The Economic Times

Marie Curie's notebooks remain radioactive more than a century later because they were contaminated with radium-226, an element with a half-life of around 1,600 years. As a result, the manuscripts require special handling, with researchers wearing protective equipment to access them. Marie and Pierre Curie worked under extremely challenging conditions to isolate radium, and their groundbreaking discoveries went on to transform science, medicine and our understanding

World Cup final caps a tournament where fans paid record prices. Ticket buyers defied expectations and paid sky-high prices for all matches. FIFA's gamble paid off as demand exceeded initial concerns about prices. Dynamic pricing and resale markets further inflated costs for attendees. This event became a World Cup for a select few with high purchasing power.

Herman Srgel proposed damming the Mediterranean Sea to create new land. This ambitious Atlantropa project aimed to generate vast hydroelectric power. The plan envisioned a unified Europe and Africa connected by infrastructure. However, engineering challenges and political will prevented its construction. The idea resurfaces today as a fascinating historical what if.

While not everyone enjoys outdoor activities in the same way, spending time in green spaces can offer meaningful mental health benefits for many people. Sometimes, a simple picnic in the park provides exactly what the brain needs, a chance to slow down, reconnect with nature, and enjoy the present moment.

Stephen Constantine voiced disappointment over India's football decline and his own exclusion. He believes structural reforms and better league management are crucial for progress. Constantine suggested India must dominate its region before aspiring for the World Cup. He questioned the value of playing friendlies against New Zealand. The former coach also commented on the expanded World Cup format.

Skyroot Aerospace's successful Vikram-1 mission marks India's entry into the global commercial launch market through a private company. Beyond the technological milestone, it opens access to a growing multi-billion-dollar industry driven by rising satellite demand. The challenge now shifts from reaching orbit to building a reliable launch business that can compete internationally.

US lawmakers and experts urged a review of arms sales to India. They cited concerns over alleged transnational repression impacting national security. A bipartisan bill was proposed to address this growing foreign government tactic. Experts warned of organized crime networks used for intimidation and violence. Strategic partnerships should not shield governments from accountability for their actions.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman encouraged young entrepreneurs to build boldly for India's future. She emphasized creating value and embracing uncertainty for future generations. India offers a stable government and an approachable administration for businesses. The nation is projected to contribute significantly to global economic growth. Entrepreneurs are urged to seize opportunities and drive prosperity forward.

Spain defender Aymeric Laporte expressed surprise at refereeing decisions favoring Argentina's aggressive style. He believes such actions should not go unpunished in important football competitions. Laporte praised Spain's disciplined approach throughout the tournament, avoiding dangerous challenges. Spain will face defending champions Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final. This highly anticipated match features Lionel Messi against teenage sensation Yamal.

Crime Branch CID teams searched multiple Dindigul locations on Saturday. These searches relate to the alleged fraudulent registration of temple lands. The temple property was valued at Rs 100 crore but registered for Rs 2 crore. Irregularities came to light during a recent temple authorities' verification. The investigation was transferred to CB-CID following political outrage.

Kapil Dev on Saturday said Rohit Sharma's retirement, whenever it comes, should be celebrated, adding that the Indian skipper has brought immense joy to cricket fans over the years.

Moroccan proverb of the day: A Moroccan proverb highlights wisdom and patience in communication. It suggests ignorance leads to derision, while understanding promotes thoughtful silence. Gaining knowledge before judging others is a key life lesson. This ancient wisdom remains relevant in today's fast-paced digital world. Empathy and verified facts should guide our interactions with others.

A blast partially damaged a Kolkata building, with police suspecting crude bomb materials. One person was detained for questioning, while the prime suspect remains absconding. Remains of multiple crude bombs and raw materials were recovered from the blast site. CCTV footage showed a youth placing a bag inside the room shortly before the explosion. The owner stated the suspect was to rent the room from Monday.

Hundreds protested a proposed data centre in Thane's Balkum area on Saturday. Protesters cited severe environmental and health risks from the facility. They claimed the data centre requires significant water and electricity daily. Continuous noise and temperature increases were also major concerns for residents. A meeting with officials did not resolve the protesters' demands.

The Department of Land Resources is exploring digital land record integration with ULI. This initiative aims to provide faster and secure institutional credit access. Discussions with RBI Innovation Hub focused on leveraging digital public infrastructure for lending. The collaboration seeks to streamline credit delivery for farmers and rural citizens. This integration will enhance transparency and efficiency in the lending ecosystem.

Gitanjali Angmo confirmed the July 20 Parliament march will proceed as planned. Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike continues despite his hospitalisation by Delhi Police. He refused electrolyte powder and is consuming only salt water. Angmo questioned the hospitalisation circumstances, stating it was not ordered by the High Court. The movement has broadened beyond paper leaks to education system reforms.

George Harrison's quote highlights the self-perpetuating nature of hatred. He believed that hatred continues as long as people choose to harbor it. This reflects his lifelong pursuit of peace and spiritual understanding. His words emphasize that breaking this cycle requires conscious individual choices. Empathy and forgiveness offer a path to ending division and fostering peace.

A remote worker says repeated threats of salary cuts every time they relocate have left them afraid to move, despite taking on a heavier workload and seeing coworkers receive raises. The employee shared their dilemma on Reddit ahead of a performance review, asking how to discuss pay and career growth without sounding entitled.

Sharad Pawar deflected speculation about his party's potential split and future alliances. Supriya Sule clarified that no official discussions occurred regarding delimitation issues. She stated the party's stance is determined after internal and INDIA bloc consultations. Rumors of meetings between NCP-SP and ruling NCP leaders fueled speculation. Pawar also addressed farm loan waivers, urging government adherence to announced deadlines.

CJP protest: Chaos broke out at Jantar Mantar after a woman hurled an ink-like liquid at Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijeet Dipke during a public address, briefly disrupting the gathering. The woman's identity and motive were not immediately known.

LHS 1140 b: Astronomers have confirmed an atmosphere around a rocky exoplanet. This planet, LHS 1140 b, orbits within its star's habitable zone. Researchers detected helium gas in the planet's upper atmospheric layers. This discovery marks a significant step in searching for life beyond Earth. Scientists continue to investigate the exoplanet's full atmospheric composition.

President Donald Trump blamed Canada for wildfire smoke affecting the United States. He threatened to add pollution costs to existing tariffs on Canadian goods. Canada's government has invested significantly in forest sustainability and fire prevention efforts. Climate experts link rising temperatures to increased wildfire occurrences in Canada. Thousands of people have been evacuated from affected Canadian communities.

SCTIMST and ISRO's Human Space Flight Centre have partnered for space medicine research. A Center for Space Medicine Research was inaugurated at SCTIMST in November 2025. An Implementing Agreement was signed in June 2026 for a new fellowship program. This postdoctoral fellowship in Bioastronautics is the nation's first of its kind.

Ukrainian drone attacks killed seven warehouse workers in Kotovsk, Tambov region. Another attack injured twenty-four people at a Wildberries warehouse in Elektrostal. Falling drone debris caused a fire at an oil depot in Noginsk. Two people were injured in Noginsk, and a maternity hospital was evacuated. The company expressed condolences to the victims' families after the incidents.

The World Cup final between Spain and Argentina creates a dilemma for many. Long-standing cultural ties and migration link both Spanish and Argentine people. This unique match forces individuals to choose between national loyalties and familial connections. Many express a desire for the best team to win, acknowledging shared heritage. The game highlights the deep, intertwined relationship between these two nations.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Argentina vs Spain: FIFA will award championship rings to the 2026 World Cup winners. This new tradition brings North American sports culture to football's biggest tournament. The winning team will receive 30 custom-designed rings after the final. FIFA is producing only 2,026 rings, with some available for public purchase. This historic change marks a new recognition of football's ultimate achievement.

India has amended its tax treaty with Sri Lanka to introduce a Principal Purpose Test (PPT), allowing authorities to deny treaty benefits where tax advantage is a key objective of an arrangement. Effective for income from FY28, the change targets treaty shopping and aligns the DTAA with global anti-tax avoidance standards.

States' fiscal deficit is expected to moderate to 3.4 per cent of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in FY27, supported by stronger tax collections and an improvement in revenue receipts, according to an ICICI Bank report.

Punjab Police arrested Inspector Gurinderjit Singh Nagra over allegations linking him to a US federal indictment in an alleged extortion conspiracy involving an India-based organised crime syndicate.

Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched its Vikram-1 rocket into orbit on Saturday. This marked India's first privately developed rocket to reach space. The mission, named Aagaman, achieved orbital success on its very first attempt. This accomplishment is notably rare in the history of private space launches. The company's achievement contrasts with SpaceX's initial launch failures.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Skyroot Aerospace for Vikram-1's successful orbital launch. This achievement marks India's entry into private orbital launch capabilities. The Vikram-1 rocket successfully entered a nearly 450-km orbit after its final burn. Mission Aagaman executed flawlessly from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The carbon-composite rocket completed all planned flight stages and module firings.

Iraq signed 48 agreements and partnerships with American companies, many in the oil sector, during a visit to the US by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, his office said Saturday. A total of 48 agreements, memoranda of understanding, cooperation agreements, and partnership declarations were signed between public and private sector entities in Iraq and the United States, the Iraqi leader's media office said.

Pakistan registered a current account deficit of USD 139 million in the last fiscal year. This marked a reversal from the previous year's surplus of USD 1.838 billion. Exports saw minimal growth while imports remained high, creating a significant trade deficit. Remittances played a crucial role in supporting the economy during this period. The situation in West Asia could further impact the country's economic outlook.

Senior Delhi Police officers met to review law and order after activist Sonam Wangchuk's hospital transfer. Wangchuk was moved to Safdarjung Hospital due to his deteriorating health condition. Police removed protesters from Jantar Mantar following court orders and medical advice. Heavy police presence was noted at the protest site during the operation. The meeting assessed the overall law and order arrangements in the area.

Pests like aphids, whiteflies, and fungus gnats are a constant headache for anyone growing plants indoors. Before reaching for chemical sprays, consider this: that roll of aluminium foil sitting in your kitchen is quietly one of the most effective, low-cost pest deterrents available. Here is how to use it properly.

Spain and Argentina will compete for the FIFA World Cup 2026 title. The championship match is scheduled for July 19, 2026, in New Jersey. Indian viewers can watch the final live in the early hours of July 20. England and France will play in the third-place play-off match. ZEE5 and Unite8 Sports will broadcast the final live in India.

Madhya Pradesh forest department offers villagers a bounty for collecting sal borer beetles. This unique conservation drive involves children, women, and elderly villagers actively participating. Over eleven lakh sal borers have been collected so far from designated trap trees. This initiative aims to protect vast stretches of vital sal forests in Dindori.

NMC MBBS Seat Matrix 2026: The National Medical Commission has published the 2026 MBBS seat matrix for aspiring doctors. This year offers 1,36,939 MBBS seats, a significant increase from last year. Private medical colleges contributed the majority of these newly added seats. Twenty-five new medical colleges have also entered the fray this year. Karnataka leads with the highest number of total MBBS seats available.

Pakistan and China will strengthen cooperation in immigration and border management. A joint working group will be established to enhance security and efficiency. Both nations aim to expedite immigration processes and combat illegal activities. China will continue supporting capacity building for Pakistani institutions.

Rohit Sharma will be under intense scrutiny in the series-deciding third ODI against England as speculation over his international future grows despite the BCCI ruling out retirement talks. After a quiet series so far, the veteran opener will look to rediscover his form, while India will rely on in-form batters Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli to seal the series. The visitors may also tweak their bowling attack due to Washington Sundar's injury, with Kuldeep Yadav in contention, as they aim to conta

FIFA World Cup trophy: The FIFA World Cup trophy captures football's emotions in its spiraling form. Designed by Silvio Gazzaniga, it replaced the Jules Rimet Trophy after Brazil's 1970 win. The original trophy was stolen twice and never recovered, while the current one is gold-plated. Winning captains lift the original trophy but return it to FIFA after the ceremony. Gazzaniga's iconic design will continue to be used through at least the 2038 tournament.

Country-wise FIFA World Cup winners list from 1930 to 2026: Reigning champions Argentina will face Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. This title clash concludes the first-ever 48-team edition of the men's tournament. Argentina aims to defend their World Cup title successfully after a long streak. Led by Lionel Messi, the team has an unbeaten run in World Cup games. The final will be held at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford.