Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in a dramatic World Cup final after extra time, preventing Argentina from staging another of their characteristic comebacks. Lionel Messi, who had been instrumental in previous matches, was effectively neutralised by the Spanish defence, leaving Argentina without an answer and unable to register a shot on target for much of the game.
India too can rise to the top if the 1.4 billion Indians back home are given better opportunities to use their innate talent and capacity to work hard, with right incentives in a more meritocratic rules-based system, asserts Ajay Chhibber.
Karolina Muchova ended Coco Gauff's incredible run of living dangerously at this year's Wimbledon as she saved a match point to topple the American in a 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (12-10) thriller to keep alive hopes of setting up an all-Czech final at a Grand Slam for the first time.
Donald Trump announced he is replacing the 20% reimbursement fee for securing the Strait of Hormuz with massive trade and investment deals from Gulf States into the United States, while maintaining a full blockade on Iranian ship traffic.
India's compound archers, under new coach Dave Cousins, have shown a significant turnaround at the Archery World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid. The women's team has advanced to the gold medal match, while the men's team narrowly missed out on a bronze. This performance marks a strong return to form after a challenging season.
The halftime interval in Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina is set to last more than 15 minutes because of the installation required for the tournament's first halftime entertainment show, broadcasting sources said on Friday.
French Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja defeated reigning world champion D Gukesh in a 69-move battle at the Chennai Grand Masters 2026, taking the sole lead after the second round. Indian players M Pranesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and Nihal Sarin all secured draws against their respective opponents in the prestigious tournament.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final joined an exclusive list after Spain edged Argentina 1-0 in extra time. This is the ninth time a Cup final went beyond the stipulated 90 minutes,
US Senator Lindsey Graham passed away of a cardiac arrest a few hours after these photographs were taken.
Four champions were crowned during the second week of the Esports World Cup in Paris. LYON won the Free Fire title, Team Vitality secured the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women's International crown, Dplus KIA emerged victorious in League of Legends, and PVISION triumphed in Dota 2, with several teams also making strides in the Club Championship standings.
US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent ally of former President Donald Trump and an influential voice on American foreign policy, has passed away at 71 following a 'brief and sudden illness', leaving a significant void in Washington's political landscape.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Thursday claimed it had struck the US Al-Azraq air base in northern Jordan with 10 ballistic missiles on what it described as an "enemy command and control centre in West Asia" in retaliatory strikes in response to a recent attack on Tehran by Washington.
Indian recurve teams faced early exits at the Archery World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid, losing to the USA in both men's and women's quarter-finals. Despite team setbacks, hopes remain high for the recurve mixed pair event featuring Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kirti Sharma, and several archers are still in contention in individual categories.
Linda Noskova, a rising Czech tennis star, defeated American Madison Keys in straight sets to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time. The 21-year-old showcased her growing maturity on grass, overcoming a mid-set wobble to secure her spot in the last eight, continuing a strong tradition of Czech players at the All England Club.
US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran has accepted "just about everything" the United States has demanded in ongoing indirect nuclear negotiations, particularly regarding denuclearisation. He also asserted that American forces repeatedly carried out military strikes that crippled Tehran's military infrastructure, including radar installations, and escorted commercial oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump dismissed reports of Iran's strength, stating its military and economy were severely weakened.
Indo-Canadian golfer Sudarshan Yellamaraju has surged into a tie for sixth place at the Scottish Open, just two strokes off the lead, after a stellar second round. Amidst challenging conditions that saw top players exit, Yellamaraju's strong performance puts him in contention for his first DP World Tour win. Rory McIlroy, Tom Kim, and Jordan Smith share the lead.
Hansika Lamba won a silver medal in the women's 55kg category at the Polyak Imre, Varga Janos & Kozma Istvan Memorial Senior Ranking Tournament in Budapest. Her performance, along with two bronze medals from Vishal Kaliraman and Rajat Ruhal, increased India's total medal count to five, following earlier wins by Aman Sehrawat and Deepak.
US President Donald Trump has declared the ceasefire agreement with Iran effectively concluded, stating he no longer wishes to engage in diplomatic dealings with Tehran and labelling Iranians as 'liars, cheats and sick people' following recent military actions.
US President Donald Trump has abruptly withdrawn from a peace deal with Iran, citing fresh intelligence of Iranian assaults on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The decision, made just a fortnight after celebrating the deal, has led to a significant military escalation in the region, with the US launching extensive counter-operations against Iranian military infrastructure.
Atlanta Police are implementing enhanced security measures for the World Cup semi-final between Argentina and England, a match deemed high-risk due to the historical animosity between the two nations.
In Peru, there is a wave of new baby Haalands. In Argentina, Lionel has raced up the rankings, and in Mexico a girl was reportedly named after three soccer players. Parents in Latin America are already christening a new generation of babies after the stars of the World Cup.
Indian-origin golfers Sudarshan Yellamaraju and Sahith Theegala made their mark on the opening day of the Genesis Scottish Open. Yellamaraju carded a two-under 68, placing him tied 27th, while Theegala finished even-par 70, tied 72nd. Rory McIlroy shares the lead with a five-under 65.
Indian-origin golfers Sudarshan Yellamaraju and Sahith Theegala made their mark on the opening day of the Genesis Scottish Open. Yellamaraju carded a two-under 68, placing him tied 27th, while Theegala finished even-par 70, tied 72nd. Rory McIlroy shares the lead with a five-under 65.
Former India captain Gouramangi Singh offers his expert analysis on the upcoming FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain. He highlights Spain's aggressive pressing game and defensive transitions against Argentina's champion's mentality and composure, predicting the match will be decided by small margins. Singh also discusses the individual strengths of both teams and downplays the Messi vs. Yamal narrative.
The US State Department is set to release a limited-edition passport featuring images of President Donald Trump and the Founding Fathers to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence in July. The special passports will be available in person at the Washington Passport Agency.
As tensions in the Middle East approach a critical juncture, reports have surfaced regarding a draft memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran aimed at de-escalating the ongoing conflict, Iranian state media reported on Wednesday.
Paraguay's President Santiago Pena declared a national holiday to celebrate the country's stunning 4-3 penalty shootout victory over four-time world champions Germany in the World Cup round of 16.
The Indian junior women's hockey team concluded a seven-match exposure tour of the UK, securing three wins and four losses against various international teams. This tour served as crucial preparation for the upcoming Under-21 Asia Cup in China, providing valuable experience and insights into areas for improvement.
Taylor Fritz tamed mercurial Kazakh Alexander Bublik to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the fourth time in five years on Monday as the American once again put himself in the mix to win a first Grand Slam title.
Arnav Paparkar has scripted history at Wimbledon as the 18-year-old became the first Indian player to reach the boys' singles quarter-finals in 36 years.
Indian golfers Pukhraj Singh Gill and Khalin Joshi delivered strong performances at the Ever Glory ADT Open in Taipei. Gill finished Tied-19th with consistent rounds, improving his standing on the Merit List for Asian Tour qualification. Joshi secured a Tied-12th finish. The tournament was reduced to 54 holes due to Typhoon Bavi, with Nathan Han of the USA winning in a playoff.
An Indian crew member was killed and six other Indian nationals were among eight injured when Iranian cruise missiles struck two UAE tankers, Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating regional tensions and drawing strong condemnation from the UAE.
Concerns over Canadian wildfire smoke impacting air quality and player health for the World Cup final in New York are easing, with forecasts predicting significant rain and a cold front to clear the haze before Sunday's match, though hot and hazy conditions could still pose risks.
Defending champion Iga Swiatek eased past former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova to reach the Wimbledon third round, while Amanda Anisimova battled back to defeat Sofia Kenin in a hard-fought all-American contest.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a significant policy shift, declaring that Israel's robust economy no longer requires American financial assistance. He also reiterated strong opposition to Palestinian statehood, affirmed an aggressive national defence strategy, warned of pre-emptive strikes against Iran, and confirmed the continued military presence in southern Lebanon.
Coco Gauff fought back from a set down to reach the Wimbledon semifinals for the first time after beating friend and former doubles partner Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in an all-American Centre Court clash on Tuesday.
The question nobody seems to ask is why a democracy should be silent when many of its citizens are concerned about the way the US is deviating from its traditional ways of consultation, cooperation and collaboration and moving away from traditional allies, asks Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced that the governing body will discuss expanding the World Cup to 64 teams for the 2030 edition, following the already planned increase to 48 teams in 2026. Infantino believes a larger tournament encourages smaller nations and highlights the success of previous expansions, with the 2030 event already set to be hosted across six nations on three continents.
It happened in 2017, two years after Scaloni ended his playing career. De la Fuente, then in charge of Spain's youth teams, was among the figures who helped guide a recently retired player taking his first steps towards management.
Argentina's football players displayed a political banner claiming "The Falklands are Argentine" after their World Cup semi-final win against England, potentially violating FIFA's code of conduct.
