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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3rd T20I: Sooryavanshi’s 81, Mayank’s 3-29 power India to 3-0 sweep over Zimbabwe

Harare: India's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi plays a shot during the third T20I match between India and Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Sunday, July 26, 2026. (Photo: IANS/X/@BCCI)

Harare, (IANS) Spearheaded by teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s sublime 81 and a clinical three-wicket haul from speedster Mayank Yadav, India outclassed Zimbabwe by 35 runs in the third and final T20I at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday, and clinch a 3-0 series sweep.

Having arrived on the back of disappointing series defeats in Ireland and England, India produced a clinical all-round performance to assert their dominance. Sooryavanshi set the tone early with a sparkling 81 off 49 balls to lift India to a formidable 192/5 on a slow pitch.

In defence of the total, Mayank was clinical in using short of good length and short balls to ensure Zimbabwe were never in the hunt. Despite a sloppy display in the field that saw five chances being dropped, India restricted Zimbabwe to 157/7 to wrap up a comfortable series win.

Electing to bat first, India rode on Sooryavanshi’s calculated brilliance, as the young opener abandoned his typical all-out aggression for a more mature, paced knock and showed willingness to rotate strike via 19 singles and three twos. Blending power with precision, he hammered the Zimbabwean attack - whenever they erred - across the park for hitting eight fours and four sixes at a strike-rate of 165.31.

Though India fell just eight runs short of the 200-mark, Sooryavanshi also shared stands of 75 and 50 with Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer before Rinku Singh provided the finishing touches with 14-ball 25. For Zimbabwe, though Brad Evans was the standout bowler with 2-41, the bowlers were majorly expensive and gave away 17 extras – 15 of which were wides.

Zimbabwe's decision to open the bowling with skipper Sikandar Raza backfired instantly as Sooryavanshi carved the first ball past short third man for four before bringing out the lofted drive for another boundary in a 17-run opening over. But Blessing Muzarabani quickly came in and reasserted his dominance over Abhishek Sharma.

For the third time in the series, the towering pacer had the opener’s number - inducing a thick edge as Abhishek attempted to smash him over cover, and an easy catch was taken by the keeper for just two. Unfazed by the early setback, Sooryavanshi muscled a hook into the parking lot off Muzarabani for six before edging him past third man for another boundary.

Sooryavanshi displayed equal dexterity against fuller balls - repeatedly opening the face of his bat to squeeze out yorkers from Newman Nyamhuri and Brad Evans through the off-side for boundaries. On the other end, Kishan settled into his groove by slicing and muscling Brad Evans for consecutive boundaries before muscling Wellington Masakadza over mid-wicket for another four.

Sooryavanshi also launched Masakadza over mid-wicket for another towering six before bringing up his second T20I fifty in 31 balls when he calmly cut Wessly Madhevere to deep point for a single. Though Kishan was castled by Raza for 29, Sooryavanshi continued to show his range - smoking Madhevere down the ground before reverse-sweeping him for another boundary.

With skipper Iyer hammering Madhevere for consecutive boundaries, Sooryavanshi continued to dish out towering sixes, including a 102-m hit down the ground, before his attempt to go downtown again ended in Brad Evans pulling off a sensational low diving catch at long-off to finally dismiss the teenager for 81.

Though Shreyas Iyer holed out to deep mid-wicket off Brad Evans for 27, Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh hit four boundaries collectively before the latter holed out to deep cover off Evans on the last ball of the innings. By then, India crossed 190-mark, thanks to Sooryavanshi’s measured blitzkrieg and 40 runs coming from overs 17-20.

Chasing 193, Zimbabwe’s reply got off to a disastrous start as Mayank struck with the very first ball of the innings – just like he did in the first T20I. The express pacer produced a 147kph thunderbolt that nipped away and drew an edge from Brian Bennett, which Vaibhav Sooryavanshi caught sharply at first slip.

Yash Thakur’s double-strike in the fourth over effectively derailed Zimbabwe’s chase. Thakur first outsmarted Dion Myers (19) with a clever 125kph bouncer, which the batter tamely chipped to Shreyas Iyer. On the very next ball, Thakur produced a moment of magic - getting a 143kph delivery to take skipper Sikandar Raza’s leading edge before diving dynamically in his follow-through to pluck a sensational one-handed stunning catch.

Though Ryan Burl denied Thakur a hat-trick with a crisp drive to the boundary, India seized complete control of the contest by taking three scalps in power-play. Ryan Burl and Ben Curran tried resurrecting the innings with a 31-run stand, before the latter reverse-swept to short third man off Ravi Bishnoi.

Burl and Wessly Madhevere tried reducing Zimbabwe’s pressure after four boundary-less overs with some lofty hits - the former carted Sharma for a four and six while the latter gave the same treatment to Thakur.

The 60-run partnership ended when Mayank had Madhevere pulling to mid-wicket (and later had Brad Evans caught out at cover) and once Ashok Sharma sent Tadiwanashe Marumani’s off-stump for a walk to get his first international wicket, the writing was on the wall for Zimbabwe, with the result entirely in India's favour, despite Burl hitting an unbeaten fifty off 42 balls.Brief Scores: India 192/5 in 20 overs (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 81, Ishan Kishan 29; Brad Evans 2-41, Blessing Muzarabani 1-33) beat Zimbabwe 157/7 in 20 overs (Ryan Burl 54 not out, Wessly Madhevere 28; Mayank Yadav 3-29, Yash Thakur 2-45) by 35 runs 3rd T20I: Sooryavanshi’s 81, Mayank’s 3-29 power India to 3-0 sweep over Zimbabwe | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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Mbappe becomes first player to win Golden Boot twice

/ Credit: FIFA

New York, (IANS) France captain Kylian Mbappe has won the Golden Boot for FIFA World Cup 2026, retaining the title of tournament top scorer which he claimed at Qatar 2022.

The France forward took his tally to ten with a double in Les Bleus’ 6-4 defeat by England in an enthralling and end-to-end Bronze final in Miami on Saturday. Having struck eight times to finish top scorer at Qatar 2022, Mbappe became the first player to win the World Cup Golden Boot twice.

The 27-year-old was the first man to reach double figures for World Cup goals since Gerd Muller for West Germany in 1970. Only Just Fontaine, who hit 13 for France in 1958, and Hungary's Sandor Kocsis with 11 in 1954, have scored more individual goals in a single tournament.

Mbappe opened his scoring account in France's opener by netting a spectacular brace against Senegal, thus becoming the top scorer in his national team's history. He scored another two goals against Iraq and two more against Sweden in the round of 16. He then scored the winning goal against Paraguay in the round of 16 and found the net again against Morocco in the quarterfinals.

To cap off his outstanding tournament and secure the trophy, he scored 2 goals in the third-place match against England. Lionel Messi was the second-highest scorer with 8 goals, and Jude Bellingham finished third with 7.

Mbappe, who is now the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history, has been in electric form throughout June and July, leading France to the semi-finals, where they were beaten 2-0 by Spain.

The 27-year-old, who scored four times as his nation lifted the trophy at Russia 2018 and added eight more as they reached the final four years later, bagged braces in the group games against Senegal and Iraq and again in the Round of 32 success against Sweden.

His double-figure haul ensured he took the crown ahead of Lionel Messi, who he had traded places with at the top of the Golden Boot standings several times, as the Argentina legend ended his campaign with eight goals.Mbappe, who also claimed the Bronze Ball for his performances, then fired home the crucial penalty to overcome Paraguay and hit the opener in France’s 2-0 quarter-final success against Morocco, drawing a blank against La Roja before adding two more in the defeat by England. Mbappe becomes first player to win Golden Boot twice | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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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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'Nobody gave us anything…': Messi slams critics after reaching WC final

Credit: Argentina/X

New Delhi, July 16 (IANS) Lionel Messi has hit back at critics alleging FIFA favouritism toward Argentina, asserting that reaching a second consecutive World Cup final proves his side is among the best in the world and that their success is "not by chance."

Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez, with the help of two Messi assists, struck the late goals in a dramatic turnaround in Atlanta after Anthony Gordon's 55th-minute goal to take Argentina closer to retaining their world crown.

Argentina's journey to defend their title has been filled with controversies as referees made several debatable calls that seemed to favour them. But Messi completely dismissed the claims that the tournament was biased in their favour.

"It hurts whoever it hurts… We've been the best for the last four years, whether people like it or not, no matter what they say. Once again, we're among the two best in the world, and that shows that everything we've done isn't by chance and nobody gave us anything. Reaching two consecutive World Cup finals is something few achieve, and this group did it," the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner stated, taking a clear jab at the critics.

"If we had lost to England, people would have come out and said some nonsense, and we didn't give them the chance. We knew that we were better than them in terms of football , but a lot is at stake in a match of this magnitude, where historic events happen in these games," he added.

Messi also dedicated the win to the legendary Diego Maradona, who had famously headlined the clash between Argentina and the Three Lions in the World Cup quarter-final 40 years ago."Without a doubt, Diego is enjoying this immensely from up there because today was a very special day for him; to be able to give him this joy and for him to experience it however he wants from up there. Let him enjoy it because it’s a gift for him too," he concluded. 'Nobody gave us anything…': Messi slams critics after reaching WC final | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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Assam’s Kaziranga emerges as key haven in India for raptors and storks: Survey

IANS Photo

Guwahati, (IANS): In another milestone for wildlife conservation, the latest bird survey in Assam's Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) has recorded 30 species of raptors with 217 individual birds and six species of storks with 266 individual birds, officials said on Saturday.

The survey highlights Kaziranga's rich avian biodiversity and reinforces the protected area's significance as a vital habitat for several species of birds, including birds of prey and wetland-dependent storks.

KNPTR Director Sonali Ghosh said that, in a significant step towards science-based wildlife management, the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve authority, in collaboration with research scholars from different universities in Assam, conducted a comprehensive stork and raptor survey during February-March this year.

The survey report was released on World Environment Day on Friday.

“The survey recorded a total of 30 species of raptors with 217 individual birds and six species of storks with 266 individual birds,” Ghosh said. She said that the rapid survey was conducted by a team of 10 expert enumerators between the last week of February and the first week of March 2026, across all administrative ranges under the Eastern Assam Wildlife Division of KNPTR. Nesting locations identified during the current year were also included in the overall analysis.

The official said that the national park supports a wide variety of diurnal and nocturnal raptors, including eagles, falcons, vultures, buzzards and owls. Its vast network of wetlands is also home to numerous resident and migratory stork species. A total of 112 species of raptors have been recorded in India, of which nearly 50 species are found in Kaziranga National Park and its adjoining landscape.

Assam’s rich wetlands and the foothills of the Himalayas provide critical habitats for these birds of prey.

“Globally, there are 20 species of storks, primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions. About 50 per cent of them, or eight species, have been recorded in India. All these eight species are also found in Assam and the Kaziranga landscape. The region’s vast network of wetlands and tall trees provides them with safe nesting and feeding grounds,” the KNPTR Director noted.

The latest survey conducted across Kaziranga Tiger Reserve revealed a remarkable diversity of raptors and storks spread across its three administrative divisions. Kaziranga National Park recorded the highest diversity with 21 species of raptors and five species of storks, followed by Biswanath Wildlife Division with 20 species of raptors and six species of storks. Nagaon Wildlife Division recorded 14 species of raptors and five species of storks.

According to the senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, among the stork species, the Asian Openbill was the most abundant, with 92 individual records across all divisions, while the Greater Adjutant was the rarest, with only three individual sightings. Among the raptors, the Himalayan Griffon Vulture was the most commonly sighted bird of prey, with 69 individual records. The Booted Eagle and White-tailed Eagle were the rarest species, with only one sighting each.

Kaziranga’s landscape also serves as a vital stronghold for the globally threatened Pallas’s Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus).

In a remarkable example of international wildlife research, the Wildlife Science and Conservation Centre of Mongolia confirmed that a male Pallas’s Fish Eagle named ‘Ider’ was tagged at Buuntsagaan Lake in central-western Mongolia on August 21, 2020. Since then, the bird has returned to Kaziranga National Park every year for breeding, changing its nesting location only once, the official said.

She added that during the non-breeding season, from June to September, the bird consistently returns to Buuntsagaan Lake in Mongolia.

A survey conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in January 2020 reported 10 active nests of Pallas’s Fish Eagle in Kaziranga, making it the protected area with the highest number of known breeding sites for the species anywhere in the world. These findings underline Kaziranga’s global importance for the conservation of the species and highlight priority areas for action, including protection of nesting and floodplain habitats, mitigation of powerline electrocution, continued telemetry monitoring, and strengthened international collaboration to secure the species’ remaining populations, Ghosh said.

The findings, she said, would contribute significantly to ongoing efforts to protect threatened raptor and stork species and further enhance conservation management across the park’s diverse habitats. Most of these species are listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which provides them the highest degree of legal protection in India.

The latest survey underscores the importance of preserving Kaziranga’s unique and diverse landscape and highlights the critical ecological role played by raptors and storks in maintaining the health and balance of the ecosystem, the KNPTR Director said.

Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, India's seventh UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to the famed ‘Big Five’ wildlife species.

According to the latest estimates, the park shelters 2,613 greater one-horned rhinoceroses (2022 census), 104 Bengal tigers (2022), 1,228 Asian elephants (2024), 2,565 wild water buffaloes (2022), and 1,129 eastern swamp deer (2022).The KNPTR spread across several districts of Assam, including Golaghat, Nagaon, Sonitpur, and Biswanath. Assam’s Kaziranga emerges as key haven in India for raptors and storks: Survey | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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Alcaraz pulls out of Wimbledon and Queen’s owing to lingering wrist injury

Melbourne: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup during the 2026 Australian Open men's champion media opportunity at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne, Australia, Feb. 2, 2026. (Xinhua via IANS)

New Delhi, (IANS) World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz has pulled out of both Wimbledon and the Queen's Club Championships while he continues to recover from a persistent right wrist injury, marking a significant setback for the grass-court season and the year’s third Grand Slam.

The Spaniard confirmed the decision in a message posted on X, saying he was still not physically ready to return to competition despite progress in rehabilitation.

“My recovery is going well, and I feel much better, but unfortunately, I'm still not ready to be able to play, and that's why I have to withdraw from the grass-court swing at Queen's and Wimbledon. They are two really special tournaments for me, and I'll miss them a lot. We keep working to return as soon as possible"! Alcaraz wrote.

The withdrawal continues a frustrating spell on the sidelines for the 23-year-old, who has not played competitively since his injury concerns intensified during the clay-court season earlier this year. Alcaraz had already pulled out of the Italian Open in Rome as well as the French Open, where he had been due to defend the title he won in dramatic fashion last season.

The Spaniard lifted the French Open trophy in 2025 after defeating world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in an epic five-set final that lasted five hours and 29 minutes, widely regarded as one of the greatest Grand Slam finals in recent years.

However, concerns over his fitness had been building for weeks before this year’s French Open. Alcaraz withdrew from the Barcelona Open after receiving treatment on his right wrist and forearm during his opening-round match, before also skipping the Madrid Open.

At the 2026 Laureus Awards earlier this year, where he was named Sportsman of the Year, Alcaraz appeared wearing a brace on his right wrist, further fuelling doubts over his immediate playing future. He later confirmed that medical evaluations had forced him to step away from competition in order to avoid aggravating the injury.

“After the results of the tests carried out today, we have decided that the most prudent thing to do is to be cautious and not participate in Rome or Roland-Garros as we wait to evaluate the progress so we can decide when to return to the court. This is a difficult time for me, but I am sure we will come out of it stronger,” Alcaraz had said in a statement in April.

The latest setback means Wimbledon will become only the third Grand Slam tournament Alcaraz has missed in his career. Before sidelining himself from the upcoming French Open, the Spaniard had withdrawn from the Australian Open back in 2023 because of a hamstring injury.With Alcaraz now sidelined for the entire grass-court swing, attention is likely to shift even more heavily towards Sinner, Novak Djokovic, and other leading contenders as the tennis calendar moves deeper into the Grand Slam season. Alcaraz pulls out of Wimbledon and Queen’s owing to lingering wrist injury | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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'I’ve been longing for this goal since WC in Qatar': Hernandez on late winner against Egypt

Credit: FIFA

Atlanta, (IANS) After securing an unforgettable 3-2 Round of 16 victory with a late winner against Egypt in the FIFA World Cup 2026 last-16 tie, Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez said he has been "longing for this goal since the World Cup in Qatar".

Fernandez, who memorably scored in Argentina’s crucial 2-0 win over Mexico four years ago, hadn’t yet played a leading role in the FIFA World Cup 2026 until he made his presence felt in the third minute of stoppage time to head in a perfect cross from Lautaro Martinez, sending the Argentina crowd into a frenzy on Tuesday.

“It’s the most important goal of my career,” said Fernandez after the match. “It’s first, and the second is the Mexico one. I’ve been longing for this goal for about three years, ever since the World Cup in Qatar. To be able to experience moments like this — honestly, I thank God. I feel privileged."

“When the ball went in, I thought of my whole family up there in the stands, of everyone in the stadium, and of the people back in Argentina. Honestly, my heart was filled with emotion and pride. We know that all Argentines are rooting for us, and that’s absolutely crucial for us," he added.

Fernandez and Co. showed great character by rallying from a deficit for the first time in a World Cup match in the Scaloni era. Egypt were in control, leading 2-0 until the 79th minute, when Cristian Romero pulled one back with a header. Then, Lionel Messi equalised in the 83rd minute before the winner from Fernandez, whose goal was the 3,000th in FIFA World Cup history.

“I want to praise my team-mates: we have a phenomenal group u— a group that never gives up and has tremendous quality, no matter the difficulties or adversity. We’re always united,” said Fernandez. 'I’ve been longing for this goal since WC in Qatar': Hernandez on late winner against Egypt | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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India holds crown as fastest-growing economy with IMF projecting 7 pc growth in current calendar year

India holds crown as fastest-growing economy with IMF projecting 7 pc growth in current calendar year. (IANS Photo)

United Nations, July 8 (IANS): Astutely navigating the shoals of global economic uncertainties, India is holding on to its crown as the world’s fastest-growing major economy with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projecting it to grow at 7 per cent during the current calendar year.

The World Economic Outlook (WEO) Update released on Wednesday projected India’s gross domestic product to moderate in the next calendar year to 6.4 per cent.

The Indian economy’s projected performance is "supported by strong momentum in private consumption and services activity", the report said.

The report gave two sets of projections based on time periods for India -- for the fiscal year in the main chart and for the calendar year in a footnote explanation to the chart.

The projections on the basis of India’s fiscal year starting in April used in the report’s main chart and in the text put the growth at 6.4 per cent for the current fiscal year and rising to 6.7 per cent the next fiscal year.

India keeps the fastest-growing major economy rank on the fiscal year projections also.

The WEO Update reduced the fiscal year projection made in the main WEO in April by 0.1 per cent for the current fiscal year but increased it by 0.2 per cent for the next.

The fiscal year basis of growth was 7.7 per cent in 2025-26 before the Iran war had its impact, according to the WEO Update.

India’s growth projections are more than twice the global numbers.

The report gave a 3 per cent projection for the world economy’s growth this year, and expected it to rise to 3.4 per cent next year.

But it presented a relatively positive outlook for the world.

"The global economy as a whole has, so far, weathered the shock from the war better than feared," the IMF said.

"Movements in and repercussions from the main channels of transmission -- commodity prices, inflation expectations, and financial conditions -- have been relatively limited," it said.

“The effects of the war in the Middle East (are) being partly offset by accelerated demand-driven momentum in the global technology cycle thanks to advances in artificial intelligence and its adoption," it added.

China, which is the second fastest-growing economy, was projected to grow by 4.6 per cent this year and lose a half point, falling to 4.1 per cent next year.

The US ranked third with a projected growth of 2.3 per cent this year and 2.2 per cent next year.

US President Donald Trump in a recent TV interview indicated that India’s high growth rate could be a benchmark for the US.

"You have a couple of countries, India is one, doing very well, but it's at 7, 8 per cent," he said.

But the US, Trump said, is being held back from an ambitious growth target by a conservative Federal Reserve that is keeping the interest rates high.

The European Union’s growth projection is a paltry 0.9 per cent this year and1.2 per cent the next.

The IMF’s rating of India’s growth is within the ranges set by several other organisations and banks, all of which mark India as a high-flyer.

The World Bank, in a report last month, said India was expected to grow by 6.6 per cent this fiscal year, rising to 7.2 per cent the next.

The UN said India was expected to grow by 6.4 per cent this year.

"We have seen structurally very robust growth in India, which has been driven by consumer demand, by public investment, but also by strong performance in services exports," Ingo Pitterle, the UN’s senior economist heading its Global Economic Monitoring Branch, said when the report was released last month.

The Reserve Bank of India, also last month, set this fiscal year's growth at 6.6 per cent.

A Bank of America report said India’s GDP growth in 2026 is expected to touch 7 per cent, up from an earlier estimate of 6.2 per cent in April.And, late last month, Goldman Sachs upgraded India's GDP growth forecast for calendar year 2026 to 6.8 per cent from 6.5 per cent. India holds crown as fastest-growing economy with IMF projecting 7 pc growth in current calendar year | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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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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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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