New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) Former AIFF general secretary Shaji Prabhakaran believes the ongoing deadlock over the scheduling of the 2025–26 Indian Super League (ISL) season is likely to be resolved following Thursday’s scheduled meeting between the national federation and ISL club CEOs. Amid the uncertainty over the future of India’s top-flight football tournament, many ISL clubs have suspended their first-team operations for an indefinite time.”We can expect the end of this impasse as the powe…

Burnley, Aug 7 (IANS) French midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu reflected on his move from Chelsea to Burnley for an undisclosed fee and said joining the Clarets is the perfect decision for him at this stage of his career. The talented 21-year-old has signed a five-year contract at Turf Moor after Burnley beat off stiff competition from around the Premier League and Europe for his signature. In putting pen to paper, Ugochukwu becomes the seventh addition to Scott Parker’s squad this summer.“It’s …

London, Aug 7 (IANS) Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted that his side were guilty of naive defending, which ultimately cost them in a 3-2 friendly defeat to Villarreal – their second consecutive pre-season loss. After opening their pre-season campaign with wins over AC Milan and Newcastle United, Arsenal suffered a setback against Tottenham Hotspur and followed it up with another defeat on Wednesday, going 2-0 down within the first 33 minutes at the Emirates Stadium against the Spanish side.”…

Kuala Lumpur, Aug 7 (IANS) India have been drawn with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan in Group G of the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026 Qualifiers, following the draw conducted at the AFC House here on Thursday.The draw saw 27 teams divided into eight groups – three of four teams each and five of three. They will contest the qualifiers in a single round-robin centralised league format from October 13 to 17.India will face Kyrgyzstan on October 13 and Uzbekistan on October 17 in Bishkek.The eigh…

New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) Women’s leadership is central to driving female development for Viksit Bharat, said Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi on Thursday.She said this while inaugurating the second edition of UN Women’s flagship capacity-building programme — SheLeads II: Workshop for Women Leaders, in New Delhi.“Women’s leadership is not just a matter of representation, it is central to driving women-led development for a Viksit Bharat,” Devi said.“Initia…

Mumbai, Aug 7 (IANS) Bollywood actor Kunal Kemmu has opened up about his debut track, “Loche,” revealing that the song comes from a very personal place in his life. Stepping into the world of music, the ‘Golmaal 3’ actor shared how the track reflects his own experiences and emotions, making the project both special and meaningful for him. Speaking about his new single, Kunal shared, “Loche is really a piece of my life — and I think a lot of others will see theirs in it too. It’s ab…

Mumbai, Aug 7 (IANS) Actor Ankit Siwach has opened up about his role in Farhan Akhtar’s upcoming project “120 Bahadur,” calling it a dream come true. He shared that being part of the film felt like a long-awaited manifestation, as he had envisioned playing such a role for years. The opportunity, he said, is both meaningful and deeply personal. Ankit, who was born and raised in Meerut Cantonment, shares a personal connection to the military, with several members of his family having served …

Mumbai, Aug 7 (IANS) Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez has opened up about the growing importance of mental health and self-care in today’s fast-paced world. Emphasising the need to prioritize mental well-being, the actress highlighted how small practices like meditation and mindfulness can make a big difference in managing daily stress. Speaking on the sidelines of an event in Bhopal, the ‘Kick’ actress pointed out that modern life comes with constant pressure.Jacqueline said, “Tod…

New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) India’s AI technology spending is projected to grow at an annualised rate of 38 per cent from 2023 to reach $10.4 billion in 2028, a report said on Thursday.Around 40 per cent of organisations in India have already implemented agentic AI, and close to 50 per cent are planning to use the technology within the next 12 months, IDC InfoBrief and UiPath said in a joint report.In 2025, AI investments are focused on building the foundational infrastructure required to power tr…

Kolkata, Aug 7 (IANS) Tensions between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the West Bengal government are escalating on multiple fronts, with clear signs that the confrontation could intensify in the coming days.The immediate flashpoint is the ECI’s directive to West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant earlier this week, ordering the suspension of four election officers and the lodging of FIRs against them. The Commission found the officials guilty of irregularities in the addition of nam…