Argentina will wear their navy blue away kit in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final against England after FIFA approved a special request from the defending champions. England are the designated home team for Wednesday's match in Atlanta and will play in their traditional white shirts. That meant Argentina had to switch from their famous sky-blue and white stripes. The change could be seen as a lucky sign for Lionel Messi's side, who famously wore a dark blue kit when they beat England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final. The winners will face either France or Spain in the final. (PC: X)

The mortal remains of 15 Indian tourists who died in the Vietnam speedboat tragedy arrived in Mumbai on Monday night. The victims were among 32 Indian tourists travelling near Phu Quoc Island when their sightseeing boat capsized on July 11. The deceased included 10 people from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala. The Indian Embassy coordinated with Vietnamese authorities to repatriate the bodies, while state governments arranged to transport them to their hometowns. Sixteen tourists survived the accident, while one injured survivor remains in critical condition as investigations into the tragedy continue. (PC: India Today)

Ukraine and nine European countries have agreed to build a shared ballistic missile defence system to improve regional security. The announcement was made at a meeting in Paris attended by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders. The coalition aims to protect Europe from growing missile threats and will use Ukraine's experience from the war with Russia. Other countries can join the initiative in the future. Zelenskyy also called for stronger air defences for Ukraine before winter. Russia criticised the plan, calling it a hostile move. The new alliance shows Europe's continued support for Ukraine during the war.

If Argentina reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, English referees will not be chosen to officiate the match. FIFA avoids appointing referees when political issues could raise questions about fairness. The decision is linked to the long-running Falklands dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom. Officials say the aim is to avoid any perception of bias. The same rule also affects matches that could influence a country's path in the tournament. FIFA considers politics, geography and neutrality when selecting referees. Final appointments are made by FIFA's refereeing department based on performance and other factors. (PC: AFP)

US judge has cancelled a legal settlement between President Donald Trump and the Internal Revenue Service. The agreement had protected Trump from future tax audits and included plans for a $1.8 billion anti-weaponisation fund. Judge Kathleen Williams ruled that the lawsuit was filed for an improper purpose. She also referred one of Trump's lawyers for a possible ethics investigation. The ruling prevents those involved from using the settlement in future legal cases. It also allows the IRS to carry out future tax audits if needed. Trump's legal team said the case was about protecting private tax information. (PC: Getty Images)

The Union Territory of Ladakh will get one Autonomous Hill Development Council for each of its seven districts. A new UT-level body is also planned under a proposed Article 371 framework. Officials said the move will strengthen local governance and support balanced development. Ladakh recently added five new districts, increasing the total to seven. The new body will have legislative, executive, financial and administrative powers. The proposal follows long-standing demands for greater constitutional safeguards in Ladakh. Officials said the plan is unique and aims to improve local representation while protecting the region's identity and administrative interests.

India won five gold medals at the 56th International Physics Olympiad 2026 held in Colombia. All five Indian students earned gold, helping India share the top rank with Russia, China, Kazakhstan, South Korea and Taiwan. The competition featured 381 students from 87 countries. The gold medal winners are Kansisk Jain, Riddhesh Anant Bendale, Rishit Garg, Shresth Suraiya and Svait Joshi. Experts said the result reflects India's growing strength in science education. The team was trained by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education. This is only the second time India has won all five gold medals.

FIFA's decision to suspend USA striker Folarin Balogun's one-match ban has sparked fresh debate during the 2026 World Cup. Reports said only FIFA disciplinary committee chairman Mohammad Al-Kamali approved the decision, while the other members were not consulted. Balogun had received a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina and was due to miss the Round of 16 match. FIFA said the ban was suspended for 12 months after reviewing the case. Reports also said US President Donald Trump asked FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the incident. FIFA has not announced any further changes to its disciplinary process. (PC: @ Getty Images)

India defeated England by 270 runs in the first women's Test match ever played at Lord's. Chasing 457, England were bowled out for 186 on the final day. Kranti Gaud starred with five wickets and became the first woman to enter the Lord's Test honours board. Yastika Bhatia scored a century, while Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma made important runs. England's Sophie Ecclestone became her country's highest wicket-taker across all formats in women's cricket. The historic match marked 50 years since Lord's hosted its first women's international and ended with a memorable Indian victory.

Iran has rejected US President Donald Trump's proposal to charge a 20% fee on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Iran has always protected the waterway and should be recognised for keeping it safe. However, he called the proposed 20% fee too high and said Iran would be fair. Trump said the US would act as the guardian of the strait and collect the fee to cover security costs. The exchange comes as tensions remain high over shipping and regional security in the Gulf.