X-twitter Facebook Instagram Youtube Linkedin
At IndiaVerve, we go beyond the noise to bring you meaningful stories of change, resilience and progress—from India to the world stage. Our mission is to bring readers credible, wide-ranging coverage across politics, business, sports, culture, society and more.
At IndiaVerve, we go beyond the noise to bring you meaningful stories of change, resilience and progress—from India to the world stage. Our mission is to bring readers credible, wide-ranging coverage across politics, business, sports, culture, society and more.
X-twitter Facebook Instagram Youtube Linkedin

Day: June 18, 2026

FIFA World Cup: England beat Croatia; Portugal held by DR Congo

by

NEW DELHI: England kicked off their FIFA World Cup campaign with an impressive 4-2 win over Croatia in their Group L clash.

Harry Kane opened the scoring for England from the penalty spot in the 12th minute following a foul on winger Noni Madueke, but Martin Baturina equalised for Croatia in the 36th minute with a screamer.

Kane completed his brace with a solid header in the 42nd minute.

Croatia’s Dallas-based striker Musa made it 2-2 on the stroke of half-time. Jude Bellingham’s goal in the 47th minute brought smiles back to thousands of Three Lions fans at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Marcus Rashford finished the match with a cool goal in the 85th minute.

In another Group L clash, Ghana registered a hard-fought 1-0 win over Panama, with the only goal coming from Caleb Yirenkyi in the 95th minute.

The match between DR Congo and Portugal produced a notable milestone, with superstar Cristiano Ronaldo becoming the oldest outfield player to feature in a FIFA World Cup match.

The appearance marked Ronaldo’s 23rd outing at the tournament, moving him level with former Italy defender Paolo Maldini in fourth place on the all-time World Cup appearances list.

Joao Neves put Portugal ahead in the sixth minute with a solid header, but the African side snatched an equaliser in the 50th minute through a goal by Yoane Wissa.

DR Congo’s equaliser was a historic moment for the nation, as it scored its first goal in World Cup history more than five decades after making its tournament debut in 1974.

Other result: Group K: Uzbekistan 1, Colombia 3.

FIH Hockey Pro League: India stun Germany

by

NEW DELHI: India registered an impressive 3-1 win over reigning world champions Germany in their FIH Hockey Pro League game in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on Wednesday.

It was India’s first victory of the League season. Mandeep Singh opened the scoring in the seventh minute, becoming India’s most-capped hockey player.

This was his 413th appearance for India, surpassing former captain and current Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey, who played 412 matches for the country.

Shilanand Lakra’s goal in the 13th minute gave India a comfortable 2-0 lead. The third quarter saw Nilakanta Sharma score a field goal, bolstering India’s position.

Raphael Hartkopf pulled one back for Germany in the 45th minute. The German side tried their best to put pressure on India, but a solid defensive display from the Indian team ensured that Germany could not score another goal.

India’s Hardik Singh won the Player of the Match award.

On June 14, India lost 2-3 to Olympic champion Netherlands. Both sides will meet again on Thursday.

Rajesh Power Services secures Rs 211.68 crore OPTCL contract

by

BHUBANESWAR: Rajesh Power Services Ltd. has secured an order worth Rs 211.68 crore, including taxes, from Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) for the construction of a 220kV transmission infrastructure project in Odisha.

According to a regulatory filing, the contract covers the design, engineering, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of a 220kV single-circuit transmission line through underground cable from the 400/220/132/33kV Grid Substation (GSS) at Mendhasal to the 220/132/33kV GIS GSS Chandaka-B.

The scope of work also includes one 220kV AIS bay extension at GSS Mendhasal and one 220kV GIS bay extension at Chandaka-B. The project will be executed on an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) basis.

The company said the award marks its entry into Odisha, expanding its geographical footprint and strengthening its presence in eastern India. It added that the project is among the largest orders secured by the company in the transmission segment and represents a significant milestone in its growth journey.

Rajesh Power Services said the order reinforces the confidence placed in the company by leading power transmission utilities and highlights its capabilities in executing complex transmission infrastructure projects on an EPC basis.

The company noted that the project will strengthen its order book and is expected to contribute meaningfully to its long-term growth and execution pipeline.

The contract is scheduled to be executed within 24 months. Rajesh Power Services stated that the order was received in the normal course of business.

PM Modi, US President Trump review India-US ties

by

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with US President Donald J. Trump on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian on Wednesday, where the two leaders reviewed progress in Indo-US relations and discussed key global developments, including the situation in West Asia.

During the meeting, Modi commended Trump for efforts that had led to an understanding aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in West Asia and restoring peace and stability across the region. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation and uninterrupted commercial activity through the Strait of Hormuz, while underscoring the need to ensure seafarers’ safety.

The leaders reviewed progress under the India-US COMPACT (Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology), launched following their February 2025 meeting in Washington. They welcomed developments in defence cooperation, strategic technologies, energy collaboration, and bilateral trade, according to an External Affairs Ministry statement.

Both sides expressed satisfaction over the advancement of negotiations for an interim Bilateral Trade Agreement and directed officials to work towards concluding a balanced, mutually beneficial, and commercially meaningful pact at the earliest. The leaders noted that US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is scheduled to visit India next week in connection with the ongoing discussions.

Modi and Trump also reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and expanding cooperation across sectors for the benefit of both countries and their people.

Earlier in the day, the PM addressed the Outreach Session on “Ensuring a Safe, Rapid and Efficient Rollout of Artificial Intelligence” at the G7 Summit.

Highlighting the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence, Modi said the technology could redefine the course of human civilisation but must remain focused on empowering people. Referring to India’s recently hosted AI Impact Summit, he outlined India’s human-centric or MANAV (human) vision for AI, stressing that the technology should be guided by the principles of inclusivity, security, and public good.

Describing cyberspace as a global public good, Modi said democratic countries should have access to AI models capable of securing critical information infrastructure and addressing cyber threats. He called for an integrated approach to AI development that balances safety, speed, and efficiency.

The PM proposed four measures to advance responsible AI deployment: ensuring AI systems are safe by design; establishing common standards, testing frameworks, and regulatory guidelines; strengthening global cooperation to tackle deepfakes, misinformation, and cyber fraud; and extending the benefits of AI to countries in the Global South to promote inclusivity.