London, July 20 (IANS) Ben Duckett's sensational 141-run knock eclipsed a magnificent 138 from Rohit Sharma as a clinical England defeated India by 27 runs in a high-scoring thriller at Lord's on Sunday to clinch the three-match ODI series 2-1.

Chasing a whopping target of 388, India mounted a spirited challenge but ultimately finished at 360 for seven as the hosts executed a disciplined death-bowling display to seal a well-earned victory. Earlier in the day, England's batting line-up produced a relentless display of batsmanship that left India's bowlers bruised as they posted a mammoth 387/3, registering the highest List A score at the 'Home of Cricket.'

The primary difference between the two sides lay in England's explosive finish with the bat, where they plundered a decisive 82 runs from the final five overs, and a game-changing post-30th-over spell from young Jacob Bethell.

With his part-time left-arm spin, Bethell turned the match on its head by delivering an economical seven-over spell, conceding just 49 runs and claiming the prized scalp of Rohit, which triggered an Indian batting collapse from a commanding 260 for one to a precarious 329 for seven. Apart from Bethell, Sam Curran stood out with his clever slower balls to strangle India's charge and end up with figures of 4-75.

Opting to bat, England's charge was led by a brilliant Ben Duckett hitting 141 off 135 balls, laced with 18 fours and one six. He was well-supported in a 192-run stand with Bethell, who hit a 93-ball 91, studded with 11 fours and two sixes. India endured a grueling day in the field as their depleted bowling attack failed to contain England.

With pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah injured, the Indian team management elected to field only five frontline bowlers, a tactical move that backfired as they failed to wrest any control after Duckett and Bethell laid a solid foundation. Bethell, despite his struggles in between, batted with flair and confidence to get his first ODI fifty as an opener with a top-edge pull off Arshdeep Singh.

His knock carried emotional resonance, coming days after the passing of Sir Garfield Sobers, whom Bethell credited as a formative influence in his quest to play for England. He eventually fell for 91 to Prasidh, but not before stitching a monumental 192-run opening stand with Duckett - the highest for any wicket by England against India in ODIs.

Duckett, meanwhile, was in imperious touch as he showcased a masterclass in timing and placement. He reached his fourth ODI hundred with a blistering pull off Gurnoor Brar, and then marched past Viv Richards' iconic 138 not out from the 1979 World Cup final to set a new record for most runs hit by a batter in an ODI game at Lord's. When Prince Yadav's slower bouncer finally accounted for him, the crowd rose in unison to salute a knock that will be etched in Lord's folklore.

Joe Root's arrival only deepened India's woes. In the form of his life, Root notched his sixth consecutive ODI fifty - an unprecedented feat in the format. Harry Brook's cameo of 14 ended when he holed out to Virat Kohli at long-on, giving Krishna his second wicket. But that dismissal only set the stage for Jos Buttler's pyrotechnics. Walking in with just 19 balls left, Buttler launched a brutal assault, including three consecutive sixes down the ground, a reverse-scoop, and a yorker drilled past deep third man.

His 63-run stand with Root came off just 20 balls, propelling England past 380 and ensuring the innings closed with a bang. Buttler's blitz, an unbeaten 41 off just 13 balls, was the killer blow as England amassed 126 runs in the last ten overs, 82 of which came in the final five overs.

India's inexperienced bowling attack was wayward and ineffective, as they conceded 26 extras. Gurnoor Brar's 0-97 became the most expensive ODI figures at Lord's, surpassing Karsan Ghavri conceding 81 runs in 1975, as Sunday afternoon was a chastening reminder of their lack of bowling depth.

Facing a daunting task to chase 388, India's chase began with Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson testing both Gill and Rohit. Rohit took time to settle before breaking the shackles in the sixth over with a streaky boundary over slip off Atkinson. Gill looked in sublime touch, reaching his half-century in 53 balls.

After the first drinks break, Rohit and Gill brought up India's century of the opening partnership in the 19th over off Rashid, marking the first instance of both teams recording a century-run opening stand in an ODI at this venue. The formidable 147-run opening stand was finally broken in the 25th over when Gill missed a slider while trying to sweep Rashid and was trapped lbw, as he departed after a well-made 77 off 84 balls.

With a century in sight, Rohit turned ferocious in the 29th over against Josh Tongue, smoking a slower delivery straight down the ground into the stands for back-to-back maximums. Rohit answered his critics in emphatic fashion by slog-sweeping Rashid for four to bring up his 34th ODI century off just 85 balls - quashing intense end-of-career speculations. It marked the first ODI hundred by an Indian batter at Lord's.

Rohit's 138, laced with 17 fours and five sixes, became the highest individual ODI score by an Indian batsman against England in their own backyard. The spectacular 70-run second-wicket partnership was finally broken in the 39th over when Rohit, after launching Bethell for a towering six, attempted a sweep against a straight arm ball, but missed it completely and was clean bowled. While walking back, he got a standing ovation from the Lord's crowd.

Kohli eventually compiled a 42-ball 74. However, Curran got England firmly ahead in the game by having Kishan and Shreyas Iyer caught out in the space of four balls. Once Kohli miscued to cover on a slower ball from Curran and fell for 74, the result was a foregone conclusion in England's favour as India finished 27 runs short of the target to end their tour with eighth defeat.

The series defeat will force the Indian team management to closely examine their bowling attack and overall team composition. The visitors will have to address critical selection dilemmas, including whether they erred by benching premier spinner Kuldeep Yadav throughout the tour, particularly at Lord’s and if the playing eleven lacked a genuine sixth bowling option.

Brief Scores: England 387/3 in 50 overs (Ben Duckett 141, Jacob Bethell 91; Prasidh Krishna 2-69, Prince Yadav 1-79) beat India 360/7 in 50 overs (Rohit Sharma 138, Shubman Gill 77; Sam Curran 4-75, Jacob Bethell 1-49) by 27 runs

--IANS

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New Delhi, July 20 (IANS) A ceiling fan suddenly fell from the roof in Ward 27 of Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital late on Saturday evening, triggering an immediate response from hospital authorities.

Fortunately, the incident caused no major injuries to patients, attendants or hospital staff.

According to an official statement from GTB Hospital, New Delhi, the incident occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. on July 18, 2026, in one of the cubicles of Ward 27. Upon receiving information from ward staff, the Public Works Department (PWD) maintenance team promptly reached the spot. They secured the affected area, removed the damaged fan, and installed a new ceiling fan to restore normalcy in the ward.

A detailed inspection of the fallen fan was conducted on July 19. The examination revealed that the fan shaft had fractured, causing the fan to fall. Hospital authorities described the failure of the fan shaft as “highly unusual” and not expected under normal operating conditions. A thorough investigation into the cause of the mechanical failure has been ordered by the hospital administration.

At the time of the incident, a patient admitted to the affected cubicle was unconscious and undergoing treatment for uncontrolled hypertension complicated by stroke/encephalopathy and aspiration pneumonia leading to respiratory failure, the statement said.

Following the fan incident, the patient was immediately assessed by the medical team. Doctors conducted a thorough clinical examination to check for any injuries caused by the falling fan. No signs of external injury were found, it further said.

Tragically, the patient succumbed to his pre-existing medical conditions on the afternoon of July 19, 2026. Hospital officials clarified that the cause of death was respiratory failure stemming from the patient’s underlying ailments and was not related to the ceiling fan incident.

The body of the deceased was handed over to the relatives after completing necessary formalities. Hospital authorities reassured that patient safety remains a top priority. The swift action by the maintenance team helped prevent any escalation of the situation.

GTB serves a large number of patients from Delhi and the surrounding areas.

--IANS

sktr/dan

Tehran, July 20 (IANS) The Indian Embassy in Iran on Sunday issued a revised advisory for Indian nationals amid an increase in levels of instability and conflict in Iran.

The advisory asked the nationals to postpone travel to Iran and asked any Indians who are already in Iran to consider leaving temporarily.

“Indian nationals intending to travel to Iran for any purpose should postpone travel for the time being until the security environment improves. Indians already in Iran should consider temporarily exiting Iran, using available flight options,” stated the advisory.

“Indian nationals who choose to remain in Iran should exercise the highest possible level of caution. They should carefully monitor the news to maintain full situational awareness and should avoid locations seeing higher levels of military activity, such as those along the southern coast of the country. Instructions issued by local authorities should be complied with carefully,” it added.

The Embassy also asked any Indian nationals present in Iran who have not yet registered their details with the Embassy to do so immediately, and to regularly monitor the Embassy's website and social media handles for further updates.

The tensions between Iran and the US have flared again recently as both sides have traded rounds of attacks across the Middle East.

Iran has ceased the fulfilment of its obligations under the peace memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United States as Washington has violated its commitments under the deal, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said.

Meanwhile, US forces have completed another round of strikes against Iran, with more than 50,000 US troops in the Middle East remaining "highly vigilant," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

"During the eighth consecutive night of US strikes, CENTCOM forces successfully hit Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defence facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites to continue degrading Iranian military capabilities," CENTCOM said in a post on social media platform X.

The US military also targeted Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which "launched attacks against US service members in Jordan on July 17," the command said.

–IANS

ksk/uk

Bhubaneswar, July 20 (IANS) The Commissionerate Police on Sunday arrested two persons, including a woman, for allegedly duping a Bhubaneswar-based couple of around Rs 90 lakh by luring them to invest in a legitimate online dollar trading business with the promise of high returns.

The accused were identified as Nilima Satpathy (41) of Bharatpur area in Bhubaneswar and Manoj Kumar Satpathy (43) of Koeri area in Jajpur district.

According to the police, the case (381/26) was registered at Nayapalli police station in Bhubaneswar on the complaint of Samarjit Baliarsingh, who alleged that the accused duo lured him to invest in the online dollar trading business, claiming it to be legitimate, by promising substantial profits to the tune of Rs 1.30 crore within six months.

Police said the victim, Baliarsingh, had known the accused Nilima since 2009 and trusted her. Taking advantage of the long-standing acquaintance, the accused allegedly persuaded the complainant and his wife, Sonakshi Lenka, to invest in the trading business between February and July 2025.

During the investigation, the police found that the couple invested a total of Rs 97,28,700 in multiple instalments after being promised high returns.

To gain their confidence, the accused initially returned Rs 7,95,000. However, they allegedly failed to repay the remaining Rs 89,33,700 despite repeated demands. The police said the accused continued to mislead the complainant by citing banking issues and sending fake screenshots and fabricated digital documents to create an impression that the money transfer was in process.

When the complainant sought the return of the remaining amount, the accused allegedly abused and threatened him and his wife. During the investigation, police seized bank statements, WhatsApp chats, an affidavit executed by Nilima, a written settlement agreement and six post-dated HDFC Bank cheques.

According to the Commissionerate Police, the documentary and electronic evidence, along with the statements of the complainant and his wife, prima facie established that substantial financial transactions had taken place and that the accused had promised to repay the outstanding amount.

Following the investigation, police arrested the accused duo, who reportedly admitted to their involvement in the alleged fraud.

--IANS

grm/dan

London, July 19 (IANS) Rohit Sharma's magnificent 138, also the first ODI hundred by an Indian batter at Lord’s went in vain as clinical England defeated India by 27 runs in a high-scoring thriller on Sunday to clinch the three-match ODI series 2-1.

Chasing a whopping target of 388, India mounted a spirited challenge but ultimately finished at 360/7 as England executed a disciplined death-bowling display to seal a well-earned victory. Apart from Rohit’s 138, laced with 17 fours and five sixes, skipper Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli hit 77 and 74 respectively.

The primary difference between the two sides lay in England’s explosive finish with the bat, where they plundered a decisive 82 runs from the final five overs, with Jos Buttler hitting 41 of those in just 13 balls and a game-changing post-30th-over spell from young Jacob Bethell.

With his part-time left-arm spin, Bethell turned the match on its head by delivering an economical seven-over spell, conceding just 49 runs and claiming the prized scalp of Rohit, as India went from a commanding 260/1 to 329/7. Apart from Bethell, Sam Curran stood out with his clever slower balls to strangle India’s charge and end up with 4-75.

India’s chase began with Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson testing both Gill and Rohit. Gill suffered an uncomfortable blow to his right arm from an Atkinson delivery in the second over but recovered quickly to smash Archer for a beautiful cover drive for India's first boundary in the next over.

Rohit took time to settle before breaking the shackles in the sixth over with a streaky boundary over slip off Atkinson. He then launched an aggressive assault on first-change bowler Josh Tongue in the eighth over - hammering two consecutive boundaries and a colossal pull shot for a six to pick up 14 runs.

The introduction of Sam Curran yielded more runs for India as Gill brought up India’s 50-run mark in the 11th over, while Rohit pulled another short delivery over the square leg boundary for his second six.

Gill looked in sublime touch, greeting leg-spinner Adil Rashid with a brilliant inside-out boundary over extra cover before comfortably reaching his half-century in 53 balls and followed it up with a majestic cover drive against Atkinson in the 16th over.

After the first drinks break, Rohit and Gill brought up India’s century of the opening partnership in the 19th over off Rashid, marking the first instance of both teams recording a century-run opening stand in an ODI at this venue.

Gill looked in superb touch, cutting off-spinner Will Jacks through point for a boundary before executing a massive six over deep mid-wicket in the 22nd over, though he immediately required medical attention for cramps.

At the other end, Rohit launched a calculated assault - moving across his stumps to paddle consecutive boundaries off Atkinson to fine leg and get his fifty in style. He then targetted Archer and Adil Rashid by his trademark sweep and pull shots to pick up regular boundaries.

The formidable 147-run opening stand was finally broken in the 25th over when Gill missed a slider while trying to sweep Rashid and was trapped lbw, which was confirmed by DRS. Virat Kohli quickly found his rhythm, drilling Rashid straight back down the ground for a boundary before carting Archer through the leg-side for another four.

With a century in sight, Rohit turned ferocious in the 29th over against Josh Tongue - clearing his front foot to pump a slot ball over cow corner for a six, and followed it up by smoking a slower delivery straight down the ground into the stands for back-to-back maximums.

Rohit answered his critics in emphatic fashion by slog-sweeping Rashid for four and bring up his 34th ODI century off just 85 balls - letting his bat do the talking and quash intense end of career speculations.

Amidst Kohli suffering a slowdown, Rohit was effective in smashing Sam Curran and left-arm spinner Jacob Bethell for regular boundaries. In the process, Rohit’s 138 became the highest individual ODI score by an Indian batsman against England in their own backyard.

The spectacular 70-run second-wicket partnership was finally broken in the 39th over when Rohit, after launching Bethell for a towering six over deep mid-wicket, attempted a sweep against a straight arm ball, but missed it completely and was clean bowled, and while walking back, he got a standing ovation from the Lord's crowd.

With Ishan Kishan joining in, Kohli remained steady and rotated strike cautiously before shifting his gears - getting his fifty in 46 balls by lofting Jacks straight down the ground for six, before whipping him for another maximum.

But Curran got England ahead in the game by having Kishan and Shreyas Iyer caught out in four balls. Once Kohli, who lofted Bethell straight down the ground for six, miscued to cover on a slower ball from Curran, the result was a foregone conclusion – in England’s favour.

Brief Scores: England 387/3 in 50 overs (Ben Duckett 141, Jacob Bethell 91; Prasidh Krishna 2-69, Prince Yadav 1-79) beat India 360/7 in 50 overs (Rohit Sharma 138, Shubman Gill 77; Sam Curran 4-75, Jacob Bethell 1-49) by 27 runs

--IANS

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Moscow, July 19 (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday thanked the North Korean authorities for their decision to send soldiers from the Korean People's Army to participate in the ‘liberation of the Kursk region,’ local media reported.

During a meeting with North Korean Foreign Minister Choi Son-hui, President Putin expressed gratitude for Russia's support for the Joint Military Operation, Russia’s state-owned Tass news agency reported.

"I would like to once again express my gratitude for the support of our special military operation and for the decision to send soldiers from the Korean People's Army to participate in the liberation of the Kursk region," the head of state said.

Choe left Pyongyang on her official plane to visit Russia at the invitation of her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). It did not disclose further details, including the purpose of the visit or her itinerary.

Russia's foreign ministry announced Saturday (local time) that Choe had arrived in Moscow for an "official visit," without revealing other details, Yonhap News Agency reported.

It marks Choe's first trip to Russia since October, when she visited Moscow on a "working visit" and Belarus to attend a global security forum.

Speculation has arisen that Choe is visiting Moscow to coordinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's potential trip to Russia, given the absence of major diplomatic events or anniversaries between the two countries.

North Korea and Russia have been deepening their ties since Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty in June 2024. Putin has invited Kim to visit Moscow for summit talks.

Following the signing of the treaty, North Korea has sent thousands of troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine and has deepened bilateral cooperation in various fields.

Choe's trip also comes amid Pyongyang's efforts to strengthen its relations with China, the North's traditional ally and economic benefactor.

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Pyongyang last month for talks with the North's leader, and the two countries have recently bolstered high-level exchanges on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of their friendship treaty.

--IANS

ksk/dan

Sanaa, July 19 (IANS) A senior Houthi official warned on Sunday that Saudi Arabia's "valuable targets" are within range of the group's forces, and that the Houthis are prepared to "pay the highest price" to end what it calls a blockade imposed on Yemen.

Abdullah Al-Naami, a member of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, told Lebanon-based broadcaster Al Mayadeen that Sanaa International Airport would receive flights "from all countries," and cautioned that any Saudi attempt to prevent flights to or from the airport would trigger "a comprehensive response."

Al-Naami also warned that if the United States joined Saudi Arabia in military action against Yemen, Washington would "find itself in a predicament."

The remarks came amid renewed tensions over the Sanaa airport. On Monday, Yemen's internationally recognised government struck the runway at the airport to prevent an Iranian aircraft carrying a senior Houthi delegation from landing, forcing it to divert to Hodeidah. The Houthis later claimed missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia's Abha International Airport, Xinhua News Agency reported.

"Saudi warplanes also launched airstrikes on Hodeidah airport in an attempt to stop the aircraft from landing," a source claimed.

Subsequently, Yemen's internationally recognised government ordered the closure of all airports across the country and suspended civilian flight operations until further notice.

The Yemeni Armed Forces claimed responsibility for the strikes on the Sanaa airport, saying it struck the runway, after the Houthis rejected government proposals for the Houthi delegation to return from Tehran aboard a non-Iranian aircraft under government supervision.

The Houthi delegation had travelled to Iran for the funeral ceremonies of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

On Friday, Jordan officially announced an initiative to launch regular commercial flights between Amman and Sanaa, which was welcomed by the Yemeni government but rejected by the Houthis.

Yemen has been mired in conflict since late 2014, when the Houthis seized control of Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene the following year in support of the Yemeni government.

–IANS

ksk/uk

New York, July 19 (IANS) The 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey got off to a spectacular start on Sunday as IShowSpeed, Post Malone and a host of global music stars headlined a star-studded closing ceremony before the biggest match in world football.

The ceremony took place before the kick-off at the venue officially known by FIFA as the New York New Jersey Stadium. It wrapped up the month-long tournament with a celebration of music, culture, and football. Jennifer Hudson started the event with a powerful performance of the United States national anthem. Post Malone then took the stage as the main performer. He was joined by Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and internet sensation IShowSpeed. Hollywood star Tom Cruise also made a special appearance.

FIFA World Cup Chief Operating Officer Heimo Schirgi mentioned that the ceremony would reflect the excitement of the tournament's opening celebrations in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

“Echoing the spirit of the opening ceremonies, which welcomed the world to the greatest stage in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the closing ceremony will bring the FIFA World Cup 2026 full circle through music, culture, and football before we kick off the highly anticipated match that will crown the champions of this groundbreaking tournament,” Schirgi said.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised the impressive line-up before the event.

“We are thrilled to have so many stars taking to the pitch from both the football and entertainment worlds,” Infantino said. “The closing ceremony will set the tone for a historic FIFA World Cup final, uniting the passion of 48 teams, 16 host cities, and millions of fans on one unforgettable stage.”

After the pre-match celebrations, the final was set to include the first-ever halftime show in the 96-year history of the FIFA World Cup. Curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, the show was expected to feature Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, and BTS as co-headliners, along with Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, the PS22 Chorus, and Coldplay.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 13 (IANS) Maharashtra NCP(SP) President Shashikant Shinde has written a commemorative editorial in the party’s magazine, shedding light on the hidden dynamics of the split and the alleged merger plans between the two NCP factions.

Shinde claimed that late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was forced to exit the original NCP due to threats and conspiracies orchestrated by "invisible powers."

He further said that a final decision to merge the two parties was reached in the presence of Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar and was to be announced on February 12.

In a massive revelation, Shinde asserted that Sharad Pawar and other senior leaders had agreed to hand over the entire command of the unified party to Ajit Pawar following the merger.

“Fulfilling this merger and rebuilding the party with strength would be the only true tribute to Ajit Dada," Shinde wrote.

Shinde clarified, "It was our decision to hand over all party responsibilities to Ajit Dada once the merger process was complete. However, fate had other plans. We were all mentally prepared to accept Ajit Dada’s leadership.”

Shinde appealed to the party faithful, asserting that a merger is the only true tribute to the late leader. He noted, “Ajit Pawar’s dream remains unfulfilled, and it is now the party's responsibility to complete it. Unity: Reuniting and strengthening the NCP is the ultimate goal. Leaders and workers must set aside their differences and broaden their perspective to achieve this unity.”

Following the publication of the article, senior NCP(SP) leader and former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh remarked, "I am unaware of what our State President has said. Since he wrote the article, he likely has more information than I do. I personally have no knowledge of this matter."

While Sharad Pawar has avoided commenting publicly on the matter, Shinde’s article has brought these behind-the-scenes developments to light. However, Shinde’s revelations have sparked a new controversy and the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) has reacted with sharp skepticism.

Party spokesperson Suraj Chavan questioned the timing of these claims. Chavan alleged that discussing a merger while the leader’s mortal remains were still at Vidya Pratishthan suggests a "lust for power" rather than genuine respect. He clarified that Sunetra Pawar is now the ultimate authority of their party and any dialogue must happen through her.

Further, the party legislator Amol Mitkari stated that no such merger discussions have occurred within their internal party meetings, attributing the rumours to the rival camp's leaders.

While the Pawar family continues to demonstrate a unique balance of political rivalry and familial bond — recently seen at family weddings — the political future remains clouded.

All eyes are now on Sunetra Pawar. Whether she will pursue the "unfulfilled dream" of a unified NCP or maintain a separate identity, remains a question that will define the next chapter of Maharashtra politics.

--IANS

sj/rad

New Delhi, Feb 13 (IANS) India’s share in global electronics demand has expanded at a rapid compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.2 per cent, significantly outpacing global growth of 4.4 per cent between 2015 and 2024, driven primarily by the sharp rise in mobile phone exports, according to NITI Aayog's Trade Watch Quarterly report for July-September 2025-26, launched on Friday.

Between 2016 and 2024, electronics exports increased nearly five-fold, reaching USD 42.1 billion. With global electronics trade valued at USD 4.6 trillion, the sector represents one of the largest and fastest-evolving segments of the world economy. India has demonstrated particular strength in products such as mobile phones, consumer electronics, and communication equipment, with exports increasingly directed towards major final-consumption markets including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the UAE, the report states.

Electronics, the thematic focus of this quarter's edition, has emerged as a cornerstone of India's manufacturing and export transformation. Now the second-largest item in India's export basket, the sector is both technology-led and deeply interconnected with industries such as automotive, renewable energy, telecom, defence, and digital services, making it a powerful multiplier for industrial growth.

The report states that having established a strong foothold in assembly and system integration, India is now entering the next phase of its electronics journey, moving decisively toward component manufacturing and higher value addition. This transition is supported by targeted policy measures, including the Union Budget's Rs 40,000 crore allocation under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme, aimed at strengthening domestic capabilities.

The analysis underscores that sustained competitiveness will be driven by deeper integration into global electronics value chains, encompassing printed circuit board design, semiconductor assembly and testing, power electronics, and embedded systems. Complemented by continued improvements in logistics efficiency, tariff rationalisation, and industry-aligned skill development, these shifts position electronics as a key engine of India's export growth and technological advancement in the coming decade.

NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Suman Bery said, "Electronics, as the organising core of modern manufacturing value chains, with semiconductors and components, plays a key role in determining trade balances and technological sovereignty. While India has achieved scale in final assembly, sustained competitiveness will depend on correcting structural cost disabilities, deepening domestic component ecosystems, and leveraging anchor investments in components to embed Indian firms more firmly within global production networks."

The publication also provides a comprehensive assessment of global and domestic trade trends at a time when global trade growth has moderated but remains positive, with services continuing to outperform goods and developing regions emerging as key drivers.

The analysis highlights that India's trade performance in Q2 FY26 was driven by export-led momentum sustaining the overall trade expansion amid heightened global uncertainty. Services and merchandise exports recorded robust growth of around 8.5 per cent, outpacing import growth in both merchandise and services.

At a structural level, the edition underscores the deepening of trade among developing economies, which has expanded nearly four-fold since 2005 and now accounts for a rising share of global exports, with India’s trade trajectory increasingly aligned with this Global South rebalancing through regional value chains and new trade corridors.

Further, this edition highlights the growing role of e-commerce as a key enabler of future export growth. India is now among the world’s top six e-commerce markets, with electronics accounting for nearly half of online retail.

--IANS

sps/svn

New Delhi, Feb 13 (IANS) In a farmer-centric step to stabilise domestic markets and ensure remunerative returns to producers, the Centre on Friday approved the export of 25 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of wheat, along with an additional 5 LMT of wheat products.

According to a Consumer Affairs Ministry statement, wheat stock availability with private entities during 2025–26 stands at approximately 75 LMT, which is nearly 32 LMT higher compared to the corresponding period last year.

"This substantial year-on-year increase indicates a comfortable supply position in the country. Furthermore, as on April 1, 2026, total wheat availability in the central pool with FCI is projected at around 182 LMT, thus ensuring that export permissions will not impact domestic food security requirements," it said.

Moreover, wheat acreage in Rabi 2026 has also increased to about 334.17 lakh hectares compared to 328.04 lakh hectares last year.

This reflects strong farmer confidence in wheat cultivation supported by assured MSP and procurement mechanisms, and signals the likelihood of another robust harvest, the official statement further added.

The decision to permit export of 25 LMT of wheat and 5 LMT wheat products will help stabilise domestic prices, improve market liquidity, ensure efficient stock rotation, and further strengthen farmers’ income while ensuring national food security.

Meanwhile, to facilitate sugar exports, the government decided to allow export of an additional 5 LMT of sugar to willing sugar mills during the current Sugar Season 2025–26.

Earlier, the government had permitted the export of 15 LMT of sugar during the current Sugar Season 2025–26. This decision is expected to facilitate higher sugar exports and help in managing surplus sugar availability in the country.

As per data, only about 1.97 LMT of sugar has been exported up to January 31, 2026.

In addition, approximately 2.72 LMT of sugar has been contracted for export by sugar mills to date.

The ministry said that the additional export quantity of 5 LMT shall be made available to willing sugar mills, subject to the condition that at least 70 per cent of their allocated quantity is exported by June 30, 2026.

--IANS

na/vd

Los Angeles, July 19 (IANS) Hollywood actor Josh Duhamel has opened up about the moment when realization about his age gap between him and his wife hit him like a trainwreck.

The actor revealed the exact moment when he realised he was "too old" for his wife, Audra Mari. The 53-year-old actor shared that he has a much younger sister, Kassidy, who is almost the same age as his wife.

The actor appeared on ‘The HoneyDew With Ryan Sickler’ podcast, and shared that he saw a baby photo of his sister, which drove home the size of the age gap between himself and 32-year-old Audra Mari.

The couple tied the knot in 2022 after four years of dating. The actor revealed that his wife and his sibling were born just "months apart".

He said on The HoneyDew With Ryan Sickler podcast, “Kassidy came along, and I was playing football at Minot State University. Warming up on the sideline. And I remember looking up at the stands, and I see my mom and (she) has this bump. And I’m like, ‘What the, Is my mom pregnant?’ I was 21 years old, and she’s having another baby. And I was like, ‘Oh my god, you gotta be kidding me!’ So, now we love it”.

The actor then said how there is a photo of him at 21 holding the "little bitty infant" Kassidy. He said, “I looked at the photo, and I looked at my wife, and I said, ‘You know, you and Kassidy are exactly the same age’. (I thought) 'Is that a highlight or a lowlight? I’m not sure'. (I told Audra), 'Ooof, I am officially too old for you’. They’re literally like months apart in age. I never looked at it like that until I saw that photo. I was like, ‘Wait a second’”.

The actor recently shared that he initially dismissed the idea of dating Audra because he thought she was "too young" for him but she soon changed his mind.

Appearing on The Skinny Confidential podcast, he said, "We had a barbecue at my house .. "She and I had been in contact because I knew she was from North Dakota, she'd done really, really well in Miss USA (beauty pageant). I wasn't even inviting her because I wanted to date her because she was too young for me to be honest”.

“I wasn't looking for (that). I'm not going to be that dude. So I invited her and she comes to the door and I'm like, 'Holy s***. (She's) so beautiful’. I was still like: 'No, no, no'”.

However, Josh was won over by Audra after seeing the way she interacted with the children at the barbecue, admitting she came across as "really wholesome" and reminded him of "home".

--IANS

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Los Angeles, July 19 (IANS) Hollywood actress Jennifer Aniston, who is known for her work in the iconic sitcom ‘Friends’, once shared that she would like to live a child free life.

An old clip of her podcast with Monica Padman has now resurfaced on the Internet, and it shows the actress talking about how she doesn’t really want to take up the responsibility of parenting a child.

In the video, Monica said, “You’re on the other side of that (parenthood), and I wonder if there’s peace there”.

Jennifer Aniston said, “Oh, it’s so peaceful. It’s so peaceful. But there’s a point where it’s out of my control. There’s literally nothing I can do about it. And when people say, ‘But you can adopt’, I don’t want to adopt. I want my own DNA in a little person. Selfish or not, whatever that is, I wanted it to come. But are there moments? This goes around into probably a topic I don’t really want to discuss, but when you meet someone and you go, ‘God, we would have made some good kids’. That might come up, and then that’ll pass within three seconds”.

Actor and comedian Dax Shepard chipped in, as he said, “You’ll plan a trip to Mexico”.

Jennifer said, “Just take a look at that vacation for five minutes and you’re like, ‘Good night. Bye. See you later. What are we going to watch?’ It’s romanticizing, but once you are on the other side of it, it’s out of your control. It just wasn’t in the plan”.

The actress has been married twice. She married actor Brad Pitt in 2000, but the high-profile couple divorced in 2005 amid intense media scrutiny. She went on to marry actor-director Justin Theroux. They announced their separation in 2018.

The actress has spoken candidly about the public pressure surrounding motherhood, revealing that assumptions about her personal life were often hurtful. The Emmy-winning actress has consistently emphasised that a woman's success and fulfilment should not be defined by marriage or having children.

--IANS

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Mumbai, July 19 (IANS) Music composer Amaal Mallik has shared that he fought the system of Hindi film music all alone more than a decade ago, and didn’t receive any support.

His recent statement comes in the light of the ongoing controversy over alleged non-payment of dues to music composer Tanishk Bagchi.

On Sunday, Amaal Mallik took to his X, formerly Twitter, and shared a picture of himself looking into the camera with a dead pan expression. He also penned a note in the caption. However, he did not explicitly mention Tanishk Bagchi or the music label YRF.

He wrote, “People in the music industry waking up 10 years too late. Where were you in 2015 when I was fighting the system alone”.

Amaal Mallik has repeatedly spoken out against what he describes as unfair practices within the Indian music industry. He has criticised the growing influence of labels over creative decisions, alleging that talented composers and singers are often sidelined in favour of commercially driven choices.

He has also questioned the lack of transparency in credit distribution, royalty structures and opportunities for independent musicians.

On Saturday, Tanishk Bagchi, who composed the title of the blockbuster film ‘Saiyaara’, alleged that he hasn’t been paid the royalty for the chartbuster track. He took to his Instagram, and shared the poster of the film. He also penned a long note in the caption, and shared how he feels betrayed as he wasn’t remunerated correctly.

He wrote, “This was my first film with @yrfentertainment @yrfmusic I agreed to everything because I believed in the music. I gave this song everything I had. From the production to the composition, working with the lyricist and singers, recording, vocal tuning, sound, arrangements every single detail mattered to me. I treated it like it was my own. Whatever YRF had paid me, all of that nominal amount was used to do the live and mixes ..what was left was zero, yes. That's what I earned from a song so big”.

He further mentioned that as per the documentation and paperwork behind the making of the song, he is yet to receive INR 8 lacs as royalty for the song.

YRF, on its part, released an official statement, and said that the song wasn’t solely composed by Tanishk Bagchi, but it was a collaboration between 3 composers Tanishk Bagchi, Faheem Abdullah and Arslan Nizami. They shared that the royalties for the title track have been shared equally with all 3 composers, and will continue to be shared by the production house.

--IANS

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Chennai, July 19 (IANS) Stating that peace had found her and that she no longer needed to take any more permissions or be in fear, actress Anupama Parameswaran has now said, "I choose my voice."

Taking to her Instagram page to pen a rather cryptic post that gave the impression that she was finally free from something that had been imprisoning her, the actress wrote," Sometimes, you have to let go of the dead ends to finally find your peace. And today, peace found me."

She further said, "From today, I choose my voice.I choose my life.No more permissions.No more fear.Just me, finding my way back to myself and falling in love with the life I almost forgot was mine. And there’s something I’ve wanted to say for a very long time…Something I wasn’t allowed to say for far too long. I love you all."

She wrote, "Thank you for standing by me, believing in me, and filling my life with so much love. If I haven’t said it enough before, please know that I have always felt it. Every message, every prayer, every ounce of kindness reached me when I needed it the most. Thank you, Universe, for leading me back to myself."

Anupama concluded the post saying, "Here’s to healing.Here’s to freedom. Here’s to choosing myself. And here’s to a life that is finally, completely, unapologetically my own."

On the work front, Anupama next has director Sampath Nandi's explosive action drama 'Bhogi' coming up for release. The makers of the film, which features actor Sharwanand in the lead, had in April this year released the look of Anupama Parameswaran as Kandula Sulochana Rani in the film.

The poster released showed Anupama as a village belle, walking barefoot on a dusty rural path. Sources had disclosed to IANS that Sulochana will be a spirited person who is deeply rooted in nature. The character in the film would be seen earning her livelihood by crafting leaf plates from Moduga leaves. Sulochana, sources claimed, would be shown as a person embodying both resilience and quiet strength.

The makers had revealed on actor Sharwanand's birthday that he played a character called Ganga in the eagerly awaited action thriller.

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IANS

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