Young Indian cyclist Harshita Jakhar has made history by becoming the first Indian woman to participate in the Tour de France Femmes. The 19-year-old led a pack of international cyclists during a ceremonial start at Stage 2 of the prestigious race, an opportunity provided by the UCI World Cycling Talent programme. Jakhar, who aims for medals in future Asian Games, expressed her gratitude for the chance to ride in her dream event.
France's World Cup campaign ended in a 'devastating' 2-0 semi-final defeat to Spain, with coach Didier Deschamps admitting his team was 'technically, second best' and star players like Michael Olise failing to perform.
Ibrahim Mbaye, the 18-year-old Senegal forward, has completed a permanent transfer from Paris St Germain to Premier League club Aston Villa.
The Indian men's team continued its fine performance, defeating Spain 3-1, with World champion D Gukesh showing the way with a very clean victory over former world championship challenger Alexei Shirov.
The Indian men's and women's chess teams delivered strong performances at the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, with the men's team defeating Spain 3-1 and the women's team securing an identical 3-1 victory over Mongolia. World champion D Gukesh led the men's success with a clean win against Alexei Shirov, while Arjun Erigaisi also contributed significantly. In the women's section, B Savitha Shri and Divya Deshmukh were instrumental in their team's win.
What do a Rajasthani style building, an island and a striking lotus-shaped shrine have in common? They are all home to Krishna devotion far from India. Unexpected settings to fascinating architecture, these seven temples offer a glimpse of how Krishna's timeless tradition has travelled across the globe.
Paris St Germain, Bayern Munich, and Napoli all secured crucial victories in their respective European football leagues, with Ferran Torres, Harry Kane, and Stanislav Lobotka scoring decisive goals. Juventus, however, suffered a late defeat to Sassuolo.
Ben Shelton, Learner Tien, Brandon Nakashima, and Rafael Jodar have all secured their spots in the Canadian Open semi-finals, showcasing strong performances and building momentum ahead of the US Open.
France showcased their tactical superiority and attacking prowess to defeat Morocco in the World Cup quarter-final, effectively neutralising Morocco's usually exhilarating offensive style with a dominant midfield and relentless pressure.
After France's 2-0 victory over Morocco in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal, Kylian Mbappe was seen consoling his close friend Achraf Hakimi. This moment of mutual respect between the former Paris Saint-Germain teammates quickly went viral, highlighting that fierce rivals can still share genuine friendship off the pitch, despite Mbappe's insistence on no emotions during the game.
Zinedine Zidane is expected to take over as France's head coach after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following the departure of Didier Deschamps after 14 years in charge.
Glimpses of the August 12, 2026 solar eclipse as the Moon crossed the Sun over Europe and beyond.
Argentina's dark blue away jersey holds significant historical and superstitious value for the team, particularly in World Cup encounters against England. The team will wear this kit in their upcoming semi-final, hoping to replicate past successes from 1986 and 1998, where the blue jersey was worn during famous victories over England. Both coaches acknowledge the role of superstition in high-level sports, though Argentina's coach downplays the specific jersey choice. The jersey also features cultural motifs.
Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe showcased their exceptional talent in recent World Cup matches, each scoring multiple goals. Despite recent dips in form or career stages, these football superstars proved their enduring prowess, with Mbappe becoming France's all-time top scorer and Messi achieving his first World Cup hat-trick.
Argentina will wear their navy-and-black away kit for the World Cup semi-final against England, a decision that has sparked fan interest due to the kit's association with past victories against England, including the 1986 'Hand of God' match and the 1998 penalty shootout win. The team hopes this alternate strip brings them continued success.
David Beckham has tipped Japan as a dark horse for the 2026 FIFA World Cup while backing England to end their 60-year wait for glory. The former captain also highlighted France, Spain, Argentina and Brazil as title contenders.
Japan v Tunisia marks 1,000th FIFA World Cup match
In one of the biggest upsets ever seen at the World Cup, Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill saved the efforts of Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade before Jonathan Tah fired over the bar, paving the way for Jose Canale to blast home the decisive spot kick.
Norway's prolific striker Erling Haaland wasted no time in opening his World Cup account as he found the net twice in a 4-1 defeat of Iraq in Group I on Tuesday that sent a warning to defenders in the rest of the tournament.
The World Cup has seen a shift to a more lenient refereeing style, prioritising game flow and reducing stoppages. This, combined with stronger, faster players, has led to a quicker, more physically demanding tournament with higher scoring. While welcomed, experts warn that this intensity tests players' physical limits, increasing injury risks, especially for those not fully fit.
Spain winger Lamine Yamal has been appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, becoming one of the youngest footballers to take on the global role ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
World Cup 2026 is on track to become the biggest betting event in history, with global wagers expected to exceed $50 billion as sportsbooks report record-breaking activity driven by the expanded tournament format and growing legal gambling markets.
The official 26-man squads for FIFA World Cup 2026.
Atletico Madrid and Arsenal played to a 1-1 draw in their Champions League semi-final first leg, with both goals coming from penalties. Julian Alvarez equalised for Atletico after Viktor Gyokeres had given Arsenal the lead.
Champagne consumption in India is expanding beyond major metropolitan areas into smaller cities like Kanpur, Guwahati, and Lucknow, driven by a desire for sophisticated lifestyle declarations and a growing appreciation for the beverage.
Five Indian boxers have secured podium finishes at the World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok, with Gunjan, Joyshree Devi, Ambekar Meetei, Chandrika Pujari, and Radhamani Longjam all advancing to the semi-finals.
Lovlina Borgohain controlled the bout throughout, combining sharp combinations with disciplined movement to ease into the next round.
The multi-generational ensemble of world-class musicians dedicated to the masterful compositions and enduring legacy of the legendary sitar-musician.
Trump may strike. He may announce productive talks and extend again. He may do both at the same time. Iran will not open the Strait on someone else's terms, so no matter what happens, that problem will remain unsolved. And the IRGC will still be collecting its $2 million toll from every ship bold enough to ask permission to pass.
One Battle After Another was among the big winners of the 98th Academy Awards, with six wins.
Fight on toward goals that keep receding, or exit with most objectives unmet. Trump is agitated, his poll numbers falling below the Plimsoll line, his base fractured between those who back the war and those who remember that he campaigned on ending them.
Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey met in Islamabad in what analysts say is the formal opening of a new diplomatic formation that could reshape the post-war regional order. Their immediate goal is a ceasefire; their larger ambition is to ensure that neither Iran nor Israel emerges from this war in a dominant position. Pakistan's foreign minister then flew directly to Beijing and mooted a Chinese role as guarantor of any eventual agreement. Prem Panicker continues his must read daily blog on the Gulf War.
The purge in Washington does not pause the war. Strikes continue, Hormuz remains closed, and Brent crude is still dancing around $109 a barrel. For India, the command chaos in the Pentagon is another layer of uncertainty piled on five weeks of conflict that was already straining every buffer Delhi has.
Chelsea battled from two goals down to beat West Ham 3-2 in the Premier League on Saturday with a stoppage-time Enzo Fernandez winner.
Paris St Germain played out their first goalless draw of the season at Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday but stayed in the driving seat for direct qualification for the Champions League last-16 after a string of fine saves by home goalkeeper Unai Simon denied the defending champions.
Eugenie Bouchard's best year was 2014 when she reached the semi-finals of the French and Australian Opens, and the final of Wimbledon.
Sweden's hopes of qualifying for next year's World Cup are hanging by a thread after Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka scored from the spot to help the visitors win 2-0 in their qualifying Group B clash on Friday.
Spain v France, a knockout clash which usually leads to Euro triumph
France overcame a slow start to beat neighbours Belgium 2-0 for their first points of the Nations League campaign.
