FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced on Friday that the world soccer's governing body has abandoned its controversial plans to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors, following widespread backlash from major confederations and internal dissent.
Union Minister Prahlad Joshi has been appointed as the new Education Minister, taking over from Dharmendra Pradhan, whose resignation was accepted by the President. Joshi will hold this portfolio in addition to his current role as Consumer Affairs Minister. Pradhan's resignation follows widespread student protests concerning the NEET paper leak controversy.
How did a melancholic Kishore Kumar classic from 1964, remixed decades later, become the unlikely soundtrack to a Gen Z protest?
Former poll strategist Prashant Kishor made a stunning electoral debut by winning Bihar's Bankipur assembly seat, a long-held BJP bastion. Concurrently, the Congress retained the Datia assembly seat in Madhya Pradesh, while the BJP successfully held onto the Manjalpur seat in Gujarat, showcasing mixed results for the ruling and opposition parties in these crucial by-elections.
V D Satheesan was sworn in as Kerala's Chief Minister, with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administering the oath of office. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by prominent political figures, including Congress leaders and Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has called off its 36-day agitation following the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who stepped down amidst widespread protests over irregularities in the exam system and the NEET paper leak. The government also agreed to the CJP's demands for 1 crore compensation to families of students who died by suicide and no action against protesters.
A 32-year-old woman in Mathura has been accused of strangling her three-year-old son to death because he was crying while she was on a phone call with her alleged lover. The incident came to light when her husband overheard her confessing, leading to a police investigation and plans to exhume the child's body for a post-mortem.
Sharmila Dhankar of India has won a gold medal in the women's shot put F57 event at the Commonwealth Games, achieving a season-best throw of 9.81m.
The biggest challenge to widespread deployment is no longer AI. It is the financial and commerce infrastructure that was built decades ago for deterministic software and human interactions -- not autonomous AI agents.
A WhatsApp status update allegedly led to a shooting incident in Thane's Kalyan West area, stemming from a rivalry between two local groups. Police have arrested two accomplices and detained the main accused, who reportedly self-inflicted a gunshot wound to mislead authorities.
India has announced a 20-member squad for the upcoming FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, with Harmanpreet Singh leading the team.
The government maintained a strong pace of capital expenditure, which jumped nearly 24 per cent to Rs 3.40 trillion in April-June.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the formation of a high-powered task force, led by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, to recommend reforms for examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The task force aims to leverage technology for a robust and transparent examination system, following recent public agitation and the resignation of the Education Minister.
India's men's and women's table tennis teams both secured gold medals at the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships. The men's team, led by Manush Shah's heroic performance, overcame Malaysia 3-2 in a thrilling final, while the women's team comfortably defeated Malaysia 3-0.
The West Bengal Congress on Tuesday held its Martyrs' Day programme in Kolkata after several years, commemorating the youth wing workers killed in the 1993 police firing, and said the attendance at the gathering marked the party's revival in the state.
Formula One boss Stefano Domenicali heaped praise on teenager Kimi Antonelli on Wednesday as the sport gave itself a glowing half-term report, with sold-out races and booming viewing figures in key markets.
Two brothers were killed and another person injured in a fatal road accident on the Kalyan-Murbad road in Thane district. Their scooter crashed into a container truck while attempting to overtake, leading to the tragic deaths. Police are investigating the incident and have registered a case.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has criticised the government for allegedly troubling protesting students, asserting they are the nation's future and not terrorists. He warned that if the government fails to address their concerns, the youth are prepared to bring about political change, referencing the recent resignation of Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak issue.
An Indian Parliamentary panel has summoned major social media platforms like Meta, Google, X, and Snapchat, along with MeitY and Home Affairs officials, to discuss the regulation of digital platforms. The meeting, scheduled for August 3, will focus on user privacy, public order, and the platforms' role in recent protests.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has strongly criticised the government over alleged police excesses against students, demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi sack Home Minister Amit Shah. Gandhi also called for a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the "brutalities" and accused the Lok Sabha of silencing him when he tried to speak on the issue.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) India reported its highest-ever first-quarter retail sales for FY27, with 1,665 vehicles retailed, an 11 per cent year-on-year increase, largely due to sustained demand for premium SUVs and the benefits of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement.
The Mumbai police have registered 13 FIRs since July 18 in connection with the ongoing protests on charges of unlawful assembly and violation of prohibitory orders, booking 400 people, officials said on Wednesday.
Union Minister J P Nadda has expressed the government's readiness for further talks with the protesting Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) regarding the NEET paper leak, offering his office or residence as venues. However, the CJP, leading protests at Jantar Mantar and demanding the Education Minister's resignation, insists on a neutral venue or the protest site itself for any future discussions, having previously rejected Nadda's invitations.
UEFA and CONCACAF say they have lost confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino after the governing body withdrew its controversial World Cup rights plan.
Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly set to retire from international football in September, with speculation suggesting his final match will be Portugal's UEFA Nations League fixture against Wales.
Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is significant because it punctures, however slightly, the perception that the Modi government never retreats under pressure. Every long-serving government eventually reaches a point where every institutional failure is identified with the leader himself. Removing the minister may have prevented that political burden from falling directly on Modi. Whether it also resolves the underlying crisis is another matter, notes Ramesh Menon.
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has charged Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorist activities and initiated procedures to place him on the international wanted list, according to Russian state-run news agency TASS.
The Supreme Court has issued interim directions regarding nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak, ordering the release of minor student protesters without criminal records and directing states to preserve all digital evidence. The court also called for a fair and independent investigation into allegations of police excesses against students, while also acknowledging concerns for injured police personnel.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's office is relocating from the historic Fort St George to a new, spacious, and modern facility on the 10th floor of the Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai building in the Secretariat complex due to space constraints and administrative considerations. This move marks a significant departure from a nearly six-decade tradition.
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.
Congress MP from Jalandhar, Charanjit Singh Channi, was conspicuous by his absence when party leader Rahul Gandhi spoke in a debate in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, bringing to the fore the recent rift within the party's state unit.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk emphasised the enduring relevance of Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent resistance, stating, "His path is as relevant today as it was 100 years ago. This experiment is successful today."
Opposition leaders have sharply criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to 'forgive' young protesters who used abusive language, accusing him of deflecting from issues of alleged police action and a 'broken education system'.
A 41-year-old woman was allegedly drugged and gang-raped in Davangere, Karnataka, leading to the arrest of 10 individuals. The incident came to light after videos of the victim in an intoxicated state, recorded by the accused, went viral on WhatsApp. Police have registered an FIR under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act, with investigations ongoing.
Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) reported a 3.17 per cent year-on-year decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 2,680 crore for the June quarter, even as revenue from product sales surged by 10.26 per cent to Rs 17,149 crore, marking its highest growth in 13 quarters.
A 41-year-old woman was allegedly drugged and gang-raped in Davangere, Karnataka, leading to the arrest of 10 individuals. The incident came to light after videos of the victim in an intoxicated state, recorded by the accused, went viral on WhatsApp. Police have registered an FIR under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act, with investigations ongoing.
Hashmatullah Shahidi has resigned as Afghanistan's One Day International captain, citing a personal decision, though he will continue to play in the 50-over format.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh refuted Rahul Gandhi's allegations in Lok Sabha that Home Minister Amit Shah ordered firing on students protesting the NEET fiasco. Singh clarified that no bullets were fired, only tear gas was used, and the authority to order firing rests with a magistrate, not a minister. He also dismissed Gandhi's claims about Shah's cavalcade and foreign travel, criticising the opposition leader for making unsubstantiated remarks during a heated parliamentary debate.
Gautam Gambhir, known for his serious demeanour, surprised fans by sharing a series of memes on Instagram featuring a rare smile.
India's Harjinder Kaur secured a silver medal in the women's 69kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games, achieving a personal best of 227kg.
