June 14, 2026 - IndiaVerve

PM Modi, French President Macron inaugurate Bharat Innovates 2026 in France

June 14, 2026 by India Verve Desk

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday jointly inaugurated Bharat Innovates 2026, a major three-day innovation showcase aimed at highlighting India’s growing leadership in deep technology and strengthening global partnerships in innovation.

Held at the Palais des Expositions in Nice, the event brings together Indian start-ups, innovators, researchers, and investors with global venture capital firms and innovation funds, according to an official statement.

The exhibition features 120 deep-tech start-ups and more than 20 Institutes of Excellence working across 13 critical technology sectors of global significance. More than 350 leading investors and venture capitalists from around the world are participating in the event.

Addressing the gathering, Modi thanked Macron for his presence and highlighted the strong partnership between India and France in addressing global challenges.

He pointed to key bilateral initiatives, including the International Solar Alliance, cooperation in Artificial Intelligence, and efforts to promote stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region.

Referring to the ongoing India-France Year of Innovation, the PM described Bharat Innovates 2026 as another milestone in the shared commitment of the two nations to contribute to global progress through innovation and technology.

Highlighting India’s start-up ecosystem, Modi said the innovations on display reflected the country’s deep-tech capabilities and their potential to address real-world challenges.

He underscored the role of artificial intelligence and satellite technology in rural development, advanced manufacturing in sustainable living, and green hydrogen, battery technologies and electric mobility in supporting clean growth.

Modi further said the technological transformation unfolding in the digital era presents unprecedented opportunities for humanity. He urged innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors to develop technologies that are trusted, inclusive, and human-centric.

He stressed that start-ups should be evaluated not only on the basis of market valuation but also on the positive impact they create for society. He said this vision lies at the heart of Bharat Innovates and invited global stakeholders to collaborate with India in shaping the next phase of technological advancement.

During the event, both leaders toured the exhibition and interacted with innovators and start-ups working in frontier sectors, including quantum computing, semiconductors, biotechnology, defence, space, healthcare, MedTech, advanced materials, and clean energy.

India stun Korea to win Archery World Cup mixed team gold in Antalya

June 14, 2026 by India Verve Desk

NEW DELHI: India delivered a commanding performance to defeat powerhouse South Korea 5-1 and clinch the recurve mixed team gold medal at the third stage of the Hyundai Archery World Cup in Antalya on Sunday.

The Indian pair of Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kumkum Anil Mohod outclassed Korea’s Oh Yejin and Kim Je Deok, ending the East Asian nation’s hopes of another title with a clinical display in the final, according to worldarchery.sport.

South Korea entered the contest as overwhelming favourites, having dominated the mixed team discipline on the global stage and won both Olympic gold medals since the event was introduced at the Tokyo 2020 Games. However, the Indian duo showed remarkable composure to seize control of the final from the outset.

Bommadevara and Mohod raced into a 4-0 lead after the opening two ends, putting the Koreans under immediate pressure. Even though the Korean pair consistently found the nine-ring, India maintained their accuracy and momentum, with Bommadevara producing four perfect 10s during the match.

Korea attempted a comeback in the third end, delivering an impressive 39-point round that included two Xs from Olympic champion Kim Je Deok. However, the Indian archers matched the challenge with an equally strong response to secure the decisive set point and seal a memorable 5-1 victory.

The triumph marked a significant achievement for the Indian pair, particularly for 17-year-old Mohod, who was competing in a mixed team gold medal match on the World Cup circuit for the first time. While Bommadevara, the 2025 Asian champion, brought greater international experience to the contest, the young partnership displayed maturity beyond their years against one of the sport’s most successful nations.

BJD slams Revenue and Disaster Department’s performance over two years

June 14, 2026June 14, 2026 by India Verve Desk

BHUBANESWAR: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has expressed serious concern over what it described as the failure of the Odisha BJP government’s Revenue and Disaster Management Department over the past two years.

In a press release, the party alleged that administrative paralysis, widespread corruption, delays in public service delivery, and irregularities in disaster management and relief distribution have adversely affected governance in the state.

BJD spokesperson and media coordinator Dr. Lenin Mohanty alleged that the department failed to serve the people effectively during the BJP government’s tenure.

He claimed that citizens have faced significant hardships due to delays in land mutation cases, corrections to Records of Rights, land revenue waivers, and compensation-related matters.

According to the BJD, thousands of such cases remain pending across the state, causing inconvenience to the public. The party further argued that the government’s decision to set deadlines for the disposal of long-pending RoR correction and revenue-related cases reflects administrative shortcomings.

Dr. Mohanty also alleged widespread corruption in tehsil offices across Odisha. He cited vigilance raids against revenue officials, disproportionate assets cases, irregularities in land transactions, and instances of non-compliance with court orders as factors that have eroded public trust in the department.

He claimed that notices issued to hundreds of registration officials over alleged irregularities in land registration point to systemic dysfunction.

The BJD spokesperson further referred to the statewide agitation by Revenue Department employees in August 2025, alleging that it exposed the government’s inability to manage its workforce. He said the strike disrupted public services at the district level and severely affected administrative functioning.

According to him, instead of addressing employees’ concerns through dialogue, the government resorted to threats of salary stoppage and dismissal, highlighting administrative weakness.

FIFA World Cup: Brazil held by Morocco; Scotland register first win

June 14, 2026 by Deepak Acharya

NEW DELHI: Mighty Brazil failed to win their opening match at the FIFA World Cup as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco in their Group C match at New York New Jersey Stadium.

An outstanding goal from Saibari in the 21st minute gave the African heavyweights a 1-0 lead, stunning the five-time world champions.

However, their joy was short-lived as Brazilian striker Vinicius Jr netted a stunning goal from the left side of the penalty box in the 32nd minute.

Both sides saw their efforts go in vain as the second half failed to produce another goal.

Meanwhile, Scotland claimed their first three points at the World Cup as they registered a 1-0 win over Haiti in another Group C clash.

A deflected goal earned victory for Scotland as they celebrated their long-awaited return to the global showpiece with a narrow win over Haiti.

John McGinn’s shot in the 29th minute was enough for Scotland to secure their first victory at the World Cup.

In Group B, Switzerland were held to a 1-1 draw by Qatar in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Breel Embolo’s 17th-minute penalty handed the Swiss side a 1-0 lead. The match appeared destined to end in Switzerland’s favour, but Qatar snatched their first World Cup point following Boualem Khoukhi’s superb header in the 94th minute.

In Group D, Australia registered a convincing 2-0 win over Turkey in Vancouver.

Nestory Irankunda scored a superb goal in the 27th minute, becoming Australia’s youngest World Cup goalscorer.

Connor Metcalfe doubled the advantage in the 75th minute to give the Socceroos their first three points of the World Cup.

Australia also had young goalkeeper Patrick Beach to thank for making excellent saves to deny Arda Guler and company.

Sindhu’s Australian Open run ends in semifinals after defeat to Yamaguchi

June 14, 2026 by India Verve Desk

NEW DELHI: India’s PV Sindhu saw her impressive campaign at the Australian Badminton Open 2026 come to an end after suffering a straight-games defeat to reigning world champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the women’s singles semi-finals on Saturday.

The former world champion and current world No. 10 went down 22-20, 21-12 to world No. 3 Yamaguchi in a 43-minute contest, falling short of a place in her first final of the 2026 season.

The result marked Sindhu’s second semi-final appearance on the BWF World Tour this year. Earlier in January, she had reached the last four of the Malaysia Open Super 1000 tournament before losing to China’s Wang Zhiyi, according to reports.

The win improved Yamaguchi’s head-to-head record against Sindhu to 14 victories in 29 meetings. The two players share a long-standing rivalry, with Sindhu famously defeating the Japanese shuttler in the quarter-finals of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on her way to winning a second Olympic medal.

Sindhu’s exit also brought an end to India’s campaign at the BWF Super 500 tournament. India’s hopes in the men’s doubles had ended on Friday when MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan retired during their quarter-final match against Chinese Taipei’s Chen Cheng Kuan and Liu Kuang-Heng.

Indian shuttlers will next compete at the Macau Open Super 300 tournament, scheduled to begin next week.