Category: News

Brussels, 6 June 2026: The Consumer Choice Center condemns FIFA’s decision to ban fans from bringing reusable water bottles into stadiums during the upcoming World Cup in North America.

The policy is as unnecessary as it is absurd. Many matches will be played during peak summer temperatures and, thanks to global broadcasting schedules, not even late enough in the evening to spare supporters from the heat.

Zoltán Kész, Government Affairs Manager at the Consumer Choice Center, stated:

“Fans are already spending thousands to attend the world’s biggest sporting event, yet FIFA continues to treat them like a security problem rather than paying customers.” 
“There are countless examples showing football can safely accommodate reusable bottles. In countries like Spain, where summer temperatures regularly exceed those expected at many World Cup venues, supporters attend matches in extreme heat without being subjected to pointless restrictions on basic hydration.”

Rather than adopting proven best practices from countries experienced in managing large crowds during hot weather, FIFA has once again opted for maximum inconvenience for the very people who make the tournament possible.

Kész concluded:“If FIFA officials genuinely believe an empty reusable water bottle is a major threat while expecting supporters to sit for hours in the summer heat, they’ve clearly lost sight of who the World Cup is supposed to be for. At this rate, fans may want to check whether shoes and belts are next on the prohibited items list.”

New Delhi, June 6 (BNP): In a move aimed at modernizing the country’s currency system, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is reportedly preparing to introduce polymer-based plastic currency notes that are expected to be more durable, secure, and environmentally efficient than conventional paper notes.

According to reports, the proposed plastic banknotes will be waterproof, resistant to wear and tear, and capable of withstanding prolonged circulation. Unlike traditional paper currency, polymer notes are less likely to be damaged by moisture, dirt, or repeated handling, significantly extending their lifespan.

The RBI is also exploring advanced security features that can be incorporated into polymer notes to curb counterfeiting and enhance public confidence in the currency system. Several countries, including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Singapore, have successfully adopted polymer banknotes due to their durability and improved security standards.

Officials believe the transition could reduce printing and replacement costs in the long run while improving the overall quality of currency in circulation. The move is part of the central bank’s broader efforts to strengthen currency management and embrace modern banking innovations.

While the RBI has not yet announced an official launch date, reports suggest that groundwork and feasibility assessments are underway. Further details regarding denominations, design specifications, and rollout plans are expected in the coming months.

If implemented, the introduction of polymer currency notes would mark a significant milestone in India’s evolving financial and monetary landscape.

New Delhi, June 6 (BNP): In a significant ruling concerning public employment, the Supreme Court has observed that candidates possessing qualifications higher than those prescribed for a particular post may be declared ineligible if recruitment rules specifically restrict eligibility to a defined educational standard.

The apex court noted that employers and recruiting agencies have the authority to prescribe qualifications suitable for a particular position and that such criteria must be respected to maintain the integrity of the recruitment process. The Court emphasized that the objective of setting specific educational requirements is to ensure that candidates are appropriately matched to the responsibilities and nature of the job.

The judgment came while hearing a case related to the eligibility of highly qualified candidates applying for posts meant for individuals with lower educational qualifications. The Court observed that permitting overqualified candidates to compete for such positions could defeat the purpose of the recruitment policy and may adversely affect opportunities for candidates who meet the prescribed criteria.

Legal experts believe the ruling will have far-reaching implications for government recruitment processes across the country, particularly in cases where eligibility conditions clearly define minimum as well as maximum educational qualifications.

The decision is expected to provide clarity to recruiting authorities and may influence future recruitment policies aimed at ensuring fairness and suitability in public employment.

Gurugram, Haryana: Celebrating the rich and diverse cultural heritage of India, Swaranjali Delhi, in association with Eternal Oasis Gurugram, will present “Colours of India 2026”, a grand evening of Indian classical music and dance on 9 July 2026 at 6:00 PM.

The cultural extravaganza will be held at Prakriti Hall, 1st Floor, Eternal Oasis, 591A, Sector 42 Main Road, Gurugram, Haryana. The event aims to bring together art connoisseurs, music lovers, and cultural enthusiasts for an immersive experience showcasing India’s timeless artistic traditions.

The evening will feature an impressive lineup of acclaimed artists. Renowned Kathak exponent Ms. Oishee Bhattacherjee will present a captivating Kathak dance performance, while distinguished vocalist Pt. Subhas Ghosh will enthrall audiences with his presentation titled “Swar Raginee.” Classical vocal renditions by Smt. Laxmi Priya Nayak and a soulful sitar recital by Shri Uma Shankar are also among the highlights of the programme.

Supporting the performances will be an ensemble of accomplished co-artists, including Pt. Siddhartha Chatterjee, Shri Jitendra Swain, Pt. Susamoy Mishra, and Zakir Dholpuri, whose contributions are expected to add depth and vibrancy to the evening.

The organizers have extended a cordial invitation to music and dance enthusiasts, patrons of the arts, and members of the community to attend the event and celebrate India’s cultural richness through live performances.

Shreyas WebMedia Solutions Pvt. Ltd. has been announced as the Official Media Partner for the event and will support media outreach and promotional activities for the cultural showcase.

For further information and registration, interested participants may visit www.swaranjali.org and www.eternaloasis.org, or contact the organizers at +91-9910300319 and +91-9773565708.

Event Details

• Event: Colours of India 2026
• Date: 9 July 2026
• Time: 6:00 PM onwards
• Venue: Prakriti Hall, 1st Floor, Eternal Oasis, Sector 42, Gurugram
• Organized by: Swaranjali Delhi
• In Association With: Eternal Oasis Gurugram
• Official Media Partner: Shreyas WebMedia Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

The event promises to be a memorable celebration of India’s artistic legacy, offering audiences an evening filled with melody, rhythm, and cultural splendour while fostering appreciation for India’s classical performing arts traditions.

Mumbai, June 5 (BNP): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday decided to keep the benchmark repo rate unchanged at 5.25 per cent, maintaining its neutral monetary policy stance amid evolving domestic and global economic conditions.

The decision was announced following the meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which reviewed key economic indicators including inflation, growth prospects, liquidity conditions, and global market developments.

By retaining the repo rate at 5.25 per cent, the RBI signalled a balanced approach aimed at supporting economic growth while ensuring that inflation remains within the targeted range. The central bank’s neutral stance provides flexibility to respond to future economic developments based on incoming data.

The RBI noted that the Indian economy continues to demonstrate resilience, supported by robust domestic demand, stable macroeconomic fundamentals, and ongoing policy reforms. At the same time, the central bank highlighted the need to remain vigilant against potential risks arising from global uncertainties, commodity price fluctuations, and geopolitical developments.

Economists believe the decision will provide stability to financial markets and lending institutions while offering relief to borrowers, as lending rates linked to the repo rate are unlikely to witness immediate changes.

The central bank reiterated its commitment to maintaining price stability while fostering sustainable economic growth. It also emphasized continued monitoring of inflation trends and liquidity conditions to ensure macroeconomic stability.

The RBI’s decision comes at a time when major global central banks are carefully balancing inflation control with growth concerns, making policy predictability an important factor for investors and businesses alike.

Puri, June 5 (UDN): Odisha reaffirmed its position as a global leader in disaster management and climate resilience by showcasing its internationally acclaimed best practices at the BRICS Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group (DRRG) Technical Meeting held in Puri.

The meeting brought together delegates, policymakers, and disaster management experts from BRICS member nations to discuss strategies for strengthening disaster preparedness, resilience, and sustainable development. Odisha’s disaster management model, recognized globally for its effective handling of cyclones and natural calamities, was presented as a benchmark for disaster risk reduction.

Senior state officials highlighted Odisha’s success in minimizing loss of life through advanced early warning systems, community-based preparedness programmes, resilient infrastructure, and coordinated emergency response mechanisms. The state’s proactive approach to disaster management has earned international recognition and has been widely cited as a model for disaster-prone regions worldwide.

During the event, Odisha shared its experiences in climate adaptation, resilient development planning, and the use of technology-driven solutions for disaster response and recovery. Delegates appreciated the state’s people-centric disaster management framework, which integrates scientific forecasting, institutional preparedness, and grassroots participation.

A senior Odisha government representative was also seen participating in the BRICS DRRG proceedings alongside delegates from member countries, underscoring the state’s active engagement in global discussions on disaster resilience and sustainable development.

The BRICS DRRG Technical Meeting served as a platform for knowledge exchange and international cooperation, enabling member nations to learn from each other’s experiences in addressing disaster risks and climate-related challenges.

Odisha’s participation further strengthened its reputation as a global leader in disaster risk reduction and highlighted the state’s continued commitment to building resilient communities and promoting sustainable development.

Thiruvananthapuram, June 5: India must move beyond a promotion-driven tourism strategy and focus on building globally competitive destinations that offer high-quality visitor experiences, Union Tourism Additional Secretary and Director General Suman Billa said on Thursday.

 Pic Credit: Pexel

Addressing the Global Travel Mart (GTM) 2026 in Thiruvananthapuram, Billa said India’s strong economic growth, rising incomes, expanding infrastructure, and digital connectivity have created a strong foundation for tourism expansion. However, he noted that the sector is still operating below its full potential.

He said growing aspirations among India’s expanding middle class, combined with easier travel access and the influence of social media, have significantly increased demand for travel and new experiences. At the same time, he added, the country must now focus on converting this demand into sustained destination-led growth.

Highlighting structural changes in the sector, Billa pointed out that India’s airport network has more than doubled in the past decade to over 150 airports, while highways and expressways have significantly improved domestic connectivity. Despite this, he said, tourism growth has not kept pace with the country’s broader economic expansion.

He noted that while international tourist arrivals have nearly doubled to around 20 million in the last decade, outbound travel by Indians has grown much faster, making India a net spender in global tourism flows.

At the same time, he described domestic tourism as a major success story, with Indians undertaking nearly four billion domestic trips annually, making it one of the fastest-growing tourism markets in the world.

Billa emphasized that tourism remains one of the most powerful employment-generating sectors, supporting not only hotels and transport services but also farmers, artisans, local entrepreneurs, and small businesses across the value chain.

Calling for a strategic shift, he said the future of tourism lies in creating meaningful, high-quality experiences rather than simply increasing room capacity or visitor numbers. He stressed that travellers today seek authenticity, culture, and emotional connection with destinations.

“Visitors should leave with a lasting impression of India’s culture, values, and hospitality,” he said, adding that destinations must focus on end-to-end experience design.

He also observed that Indian states, including Kerala, now compete with global destinations such as Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, making quality and competitiveness more important than ever.

Billa suggested that Kerala focus on strengthening infrastructure such as airport connectivity, public transport, sanitation, water supply, traffic management, and overall destination cleanliness to improve visitor experience. He also proposed developing at least ten world-class tourism destinations in the state over the next five years, along with new signature tourism products.

The remarks were made during the second edition of GTM 2026, a major travel trade event bringing together more than 1,000 domestic and international buyers, including tour operators, hotel groups, airlines, and travel technology companies.

The three-day event, organised by industry bodies in association with Kerala Tourism and India Tourism, features over 200 exhibitors showcasing hospitality services, wellness tourism, wedding tourism, cruise offerings, homestays, and experiential travel products. Dedicated zones highlight Ayurveda, yoga, culture, and heritage experiences, along with business networking and B2B meetings aimed at strengthening India’s tourism ecosystem.

The event is expected to generate new partnerships and enhance India’s positioning as a competitive global tourism destination.

Guwahati, June 5: Assam’s homegrown women-led packaged drinking water brand Luit Blue organised a free sapling distribution drive at Hajongbari, Panikhaiti in Guwahati on the occasion of World Environment Day 2026, encouraging residents to contribute towards environmental conservation and a greener future.

The initiative was held under the Government of India’s campaign ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’, which promotes tree plantation in honour of mothers. A large number of local residents actively participated in the programme and collected saplings for plantation. The saplings distributed included fruit-bearing trees and indigenous plants of medicinal value, including kothal, arjun, madhuri, jalfai, aam, amlokhi, lesu and jamun.

The event was led by Mrs Mondalica Chaliha, founder of Luit Blue, along with her dedicated team. As part of the programme, Luit Blue also distributed free drinking water to participants and local residents.

Shri Debojit Rongpi, Gaon Burah of Hajongbari, actively supported the programme and encouraged community participation. The initiative also received valuable support from Shri Manoj Goswami, AFS, Divisional Forest Officer, Guwahati SF Division, Basistha. The programme was guided by Smti Sayambrita Dutta, AFS, Divisional Forest Officer, Golaghat SF Division.

The campaign also encouraged people to reuse Luit Blue bottles as planters, promoting the message of reducing waste while supporting tree plantation. Participants were urged to clean and reuse empty bottles for planting saplings, turning everyday packaging into a small but meaningful step towards sustainability.

“As a women-led homegrown brand from Assam, Luit Blue believes that responsibility goes beyond providing safe hydration. Through this sapling distribution drive, we wanted to encourage people to plant a tree in honour of mothers and also adopt simple sustainable habits such as reusing bottles as planters. Every sapling planted and nurtured today is a step towards a greener future,” said Mondalica Chaliha, founder of Luit Blue.

Participants were urged to plant and nurture the saplings as a meaningful contribution towards protecting the environment and creating a greener tomorrow.

Luit Blue expressed gratitude to the Forest Department, community leaders, volunteers and local residents for their support in making the initiative a success.

Luit Blue is a Guwahati-based packaged drinking water brand inspired by the Brahmaputra, locally known as Luit, and is built around the values of purity, safe hydration, community participation and sustainability.

 Amdavad, June 5: Amdavad etched its name in sporting history on Thursday as the inaugural World Yogasana Championship 2026 got underway at EKA Arena TransStadia, bringing together more than 500 athletes from 78 countries for the first-ever global championship dedicated to Yogasana sport.

Declaring the championship open, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi described the event as the beginning of a new era for Yogasana. “Today, from the land of Amdavad, in the sports legacy of the world, a new chapter has been joined. Today, the first World Yogasana Sports Championship has begun,” the Prime Minister said while welcoming athletes from across the world.

Expressing confidence in the future of the discipline, Shri Modi said, “I am sure that in the future, Yogasana will also make its place in international sports. This World Yogasana Championship happening in Amdavad is going to be a stepping stone in helping Yogasana be part of major sporting events like Olympics and Commonwealth Games.”

The championship marks a defining moment in the evolution of Yogasana, transforming an ancient Indian practice into a globally competitive sporting discipline and strengthening its pathway towards international sporting recognition.

Calling the occasion historic, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said the scale of participation demonstrated the growing global appeal of Yogasana. “When the first football World Cup took place, only 13 countries participated. Today, in the first edition of World Yogasana Championship, 78 countries from all over the world are present,” he said.

Emphasising the values that Yogasana represents, Dr. Mandaviya added, “When the world talked about Shakti, India talked about balance.” He further noted that, “Through Yogasana, we are spreading it in the form of sports around the world.”

Looking ahead, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the sport’s growth, stating that Yogasana is set to be included in the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Amdavad while efforts are underway to strengthen its pathway towards future Olympic inclusion.

Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel welcomed athletes, delegates and dignitaries from around the world and expressed pride in Amdavad hosting the inaugural edition of the championship. “It is a matter of great pride that Amdavad is hosting the 1st World Yogasana Championship 2026. I welcome athletes, dignitaries, guests and media representatives from across the world who have gathered here for this historic occasion. Together, your presence adds great significance to the inauguration of this championship. This event will be a great spectacle for the world and I extend my best wishes for the championship to be fruitful and a grand success,” Shri Patel said.

Yogrishi Swami Ramdev Ji Maharaj, Honourable President, World Yogasana said, “Today marks an important occasion as participants from across the world come together for the first World Yogasana Championship. Millions of young people are embracing Yogasana as a sport and as a path to personal growth. While this championship is a competition, it is also a journey of self-discovery, self-discipline and self-improvement. Today, a new chapter has been written in the history of Yogasana.”

Dr Jaideep Arya, Secretary General, World Yogasana and Yogasana Bharat said, “We have to master our posture, but we have to master ourselves also. This is yoga. Yoga is a journey from the outside world to inside. Through Yogasana sport, we are creating a platform where athletes can showcase not only physical excellence, but also balance, discipline and mental strength. We must not only improve our posture, but also train our minds to remain balanced and adaptable in every situation.”

Udit Sheth, President, Yogasana Bharat, said “The world is ready for Yogasana sport. This championship is not merely a competition. It is about showcasing discipline, excellence, balance, focus and the limitless potential of the human spirit. Through Yogasana sport, we are creating a new avenue for young people across the world to embrace the yoga way of life through sport, aspiration and excellence. Today, with athletes from 78 countries gathered in Amdavad, we are witnessing a historic moment in the global journey of Yogasana.”

Hosts India have fielded a 122-member contingent, with athletes competing across six age categories in Individual Events, Artistic Events and Traditional Group categories over the next five days.

The championship will also feature an Electronic Scoring System at the global level for the first time, enhancing transparency, consistency and judging standards, while 32 international judges and 51 national judges will officiate during the competition.

With athletes from 78 nations converging in Amdavad, the inaugural World Yogasana Championship has not only created history for the city and the country but has also signalled the arrival of Yogasana as a truly global competitive sport.

 

 

Seattle, WA June 2, 2026. With global excitement building around the FIFA World Cup, fans everywhere are getting ready for watch parties, international pride, and nonstop soccer energy. Whether you’re gathering friends at home or heading out to celebrate with fellow fans, you don’t need an official jersey—or a big budget—to get into the spirit. Thrifting offers a creative, sustainable way to show your team pride and host memorable match-day gatherings.

What to Wear When You Don’t Have a Jersey

No official kit? No problem. Thrifting makes it easy to show your team pride with creative, one-of-a- kind looks:

• For Team USA: Look for white and red striped shirts—an easy, recognizable nod to national colors that’s simple to thrift.

• Retro soccer jerseys: Keep an eye out for vintage international kits or local club gear—they add authenticity and a unique edge.

• Color blocking: Build an outfit around your team’s palette using basics like tees, jackets, and accessories.

• Athletic wear: Tops, hats, sneakers, and other pieces can mirror team colors and styles. Pair bold colors with classic denim or neutral basics for a balanced, wearable look.

Style tip: Balance bold colors with neutral staples like denim or solid basics to keep the look wearable beyond match day.

Thriftable Hosting Essentials for Match-Day Watch Parties

Hosting a World Cup watch party? Skip disposable décor and build a reusable, visually striking setup with secondhand finds:

• Serveware in team colors like red, white, and blue—or mix and match pieces to reflect the countries playing that day.

• Platters and bowls for passing and sharing snacks like chips, fruit, or sliders.

• Glassware, mason jars, or reusable cups for beverages that minimize waste.

• Table linens or scarves in bold colors that can double as décor and conversation starters.

Pro tip: Choose a versatile color theme you can reuse throughout the tournament—or adapt it as different teams play.

Why Thrifting Matters This World Cup

Celebrating the World Cup through secondhand finds isn’t just cost-effective—it’s impactful. When you thrift your outfits, décor, and hosting supplies, you help reduce waste and extend the life of quality goods. With Evergreen Goodwill, you also support community programs that create pathways to jobs and economic mobility.