Times of India

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3 introduces Holofoil Sprites which boost rare item discovery chances. These companions offer a five percent increase to finding rarer Sprite variants. Players can find these Sprites near Golden Fishing Spots and specific map locations. A special Holofoil Hours event on July 11, 2026, will increase spawn rates. This event also provides players with a Self-Revive Device and Shock Rock effects.

Three former Trinamool Congress leaders have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. They were immediately nominated as BJP candidates for upcoming Rajya Sabha bypolls. These by-elections are for seats that fell vacant after their resignations last month. Their move follows internal turmoil and a significant defeat for the TMC. The BJP aims to strengthen its West Bengal presence with their experience.

A rebel Trinamool Congress MLA will approach the Supreme Court regarding frozen party bank accounts. The Calcutta High Court allowed limited operation of these accounts for routine expenses. Ritabrata Banerjee alleges money laundering in aircraft and helicopter purchases using party funds. He plans to submit a complaint to the Enforcement Directorate in Delhi. The TMC denies all allegations, calling the probe politically motivated.

The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran has collapsed after fresh military strikes. Both nations launched attacks, expanding the conflict across the Gulf region. Iran targeted US air defence systems and facilities in several Middle Eastern countries. The United States struck approximately ninety military sites across Iran. These exchanges marked the biggest breach of the truce since April.

Sanju Samson's coach Biju George expressed disappointment over his omission from the Zimbabwe T20Is. George stated Samson deserved more opportunities after his World Cup heroics. He questioned the selectors' decisions regarding player treatment and opportunities. Samson's past junior career also saw similar perceived unfairness. The coach hopes Samson proves his critics wrong with future performances.

A three-year-old girl tragically died after slipping into rainwater outside her Ghaziabad home. Heavy monsoon rains caused widespread waterlogging and traffic disruptions across Noida and Ghaziabad. A residential road in Vasundhara Sector 13 collapsed into a large pit after heavy rainfall. Several parts of Noida experienced knee-deep water, paralyzing normal daily activities. The incidents highlighted significant shortcomings in the civic infrastructure and monsoon preparedness.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the Muse Spark 1.1 AI model's public developer access. This marks Meta's shift towards paid enterprise offerings, challenging rivals. The advanced model excels at coding and autonomous digital operations. Developers can now build applications using Muse Spark via a new API. Early US users receive free trial credits before a pay-as-you-go model.

Argentina's Facundo Tello will referee the France-Morocco World Cup quarter-final, drawing attention for his strict officiating style after famously showing 10 red cards in an Argentine Super Cup match. FIFA's decision to appoint an all-Argentine refereeing team has sparked debate, but France's players dismissed concerns, insisting they are focused solely on preparing for Morocco.

In a recent development, the Delhi High Court has decided to postpone the hearing regarding Salman Khan's plea about the film 'Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy'. The actor's legal team asserts that the film employs elements of his personal narrative without authorization. However, the filmmakers have firmly contested the request for immediate court relief. The next court session concerning this issue is slated for Friday.

An alleged yearbook note from Taylor Swift to a high school classmate has gone crazy viral online. Many commenters interpret the heartfelt note as a sign of romantic feelings and jealousy. Others argue it reflects common language among close female friends who are now millennials. They state such expressions were typical teenage demeanor in the early 2000s. The widespread discussion highlights differing views on female platonic admiration for one another.

Two doctors resigned after an alleged assault by Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre. Protests erupted across Maharashtra's medical fraternity following the traumatic incident. The accused corporator was admitted to Thane District Civil Hospital after his arrest. Doctors demanded his disqualification and stronger security measures for healthcare professionals. The incident has reignited concerns over the safety of healthcare workers nationwide.

In a groundbreaking study, scientists have identified nanoplastics in the pristine soils of Antarctica for the very first time. These microscopic plastic particles journey through the atmosphere, reaching even the most isolated regions. Analysis of soil samples revealed contamination from tyre wear and everyday plastic products. It suggests that both local human activities and far-reaching atmospheric movements contribute to this alarming trend, underscoring the widespread impact of plastic pollution worldwide.

World Cup 2026 has given us late winners, old gods, new monsters, bad exits, ugly controversies and now France vs Morocco: a quarter-final with La Marseillaise, Moroccan drums, PSG betrayals and unfinished business from 2022.

SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell and her husband have donated SpaceX stock valued at $325 million. This significant contribution will support government-backed investment accounts for children across the United States. The donation aims to benefit over two million children, particularly those in lower-income communities. Donald Trump publicly thanked the couple for their extreme generosity and support. This initiative follows other major contributions to the Trump Accounts program.

The possibility of imposing transit charges in the Strait of Hormuz has drawn fresh attention to the dependence of global supply chains on a small number of strategically important waterways.

The entire nation of India is now experiencing monsoon conditions, which has helped in mitigating the previous rainfall deficit. Unfortunately, ten states are still grappling with considerable shortages of rain, hampering kharif crop sowing operations. This year, kharif crop acreage is down by twenty-one percent when compared to last year. Moreover, some areas may soon face another reduction in rainfall activity as predictions indicate limited respite ahead.

Police arrested two men in Nawada, Bihar, after a viral video showed a couple being harassed. The accused allegedly forced a woman to remove her veil and her companion to apply sindoor. The incident occurred on July 8 when the pair stopped to rest near Madhopur village. Investigators identified the suspects by verifying the motorcycle registration number from the video.