The European Union has already prepared a list of tariffs worth 21 billion euros ($24.52 billion) on U.S. goods if the two countries fail to reach a trade deal, Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in a newspaper interview on Monday.
President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to impose a 30% tariff on imports from Mexico and the EU starting on Aug. 1, after weeks of negotiations with major U.S. trading partners failed to reach a comprehensive deal.
Tajani also told daily Il Messaggero that to help the euro zone economy the European Central Bank should consider a new “quantitative easing” bond-buying-programme, and more interest rate cuts.
The European Union said on Sunday it would extend its suspension of countermeasures to U.S. tariffs until early August and continue to press for a negotiated settlement.
Tajani said the 21-billion-euro package of tariffs the EU has already prepared could be followed by a second set if a deal with the U.S proves impossible. He added, however, that he was confident that progress could be made in negotiations.
“Tariffs hurt every one, starting with the United States,” he said. “If stock markets fall that puts at risk the pensions and the savings of the Americans.”
He said the goal should be “zero tariffs” and an open market among Canada, the United States, Mexico and Europe.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Sunday he would work intensively with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to resolve the escalating trade war with the United States.
Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse inaugurated the final round of the “Mann Ki Baat Talent Hunt Season 5” on Sunday at Jyothis Central School in Thiruvananthapuram.
Organised by the Global Givers Foundation in collaboration with Mera Yuva Bharat (MyBharat), Kerala, the talent hunt aims to inspire students by encouraging them to engage with the themes and messages shared in the Prime Minister’s monthly radio address, Mann Ki Baat. The initiative is designed to identify and nurture diverse talents, while also promoting national pride and youth-led development.
In her address, the minister highlighted the transformative role of the Mann Ki Baat Talent Hunt in empowering young minds. “This platform connects our youth with the nation’s heartbeat, cultivates critical thinking, and enhances communication skills. Through engaging with Mann Ki Baat, students not only learn about India but also grow into informed and responsible citizens ready to contribute to a developed India,” she said.
The competitions eatured participants from high schools, higher secondary schools, and colleges, showcasing their skills in formats such as radio jockeying, debates, reel creation, and project presentations. Each activity drew inspiration from themes and ideas discussed in Mann Ki Baat broadcasts.
The radio programme itself, aired on All India Radio, is among the world’s most widely broadcast and listened-to shows. It covers a broad range of topics including Indian traditions, culture, history, the freedom struggle, and citizen-led initiatives. The talent hunt leverages this content to motivate youth to engage with India’s rich heritage and ongoing progress.
As with previous seasons, winners of Season 5 will be given the opportunity to visit Delhi during the 2025 Independence Day celebrations, where they will witness national events and interact with leaders, gaining invaluable exposure and inspiration.
Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse inaugurated the final round of the “Mann Ki Baat Talent Hunt Season 5” on Sunday at Jyothis Central School in Thiruvananthapuram.
Organised by the Global Givers Foundation in collaboration with Mera Yuva Bharat (MyBharat), Kerala, the talent hunt aims to inspire students by encouraging them to engage with the themes and messages shared in the Prime Minister’s monthly radio address, Mann Ki Baat. The initiative is designed to identify and nurture diverse talents, while also promoting national pride and youth-led development.
In her address, the minister highlighted the transformative role of the Mann Ki Baat Talent Hunt in empowering young minds. “This platform connects our youth with the nation’s heartbeat, cultivates critical thinking, and enhances communication skills. Through engaging with Mann Ki Baat, students not only learn about India but also grow into informed and responsible citizens ready to contribute to a developed India,” she said.
The competitions eatured participants from high schools, higher secondary schools, and colleges, showcasing their skills in formats such as radio jockeying, debates, reel creation, and project presentations. Each activity drew inspiration from themes and ideas discussed in Mann Ki Baat broadcasts.
The radio programme itself, aired on All India Radio, is among the world’s most widely broadcast and listened-to shows. It covers a broad range of topics including Indian traditions, culture, history, the freedom struggle, and citizen-led initiatives. The talent hunt leverages this content to motivate youth to engage with India’s rich heritage and ongoing progress.
As with previous seasons, winners of Season 5 will be given the opportunity to visit Delhi during the 2025 Independence Day celebrations, where they will witness national events and interact with leaders, gaining invaluable exposure and inspiration.
An official Taxi Fleet Licence has been issued to SynCab Taxi (mixed fleet), operated by SynCab Service, in accordance with the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations for a period of five years, with the fleet starting services, including online hailing services, today.
The Transport Department said it has approved the taxi livery design and markings of the fleet which has to display fleet taxi plates at the front and rear as well as a fleet taxi certificate on the windscreen.
Fleet taxis may customise fares for pre-arranged journeys, charging a booking fee on top of the metered fare or charging a lump sum fare before the journey starts. Both must be agreed with the hirer in advance.
The fares of fleet taxis may vary for pre-arranged journeys, depending on the time of booking and the types of taxis the passengers request. Higher fares may be charged during peak hours or when the passenger requests a premium taxi.
For street-hailing trips, fleet taxis shall charge according to the same fare schedule as general taxis. The department has set up a website, providing information on the taxi fleet service.
There are about 80 designated fleet taxi stopping places at 13 locations such as the airport, certain boundary control points and Airport Express stations, Hong Kong West Kowloon Station of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and Hong Kong Disneyland.
Information plates will be installed at these locations. The department will put up signage and display panels at some of the locations, and display online hailing QR codes via leaflets and posters for the public and tourists to make their bookings.
Sensex, Nifty open lower amid weak earnings, US trade policy Jitters
Indian benchmark indices opened in the red on Monday as investor sentiment remained subdued following disappointing corporate earnings and renewed global uncertainty over US trade policy.
The Sensex declined 212 points, or 0.24 percent, to 82,301, while the Nifty dropped 49 points, or 0.20 percent, to 25,104 as of 9:19 am.
Some resilience was seen in the broader market, with the Nifty Midcap 100 rising 94 points, or 0.16 percent, to 58,736, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 advancing 25 points, or 0.14 percent, to 18,788.
Analysts attributed the Nifty’s weakness primarily to declines in IT stocks, which were weighed down by lackluster earnings.
“This weakness may persist, particularly since foreign institutional investors were heavy sellers in the cash market last Friday,” said VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.
He added that the market has already priced in the expected net interest margin (NIM) compression for banking stocks in the upcoming Q1 earnings. “Therefore, any dip in banking stocks may present a buying opportunity,” he said.
Sectorally, auto, PSU banks, metals, real estate, and energy were trading in positive territory. In contrast, IT, financial services, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, media, and infrastructure sectors were under pressure.
Top gainers on the Sensex included Trent, Power Grid, Sun Pharma, Titan, NTPC, Maruti Suzuki, Axis Bank, M&M, SBI, and Tata Steel.
On the flip side, Bajaj Finance, Infosys, Bajaj Finserv, Tech Mahindra, Bharti Airtel, L&T, HCL Tech, Tata Motors, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and HUL were among the biggest losers.
Most Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed as investors digested renewed trade tensions between the US and its trading partners.
US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 30 percent tariff on imports from the European Union and Mexico, effective August 1, rattled global markets. In response, the EU deferred its planned 30 percent retaliatory tariffs to allow room for further negotiations.
A gunman killed two women at a church in Kentucky and shot and wounded a state trooper outside an airport on Sunday before police were able to shoot him to death, authorities said.
The women were killed at the Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington. Two men were also wounded there, including one who was in critical condition, Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers told an afternoon press conference.
Authorities did not provide the suspect’s name or age.
“There are days like today that are extremely difficult,” Weathers said. “Sometimes things happen, you just don’t have a reason why.”
The suspect fired at the trooper after being pulled over near Blue Grass Airport at about 11:30 a.m. in Fayette County, Weathers said. The shooting happened on a road that rings the airport but was not connected to its operations, police said.
The trooper was being treated at a nearby hospital and was in stable condition.
The suspect then carjacked a vehicle about 10 miles (16 km) from the airport and fled to Richmond Road Baptist Church, where the individual began firing at people on the church grounds.
Police tracked the location of the carjacked vehicle to the church.
The police chief did not offer any motive for the shootings, but said there was some indication that the suspect may have known some of the people at the church.
Weathers said Lexington police would conduct an internal review of the shooting, as required by department policies.
The Blue Grass Airport posted on X at 1 p.m. ET (1700 GMT) that there was a law enforcement investigation affecting a portion of an airport road, but that all flights and operations were now proceeding normally.
The European Union said on Sunday it would extend its suspension of countermeasures to U.S. tariffs until early August and continue to press for a negotiated settlement as U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration demanded more concessions from trading partners.
Trump said on Saturday he would impose a 30% tariff on most imports from the EU and Mexico from August 1, adding to similar warnings for other countries and leaving them less than three weeks to hammer out framework deals that could lower the threatened tariff rate.
White House Economic Adviser Kevin Hassett said on Sunday that countries’ trade deal offers so far have not satisfied Trump and “the tariffs are real” without improvements.
“The president thinks that deals need to be better,” Hassett told ABC’s This Week program. “And to basically put a line in the sand, he sent these letters out to folks, and we’ll see how it works out.”
Ursula von der Leyen, head of the EU’s executive Commission which handles trade policy for the 27 member states, said the bloc would maintain its two-track approach: keep talking and prepare retaliatory measures.
“We have always been very clear that we prefer a negotiated solution. This remains the case, and we will use the time that we have now,” von der Leyen told a press conference, adding that the bloc would extend its halt on countermeasures until August.
Von der Leyen’s decision to resist immediate retaliatory measures points to the European Commission’s desire to avoid a spiralling tit-for-tat escalation in the trade war while there remains a chance of negotiating an improved outcome.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Sunday said he was “really committed” to finding a trade solution with the U.S., telling German public broadcaster ARD that he will work intensively on this with von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron over the next two and a half weeks.
Asked about the impact of a 30% U.S. tariff on Germany, Merz said: “If that were to happen, we would have to postpone large parts of our economic policy efforts because it would interfere with everything and hit the German export industry to the core.”
TEST OF UNITY
The latest salvo from Trump and the question of how to respond may test the unity of member states, with France appearing to take a tougher line than Germany, the bloc’s industrial powerhouse whose economy leans heavily on exports.
Macron said the Commission needed more than ever to “assert the Union’s determination to defend European interests resolutely”, and that retaliation might need to include so-called anti-coercion instruments.
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said on Sunday the EU should be ready to take firm action if talks failed.
“If a fair negotiated solution does not succeed, then we must take decisive countermeasures to protect jobs and companies in Europe,” Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, also vice chancellor in the ruling coalition, told Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.
While the EU has held back from retaliating against the U.S. in the months since Trump hit the bloc with tariffs, it has readied two packages that could hit a combined 93 billion euros of U.S. goods.
A first package, in response to U.S. levies of 50% on imported steel and aluminium that would hit 21 billion euros in U.S. goods, was suspended in April for 90 days to allow time for negotiations. The suspension had been due to expire on Monday before the extension was announced.
A second package in retaliation against Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs has been in the works since May and was set to target 72 billion euros of U.S. goods. These measures have not been made public and the final list requires approval by member states.
ANTI-COERCION INSTRUMENT
Von der Leyen said on Sunday that the use of the EU’s Anti-Coercion Instrument was not yet on the table.
The instrument allows the bloc to retaliate against third countries that put economic pressure on EU members to change their policies.
“The (anti-coercion) instrument is created for extraordinary situations, we are not there yet,” she said.
Possible retaliatory steps could include restricting EU market access to goods and services, and other economic measures related to areas including foreign direct investment, financial markets and export controls.
In a sign of the EU’s desire to strike deals with more trading partners at a time of deepening uncertainty in trans-Atlantic relations, von der Leyen said a political agreement had been reached to advance an EU-Indonesia trade deal.
France’s cheese producers warned of the damaging consequences of a 30% tariff for the local dairy industry, which exports nearly half its produce, including to the United States.
“It’s a new environment we will have to get used to – I don’t think this is temporary,” Francois Xavier Huard, CEO of dairy association FNIL, told Reuters.
President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday announced a plan to push forward France’s defence spending, pledging to double the military budget by 2027 – three years earlier than originally planned – in response to a complex geopolitical moment.
France had aimed to double its defence budget from 2017 levels by 2030. However, Macron pledged to reach the target by 2027. A military budget that stood at 32 billion euros ($37.40 billion) in 2017 will rise to 64 billion euros by 2027, with an additional 3.5 billion euros allocated for next year and another 3 billion euros in 2027.
He said the accelerated spending, which comes as France is struggling to make 40 billion euros in savings in its 2026 budget, would be paid for by increased economic activity.
“Our military independence is inseparable from our financial independence,” he said. “This will be financed through more activity and more production.”
He said Prime Minister Francois Bayrou would provide more details in an address on his plans for the 2026 budget on Tuesday. Bayrou is facing an uphill battle to steer billions of euros worth of savings through a bitterly divided parliament, as France strives to lower its budget deficit to keep EU bean-counters and foreign investors at bay.
Eighth seeds Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens fought back from a set down to win their first Grand Slam as a pair, beating Hsieh Su-Wei and Jelena Ostapenko 3-6 6-2 6-4 in the Wimbledon women’s doubles final on Sunday.
It was the first major title for Russia’s Kudermetova, who was on the losing side in the 2021 final against Mertens and Hsieh. The second Wimbledon crown for Belgian Mertens took her to five Grand Slam doubles titles.
“It’s been incredible,” a tearful Mertens said as she summed up a memorable Wimbledon campaign, having also reached the fourth round in the singles.
In the first set, Kudermetova held to go 3-1 up but the fourth seeds then won five straight games. The 28-year-oldRussian led the charge in the second set, holding twice as the pair got three breaks in a row to force a third set.
Hsieh, who has won seven majors in women’s doubles including four Wimbledon titles, won a prolonged exchange with Kudermetova from the baseline to get the first break of the third set, before Ostapenko held without losing a point to take 4-2 lead.
But erroneous returns from Hsieh hit the net as the eighth seeds broke back, and Kudermetova held to go 5-4 up before Ostapenko went long to lose a 26-shot rally and bring up match point.
Kudermetova’s backhand from close range cut across the court to secure the match, finally fulfilling her dream of lifting the trophy at the All England Club.
“A few years ago I was playing in the final here against Elise… I lost that final and it was so painful. Today I said to myself, I really want this,” Kudermetova said.
DOC Northern South Island Operations Director Martin Rodd says storm damage to DOC-managed sites is wide-spread and it will take time to understand the full extent across conservation areas and facilities.
As of Monday, the region is still in a state of emergency and people are asked to delay their trips until the tracks have had a chance to dry out, Martin says.
“DOC staff are out assessing tracks and other sites where it’s safe to do so. This will take some time as many roads are closed.”
“The situation is changing rapidly and people should check DOC’s website for up-to-date information about particular huts and tracks.”
DOC knows about some significant damage already, with the Motueka area seemingly the hardest hit, Martin says.
“In Kahurangi National Park, there’s no access to Flora car park as Graham Valley Rd is closed as a section has been undercut by the river. This closure is expected to be in place for some time. Flora car park is commonly used to access the region’s most popular alpine walks including Wharepapa/Mt Arthur tracks and huts.
“The access road into the Cobb Valley has several large slips across it and is impassable, and access to the Wangapeka is closed by the wider flood response. This means all access roads to the south-eastern part of the Kahurangi are closed.”
Martin says Abel Tasman Coast Track is being assessed as a priority and one section has been temporarily closed.
“Due to cracking on the track, the southern section between Mārahau and Anchorage has been closed for safety while we have a damage assessment done. This will happen in the coming days.
“At the northern end, the access road to Tōtaranui is also closed due to slips.
“We’ve had reports of some small slips, treefall and other minor impacts on other parts of the track which we will tidy up when we can.
“Heaphy Track remains open but there is some minor damage, and anyone using the track once it has dried out should take extra care.”
This was the second major weather event in as many weeks and some DOC sites were already affected, Martin says.
“In the Blenheim region, the Whites Bay campsite and the local tracks remains closed as it suffered significant damage from flooding in late-June.
“Several access roads in the Marlborough Sounds and into the Mount Richmond Forest Park are also closed.”
Martin says staff are working on a plan to repair the track damage where possible, but this will take some time, and there’s currently no timeline or estimate of how much this could cost.
“Our thoughts are with the people and communities affected by this damaging weather event,” Martin says.
The United States can count on Australia as one of its closest allies.
Dating back to the shared experiences in the second world war and the ANZUS Treaty signed in 1951, Australia has steadfastly worked to help ensure the US remains the principal security guarantor in the Indo-Pacific.
Australia’s track record speaks for itself. Yet additional demands are being placed that rankle.
The Pentagon wants to know how Australia – and other allies such as Japan – would respond in the event of a war with China over Taiwan.
Since federation in 1901, Australians have found themselves alongside US counterparts in almost all the major conflicts of the 20th century and beyond.
It is this shared experience that led former Ambassador to Washington, Joe Hockey, to coin the term “100 years of mateship”.
The pinnacle of the security relationship is the ANZUS Treaty which is a loosely worded document barely 800 words long.
However, it is important to remember AUKUS is just that – a technical agreement, albeit premised on the century-spanning trusted collaboration across the full spectrum of national security ties.
Goldilocks solution
More recently, the US administration has made demands of allies, including Australia, the likes of which have not been seen in living memory.
It is this context which makes the US demands for a broad-ranging and largely open-ended commitment over the defence of Taiwan, in advance of any conflict, so extraordinary and unhelpful.
Under-secretary of defence for policy Elbridge Colby who wants a clear sense of how Australia would act in a potential war over Taiwan. Supplied by US Department of Defence, CC BY
Australia has long had a fear of abandonment. Ever since the searing experience of the fall of Singapore in 1942, officials have been eager to burnish ties with US counterparts. Conversely, there has always been a strong element in the community that has feared entrapment in yet another US-led war in Asia.
The experience in the Korean and Vietnam wars, let alone Afghanistan and Iraq, left many guarded about the efficacy of hitching the wagon to US-led military campaigns.
In essence, though, Australian policymakers have long sought the Goldilocks solution: not too enthusiastic to trigger entrapment and not too lukewarm to trigger abandonment.
No guarantees
Now Australia, Japan and others face a surprising new push by American officials for a commitment to a hypothetical conflict, under open-ended circumstances.
The irony is that American demands for a commitment fly in the face of the loosely worded ANZUS alliance – which stipulates an agreement to consult, but little more than that.
The AUKUS agreement includes no such guarantees either. The overt and confronting nature of Washington’s demands means Prime Minister Anthony Albanese effectively has no option but to push back:
We support the status quo when it comes to Taiwan. We don’t support any unilateral action […] we want peace and security in our region.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy was adamant Australia would not be committing forces ahead of any “hypothetical” conflict:
The decision to commit Australian troops to a conflict will be made by the government of the day, not in advance, but by the government of the day.
A further irony is Australia, like Japan, is already hugely invested in its US military relationship, particularly through its military technology.
The purchase of the F35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, for instance, was meant to help enable the generation of interoperable forces, yet no such demand has been made when it comes to an advance commitment over their use in support of US ambitions.
So why invoke AUKUS in such a way?
Evidently, the way the US is trying to stand over Japan and Australia is harmful to its own interests. Such adversarial and unduly transactional behaviour could provoke a popular backlash in Australia and elsewhere.
The government has rightly rebuffed the calls saying it would be up to the government of the day to make such a decision. It is likely this will not be well received by the Trump administration. The PM is right though, to say it’s hypothetical and not worthy of a public endorsement.
Strategic ambiguity
Yet a further irony is that this is mostly a moot point.
The key benefit of alliance collaboration is already in place – and that relates to the efforts to deter China from ever acting on its desire to change the status quo in the first place.
As former PM and now ambassador to Washington, Kevin Rudd explained in his book, The Avoidable War, geo-political disaster is still avoidable, particularly if the US and China can find a way to coexist without betraying their core interests through managed strategic competition.
This strategic ambiguity is meant to complicate a potential adversary’s military planners and political decision makers’ thought processes over the advantages and disadvantages of going to war.
China already knows a clash over Taiwan would mean US allies like Japan and Australia would find it virtually impossible to avoid being entangled. The strategic ambiguity can be maintained ad infinitum, so long as an outright invasion is averted.
And the likelihood of conflict over Taiwan? I remain sanguine that conflict can be avoided.
But to do so would involve clear and compelling messaging: both through diplomatic channels and through the demonstration of robust military capabilities that war would be too costly.
John Blaxland received funding (2015–2018) from the US DoD Minerva Research Initiative.
Fired-up England reduced India to 58-4 chasing 193 for victory in a highly-charged final session on day four on Sunday as a gripping third test at Lord’s headed for a tense finale.
England fast bowler Jofra Archer dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal for nought, Brydon Carse removed Karun Nair and Shubman Gill, and captain Ben Stokes bowled nightwatchman Akash Deep in the final over to set up a thrilling last day.
Indian opener KL Rahul remained unbeaten on 33 and the touring side need another 135 runs to go 2-1 up in the series after they had dominated the morning session at the home of cricket to move into a strong position.
“The last hour’s viewing, our guys running in really well, there was an edge out there and it shows how important test cricket is and creates a great spectacle for everyone to be involved in,” England batting coach Marcus Trescothick said.
With the pitch offering more assistance to the bowlers and variable bounce, England tried to bat positively but Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook all fell cheaply.
Duckett played an audacious ramp shot to the boundary but two balls later he attempted to pull Mohammed Siraj through the leg side and was easily caught by Jasprit Bumrah at mid-on to depart for 12.
Siraj roared at Duckett as he walked back to the pavilion as the tension between the teams that flared up late on Saturday continued to simmer.
Pope never looked comfortable and was trapped lbw by Siraj for four after India successfully reviewed the umpire’s initial decision of not out.
Crawley, on 22, played a loose drive at Nitish Kumar Reddy and the ball flew straight to gully where Jaiswal took a simple catch to put England in trouble at 50-3.
Brook ramped Deep for consecutive fours before driving him over long-off for six, but the fast bowler quickly exacted revenge when he bowled the right-hander for 23 as he attempted a rash sweep to a straight full-pitched delivery.
PATIENT PARTNERSHIP
Joe Root, who scored 104 in the first innings, batted calmly, picking up mainly ones and twos as he and Stokes shared a patient partnership of 67 to revive England hopes.
But Root, on 40, was bowled behind his legs by Washington Sundar and the spinner bowled in-form Jamie Smith for eight to reduce the hosts to 175-6 at tea.
India wrapped up the innings early in the final session.
Stokes was bowled by Washington for 33 attempting a big hit, and Bumrah bowled Carse with a rapid yorker for one before clipping the top of Chris Woakes’s off stump to dismiss him for 10.
Washington completed excellent figures of 4-22 when he took the final wicket of Shoaib Bashir to dismiss England for 192.
“India will win, probably just after lunch,” Washington said.
“The position we’re in we’d have definitely taken. The fast bowlers kept the pressure on throughout the day, it was amazing.”
Jaiswal skied Archer to wicketkeeper Smith with a wild swipe to give England early hope before Woakes dropped a simple chance to catch Rahul, on five, off his own bowling, and the opener responded by crashing the next two deliveries to the boundary.
Carse trapped Nair lbw for 14 with the batsman offering no stroke to a straight delivery, and Gill fell the same way for six after failing to get the umpire’s decision overturned.
Deep survived two huge appeals before he was bowled by Stokes for one to the delight of the majority of the Lord’s crowd.
“I think it will be a brilliant final day for both teams,” Trescothick said. “There’s been great support for both sides and it’s fantastic to have.”
Cole Palmer produced a scintillating first-half masterclass as Chelsea demolished a flat Paris St Germain 3-0 to win a one-sided Club World Cup final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
The English attacking midfielder scored twice and provided an assist for Joao Pedro in a devastating display in the revamped tournament’s decider that left the European and French champions, who finished with 10 men, shell-shocked.
After a stunning season, PSG were heavy favourites, while Chelsea arrived in the U.S. after winning Europe’s third-tier Conference League and on the back of a domestic campaign in which they just managed a top-four Premier League finish.
Prior to the match, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said he was expecting a “game of chess” against PSG coach Luis Enrique, but what transpired was a quick checkmate for the Italian who gave a tactical masterclass.
Chelsea, who won the 2021 Club World Cup in its previous format, struck first in the 22nd minute when PSG fullback Nuno Mendes gifted possession to Malo Gusto. While his initial effort was blocked by Mendes, Gusto collected the rebound and found Palmer unmarked in the middle and the midfielder made no mistake, slotting a tidy finish just inside the left post.
Palmer doubled the lead after the 30th-minute cooling break with a goal of sublime quality. Latching onto a precise through ball from Levi Colwill, he cut inside before faking a pass to dummy a defender and firing into the bottom-left corner.
Palmer then turned provider, running up the channel before finding Joao Pedro, who took the ball in his stride and beat the offside trap before chipping his finish beautifully over keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
PSG’s misery was completed when Joao Neves was sent off for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair in the 83rd minute, as PSG’s players grew in frustration as the match progressed.
The encounter turned ill-tempered at the end, with players going at each other after the final whistle, but the flare-ups quickly dissipated as Chelsea’s players went to celebrate with their fans.
‘GREAT FEELING’
“It’s a great feeling. Even better because everyone doubted us before the game, we knew that. To put a fight on like we did, it’s good,” Palmer said.
“The gaffer put a great gameplan out. He knew where the space was going to be. He tried to free me up as much as possible and I just had to repay him and score some goals.”
Maresca’s team employed a relentless high press and emulated the tactics used by Brazilian outfit Botafogo, who had beaten PSG 1-0 in the group stage and were the only team to score against Luis Enrique’s side in the previous eight games.
Their press caused PSG all sorts of trouble and when Maresca’s side couldn’t regain possession, they sat deep, frustrating the European champions, who were unable to play their usual game.
The direct and pacey football we had become used to seeing from PSG was Chelsea’s game on Sunday, with Palmer, Gusto and Joao Pedro picking apart the PSG defence, especially on the left side.
Other than an early golden opportunity forPSG’s Desire Doue that was wasted, the first half was all Chelsea’s and, after they opened their three-goal lead, the French side could never recover.
“Chelsea were more effective than us, they worked well on our slight weakness,” PSG captain Marquinhos said.
“Tactically, they caused us problems in the first half and we took a while to react. These are things we’ll need to change going forward. I think all teams will now study us closely to see what we do well and what we do badly. It’s up to us now to always be at the top of our game.”
Reigning champions England thrashed neighbours Wales 6-1 to reach the Women’s Euro 2025 quarter-finals on Sunday, securing second spot in Group D and cruising into the knockouts, where they will face Sweden, on a high note.
Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp, Alessia Russo, Beth Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones were all on target for England, who finished runners-up to France after their 5-2 victory over the Netherlands.
Sarina Wiegman’s team will next face a Sweden side, who won all three of their games to top Group C, in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
“It is going to be a difficult game. We watched (Sweden) the other night and they were really good. We need to be on our best game,” Toone said. “But we’re feeling confident, I think they should be scared.”
The second-place finish, however, could be a bonus as provided they get past the Swedes, England would potentially avoid world champions Spain in the semi-finals.
Stanway struck from the penalty spot in the 13th minute after a foul in the box, calmly sweeping her shot into the far-left corner past the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Olivia Clark to open the floodgates.
Toone found the back of the net with a scrappy goal eight minutes later. England capitalised on a sloppy clearance by Rhiannon Roberts, with the ball falling to Russo who nudged it into the path of Toone who fired home at the second attempt.
Hemp nodded a third inside 30 minutes after a clever pass from Lauren James to Toone near the byline. Toone found Hemp at the far post with a deep cross for an easy header.
Russo bagged her first goal of the tournament just before halftime when Toone made another dart to byline before cutting the ball back for Russo, who took one touch to control it before firing home and Mead cut inside a defender before slotting England’s fifth in the 72nd minute.
Hannah Cain pulled one back to the delight of the Wales fans, who celebrated by singing their national anthem, in the 76th minute, but England’s Beever-Jones replied in the 89th with her first goal in a major tournament, heading home Mead’s cross.
“We scored six goals and a big part of the game we dominated, a very good game,” Wiegman said. “Playing well is the most important, who scores is not that important.”
Much was made about the rivalry between the two nations, with Wales wanting nothing better than to spoil England’s party. Thousands of loud Welsh fans cheered and sang throughout Sunday’s match, despite the scoreline.
But Wiegman’s team, World Cup finalists in 2023, showed their vast experience against a Wales side making their major tournament debut.
“We were really good. It is always hard to play against a team that sits in a low block,” Toone said. “It was nice we got an early goal in the first half and we enjoyed the game.”
England have won 10 of the 11 meetings between the two teams, with Wales’ best result being a 0-0 draw in 2018.
“This is the beginning of a journey for us,” Wales midfielder Jess Fishlock said. “We’ve played three of the best teams in the world at this tournament and we’ve found out how big that jump is.”
The Government’s going for growth in international education, releasing its plan to double the sector’s economic contribution to $7.2 billion by 2034. “International education is one of our largest exports, injecting $3.6 billion into our economy in 2024. It also provides opportunities for research, strengthening trade and people-to-people connections, which are important to drive investment, productivity and innovation in New Zealand. “On average in 2024, an international student spent $45,000 across the year. That means more visits to our cafes and restaurants, more people visiting our iconic attractions and ultimately more jobs being created. “With international student enrolments steadily increasing since 2023, we want to supercharge that growth track and make New Zealand the destination of choice for international students,” says Education Minister Erica Stanford. To support this, from November the Government will:
Increase in-study work rights from 20 to 25 hours per week for eligible student visa holders. Extend eligibility for in-study work rights to all tertiary students in approved exchange or Study Abroad programmes, including programmes one-semester long.
In addition, the following will be investigated:
Introduce a short-duration work visa of up to six months to provide some international graduates who do not qualify for post-study work rights, allowing time to seek employment in their field of study under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) pathway. Updates to make it easier for students to apply for multi-year visas.
The International Education Going for Growth Plan sets out short, medium and long-term actions for agencies to boost New Zealand’s presence in overseas markets, attract talented students, build sector capacity and capability, and support the university sector through system improvements. Its objectives are:
raise awareness of New Zealand as a study destination from 38% in 2024, to 42% in 2027 and 44% by 2034. grow student enrolments from 83,700 in 2024 to 105,000 in 2027 and 119,000 by 2034. increase the proportion of prospective students rating NZ among their top 3 choices of study destination from 18% in 2024 to 20% in 2027 and 22% in 2034.
“In the short term, Education New Zealand will focus its promotional efforts on markets with the highest potential for growth. Across all markets, promotional activities will aim to elevate awareness of New Zealand as a premier study destination that is a safe and welcoming place to live and learn. “To achieve our ambitious target, we’re taking a considered and strategic approach. It’s important to strike the right balance between increasing student numbers, maintaining the quality of education, and managing broader impacts on New Zealanders. Our plan will deliver that,” says Ms Stanford.
The Tāmaki Makaurau by-election will be held on Saturday 6 September, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced.
The by-election follows the death of MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp.
“Given the vacancy in the seat has now been gazetted, I have set a date of 6 September for the by-election,” says Mr Luxon.
The by-election Writ Day will be Wednesday 30 July. The deadline for candidate nominations to be received will be midday Tuesday 5 August, and the last day for the return of the Writ will be Sunday 28 September.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Singapore on Sunday, reaffirming India’s commitment to deepening its strategic partnership with the Southeast Asian nation.
During the visit, Dr. Jaishankar met with Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and held separate discussions with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade & Industry Gan Kim Yong, as well as Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release.
According to MEA, both sides reviewed the progress made on key outcomes from the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the second round of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR). Discussions covered a wide range of sectors, including investments, industrial parks, semiconductors, infrastructure, skill development, and connectivity. The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments, including matters concerning ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific.
Dr. Jaishankar also met Teo Chee Hean, former Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, who is the Chairman-designate of Temasek Holdings. Their conversation centered on the transformative developments underway in India and explored new avenues for Temasek to expand its investment footprint in the Indian market.
Bitcoin crossed the $120,000 level for the first time on Monday, marking a major milestone for the world’s largest cryptocurrency as investors bet on long-sought policy wins for the industry this week.
Starting on Monday, the U.S. House of Representatives will debate a series of bills to provide the digital asset industry with the nation’s regulatory framework it has long demanded.
Those demands have resonated with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has called himself the “crypto president” and urged policymakers to revamp rules in favor of the industry.
Expectations of further tailwinds for the industry helped propel bitcoin BTC= to yet another record high of $121,207.55 in the Asian session on Monday. It last traded 1.5% higher at $120,856.34.
The surge in bitcoin, which is up 29% for the year thus far, has sparked a broader rally across other cryptocurrencies over the past few weeks even in the face of Trump’s chaotic tariffs.
Ether ETH=, the second-largest token, scaled an over five-month top of $3,048.23 on Monday and last stood at $3,036.24.
The sector’s total market value has swelled to about $3.78 trillion, according to data from CoinMarketCap.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, during his meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Monday, emphasised that the continued normalisation of India-China relations could lead to “mutually beneficial” outcomes.
He underscored the importance of open dialogue and the exchange of perspectives as essential between the two neighbours and leading global economies.
Jaishankar, who is on a three-day visit to China to attend the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Tianjin, held talks with Vice President Han in Beijing soon after his arrival.
In his opening remarks at the meeting, Jaishankar said, “Our bilateral relationship, as you have pointed out, has been steadily improving since the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan last October. I am confident that my discussions in this visit will maintain that positive trajectory.”
Marking the 75th anniversary of India-China diplomatic ties, Jaishankar highlighted a key milestone: the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which had been suspended for five years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent border tensions.
“The resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is also widely appreciated in India. Continued normalisation of our ties can produce mutually beneficial outcomes,” he noted.
Commenting on the current global context, Jaishankar added, “The international situation, as we meet today, is very complex. As neighbouring nations and major economies, an open exchange of views and perspectives between India and China is very important.”
Following the meeting, Jaishankar said in a post on X, “Pleased to meet Vice President Han Zheng soon after my arrival in Beijing today. Conveyed India’s support for China’s SCO Presidency. Noted the improvement in our bilateral ties. And expressed confidence that discussions during my visit will maintain that positive trajectory.”
This is Jaishankar’s first visit to China since the Galwan Valley face-off in June 2020, which severely strained bilateral relations.
While he has interacted with his Chinese counterpart at multilateral forums since then, this visit marks a significant step in high-level diplomatic engagement amid ongoing border concerns.
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers JP Nadda concluded his three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, securing crucial agreements that will significantly enhance India’s fertilizer supply chain and strengthen bilateral cooperation in health and pharmaceutical sectors.
The visit, which took place from July 11-13 in Dammam and Riyadh, focused primarily on enhancing bilateral cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia in chemicals and fertilizers. Nadda led a high-level delegation that included the Secretary and other senior officials from the Department of Fertilizers and Ministry of External Affairs.
During discussions with Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Al Khorayef in Riyadh, both ministers witnessed the signing of long-term agreements between Maaden and Indian companies including IPL, KRIBHCO, and CIL. These agreements will supply an enhanced 3.1 million metric tons of Diammonium Phosphate fertilizer per annum for five years from 2025-26 onwards, with provision for further extension of five years with mutual consent.
The agreements represent a substantial increase from current supply levels. India’s imports of DAP fertilizer from Saudi Arabia totaled 1.9 million metric tons in 2024-25, reflecting a 17 percent increase over the 1.6 million metric tons imported during FY 2023-24. The new agreements will boost this supply to 3.1 million metric tons from the upcoming fiscal year.
Both sides emphasized their commitment to broadening bilateral relations to include other key fertilizers such as Urea along with DAP, aiming to further ensure India’s fertilizer security. Discussions also covered facilitating mutual investments, with focus on exploring opportunities for Indian Public Sector Undertakings to invest in the Saudi fertilizer sector and reciprocal Saudi investments in India.
The ministers deliberated on avenues for collaborative research, particularly in developing India-specific customized and alternative fertilizers to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. A joint team has been established led by Secretary Fertilizer on the Indian side and the Vice Minister for Mining Affairs in the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources on the Saudi side to explore long-term collaboration in this sector.
Nadda also held a bilateral meeting with Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Minister of Energy and co-chair of the Economy and Investment Committee of the Strategic Partnership Council between India and Saudi Arabia, to discuss ways to enhance economic partnership between the two countries. The Prince hosted a lunch in honor of the Union Minister.
In the health sector, Nadda met with Abdulaziz Al-Rumaih, Saudi Vice Minister of Health, in Riyadh to discuss enhancing cooperation in medical services, health care, pharmaceuticals, digital health solutions, and knowledge exchange. They noted the significance of the bilateral MoU on Health signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent state visit to Saudi Arabia.
The delegation visited Maaden facilities at Ras Al Khair and toured the Phosphate production plant. They were received by Hassan Al Ali, Chairman of Maaden Phosphate, and other senior officials. India represents a key export destination for fertilizers from Saudi Arabia, with Maaden being the leading company in this sector in the Kingdom.
The successful conclusion of Nadda’s visit underscored the strong economic ties between India and Saudi Arabia, particularly in fertilizers, while opening new avenues for cooperation in health and pharmaceutical sectors. The long-term fertilizer agreements are expected to provide greater supply security for India’s agricultural sector and strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations.
On the first Monday of the holy month of Shravan, also known as Sawan, a spiritual wave swept across Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi as lakhs of devotees gathered at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple to perform ‘Jalabhishek’ and offer prayers.
The sacred city of Varanasi echoed with chants of “Har Har Mahadev” as the Mangala Aarti and elaborate floral decorations marked the first Monday of Sawan.
Devotees began queuing outside the temple late on Sunday night, with many waiting seven to eight hours for the temple doors to open. As the gates opened, the entire city resonated with spiritual fervor, and chants filled the morning air.
Speaking about the arrangements, Police Commissioner Mohit Agrawal said, “We are fully prepared. All senior officers are present on-site. Complete barricading has been done. Devotees are having darshan in a well-managed and systematic manner.”
To ensure safety and smooth management, a massive security deployment was in place. The police commissionerate had stationed six Quick Response Teams (QRTs), three drone units, mounted police, and tourist police at key locations, including Godowlia Chowk, the Ganga Ghats, and the temple premises.
As part of the warm welcome, officials greeted pilgrims with a shower of flower petals, creating a deeply moving and sacred atmosphere.
A devotee expressed their joy, saying, “The arrangements are excellent, and we had a wonderful darshan by the grace of Mahadev.”
DCP (Crime) Sarvan T. stated, “Today is the first Monday of the holy month of Sawan. Keeping this in mind, an adequate police force has been deployed to ensure the safety and security of the devotees.”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Transport Department (TD) announced today (July 14) that an official Taxi Fleet Licence has been issued to SynCab Taxi (mixed fleet), operated by SynCab Service Limited, in accordance with regulation 12E(1) of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374D) for a period of five years. The fleet officially commenced services today.
The TD has approved the taxi livery design and markings of the fleet. For easy identification by passengers, all fleet taxis are required to display fleet taxi plates (see Annex) at the front and rear of the taxi bodies, and a fleet taxi certificate on the windscreens of the taxis.
All fleets provide online hailing services. Fleet taxis may customise fares for pre-arranged journeys, charging a booking fee on top of the metered fare or charging a lump sum fare before the journey starts. Both must be agreed with the hirer in advance. The fares of fleet taxis may vary for pre-arranged journeys depending on the circumstances at the time of booking and the types of taxis requested by the passenger. For example, higher fares may be charged during peak hours or when the passenger requests a premium taxi. For street-hailing trips, fleet taxis shall charge according to the same fare schedule as general taxis.
The TD has set up a taxi fleet thematic website. It will also introduce information of the taxi fleet service to the public and tourists through various online and offline channels, including the TD’s HKeMobility mobile application, and the collaboration with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Airport Authority Hong Kong, the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal operator and Hong Kong Talent Engage.
In addition, the TD has set up about 80 designated fleet taxi stopping places across 13 locations, such as the airport, certain boundary control points, the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, some Airport Express stations, the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and the Hong Kong Disneyland. Information plates will be installed at these locations. The TD will also put up signage and display panels at some of these locations, and display online hailing QR codes via leaflets and posters for the public and tourists to make their bookings.
The TD will monitor the fleet’s operations and continue to actively promote the remaining fleets to commence operations as soon as possible.
The Major Sports Events Committee today said it awarded “M” Mark status to the FIBA 3×3 World Tour – Hong Kong 2025 as well as Liverpool FC vs AC Milan – The Standard Chartered Trophy and Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur – The Herbalgy Trophy of Hong Kong Football Festival.
The FIBA 3×3 World Tour – Hong Kong 2025 will be held on July 19 and 20, while the two football matches will take place on July 26 and 31 respectively.
Committee Chairman Wilfred Ng noted that the FIBA 3×3 World Tour will gather top 3×3 basketball teams from around the world, providing spectators with a thrilling viewing experience.
The highlights of July will certainly be the two friendly matches at Kai Tak Stadium, featuring Liverpool FC versus AC Milan and Arsenal versus Tottenham Hotspur, he said, adding that these exhibition matches will bring fans a world-class football experience.
“These three sporting events will not only bring high-level competitions to the spectators but also stimulate the local economy, enhancing Hong Kong’s international image and strengthening its status as an events capital.”
The City has marked the official handover of Lot 211 Quinns Road, Mindarie for the development of Dunes Beach Resort, an ecotourism style resort with an accommodation, café and event space.
Mayor Linda Aitken said she was pleased to mark the major milestone and officially hand the site over to Eco Tourism Pty Ltd.
“The development of the Dunes Beach Resort will generate employment opportunities for our residents, boost the local economy and assist with the development of our City as a sustainable tourism destination,” she said.
“It will also provide residents with access to a significant area of lawn space, a sit-down café and kiosk area, public bike racks, improved beach access and picnic tables.
“This site is incredibly important to our residents and I can’t wait to see this project progress as the site is developed into a space that will benefit both the Quinns community and the wider City.
“I look forward to visiting Dunes Beach Resort in the not-too-distant future.”
Director Eco Tourism Pty Ltd Russell Percival said he was excited to be moving forward with the project and to be building something for both the local community and tourists to enjoy.
“After three and a half years, it is great to see our vision and dream start to evolve and we look forward to providing an amazing resort and facilities for everyone to enjoy,” he said.
“We thank the City of Wanneroo for their help and assistance along the way, and we are very excited that the first version of our Australia-wide concept is starting in Perth.”
Amarnath Yatra: Over Two Lakh Devotees Offer Prayers, Fresh Batch of 6,143 Leaves for Kashmir
Over the last 11 days, since it began on July 3, more than two lakh pilgrims have undertaken the ongoing Amarnath Yatra. Another batch of 6,143 pilgrims departed from Jammu for Kashmir on Monday.
Officials stated, “Another batch of 6,143 Yatris left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in two escorted convoys for the Valley today. The first escorted convoy of 100 vehicles carrying 2,215 Yatris left at 3:30 a.m. for the Baltal base camp, while the second escorted convoy of 135 vehicles carrying 3,928 Yatris left at 4 a.m. for the Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp.”
On Sunday, nine yatris sustained injuries when four vehicles in their escorted convoy collided in the Kulgam district on the Jammu-Srinagar highway. The injured were shifted to the Government Medical College (GMC) hospital in Anantnag town, where doctors described their condition as stable.
The Bhumi Pujan of ‘Chhari Mubarak’ (Lord Shiva’s Holy Mace) was performed at Pahalgam on Thursday. The Chhari Mubarak was taken to Pahalgam by a group of sadhus, led by its sole custodian, Mahant Swami Deependra Giri, from its seat at the Dashnami Akhara Building in Srinagar. In Pahalgam, the Chhari Mubarak was taken to the Gauri Shankar temple, where the Bhumi Pujan was held. The Chhari Mubarak will reach the holy cave shrine on August 9, marking the official conclusion of the Yatra.
Authorities have made extensive multi-tier security arrangements for this year’s Amarnath Yatra. These measures come in the wake of the cowardly attack on April 22, in which Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 civilians after segregating them based on their faith in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam.
An additional 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been brought in to augment the existing strength of the Army, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and the local police.
The Army has rolled out ‘Operation SHIVA 2025’, deploying more than 8,500 troops alongside advanced surveillance and combat technology. As part of this extensive deployment, a dedicated counter-UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) grid featuring over 50 C-UAS and EW (Electronic Warfare) systems has been positioned to counter drone-based threats.
“Live surveillance via UAVs (drones) and PTZ camera feeds is actively monitoring yatra convoys and the holy cave. Engineer task forces have been mobilized for infrastructure tasks like bridge laying, track widening, and landslide mitigation. The operation also includes over 150 doctors and paramedics, two Advanced Dressing Stations, nine Medical Aid Posts, a 100-bed hospital, and 26 oxygen booths backed by 2 lakh litres of oxygen. Signal companies, EME technical detachments, and Bomb Detection & Disposal Squads have also been deployed,” the Army stated.
All transit camps en route to the two base camps and the entire route from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu to the cave shrine are secured by security forces.
This year, the Yatra started on July 3 and will conclude after 38 days on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.
Yatris approach the holy cave shrine, situated 3,888 meters above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas, from either the traditional Pahalgam route or the shorter Baltal route. Those using the Pahalgam route pass through Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni to reach the cave shrine, covering a distance of 46 km on foot. This trek takes a pilgrim four days to complete. Those using the shorter Baltal route have to trek 14 km to reach the cave shrine and can return to the base camp the same day after performing the Yatra.
No helicopter services are available to Yatris this year due to security reasons.
The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon. Devotees believe that the ice stalagmite structure symbolizes the mythical powers of Lord Shiva. The Amarnath Yatra is one of the holiest pilgrimages for Hindu devotees, as legend says Lord Shiva narrated the secrets of eternal life and immortality to Mata Parvati inside this cave.
The Ministry of Railways on Sunday announced plans to equip all passenger coaches and locomotives across the country with CCTV cameras, aiming to strengthen passenger safety and security. The move follows the positive results of pilot projects where CCTV systems were successfully tested on select trains.
Following a high-level review meeting chaired by Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu on July 12, Indian Railways has been given the green light to install CCTV cameras in all 74,000 coaches and 15,000 locomotives. The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Railway Board.
As per the new plan, each passenger coach will be equipped with four dome-type CCTV cameras, strategically placed—two at each entrance—to monitor common movement areas while preserving passenger privacy. Each locomotive will be fitted with six CCTV cameras: one each at the front, rear, and both sides, along with a dome camera and two desk-mounted microphones in each cab.
Railway officials confirmed that successful trials of this surveillance setup have already been conducted on the Northern Railway network. The new system aims to provide 360-degree coverage to deter and detect miscreants, including organised gangs that often target unsuspecting passengers.
The Union Minister has directed that all surveillance equipment should meet stringent quality standards, including STQC certification. Emphasis was placed on ensuring high-resolution footage even at speeds exceeding 100 kmph and in low-light conditions. Furthermore, officials were encouraged to explore integrating artificial intelligence with the CCTV network in collaboration with the IndiaAI mission, to further enhance monitoring and safety capabilities.
The Railways said that while safety is the primary objective, passenger privacy will be respected. Cameras will not be installed inside private compartments or seating areas but only in the common corridors near the doors.
On the first Monday of the holy month of Shravan, also known as Sawan, a spiritual wave swept across Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi as lakhs of devotees gathered at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple to perform ‘Jalabhishek’ and offer prayers.
The sacred city of Varanasi echoed with chants of “Har Har Mahadev” as the Mangala Aarti and elaborate floral decorations marked the first Monday of Sawan.
Devotees began queuing outside the temple late on Sunday night, with many waiting seven to eight hours for the temple doors to open. As the gates opened, the entire city resonated with spiritual fervor, and chants filled the morning air.
Speaking about the arrangements, Police Commissioner Mohit Agrawal said, “We are fully prepared. All senior officers are present on-site. Complete barricading has been done. Devotees are having darshan in a well-managed and systematic manner.”
To ensure safety and smooth management, a massive security deployment was in place. The police commissionerate had stationed six Quick Response Teams (QRTs), three drone units, mounted police, and tourist police at key locations, including Godowlia Chowk, the Ganga Ghats, and the temple premises.
As part of the warm welcome, officials greeted pilgrims with a shower of flower petals, creating a deeply moving and sacred atmosphere.
A devotee expressed their joy, saying, “The arrangements are excellent, and we had a wonderful darshan by the grace of Mahadev.”
DCP (Crime) Sarvan T. stated, “Today is the first Monday of the holy month of Sawan. Keeping this in mind, an adequate police force has been deployed to ensure the safety and security of the devotees.”
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he will send Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine, saying they are necessary to defend the country because Russian President Vladimir Putin “talks nice but then he bombs everybody in the evening.”
Trump did not give a number of Patriots he plans to send to Ukraine, but he said the United States would be reimbursed for their cost by the European Union.The U.S. president has grown increasingly disenchanted with Putin because the Russian leader has resisted Trump’s attempts to negotiate a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has asked for more defensive capabilities to fend off a daily barrage of missile and drone attacks from Russia.
“We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need, because Putin really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice and then bombs everybody in the evening. But there’s a little bit of a problem there. I don’t like it,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews outside of Washington.
“We basically are going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated military equipment. They are going to pay us 100% for that, and that’s the way we want it,” Trump said.
He plans to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to discuss Ukraine and other issues this week.
Ten polytechnics will be re-established from 1 January 2026, restoring regional decision-making that supports strong communities and economic growth, Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds says. “This is a major milestone in building a vocational education system that’s locally led, regionally responsive, and future focused. We’ve listened to extensive industry feedback and I’m confident our plan will set the sector up for long-term economic and learning success. “We campaigned vigorously against Labour’s reforms which saw all New Zealand polytechnics merged into one unwieldy and uneconomic central institution, Te Pūkenga, taking away the ability of regions to respond to local training and employer needs. “Labour dismantled regionally-led vocational education – and we are restoring it,” Ms Simmonds says. The ten polytechnics returning to regional governance are:
Ara Institute of Canterbury (Ara) Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) Unitec Institute of Technology (Unitec) and Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT), which will stand up as a single entity Otago Polytechnic Universal College of Learning (UCOL) The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand
The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand will be the anchor polytechnic of the new federation, which includes Otago Polytechnic and UCOL. The federation will coordinate programmes and other services, including shared academic boards. It will provide a low overhead way for polytechnics to create more efficient business models than they could on their own through the use of on online learning resources and programmes. Four other polytechnics — NorthTec, Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT), Whitireia Community Polytechnic and Wellington Institute of Technology (Whitireia and WelTec), and Tai Poutini Polytechnic (TPP) — will remain within Te Pūkenga for now as they work toward viability, with decisions due in the first half of 2026. These changes are part of legislation before Parliament. The Education and Workforce Select Committee is reviewing the Bill, which is expected to pass in October. The ten new polytechnics will begin operating from 1 January 2026. “I want to thank everyone who made submissions. Your feedback helped shape a better way forward,” Ms Simmonds says. Te Pūkenga will act as a transitional entity for up to a year to manage unallocated programmes and support a smooth handover. The legislation also allows mergers or closures if any polytechnic cannot achieve viability. “With more than 250,000 students in the vocational education system each year, these changes offer greater flexibility, financial sustainability, and ensure training remains relevant to employment needs,” Ms Simmonds says. “Industry will have a stronger role, communities will regain local control, and polytechnics will be financially sustainable. “We’re rebuilding our incredibly important vocational education system so that it delivers — for students, for employers, and for the future of New Zealand.”