Times of India

NCERT's new Class 9 arts textbook has altered the appearance of the Indus Valley Civilisation's 'Dancing Girl' artefact. The traditionally bare torso is now visually covered in the new edition. This change has drawn criticism from experts who argue it misrepresents the original 4,500-year-old bronze sculpture. The matter is currently under review by NCERT.

During the launch of Kerala's free bus travel scheme for women, Minister Bindu Krishna had payasam spill on her inside a crowded KSRTC bus. The "Priyadarshini" scheme, aimed at women's empowerment, allows free travel on ordinary buses, with the government to reimburse the transport corporation.

Russia denies striking the historic Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery. Moscow claims a US-made Patriot missile hit the UNESCO site. Ukraine insists a Russian attack caused significant damage. The incident occurred during a large-scale Russian assault across Ukraine. President Zelenskiy condemned the strike as an attack on religion and heritage. The dispute highlights differing narratives of the ongoing conflict.

Makeup artist Sshura Khan humorously shut down a troll questioning her marriage to Arbaaz Khan by calling him a "limited-edition vintage model." She also revealed their first date was due to a lost bet and shared details about their daughter's name and motherhood. The couple, who married in December 2023, met on the sets of 'Patna Shukla'.

TV actress Sanchita Ugale, known for her role in 'Kumkum Bhagya', has reportedly died by suicide at the age of 22. She was found hanging in her Nalasopara residence and was declared dead at a hospital. Police have registered an Accidental Death Report and are investigating the circumstances.

Indian students pursuing overseas education are increasingly reassessing where their futures lie. Data from Student Circus shows an 89% rise in engagement with India-based job opportunities between 2023 and 2024, a trend that has remained strong since. As immigration pathways tighten abroad and India's corporate ecosystem expands, globally educated students are viewing the country not as a fallback option, but as a destination offering growth, stability, and long-term career potential.

India is making a significant impact at Eurosatory 2026, showcasing advanced defence technologies with 31 entities, including DRDO and leading private firms. This strong presence highlights India's growing ambition as a global defence supplier, supported by a remarkable 62.66% surge in defence exports to over 80 nations.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a landmark ban on children under 16 from major social media platforms, aiming to protect them from harmful content and online dangers. This "Australia-plus" model targets platforms like TikTok and Instagram, with stricter rules for gaming and AI chatbots. The government emphasizes protecting children's safety and happiness, with enforcement expected by spring 2027.

NEET UG 2026 cyber fraud: Gujarat Police's Cyber Crime Branch, in coordination with the NTA, has arrested a 19-year-old Bihar student for allegedly attempting to divert NEET UG 2026 fee refunds into his own bank accounts. Investigators found that the accused targeted around 350 candidate accounts and gained unauthorized access to nearly 150 accounts with weak passwords. The fraud was detected through the NEET portal's security systems, enabling authorities to trace and apprehend the accused before widespread financial losses occurred.

The expanded FIFA World Cup 2026 is underway across the US, Mexico, and Canada, with the opening days already delivering drama. Half of the groups have completed their first matches, and the tournament is set to feature major stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as they begin their campaigns this week.

India began their Women's T20 World Cup campaign with a 64-run win over Pakistan, powered by Deepti Sharma's five-wicket haul and Smriti Mandhana's 68. After the victory, Shreyanka Patil revealed she battled depression and even considered quitting cricket during her injury layoff. The all-rounder credited her family's support and love for the game for helping her return.

A Home Guard was brutally murdered by her husband in Bengaluru after he lured her to a reconciliation meeting. The accused, addicted to online betting, stabbed Manjula multiple times in front of their children. He had reportedly expressed his intention to kill both himself and his wife in pre-recorded videos. The husband has been arrested.

Shaun Evans, a referee involved in the FIFA World Cup 2026, is under scrutiny after allegedly making an upside-down 'OK' gesture during Germany's match against Curacao. Critics claim the sign is linked to white supremacist groups, prompting Fare Network to demand his removal. FIFA has yet to comment, while the gesture has sparked controversy in sport before.

Elon Musk has refuted claims that his companies, Tesla and SpaceX, owe their success to government aid, stating such incentives represent less than 2% of their value. The debate ignited between Senators Mike Lee and Ed Markey over taxpayer contributions to Musk's wealth. Musk asserted that removing EV tax credits actually boosted Tesla's market share.

Billionaire Mark Cuban warns even the wealthiest entrepreneurs face potential fortune loss from stock market crashes. He highlighted his past wealth exceeding Musk and Bezos combined, emphasizing his focus on passion over rankings. Cuban also voiced concerns about wealth concentration and shared his innovative strategy for safeguarding his $1.

Disney is urging its engineers to use AI tools like Claude and Cursor efficiently, focusing on boosting development speed without compromising code quality. The company aims to prevent AI-generated products from failing post-release, emphasizing productivity over excessive AI token usage. This strategic push follows a failed billion-dollar partnership with OpenAI.

Congress said India should put off the upcoming visit of US trade representatives in view of the killings of seafarers and Rubio’s “threatening language” with Jaishankar. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge slammed the PM for his “silence” over the killings. “And you have the audacity to sugarcoat it with the ‘Vishwaguru’ narrative.

Congress has planned a national outreach that will seek to unite students beyond political affiliations and provide a platform for the affected youth to share their experiences and demand accountability for “repeated examination failures and paper leak scandals”. AICC general secretary KC Venugopal said Rahul will also be holding conventions in Allahabad (July 10), Patna (July 11), and Delhi (July 14).