The Durand Cup football tournament will feature 24 teams, including seven debutants, across five cities from July 25 to August 23. Kolkata remains the primary hub, hosting the final, while Ranchi, Imphal, Shillong, and Guwahati will also host matches, bringing together a diverse mix of Indian and overseas teams.
India's Om Semwal defeated Spain's Hugo Jaen in a hard-fought five-game match at the HCL Squash PSA Challenger Tour in Mumbai. Several other Indian players also advanced in both men's and women's categories, showcasing strong performances on home ground.
Team India secured a dominant 2-0 victory over Kazakhstan in their opening Group C match at the Badminton Asia Junior Mixed Team Championships in Yatsushiro, Tokyo, sealing their spot in the quarterfinals. The Indian team showcased strong performances in both sets, preparing for their upcoming clash against Chinese Taipei.
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The ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (ICAR-CIFT) has secured an Indian patent for a novel technology designed to make live fish and aquatic animal transport safer and more efficient without the use of chemicals. This innovative system employs controlled hypothermic anaesthetisation, gradually cooling aquatic animals to prevent shock and improve survival rates during transit, offering a practical and affordable solution for the seafood industry.
US Second Lady Usha Vance's USD 8 maternity dress, purchased from Old Navy, has become a topic of discussion after a New York Times fashion column analysed its political symbolism. Her husband, JD Vance, jokingly suggested she lead the federal budget due to her frugality, while Usha Vance herself used humour to dismiss the article's interpretation, highlighting the discounted price of her attire.
Artificial intelligence major Anthropic has reinstated access to its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 AI models after the US government lifted export controls imposed due to national security concerns over a "jailbreak" vulnerability. The company has implemented new safeguards and is collaborating with major tech firms to develop a framework for addressing AI model vulnerabilities. India, a significant market for Anthropic, will see Fable 5 available globally, while Mythos 5 access expands under Project Glasswing.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh stated that human-led artificial intelligence will be the defining force in India's journey to becoming a developed nation by 2047. Speaking at the 29th National Conference on e-Governance, he emphasised that technology must strengthen governance without replacing human accountability, advocating for responsible AI deployment with citizens at the centre. The conference concluded with the adoption of the Jaipur Declaration on e-Governance 2026, outlining a roadmap for AI-enabled, data-driven, and secure digital governance.
Indian-American golfer Akshay Bhatia is in a strong position, tied for third place at the Travelers Championship, heading into the final round. Despite slipping five shots behind leader Viktor Hovland, Bhatia, who previously won the Arnold Palmer Invitational this season, is aiming for his fourth PGA Tour title. The tournament also features a close battle between Hovland and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
India has once again topped the Athletics Integrity Unit's global list of dope offenders with 162 names, highlighting a significant doping problem in the country's sporting landscape. This led to the Athletics Federation of India being re-categorised to 'Category A' due to high doping risk, requiring more stringent testing.
State Bank of India has launched a suite of AI-powered digital innovations on its YONO platform, enhancing both retail and business banking services. These new features include a 3-in-1 digital onboarding process, a sustainability tracker, integrated trade finance, and an AI virtual assistant, aiming to provide intelligent and future-ready banking experiences for its 53 crore customers.
Indian squash players Shameena Riaz and Om Semwal have caused significant upsets at the USD 15,000 HCL-SRFI PSA Challenger tournament in Mumbai, defeating top seed Hayley Ward and third seed Diego Gobbi respectively. Riaz, a recent Asian Games team selection, rallied from a game down, while Semwal secured a five-game victory. Both players have now advanced to the quarterfinals.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions moderated slightly in June from a record high in May, reaching Rs 28.9 lakh crore. Despite a month-on-month decrease in volume, the daily average transactions hit a new high, indicating UPI's strong adoption for low-value payments. The platform also demonstrated significant annual growth and expanding international presence.
India continues to lead the Athletics Integrity Unit's (AIU) global list of dope offenders with 162 names, highlighting a significant problem in the country's sports. The nation has been re-categorised to 'Category A' by the AIU, indicating an "extremely high" doping risk and requiring more stringent anti-doping measures.
The Supreme Court dismissed Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan's challenge to her rejected Rajya Sabha nomination, reaffirming that the Election Commission is the sole recourse for such disputes and citing Article 329(b) of the Constitution which bars judicial interference in electoral matters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated 11 years of the Digital India initiative, highlighting its role in redefining governance, empowering citizens, and accelerating all-round development. He emphasised its impact on digital payments, direct benefit transfers, and expanding digital public infrastructure, making technology a powerful instrument for 'Ease of Living' across India, including tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
Seven-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams is set to make a highly anticipated return to the tournament on Tuesday, facing Maya Joint in the first round. The 44-year-old tennis icon, who had announced her retirement in 2022, is back in competitive play this month. The day's schedule also features defending champion Iga Swiatek and other top seeds like Alexander Zverev and Elena Rybakina.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya felicitated the Indian men's volleyball team for winning the country's first-ever medal at the AVC Men's Volleyball Cup. India secured a bronze medal by defeating Bahrain, marking a historic achievement and reflecting the sport's growth in the nation. This success is expected to inspire young athletes and boost volleyball's development.
Star Indian table tennis player Manika Batra has accused the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) of violating its own Constitution during the selection of the Asian Games squad, where she was named a reserve. Batra claims a nine-member committee, exceeding the constitutional limit, finalised the team, leading to her "mental exhaustion" from the ongoing fight.
The National Inter-State Championships saw two new national records being set. Anushka Yadav broke the hammer throw record with a 67.02m effort, while Dev Meena set a new pole vault record by clearing 5.47m.
World champion D Gukesh and Indian star R Praggnanandhaa are set to compete in the Zagreb Rapid and Blitz Tournament, part of the prestigious Grand Chess Tour. Despite Gukesh's sabbatical from classical chess, he joins a strong field including recent Norway Chess winner Praggnanandhaa, promising an exciting week of high-stakes chess.
Investigators have revealed that the pilot of a small plane that crashed into Beijing's tallest skyscraper, the CITIC Tower, suffered from long-term anxiety and had expressed suicidal thoughts in his diaries. The incident, which killed the pilot and injured 13 others, has raised significant security concerns in the highly sensitive Chinese capital, especially given strict airspace regulations.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is undertaking a significant restructuring of its national hockey programme following a dismal performance in the FIH Pro League, where the team failed to win any matches, including two losses to India. The PHF plans to hire foreign coaches and trainers from countries like Australia, Netherlands, or Germany to develop players at all levels and modernise the sport in Pakistan.
Indian golfer Saptak Talwar shot a two-under 70 on the opening day of the Blot Play9 in France, placing him in a tie for 25th. He is five shots behind leader John Gough, who carded a seven-under 63.
Indian badminton players Devika Sihag, Rounak Chouhan, and Kidambi Srikanth have advanced to the semifinals of the US Open badminton tournament in Fullerton, USA. Sihag caused an upset by defeating third seed Riko Gunji, while Chouhan continued his strong performance. Srikanth's win sets up the possibility of an all-Indian final.
A senior US official has warned against the weaponisation of digital and artificial intelligence sovereignty by political voices, urging nations to avoid costly re-invention of existing technology. The official highlighted the economic dangers of rebuilding entire tech stacks and emphasised India's crucial role as an indispensable partner in global technological leadership due to its engineering talent and innovation ecosystem.
Five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand was awarded the Sports Journalists' Federation of India (SJFI) medal, joining a distinguished list of Indian sports legends. Anand expressed pride in being a catalyst for chess growth in India.
Dell Technologies is significantly expanding its domestic manufacturing in India, with a majority of its servers now produced locally, driven by data sovereignty and AI adoption. The company also launched new AI infrastructure solutions, including PowerStore Elite, designed for secure on-premises data management and AI workflows, while asserting that AI creates more jobs.
Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal secured his seventh ATP Challenger singles title, defeating Felix Balshaw in the Intaro Open final in Targu Mures, Romania. This victory marks his first Challenger title in over two years, ending a significant drought and earning him 75 ATP ranking points, expected to boost his world ranking to around No. 219.
Indian golfer Saptak Talwar has moved up to tied fifth position at the Blot Play9 tournament in France, following an impressive second-round score of 3-under 67. He is currently three shots behind the joint leaders, Pablo Ereno and John Gough.
The Sports Ministry, led by Mansukh Mandaviya, has announced stringent selection criteria for the upcoming Asian Games, capping the contingent at 600 athletes. The policy prioritises medal prospects, stating that the Games are not for "exposure tours" or securing jobs. This includes a "realistic chance of winning a medal" and being in the top six continental rankings. The ministry will scrutinise recommendations from National Sports Federations, with specific cases like equestrian Anush Agarwalla and table tennis player Manika Batra highlighting the new approach.
India's VALORANT esports team has successfully qualified for the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026 main event in Riyadh, emerging as one of two teams from the Asia regional qualifiers. The team, led by Sagnik Roy, overcame tough competition, including a crucial victory against Hong Kong, to secure their spot in the global tournament featuring a USD 1.5 million prize pool.
Five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand was awarded the Sports Journalists' Federation of India (SJFI) medal, joining a distinguished list of Indian sports legends. Anand expressed pride in being a catalyst for chess growth in India, receiving the honour from former India cricket captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth.
National record holder Jyothi Yarraji made a remarkable return to competition after a year-long injury lay-off, breaching the Asian Games qualifying standard in the 100m hurdles at the National Inter-State Championships. She achieved the feat with a time of 13.14 seconds, well within the AFI's requirement.
Donald Trump took the first flight on the newly refurbished Air Force One, a Boeing 747-8i previously owned by Qatar and gifted to the US presidential fleet. The jet features a new red, white, and navy blue livery, replacing the older robin's egg blue. Trump expressed excitement about the advanced security and features, noting it will serve as a "bridge" until new planes are delivered by 2028.
Indian golfer Saptak Talwar is currently tied for 12th place at the Blot Play9 tournament in France after an even par third round. Talwar, a leader on the DP World PGTI Tour, is aiming for a top-10 finish, which could secure him a spot on the prestigious DP World Tour. He is also well-positioned in the Hotel Planner rankings, known as the Road to Mallorca.
India is adopting a two-pronged strategy for artificial intelligence development, focusing on open-source models and indigenous innovation to counter global access restrictions on advanced AI technologies. The government aims to support local developers and ensure AI creates tangible economic impact across various sectors, rather than being solely driven by market speculation.
Indian companies LTM and Mastek announced new international partnerships for cloud, AI, and digital transformation. Jio BlackRock AMC launched a new hybrid fund. NMIMS partnered with Coursera for AI-enabled learning, and MakeMyTrip Foundation rebuilt a flood-damaged school in Manali.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has announced its World Tour Calendar for 2027 and 2028, featuring a 35-tournament global circuit. The India Open Super 750 will see its dates shifted to February 2027 and January 2028, while the Syed Modi India International has been downgraded to a Super 100 event. The new calendar also introduces a 3x15 scoring system and extended competition windows to enhance player welfare and global reach.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has announced its World Tour Calendar for 2027 and 2028, featuring a 35-tournament global circuit. The India Open Super 750 will see its dates shifted to February 2027 and January 2028, while the Syed Modi India International has been downgraded to a Super 100 event. The new calendar also introduces a 3x15 scoring system and extended competition windows to enhance player welfare and global reach.
