US President Donald Trump claimed Iran’s military had been devastated by recent US-Israeli strikes, asserting its navy, air force, air defences and senior leadership had been eliminated. Trump also said Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was “90% gone”, referring to reports that he is recovering from injuries sustained in an airstrike. Trump announced the reinstatement of an “Iranian blockade”, declared the US the “Guardian of the Hormuz Strait”, and proposed a 20% reimbursement on cargo transiting the waterway. Iran rejected the claims, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisting Tehran has always safeguarded the Strait and dismissing Washington’s proposal. (PC: CNN)

England and Argentina renew one of football’s fiercest rivalries in the FIFA World Cup semi-final, with Lionel Messi facing England for the first time. Their World Cup history spans six decades, blending sporting drama with political tensions rooted in the Falklands War. England lead the head-to-head 3-2 across five World Cup meetings. The rivalry began in 1962, intensified after the controversial 1966 quarter-final featuring Antonio Rattin’s dismissal, reached its peak in 1986 with Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” and stunning solo goal, continued through David Beckham’s red card and England’s penalty defeat in 1998, before Beckham’s redemption inspired England’s 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2002 group stage.

Justin Bieber has officially joined the star-studded FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show, scheduled for July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium. FIFA and Global Citizen confirmed Bieber as a co-headliner alongside Madonna, Shakira and BTS, with Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, PS22 Chorus and Coldplay also set to perform. Curated by Chris Martin, the show supports the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which has already raised over $50 million toward its $100 million goal to expand access to education and football for children worldwide. Bieber called the World Cup a unique global unifier and said he was grateful to contribute to a cause benefiting children through music. (PC: Getty/Kevin Mazur/Coachella)

India has officially launched its campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2028-29 term, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar unveiling the SHANTI framework, securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity. The campaign highlights India's commitment to UN peacekeeping, strengthening the voice of the Global South, advancing reformed multilateralism, ensuring responsible use of artificial intelligence, enhancing maritime security and intensifying efforts against terror financing. Elections for the 2028-29 term will be held in June next year, when India will compete with Tajikistan for the sole Asia-Pacific Group seat. Jaishankar said India's approach is rooted in SHANTI and focused on global trust and integrity.

Jude Bellingham has climbed to second in the latest FIFA World Cup 2026 Power Rankings after scoring twice in England's 2-1 quarter-final victory over Norway. The England midfielder earned an Attacking Score of 8.25, overtaking Lionel Messi, who slipped to third with 8.07 after failing to score in Argentina's 3-1 win over Switzerland. France captain Kylian Mbappe retained the top spot with 8.97 following his goal against Morocco. Norway's Erling Haaland dropped to fourth after drawing a blank in defeat, while Ousmane Dembele rose to fifth. England captain Harry Kane slipped to ninth after failing to score. The semifinals feature France vs Spain and Argentina vs England. (PC: UEFA)

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that two Emirati oil tankers struck by Iranian cruise missiles in the Strait of Hormuz ignored repeated warnings, switched off their navigation systems and attempted to pass through what it described as a "mined route" despite military instructions. The response came after the United Arab Emirates confirmed that the attack in Omani territorial waters killed one Indian crew member and injured eight others. The vessels, Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, were targeted during heightened regional tensions. Iran defended the strikes by alleging the ships failed to comply with security directives, while the incident has intensified concerns over maritime safety in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. (PC: India Today)

An Indian crew member was killed and six other Indians were injured after Iranian cruise missiles struck two UAE-flagged oil tankers, Mombasa and Bahia, in Omani territorial waters along the southern lane of the Strait of Hormuz, the UAE Ministry of Defence said. Two Ukrainian crew members were also injured, taking the total injured to eight, including four seriously hurt. The missile strikes triggered fires aboard both vessels, which were later brought under control. The UAE condemned the attack as a serious violation of international law and reserved the right to respond. Earlier, Iran claimed its Revolutionary Guards had fired "warning shots" at vessels allegedly transiting the Strait illegally.

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)

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)

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.