India defeated Afghanistan by 170 runs in the second match of the three-match ODI series on Wednesday at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, taking an insurmountable 2-0 lead.

Despite a valiant effort from Rahmat Shah, the hosts overcame Afghanistan with a disciplined bowling performance and a batting masterclass led by captain Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan.

Afghanistan needed a fast start in pursuit of 403, but they never really came close to reaching the target. India’s fast bowling kept hitting consistently, stopping the guests from putting together any big partnerships. With three wickets each, Gurnoor Brar and Arshdeep Singh stole the show, while Prince Yadav earned his first ODI wicket on his debut.

Amidst the surrounding decline, Rahmat Shah stood strong, scoring 79 runs off 89 balls. He battled through cramps and found regular boundaries to keep Afghanistan’s aspirations alive, albeit remotely, showing great technique and resiliency. Rashid Khan delivered a quickfire cameo that was amusing, but the necessary rate kept increasing and was out of reach.

Brar and Prince Yadav finished up the tail in the 45th over, putting an end to the match. After Prince Yadav was pulled to fine leg, where Brar made an outstanding grab, Rahmat’s brave opposition was finally broken. India defeated Afghanistan by a large margin of 170 runs after Afghanistan was bowled out for 232 runs in 44. 3 overs.

India’s dominance throughout the match was highlighted by the outcome. Kishan’s aggressive hundred and Gill’s captain’s strike set the groundwork for a massive total, and the bowlers finished the work methodically to win the series with one game remaining.

India began cautiously earlier in the day, but Afghanistan’s disciplined new-ball bowling temporarily stopped them. Even more unexpected was the visitors’ decision to start with off-spinner AM Ghazanfar, which forced Yashasvi Jaiswal to fight for fluency before being dismissed.

Rohit Sharma was in incredible form, scoring gracefully off the boundary ropes, but he was dismissed for 48, just shy of a half-century, leaving India at 80/2.

The defining stage of the game came next. Gill and Kishan teamed up for an incredible third-wicket combination that completely altered the balance of the match in India’s favor. Kishan launched a relentless assault on Afghanistan’s bowlers while Gill played the anchor’s part with characteristic composure. The couple scored at over ten runs an over and gave the tourists little answers, adding 224 runs in only 140 balls.

Gill reached his ninth ODI century in just 77 balls and picked up the pace, scoring 150 in only 108 deliveries. In his fantastic 154 off 110 balls, he hit two sixes and 22 fours, making him the fastest Indian to score 3,000 ODI runs.

Kishan was similarly damaging at the opposite end, hitting 125 runs off just 79 balls with 14 boundaries and seven maximums. He scored his century off just 71 balls, controlling the middle overs and ensuring India maintained an incredible rate of scoring.

The barrage helped India speed past 300 in just 35. 5 overs, making it one of the quickest 300-plus totals ever scored by a team batting first in ODI history. Before Afghanistan recovered well in the dying moments, India appeared destined for an even higher total thanks to a quick 26 from Shreyas Iyer.

With spectacular figures of 4/76, Nangeyalia Kharoti, a left-arm spinner, started a collapse by removing both Gill and Iyer, while Rashid Khan took three wickets.

India lost their last seven wickets for only 80 runs, but they still ended with a strong 402 all out in 49. 5 overs.

Brief scores:
India 402/10 in 49.5 overs (Shubman Gill 154, Ishan Kishan 125; Nangeyalia Kharoti 4-76, Rashid Khan 3-48)
Afghanistan 232/10 in 44.3 overs (Rahmat Shah 79, Sediqullah Atal 42; Arshdeep Singh 3-45, Gurnoor Brar 3-60)

Strong half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma and Sree Charani‘s four-wicket haul led India to a crushing 95-run victory over the Netherlands in their 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup match at Headingley in Leeds on Wednesday.

Pushed into batting first under overcast skies, Smriti and Shafali cashed in on wayward new‑ball bowling to share a 115‑run stand before Shafali departed for 55 off 38 balls, studded with ten boundaries. Smriti, in magnificent form, top-scored with 74 runs off 47 deliveries, including 11 boundaries and a maximum in her second consecutive half-century.

With precise placement and clean hitting, Richa Ghosh (20 not out) and Deepti Sharma (10 not out) delivered the final burst, propelling India to their greatest score in the competition’s history. Even though the Netherlands had some bright spots, they blew them with dropped catches and tense bowling as India posted its first 200-plus total in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

The Netherlands was bowled out in 17. 3 overs for 114 runs due to the bowlers’ efforts, who were headed by Shafali Verma’s 3-20 and Charani’s four-for, which guaranteed the threat was never posed. India are now at the top of Group A with a net run rate of 3. 98, which is 0. 10 higher than Australia’s, thanks to the victory.

India will also hope that everything is OK with off-spin all-rounder Shreyanka Patil, who was taken off the field in a stretcher after spraining her right ankle while fielding off her own bowling. It was a downer in India’s dominating victory to see her carried off the field on a stretcher.

Shafali started India’s innings by delaying the opening of her bat face to guide Iris Zwilling for a boundary, then leaning back to cut Heather Siegers through extra cover for a second boundary. Smriti contributed to the boundary-hitting action with sharp drives as the Netherlands battled with lines, and then Shafali pulled and lofted Isabel van der Woning for three boundaries.

Smriti then lofted Iris over extra cover and punched through the same region to bring up India’s joint-fastest team fifty in Women’s T20 World Cup history – achieved inside 5. 1 overs. The Netherlands’ problems were exacerbated by Myrthe van den Raad’s anxious first over, during which she gave up six wides and India stormed to 59/0 by the conclusion of the powerplay.

From there, the momentum increased as Shafali expertly lofted and sliced Isabel for boundaries before scooping and sweeping Caroline de Lange for her first T20 World Cup fifty in the 11th over, which came off 34 deliveries. Smriti then hit her own back-to-back fifties, this one in 36 balls by dancing down the ground to smack a boundary before carving Heather for a six over long-off.

Jemimah Rodrigues came in with crisp timing, driving through extra cover and pulling confidently for her boundaries, even after Shafali was bowled out for 55 after holing out to long-on off Heather.

In the 15th over, Smriti demonstrated her flawless timing and strategic shot placement, hitting Silver Siegers for four boundaries.

She first strode down the pitch to chip one over extra cover, and then came out to loft straight back over the bowler’s head once more. Smriti remained deep in the crease and finished the 18-run over with a decisive slog-sweep through deep mid-wicket, before smashing a pull square of the wicket.

Netherlands rallied after Smriti struck a superb lofted straight drive off Caroline, but Smriti toed a loft to mid-off, Jemimah gave an edge behind while attempting to play a pre-mediated scoop off Myrthe, and Yastika Bhatia was stumped after being tricked by a googly from the leg-spinner.

Harmanpreet Kaur sliced and smashed to get two fours, while Richa lit up the 18th over with a flat six over the bowler’s head and a boundary slapped past sweeper cover. Deepti flicked a full ball over fine leg for six to bring up India’s 200 and pulled the last ball for four after Harmanpreet hit to mid-off against Iris, as 19 runs came off the final over.

With a large 209 to defend, India had to wait for a breakthrough as Heather and Phebe Moleknboer scored six boundaries. Heather chipped to extra cover for 21, giving Nandni Sharma the breakthrough they had been waiting for.

Shafali bowled Sterre Kalis to leave the Netherlands reeling at 77/3, while Deepti followed up by taking out Phebe, who cut to mid-off. Skipper Babette de Leede gave 28 runs of opposition, but her Nandni stumping caused a collapse.

Charani was the primary destructor as the Netherlands lost four wickets in the space of 12 balls from 96/4, with Robine Rijke, Frederique Overdijk, Myrthe van den Raad, and Iris Zwilling all falling to her trickery.

India’s spinners took eight wickets, with Shafali returning to take two more scalps, to put the ODI World Cup holders at the top of Group A.

Brief scores:
India 209/5 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 74, Shafali Verma 55; Caroline de Lange 2-32, Heather Siegers 1-31)
Netherlands 114 all out in 17.3 overs (Babette de Leede 28, Heather Siegers 21; Sree Charani 4-19, Shafali Verma 3-20) by 95 runs

On Tuesday, June 16, Jaspal Rana’s mother died at Max Hospital in Delhi after a protracted illness. Jaspal Rana was a well-known shooter and coach passed away on 12th June. This happened in a series of sad occurrences.

Shyama Devi had been suffering from a very long illness and was in critical condition, according to family reports. Her health suffered greatly from the setback of losing her son, Jaspal Rana, on June 12.

She died on Tuesday even after receiving medical attention. The family and close relatives are left to grieve a devastating chapter as a result of the consecutive losses.

Just days after guiding the national pistol team to a successful tournament at the ISSF World Cup in Munich, Jaspal Rana’s untimely death rocked the whole Indian shooting community, which is still reeling from the tragedy.

Jaspal Rana established himself as one of India’s most dependable coaches and was a very accomplished shooter. He was instrumental in developing elite shooters, like Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker.

After the World Cup ended and she returned from Germany, Rana’s condition worsened. However, he did not get well despite being transported to a hospital in Delhi.

He was the High Performance Coach for the pistol team in India. The squad won four medals in Munich under his direction, including two golds and two silvers, demonstrating his influence on Indian shooting.

During his career as a active shooter, he had an outstanding competitive career and established himself as India’s best shooter. He eventually managed to make his country proud on some of the largest international platforms, including the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and Asian Shooting Championships.

He reached his highest level at the Commonwealth Games, where he participated in four consecutive events (1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006). He earned 15 medals—nine gold, four silver, and two bronze—in those four editions.

In three different editions of the Asian games (1994, 1998, and 2006), he played for India. He earned eight medals for the nation in those outings, making him India’s most accomplished shooter.

Messi‘s outstanding hat-trick against Algeria also put him on par with Miroslav Klose of Germany as the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer (16), surpassing Brazilian icon Ronaldo (15) to become the highest-scoring South American at the international showcase.

After the skipper netted a hat-trick in a 3-0 victory over Algeria in their World Cup Group J opener on Tuesday, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said Lionel Messi continues to surprise his teammates.

It is difficult to explain. Despite seeing him every day, we continue to be in awe of him. He has been at his best for two decades and continues to perform in every game. According to a Xinhua story, Scaloni told reporters following the game, “You don’t have to be an Argentina fan to appreciate what he’s done at his age. ”

Messi’s effect went beyond his on-field efforts, fostering a positive atmosphere around the team, according to Scaloni.

Scaloni added, “I could spend an hour talking about him here, but you have to be present to really appreciate the ambiance he fosters. ” He continued by saying that since his career will one day end, we should make the most of it while we still can.

Furthermore, at 38 years and 357 days, Messi has achieved the record for being the oldest hat-trick scorer in the history of the World Cup. He surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo‘s previous record, who was 33 years and 130 days old when he scored a hat-trick against Spain in 2018.

Messi is the only footballer to have played in six World Cups in the history of the sport. Later on Wednesday, Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal is scheduled to share this achievement. Antonio Carbajal, Lothar Matthäus, Rafa Márquez, and Andrés Guardado previously shared the record.

Additionally, after Algeria’s intense pressure caused Argentina problems in the first half, the coach complimented his team’s versatility. Scaloni stated that Algeria caused us problems today. We were forced to retaliate after they did. That’s not typically our trademark, but we succeeded in doing it and coming through.

Despite Argentina’s strong start to the competition, Scaloni issued a warning against being overly confident.

On June 27, the Albiceleste will play Jordan in the same stadium and Austria at Dallas Stadium. According to him, this squad recognizes that anybody may defeat them.

He concluded that it would be hard for other teams to defeat us if we perform what we must and play as we did today.

India’s fibre usage will probably increase from approximately 15 million metric tonnes at present to 23 million metric tonnes by 2030, and an increase in environmentally friendly, plant-based fibres will convert the nation’s agricultural leftovers into greater rural income and export revenue.

Through several initiatives and other focused interventions, the government is backing a “New Age Fibre movement. ” New Age Fibres are sustainable, plant-based materials that combine ancient Indian knowledge with contemporary creativity.

The movement aims to reintroduce conventional fibers such as banana, bamboo, hemp, flax, ramie, sisal, milkweed, and kapok for premium items, biodegradable composites, textile uses, and defense equipment.

The analysis stated that India’s antique fiber expertise is its largest competitive advantage today, at the beginning of a worldwide sustainability revolution.

The rural economy of India has always been sustained by its 5,000-year history of civilization with fiber, which began with the mythical Mohenjo-daro muslins.

Now that the report has been released, there has been a rise in worldwide demand for India’s natural fibres, which are ethical, sustainable, and perform well.

For New Age Fibres, the government has set aside Rs 300 crore as part of the broader Rs 5,664 crore program for 2026–31, which is called the Mission for Cotton Productivity. Components to scale up production and brand development are included in the National Fibre Mission that was unveiled in the 2026–27 budget.

These components include: “KRISHI-SUTRA for raw material and cultivation development; INFINITY for research and innovation; GRAM-SETU for infrastructure and enterprise creation; and GMPS for branding and market development. ”

This policy framework’s strength is based on years of scientific investigation, according to the report.

It mentioned examples of milkweed being the subject of 18 years of study at the Northern India Textile Research Association (NITRA) and ultimately chosen for military uses like sleeping bags for soldiers who are stationed at -20 degrees Celsius. The study pointed out that they are CLO/Cell certified, warmer than wool, and 10% lighter than polyester substitutes.

India excels in fiber blending, which involves combining several fibers, including cotton for softness, wool for warmth, bamboo for breathability, and milkweed for thermal lightness.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will distribute incentives totaling over Rs 2,400 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) during a special event scheduled to take place here on Friday.

Since its debut, the project has already helped create over 15 lakh employment opportunities nationwide, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Both employers and employees are encouraged to participate in the official economy thanks to the programme.

First-time workers may be eligible for incentives of up to Rs 15,000 under the program, offering financial aid as they enter the workforce.

Up to Rs 3,000 per month per extra employee might be given to companies that create new employment, hence encouraging long-term job creation.

The program acknowledges the significance of manufacturing in promoting economic growth and offers incentives to companies in the manufacturing industry for four years and to businesses in other sectors for two years.

According to the government, the project demonstrates its dedication to fostering an ecosystem that supports employment-driven growth and ensuring that the advantages of economic expansion result in high-quality formal work opportunities, especially for young people.

The program was implemented in August 2025 to assist in the creation of over 3. 5 crore jobs over a period of two years, with a total cost of Rs 99,446 crore.

Around 1. 92 crore of the total target beneficiaries are projected to be first-time employees in the workforce, according to the government.

According to the government, the initiative is anticipated to have a revolutionary impact on increasing formal employment, improving social security coverage, and promoting the goal of a developed India by assisting both workers and businesses.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio‘s trip to India demonstrates the growing relevance of India for America as a strategic partner, and the bilateral ties between the two biggest democracies in the globe are firmly moving upward.

The visit clearly showed that the US considers India essential to determining the region’s future balance of power. The Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held by New Delhi further highlight the four-nation alliance’s increasing ability to form a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

The article emphasizes that one of Rubio’s trip’s main results was a renewed dedication to the Mission 500 program, which aims to increase India-US bilateral trade in goods and services to $500 billion by 2030.

Between FY2021–22 and FY2025–26, India’s merchandise trade with the United States increased gradually. From $76. 17 billion in FY2021–22 to $87. 32 billion in FY2025–26, India’s exports to the US increased. Imports from the US rose from $43. 31 billion to $53. 49 billion over the same time frame.

It is anticipated that continuing discussions for a wider bilateral trade agreement would increase trade, investment, and market access. Closer economic ties between India and the rest of the world present opportunities for investment, technology transfer, export growth, and integration into global value chains.

Continuous reforms, a better ease of conducting business, stronger supply chains, and cooperation in new industries will be necessary to meet the goal, according to the paper.

The statement also emphasizes that the signing of the India-US Framework for Securing the Supply of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths, an industry in which China is a major player, was one of the most important results of the trip.

Advanced electronics, semiconductors, defence hardware, renewable energy, and electric vehicles all depend on critical minerals.

The structure encourages collaboration among value chain players in mining, processing, recycling, and investment. In order to diversify supply chains and lessen reliance on concentrated sources, the Quad countries initiated the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, which supports this endeavor.

The alliance provides India with opportunities to strengthen its domestic processing capabilities, attract investment, develop technological expertise, enhance industrial competitiveness, and support the Make in India program.

Additionally, the two nations signed an Underwater Domain Awareness Road Map and extended the 10-year Major Defense Partnership Framework Agreement, demonstrating a closer strategic alliance. Enhanced collaboration on surveillance, intelligence sharing, and maritime monitoring will bolster India’s security capabilities.

The article further stated that the collaboration is increasingly helping India reach its objective of indigenous defense manufacturing through co-development, co-production, and technological transfer.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will add another chapter to their storied rivalry when they participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026, becoming the first male players to participate in six editions of the competition.

For more than two decades, these two symbols have been the face of international football, from making their World Cup debuts in Germany in 2006 to leading their respective nations in 2026.

Given that the North American tournament is probably their last time playing on the largest stage in football, they will both be hoping to write a memorable send-off.

Algeria versus Argentina: Champions Start Their Defense

Messi is once again anticipated to play a crucial role as Argentina, the defending champions, open their title defense against Algeria on June 17. The 39-year-old will attempt to lead La Albiceleste to consecutive titles after steering Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar four years ago.

Together with their captain, Argentina will depend on important players like Julián lvarez and goalkeeper Emiliano Martnez, as they enter the competition as one of the favorites.

However, following a run of outstanding results, Algeria is expected to offer a tough challenge. Their hopes of causing an upset will be heavily reliant on veteran winger Riyad Mahrez, forward Mohamed Amoura, and defender Rayan Aït-Nouri.

European Giants Battle African Rivals: Portugal vs DR Congo

Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s Portugal begins their campaign against DR Congo, carrying the momentum of their recent UEFA Nations League win. One of the tournament’s best teams is the Portuguese team, which includes veteran captain and stars like Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes.

Portugal will be inspired by striker Diogo Jota’s dream of helping the country win the World Cup as well. Ronaldo, who has won almost every major honor in football, will be anxious to raise the one trophy that has eluded him throughout his sparkling career.

Captain Chancel Mbemba, Yoane Wissa, and Meschack Elia are among the excellent players in the DR Congo team that will be making a comeback to the World Cup stage. The African club will try to make a good impression against one of the competition’s favorites, which is known for its speed and athleticism.

ZEE5 will broadcast the FIFA World Cup 2026 live in a variety of languages, such as Hindi, English, Malayalam, and Bangla.

The government refuted claims circulating on social media that the usage of E20 gasoline may result in the rejection of vehicle insurance claims.

The PIB Fact Check unit labelled the assertion phony and made it clear in a post on X that motor insurance policies are still good for vehicles using E20 fuel.

In response to social media remarks that drivers may experience problems obtaining insurance coverage or settling claims if they use E20 fuel, the clarification was given.

The PIB refuted the assertion, stating that the use of E20 fuel has no effect on the validity of motor insurance policies.

Additionally, the fact-checking unit recommended people to check such information with official sources before sharing or acting on it.

Additionally, it encouraged the public to contribute to the fight against misinformation by reporting fraudulent or questionable content.

In a separate development, a recent KPMG in India report emphasized the substantial scale reached by India’s ethanol blending program, with E20 fuel now being used across the country.

The report examined opportunities and challenges for the sector as it moves past E20, taking into account problems with feedstock availability, supply chain efficiency, infrastructure readiness, and policy alignment.

As part of its larger plan to improve energy security, lessen reliance on imported crude oil, and promote environmental sustainability, the government has been encouraging the use of ethanol-blended gasoline.

The government unveiled E85 gasoline at an IndianOil retail location earlier in June, during World Environment Day 2026, as the initial stage of a larger rollout plan.

At the present time, 48 retail locations run by public sector oil marketing firms sell E85 gasoline.

By December 2026, the administration hopes to increase availability to 500 locations, and by December 2027, to approximately 5,000.

The government denied rumors in the media on tuesday that it was pursuing a deep-sea energy pipeline that would connect Gujarat to Oman and other Gulf nations.

According to a clarification from the Petroleum Ministry, it has seen several media reports claiming that the Indian government is aggressively working to build a deep-sea energy pipeline, also known as the Middle East-India Deepwater Pipeline (MEIDP), that would link Oman and other Gulf states to Gujarat.

“The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas wants to make it very clear that this Ministry is not currently considering such a proposal. It said in a statement that there are no active discussions or negotiations about this project at any level in this Ministry with Oman or any other Gulf states.

“The purpose of this clarification is to put an end to any conjectures surrounding this subject,” the ministry further stated.

On Monday, the Malta-flagged LNG carrier DISHA, operated by a consortium headed by the Shipping Corporation of India, made a safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz with a cargo of 62,370 metric tons of LNG bound for Dahej in Gujarat. It is anticipated to arrive in India on June 18.

The government stated that it is constantly working with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions overseas, shipping businesses, and other relevant parties to guarantee the safety and well-being of Indian seafarers and provide all support. Across India, port operations are running normally and without any reported delays.

Only a few days after three Indian sailors on board the MT Settebello were slain after the US military attacked the commercial ship off the coast of Oman, the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has additionally recommended maritime recruitment and placement agencies and shipping companies to limit the deployment of Indian sailors to Middle East conflict zones until further instructions.

According to a circular issued by DG Shipping, masters of ships operating in or passing through the Gulf region, including the Strait of Hormuz and nearby waters, are advised to maintain heightened security awareness, carefully monitor navigational warnings received and advisories issued by security agencies, and implement all applicable ship security measures and company security procedures.