Times of India

Jeff Bezos' Earth Fund has granted $10.1 million for Watts Towers Arts Center Campus improvements. This investment will expand usable park space and introduce new cooling features. The project aims to strengthen the campus as a cultural hub before the 2028 Olympics. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass welcomed the significant milestone for the community. This funding advances commitments to green space and climate resilience efforts.

A Hyderabad private school terminated a teacher after assigning religious homework. Parents of a Hindu student protested the school's instruction to recite Islamic prayers. The school issued a termination letter and permanently disqualified the teacher from future employment. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla claimed his intervention led to the teacher's removal. The school has not publicly commented beyond issuing the termination letter.

In a post on X, the maritime regulator said the decision had been taken to protect the safety, security and welfare of Indian seafarers as hostilities in the region continue to intensify. The DGMA noted that several merchant vessels, including Mombasa B, Al Bahyah, GFS Galaxy, MT WEDYAN and AL REKAYYAT, have recently come under attack, highlighting the growing risks to commercial shipping and crews transiting the area.

Former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan will help shape US monetary policy. He joins a Federal Reserve task force reviewing its policy framework. Rajan will examine balance sheet policy alongside other experts. Other panels will assess data, productivity, and inflation frameworks. These initiatives aim to improve the central bank's future policy approach.

A teacher in Rajasthan was suspended following serious complaints from villagers. Locals alleged students were strip-searched after money went missing from a classroom. However, officials investigated and found these allegations to be entirely false. Only student bags were checked by other students, not the teacher herself. The department suspended the teacher to protect its image despite the false claims.

Music maestro A R Rahman captivated a packed audience during his concert with the National Symphony Orchestra at Wolf Trap, earning a standing ovation.

India's Nuclear Power Corporation stated a data breach involves conventional plant facilities. The reported leaked files pertain only to non-nuclear safety systems. These documents were prepared by Reliance Infrastructure Ltd. for common services. The breach does not compromise nuclear security or reactor core systems. The affected information relates to plant units under construction.

An uncharacteristically banal France met their match in an uncannily beautiful Spain. A France entered the examination hall with a class-topper’s swagger and suddenly looked in an incremental confusion. A Spain, perhaps a little detached from all this pre-match chaos, turned ecstatic with the joy of passing the test with seamless proficiency.

The Supreme Court upheld land acquisition for a Jaipur Metro rail depot. Landowners failed to appear for hearings and pursue their objections. The court ruled their conduct barred claims of denied hearings under the 1894 Act. Authorities largely followed required processes for land acquisition. Landowners can still seek higher compensation for their acquired property.

Bank branches will be closed in Odisha, Uttarakhand, and Manipur on July 16. These closures are for Ratha Yatra and the Harela festival celebrations. Customers can still use online and mobile banking services for transactions. Other regional holidays are scheduled later this month across various states. Regular banking operations will resume on the next working day.

Messi produced two assists in the last minutes as Argentina came from behind to beat England 2-1 on Wednesday (local time) and book a place in Sunday's World Cup final against Spain. Enzo Fernandez equalised in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martinez headed home Messi's cross in the second minute of stoppage time to complete another Argentina comeback.

A law student died after being stabbed by the brother of a man whose marriage proposal she rejected. The accused attacked the victim at her residence after she ended their relationship. He allegedly used a knife during the altercation, inflicting serious chest and back wounds. Local residents apprehended the attacker immediately after the violent incident occurred. Police have arrested both brothers and are continuing their thorough investigation.

A 29-year-old software engineer earning Rs 7 lakh a month has sparked discussions about financial anxiety, work pressure and the meaning of success. Working two IT jobs and nearly 16 hours a day, Rohit says his drive comes from family responsibilities and fears around AI-led job changes. Despite owning assets and having substantial savings, he continues chasing ambitious financial goals. His story highlights the importance of financial planning, adaptability, skill development and maintaining work-life balance.

President Trump warned Iran to behave if it desires negotiations with Washington. US forces conducted new military strikes targeting Iranian command centers and air defense systems. These strikes aimed to degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian authorities reported a missile attack near a cancer hospital in Ahvaz. Damage was also reported at an industrial facility in Qeshm following an enemy attack.

Argentina's World Cup semifinal victory over England has ignited a fresh controversy. Midfielder Giovani Lo Celso displayed a banner claiming the Falkland Islands are Argentine. FIFA rules prohibit political messages during football matches, potentially leading to disciplinary action. The Falkland Islands have been a subject of dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom for decades. Argentina's Foreign Ministry recently reaffirmed its claim over the islands in an official communiqué.

Karnataka plans a new law to govern apartment ownership and management. This legislation will replace outdated acts from nineteen seventy-two. The proposed bill clarifies land and common area ownership for apartment owners. It also introduces mandatory structural checks for older buildings. A two-tier dispute resolution system will be established under the new law.

At 16, Indian chess prodigy Md Imran was stranded in Slovakia after a bus carrying his passport, visas and belongings left without him. Despite the ordeal, financial struggles and lack of institutional support, he played on to earn two Grandmaster norms. Now on the verge of becoming India's newest GM, Imran urgently awaits reissuance of his US visa to join his scholarship at UTRGV before August 23.