified as the US oil and gas industry's top methane emitter, significantly increased his political contributions to Trump and other Republicans after the Biden administration introduced regulations on these wells, subsequently benefiting from a swift reversal including his wife's appointment as US Ambassador to Costa Rica and the appointment of a former Hilcorp lobbyist to oversee EPA climate regulations, all while proposed legislation aims to permanently exempt stripper wells from EPA rules, a development with global implications given methane's potent warming effect and the US's role in climate action.

It seems every network is now trying to cash in on the popularity of hockey-based romantic dramas like "Heated Rivalry" and "Off Campus". Netflix has grabbed one such. A live-action series adaptation of Hannah Grace's book series "Icebreaker" is being developed by the streamer. Showrunner Amanda...

After back-to-back acting stints in the television space with Netflix's "Black Rabbit" (co-starring Jude Law) and HBO's "DTF St. Louis" (with David Harbour), Jason Bateman is getting back to full-fledged movie direction (he directed two episodes of the former, with his “Ozark” co-star Laura Linney...

AI-powered toys like ChattyBear are entering nurseries and playrooms, offering interactive companionship for children as young as three, but extensive research highlights significant concerns regarding their potential harms. A report by US PIRG Education Fund found these toys can disseminate dangerous information and mature content, with tested models revealing how to locate hazardous household items. Further studies emphasize that companies release these products faster than regulators can assess them, leaving parents to manage unforeseen consequences and contradictory guidance, while also noting that AI's prevalence in children's lives may significantly alter developmental trajectories due to children's tendency to form stronger attachments to anthropomorphized objects. Experts also voice worries about emotional detachment, unauthorized data harvesting, and the detrimental impact on cognitive skills, memory, behavioral development, interpersonal relationships, and physical health, advocating for outdoor activities and team sports to foster well-rounded development.

The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted a below-normal monsoon for India in 2026, at 90% of the long-period average, largely due to the onset of an El Niño phenomenon expected to develop into a "super El Niño" that typically weakens the Indian monsoon, posing significant risks to the rain-dependent agricultural sector, potentially increasing food prices amidst existing inflation, and impacting drinking water and energy demands, with the situation potentially exacerbated by a predicted neutral Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) which usually mitigates El Niño's effects, and compounded by the backdrop of global warming leading to predictions of 2027 being the world's warmest year on record.

India's vision for Viksit Bharat 2047 emphasizes workforce readiness for the AI era, recognizing that economic growth hinges on a nation's ability to innovate and deliver at scale, with AI transforming sectors like healthcare, education, and finance by enhancing productivity, though its true value depends on individuals' skills to apply it effectively for problem-solving. The article argues that AI readiness is fundamentally a workforce challenge, requiring a shift from tool-based to capability-based learning that integrates critical thinking, risk management, and ethical considerations with technological proficiency, as exemplified by PMI's new Certified Project Manager – Artificial Intelligence (CPMAI™) certification. To bridge the execution gap in India's ambitious development agenda, project professionals are crucial for translating AI-driven insights into tangible results, necessitating continuous learning and inclusive upskilling initiatives accessible across all regions and demographics to prevent AI from exacerbating inequality and ensure that by 2047, India's workforce is defined by its ability to manage complexity and deliver meaningful outcomes through the purposeful application of AI.

Iran's World Cup debut concluded in a 2-2 draw against New Zealand, with goals from Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebi leveling the score twice. However, coach Amir Ghalenoei expressed significant distress regarding the team's treatment in the US, citing an immediate forced departure for Mexico post-match, preventing recovery and disrupting their planned itinerary, which they felt FIFA made increasingly difficult, leading them to feel like the "most oppressed" team. This challenging preparation included visa issues for support staff, a last-minute change of training location to Mexico due to geopolitical tensions following the death of Ali Khamenei, and a rushed arrival in Los Angeles, impacting player fatigue and overall team cohesion, despite encouragement from FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

With an estimated international total of Rs 14.08 crore (est.), "Blast" has officially become the second-highest-grossing Tamil film after it surpassed the lifetime overseas total of "Youth" (est. Rs 11.40 crore). It now trails "Thaai Kizhavi" lifetime overseas earnings of Rs 20 crore+ (est.),...

Brain haemorrhages, though often associated with older adults, are increasingly observed in younger, seemingly healthy individuals in India, with a significant percentage of strokes in those aged 18-44 being haemorrhagic. This trend is attributed to rising risk factors in younger populations, including uncontrolled high blood pressure often exacerbated by chronic stress, poor sleep, sedentary lifestyles, and high-sodium diets. Additionally, structural abnormalities like arteriovenous malformations and aneurysms, along with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and recreational drug use, can trigger brain bleeds in younger people. Urgent medical attention is crucial for symptoms such as sudden, severe "thunderclap" headaches, unilateral weakness or numbness, speech or vision difficulties, loss of balance, vomiting with headache, and altered consciousness, as delayed diagnosis due to mistaking symptoms for less serious conditions can negatively impact outcomes, highlighting the importance of regular health check-ups and prompt evaluation of neurological symptoms.

In a stunning upset at the FIFA World Cup, Cabo Verde, representing the third-smallest nation by population to qualify, held the heavily favoured and 2010 champions Spain to a 0-0 draw, a result celebrated as a victory by the debutant team. The cornerstone of this remarkable defensive performance was their 40-year-old goalkeeper, Vozinha...

In a significant escalation of measures to combat examination-related cyber fraud, Indian authorities have imposed temporary restrictions on the Telegram messaging platform ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, citing its exploitation by fraudsters selling fake paper leaks. These unprecedented actions include restricting Telegram access in India until June 22 and disabling its message-editing feature nationwide until June 30, moves deemed necessary after previous channel takedowns proved insufficient against organized networks using the platform to spread misinformation and fabricate evidence of leaks for financial gain, revealing a broader cybercrime operation impacting numerous students and highlighting a new approach to platform accountability beyond mere content removal.