FIFA WC: Belgium shatter co-hosts USA's dream in the last 16

Credit: FIFA

Seattle, (IANS) Charles De Ketelaere's first-half brace, Hans Vanaken's first World Cup goal and a late strike from substitute Romelu Lukaku send Belgiium through to the quarter-finals with a 4-1 victory over co-hosts USA at Seattle Stadium.

USA became the final co-hosts to exit the tournament after Canada and Mexico had already bowed out in the Round of 16.

Belgium has not lost a match since March 20, 2025, a 3-1 defeat against Ukraine in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation play-offs and head coach Rudi Garcia’s first match in charge. Since then, Belgium has accrued an eye-popping 12 wins and six draws record across all competitions (FIFA World Cup, UEFA World Cup qualification, UEFA Nations League play-offs, friendlies), buoyed by a +40 goal differential in those 17 matches.

The USMNT has faced the Red Devils on seven prior instances. The first meeting—the United States’ lone victory—came in the form of a 3-0 victory at the inaugural 1930 World Cup in Montevideo, Uruguay. The loss on Tuesday maked USA's have lost seven consecutive matches against Belgium.

The warning signs were there for Mauricio Pochettino's side when Timothy Castagne's 18-yard strike forced Matt Freese into a flying save at the end of Belgium's first meaningful attack.

Youri Tielemans then went within inches of turning home Dodi Lukebakio's cross before Rudi Garcia's men took a deserved lead. Leandro Trossard's teasing delivery into the box caused all manner of problems for the USA defence, with Nicolas Raskin firing across for De Ketelaere to tap home.

Belgium appeared to be cruising, but their lead was cancelled out after 31 minutes when Malik Tillman's deflected free-kick wrong-footed Thibaut Courtois. However, the scores were level for just 116 seconds as Trossard's cross from the left found De Ketelaere, who headed home his second goal of the contest.

USA's task was made even harder just before the hour mark when a defensive mishap gifted Belgium a third goal. Freese raced out of his area to clear but missed the ball, allowing De Ketelaere to steal possession before Vanaken's long-range effort evaded Tim Ream's attempted block and found the empty net.

The Stars and Stripes showed signs of life in the closing stages as substitute Sebastian Berhalter shot wide and Courtois twice denied Folarin Balogun, before Lukaku pounced on a loose clearance and finished with aplomb to put the result beyond any doubt in stoppage time.Belgium will lock horns with Spain, who eliminated Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, at Los Angeles Stadium on July 11. FIFA WC: Belgium shatter co-hosts USA's dream in the last 16 | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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Father and Son Break Three World Records in 18,000 Mile Cycle Around the World

– credit, Joel Chant / Platinum Live / SWNS

A father and son broke 3 world records after spending a year cycling around the world.

George Kohler and his 23-year-old son Josh set off on their mammoth challenge on March 29th, 2025, from their home near Norwich in the UK.

In total, the duo traveled 18,000 miles and 14 months as they crossed Asia, Australia, South America, and Europe, arriving, as Ivan Goncharov wrote, to the right of their front door, having departed to the left.

When they arrived home, the all-conquering pair were presented with world record certificates for the fastest bicycle circumnavigation, the longest bicycle journey, and the most countries visited in a continuous bicycle journey, by a father and son.

Josh spoke with Southwest News Service in the UK about their trip.

“There were thousands of highlights on this trip,” he said.

“One standout moment is when we were cycling through a remote part of Turkey. We heard a shout on the hillside, and a shepherd was standing, beckoning us over. We walked up to him, and he offered to share his breakfast with us.”

George and Josh in Australia – credit, Joel Chant / Platinum Live / SWNS

“He had a pot on the campfire. We had eggs, bread and cheese, and we sat there. We wouldn’t speak Turkish, and he couldn’t speak English, but we had this incredible interaction with him.”

The Kohlers started long-distance cycling voyages when Josh was in High school, going the distance of the UK in 2021, and coast-to-coast in the US in 2022.

“We had to learn to get our bodies used to doing long cycles.”

2 years later, Josh proposed to his 57-year-old dad that they should cycle around the world. His dad, George, a chimney sweep, had a simple response: “Perfect, why not?” The pair were on their way.

From their home, the pair headed to South America, Australia, Asia, and Europe before arriving home after 400 days.

“We definitely had a full range of experience over the year,” Josh said. “Our bodies were tested day in day out, we were expecting the mental side of things to be tough as we anticipated long sprints.”

George and Josh Kohler with their Guinness World Records – credit, Joel Chant / Platinum Live / SWNS

“One thing we weren’t prepared for was the emotional challenges, when you are with someone for so long, disagreements do happen frequently. We had one unwritten rule that we would never go to sleep on an argument.”

The duo said there were many highlights on the way, whether it was having lunch with a local in Serbia or being welcomed by monks offering them food and drink.“The final day was extremely emotional seeing friends and family,” said George. “People that I haven’t seen for years and years were there to welcome us.” Father and Son Break Three World Records in 18,000 Mile Cycle Around the World

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Caveman Cartoon

Source: Baloos Cartoon

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India inaugurates nuclear-powered hydrogen production facility

The facility was inaugurated by DAE Chairman Ajit Kumar Mohanty, in the presence of IGCAR Director Sreekumar Pillai (Image: DAE)

The facility uses process heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor to produce hydrogen through the copper-chlorine thermochemical process developed by Indian researchers.

The new facility at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, was inaugurated by Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary and Chairman of India's Atomic Energy Commission. It integrates the hydrogen production technology developed by the Department of Atomic Energy's (DAE) Bhabha Atomic Research Centre with IGCAR's advanced fast reactor expertise.

"The successful integration of nuclear process heat with hydrogen generation marks a pioneering technological breakthrough and opens a promising pathway for large-scale, carbon-free hydrogen production using advanced nuclear reactors," the Department of Atomic Energy said.

Hydrogen is widely regarded as a key energy carrier for future energy systems and is expected to play a pivotal role in the global transition towards clean and sustainable energy systems - provided it can be made without carbon emissions. Industrial production of hydrogen is currently dominated by steam-reforming methane from fossil fuels, and electrolysis (splitting water with electricity): according to information from the International Energy Agency, less than 1% of the global production of 97 million tonnes in 2023 was low-emissions hydrogen, although in its 2024 review of hydrogen production, the agency said low-emission hydrogen could reach 49 million tonnes per year by 2030.

(Image: Department of Atomic Energy​)

Thermochemical production of hydrogen involves separating water into hydrogen and oxygen through a series of chemical reactions at high temperatures. The copper-chlorine - or Cu–Cl - thermochemical cycle is considered one of the most promising ways of producing hydrogen due to its relatively lower operating temperatures and higher thermodynamic efficiency, according to DAE. "By harnessing nuclear heat from fast reactors, the process significantly reduces dependence on fossil fuels and eliminates greenhouse gas emissions associated with conventional hydrogen production methods," the Department said.

The Fast Breeder Test Reactor - also known as the FBTR - is a sodium-cooled test reactor which first started up at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research in 1985, gradually increasing its power to 32 MW (thermal) in 2018 before finally reaching its nameplate capacity of 40 MWt in 2022. The reactor has an underpinning role in India's preparation for a thorium-based closed fuel cycle.

The commissioning of the facility represents the culmination of extensive research, process development, engineering design, equipment fabrication, installation, testing and commissioning efforts undertaken jointly by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research , DAE said. It will provide operational experience, facilitate further optimisation of the Cu–Cl process, and support future research aimed at scaling up nuclear-assisted hydrogen production technologies for commercial deployment. Nuclear-coupled hydrogen production features in India's nuclear energy strategy: a 5 MWt high temperature gas cooled reactor that could be coupled with thermochemical hydrogen production is currently being developed, with a lead unit proposed for construction at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre's Vizag R&D campus in Andhra Pradesh.

IGCAR (Image: DAE)

"The integration of nuclear energy with emerging clean energy technologies such as hydrogen production represents a strategic pathway towards a sustainable energy future," Mohanty said at the inauguration of the new facility. "Nuclear power, with its unique ability to provide reliable carbon-free electricity as well as high-temperature process heat, is ideally suited to support large-scale hydrogen production while contributing to India's energy security, decarbonisation goals and long-term sustainable development objectives. I congratulate the scientists, engineers and technical teams of BARC and IGCAR whose sustained dedication, innovation and technical excellence have transformed an advanced scientific concept into an operational reality. This achievement is a testament to India's growing capabilities in advanced nuclear technologies and clean energy systems.""Nuclear power is not only a source of reliable, round-the-clock, carbon free electricity. It is also a powerful enabler of strategic technology that can support India's clean energy transition," Mohanty said in DAE's announcement of the achievement on YouTube. India inaugurates nuclear-powered hydrogen production facility

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People can learn to spot AI faces – but the clues are no longer obvious

 

Nightingale / OSF, CC BY

Amy Dawel, Australian National University; Eric Mah, University of Victoria; Jim Tanaka, University of Victoria, and Tanya George, Australian National University

Deepfake faces generated via artificial intelligence (AI) have become so realistic that they routinely fool people, with some research suggesting there may be US$40 billion worth of deepfake-related fraud annually by 2027.

Not only do most people struggle to spot AI faces, but as long ago as 2023 we discovered some AI faces are “hyperreal” – they look more real than actual human faces. We also found people are overconfident they can spot AI faces, with the most confident people making the most errors.

Software-based deepfake detectors do exist, but they can’t really explain the reasons for their detections – and they suffer from serious weaknesses. Some can be fooled simply by converting the image type, such as from png to jpg.

But it turns out most people can learn to spot AI faces with an hour or so of practice. In new research published in PNAS, we show there’s a straightforward way to improve detection of deepfakes, by training people to pick up the tell-tale clues through experience rather than direct instruction.

The difference between human and AI faces

In our early research, we discovered a key difference between AI and human faces. AI faces are hyperaverage.

This means AI faces tend to be more symmetrical, proportional and attractive than human faces. But they’re less expressive and memorable – less likely to stand out in a crowd.

Intriguingly, people can accurately and reliably judge these qualities, but frequently misinterpret the clues. For example, people often think that faces that look a bit odd are AI-generated, when in fact human faces are more likely to have distinctive, unusual features.

 

Compared to real faces (left), AI faces (right) tend to be more symmetrical, attractive and proportional, but less distinctive, memorable and expressive. Nightingale / OSF, CC BY

Although most people struggle to decide whether a face is AI or real, there is one group who are naturally good at picking up on these clues. So-called super-recognisers, who have exceptional human face perception, seem to be attuned to hyperaverageness, making them better at spotting AI faces.

This made us wonder if, for those of us who aren’t super-recognisers, AI detection abilities can be trained like other forms of perceptual expertise.

Learning to spot AI

In our first study, we invited 45 participants into our lab at the Australian National University, and asked them to rate around 100 faces on six qualities that can be used to tell AI faces apart from real ones: distinctiveness, memorability, proportionality, symmetry, attractiveness and expressiveness.

We didn’t tell participants how these clues might help them distinguish an AI face from a real one – they had to figure that part out for themselves.

We told participants which faces were AI and which were human, but we didn’t tell them that the AI faces were more symmetrical or less expressive, for example. They had to learn these clues through experience rather than direct instruction.

Before and after training, we tested participants’ ability to tell AI faces apart from human ones with new faces that were not used in the training.

Training works

In one test, participants were shown three faces – two human and one AI – and asked to select the face that was AI. On this task, average accuracy doubled from 40% before training to 80% afterwards.

Impressively, all participants improved in their AI detection abilities and several achieved close to 100% accuracy. Participants also became faster and more confident in their correct judgements.

 

With training, people get much better at picking AI faces out of a group with human faces. In this example, the middle face is AI generated. Nightingale / OSF, CC BY

To test the robustness of these findings, the Different Minds Lab at the University of Victoria in Canada conducted a replication of the AI detection training with Canadian participants.

The Canadian lab obtained results that were as strong as those reported in the original Australian study. This shows the training is reliable and can work for different groups of people.

The training was also just as effective when it was administered online rather than in person, which suggests it could be a cost-effective remote intervention in deepfake detection.

A promising start

But this doesn’t mean we’ve solved the AI detection problem. Our training used faces produced with one particular generative AI model, called StyleGAN3.

This is one of the most realistic face generators available, but the technology is advancing rapidly and there are many other models.

Our method has potential to adapt to new models by updating the training images and using multimedia, but we don’t yet have evidence that this will work.

The clues we found for spotting AI faces may shift for other models. And other important questions remain: do the training benefits hold up over time? Is the training effective for people of all ages, including older adults or children?

How to improve your chances of spotting AI faces

If you want to get better at recognising AI-generated faces, looking at a lot of examples is a good start. You can see plenty at websites such as Which Face Is Real or This Person Does Not Exist.

While you’re looking, bear in mind the six key factors we identified:

• how distinctive is the face?
• how memorable is it?
• how proportional is it?
• how symmetrical is it?
• how attractive is it?
• how expressive is it?

This exercise may improve your deepfake radar. But the more important takeaway is that AI deepfakes are improving very quickly – they can easily fool us, even if we think we can spot them.

The clues are no longer obvious: they are not based on specific details but on facial impressions which people form rapidly and naturally, but which can be misleading.

At the same time, there is hope. We have shown it is possible to train people to detect AI faces. By combining our human-centred approach with algorithmic detection, we may yet keep up in this cat-and-mouse game of advancing technology.

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Interested in undertaking the AI face detection training? You can register here.

Amy Dawel, Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor, School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University; Eric Mah, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Psychology, University of Victoria; Jim Tanaka, Professor of Psychology, University of Victoria, and Tanya George, Research Assistant, Australian National University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Australian musicians hate AI using their songs, but have little legal protection

Andrew Cullen, The University of Melbourne

Music from Kylie Minogue, John Farnham, INXS, Midnight Oil, AC/DC, Tones and I, Gotye, Ben Frost, Nick Cave, Tame Impala, Parkway Drive, The Living End and Vance Joy has been found in a database of 12 million songs used to teach artificial intelligence.

This database, listing songs available on YouTube, is used by AI systems to train the ability to recognise and create music. AI relies entirely on these massive databases, trained on almost everything ever placed on the internet. And Australia’s inclusion in these databases is huge. Kylie alone has 182 songs in just one database.

The volume of Australian music used to train AI has caused significant anger in the Australian music industry, driven by the knowledge that “AI for music creators” platforms such as Suno create as much music as Spotify’s entire catalogue every two weeks.

Dobe Newton, co-writer of folk classic I am Australian and member of the Bushwackers, has music included in the databases. He believes there is “no real ethical nor moral underpinning” to current AI music practices.

Jesse Pattinson of The Delta Riggs is concerned about “the opportunity it will take away from real artists”. Screen composer and APRA board member Caitlin Yeo told me she holds “deep concern for the future of music made by humans for humans”.

She described feeling “violated” when discovering her work in these databases, realising decades of her work had been “hoovered up in a second” to “feed companies offshore that pay no taxes”.

While Australian artists are feeling ripped off, the intersection between copyright law and AI makes proving infringements incredibly difficult.

Copyright and AI

Lawsuits across multiple creative industries have covered how copyrighted books, speeches and even pornography have been used to train AI models.

These actions have led to massive settlements. In 2025, AI company Anthropic paid US$1.5 billion to writers who brought a class action lawsuit over the company’s use of a database of more than 7 million books to train its AI.

But when it comes to proving copyright infringement, the devil is very much in the details, and it may be harder for the impacted musicians to prove infringement than authors.

Crucially, these databases often do not contain any copyrighted material. Rather, they contain instructions on where to download the data from, along with associated information to help AI training.

Legal challenges

The distinction about how the databases are packaged up is not a minor thing.

Previous lawsuits surrounding similar databases found simply listing where copyrighted material can be found is not, by itself, copyright infringement. The infringement only takes place when an AI company uses the data to train its model.

Think of these databases like the map to a safe filled with gold. Having the map itself is fine; stealing the gold is when the law is broken. While we know at least some AI companies have used this data map, and that their training relies upon it, legally establishing use and any copyright infringements is a challenge.

This legal battlefield is complicated by the unique nature of music law.

Copyright protects specific expressions, like a distinct melody or recording, but not a general style. AI developers exploit this loophole. Rather than copying note-for-note, they extract underlying patterns, chord progressions and vocal textures to create a pastiche.

To a creator, this feels like theft. But in the eyes of the law it may just be imitation.

Legal challenges aren’t impossible. The German music royalties society successfully sued chatGPT’s OpenAI. Universal and Sony, representing more than 50% of the music industry, have sued Suno for infringing the copyright of more than 60,000 songs, following other cases against AI giant NVIDIA and Suno.

In response to these lawsuits, Suno described its platform as a fair-use training model, saying “learning is not infringing”.

What’s next?

Since artists became aware of these datasets, the international music industry has rapidly coalesced around several class action lawsuits and lobbying efforts. In Australia, 4,000 artists signed a petition calling on the government to increase protections for artists and today, artists held a press conference in Canberra to discuss AI’s impact.

Tech lobbyists are arguing for exemptions from Australian copyright law. Similarly the Australian Strategic Policy Institute argues that copyright law is a “strategic liability” that increases Australia’s reliance on foreign AI models.

There is a fierce tension between fostering innovation and protecting creative industries. But Australia does not have to choose between the two.

The European Union’s AI act forged an alternative path, to prevent AI companies from hiding copyright infringements from artists and rights holders.

From next August, all AI models accessed from within the EU must declare the source of their training data, and comply with local copyright laws, no matter where the AI was built.

These laws may break the veil of secrecy surrounding the AI data usage, and will significantly increase the likelihood of artists being paid when their work is included in these AI models.

The cultural heartbeat of Australia depends upon supporting creatives. Joining or drawing inspiration from the EU’s AI legislation could help protect artists, and ensure they are fairly represented regarding AI works derived from their labour.

At the very least, as Yeo told me, artists “should see a slice of the pie too”.

Andrew Cullen, Senior Research Fellow, School of Computing and Information Systems, The University of Melbourne

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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2026 FIFA WC: Record-breaking Messi helps Argentina reach knockouts with 2-0 win over Austria

Photo credit: FIFA.com

Dallas, (IANS) Lionel Messi produced another magical display and nailed a few records, scoring a brace to help defending champions Argentina beat Austria 2-0 in a Group J match and advance to the knock-out stages of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Dallas Stadium in Dallas on Monday.

Messi made it to the record books by scoring his 17th and 18th goals in World Cups, setting the record for most individual goals in the history of the tournament. Two days before his 39th birthday, the Argentine talisman brushed aside missing a penalty early in the first half, to give his team the lead in the 38th minute and then doubled it seconds before the ned of the match to seal a memorable victory for the defending champions.

With their second Group J win, Argentina secured their progress to the last 32. If Jordan fail to beat Algeria later in the day, they will be confirmed as group winners.

The day belonged to Messi as he scored his first goal of the day in the 38th minute, setting the record for most individual goals by any player in the tournament's history. This was Messi's 17th goal in the FIFA World Cup and also his fourth in the 2026 edition.

Messi not only broke the tournament's scoring record, but he also joined Just Fontaine of France and Jairzinho of Brazil as the third man to score in six successive World Cup games. This is Messi's fourth goal of this tournament, taking his tally to 17 at the World Cup. He then made it five goals for the 2026 edition towards the end of the match.

Messi improved on the record of 16 goals held by Miroslav Klose of Germany. The list is now led by Messi with 17 goals, followed by Klose at 16 and Ronaldo (Brazil) at 15 goals. Kylian Mbappe of France and Gerd Müller of Germany are next in the list with 14 goals.

He then extended his record by scoring an opportunistic goal in the fifth minute of added time (90+5) to make it 2-0 for Argentina.

Reigning tournament champions Argentina fought off some tough challenges from Austria before Messi led their fine comeback with a superb goal. He got possession of the ball and passed it to Thiago Almada. Almada sent a masterful pass back to Messi, who received the ball and launched a great shot to beat Austria's Alexander Schlager. He could have set the record a few minutes earlier, but missed a penalty.

At half-time, Argentina were leading Austria 1-0 in the match played at the Dallas Stadium in Dallas.

Argentina came back strongly to impose an offensive style of play. They dominated play in the opening minutes but could not take the lead as Messi missed a penalty, which caused them to lose control of the proceedings.

Austria dominated the next few minutes of play and managed to take control of the game, pressing high and cutting off the opponent’s build-up. Playing aggressively, they kept the game even for the next 15 minutes. However, they were completely ineffective, as they could not translate their dominance into a goal.Argentina then wrested back the initiative when Messi created a play in midfield. He combined well with Thiago Almada to create a good opportunity and then converted it to give Argentina a 1-0 lead and set the record for most individual goals scored by a player. 2026 FIFA WC: Record-breaking Messi helps Argentina reach knockouts with 2-0 win over Austria | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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World Bank slashes global growth forecast, ready to deploy $ 100 b

• The World Bank Group has sharply downgraded its global growth outlook, warning that the escalating conflict in the Middle East will push global economic expansion to its weakest level since the COVID-19 pandemic, as higher energy prices, rising inflation and tighter financial conditions weigh on economies worldwide.
• In its latest Global Economic Prospects report released on Thursday, the World Bank forecast global growth to slow to 2.5% in 2026 from 2.9% in 2025, with forecasts for nearly two-thirds of economies revised downward since January.
• While growth is projected to recover modestly to 2.8% in 2027, it will remain 0.4 percentage points below the average recorded during the 2010s, highlighting the lasting economic scars from successive global shocks.
• The report warned that developing economies continue to face significant challenges, with growth expected to slow to a post-pandemic low of 3.6% in 2026 from 4.4% in 2025 before recovering to 4.2% in 2027.
• “Developing countries have faced a series of challenges over the last decade,” World Bank Group President Ajay Banga said. “The impact differs by country, but the basic test is the same: protect people and preserve stability today, without giving up on growth and jobs tomorrow.”
• According to the report, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has severely disrupted global energy markets, with Brent crude prices now expected to average $ 94 per barrel in 2026, representing a 36% increase over 2025 levels, assuming major supply disruptions ease by July.
• The Bank also warned of a significant rise in fertiliser prices, with knock-on effects on global food costs. Combined with higher energy prices, these developments are expected to push global inflation to 4% in 2026 from 3.3% last year.
• The World Bank cautioned that risks remain heavily tilted to the downside. In a more severe scenario involving prolonged energy supply disruptions and financial market stress, global growth could slow to just 1.3% in 2026 while inflation could accelerate further to 4.4%.
• Among regions, the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan are expected to suffer the sharpest slowdown, with growth forecast to plunge from 3.9% in 2025 to 1.6% in 2026 before rebounding to 5% in 2027 as reconstruction spending gathers pace and trade flows normalise.
• South Asia is projected to remain the world’s fastest-growing region, although growth is expected to moderate to 6.3% in 2026 from 7% in 2025 before recovering to 6.9% in 2027.
• The report also highlighted growing vulnerabilities stemming from rising public debt burdens. Aggregate government debt across developing economies has climbed from less than 40% of GDP in 2010 to more than 70% of GDP today, increasing borrowing costs and limiting governments’ ability to respond to future crises.
• The World Bank noted that countries with elevated debt burdens face disproportionately higher financing costs, underscoring the importance of restoring fiscal buffers and reducing debt levels to create room for investment in infrastructure, healthcare and education.
• The report also pointed to the challenges facing commodity-exporting economies, which account for roughly two-thirds of developing countries and nearly 90% of low-income nations. While commodity price booms can generate substantial revenue windfalls, much of these gains are often spent rather than saved, leaving countries vulnerable when prices reverse.
• To manage volatility, the World Bank recommended stronger fiscal frameworks, sovereign wealth funds with stabilisation mandates, improved domestic revenue mobilisation and greater economic diversification.
• Against the backdrop of the Middle East crisis, the World Bank announced that it is immediately making available $ 50-60 billion through existing financing instruments, including $ 25 billion in pre-arranged financing, to help countries strengthen social safety nets, support fiscal capacity, and provide liquidity to businesses and farms.
• More than 30 countries are already working with the World Bank under the emergency response framework. If the conflict and its economic fallout persist, the institution said it stands ready to scale up support to between $ 80 billion and $ 100 billion over the next 15 months.
• World Bank Deputy Chief Economist and Prospects Group Director Ayhan Kose said the crisis also presents an opportunity for reform.“The conflict has taken a toll on global activity, but every crisis also brings an opportunity,” he said. “This moment should be used to strengthen policy frameworks, invest in infrastructure, accelerate business-enabling reforms, and mobilise private capital to support job creation at scale,” he said. World Bank slashes global growth forecast, ready to deploy $ 100 b | Daily FT

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India’s Zee Entertainment signs World Cup 2026 broadcast deal with FIFA

• FIFA has struck a deal with India’s Zee Entertainment to broadcast the World Cup in the country, ending a months-long standoff over the tournament’s availability in one of the last major markets where rights remained unsold.
• While the financial terms of the package – signed on Monday – were not disclosed, FIFA reportedly sought about $ 100 million for the 2026 and 2030 tournaments before slashing its asking price to $ 60 million.
• The deal gives Zee a toehold in India’s sports broadcast market, where the Reliance-Disney joint venture JioStar holds rights ranging from the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament to the English Premier League football.
• It covers 39 FIFA events over eight years through 2034, including the Women’s World Cup in 2027, according to a joint statement from FIFA and Zee.
• The agreement came just 10 days before the tournament kicks off on 11 June across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
• Only 14 out of the total 104 World Cup games will begin before midnight for fans in India.
• The final will be held in New Jersey on 19 July, beginning at 19:00 GMT, which will be 12:30 a.m. on 20 July in India. By comparison, 98.4% of matches at the 2018 World Cup started before midnight, and 82.5% at the following edition in Qatar. India’s Zee Entertainment signs World Cup 2026 broadcast deal with FIFA | Daily FT

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AI upskilling increases salaries by 150 pc on average in India: Report

(AI Image/IANS)

New Delhi, (IANS) Artificial intelligence (AI) upskilling is delivering significant career gains in India, with professionals reporting an average salary increase of nearly 150 per cent, while nearly half of AI-enabled career outcomes now lie outside traditional engineering roles, according to a report released on Thursday.

The report by Scaler highlighted how AI is evolving from a specialised technical skill into a workforce-wide capability across industries.

AI upskilling is driving salary growth across experience levels, with early-career professionals reporting average salary growth of 155 per cent, it added.

The findings suggest that AI is increasingly becoming a career accelerator for both young professionals and experienced workers.

Nearly 50 per cent of AI-enabled career outcomes now extend beyond conventional engineering roles into leadership, consulting, operations, human resources, marketing, finance, academia and other business functions.

The report further noted that nearly 25 per cent of learners now coming from non-technical backgrounds, signalling AI's expanding relevance beyond software and engineering careers. In addition, women are playing a growing role in India's AI ecosystem.

Commenting on this, Abhimanyu Saxena, Co-founder, Scaler said AI is creating new pathways to opportunity, accelerating career growth and helping professionals achieve stronger compensation outcomes.

He said the findings suggest that AI is emerging as a creator of opportunities rather than a threat to jobs for those willing to develop relevant skills.

Women reported an average salary jump of 145 per cent after transitioning into AI-enabled careers, while female quality assurance (QA) engineers recorded the highest gains at 574 per cent, according to the report.

City-wise, Bengaluru continues to lead India's AI talent landscape, accounting for 19 per cent of learners, followed by Pune, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Chennai.

At the same time, nearly one in five AI learners now coming from Tier-II cities such as Lucknow, Jaipur, Patna, Indore, Coimbatore and Nagpur.

Among career outcomes, software engineer emerged as the most common AI-enabled role, accounting for 34.77 per cent, followed by engineering leadership at 17.51 per cent.

The report showed that AI is opening up new opportunities in consulting, with consulting-related outcomes nearly doubling from 3.1 per cent of learners at entry level to 5.65 per cent of overall professional outcomes.Moreover, VPs, CXOs and engineering leaders reported the highest post-upskilling salaries, averaging Rs 33 lakh per annum. AI upskilling increases salaries by 150 pc on average in India: Report | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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Laugh your way to good health

By Ch Saibaba: Every morning this laughing club risks amused glances and jibes when they look up at the sky, take a deep breath of clear, fresh air, and erupt into wild spontaneous laughter. Members of ABC Laughing Club practising hasya yoga The meetings of ABC Laughing Club are perhaps the most serious health activities happening in the city. The group meets at Picket Cantonment Garden at Secunderabad everyday between 6.45 am and 7.45.am. This is a group of more than 50 people so dedicated to preserving their sense of humour, and thereby their sanity, that they happily give up an hour of their sleep to practice hasya yoga, a workout for your funny bone.By simulating laughter and mirth, one can actually fool those endorphins into doing some overtime, says Madan Kataria, the founder of this unique form of exercise. “Feel-good chemicals are released in the brain when you laugh, but if you waited around for something funny to happen, you could go a whole day without cracking a smile. Now, isn't that a waste of a day?” he asks. Joining the group of merry people and taking a place in the laughing circle seems like a positive step towards health and happiness. Each session, with different kinds of laugh, lasts almost an hour, and consists of warm-up and breathing exercises as well. Then one undergoes the entire spectrum of delight: from grunts to giggles, from guffaws to crackles, from smirks to grins. The club consists mostly of people in the age group of 50 and above, and they say that they have derived real benefits from their morning ha-ha. Blood pressure has stabilised, stress-levels have been reduced and the heart is kept happy with this fantastic form of what they say amounts to "internal jogging". Sreenivasa Rao, an active member of the ABC Laughing Club says, “We have been doing this laughing exercise since1998. Since then, our membership has gone up to 70 and our aim is “Always be cheerful” and we are enjoying and experiencing the same.Source: The Hans India, Image: flickr.com

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FIFA WC 2026: Co-hosts Mexico beat Korea 1-0, become first team to qualify for knockouts

Credit: FIFA

Zapopan, (IANS) Co-hosts Mexico became the first team to reach the round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a 1-0 win over South Korea here at Guadalajara Stadium on Friday (IST).

Luis Romo's goal just after half-time put Mexico through as Group A winners with a match to go following a goalkeeping mistake by Kim Seung-gyu. Mexico stopper Raul Rangel made a superb double save in the dying minutes to preserve their lead.

With first place in the bag, Javier Aguirre's side will now meet a third-placed team from one of Group C, E, F, H or I in the round of 32 in Mexico City on June 30. Korea are second on three points, with Czechia and South Africa also still alive in the knockout race with one point each.

Mexico will face the Czechia in their dead-rubber final group game while Korea play South Africa on June 25.

Both teams went into the clash in front of a passionate home crowd knowing that victory would guarantee progress in double-quick time.

Jesus Gallardo signalled Mexico’s intent to take charge of proceedings when he sent a low shot into the side-netting from almost the same patch of grass four minutes after the restart, and the co-hosts were celebrating one minute later when Romo was on hand to prod into the unguarded net after a mix-up between Kim Seunggyu and Lee Gihyuk.

South Korea captain Son Heung-min had the first real chance after 15 minutes. He lifted the ball over the goalkeeper, but Edson Álvarez cleared it off the line with a bicycle kick. Son was eventually flagged for offside, though replays showed it was very close.

Julian Quinones then forced a good save from the South Korean goalkeeper with a header, getting the home crowd loud again. The rest of a quiet first half belonged to South Korea. They passed the ball around comfortably but failed to create any clear chances, though they did manage to quiet down the home fans.

The hosts started the second half with much more energy and took the lead five minutes in. Goalkeeper Kim came out for a high ball but crashed into his own defender, dropping the ball right to Romo. Romo easily tapped it into the empty net in the 50th minute.Kim made up for his mistake in the 75th minute by standing his ground to block a close-range shot from Raol Jimenez with a brilliant save. With three minutes left, Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel made an incredible double save from Cho Gue-sung and Yang Hyun-jun to secure the win for Mexico. FIFA WC 2026: Co-hosts Mexico beat Korea 1-0, become first team to qualify for knockouts | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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Maruti unveils India’s 1st flex-fuel WagonR capable of running on 100 pc ethanol

IANS File Photo

New Delhi, (IANS): Maruti Suzuki on Thursday unveiled India’s first flex-fuel passenger car, the WagonR flex-fuel, marking a major step in the country’s shift towards alternative and cleaner fuels amid global crude oil volatility.

The new model is capable of running on ethanol-petrol blends ranging from E20 to E100, making it the first mass-market passenger vehicle in India engineered to operate on 100 per cent ethanol.

The company said the launch aligns with India’s broader push to reduce dependence on conventional petrol and expand the use of biofuels in the transport sector.

The unveiling event was attended by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, who highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to promote cleaner mobility solutions.

He also said that the government is planning to introduce diesel blended with 15 per cent isobutanol as part of its alternative fuel strategy.

Gadkari also urged automakers such as Maruti Suzuki India Limited and Hero MotoCorp to work on converting older vehicles into flex-fuel compatible models and align them with stricter emission standards, including Euro 6 norms.

He said such measures would help curb air pollution and support the vehicle scrappage programme aimed at removing older, more polluting vehicles from the roads.

Speaking at the launch, Gadkari described the automobile sector as a key growth driver for the Indian economy and noted that India now has the world’s third-largest automobile industry, contributing significantly to GDP.

The company’s Managing Director and CEO Hisashi Takeuchi also said that the company is investing in compressed biogas (CBG) projects and exploring other cleaner technologies such as hydrogen fuel.Maruti Suzuki officials also shared their broader clean mobility strategy. Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer for Marketing and Sales at the company, said that nearly half of all green vehicles sold in the industry in the last financial year were contributed by Maruti Suzuki. Maruti unveils India’s 1st flex-fuel WagonR capable of running on 100 pc ethanol | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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New Era cartoon

Source: Baloo's Cartoon

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Iconic Kruger National Park Celebrates 100th Year of Protecting African Wildlife, Including the Big 5

Collage photos retrieved from Unsplash

On Sunday, South African authorities and nature lovers alike celebrated the centenary of Kruger National Park—a 7,500-square-mile paradise of African wildlife, and a cornerstone of the nation’s conservation efforts.

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Willie Aucamp rang in the celebrations at Skukuza Rest Camp inside the massive protected area, saying how “proud” he was to be associated “with those who’ve maintained and managed it so magnificently,” over the last 100 years.

One of the largest and oldest of all national parks in Africa, Kruger was named after the Republic’s first president Paul Kruger, who, inspired by a law organizing the area into private game camps before his term in office, eventually sought to create a large game reserve in the area that is now northern Kruger National Park to protect species of large animal that needed plenty of space to thrive.

Kruger was no longer in office by the time the park was created, but his interest and effort in creating its predecessor, the Sabi Game Reserve, were noted when selecting a name.

Today, Kruger National Park receives 2 million visitors every year, and has become a bastion of biodiversity that spills over into three nations. It is home to more species of large mammal than any other place in Africa, as well as hundreds of bird, reptile, and plant species.

It’s been the testing ground for cutting-edge methods of protecting endangered species and for pioneering wildlife research and animal biology, as well as a role model for balancing wilderness needs, conservation aims, and tourist accessibility, for the continent at large.

“As a united people, we are celebrating this success story, realizing we have the responsibility to take this forward to another 100 years so that our grandchildren and great grandchildren can see what it is like to see when a herd of elephant is walking and hear lions roar in the most pristine natural area in the world,” said Minister Aucamp.

The centenary was not just focused on celebrating the past, but securing the future, as two days before the anniversary, South African National Parks and Aucamp’s Ministry signed the Beneficiation Scheme Framework Agreement with seven communities that live and have lived historically in and around the area of the park.“This beneficiation agreement represents… shared commitment to transforming natural resources into lasting opportunities for you, the beneficiaries, and your future generations,” said Aucamp at the camp. Iconic Kruger National Park Celebrates 100th Year of Protecting African Wildlife, Including the Big 5

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Global AI spending expected to surge 47 pc to $2.59 trillion in 2026

(Photo: IANS)

New Delhi, (IANS) Worldwide spending on artificial intelligence is projected to jump 47 per cent year-on-year to $2.59 trillion in 2026, driven largely by rising investments in AI infrastructure and AI-optimised servers as enterprises and cloud providers accelerate adoption of generative AI and agentic workflows, a report said on Tuesday.

The report from Gartner said AI‑optimized infrastructure including AI‑optimized IaaS, servers, network fabric, processing semiconductors and devices will account for over 45 per cent of spending as vendors expand capacity.

“Within this segment, spending on AI‑optimized servers will triple over the next five years to become the largest subsegment, as cloud services providers expand capacity in anticipation of the workloads created by GenAI models and agentic workflows,” said John‑David Lovelock, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner.

The firm raised its short‑term outlook for AI models to 110 per cent growth in 2026, adding $6 billion in spending for this year.

Enterprises will expand their use of both the GenAI models embedded in existing software applications and the new AI agents within multiple workflows.

Model consumption will increase through multistep processes and integration into broad suites of tools as enterprises recognize the potential value of agentic automation, the report noted.

The report forecasted spending on AI infrastructure rising from $9,75,581 million in 2025 to $14,31,509 million in 2026, while total AI spending will climb from $17,64,947 million to $25,95,667 million.

Lovelock said that AI spending has primarily been driven by technology companies and hyperscalers till now. Enterprises have yet to really flex their spending potential, which is set to happen in 2026, he added.

The report warned that CIOs face challenges in proving the value from AI investments and demonstrating tangible business outcomes.“Aligning AI initiatives with strategic business objectives is the essential step for success. This incremental approach persists despite AI hype and valuations that reflect aspirations to transform the broader economy,” Lovelock said. Global AI spending expected to surge 47 pc to $2.59 trillion in 2026 | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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India's media and entertainment industry to rise to Rs 3.3 trillion by 2028: Report

New Delhi : People watch Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presenting the Interim Budget 2024 in Parliament, at a television showroom in New Delhi on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Photo: IANS/Wasim Sarvar)

New Delhi, (IANS) India’s media and entertainment (M&E) sector entered a decisive phase of scale, digital dominance and structural transformation in 2025, reaching Rs 2.78 trillion with a 9 per cent growth, outpacing nominal GDP expansion, according to a report.

As per a joint analysis by the FICCI and EY, the M&E sector is expected to grow 2.8 per cent to reach Rs 2.86 trillion ($32.9 billion) in 2026, and Rs 3.3 trillion ($37.9 billion) by 2028.

Digital media has emerged as the largest segment, accounting for over Rs 1 trillion in revenues. Digital advertising contributed 63 per cent of total ad spends, while subscriptions surged, driven by OTT platforms, premium sports and regional content.

In contrast, television continued its gradual decline, falling to Rs 617 billion in 2025 and expected to shrink further at a negative 5 per cent CAGR, even as total TV households are projected to cross 200 million by 2028.

A key structural shift is the rise of regional storytelling, with regional languages accounting for over half of OTT consumption and nearly two-thirds of film production.

The industry produced nearly 200,000 hours of content in 2025, led by television and supported by OTT and short-form formats, even as traditional media remains under pressure from shifting ad spends and declining subscriptions.

Advertising remained a major growth driver, expanding 13.5 per cent to Rs 1.5 trillion, led by digital formats, e-commerce and SME participation.

In live events, "The organised segment experienced a 44 per cent increase, fuelled by higher spending on ticketed events, personal functions such as weddings, government events and religious gatherings, including the Maha Kumbh Mela," the report noted.

However, the report flagged challenges, including declining pay-TV households, weak monetisation in news and regulatory disruptions in gaming, with the segment expected to contract at a CAGR of (-)22 per cent between 2025 and 2028.

Anant Goenka said the sector is at the forefront of India’s creative and digital transformation, driven by evolving audience behaviour and rapid technological change.

Calling 2025 a “pivotal inflection point”, Kevin Vaz said the industry has entered a new phase of “scale, innovation and transformation”. "These trends highlight an industry expanding in scale, innovating across platforms and embracing technology," he added.The sector is projected to cross Rs 3 trillion by 2027 and reach Rs 3.3 trillion by 2028, with digital media driving growth and new formats such as creator-led platforms, micro-dramas and immersive experiences shaping the next phase. India's media and entertainment industry to rise to Rs 3.3 trillion by 2028: Report | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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‘It just feels like right time for me to step away’: Williamson on retirement decision

Bengaluru: New Zealand's Kane Williamson during a practice session ahead of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, Wednesday, November 08, 2023. (Photo: IANS/Dhananjay Yadav)

New Delhi, (IANS) Kane Williamson said it "feels like the right time" to walk away from international cricket, explaining that he wanted to leave the game while still fully committed rather than continue simply to add more appearances to his record.

The former New Zealand captain announced his retirement from international cricket after the first Test against England at Lord's. This marked the end of a notable 16-year international career that included 110 Tests. Williamson shared that he made this decision while sitting on the Lord's balcony after New Zealand's defeat in the opening Test. "It just feels like the right time for me to step away," Williamson was quoted by ESPNcricinfo as saying.

The 35-year-old spent several days thinking about his choice and discussing it with his parents and partner before informing a small group that included captain Tom Latham, head coach Rob Walter, and team manager Mike Sandle. Most of his teammates were surprised by the news, learning of his decision on Friday morning when he called an informal meeting at the team's hotel.

The timing surprised many, considering New Zealand had just started a three-Test series against England and had a packed home season against India and Australia approaching. However, Williamson emphasised that he did not want to be part of the squad unless he could fully commit.

"When I look at the dressing room now and see the talent, and the journey that I think this team's looking to go on, it just feels like the right time for me to step away," he stated. "I feel really good about it. It's funny when you reflect on so much, but all good things come to an end. It's the change of seasons."

Williamson admitted retirement was not on his mind before the Lord's Test, but the experience led him to reflect deeply. "I didn't have it in mind," he said. "At that point, you want to value every experience and really commit, because that’s what you have done, and what you expect from everyone else in the group. They definitely do that in a big way. So, yes, a bit of reflection."

"Obviously, that was an interesting match itself, but I was sitting up there on the balcony and thinking a bit about it. Then I took some time in the days after to get comfortable with the idea."

"I really like being grateful for the time I've had with this New Zealand cricket team, and I also feel excited about the potential I see in the group."

Having turned down a New Zealand central contract two years ago to better balance his workload and spend more time with his family, Williamson said he felt at peace stepping away while still able to perform at a high level. "It feels good not to exhaust it, because it's not just about me," he said. "There are many factors and a deep care for the team."

Williamson also felt satisfied that he finished his international career at the home of cricket instead of planning a farewell match in New Zealand. "Playing that last game at Lord's is kind of cool," he said. "I have too much respect for this team and where it's wanting to go."

He will stay with the squad for the rest of the England tour but plans to step back and let a new generation of leaders emerge.

"I'll be giving the team a bit of space," Williamson said. "I remember the day when other leaders in our team left. There are steps to take, and I think my stepping away allows that."

Head coach Rob Walter acknowledged the significant loss for New Zealand. "You don't lose Kane Williamson off the team sheet and get stronger, because he's a legend," Walter said.

When addressing the timing of the announcement, Walter added, "Everyone is asking, 'Why in the middle of the series?' but you hear his reasons, and you understand fully."

"That's the person he is, and the regard that he has for the team. It's not just about continuing because it's the end of a series. He wants to give the opportunity to someone else to take his place and fill a long-term role for the team."

Looking back on his career, Williamson pointed out New Zealand's victory over India in the 2021 World Test Championship final as one of his proudest moments.

"It was a real evolution of the side to reach that point, to deliver strong performances consistently, and to see some success after the ups and downs we experienced," he said. "It was great, but for those reasons rather than just the win."

The veteran also reflected on his journey from his Test debut to becoming one of the most respected figures in the sport.

"Remembering your first Test is special. It was the best thing ever. Even if you never play again, you have your baggy cap. It's incredible," he said. "Then, 16 years later, you're here making this decision. It's been an incredible journey."

When asked how he would like to be remembered, Williamson's response reflected the values that defined his career.

"Oh gosh, I didn't prepare for this one," he said with a smile. "Just as someone who cared deeply about the team, always wanted to do more, and was committed to my craft. I'm really grateful for it all."

While his international cricket career is now over, Williamson has not ruled out staying involved in the game. After working as a strategic advisor with the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, coaching could be one avenue for him.

"I had a bit of time in coaching and enjoyed that," he said. "We'll see. The next step is to talk with all of you, take a few days with my family, and figure out what's next."Williamson added that he remains undecided about continuing to play franchise cricket. “I'm just going to cross that bridge when I come to it. No specific plans in the playing department, but we'll see.” ‘It just feels like right time for me to step away’: Williamson on retirement decision | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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World Communication Awards 2026: Your chance to celebrate excellence

World Communication Awards

Posted by Harry Baldock: For more than two decades, the World Communication Awards (WCAs) has set the global benchmark for excellence, innovation, and leadership across the telecoms industry. Recognised worldwide as one of the sector’s most prestigious honours, the WCAs celebrate the companies and individuals driving meaningful change and shaping the future of global communications.

The WCAs is judged by an independent panel of more than 100 industry experts and every entry undergoes a rigorous review process to ensure the awards recognise genuine innovation, measurable impact, and outstanding achievements,

From 5G, AI, cloud and cyber security to submarine networks, sustainability, crisis response, customer experience and beyond, there is a category for every part of the telecoms ecosystem.

Think you could be a winner? Make sure you get started on your entry today! Enter all nominations before the deadline on Friday 19th June 2026. Top tip: you can part complete your entry and come back to it later.

Winners from the World Communication Awards 2025

5G Award

Winner: Singtel, in partnership with Ericsson, for Singtel 5G+

(Silver Award: KT, AICT Company) 

Access Innovation

Winner: Ericsson and Telstra for the world’s first 5G triple-band FDD Massive MIMO

(Silver Award: Rakuten Symphony, Rakuten Site Management’s Fiber Manager) 

AI Innovation

Winner: Jio Platforms for JioBrain

(Silver Award: Chunghwa Telecom)

Best Digital Transformation Programme

Winner: Ericsson and IOH for their Digital Monetization Platform

(Silver Award: Jazz and Huawei)

Best Network Evolution Initiative

Winner: Colt Technology Services for their global Optical network

(Silver Award: Telefónica Global Solutions)

Best operator in a Growth Market

Winner: Lumitel

(Silver Awards: Smart Axiata)

Best Wholesale Operator

Winner: Orange Wholesale

(Silver Award: Colt Technology Services, Wholesale SIP)

Beyond Connectivity Award

Winner: VEON for JazzCash

(Silver Award: PT Telkomsel)

Cloud Award

Winner: Jio Platforms for its Cloud Platforms and Private MEC

(Silver Award: Rakuten Symphony for Rakuten Cloud)

Connected Communities Award

Winner: Airband for its next generation Fixed Wireless Access

(Silver Award: Fibrus)

Crisis Response Award

Winner: Palestine Telecommunications Company – Jawwal

(Silver Award: Prima Limited, ICN1 Earthquake crisis response in Vanuatu)

Cyber Security Award

Winner: Jio Platforms for its Quantum-Safe Security Suite

(Silver Award: Bridge Alliance and Aeris Communications, Aeris IoT WatchtowerTM)

Enterprise Service of the Year

Winner: China Broadcasting Network & AsiaInfo Technologies for their Smart Wind Farm private 5G network

(Silver Award: Singtel, Singtel 5G+ Priority and Enterprise Mobile Protect)

Future Award

Winner: Singtel for its Quantum-Safe Network

(Silver Award: Cohere Technologies)

People and Culture Award

Winner: Viettel Group

(Silver Award: Deutsche Telekom – Europe Segment, DT Europe Talent Powerhouse)

Platform Award

Winner: Singtel for the Paragon Platform

(Silver Award: Rakuten Symphony, Rakuten Cloud-Native Platform)

Satellite Telecoms Award

Winner: Telefonica Global Solutions

(Silver Award: VEON and Kyivstar, Kyivstar/Starlink)

Social Contribution Award

Winner: Helium

(Silver Award: Moldcell Foundation)

Submarine Networks Award

Winner: EllaLink

(Silver Award: Telin)

Sustainability Award

Winner: Vodafone & Closing the Loop, One for One

(Silver Award: KT, AI-based ES Orchestrator)

Total Experience Award

Winner: Sparkle

(Silver Award: China Mobile (Guangdong) & Huawei, AI+BOSS)

Next Gen Award

Winner: Chiago Akpata – Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs at Bayobab

(Silver Award: Sam Sham, RETN)

Startup of the Year Award

Winner: nodeQ (Silver Award: A5G Networks) 

World Communication Awards 2026: Your chance to celebrate excellence - Total Telecom

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Coffee, hope, and football: The World Cup’s sleepless return

Mexico City: Singer Shakira performs during the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico, June 11, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua via IANS)

New Delhi, (IANS) From Thursday night, alarm clocks will be ignored, office productivity will dip, and millions of fans will survive on coffee, hope, and football.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is finally here, and from the millennials, who grew up waking at odd hours to watch Ronaldo, Zidane, and Ronaldinho, to Gen Z supporters documenting every kick, save, and celebration on social media, football’s biggest spectacle has once again united generations in a familiar ritual — sacrificing sleep for the beautiful game.

Mexico City: Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City on Thursday, June 11, 2026. (Xinhua via IANS)

As the tournament got underway at Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca, social media burst into life. Timelines transformed into virtual stadiums as memes, predictions, celebrations, and heated debates flooded screens within minutes of the opening ceremony.

“Four years of waiting and now my sleep schedule is officially destroyed,” one fan posted on X.

Another wrote: “World Cup season is the only time being awake late feels completely normal.”

A third summed up the mood perfectly: “The World Cup isn’t a tournament. It’s a month-long emotion.”

Mexico City: An artist performs during the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico, June 11, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua via IANS)

The opening ceremony delivered the spectacle fans had been eagerly awaiting. FIFA President Gianni Infantino officially declared the tournament open and presented the World Cup trophy before a packed Azteca crowd, triggering a deafening roar inside one of football’s most revered arenas.

Then came the entertainment.

Mexico City: Actress Salama Hayek is seen before the group A match between Mexico and South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico, June 11, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua via IANS)

Global pop icon Shakira and Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy lit up the stadium with a vibrant performance of the official tournament anthem, Dai Dai. The dazzling mix of music, lights, and colour transformed the historic venue into a celebration of football’s worldwide appeal.

Yet amid the star power and spectacle, Estadio Azteca itself remained the evening’s most powerful symbol.

Mexico City: Singers Andrea Bocelli (L) and Ejae perform before the group A match between Mexico and South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico, June 11, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua via IANS)

Few stadiums carry World Cup history quite like it. Pelé lifted the trophy there in 1970. Diego Maradona followed in 1986. Now, the legendary arena has become the first stadium in football history to host matches across three separate FIFA World Cups.

For older fans, it is a journey back to cherished memories. For younger supporters, it is the beginning of a new one.

Toronto: People attend the FIFA World Cup 2026 Countdown Concert in Toronto, Canada, on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the live music celebration was held simultaneously in Toronto, Los Angeles and Mexico City across Canada, the United States and Mexico. (Photo: Xinhua via IANS)

The faces may change. Technology may evolve. Social media may dominate the conversation. Yet one thing remains constant: when the World Cup begins, the world stops sleeping and starts dreaming. Coffee, hope, and football: The World Cup’s sleepless return | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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