Defending champions NorthEast United FC produced a dominant display to dismantle debutants Diamond Harbour FC 6-1 in the grand finale of the 134th Durand Cup at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan here on Saturday, sealing their second straight title in style.

A night of relentless attacking football saw the Highlanders overwhelm their opponents, with six different players on the scoresheet and talisman Alaaeddine Ajaraie starring with three assists and a late penalty. Diamond Harbour’s solitary strike came in the 68th minute, credited to Luka Majcen after Jobby Justin’s header deflected off him.

Huidom Thoi Singh and Parthib Gogoi joined Alaaeddine Ajaraie in the forward line after Juan Pedro Benali made two attacking changes following the team’s victory over Shillong Lajong FC in the semifinals. With Gurmeet in goal, captain Miguel Zabaco headed the backline along with Asheer Akhtar, Redeem Tlang, and Buanthanglun Samte. Mayakkannan was coupled with Spanish players Andy Gaitan and Chema Nunez in midfield, preserving Benali’s tried-and-true 4-3-3 formation.

In contrast, Kibu Vicuna started his Diamond Harbour team in a similar configuration, with Girik Mahesh Khosla and captain Jobby Justin assisting Slovenian forward Luka Majcen up front. Sairuatkima and Spaniard Mikel Kortazar were teamed in central defense before goalie Mirshad Koottappunna. In midfield, Liansanga, Paul, and Samuel offered stability as the rookies attempted to extend their incredible run.

Both teams were cautious in possession as the final got underway at a quick yet strategic tempo. During the first four minutes, NorthEast put Mirshad to the test early on with Ajaraie’s long-range attempt and Parthib’s header, necessitating routine saves.

With purpose, Diamond Harbour answered. Following a long throw by Jobby in the 14th minute, Luka Majcen just missed a headed flick from Kortazar. Kortazar himself missed a good Jobby cross on the bend four minutes later. After twenty minutes, the new team appeared more collected. In the twenty-third minute, Jobby forced Gurmeet to make a diving save and then found the side netting.

However, the opening goal went to the reigning champions. In the 28th minute, Parthib was found by Samte with a deft cut-back, but Mirshad parried his attempt. The breakthrough was spurred by the ensuing corner.

The Diamond Harbour defense mishandled Andy’s corner, and despite Mirshad’s excellent first-time save of Mayakkannan’s effort, the loose ball ended up in the hands of center-back Asheer Akhtar, who swept it home to give the champions a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute.

Following Ajaraie’s excellent build-up play, Chema Nunez missed a gilt-edged opportunity to increase the lead in the 39th minute, dragging his effort wide. When Kortazar had a free header in the 43rd minute, Diamond Harbour came very close to making up for that error, but the chance was wasted.

NorthEast scored a crushing punch just before halftime. To make it 2-0, Parthib Gogoi found himself in space and curled a calm right-foot finish beyond Mirshad. With eight shots (6 on target) compared to Diamond Harbour’s four (only one on target), the Highlanders had a good hold on the game going into the half.

After the resumption, any prospects of a comeback were dashed in five minutes. In the 50th minute, Thoi Singh tapped home to increase the advantage to 3-0 after Ajaraie rushed past the Diamond Harbour defense to intercept Nunez’s lofted pass.

When the final whistle rang, the Highlanders’ bench erupted in celebration in front of the audience, becoming the first team to win the Durand Cup trophies in 25 years. The outcome was also the joint-largest victory margin in a Durand Cup final since Black White was defeated by Somerset Light Infantry by the same score in 1896.

All of the individual prizes were won by NorthEast United FC, while Moroccan forward Alaaeddine Ajaraie was the tournament’s best player, winning the Golden Ball for best player and the Golden Boot for top scorer with eight goals. Due to his reliability and vital saves, goalie Gurmeet received the Golden Glove.

With participation from 9 Indian states, nearly 350 exhibitors from the global semiconductor value chain, 6 country roundtables, four country pavilions, and an anticipated 15,000 visitors, S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), announced on Friday that the SEMICON India exhibition will take place.

“This will offer the biggest platform in South Asia for exhibiting the most recent developments in the electronics and semiconductor industries,” he continued.

PM Narendra Modi will officially launch the fourth edition of SEMICON India on September 2 at the India International Convention and Expo Centre, also known as Yashobhoomi, in the nation’s capital.

Under the subject “Building the Next Semiconductor Powerhouse,” the event will bring together students, academics, policymakers, and leaders of the global industry.

The Semicon India Program has accelerated India’s semiconductor development.

Ten initiatives in crucial fields, including compound semiconductors, 3D heterogeneous packaging, high-volume fabrication units (Fabs), and outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing (OSATs), have already received government approval.

Furthermore, 72 start-ups and over 280 academic institutions have received improved tools from design-focused initiatives, and 23 start-ups have received approval under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) program.

The event will also provide business growth platforms, global networking opportunities, and insights into market and technological trends, according to SEMI President and CEO Ajit Manocha.

“To help grow India’s semiconductor ecosystem and improve supply chain resilience, we are leveraging the collective experience of our member companies across the global design and manufacturing supply chain,” he stated.

“India’s semiconductor industry is at a breakthrough moment, with supportive policies and private sector capacity aligning to take the country to global prominence,” said Ashok Chandak, President of SEMI India and IESA.

Keynote speakers, panel discussions, fireside chats, paper presentations, and six international roundtables will all be part of the flagship event, which will take place over three days.

In an effort to draw in fresh talent, a special “Workforce Development Pavilion” will also showcase career options in microelectronics.

SEMICON India 2025 is anticipated to propel India’s next wave of semiconductor innovation and fortify its place in the global value chain, with participation from leading firms such as Applied Materials, ASML, IBM, Infineon, Lam Research, Micron, Tata Electronics, SK Hynix, and Tokyo Electron.

On Thursday, the government made it clear that two-wheelers are not subject to a user fee at toll plazas on national highways and national expressways nationwide.

Following rumors that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) might charge two-wheeler riders user fees at toll plazas, the explanation was made.

“In reference to the fake news circulating on social media regarding toll collection from two wheelers on toll plaza, NHAI would like to clarify that no user fee is levied from two wheelers at the Toll plazas on National Highways and National Expressways across the country,” the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways stated in a press release.

The ministry further stated that there is no plan to impose a toll on two-wheelers and that user fees on national highways are collected in accordance with the National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008.

The rules state that vehicles with four or more wheels—such as cars, jeeps, vans, light motor vehicles, light commercial vehicles, light goods vehicles, minibuses, trucks, heavy construction machinery (HCM), earth moving equipment (EME), multi axle vehicles (MAV) with three to six axles, and oversized vehicles with seven or more axles—are subject to a user fee at toll plazas.

In the meantime, the NHAI made Rs 150 crore in revenue in just four days by selling more than 5 lakh FASTag-based annual toll passes.

For four consecutive days, Tamil Nadu recorded the highest number of annual pass purchases, followed by Karnataka and Haryana.

Additionally, according to an NHAI release, the states with the most transactions using FASTag yearly passes at toll plazas were Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.

Private vehicles can now travel through toll plazas on national highways and expressways for free with an annual toll pass, which costs Rs 3,000.

The yearly pass is good for 200 toll travels or one year after it is activated, whichever comes first.

Industry executives and legal experts responded favorably to Wednesday’s “Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025,” calling it groundbreaking and comprehensive.

They claim that the law addresses major societal issues like addiction, financial security, fraud, and money laundering in addition to acknowledging e-sports as a new aspect of competitive sport.

The Online Gaming Bill, according to Railways and Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, aims to safeguard society while promoting e-sports and online social game developers as creative forces.

“One significant area of Digital Bharat is online gaming. Online games fall into three categories: e-Sports, which is training-based and frequently involves teams; Online Social Games, which are enjoyable, instructive, and community-based; and Online Money Games, which are addictive, damaging, and involve financial stakes“, he said in a series of posts on social media platform X.

E-sports, like football or cricket, demand strategy, quick thinking, and teamwork. “The Bill grants e-sports legal status. To promote them, the government will start initiatives and programs,” he said.

“Thousands of grievances and complaints have been filed nationwide. The government prioritizes family safety over all other considerations. PM Narendra Modi has consistently favored middle-class families when deciding between the welfare of society and government revenue,” Vaishnaw stated.

The Bill suggests establishing a centralized authority to manage the sector’s strategic planning, policy coordination, and regulatory enforcement.

In addition to recognizing e-sport as a separate sport, the Bill establishes a National e-Sports Authority and a National Gaming Authority to regulate, categorize, investigate, and restrict illegal platforms.

Card games, casual brain games, and online social games like Angry Birds are acknowledged as safe ways to communicate and learn.

Gaming industry leaders applauded the government’s initiative to support e-sports. The step is positive, according to Akshat Rathee, co-founder and managing director of NODWIN gambling, but he emphasized the need for precise definitions to differentiate between social games, e-sports, and real-money gambling.

Terminology ambiguity has frequently led to misunderstandings among investors, players, and authorities. “A stable environment that encourages investor confidence and sustainable growth will be created by clear definitions,” he stated.

The CEO and co-founder of S8UL, Animesh Agarwal, referred to the Bill as a “historic turning point” for Indian e-sports. He claimed that the rule protects the ecosystem’s integrity while allowing for controlled growth by clearly defining the boundaries between skill-based gaming and betting.

“Skill, discipline, and years of hard work are the foundations of esports. India has the potential to become a global powerhouse with the right infrastructure and official recognition, he continued.

When it comes to real-money gaming, legal experts have also noted that the Bill marks a change from regulation to ban.

While Indian law has historically permitted skill games with monetary stakes, the new rule forbids them even if they entail real-money play, according to Vikram Jeet Singh, partner at BTG Advaya.

He pointed out that this addresses worries about money laundering and societal harm and comes in line with recent court rulings.

The Indian Digital Gambling Society (IDGS) has endorsed the government’s action, stating that it is pleased that e-sports and the differentiation between casual video games and real-money gambling are now recognized.

On Wednesday, August 20, the Indian U17 women’s team will play Nepal at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan, to kick off their SAFF U17 Women’s Championship 2025 campaign.

Four teams—Bangladesh and Bhutan being the other two—shall compete against one another in a double round-robin league under the new tournament structure, meaning each team will play six matches. After the last matchday on August 31, the team with the highest standing at the end of the table will be declared the winner.

The short turnaround time doesn’t concern India head coach Joakim Alexandersson, who only nine days ago guided the U20 team to Asian Cup qualification. Alexandersson is excited to lead the U17 team in the capital of Bhutan.

“I love coaching, so it’s not a problem for me at all. Naturally, there were a lot of emotions following the final game in Myanmar, but after we returned and I had a day off, we began anew with this group. So it’s all right,” the Swede said.

In January, the U17s started their first training session in Bengaluru. Thirteen of the 23 members of the SAFF team played for the Indian Arrows Women Juniors, who did a fantastic job in the Indian Women’s League 2, finishing as runners-up in May and earning a spot in the top division.

At the SAFF U16 Championship 2024, where India lost to Bangladesh on penalties, 14 of the 23 players had previous international experience.

“The IWL 2 was very helpful because they already knew how I wanted to attack, build up, defend, and press. Alexandersson, who also coached the Arrows team, stated, “That comprehension makes things easier here.”

While Alexandersson was busy with the U20s, the Young Tigresses trained under assistant coach Nivetha Ramadoss. Nivetha has spent a lot of time with this group and was the assistant for the U16 SAFF last year.

Even while I was overseas with the U20s, the coaching staff remained in close communication. These children are well known to Nivetha (Ramadoss). The adjustment has gone smoothly because she has been doing workouts that are similar to the ones I introduced since moving to India.

Alexandersson emphasized that the ultimate objective is to qualify for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup in October and that this event will be an excellent preparation for the qualifiers. “We played a lot of practice matches against local clubs and boys teams too,” she stated.

“The most important thing is that the girls get valuable game time from this competition. Since we have six games here, this is an excellent opportunity to experiment with different lineups and observe how they perform in their respective roles. The players develop on and off the field as a result of the games, the travel, and the experience of remaining together as a team.

Of course, there are opportunities as well as challenges. I want to watch all 23 of the talented athletes we brought here play. The team will be put to the test as we rotate through six games,” Alexandersson stated.

As a 14-year-old midfielder, captain Julan Nongmaithem is among the team’s youngest players and is keen to make her international debut.

“We have faith. Since January, we have been training in Bengaluru. There is a lot of positivity, and we think we can win and win. “We’re ready to give it our all,” the Manipuri stated.

This SAFF competition, which has been conducted for U15, U16, and U17 players, has seen two winners: India and Bangladesh.

Coincidentally, Bhutan hosted the tournament in 2018 and 2019, and India won both occasions. India won the U15 tournament both times, defeating Bangladesh in the championship match.

According to what I understand, Bangladesh will present a significant obstacle; Nepal is also formidable, and Bhutan may have faced more difficulties, but we will battle hard. All of our opponents are respected. Making sure we play the style of football we’ve been practicing is my main priority,” Alexandersson stated.

The hosts announced a formidable 15-woman squad for the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, which kicks off on September 30. Harmanpreet Kaur will captain India for the first time, with Smriti Mandhana serving as vice-captain.

After a lengthy injury layoff, pace leader Renuka Thakur rejoins the 15-woman lineup, although opener Shafali Verma is a notable absence.

The team’s management considered Amanjot Kaur to be a capable backup when Pooja Vastrakar was sidelined due to a chronic stress injury.

“Amanjot (Kaur) is currently with the India A team in Australia, and she will be in the World Cup squad,” captain Harmanpreet stated during the BCCI headquarters press conference.

During the T20I leg of the England tour, which India won 3-2, the all-rounder was deployed as the second seamer. Amanjot not only bowled seam-ups and took three wickets in 13 overs during the series, but he also hit a remarkable 63 not out to support a struggling innings.

A tri-series victory in Sri Lanka (which also involved South Africa) and a historic series victory in England have given Harmanpreet and company a boost going into the big event.

India will be among the favorites to win the renowned trophy going into this year’s tournament at home, but they will face opposition from teams like four-time winners England and seven-time champions Australia as they try to win their first World Cup.

At this year’s event, Women in Blue will be looking to advance further than they did in 2017, when they advanced to their second Women’s Cricket World Cup Final before narrowly losing to England in an exciting final at Lord’s.

On September 30, India will play their opening match against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

India squad for World Cup: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia, Renuka Singh Thakur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, and Kranti Gaud.

Hockey India revealed the 18-member team for the forthcoming Men’s Asia Cup on Wednesday. The competition will take place from August 29 to September 7 at the newly constructed Rajgir Hockey Stadium in Bihar.

Harmanpreet Singh, an experienced drag flicker, will remain the tournament’s captain. Overall, the squad consists of a solid collection of seasoned combatants that are balanced and have depth in every department.

India is placed in Pool A as a qualifier for the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium-Netherlands 2026, along with China, Japan, and Kazakhstan. On August 29, India will open their campaign against China. On August 31, they will take on Japan, and on September 1, they will take on Kazakhstan.

Suraj Karkera and the reliable Krishan B. Pathak will split goalkeeping responsibilities. Jarmanpreet Singh, Sumit, Sanjay, and Jugraj Singh will join skipper Harmanpreet and Amit Rohidas in defense, offering stability at the back.

Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Rajinder Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, and Vivek Sagar Prasad make up the midfield engine room. Mandeep Singh, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Shilanand Lakra, and Dilpreet Singh will lead the assault and provide enough firepower to challenge the opposition’s defenses.

Selvam Karthi and Nilam Sanjeep Xess have been designated as backup athletes in the meantime.

Coach Craig Fulton discussed the team’s selection, saying, “We’ve chosen an experienced group that knows how to produce under duress. We need players with the poise, tenacity, and expertise to produce because the Asia Cup is vital to our chances of qualifying for the World Cup. Our intention to field a team capable of fierce competition and accomplishing our primary goal is reflected in the selection.

“I’m really happy with the squad’s quality and balance. The thing that thrills me the most is our collective strength, since we have leaders in every line: attack, midfield, and defense. Our greatest strength, in my opinion, will be the way this squad can work together,” he continued.

Goalkeepers: Krishan B Pathak, Suraj Karkera

Defenders: Sumit, Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Harmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh.

Midfielders: Rajinder Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad.

Forwards: Mandeep Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh.

Alternate athletes: Nilam Sanjeep Xess and Selvam Karthi

On Wednesday, PM Narendra Modi praised India’s accomplishments in utilizing technology for governance, transforming digital payments with UPI, and extending cheap broadband, pointing out that these turning points have now become international case studies.

PM Modi emphasized that the nation is ready to set global standards in cybersecurity, 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT).

The Prime Minister’s Office reshared a tweet by Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, stating that India’s advancements in digital infrastructure are influencing the global digital economy in addition to empowering its population.

Union Minister @JM_Scindia emphasizes that India’s advancements in digital governance, UPI, and reasonably priced broadband have made it a global case study. He emphasizes that India will lead and establish standards in the upcoming waves of 5G, AI, IoT, and cybersecurity, PMO India posted on social media site X.

In his post, Scindia emphasized that Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s (BSNL) partnerships with four major international technology companies—Ericsson, Qualcomm, Cisco, and Nokia—are an important step in equipping India’s youth to lead the way in digital innovation.

These collaborations, which are in line with flagship programs like Digital India, Skill India, Make in India, and Startup India, are anticipated to establish India as a global center for telecom innovation and know-how, according to Scindia.

The Bharat Ratna Bhim Rao Ambedkar Institute of Telecom Training (BRBRAITT), BSNL’s premier training facility in Jabalpur, would be the focal point for implementing advanced skilling and research initiatives.

As part of the partnership, Ericsson will open a 5G Center of Excellence at BRBRAITT, providing practical instruction backed by international best practices.

Qualcomm will subsidize training for the first 100 students, offer advanced courses in 5G and AI, and open up new career opportunities.

While Nokia will establish a 5G and AI-ML Lab with joint certifications to enhance graduates’ market preparedness, Cisco will expand its Networking Academy to increase access to top-notch training in networking and cybersecurity.

Scindia emphasized that the training modules, which range from two-week intensives to 84-hour full programs, are intended to help students, working professionals, and public sector employees.

Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jatin Prasada responded to a question on the effects of the US 50% tax by estimating that, based on 2024 trade value, about $48.2 billion of India’s item exports will be subject to duties.

“The Government is committed to securing and advancing the country’s national interest and protecting the welfare of farmers, workers, entrepreneurs, exporters, MSMEs, and all sections of industry,” he wrote in a written response to the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

He also stated that all necessary steps are being taken to help mitigate impact on trade, including appropriately promoting exports and diversifying trade.

Trump imposed an extra 25% duty on Indian imports on August 6 in retaliation for New Delhi’s ongoing purchases of Russian oil. Trump imposed the additional duty on top of the 25 percent levy that went into force on August 7 through an executive order titled “Addressing Threats to the US by the Government of the Russian Federation.”

With the exception of a tiny exemption list, the overall tax on Indian items will be 50% starting on August 27 as a result of this ruling.

India has criticised the move. Officials referred to the actions as “unfair and unreasonable,” pointing out that other significant purchasers, such as the US, China, and the EU, still acquire Russian goods.

According to an official, a US team’s long-planned trip to New Delhi for trade talks has been canceled. For the sixth round of talks on a possible bilateral trade deal, the group, headed by Assistant US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch, was scheduled to arrive on August 25. The official stated, “A new date has not yet been decided.”

So far, five rounds of negotiations have been concluded. The sixth was anticipated to be significant since it coincided with the imposition of more US tariffs.

Senior Indian officials had previously declared that the nation was “fully engaged” with the United States through a variety of channels, such as discussions at the ministerial and business levels.

Although they called the United States a “very important trade partner,” they clarified that the August round’s status would only be revealed closer to the event date.

India has continued to make acquisitions in spite of pressure from the US. According to data, imports averaged 1.8 million barrels per day in the first half of August, higher than the 1.6 million barrels per day recorded in July.

The explanation came from a government source: “We are still purchasing Russian oil, but we are purchasing more from (the US) than previously. We are unable to halt it. Russian oil, the insider continued, makes “a lot of difference in terms of money.”

In his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also retaliated, stating unequivocally that India will not tolerate any trade agreement that jeopardizes the interests of cattle ranchers or farmers.