India

NBA Maps Long-Term Ecosystem Plan to Develop Elite Basketball Talent in India

India's performances at the NBA Rising Stars Invitational 2026 highlighted the gap between Indian players and Asia's top basketball talent. However, NBA India Head Sunny Malik sees the results as part of a broader developmental story rather than a setback. The league is focused on building a structured pathway that runs from the grassroots Jr. NBA program through to the Rising Stars Invitational and beyond. The goal is to create a sustainable ecosystem that can consistently produce elite-level basketball players from India.

Ancy Sojan breaks 22-year national long jump record with 6.88m leap

Kerala athlete Ancy Sojan has shattered India's 22-year-old national record in women's long jump with a leap of 6.88 metres. She is the daughter of an auto-rickshaw driver and was coached by another auto-rickshaw driver from her village. Both men had limited sporting opportunities themselves and have long nurtured hopes of athletic success through Ancy. Her achievement has fulfilled a deeply held dream within their Kerala community. Coaches and supporters now hope she can go on to breach the 7-metre barrier.

How a Facebook message turned software engineer Basil Joseph into a filmmaker

Basil Joseph, a software engineer with a passion for cinema, uploaded a short film online that gained unexpected attention. The film caught the eye of actor Aju Varghese and filmmaker Vineeth Sreenivasan. After a period of waiting, Sreenivasan reached out to Joseph through a simple Facebook message, offering him an opportunity to work as his assistant. This marked a decisive career shift for Joseph, moving him away from coding and into the world of filmmaking. Joseph would later go on to direct the acclaimed Malayalam superhero film Minnal Murali.

Meta to replace thousands of human content moderators with AI on Facebook, Instagram

Meta is accelerating the rollout of AI-powered content moderation across Facebook and Instagram, replacing a significant portion of its human review workforce. The company is deploying large language models to handle the task of reviewing user-generated posts at scale. Meta believes AI can outperform human moderators in both speed and accuracy, while also delivering substantial cost savings potentially worth billions of dollars. However, some Meta employees have raised concerns about AI's limited ability to handle nuanced content decisions. Critics also warn of potential errors such as wrongful post removals and unintended shadow-banning of users.

Andy Burnham Sets Out 10-Year Plan to Boost UK Living Standards

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is set to outline a long-term vision for the United Kingdom centered on improving living standards. The plan spans a decade and focuses on reindustrialisation as a core economic strategy. Burnham also intends to address housing shortages and expand infrastructure across the country. Reform of utilities forms another key pillar of the proposed mission.

Rajasthan-born debutant Jai Moondra stars as Ireland stun India 2-0 in T20I series

Ireland clinched a historic 2-0 T20I series victory over reigning world champions India, a remarkable achievement for the emerging cricket nation. Debutant Jai Moondra, a software engineer born in Rajasthan, played a pivotal role in the series win. Moondra took key wickets, including those of Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer, helping Ireland secure the final match by just one run. He was named both Player of the Match and Player of the Series for his standout performances. Moondra admitted he was still struggling to come to terms with the magnitude of the achievement.

Siya Goyal Called Lover 34 Minutes Before Ketan Agarwal Was Killed, Forensics Show

Forensic analysis of mobile phones belonging to Siya Goyal and her associate Chaudhary has revealed a key communication detail in the Ketan Agarwal murder case. Investigators found that Goyal made a call to her lover approximately 34 minutes before the murder took place. The discovery emerged from an in-depth examination of the suspects' handsets conducted by forensic experts. This phone record is being treated as a significant piece of evidence by investigators probing the case.

China adds 20 Japanese entities to export control blacklist amid tech tensions

China has placed 20 Japanese organisations, including a defence research institute, on its export control blacklist, restricting the export of dual-use items to them. The move follows a similar measure taken against 10 American companies just last week. Beijing cited national security protection and non-proliferation commitments as the reasons behind the decision. The actions reflect escalating geopolitical tensions surrounding technology and trade between China and its rivals.

NBA Rising Stars Invitational concludes in Singapore with Seika and Kyungbock as champions

The NBA Rising Stars Invitational wrapped up in Singapore after six days of high-school basketball competition. Teams Seika and Kyungbock emerged as champions of the tournament. The event brought together some of the best young basketball talent from across Asia. NBA and WNBA legends were also present, drawing packed crowds to the stands. The tournament was seen as a reflection of basketball's growing ecosystem and future potential in the Asia region.

Watch: Europe's record heatwave melts roads in France, buckle tram tracks in Germany

Burglars raid Bhopal home of jailed ex-judge linked to Twisha Sharma case

Three masked men broke into the Bhopal residence of former district judge Giribala Singh on Saturday night, stealing valuables from the property. Giribala Singh and her son Samarth Singh, an advocate, are currently in judicial custody in connection with the suspicious death of Twisha Sharma. The burglars fled the scene after the break-in, but police intercepted suspects nearby. Authorities reportedly recovered an abandoned bag believed to contain stolen items from the residence.

Maharashtra TET Paper Leak: Police Hunt Mastermind Linked to Multi-State Exam Fraud

Three suspects arrested in connection with the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) paper leak have been remanded in police custody until July 6. The Maharashtra State Council of Examination was compelled to cancel the June 28 exam, affecting over six lakh registered candidates. Authorities are now tracking an alleged mastermind from Bihar who is believed to be linked to paper leaks across four states over 25 years. Investigators are also pursuing other wanted accused and attempting to trace the financial trail behind the leak network.

US and Iran Agree Temporary Ceasefire, Qatar Talks on Hormuz Strait Planned

The United States and Iran have agreed to halt military hostilities for the time being, following a tense weekend of back-and-forth military actions between the two nations. Both sides are set to hold discussions in Qatar regarding a proposed plan concerning the Strait of Hormuz. The weekend's escalations had put significant strain on a fragile initial agreement between the two countries, which was only around 11 days old. That earlier deal had been intended to pause hostilities for a 60-day negotiation period. The latest understanding represents an effort to salvage the diplomatic process before it fully breaks down.

Vat Purnima 2026: Married Hindu Women Fast and Pray for Husbands' Longevity

Married Hindu women across India are observing Vat Purnima on June 29, 2026, a festival centered on the well-being and long life of their husbands. The occasion involves keeping a strict fast throughout the day as an act of devotion. Prayers are offered to the banyan tree, which holds sacred significance in Hindu tradition. The banyan tree is regarded as a symbol of immortality and divine presence, making it central to the festival's rituals.

Evicted from home, Kerala family of 4 goes missing on day of moving into new house; bodies later recovered from river

Lessons from fighting Maoists for 14 years from Bastar’s top cop

Southwest Monsoon Set to Advance Into Northern India, IMD Forecasts

India's Meteorological Department has forecast that the southwest monsoon is expected to progress into northern parts of the country in the coming days. The announcement signals a significant weather shift for regions including Delhi-NCR, which could soon receive monsoon rainfall. The IMD regularly tracks monsoon advancement as it moves across the subcontinent from south to north. The progression of the monsoon is closely watched as it brings relief from summer heat and is critical for agricultural activity across northern India.

Indian Markets Set for Weak Open as Crude Oil Prices Climb

Indian equity markets are expected to begin trading in negative territory on the back of rising global oil prices. Brent crude climbed to $73.39 per barrel, while US WTI crude traded near $70 per barrel. Higher oil prices typically weigh on Indian markets, as India is a major crude importer and rising costs can pressure corporate margins and inflation. The uptick in crude prices has dampened investor sentiment ahead of the opening bell.

AP EAMCET 2026 Results Expected Soon at Official APSCHE Portal

Andhra Pradesh EAMCET 2026 results are expected to be declared shortly on the official website cets.apsche.ap.gov.in. The announcement will end the wait for thousands of students who appeared for the engineering, agriculture, and pharmacy entrance exam. Once released, candidates will be able to download their rank cards from the portal. The results will pave the way for the counselling process, which includes registration, document verification, choice filling, and seat allotment for undergraduate admissions.

IMD Forecasts Monsoon Arrival in Delhi Around July 4 Amid UP Heatwave Alert

The India Meteorological Department has predicted that the southwest monsoon will reach Delhi around July 4. The weather agency also forecasts the monsoon's gradual advance across several northern Indian states. Alongside the monsoon outlook, IMD has issued a heatwave warning for Uttar Pradesh. Residents in the affected regions are advised to take precautions as temperatures remain elevated ahead of the monsoon's arrival.