Miami, July 9 (IANS) England defender John Stones has revealed the story behind the dressing-room prank that left head coach Thomas Tuchel briefly fearing he had suffered a shoulder injury after England’s 3-2 victory over Mexico at the FIFA World Cup.Speaking ahead of England’s quarterfinal against Norway, Stones admitted the joke was spontaneous, fuelled by the celebratory atmosphere inside the dressing room, and said he never expected the clip to become a social media sensation.The now-viral f…

Los Angeles, July 9 (IANS) Hollywood actor Patrick Dempsey has shared that he gave “real thought” to running for Senate in Maine after the Democratic nominee Graham Platner was hit with sexual assault allegations. However, he ultimately decided to leave the job for someone more qualified, reports ‘Variety’.He wrote in a recent op-ed for the Portland Press Herald, “Over the past several days, I’ve been asked a question more than once: Would you ever run for the United States Senate? I…

New Delhi, July 9 (IANS) Innovation-led research, science-based regulatory frameworks, climate-resilient technologies and deeper global collaboration will be central to strengthening India’s seed ecosystem and enhancing agricultural productivity, experts said on Thursday.Policymakers, scientists, industry leaders and international experts at ASSOCHAM’s India Seed Trade & Innovation Summit 2026 discussed strategies to strengthen India’s competitiveness in the global seed value chain through i…

Melbourne, July 9 (IANS) Highlighting the growing trend of ‘Bhajan Clubbing’ among India’s Gen Z, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that he has heard that the Indian community in Australia remains deeply connected to its roots, with weekends marked by faith, spirituality, cultural activities, and community gatherings. He noted that the Indian Film Festival would begin in Melbourne in the coming days and conveyed his best wishes for its successful organisation.Addressing the massive I…

Melbourne, July 9 (IANS) In a rousing address that electrified thousands of members of the Indian diaspora at the ‘Melbourne meets Modi’ event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi showcased his trademark charisma, connecting deeply with the audience through heartfelt anecdotes, a bold vision, and infectious optimism. Speaking at the iconic Marvel Stadium, PM Modi asserted, “The world is witnessing the capability and credibility of India’s defence platforms. You must have seen a demonstration of thi…

Brussels, July 9 (IANS) The European Parliament has approved an amendment that slammed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to change the name of an elite Ukrainian military unit after the second World War era Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a move that has sparked a diplomatic dispute between Warsaw and Kyiv, a report has said. Most of the members of the European Parliament voted in favour of the amendment, which expressed regret over Zelensky’s “recent unnecessary and unprovoked e…

Chennai, July 9 (IANS) The Madras High Court has initiated proceedings in a series of election petitions challenging the victories of several MLAs elected in the recent Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, issuing notices in some cases while granting time to rectify defects in others. Justice P.B. Balaji, hearing a batch of five election petitions, directed the respondents to file their replies and posted the matters for further hearing on August 21.One of the petitions has been filed by Gandhimathina…

Thiruvananthapuram, July 9 (IANS) Kerala unit Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Thursday dismissed as completely false an alleged BJP office circular that has been circulating on social media platforms and aired by some television news channels, asserting that the document was fabricated to malign the party.In a statement, Chandrasekhar, one of the BJP’s three MLAs in the 140-member Kerala Assembly, categorically denied reports suggesting financial irregularities in …

Guwahati, July 9 (IANS) The long-pending proposal to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six communities in Assam is still under the consideration of the Central government, with Education and Tribal Affairs Minister Ranoj Pegu on Thursday stating that it cannot specify any timeline for completion of the process as the matter falls within the Centre’s constitutional jurisdiction. Replying to a question raised by MLA Chakradhar Gogoi during the Assam Legislative Assembly session, Pegu said the i…

New Delhi, July 9 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that India is aiming to become a developed nation with the building of a new manufacturing ecosystem “from chips to ships” and is working on 6G technology to lead global innovation. Addressing the Indian community in Melbourne, Prime Minister Modi added that India has grown from a few hundred to over two lakh registered startups, with more than 4,000 new ventures launching every month.He praised the youth of India for transfo…