In a historic move that signals a turning point in the nation’s train mobility and provides a major boost to clean transportation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off India’s first hydrogen train from Jind, Haryana, on July 17.

Several firsts are among the many benefits of the cutting-edge Hydrogen train: no smoke, no carbon emissions, operation on clean hydrogen fuel, and water vapor as its only byproduct emission. Before its official release, it has been established as a major subject of national conversation because of these unique selling factors.

In addition to starting a thrilling new chapter in the nation’s green energy transition, the Hydrogen-powered train running between Jind and Sonipat in Haryana is a pilot project that will usher in a new era of rail travel.

The hydrogen train is powered by a 1200 kW hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system and only emits water vapour, making it a sustainable, clean, and green option. It is the world’s most powerful hydrogen train, with 3200 horsepower.

India is about to make a huge leap forward in achieving cleaner and greener rail travels as well as furthering environmentally sustainable transportation and zero-carbon emission goals with the introduction of its first Hydrogen train.

Since the train has been developed and designed locally and is supported by Jind’s indigenous hydrogen storage and refuelling infrastructure, it will also be a major asset to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Mission.

Acknowledging the significant achievement in the history of Railways, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri declared that India has become a member of an exclusive club of countries, along with Germany, Japan, China, and the United States, that are examining hydrogen fuel cell technology for environmentally friendly rail operations.

The first hydrogen train in India can hold 2,600 people. Scheduled to start its journey from Jind on Friday, it promises to revolutionize Indian Railways‘ operations, enhance passenger travel experiences, and advance the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision.

The producers of Mysskin‘s next film, ‘Train,’ which stars Vijay Sethupathi, have confirmed that it will be released in August of this year.

Let’s do it this August, producer Kalaipuli S Thanu remarked during his talk at the film’s teaser launch event, which was conducted recently. His V Creations is producing the film.

Director Mysskin, who was pleased by his announcement, attempted to get the producer to agree to a release date in a lighthearted manner.

Oh my God, is that correct, sir? “Please also announce the date,” he exclaimed in an eager voice.

But Suriya’s picture is out on August 14, sir, he added, pretending as if the filmmaker had confirmed August 14 as the release date, even as the producer just smiled and held his tongue.

The audience laughed as producer Thanu pointed out that he had only stated that the movie would open in August and had not mentioned August 14.

Since the creators released a preview on Sunday, director Mysskin’s quick-paced action thriller “Train,” starring actor Vijay Sethupathi, has garnered a great deal of attention from fans and film aficionados who may not be aware of it.

A speeding train being operated by several dangerous individuals is seen in the intense 43-second teaser. As one man (Vijay Sethupathi) fights a solo combat, terrified travelers fearing for their lives watch on. The teaser reveals that the train, which looks like a speeding beast, is not stopping at any of the scheduled stations.

Those who appear to have hijacked the train appear to have been well-prepared, which is even more important. What is their mission? These people are who? And who, most significantly, is attempting to challenge them? Train, like all of Mysskin’s other thrillers, promises to be an edge-of-the-seat experience.

Star-studded Train, directed by Mysskin and produced by V Creations, will feature Nasser, Shruti Haasan, Yugi Sethu, Narain, KS Ravikumar, Sampath Raj, Kalaiyarasan, Ira Dayanand, and Preethy Karan.

Mysskin himself wrote the score and Fowzia Fathima shot the cinematography for the picture.

Last year, Narain shared photos of himself on the set of Train in a social media post, which was intriguing. The images showed that he was portraying a police officer in the movie.

The disclosure prompted conjecture as to whether or not Mysskin was trying to establish a Mysskin Cinematic Universe with Train.

The speculation was sparked by Narain’s portrayal of a police officer in Mysskin’s immensely successful movie, “Anjaathey. ” However, this has not been confirmed.

American tech behemoth Google announced a number of artificial intelligence (AI) projects for Indian startups, corporations, and educational institutions.

The company revealed new AI education programmes, healthcare partnerships, cybersecurity initiatives, and more infrastructure for Indian businesses employing its AI models at the Google I/O Connect India 2026 conference here.

Google also estimated that its Google Play Store and Android ecosystem would bring in about Rs 5. 3 lakh crore (approximately $60 billion) in revenue for app publishers and the larger economy in India in 2025, which would represent a 28% increase over the previous year.

Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar stated during the event that Google has been instrumental in extending internet access and digital services in India via products like Search, Android, YouTube, Maps, and Google Pay.

Every day, Google transformed how billions of people access knowledge, how students learn, how companies grow, and how governments provide services. He remarked that everyone had made a truly amazing contribution.

Google DeepMind unveiled its free 56-hour AI Research Foundations curriculum, which is meant to teach students how to create and improve huge language models, as one of its main announcements.

In collaboration with NASSCOM, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, and other universities, the initiative will be introduced.

AI is being deployed by Indian builders at a rate that is practically unmatched elsewhere. Preeti Lobana, country manager for Google India, stated that “as we drive the shift into the agentic era, our focus is on giving the ecosystem the infrastructure and guardrails it needs to scale safely. ”

Google also debuted ATL Saathi, a Gemini-powered assistant for educators working on the Atal Innovation Mission, which will first be made available in 100 schools.

The firm stated that researchers at AIIMS Delhi are creating India-specific tools for leprosy and sexual and reproductive health using its MedGemma open AI models in healthcare, and that the resulting models would be made accessible to the nation’s developer ecosystem.

Additionally, Google revealed that Gemini Live now works with 25 Indian languages and dialects, such as Maithili, Bhojpuri, and Sanskrit.

The closing ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature performances by Tom Cruise, Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and IShowSpeed, all of whom will commemorate the historic competition prior to the summit confrontation.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 closing ceremony, which will take place before the final match at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday (July 19), will celebrate the unforgettable journey of the 48 teams throughout the three host nations and 16 Host Cities as the biggest sporting event in history comes to a close.

FIFA said in a report on its official website that “this star-studded show will feature performances from Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and IShowSpeed, as well as a special appearance by Tom Cruise, bringing together some of the world’s largest names in music and entertainment for an unforgettable celebration before kick-off. ”

Jennifer Hudson, the winner of the Tony, Oscar, Grammy, and Emmy awards, will give a special performance of the United States national anthem before the FIFA World Cup 2026 final. Hudson’s strong performance, one of the most famous musicians in the world, will lay the groundwork for football’s biggest match and the tournament’s most eagerly awaited occasion.

The closing ceremony, which was created in cooperation with Balich Wonder Studio, will honor the passion, emotion, and global spirit that characterized the 23rd FIFA World Cup: a groundbreaking event with 48 teams that broke records and inspired a new generation of boys and girls worldwide to dream. In the next few days, more artists and special guests will be revealed.

“The closing ceremony will bring the FIFA World Cup 2026 full circle via music, culture, and football before we kick off the highly anticipated match that will crown the champions of this groundbreaking tournament,” Heimo Schirgi, Chief Operating Officer – FIFA World Cup 2026, said, “echoing the spirit of the opening ceremonies, which welcomed the world to the greatest stage in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. ”

As the closing ceremony begins 90 minutes before kick-off at 13:30 local time, supporters in the stadium will have an active part in the event and should arrange to arrive early.

According to the announcement, gates will open at 11:00 (four hours before the start of the match), at which time a full range of experiences, such as unique activations, rewards, and extra pre-match entertainment, will commence.

India defeated England by six wickets in the opening ODI in Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Tuesday, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, thanks to Axar Patel’s strong all-around performance.

Then, Axar returned to the field to record an undefeated 57 and, together with Washington Sundar, established a match-winning partnership of 102 runs after taking four wickets to help dismiss England for 258 runs. Sundar hit his first ODI half-century and finished the game with a huge six, remaining unbeaten on 52.

England won the toss and decided to bat first, giving India a fantastic start. Even after Ben Duckett’s second Powerplay counterattack, the hosts still struggled to score against India’s disciplined pace attack. Although Duckett and Jacob Bethell put up a 61-run opening partnership, Gurnoor Brar quickly turned the game around by taking two wickets in the same over. England then slumped from 61 for no loss to 80 for five in just a few overs.

Joe Root and Liam Dawson made a spectacular comeback with a 121-run stand for the seventh wicket just when it appeared England would get a modest total. Before being dismissed, Dawson scored a strong 68, earning his first ODI half-century.

Root batted for the whole innings, scoring 76 not out. With England’s 258 total in 47. 5 overs, Axar completed the tail end in style with his amazing 4 for 62 record, taking the final four wickets.

With Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill comfortably navigating the new-ball spells of Jofra Archer and ODI debutant Josh Tongue, India’s pursuit got off to a good start. Rohit was bowled by Sam Curran for 11, after the opening partnership had reached 43. Archer caught Virat Kohli lbw for only 5 in the following over, putting India under early pressure.

India’s momentum was shifted by Gill and Shreyas Iyer’s excellent response, as they put together a faultless 101-run partnership for the third wicket. Even though he received treatment many times, Gill appeared confident and scored another elegant half-century before cramping forced him to leave the game injured at 80 runs. England saw a chance when Iyer was out for 35, and KL Rahul went for just 1.

But India’s all-round spin bowlers made sure there was no drama at the conclusion. India won thanks to Axar and Washington Sundar’s outstanding calm, which resulted in a 102-run partnership for the fifth wicket that went unbroken.

Sundar completed his unbeaten 52 and secured India’s convincing six-wicket victory with 28 balls remaining by hitting the winning runs over the ropes, which was a fitting conclusion to the game.

Brief scores:
England 258 all out in 47.5 overs (Joe Root 76, Liam Dawson 68; Axar Patel 4-62, Prasidh Krishna 2-50)
India 262/4 in 45.2 overs (Shubman Gill 80 (retd hurt), Axar Patel 57; Josh Tongue 1-50, Sam Curran 1-55)

SEBI has strengthened its framework for employee behavior on announcing extensive changes to its service laws, including tighter investment limitations, improved disclosure requirements, and tighter conflict-of-interest safeguards.

According to the SEBI (Employees’ Service) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, the regulator of capital markets has broadened the definitions of “family” and “dependent” to include adopted and stepchildren, as well as persons who are significantly reliant on an employee.

The judgment expands the range of compliance requirements pertaining to investments, disclosures, and other service commitments.

Among the significant alterations is the establishment of a two-year cooling-off period for previous SEBI staff.

Retired or resigned employees will not be allowed to represent anyone before the regulator in connection with proceedings, adjudication, settlements, or approvals during this time.

Furthermore, the revised rules strengthen protection against potential conflicts of interest by compelling workers to report any employment talks with prospective employers within one month of starting such negotiations.

Additionally, the market regulator has made a clear separation between authorized and prohibited investments for its staff.

Employees and their family members are forbidden from making new investments in equities, equity-convertible instruments, or derivatives while the employee is working for the regulator under the updated rules.

Nonetheless, investments made via authorized pooled investment vehicles, like real estate investment trusts (REITs) and mutual funds, will remain permissible.

Furthermore, the regulator has limited investments in specific regulated investment products to 25% of an employee’s overall investment portfolio. Specific examples for which limited exclusions have been allowed include investments controlled by discretionary portfolio management services and employee stock options awarded to spouses.

SEBI has also clarified customary gifts that may be accepted under the regulations, increasing the reporting threshold from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000. This is another significant modification.

With a superb four-wicket haul from off-spinner Sneh Rana, a skilled Indian team made history on Monday at Lord’s, defeating England by 270 runs to win the first-ever Women’s Test match.

In the first session, Rana (4-42) and Deepti Sharma (2-36) methodically eliminated England’s lower-order resistance, as the hosts were bowled out for 186 in 62. 5 overs in pursuit of an improbable world-record target of 457 runs.

It signified that Harmanpreet Kaur and her squad had achieved a really deserved and comprehensive triumph at the renowned location. With this victory, India has also prolonged their impressive streak in red-ball cricket by recording their seventh victory in the previous 11 Test matches. They have maintained their undefeated record in the longest format on English land, which is important.

Amy Jones, the half-centurion from the previous day, was all that stood in the way of England’s slim hopes of postponing the inevitable as they started day four from 130/6. Nevertheless, Amy (54) pulled a brief delivery from Sneh in the third over of the morning, which was not typical of her, straight into the hands of Shafali Verma at mid-wicket, signaling the end of any real English opposition.

Sophie Ecclestone and Issy Wong resisted the Indian bowling assault for almost ten overs without scoring. Deepti produced a peach of a delivery that drifted in and went straight on to beat Issy’s defensive push and disturb her off-stump, thus shattering the resistance.

Sophie, in the meanwhile, kept the score ticking by hitting boundaries off Deepti Sharma and Kranti Gaud. Deepti lured Lauren Bell ahead with a floated ball that spun hard back into the right-hander and shattered into the top of the off-stump, even though she had a transient partner in Bell.

Lauren Filer teamed Sophie, who was still showing amazing rearguard action, when England was in a state of 159/9. Sophie reached her maiden Test half-century in 61 balls during the 62nd over by hitting a single for Deepti, to the delight of the spectators. However, Sneh, who was bowling from around the wicket and posed a risk to both ends, quickly concluded the event with a screamer of a delivery.

In addition to Sneh, vice-captain Mandhana hit 83 and 70 before Yastika Bhatia batted England out of the contest with a spectacular 113—the first century by a woman’s Test batsman at Lord’s—and Richa Ghosh smashed an undefeated 52-ball 50, and Kranti Gaud got the first wicket-haul at the storied venue in Tests. These are the heroes of India’s famous victory. India ensured Lord’s first Women’s Test was one to remember for a very long time after it took 142 years for the stadium to host it.

In a post on social media, the Sports Minister praised the team after they created history by defeating England by 270 runs in the single Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground.

History at Lord’s! Kudos to our Women’s Cricket Team for becoming the first-ever women’s side to win a Test match at this historic stadium. According to Dr. Mandaviya‘s article on various social media platforms, this accomplishment is much more noteworthy since it comes after a resounding 270-run victory against England.

Every cricketer considers winning a Test match at the Home of Cricket to be a watershed moment. According to the BCCI, this is a defining moment for this young Indian squad, demonstrating the extraordinary growth of women’s cricket in the nation as well as the endurance, talent, and character that this team keeps showcasing on the international scene.

Mithun Manhas, president of the BCCI, stated that this is one of the best moments in the history of Indian women’s cricket. Winning a Test match at Lord’s is a truly special experience and speaks volumes about the team’s fortitude, resolve, and confidence throughout the game. They played with outstanding character, made the entire nation proud, and relished the moment. Jay Shah, our former Honorary Secretary and current ICC Chairman, merits recognition for his astute leadership and unwavering commitment to the advancement of women’s cricket. He helped lay the groundwork for accomplishments like this. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations on behalf of the BCCI to Harmanpreet Kaur, the players, coaches, and support personnel for their truly remarkable success.

History in the making! After winning the match, Manhas posted on X. Congratulations to @BCCIWomen on completing this incredible accomplishment. All of the country is proud of you. Her team, support staff at BCCI, and Harmanpreet are all congratulated. Jai Hind.

This historic victory is the culmination of years of sustained investment in and faith in women’s cricket, according to BCCI Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia. Through more robust domestic structures, increased possibilities, and greater professional assistance, the BCCI has stayed dedicated to building the ideal atmosphere for our women cricketers to flourish. Additionally, I want to recognize the ground-breaking leadership of Mr. Jay Shah, our previous Honorary Secretary and current ICC Chairman. His pioneering programs, like pay equality for centrally contracted female cricketers, higher match fees for domestic women cricketers, and the debut of the Women’s Premier League, have completely changed the face of women’s cricket in India. Today’s success at Lord’s is a proud reminder of all those efforts, as well as the extraordinary devotion and hard work of our players and support personnel.

Sachin Tendulkar praised Harmanpreet Kaur’s team for making history at Lord’s, describing the game as another milestone in the growth of women’s cricket.

The ex-India captain also praised the guests for their outstanding performance and singled out the deeds that helped them achieve their unforgettable victory.

Mandhana, Yastika Bhatia, and Kranti Goud, whose performances were essential to India’s victory, all received special acclaim from Tendulkar.

“Yastika’s excellent century, Kranti’s five-wicket haul, and Smriti’s composure made this event even more special, so congratulations to the Indian team on a fantastic victory. ” He said, “The growth of women’s cricket has been spectacular, and this was another wonderful move ahead. ”

In closing, he put the outcome in the larger framework of the game’s development and stated that the Lord’s Test was yet another significant turning point for women’s cricket.

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, who addressed the Indian squad prior to play, witnessed the triumph. Secretary Devajit Saikia, BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla, and ICC Chairman Jay Shah joined him as India made sure that the first women’s Test at Lord’s in its 142-year history would be remembered for years to come.

Brief Scores:
India 285 and 341/7 dec in 86.3 overs (Yastika Bhatia 113; Sophie Ecclestone 5-118)
England 170 and 186 in 62.5 overs (Amy Jones 54, Sophie Ecclestone 50; Sneh Rana 4-42, Sayali Satghare 2-24)

In remembrance of their faithful service, sacrifice, and enduring commitment to the country, the Indian mission in Seattle organized a special event to pay tribute to Indian Armed Forces veterans and their relatives.

The gathering, held on July 12th (local time), gathered veterans and their families who live in the Greater Seattle area. Even after leaving military service, it emphasized their ongoing contribution to society.

The Consulate General of India in Seattle, in collaboration with the Embassy of India, arranged the event.

As the Consulate stated on X in a succession of postings, it acknowledged the veterans’ continuous involvement in mentoring more recent generations, solidifying community bonds, and maintaining the ideals of patriotism and national service in addition to their outstanding service in uniform.

The Consulate General of India in Seattle shared information about the event on X, writing, “Saluting the Indian Armed Forces Veterans in Seattle! ” Today, the Consulate hosted a special gathering of Indian Armed Forces Veterans and their families from the Greater Seattle Area in an exclusive ceremony (coordinated in collaboration with the Embassy of India) and paid tribute to them for their service, sacrifice, and unwavering devotion to India.

We want to thank every one of the veterans for proving once again that their dedication to the country doesn’t end with their uniforms. Instead, it develops into mentorship, community leadership, and the transmission of values to succeeding generations, according to the Consulate.

Many veterans, organizers, and members of the Indian community praised the event as a significant and unforgettable undertaking.

Several participants expressed gratitude for the chance to interact with other veterans while receiving acknowledgment from the Indian mission, stating that the event was unprecedented in the area.

Indian Navy Commander (retd) Anurag Davey addressed the crowd, commending the mission’s efforts and the project.

We are at the Indian Consulate in Seattle today. With all of India’s Armed Forces’ veterans in attendance, we finished a fantastic meeting. This is a really great idea from the Indian mission and military attaché here, he added.

A member of the organizing team also said they were proud to be a part of the program and knew how important it was to recognize veterans.

It is a tremendous honour to be a member of the event’s organising team. According to the organiser, we are incredibly touched and immensely honored by this initiative.

According to one of the participants, the event helped to reaffirm a feeling of community among members of the Indian diaspora. The attendee remarked that it’s encouraging to witness the Indian community, particularly the old soldiers, joining forces to remind us that we are not far from home.

The program recognized veterans and their families’ lifetime devotion to the country by uniting them.