Times of India

Al Pacino, turning eighty-six in April 2026, continues his prolific acting career. He recently premiered 'Killing Castro' and received the Sam Wanamaker Award for his theatre contributions. A quote from his 1996 film 'City Hall' emphasizes judging people with care and understanding. Pacino's life, like his quote suggests, is defined by the unseen mortar, not just visible bricks.

A Hyderabad woman alleges forced labor and wage denial in Oman. She traveled for a housemaid job but faced poor conditions and no pay. The woman escaped and sought help from the Indian Embassy in Muscat. The embassy has acknowledged the matter and is investigating the situation. Officials are working to ensure her safety and arrange her return home.

After four-and-a-half years of heartbreak, sleepless nights and repeated near-misses, Rathanvel VS finally crossed the 2500 Elo mark to become India's 99th Grandmaster. From discovering chess through a free board to overcoming injuries, financial setbacks and crushing disappointments, the 2001-born Coimbatore player's perseverance, family support and belief transformed a long-awaited dream into reality.

It is also the first time since Diego Maradona inspired Argentina to back-to-back World Cup finals in 1986 and 1990 that the country has reached consecutive title matches. Argentina won the World Cup in 1986 before finishing runners-up in 1990. Their seven final appearances have come in 1930, 1978, 1986, 1990, 2014, 2022 and 2026.

China is developing a new and larger naval replenishment vessel at Guangzhou Shipyard. This advanced vessel is expected to exceed the size of current Type 901 support ships, bolstering the People's Liberation Army Navy's ability to operate effectively at long ranges. Its impressive dimensions may even rival those of the US Navy's replenishment fleet, reflecting China's ambitions for extended carrier operations beyond its territorial waters.

Tesla's Full Self-Driving system will soon learn individual driver preferences. The software will adapt its behavior based on manual driver interventions. This change follows a user complaint about exiting faster lanes. Elon Musk stated the vehicle will remember specific driver actions. Future updates will offer a more personalized self-driving experience for owners.

The 31-year-old became the first Indian to win the Japan Open after beating the three-time world champion 21-17, 21-17. The victory ended her title drought of more than two years and marked her biggest title since winning the World Championships in 2019.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 final features Argentina and Spain, the top two ranked teams. Argentina seeks consecutive titles, a feat not achieved since Brazil in 1962. Spain aims for their second World Cup, boasting an impressive thirty-seven-game unbeaten streak. This match marks Lionel Messi's first encounter with Spain since 2010. Spain's defense has been exceptional, conceding only one goal throughout the tournament.

Demanding a probe into financial affairs of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, both the leaders said that the "findings and the Trust's accounts should be made public so that every devotee knows how their offerings have been utilised". ​Ahead of the Monoon Session of the Parliament, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, urged PM to "immediately order an independent and comprehensive investigation.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk, shifted to Safdarjung Hospital on the 21st day of his hunger strike, called for support for the July 20 Parliament march, describing his hospital stay as “illegal detention”. Police said the move followed medical advice and court directions, while protest organisers vowed to continue their agitation.

Pawan Kumar Chandana left ISRO to co-found Skyroot Aerospace with a bold vision. The company's Vikram-1 rocket successfully reached orbit, marking a significant private space achievement. This launch proved private Indian companies can build world-class rockets independently. Skyroot now employs over a thousand people and has attracted substantial investment. This success signals India's growing ambition in the global commercial space industry.

At 'Ramayana's Pratham Sankalp event, Ranbir Kapoor touched Sunny Deol and Kumar Vishwas's feet, winning hearts online. Ranbir, Sai Pallavi and Sunny shared heartfelt moments with media. Starring Ranbir, Sai Pallavi, Yash and Sunny, the Rs 4,000 crore epic releases in two parts—Diwali 2026 and Diwali 2027.

Needing 14 runs off the final over, Washington Freedom looked favourites after Obus Pienaar smashed the first ball for six. But Shadley van Schalkwyk produced three wickets in the last five deliveries, including a run-out off the final ball, to spark wild celebrations as the LA Knight Riders became MLC's newest champions.

Punjab Police arrested inspector Gurinderjit Singh Nagra, former Tanda SHO. He faces charges of extortion and corruption linked to a US family. The US justice department seeks his extradition for conspiracy to commit extortion. Nagra allegedly extorted Rs 16 lakh from the US-based family. This case is connected to the murder of an AAP worker.

More than 50 families living near Abdullah Bridge were forced to leave their homes after floodwaters flooded the settlement. Another locality near Tariq Bridge was also affected, prompting police to respond to distress calls and help residents move to safer places away from the riverbanks. Rescue and relief teams, assisted by the district administration, were deployed to evacuate affected families and assess the damage.