India

How the British Royal Family Funds Itself Through Grants and Private Estates

The British monarchy's finances rest on two main pillars: the Sovereign Grant and privately held estates. The Sovereign Grant is drawn from Crown Estate profits and covers official royal duties and the upkeep of royal palaces. Additional income flows from the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall, which fund the wider royal household and working members of the family. King Charles III and Prince William have both disclosed significant tax contributions from their respective revenues.

Elon Musk Claims xAI Model Is Approaching Anthropic's AI Performance Level

Elon Musk has stated that his artificial intelligence company xAI is rapidly narrowing the gap with Anthropic in AI capabilities. The claim centers on xAI's latest model, which Musk says is approaching the performance level of Anthropic's systems. The announcement signals growing competition in the AI industry, with xAI positioning itself as a serious challenger to established players. Anthropic, known for its Claude AI models, has been considered one of the leading AI safety-focused companies in the sector.

Samsung to unveil Galaxy Z Fold 8, Flip 8 and new Ultra model on July 22

Samsung has scheduled its Galaxy Unpacked event for July 22 in London, where it is expected to announce three new foldable smartphones, including a new Ultra variant. Alongside the foldables, the company may also reveal new Galaxy Watch models and smart glasses at the event. Indian consumers can already pre-reserve the upcoming devices by paying a token amount. Early registrants in India stand to receive benefits valued at up to Rs 2,799.

Kerala LIFE Mission: Over 5 Lakh Homes Built for Homeless and Marginalized Families

Kerala's LIFE Mission is a state-run housing scheme designed to provide shelter and financial assistance to its most vulnerable residents. The programme primarily targets landless families and those living in severely deteriorated homes. Grants are disbursed in stages, tied to construction progress, ensuring accountability in fund utilisation. The initiative gives special priority to marginalised groups, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and women-headed households. To date, the scheme has constructed more than five lakh homes, benefiting nearly twenty lakh people across the state.

Super Typhoon Bavi: Taiwan, China and Japan brace for giant storm as wide as France

India and Australia Sign Civil Nuclear Deal for Uranium Supply and Defence Ties

India and Australia have signed a landmark civil nuclear agreement that will allow Australia to supply uranium to India. The deal is expected to diversify India's energy mix and support its long-term clean energy objectives. Alongside the nuclear pact, both nations also established agreements on defence, maritime security, cyber cooperation, and critical technologies. The two countries committed to deepening strategic coordination and improving interoperability between their armed forces.

Parthiv Patel warns Sooryavanshi will keep facing short-pitch tactics from rivals

Former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel has cautioned that opponents have a deliberate plan to target Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with short-pitched bowling, exploiting his vulnerability against pace and bounce. Patel noted the tactic was already visible during the IPL season. The warning comes after Sooryavanshi managed only modest scores in the ongoing T20I series against England. Patel also called on India's batters to show more patience and better adapt to English playing conditions. His comments followed India's batting collapse in the third T20I, where the team struggled to build a steady innings.

Canadian 12-year-old builds AI receptionist tool aimed at small businesses

Mana Jampala, a 12-year-old from Canada, has developed an AI receptionist called Voxa designed to help small businesses handle customer inquiries. Her entrepreneurial journey began at the age of nine, making Voxa a product of years of early ambition and learning. She is currently seeking her first paying client as she works to establish the tool in the market. Jampala also runs an online community that supports other young entrepreneurs in their own ventures.

Ex-Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal builds $2B AI startup two years after Musk ouster

IIT Bombay and Stanford alumnus Parag Agrawal has co-founded an AI startup now valued at approximately $2 billion. Agrawal previously served as CEO of Twitter before being removed following Elon Musk's acquisition of the platform. He established Parallel Web Systems in 2023, with a focus on AI infrastructure and large-scale computing. The venture marks a significant comeback for the engineer, who had ranked AIR 77 in the JEE before pursuing advanced studies at Stanford.

Op Sindoor's 'echo heard across world': Top quotes from PM Modi's address in Melbourne

TMC defends Mamata Banerjee after video shows her slapping party worker

A video surfaced showing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slapping a Trinamool Congress worker during a protest march over the alleged rape and murder of a minor. TMC MP Saugata Roy defended the act, saying Banerjee shares a close bond with party workers and is free to act as she sees fit. BJP leaders condemned the incident, describing it as arrogance and a sign of poor self-control. The protest march also witnessed clashes between TMC and BJP supporters.

Bangladesh Appoints New Envoy to India Amid Strained Bilateral Ties

Bangladesh and India are entering a new phase in their bilateral relationship marked by ongoing tensions. Bangladesh has appointed a new envoy, Siam, to serve in India, a posting considered significant given the current diplomatic climate. The appointment comes as both nations work to manage a transitional period in their ties. The new ambassador's role is expected to play a key part in shaping the direction of Bangladesh-India relations going forward.

Monsoon Flight Cancelled or Delayed? Here Is How to Claim Your Refund

Monsoon weather frequently disrupts flight operations across India, but aviation rules ensure passenger rights remain protected. Airlines are obligated to offer either a full refund or an alternative flight when services are cancelled due to heavy rainfall. During significant delays, passengers may also be entitled to meals and accommodation from the airline. Once a refund request is submitted, airlines must process it within fourteen working days. Passengers whose concerns go unresolved can escalate complaints through the AirSewa portal or approach consumer commissions for redressal.

Kaif questions Iyer and Tilak Varma's guaranteed places, calls for selector accountability

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has publicly criticised the national selectors over their team selection decisions. Kaif specifically questioned whether Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma deserve assured spots in the squad. He argued that these selections have negatively affected Sanju Samson's potential role within the team. Kaif also called for greater accountability from selectors regarding their choices, even as Iyer and Varma continue to hold their positions in the ongoing series.

Hyderabad Realtor Murdered After Being Drugged; Wife and Two Others Arrested

A Hyderabad-based realtor was killed after being drugged and smothered to death. Police arrested three people on Wednesday in connection with the murder. Those taken into custody include the victim's wife Satyavathi, her alleged partner Marri Madhusudan Reddy, and a third individual named Rajesh Kumar. Authorities suspect the wife was directly involved in orchestrating the crime.

Australian Couple Found 27 kg Gold Nugget Near Wedderburn in 1980

Kevin and Bep Hillier discovered a massive gold nugget near Wedderburn, Victoria, Australia in 1980. The nugget, weighing approximately 27 kilograms, was later named the Hand of Faith. Kevin stumbled upon the find during a post-surgery recovery walk, making the discovery entirely unplanned. The find brought the couple sudden financial security and transformed their lives overnight. The Hand of Faith remains one of Australia's most celebrated gold discoveries and a symbol of unexpected fortune.

Ashwin backs unchanged India XI for 4th T20I, accepts Samson likely to miss out

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has voiced support for keeping the Indian playing XI unchanged for the fourth T20I. Ashwin believes maintaining team stability sends a strong message to the entire squad. He acknowledged that Sanju Samson is likely to be left out once again despite ongoing debate around his inclusion. Ashwin also pointed to the challenges India's young batting lineup faces when adapting to varying conditions. He expressed hope that the team would gain valuable experience and grow stronger over time.

India Needs Both EVs and Biofuels to Achieve Net Zero, Experts Say

India's transition to net zero emissions will not rely on a single clean energy solution, according to experts. Both electric vehicles and biofuels are expected to play complementary roles in the country's decarbonisation strategy. Experts argue that choosing one over the other would be insufficient to meet India's climate targets. A combined approach leveraging both technologies is seen as the most viable path forward.

Charles Sobhraj admirer, 69, arrested after 36 years of defrauding 300 luxury hotels

A 69-year-old man has been arrested in Bhubaneswar for allegedly defrauding hotels across India over nearly three decades. The accused, who modelled his criminal lifestyle on infamous conman Charles Sobhraj, was caught after fleeing a Raipur hotel without settling a large bill. He had previously served fifteen years in various Indian prisons for similar offences. Police noted that the man treated luxury hotels as tourist destinations and regarded prison as his regular accommodation. A stolen laptop was also linked to his arrest.

Welcome to the Jungle nears Rs 125 crore mark after two weeks at box office

Ahmed Khan's action-comedy 'Welcome to the Jungle' has completed its second week in cinemas with strong box office performance. The multi-starrer, featuring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Arshad Warsi, and Paresh Rawal, has accumulated a domestic net collection of Rs 123.06 crore. The film is on the verge of crossing the Rs 125 crore milestone as its Day 14 figures are yet to be tallied. The timing is notable as the production aims to hit this target ahead of the anticipated release of 'Dhamaal 4'.