The Indian government has issued a notice to Meta regarding WhatsApp's upcoming username feature, warning the platform not to roll it out until concerns about potential fraud, impersonation, and public safety are addressed to the government's satisfaction.
India's IT Ministry has issued notices to Telegram and Signal, following a similar action against WhatsApp, questioning their username features due to concerns over increased online fraud, phishing, and impersonation. The government is seeking explanations on how these platforms address such risks, with one homegrown app already disabling the feature.
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.
WhatsApp has released detailed FAQs on its upcoming username feature, outlining measures to address concerns around impersonation, scams, and unwanted contact, amidst government scrutiny.
The third Delhi Premier League T20 auction will see 600 players, including prominent Indian cricketers Rishabh Pant and Pratika Rawal, go under the hammer. Eight men's and four women's franchises will participate, with specific purse allocations for bidding. Players are categorised based on their experience, with varying base prices for each category.
Slim smartphones continue to attract buyers looking for a device that combines style with practicality, and Tecno's latest offering appears to do just that.
Haier's new HQLED P7 Pro series aims to meet higher expectations from TVs with a blend of advanced display technology, AI-powered enhancements, gaming-focused features and seamless connectivity.
Running on Android 16, the Asus Pad comes loaded with a host of productivity and AI-driven features, including Google Gemini, Circle to Search, Asus GlideX and Face Login. The tablet also supports the Asus Pen 2.0 and Bluetooth keyboards.
With features usually seen in more expensive cars and segment-first paddle shifters, the Tiago offers excellent value for money, says Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is organising a MY Bharat Youth Convention in New Delhi, featuring prominent sports personalities and bringing together over 6,000 young participants. The event aims to felicitate emerging talent in sports, entrepreneurship, governance, and content creation.
The Huawei MatePad Pro Max features a 13.2-inch flexible OLED PaperMatte display, runs on HarmonyOS 4.3 and boasts a 50 MP rear camera, making it a versatile device for productivity and entertainment.
Sony launches Xperia 1 VIII smartphone featuring premium cameras, AI enhancements, OLED display, and flagship performance.
The new Vivo X300 FE, featuring a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset, 120Hz AMOLED display, and a versatile 50MP triple camera setup, is set to launch in India on May 14, with prices starting from 79,999.
WhatsApp has asserted that username reservation relating to well-known public figure names is restricted only to their legitimate account owners, and termed as "false" any claims that people are reserving popular or well-known usernames.
WhatsApp is introducing an optional username feature, allowing users to connect and chat without needing to share their phone numbers. This privacy-focused update will roll out gradually, enabling users to reserve unique usernames and offering greater control over personal information, especially in group chats or when interacting with businesses.
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.
The new Asus TUF Gaming A14 laptop, featuring an AMD Ryzen AI 9 processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 GPU, is priced at Rs 1,99,990 for the FA401GM-RG038WS model.
Akshay Bhatia, Sahith Theegala, Aaron Rai and Sudarshan Yellamaraju will represent Indian talent at the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club. These rising stars are poised to make a significant impact, while top contenders like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy also vie for the Wanamaker Trophy.
The rain gods are starting to smile upon us. Just the occasion to celebrate with our Baarish special Bollywood quiz.
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.
Reigning world champions India, Britain, South Africa and hosts United States are set to feature in the men's Twenty20 competition when cricket returns to the Olympics at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles following a qualification pathway approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
At an aggressive starting price of 18.79 lakh, the Tata Sierra.ev has a real-world range of 510 to 530 km with the 75 kWh battery pack on a single charge while the smaller 63 kWh battery coughs out a real-world range of 440 to 460 km, plus lifetime battery warranty as standard. And with the intelligent Quad-Wheel Drive system pushing out 504 Nm of torque, the EV flies from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.8 seconds, says Rajesh Karkera.
India is sending a strong contingent of U-19 and U-23 boxers, including Asian Champion Vishvanath Suresh and World Boxing Futures Cup gold medallist Chandrika Bhoresh Pujari, to the Asian Boxing Championships in Jakarta. The championships will provide a crucial platform for young Indian talent to compete against the best in Asia.
The Knight Riders Cricket Ground in Pomona, Los Angeles, which is set to host cricket at the 2028 Olympics, recently held its inaugural competitive match. Developed by the Knight Riders Group, the venue saw the Los Angeles Knight Riders play against Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket, with Washington Freedom securing a six-wicket victory. This new, purpose-built stadium is a significant development for cricket in the United States.
Atlee's Raaka is a pan-India, sci-fi action fantasy entertainer that features a totally different dynamic between the blockbuster on-screen pair.
From sultry vibes to desi elegance and relaxed casual chic, June saw Bollywood ladies confidently rocking all sorts of ensembles. Here's a roundup of the best fashion moments.
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.
Registration begins ahead of the Amarnath Yatra starting on July 3.
The Knight Riders Cricket Ground in Pomona, Los Angeles, which is set to host cricket at the 2028 Olympics, recently held its inaugural competitive match.
The fourth season of the Global Chess League will feature Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen's return and Indian FIDE Women's World Cup champion Divya Deshmukh's debut.
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.
The fourth edition of the Oriental Cup, an inter-school football tournament, is scheduled from July 7 to 16 in New Delhi. It will feature over 45 school teams, 1,500 student-athletes, and offer scholarships worth Rs 2.5 lakh to encourage young talent. Organisers aim to make it India's leading school football competition, with growing participation, especially among girls' teams.
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.
Items include luxury watches, jewellery, carpets, shawls, silverware and collectible artefacts with bidding prices reaching up to Rs 20 lakh.
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 third season of the Delhi Premier League (DPL) has been announced, scheduled from July 31 to August 30, with the player auction on July 1. The league will feature prominent male and female cricketers, including India internationals, and aims to highlight Delhi's cricketing talent.
Bollywood is super busy this July. Joginder Tuteja lists the movies coming up in theatres.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announces plans for a nationwide campaign featuring iconic athletes and youth leaders to promote the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad.
Indian Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta and USA's Vaidyanathan Kannan are joint leaders after the third round of the Pune International Grand Master Round Robin Event, both tied at 2.5 points. The round saw several draws and an upset victory.
The Delhi government has signed a tripartite MoU with the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) and the International School Sport Federation (ISF) to host international school badminton and wrestling events in 2027. This initiative aims to strengthen Delhi's sports ecosystem, provide young athletes with international exposure, and bolster India's global sporting identity.
