Times of India

US President Donald Trump has lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "a very tough cookie" and one of his most admired global leaders, alongside China's Xi Jinping. Speaking to Axios, Trump highlighted their strong personal rapport, even amidst trade tensions. This praise follows their recent G7 meeting, where Trump emphasized the close India-US relationship and PM Modi's formidable negotiating skills, suggesting a trade deal is nearing completion.

René Mayrhofer, who led Google's Android platform security team as a director, has resigned over Google's deal letting the Pentagon use its Gemini AI for classified military work. In a blunt farewell note titled "Google Management Has Lost Its Moral Compass," the pacifist engineer cited fears of EU mass surveillance and Google quietly abandoning its carbon-neutral goal. The Business Insider-reported exit adds to a wider staff revolt over military AI.

A fascinating trend is emerging as Indian professionals increasingly desert sprawling metropolises in favor of tier-2 and tier-3 cities, searching for a richer quality of life. The rising costs of living, extensive travel for work, and the stress of city life are significant forces behind this migration.

India's artillery is undergoing a significant overhaul, aligning with the global shift towards long-range precision warfare. This modernization, driven by the Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan, aims to replace older guns with advanced indigenous systems.

Portugal midfielder Joao Neves has found himself at the center of a major social media controversy following Portugal’s 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening FIFA World Cup match. The young midfielder scored Portugal’s only goal, but much of the post-match discussion shifted toward Cristiano Ronaldo’s performance. The veteran forward struggled to make an impact during the game, leading to criticism from football fans.

Prime Minister Modi presented leaders in France and Slovakia with exquisite Indian heritage gifts. French President Macron received a Kalamkari Mahabharata painting, while Brigitte Macron was gifted a Pochampally stole. Slovak officials were honored with Kashmiri carpets, Dokra art, Himroo textiles, and ancient Ayurvedic texts, showcasing India's rich craftsmanship and intellectual legacy.

Former intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard released documents alleging Dr. Anthony Fauci funded gain-of-function research in Wuhan and misled Congress. The documents reportedly show Fauci's role in directing US taxpayer funds and interacting with intelligence officials to suppress lab-leak origins. These claims emerged during a declassification review, with whistleblowers alleging retaliation.

Andhra Pradesh is set to become India's leading gold supplier, with significant reserves identified in Kurnool district. Jonnagiri village alone is estimated to hold 50 tonnes of gold. Commercial production has commenced, and further exploration is expected to boost reserves. The state aims to leverage private investment for this substantial mining endeavor.

TMC leader Vijay Singh faced egg pelting and shouts of "chor, chor" outside Asansol court. This follows a similar incident where former minister Udayan Guha was egged outside Dinhata Police Station after his arrest in an alleged extortion case. BJP cited political violence during Guha's tenure. Guha expressed ignorance about his arrest's reason.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations of financial irregularities in Ram Mandir offerings. He urged devotees and political parties to avoid baseless comments until the investigation concludes, assuring that truth will be separated from falsehood.

India and Russia are jointly developing advanced BrahMos missile variants, including smaller, lighter, and hypersonic versions. These next-generation missiles will significantly boost India's strike capabilities, offering enhanced precision, reduced costs, and integration with a wider range of platforms like fighter jets and unmanned systems.

Anne Hathaway cautions job seekers against using AI for thank-you notes. She observed identical AI-generated messages from multiple candidates, revealing a lack of genuine effort. Meryl Streep agrees, calling it a "killer" for highly competitive roles. Personalized follow-ups remain crucial to stand out in a tough job market.

Finding a rental home is thrilling, but missing important details before you sign can lead to unexpected expenses. It's vital for renters to inquire about all costs beyond the monthly rent, grasp security deposit rules, and know who will take care of maintenance issues.

In his first reaction to the crossover of six of the nine Lok Sabha MPs, who constitute two-thirds of the party's strength in the Lower House, Thackeray Junior said: "Maharashtra won't tolerate this". Calling those who are expected to switch to the Eknath Shinde camp "shameless, ungrateful, and corrupt individuals", the ex-Maharashtra minister said the MPs "shamelessly" sold themselves, staking their "reputation and family names".

Kuldeep Yadav is set to join the Lucknow Super Giants for the 2027 IPL season. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant is strongly expected to make a return to his former team, the Delhi Capitals, with the specifics of his move still being finalised. Both players had a torrid campaign in IPL 2026 for their respective teams.

Virat Kohli delivered another strong IPL season, finishing as RCB’s top run-scorer in IPL 2026 with 675 runs at a strike rate of 165.84 - his highest-ever in a single edition. In the final, he played a key unbeaten 75-run knock that helped RCB become only the third team after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians to successfully defend their title.

Former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh is set to join the Delhi Capitals support staff from the 2027 IPL season. This marks his first formal coaching role in the league, building on his extensive mentorship of young players. His hands-on approach and impact on careers has been considered to be highly valued.

Intensified Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon overnight killed at least 18 people, despite a recent Iran-US agreement for a ceasefire. The violence coincides with the postponement of crucial US-Iran technical talks in Switzerland, raising concerns about the regional peace process. Israel claims strikes targeted Hezbollah infrastructure following soldier deaths.