East Bengal FC is set to face Kuwait's Al-Arabi SC in a pivotal AFC Champions League Two preliminary-stage match at Salt Lake Stadium, with tickets starting from Rs 149. This high-stakes fixture will determine the Indian Super League champions' continental future, offering a chance to secure a spot in the ACL Two 2026-27 group stage or drop into the AFC Challenge League.
Indian athlete Basant Kumar Meghwal clinched a silver medal in the men's high jump event at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, USA. Achieving a personal best of 2.21m, Meghwal contributed to India's growing medal tally, which also includes a silver from Ashish Yadav in javelin throw.
Indian-origin American golfer Akshay Bhatia delivered a flawless eight-under 62 at the Travelers Championship, moving into a tie for third place. His bogey-free round places him four shots behind leader Scottie Scheffler, highlighting his strong contention for the title. Other Indian-origin players, Aaron Rai and Sahith Theegala, also made progress in the tournament.
The Supreme Court has directed the Reserve Bank of India to prepare a standard operating procedure (SOP) within four weeks to deal with bank accounts linked to cyber frauds, including mule accounts. This directive is part of a broader effort to strengthen responses to cyber-enabled financial frauds, with the court also urging states and UTs to adopt and operationalise grievance redressal and money restoration modules.
The challenge thrown by the youth movement creates the opportunity for a more consequential debate on India's economic trajectory because it must remain centered on India's youth as its driving impulse, asserts former foreign secretary Shyam Saran.
The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has launched an indefinite statewide strike, protesting the government's decision to allow homoeopaths to register under the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) and prescribe allopathic medicines after a six-month course.
The Maharashtra government has approved the deployment of sovereign artificial intelligence solutions from Sarvam AI for its departments, with a two-year outlay of Rs 11.26 crore. This initiative includes the Indus AI workspace for 2,500 users, ensuring government data remains within India, along with citizen outreach agents and speech models for the MahaAI platform.
For the first time in history, the national song 'Vande Mataram' will be sung at the Red Fort during Independence Day celebrations on August 15.
India's top 11 listed real estate developers are projected to achieve combined presales of 1.82 trillion by FY27, a significant increase from 1.49 trillion in FY26, demonstrating sustained sales momentum despite market challenges.
Indian rugby player Sumit Kumar Roy highlights the critical role of international exposure and the Rugby Premier League in the team's recent success, including a silver medal in Asia's top rugby sevens competition. The team aims for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and 2036 Olympics, learning from global players and focusing on discipline. Uruguay's Diego Ardao also emphasizes the need for skilled coaches and dedicated players to develop the sport in India, acknowledging the nation's vast potential despite the long road ahead for Olympic aspirations.
Indian-origin golfer Sahith Theegala is in contention for a Top-10 finish at the Wyndham Championship, the final regular-season PGA TOUR event. Despite a mixed third round, he remains close to the leaders, aiming for a strong performance to boost his FedExCup Play-offs chances. Beau Hossler and Michael Brennan currently share the lead.
Professor Deepak Dhar of the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS) has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Dirac Medal for his significant contributions to statistical mechanics and complex systems. He shares the honour with three other scientists for their pioneering work extending statistical mechanics into diverse fields like AI and theoretical neuroscience.
Suman Kalyanpur, known for her melodious voice and soulful renditions, was laid to rest with full state honours in Mumbai.
'The BJP has all the instruments with them and they do have a sense of purpose, so I don't think there will be a challenge.'
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.
Om Prakash Chouhan has taken the opening-round lead at the Rs 1 crore Coal India Open in Kolkata, delivering a spectacular eight-under 62. His impressive performance included a hole-in-one and an eagle, giving him a one-shot advantage over former Asian Tour winner Ajeetesh Sandhu.
Brazilian forward Rodriguinho made a sensational debut for SC Delhi, scoring five goals to lead his team to a dominant 7-0 victory over Defenders FC in the Durand Cup. This win propelled SC Delhi to the top of Group C, bringing them closer to a quarter-final spot, while Defenders FC exited the tournament without a point.
Hangors are effectively 'dead-on-arrival' with Pakistanis saddled with deadweights that displace around 3,000 tons. Last time it was near Vishakhapatnam. This time, barnacles will clog the Hangors in Karachi port itself, points out Dr Abhishek Puri.
Punjab Kings all-rounder Shashank Singh is set to play for Pondicherry in the 2026-27 domestic season after securing an NOC from the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh. Singh alleges a lack of support from Chhattisgarh during his injury recovery and claims he was unfairly excluded from state tournaments and camps, despite being a top domestic performer. He plans to focus on white-ball cricket moving forward.
India's position appears to be anchored around three red lines: Hasina's safety and the guarantee of a fair trial; assurances that Bangladeshi territory will not be used for activities hostile to India; and the restoration of an inclusive democratic process in Bangladesh.
VVS Laxman, head of the BCCI's Centre of Excellence, lauded Virat Kohli as an 'exemplary professional' and 'great role model' for his consistent high standards.
Indian boxer Sakshi Chaudhary has secured at least a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games by advancing to the 51kg category semifinals. She defeated Northern Ireland's Caitlin Fryers 5-0, becoming the fifth Indian boxer to guarantee a medal at the Games.
The Indian Railway Ministry has issued a new circular allowing sportspersons to carry oversized and bulky sports equipment, such as javelins, on trains. This relaxation, however, excludes pole-vault poles due to technical feasibility. The equipment can be transported in designated luggage spaces on a priority basis, subject to freight charges, and existing weight limits will not apply.
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.
Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra has become a co-owner of the UBS Athletics Kids Cup, a grassroots initiative promoting sports among children. Having served as an ambassador, Chopra's new role aims to expand the programme's reach to one million children across India, fostering confidence, discipline, and a stronger sporting culture from the ground up.
Indian badminton prodigy Tanvi Sharma, 17, secured her first BWF World Tour title by winning the women's singles at the Taipei Open Super 300. She defeated Vietnam's Thuy Linh Nguyen in straight games, showcasing her potential as a rising star in the sport.
A new study by The Energy & Climate Initiative Society (ENCIS) predicts that AI adoption in India's power generation sector will surge from 35% to 65% by 2030, becoming a core operational capability. The study highlights that nearly seven out of ten professionals see power generation as offering the best opportunity for efficiency gains through AI, driven by India's expanding digital infrastructure and significant investments from energy giants. Predictive asset management and proactive maintenance are identified as key areas for AI application, with efficiency being the primary driver for AI investments.
Punjab Kings' Nehal Wadhera said head coach Ricky Ponting personally approached him and offered reassurance at a time when his confidence was affected by his lack of runs during IPL 2026.
Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir, now eligible for the IPL due to his British citizenship, has stated he is keeping his options open regarding participation. While confirming his involvement in the PSL from 2027 as an overseas player, Amir remained non-committal about playing in the IPL, despite his new eligibility allowing him to play as a British overseas player.
Already, the knives are out for Gautam Gambhir because of his poor record as coach in Test matches, and a potential defeat in Sri Lanka could prove to be the killer blow.
A joint report by Deloitte India and FICCI projects India's consumer economy to reach USD 1.9 trillion by 2030. This growth will be fuelled by rapid AI adoption, evolving consumer preferences, and new commerce models like e-commerce and quick commerce. India leads in AI adoption among top countries, with businesses leveraging it for engagement, innovation, and forecasting. The report also highlights the emergence of a new Indian consumer seeking convenience and transparency, and identifies key trends shaping FMCG, retail, and e-commerce sectors.
US Vice President JD Vance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a phone call to discuss expanding the India-US comprehensive global strategic partnership, focusing on trade, defence, energy security, emerging technologies, and critical minerals. The discussion comes amidst rising tensions in West Asia and recent regional realignments, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cooperation.
The Indian women's hockey team staged a remarkable comeback to clinch a thrilling 3-2 win over United States in the opening Pool A match of the FIH Nations Cup.
Dinesh Trivedi's success or failure in this fragile diplomatic equilibrium will have consequences extending well beyond the Indian high commission in Dhaka. It will shape India's eastern strategic environment for years to come.
VVS Laxman, chief of the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE), confirmed that the search for a permanent Head of Sports Science and Medicine is ongoing, nearly 18 months after Nitin Patel's departure, despite mounting injury cases among Indian cricketers.
India's Diksha Dagar secured a tied 12th finish at the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open, continuing her strong performance on the Ladies European Tour. Pranavi Urs also delivered an impressive round, while Finland's Noora Komulainen clinched her maiden LET title after a three-way playoff.
Reigning Indian Super League champions East Bengal are set to face Kuwaiti league runners-up Al Arabi SC in a critical AFC Champions League Two preliminary-stage knockout fixture. The single-leg qualifier will determine a spot in the group stage, with East Bengal navigating squad challenges under new coach Antonio Lopez Habas.
Legendary Indian goalkeeper Brahmananda Sankhwalkar reflects on the emotional FIFA World Cup exits of Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Junior. He discusses their unfulfilled World Cup dreams, their rivalry with Lionel Messi, and the circumstances of their respective team's eliminations, highlighting their enduring legacy despite the absence of a World Cup trophy.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel formally received the Commonwealth Games flag, symbolising the official commencement of preparations for Ahmedabad to host the global sporting event in 2030.
Indian javelin thrower Rohit Yadav admitted that his 'overconfidence' and attempt to outdo both Sri Lankan gold winner Rumesh Pathirage and compatriot Neeraj Chopra during the Commonwealth Games final led to his seventh-place finish, stating he should have curbed his ambition.
