The Economic Times

Skyroot's Vikram-1 Launch: Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched its Vikram-1 orbital rocket from Sriharikota. This marked India's first privately developed orbital-class rocket to take flight. The mission, named Mission Aagaman, signifies a major milestone for the nation's space sector. Vikram-1 is designed to carry payloads up to 350 kg to Low Earth Orbit. The launch underscores the expansion of India's private space ecosystem following policy reforms.

Tamil Nadu aims to facilitate education loans for over one lakh students by 2026-27. The state government is committed to ensuring no student faces financial barriers to higher education. Collateral-free education loans up to Rs 7.5 lakh are being extended to students. The minister denied corruption allegations regarding university appointments. The Naan Mudhalvan skill development scheme continues its implementation.

India's space program confronts a widening manpower shortage with nearly three in ten sanctioned posts vacant. Staffing levels have steadily declined, reaching a low point in recent years. This shortfall occurs as ISRO embarks on ambitious missions, including human spaceflight. The Department of Space cites Covid disruptions and recruitment reforms for the growing vacancies. Recruitment efforts are underway to fill over two thousand positions by late 2026.

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.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad to be shifted to AIIMS Delhi for medical treatment, says Misa Bharti.

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

Congress MP Manish Tewari stated his belief in development over partisan politics. He attended an event where Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated development projects. Tewari has consistently prioritized development imperatives in his public service. He noted the increasing toxicity in Indian political discourse and rivalries. Tewari remains committed to basic courtesies and protocol in his approach.

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.

Three student activists' health worsened on their 21st day of hunger strike. Sonam Wangchuk was moved to Safdarjung Hospital after his condition deteriorated. Activists alleged police attempted to detain them from the protest site. A large number of volunteers prevented the activists' detention by police. The protest continues demanding the Union Education Minister's resignation.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike: NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar criticized the Centre's handling of Sonam Wangchuk's protest. He stated the government acted as a bystander instead of addressing student concerns. Wangchuk was hospitalized after his health deteriorated during an indefinite hunger strike. The protest continues despite actions taken against the activist. Pawar indicated the issue would be discussed in the upcoming Parliament session.

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.

FIFA World Cup Final ticket prices: FIFA World Cup 2026 Final tickets remain in high demand ahead of Argentina vs Spain at New York New Jersey Stadium. Here's how fans can still buy tickets, the official booking options, latest ticket prices, categories and important details before the title clash.

As governments race to attract AI investments, data centres are facing mounting opposition worldwide over their massive land, power and water demands, prompting protests, legal challenges and tighter regulations.

Delhi Police executed a meticulously planned early morning operation on Saturday to remove climate activist Sonam Wangchuk from the Jantar Mantar protest site after a strategy was finalised at a high-level meeting following the new Police Commissioner's assumption of charge, top police sources said.

A 5.0-magnitude earthquake struck several southeastern provinces in Turkey on Saturday morning without causing casualties or damage, the country's disaster management agency said. 20 am (0320 GMT) in the Battalgazi district, in Malatya province, and was felt in the provinces of Malatya, Elazig, Adiyaman, Tunceli and Sanliurfa.

Rescue crews searched for survivors after a landslide in Chongqing killed eight people. Massive rocks and soil buried over ten residential buildings on Friday morning. Ten people were rescued and hospitalised, while over 1,100 residents were relocated. Persistent rain complicated rescue efforts, with teams inspecting collapsed structures and riverbanks. Authorities allocated relief funds to support infrastructure restoration after the disaster.

Lionel Messi acknowledged Lamine Yamal as an amazing player before the World Cup final. Argentina aims to prevent the young Spanish sensation from achieving a historic milestone. Defending champions Argentina secured a thrilling comeback win against England in their semifinal. Spain reached the FIFA World Cup final after defeating France with a composed performance. Lamine Yamal played a key role in Spain's victory, winning a crucial penalty.

The United States issued a travel warning for the Middle East due to escalating regional tensions. Escalating hostilities between the United States and Iran involved fresh military strikes. Fighting intensified over the Strait of Hormuz, impacting global oil prices significantly. Kuwait and Bahrain reported missile and drone interceptions amid the widening conflict. Commercial vessel crossings dropped, while Iran maintained its maritime access demands.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was hospitalized due to his prolonged hunger strike. He remains stable but requires continuous medical observation and treatment. His wife requested that no treatment be administered without family consent. Police removed protesters from the Jantar Mantar site after his hospitalization. Opposition leaders criticized the government's actions against peaceful protests.

Sabyasachi Laskar, West Bengal's top NEET-UG scorer, will pursue computer science engineering at IIT Kharagpur. He aims to develop energy-efficient computer hardware for global sustainability initiatives. Laskar secured All India Rank 35 in the NEET-UG examination. He had already secured admission to IIT Kharagpur before the NEET retest. His mother confirmed engineering was always his primary career aspiration.

The protestors have been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after the NEET paper leak fiasco. The joint demonstration witnessed students and political activists raising slogans and carrying placards to press their various demands.

Pakistan fuel price: Pakistan will now adjust petroleum prices daily to manage oil price fluctuations. The government aims for greater transparency in fuel pricing decisions. This move follows criticism regarding delays in passing on lower fuel costs. Turkish Petroleum will begin oil and gas extraction in Pakistan soon. Petrol pump owners have rejected the deregulation policy and plan protests.

Arunachal Pradesh's Cabinet approved Rs 7,834 crore for four comprehensive schemes. This investment will improve roads and rural connectivity across the state. The government also approved power infrastructure upgrades and enhanced education programs. New initiatives will support youth, MSMEs, and public services.

FIFA's potential 64-team World Cup expansion offers India better qualification chances. This move could compromise the overall quality of the games played. Bhaichung Bhutia believes the women's team has a better chance to qualify. He also supports OCI and PIO players joining the national team. Long-term development remains crucial for Indian football's success.

Cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers has passed away at the age of 89. Virat Kohli remembered Sobers as one of the sport's greatest figures. Sobers achieved remarkable feats with both bat and ball during his career. He represented the West Indies in 93 Test matches between 1954 and 1974. His enduring legacy continues to inspire cricketers worldwide.

Delhi Police took climate activist Sonam Wangchuk to the hospital from Jantar Mantar. Opposition leaders criticized the police action, alleging suppression of peaceful protest. Wangchuk had been on a hunger strike for twenty days demanding action on exam irregularities. Protesters were removed from the site after Wangchuk's hospitalization. The police stated Wangchuk was moved due to deteriorating health.

Canadian wildfire smoke creates hazy conditions for the World Cup final. Mikel Merino and Spain aim to ignore external factors affecting the game. Experts express concern over outdoor practice sessions held in hazardous air. Rain is expected Saturday, followed by potential further smoke infiltration. Forecasts remain uncertain regarding Sunday's air quality for players and fans.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Skyroot Aerospace's upcoming Vikram-1 launch. This mission marks India's first privately developed orbital launch vehicle. The four-stage rocket is designed for rapid and on-demand launch services. This initiative highlights Indian youth's talent and entrepreneurial spirit. The Prime Minister wished the team a successful and historic launch.

SCO border officials met in Islamabad to exchange information on international border situations. They discussed and approved outcomes from the Solidarity-2025 joint border operation. Participants also approved the plan for the Solidarity-2026 joint border operation. Tajikistan will host the Solidarity-2027 joint border operation in the coming year.

World Cup betting volume increased eighty percent, exceeding expectations for the expanded tournament. More active customers and record numbers were observed by betting experts after the event. England attracted the most betting tickets, followed by France and Argentina. Surprising results in the group stage allayed bookmakers' initial format concerns. FIFA now considers a sixty-four team World Cup after this tournament's success.

Andy Burnham will become Britain's next prime minister on Monday. He is taking over from Keir Starmer, who resigned last month. Burnham secured strong support from Labour lawmakers to lead the party. This change occurs without a general election, as is permitted. The transfer of power follows a well-rehearsed constitutional ritual.

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke began an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar after Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to hospital, urging supporters to intensify the protest and join the July 20 march.

PV Sindhu reached her first final in over two years at the Japan Open after Tokyo Olympic champion Chen Yufei retired injured during their women's singles semifinal with the Indian leading 21-19, 15-10.

Pawan Kumar Chandana: Skyroot Aerospace CEO and co-founder Pawan Kumar Chandana, a child who was once bad at maths, is now the head of this ambitious space company. If Skyroot is successful, it will be in a very small club of private space companies in the world. The launch is a big milestone for Indias private space sector and will keep entrepreneurs like Pawan in the league of Elon Musk and others.

India's first privately developed orbital rocket, Vikram-1, will launch on Saturday. This mission will place multiple technology demonstration payloads into low Earth orbit. It will also deploy a micro-art payload and a handwritten postcard from Prime Minister Modi. The launch marks the private space sector's entry into the orbital launch market. Skyroot Aerospace's four-stage rocket is set to lift off from Sriharikota.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk was moved to Safdarjung Hospital on his hunger strike's twenty-first day. His wife forbade medical treatment without her explicit consent and doctor's approval. Police stated the transfer was for essential medical care following court orders. Wangchuk remains determined to continue his fast despite his deteriorating health. He is protesting alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and student deaths.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was moved to a hospital from his protest site. Protestors alleged police forcefully removed him despite his deteriorating health. Delhi Police stated Wangchuk was shifted to the hospital as per court orders. This action followed a 20-day hunger strike by the activist. Protestors were asked to peacefully vacate the Jantar Mantar site.

India's first privately developed orbital rocket, Vikram-1, will launch Saturday into low earth orbit. The rocket will deploy multiple technology demonstration payloads, both domestic and foreign. It will also carry a micro-art payload and a handwritten postcard from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This launch marks the private space sector's entry into the orbital launch market. Engineering data from this test flight will guide future commercial satellite missions.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was moved to Safdarjung Hospital after a 20-day hunger strike. Delhi Police removed protesters from Jantar Mantar following court orders and medical advice. Wangchuk's health had deteriorated, prompting the hospital transfer for essential medical care. Protesters alleged plainclothes police posed as a medical team to take Wangchuk away. The activist was on hunger strike demanding action on examination irregularities and paper leaks.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk was hospitalized after his health deteriorated during a hunger strike. Security was heightened around Jantar Mantar and New Delhi following the incident. Police stated the hospitalization followed a High Court order and medical advice. Some protesters caused a brief commotion while obstructing the hospital transfer. Authorities requested protesters to peacefully vacate the Jantar Mantar site.

France and England will compete for third place in the World Cup. Both teams expressed disappointment after losing their semifinal matches. Coach Didier Deschamps will conclude his tenure with France after this game. Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane are contenders for the Golden Boot award. This match represents a final World Cup appearance for some veteran players.

Delhi-NCR Rain Forecast: Delhi NCR experiences hot and humid weather with minimal rain today. Isolated showers are possible during the morning hours across the region. Rain chances increase significantly on Sunday, bringing slight temperature relief. Monday promises a much wetter and cooler pattern with widespread rainfall. This wetter weather should continue through the middle of next week.

The recent World Cup brought excitement but did not significantly boost Mexico's economy. Weak investment and trade agreement uncertainty continue to weigh on economic growth. Official tourism targets for the tournament were not met by the country. Some host cities experienced uneven economic benefits from the event. Trade certainty under the USMCA remains the main driver for the Mexican economy.

Sonam Wangchuk was hospitalized by Delhi Police after a 20-day hunger strike. He protested alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and demanded accountability. Doctors noted significant weight loss, raising health concerns for the activist. The Delhi High Court had ordered regular monitoring of his critical condition. Wangchuk urged supporters to march to Parliament to ensure their concerns were addressed.

Andhra Rain Alert Today: Andhra Pradesh faces scattered showers and humid heat this week. Vijayawada expects rain chances to rise significantly by Monday. Visakhapatnam's wettest day is forecast for Sunday with higher probabilities. Rayalaseema region remains drier and hotter with limited rainfall chances. The state's monsoon season shows a substantial rainfall deficit so far.