US President Donald Trump has confirmed he asked FIFA to review Folarin Balogun's one-match suspension after the USA striker was sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the FIFA World Cup 2026. FIFA later suspended the automatic ban for 12 months, making Balogun eligible for the USA's Round of 16 clash against Belgium. Trump said he believed the red card was unfair but insisted he only requested a review, not the final decision. The ruling has drawn strong criticism from UEFA, Belgium and England coach Thomas Tuchel, who warned it could undermine football's integrity. (PC: BBC)

Portugal and Spain are set to renew their fierce rivalry in one of the biggest matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16. All eyes will be on Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who is expected to play his final World Cup and is one goal away from becoming the oldest player to score in consecutive World Cup knockout matches. Spain, unbeaten and yet to concede a goal in the tournament, enter the contest with rising star Lamine Yamal leading a talented young squad. The winner will secure a place in the quarter-finals. (PC: X)

Heavy monsoon rains have claimed 13 lives across Maharashtra over the past few days, while triggering widespread disruption across the state. Landslides forced the closure of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and suspended several train services in the Bhor Ghat section. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Mumbai and nearby districts, warning of extremely heavy rainfall. Flooded roads, severe waterlogging and traffic snarls affected daily life, prompting authorities to urge people to avoid unnecessary travel. Rescue teams remain on the ground as efforts continue to restore transport links and assist affected residents. (PC: India Today)

Former England stars Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville have criticised FIFA after United States forward Folarin Balogun's red card and one-match suspension were overturned ahead of the FIFA World Cup clash with Belgium. The decision came after US President Donald Trump confirmed he had spoken to FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review, although he denied pressuring the governing body. Rooney called the reversal "a disgrace", while Neville questioned FIFA's consistency and warned that political involvement could damage the credibility and integrity of the World Cup. The decision has sparked widespread debate across football.  

Thousands of forgotten Punjabi soldiers who served and died in World War I have been officially recognised after nearly 10,000 names were added to UK'S Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) casualty database. The names were uncovered by researchers studying historic Punjab Registers preserved at Lahore Museum in Pakistan. The update is the CWGC's largest since World War II and honours soldiers from the British Indian Army whose deaths were previously excluded from official records. Historians say the recognition helps acknowledge the contribution of troops from the Indian subcontinent and presents a more complete history of the First World War. (PC: BBC)

A decades-old controversy over missing highly enriched uranium from a US nuclear plant has resurfaced following renewed attention to declassified government documents. In a 2014 analysis, the "Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists" argued that newly released records strengthened suspicions that uranium from the Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation (NUMEC) in Pennsylvania may have been diverted to Israel's nuclear programme during the 1960s. However, the documents do not provide conclusive proof of theft, and the issue remains disputed. The authors said the declassified files reveal senior US officials took the allegations seriously, but the full historical record has never been publicly released. (PC: Ai)

Norway striker Erling Haaland has shared his dream life after football, saying he hopes to settle on a farm with a tractor and cows. Speaking about his future, the Manchester City star said he enjoys the peace of rural life and wants to return to his hometown of Bryne after retirement. Haaland said farming has always appealed to him and that caring for animals would be his ideal way to spend life after football. The revelation offers fans a glimpse into the 25-year-old's life beyond the pitch, showing his love for nature and a simple lifestyle away from the spotlight.  

A controversy has erupted after BJP leader and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi alleged that the use of peacock feathers in Jain monks' picchis encourages illegal trade and the killing of India's national bird. Gandhi urged the Jain community to adopt non-animal alternatives, saying the current demand fuels wildlife exploitation. Jain organisations strongly rejected the claim, arguing that Jainism is founded on non-violence and accusing Gandhi of hurting religious sentiments. Several groups have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and filed complaints against her. Meanwhile, PETA India backed Gandhi, saying avoiding peacock feathers is the safest way to protect the birds. (PC: X)

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the Khalistan issue has caused "a huge amount of pain and suffering" in India. He said New Zealand supports free speech but will not tolerate threats, intimidation or violence. Speaking to CNN-News18, Luxon said the issue would not affect ties between India and New Zealand. On the possibility of a Khalistan referendum, he called it a hypothetical situation. He said any decision would depend on police assessments of security risks. Luxon added that people must respect the country's laws and responsibilities, and police would continue to monitor public demonstrations closely. (PC: AFP)

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he asked FIFA to review Folarin Balogun's one-match World Cup suspension. Trump said he believed the challenge was not a foul and called the referee's decision "horrible". FIFA later suspended Balogun's automatic ban, allowing the United States striker to play against Belgium in the Round of 16. Trump said he only requested a review and did not tell FIFA what decision to make. The move has drawn criticism from Belgium, UEFA and several coaches, who said it raised concerns about fairness and the integrity of the FIFA World Cup tournament. (PC: Shutterstock, Getty Images)