Times News

• FIFA has released the full fixture schedule for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted across Mexico, the USA, and Canada. • The expanded 48-team tournament will feature a total of 104 matches, culminating in the Final on Sunday, July 19. • The schedule includes key matchups in cities such as Vancouver, Foxborough, Los Angeles, and Miami, with specific UK kick-off times provided for viewers.

• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued an advisory warning Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims against traveling without the necessary permits from China. • This directive comes amid heightened regional tensions, including reports of US strikes and explosions near the Strait of Hormuz. • The advisory is critical for ensuring the safety and legal compliance of Indian citizens attempting to visit the sacred site across the border.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Seychelles for a three-day official visit to strengthen bilateral ties. • In a separate incident at Pookkundu, a "mozha" elephant (a tuskless male Asian elephant) charged at a patrol vehicle. • The elephant is described as a habitual troublemaker in the region, posing a recurring threat to local safety.

• A court ruling on Thursday dealt another blow to Donald Trump's voter suppression efforts leading up to the November midterm elections. • The decision follows a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing where Postmaster General David Steiner was questioned by Democrats regarding the handling of absentee ballots. • Senator Gary Peters of Michigan specifically challenged Steiner on whether the Postal Service would continue mailing ballots if a state refused to share its voter list with the federal government.

• The Indian government has revealed the names of soldiers who were martyred during "Operation Sindoor," though specific casualty numbers were not detailed in the initial update. • In separate global news, Myanmar authorities burned narcotics valued at USD 600 million as part of a major anti-drug crackdown. • Financial disclosures revealed that Oracle founder Larry Ellison donated over $45 million to nonprofits and programs supporting Donald Trump.

• A severe heat wave has gripped Europe, prompting urgent high-level heat warnings across more than a dozen countries, including Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland. • France recorded its highest average temperature ever on Tuesday, while the United Kingdom is currently approaching its record high for the month of June. • The extreme weather event is widespread, affecting 17 nations including Andorra, Austria, Belgium, and Poland, posing significant public health and safety risks.

• A devastating explosion occurred at a gas processing plant in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar, on Sunday night. • Qatari authorities and the Indian Embassy in Doha confirmed that 13 people were killed in the incident, including 12 Indian nationals. • The tragedy highlights the high-risk nature of industrial gas processing and the vulnerability of migrant workers in the region.