Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has resigned from his position as head coach of the England Lions, opting to focus on his coaching commitments with Australia's Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League.
Chelsea, under new manager Xabi Alonso, has shown renewed attacking vigour with two Premier League wins and a League Cup victory, highlighted by a 4-3 win over Brighton, but defensive vulnerabilities persist, with the team failing to keep a clean sheet in 18 league games. The arrival of World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emi Martinez is expected to bolster the backline.
BJP leaders and devotees across India are performing pujas and havans for the speedy recovery of Captain Smit Machchhar, who was stabbed while thwarting an alleged attempt to crash a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight. Temples like Kashi Vishwanath, Kedarnath, and Somnath are holding special rituals, honouring his courage in saving 174 lives.
While Smit Machchhar is rightly being lauded as a hero, the curious thing is that the name of the Omani copilot responsible for this attempt to hijack or crash the aircraft has been withheld. His name and face should have been splashed all over the international media. This was not done and it therefore raises legitimate suspicion. Is it possible that his involvement could expose some powerful entity? Could it point to a blatant intelligence failure that would have left certain powers shamefaced? Could it be that he may have revealed things that could prove severely damaging to certain vested interests? asks Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).
The Bombay High Court's Goa bench has ruled that draft electoral rolls cannot be the sole basis for deleting names from voter lists, asserting that administrative software cannot supersede statutory laws. The court questioned the Election Commission of India's authority to delete voters without a hearing, highlighting concerns over the ERONET system's limitations and its potential to disenfranchise citizens.
Joe Root has returned as England's Test captain, succeeding Ben Stokes, and cited Stephen Fleming's appointment as the new Test coach as a significant factor in his decision. Root expressed excitement about Fleming's vision for the team and their shared goal of building something special.
Opposition INDIA bloc leaders staged a sit-in at Rajghat, alleging a 'criminal conspiracy of vote chori' by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, demanding Kumar's resignation and seeking a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu.
Students of Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara, Punjab, engaged in violent protests, vandalising property and clashing with police over unverified claims of a female student being raped on campus. The unrest led to the suspension of classes and postponement of exams, while police registered a rape case and formed an SIT, despite the university denying the allegations as 'rumours'.
The Union Home Ministry has issued a stern advisory to states and Union Territories, highlighting a "dangerous trend" of human trafficking through "overseas recruitment scams." These scams lure victims with promises of high-paying jobs abroad, only to trap them in "CyberFraud Centres." The ministry has called for a "specialised offensive" involving various state agencies to combat this growing menace, emphasising strict enforcement, agency verification, and public awareness.
The Indian Coast Guard, in a joint operation with the Gujarat ATS, seized 526 kilograms of methamphetamine and heroin valued at over Rs 3,000 crore from an Iranian boat in the Arabian Sea near Lakshadweep. Five Pakistani nationals operating the vessel were detained, and preliminary investigations reveal a transnational smuggling network aiming to deliver the consignment to Tamil Nadu and Punjab.
Shiv Sena (UBT) functionary Pradeep Purnekar was brutally murdered in Thane, Maharashtra, leading to one arrest and one detention. The incident has sparked widespread protests, with party leaders like Aaditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut alleging political rivalry and demanding further arrests, including a former mayor and her husband. Police are investigating all potential angles, including personal enmity and Purnekar's activism against the builder lobby and drug networks.
Australia coach Andrew McDonald believes former England captain Ben Stokes could be persuaded to reverse his Test retirement and feature in the Ashes 2027 series, said Australia coach Andrew McDonald.
Defending champions India secured a resounding 10-0 victory over Bangladesh in their final group fixture of the Asian Games hockey tournament, with captain Harmanpreet Singh scoring a hat-trick. This win ensures India finishes atop Pool A, setting up a highly anticipated semi-final clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 1. Despite heavy rain and waterlogged conditions, the Indian team showcased superior fitness and skill, with goals from multiple players contributing to the dominant performance.
New Zealand defeated England by 160 runs at Trent Bridge to clinch the three-Test series 2-1, as Ben Stokes' international career ended in defeat following his surprise retirement announcement during the match.
Alexis MacAllister has puts Argentina ahead in the10th minute.
Iran face an anxious wait to see if they will progress to the World Cup knockout stage after they came from behind to hold Egypt to a 1-1 draw.
Kylian Mbappe scored two goals, equalling Miroslav Klose's World Cup record, as France defeated Iraq 3-0 to advance to the last 32. The match was significantly delayed by thunderstorms, but France maintained control with Ousmane Dembele also scoring. Iraq's chances of progressing now depend on their final group match and other results.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gave Tilak Varma a taste of his sledging medicine, sparking a heated exchange that caught the attention of umpires and fans alike.
For Team India's women cricketers, producing such a feat at Lord's -- the Home of Cricket -- will remain an achievement that can be recalled again and again with pride, notes K R Nayar.
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt has been ruled out of the next two Women's Twenty20 World Cup group matches due to a left calf strain.
An Indian captain and Israeli passengers on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv heroically fought off a co-pilot who allegedly attempted to crash the aircraft, forcing an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Argentina booked their place in the World Cup knockout stage on Monday as Lionel Messi recovered from an early penalty miss to score a record-breaking double in a 2-0 victory over Austria.
Iran has conveyed seven conditions to the United States through Qatari mediators for starting negotiations to end the ongoing war, while warning that Tehran is prepared for a "decisive war" if Washington rejects its demands.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi batted in his inimitable style before being dismissed for 14 off 10 balls on his international debut in the Twenty20 International match against England on Saturday.
Former South Africa cricketer Jonty Rhodes believes that while bilateral ODI series may become fewer in the future, the 50-over format is unlikely to disappear entirely, with passionate fans continuing to support their teams.
Former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel says Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's selection over Sanju Samson was an emotional decision, questioning why the T20 World Cup Player of the Tournament continues to miss out.
In 100 days in office, Chief Minister V D Satheesan has ordered five SITs. This would appear to be some kind of a record, points out Aditi Phadnis.
India completed their 600th Test with a 165-run win over Sri Lanka. Here's how India evolved from early struggles into a modern Test cricket powerhouse.
England Test captain Ben Stokes has announced his retirement from international cricket following the ongoing Test match against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
A school owned by a BJP MLA in Thane advised students not to bring root vegetables in lunchboxes during the Jain Paryushan festival, sparking a controversy. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) objected, while the MLA clarified it was a request, not a mandatory order, aimed at respecting religious sentiments and promoting healthy eating.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force claimed to have fired several ballistic missiles at a US aircraft carrier and a destroyer, alleging the warships were harassing Iranian ships and participating in a naval blockade.
England continued their unbeaten run at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 after some brutal power-hitting helped them to a 38-run win over Scotland.
Kylian Mbappe's crucial second-half penalty secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory for France over a resilient Paraguay, propelling them into the World Cup quarter-finals where they will face Morocco.
Indian squash players Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh have received high seedings for the upcoming Asian Games, positioning them as strong contenders for gold medals. Their performance is crucial as singles winners will secure direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, significantly raising the stakes for the Indian contingent.
India's women's compound archery team, comprising Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Prithika Pradeep, and Chikitha Taniparthi, secured a silver medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 4 after losing to Colombia in the final. Despite the team's struggle, teenager Prithika Pradeep emerged as a standout performer, and India remains in contention for more medals in both compound and recurve categories.
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has criticised the Indian Premier League (IPL) for contributing to the national team's T20I struggles, particularly in overseas conditions. He urged selectors to pick players based on their suitability for international cricket rather than their IPL performance, highlighting issues like batting-friendly pitches and the 'Impact Player' rule.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims to have captured a US unmanned submersible near the Strait of Hormuz and launched ballistic missile strikes against a US airbase in Jordan and two US Navy destroyers. These actions are stated as retaliation for recent US attacks on Iranian oil tankers. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) had previously reported destroying Iranian crude oil carriers after IRGC missile attacks on US warships. The escalating tensions have led to regional air defence activations and warnings to tanker crews.
Odisha Police's STF and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau are investigating the rescue of five baby orangutans in Balasore, suspecting an international wildlife trafficking network. The probe focuses on a black SUV seen near the rescue site and potential routes from West Bengal, with officials believing the animals were trafficked from Southeast Asia. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has called for stringent action against those involved.
Retiring England women's cricket icons, Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont were paid a heartfelt tribute by the Indian cricket team after the historic one-off Women's Test at Lord's on Monday.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian concluded his visit to India for the 18th BRICS Summit, announcing that Iran and the UAE agreed to move past previous tensions. This diplomatic breakthrough occurred during talks with Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince on the summit sidelines. Pezeshkian also met with PM Modi to discuss bilateral ties and West Asia developments, with Modi emphasising dialogue for regional peace. The BRICS summit adopted the New Delhi Declaration 2026, calling for global governance reforms and de-escalation in West Asia.
