UEFA's member associations have unanimously voted to boycott the World Cup and other FIFA competitions in protest against FIFA's plan to sell stakes to external investors in a subsidiary managing its tournaments.
US Vice-President J D Vance's unexpected phone call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 8 has ignited speculation about a potential diplomatic overture, possibly seeking India's support amidst the escalating US-Iran conflict and a shifting global power landscape, suggests Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
FIFA has announced it will proceed with its consultation process to bring private investment into the World Cup and other tournaments, despite strong opposition and a boycott threat from UEFA. The plan involves creating a $20 billion subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, to manage commercial and event operations, offering external investors up to 20% stakes.
India's trade deficit reached a six-month high of $31.98 billion in July, driven by a sharp increase in imports, particularly crude oil, electronic goods, coal, and fertilisers. Both merchandise exports and imports recorded their second-highest levels during the same period.
India Inc's first-quarter earnings season was significantly impacted by the West Asia conflict, leading to rising costs, calibrated price increases, and margin pressures across various sectors including FMCG, automotive, steel, and cement. Companies are implementing price hikes to protect profitability, with many anticipating further escalations if input costs remain elevated.
It is very unfortunate that China has decided to proceed with the controversial mega hydropower plants(despite the apparent opposition of many scientists in China). Why is Delhi silent about the development? asks Claude Arpi.
An organisational meeting of the Punjab Congress in Ludhiana, aimed at preparing for the 2027 assembly elections, was marred by protests and "go back" slogans against senior leaders Bhupesh Baghel and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, highlighting the party's persistent internal divisions.
Since the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, 16 Indian nationals, including 10 seafarers, have lost their lives, and 75 have been injured. Separately, 30 Indian nationals were among 52 individuals arrested and deported by US Border Patrol during 'Operation Checkmate' for allegedly being in the United States illegally.
Over Rs 180 crore was incurred on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to 23 countries including the US, the UK, France, China and Japan in 2025, according to data shared by the government.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino's proposal to create a $20 billion subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to commercialise its events and offer stakes to external investors, has drawn significant criticism from governing bodies like UEFA and CONCACAF, who accuse FIFA of a lack of transparency and attempting to 'sell the soul of football'.
India has strongly criticised the local body elections in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK), labelling them as a facade to conceal Pakistan's illegal occupation and severe human rights violations in the region. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India's stance that all of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, including PoK, are integral parts of India. He also dismissed Pakistan's claims to a shared cultural legacy, citing its history of promoting terrorism and fundamentalism.
A think tank, GTRI, has urged India to resist US pressure regarding its UPI policies, advocating for competition, policy autonomy, and a sustainable payments ecosystem. This comes as the Lok Sabha passed a bill allowing charges on UPI, and the US has criticised India's digital payment systems, raising concerns about the future of India's digital payment landscape.
All's well with the State; it's the citizens who have to really buck up, was the sum and substance of Mohan Bhagwat's message to Gen Z.
The Indian government has clarified that consumers will not be charged for UPI transactions, and most merchant transactions will also remain free. This comes amidst speculation following an amendment to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. Any future merchant discount rate (MDR) would be nominal, threshold-based, and aimed at ensuring UPI's long-term sustainability and infrastructure development.
A think tank, GTRI, has urged India to resist US pressure regarding its UPI policies, advocating for the defence of competition, policy autonomy, and the long-term sustainability of its payments ecosystem. This comes as the Lok Sabha passed a bill allowing charges on UPI transactions, a move GTRI suggests should not be influenced by foreign trade complaints.
Seventeen-year-old Janmoni Konwar from Assam won a gold medal at the National Karate Championship in Delhi, a remarkable achievement given her family lost their home and livelihood to devastating floods just weeks before the competition.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has clarified that an Indian passport is primarily a travel document issued to regulate the departure of citizens and is not intended as proof of citizenship. This statement comes amidst a debate on its use for verifying citizenship, particularly concerning electoral rolls, and has drawn criticism from opposition parties.
Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank), or FCNR (B), deposits mobilised under the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) concessional swap facility may have already surpassed the amount raised during the 2013 scheme in just about 45 days, prompting SBI Research to sharply raise its estimate for inflows under the facility to $65-70 billion.
FIFA has issued a clarification regarding its FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal, stating it would 'never entertain' selling football to private parties and aims to ensure meaningful commercial ownership for all member nations, following strong criticism and boycott threats from UEFA and CONCACAF.
A parliamentary panel has strongly recommended that the Indian government appoint a dedicated 'polar ambassador' to enhance its strategic engagement and diplomatic influence in the critical Arctic and Antarctic regions, aligning with global trends and India's growing focus on polar affairs.
Organisers of the upcoming BWF World Championships have undertaken extensive upgrades at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Delhi, including anti-bird measures, non-toxic gels, and even 'monkey whisperers', to prevent a repeat of the hygiene and disruption issues experienced during the India Open earlier this year.
A high-level Indian delegation, including Bihar Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain and Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, paid tributes to the assassinated Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, conveying India's condolences.
Ravichandran Smaran, the highest run-scorer in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, is focused on maintaining his form and securing a national call-up.
FIFA plans to create a $20 billion subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to manage the World Cup and other events, offering up to 20% stakes to external investors, a move that has drawn fierce criticism from UEFA, who accused the governing body of putting the game's 'soul' up for sale.
As many as 274 fugitives have been repatriated from 36 countries in the last 7 years, an average of around 40 per year and a 10-fold jump from the 2004-13 period when around four fugitives were brought back every year, the government said on Tuesday.
The Delhi High Court will hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking an investigation into the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protest at Jantar Mantar. The PIL alleges that the protest, initially framed as a student agitation, involved political leaders, foreign-funded organisations, and resulted in public disruption and damage, raising concerns about national security and public order.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has urged India's youth to dedicate themselves entirely to national interest, rising above personal gains to capitalise on the current 'window of opportunity' for building a stronger nation. He emphasised that true freedom is not merely doing what one wants, but involves commitment and sacrifice for the country's progress.
It is plain to see that the US senate bill's real objective is to derail India's time-tested strategic partnership with Russia, points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
"Our endeavour is to bring headline inflation in line with the target over the medium term," said RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, addressing concerns about the central bank's policy stance and economic outlook.
The Indian embassy in Ukraine is actively monitoring the critical situation of 13 Indian seafarers aboard MV AMIR1, who are reportedly under threat from drone and missile attacks near Ukraine's Black Sea coast.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has maintained its benchmark policy rate at 5.25 per cent for the fourth consecutive meeting, prioritising clarity on inflation trends, particularly concerning energy costs and geopolitical developments.
For India, the guiding principle should remain clear: Engage Bangladesh as a sovereign nation and society rather than through the prism of any individual leader or political party, suggests Manoj Mohanka.
India has lodged a 'strong protest' with Iran over recent strikes on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, which resulted in the death of one Indian sailor and injuries to several others, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to diplomatic engagement.
The article details instances where the Narendra Modi government has yielded to public and political pressure since 2014, leading to policy reversals and ministerial resignations. It highlights the recent resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak, alongside past events like the withdrawal of land acquisition amendments, M.J. Akbar's resignation, the repeal of farm laws, and other policy retreats.
Dharmendra Pradhan's political career faced an unexpected jolt as he resigned as Education Minister following nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak, marking a significant departure from the government's initial dismissive response to the agitation.
Lodha Developers plans to generate approximately 10,000 crore in sales over the next three to four years by monetising about 150 acres of land at its data centre park in Palava, part of the Mumbai metropolitan region (MMR). This strategy is a planned recurring pillar of their business, funding the build-out of 1 gigawatt of powered shell capacity and aiming for over 2,000 crore in annual rental income by FY32.
A gripping psychological setup and Kunchacko Boban's superb performance are undone by a disappointingly ordinary final act in Unmadham.
The Supreme Court has directed the deletion of a Kerala High Court order that placed the state Waqf Board under the supervision of a joint secretary, thereby restoring the Board's autonomy. The apex court modified the high court's interim order, allowing the joint secretary to remain a board member but removing any supervisory capacity.
West Bengal has enacted two controversial legislations, the Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act and the Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Act, aimed at curbing organised crime and violent protests. These laws grant authorities significant powers, including preventive detention without trial and property attachment for riot damages, drawing both support and criticism.
Interim All India Tennis Association (AITA) President Chintan Parikh has accused court-appointed administrator Justice (Retd.) Gita Mittal of financial exploitation and procedural bias, alleging that her actions are draining the sports body's finances and compromising its autonomy.
