Champagne consumption in India is expanding beyond major metropolitan areas into smaller cities like Kanpur, Guwahati, and Lucknow, driven by a desire for sophisticated lifestyle declarations and a growing appreciation for the beverage.
Nasscom has warned that India's technology workforce risks becoming merely AI-reliant rather than truly AI-native if deep engineering expertise is not preserved. The industry body highlights that while many professionals adopt AI, only a fraction are AI-native, necessitating a shift in academic and industry approaches to foster foundational skills and independent problem-solving.
The halftime interval in Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina is set to last more than 15 minutes because of the installation required for the tournament's first halftime entertainment show, broadcasting sources said on Friday.
It happened in 2017, two years after Scaloni ended his playing career. De la Fuente, then in charge of Spain's youth teams, was among the figures who helped guide a recently retired player taking his first steps towards management.
The Congress escalated its campaign against alleged examination irregularities by marching to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, transforming the issue into a direct challenge to his political authority and demanding the resignations of top government officials.
Lionel Messi's unparalleled influence extends beyond his on-field performance, transforming opponents into admirers. This phenomenon, dubbed the 'Messi effect,' sees rival players expressing awe and seeking mementos after matches, highlighting his profound impact on the current generation of footballers.
Rani Mukerji is set to receive an honorary Doctor of Letters from La Trobe University at the 2026 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, acknowledging her profound impact on Indian cinema and dedicated humanitarian efforts.
Former Indian cricketers Suresh Raina, Munaf Patel, and Aakash Chopra extended their birthday greetings to former India captain MS Dhoni as he turned 45. They lauded his inspiring journey from a ticket collector to a trophy-winning captain, highlighting his legacy beyond records and his impact on an entire era of cricket.
Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, who recently returned from a career-threatening injury, is confident of achieving a 'big jump' soon and aims to upgrade his silver medal to gold at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The Asian Tour, DP World Tour, and PGA TOUR have announced a significant partnership extending until at least 2029. This alliance aims to enhance commercial and playing opportunities, establish pathways for Asian Tour members, and will see the DP World Tour co-sanctioning events with the Asian Tour again, marking a new era for professional golf globally and a potential setback for LIV Golf.
The BCCI on Friday rubbished speculation about Rohit Sharma's future, stating he will continue to play for India after the series-deciding third and final ODI against England at Lord's on Sunday.
Indian-American golfer Sahith Theegala successfully made the halfway cut at the 154th Open Championship, finishing at even-par. While Theegala secured his spot, Australia's Lucas Herbert and America's Sam Burns delivered record-equalling second-round performances. Other Indian-origin players, Akshay Bhatia and Aaron Rai, faced an anxious wait regarding their cut prospects amidst challenging conditions at Royal Birkdale.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will commission Mahendragiri, the sixth Project 17A indigenous stealth frigate, into the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, marking another milestone in India's journey towards defence self-reliance and indigenous warship construction.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to New Zealand culminated in the elevation of bilateral ties to a strategic partnership, with a focus on doubling trade and enhancing cooperation in sports and the Indo-Pacific region. Modi and his counterpart Christopher Luxon attended a sports showcase, acknowledging a century of sporting ties and discussing future collaborations, including India's preparations for the Commonwealth Games 2030. The visit also saw 18 concrete outcomes and 10 agreements signed, alongside discussions with business leaders.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final saw a galaxy of stars on the field and off it.
Spain's Rodri claimed the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, Unai Simon won the Golden Glove, and Pau Cubarsi was named the Best Young Player, leaving Lionel Messi without another personal honour despite his impressive World Cup performance.
Former India captain Kapil Dev paid tribute to the late Sir Garfield Sobers, hailing him as a revolutionary cricketer who inspired generations and changed the approach to the sport. Dev highlighted Sobers' unparalleled talent as an all-rounder and his impact on traditional cricketing methods.
Ravichandran Ashwin has weighed in on the ongoing speculation surrounding Rohit Sharma's future, asserting that players like Rohit and Virat Kohli are "untouchable" due to their immense body of work and massive fan following. Ashwin highlighted that dropping such star batters would cause a significant uproar, unlike the reaction to bowlers being left out. This comes as Rohit recently silenced critics with a century at Lord's amidst retirement rumours.
L&T Technology Services (LTTS) has announced a strategic partnership with Anthropic to integrate its Claude AI models into LTTS' engineering processes and AI platforms. This collaboration aims to redefine engineering work by enabling faster decision-making, streamlining workflows, and accelerating innovation for global clients, coinciding with Anthropic's new rupee-denominated pricing for Indian customers.
The Union Territory administration in Ladakh has announced the establishment of an Autonomous Hill Development Council (AHDC) for each of its seven districts, significantly expanding democratic decentralisation. This move extends elected local self-governance beyond Leh and Kargil, with a proposed Union Territory-level body under a customised Article 371 framework to oversee these councils.
IT major Wipro reported a nearly flat consolidated net profit of Rs 3,352 crore in the April-June quarter of FY27, a marginal increase from Rs 3,330.4 crore in the year-ago period, while revenue from operations grew 10.6 per cent to Rs 24,478.6 crore.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk's vital parameters are stable, but his blood parameters require close clinical observation at Safdarjung Hospital. He is under continuous medical management by a multidisciplinary team following his forcible admission after a 21-day hunger strike protesting NEET irregularities.
Lalchand Rajput, Rohit Sharma's early mentor, believes the former India captain is 'good enough to play for a couple of years', attributing his current struggles to natural 'wear and tear'.
'I don't see fear becoming a dominant factor for retail investors.'
Fernando Alonso's main focus for the Belgian Grand Prix weekend will be making sure he gets home in time to watch Spain play Argentina in the World Cup final on Sunday.
Healthy muscles do much more than enable movement. They are essential for maintaining metabolism, regulating blood sugar levels and supporting overall health.
The launch also marks the debut of HPCL's newly launched HP Navya, its next-generation 10 kg composite LPG cylinder, on Instamart.
Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj shared an emotional tribute to football icon Cristiano Ronaldo after Portugal's exit from the FIFA World Cup. Siraj, a long-time admirer, stated that Ronaldo's greatness transcends a single game and thanked him for inspiring millions globally, including himself, often using Ronaldo's mindset and celebration as motivation.
Under Stephen Fleming, CSK won 5 IPL trophies as well as 2 Champions League Twenty20 tournaments.
Indian cricket captain Shubman Gill has received a prestigious invitation to watch Wimbledon from the Royal Box, joining an exclusive group of Indian cricketers. He also recently attended his first British Grand Prix as a VIP guest, experiencing two major global sporting events in England.
'The Indian private space sector is no longer a high-risk bet; it is a highly bankable, globally competitive asset class capable of easing the global small satellite launch bottleneck.'
Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched India's first privately developed orbital rocket, Vikram-1, placing multiple technology demonstration payloads and commemorative items, including a postcard from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, into low Earth orbit, marking a significant entry into the global orbital launch market.
The Delhi High Court has sought the Delhi Police's response on student activist Sharjeel Imam's appeal for bail in a UAPA case related to the 'larger conspiracy' behind the February 2020 Delhi riots, challenging a trial court's dismissal of his plea.
France coach Didier Deschamps expressed unwavering confidence in his team's ability to advance in the World Cup quarter-final against Morocco, even after Kylian Mbappe missed a penalty and several other chances in the first half.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has acknowledged the possibility of expanding the World Cup to 64 teams, a move that could significantly alter the sport's economics and logistics, despite opposition from major confederations like UEFA and AFC.
US Vice President JD Vance has accused 'certain elements' within the Israeli government of attempting to manipulate American public opinion to prolong the conflict with Iran 'indefinitely', according to a Wall Street Journal report.
Families of the AI-171 crash victims are demanding the release of black box data and cockpit voice recorder transcripts, questioning the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) decision to withhold this crucial information while promising only a final probe report.
England defender Dan Burn, 34, has emerged as an unlikely hero at the World Cup, making crucial clearances and blocks in high-pressure matches against Mexico and Norway, defying a career path that saw him released by Newcastle as a boy and playing in lower divisions.
July 16 will be the biggest and happiest day of the year in Puri, home to the magnificent Jagannath Temple.
The United States Department of Justice plans to seek the extradition of Lawrence Bishnoi, accused of orchestrating the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada and involvement in other crimes in the US. Extradition is also sought for Gurinderjit Singh Nagra in an extortion case. These actions are part of a larger international operation targeting India-based transnational organised crime groups.
