France stormed to a commanding 4-1 victory over Norway in their final FIFA World Cup Group I match, finishing the group stage with a perfect record. Ousmane Dembélé stole the show by scoring a sensational first-half hat-trick, while Désiré Doué added a late fourth goal to complete the rout. Norway's only reply came through Thelo Aasgaard. Despite the defeat, Norway progressed to the Round of 32 as Group I runners-up. France's dominant display confirmed them as one of the tournament favourites, with Dembélé's clinical performance strengthening his Golden Boot challenge alongside teammates and other leading scorers. (PC: The Hindu)

The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela has climbed to 920, with 2,980 people injured and more than 50,000 reported missing, authorities said on Friday. Interim President Delcy Rodriguez announced the militarisation of La Guaira, the worst-hit province, as rescue operations intensified. Foreign search-and-rescue teams, including contingents from countries that had long maintained strained relations with Venezuela, have begun arriving to assist recovery efforts. Officials warned that hundreds of people are still believed trapped beneath collapsed buildings. A government portal created to trace missing people had received over 50,000 reports, underscoring the scale of the humanitarian crisis following the powerful back-to-back earthquakes. (PC: X)

Ireland stunned T20 World Cup champions India by 34 runs in Belfast to register their first-ever victory over India in any format and take an unassailable lead in the two-match series. Chasing 183, India were bowled out after only Abhishek Sharma's explosive 50 off 20 balls offered resistance. Ireland's inexperienced attack, missing several first-choice bowlers through injury, impressed with debutants Jai Moonda and Matt Hollard making crucial breakthroughs. Earlier, India had reduced Ireland to 68/4 before the hosts recovered to post 182/9. The defeat also marked a disappointing start to Shreyas Iyer's tenure as T20 captain and ended India's three-year unbeaten bilateral T20 series run.

Veteran prosecutor and Rajya Sabha MP Ujjwal Nikam has been appointed Special Public Prosecutor in the alleged murder of Pune realtor Ketan Agarwal, who police say was killed by his fiancée Siya Goyal and her alleged lover Chetan Chaudhary. Nikam said he accepted the responsibility after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the victim's family requested him to handle the case, describing the crime as one that had "shaken the entire nation." The state has also approved a fast-track court. Nikam previously led prosecutions in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, 1993 Bombay blasts, and Gulshan Kumar murder cases, making him one of India's best-known prosecutors.

FIFA has introduced a sponsor-free version of its Player of the Match trophy at the 2026 World Cup, allowing Muslim players, underage athletes and others to avoid appearing alongside alcohol branding. While Michelob Ultra remains the award's official sponsor, eligible players can request a trophy featuring only FIFA branding. The policy gained attention after Morocco midfielder Ismael Saibari received a logo-free trophy following his standout display against Scotland. Similar awards have been presented to players from Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Qatar, Ivory Coast, Canada and Switzerland. FIFA previously adopted the approach during the 2025 Club World Cup, citing respect for religious, cultural and personal preferences. (PC: (AP Photo)

FIFA is on course to exceed its projected $3 billion revenue target from ticket sales and hospitality at the 2026 World Cup, driven by record attendance and soaring ticket prices. Data shows Portugal’s group-stage clash with Colombia, featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, carries the tournament’s highest resale entry price at $3,392, while Lionel Messi’s Argentina round-of-32 match starts at $2,949. The tournament has already broken the all-time World Cup attendance record, with median ticket prices reaching $913. Football finance expert Kieran Maguire said FIFA has shifted its focus from traditional supporters to premium-paying spectators, comparing the expanded 104-match tournament to "104 Super Bowls" marketed for global audiences. (PC: Getty Images)

The death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes has climbed to 589 as international rescue operations intensified across the devastated country. The 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes, among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century, have left thousands injured and caused widespread destruction. Rescue teams from Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador, the United States and other countries have joined search efforts alongside United Nations humanitarian agencies. Authorities said damaged hospitals, power outages and destroyed transport infrastructure, including the main international airport, are hampering relief operations and delaying aid deliveries. Rescuers continue searching collapsed buildings for survivors as emergency assistance pours into the country.

An Indian-origin businessman, identified as Kishore Gujarati, was injured in a shooting in Portugal's Cidade Nova area of Odivelas, prompting a police investigation into the attack. A Facebook account claiming to belong to "Rahul RK Meena" took responsibility for the shooting and threatened further violence against others, though authorities have not verified the authenticity of the post or linked the incident to organised crime. The message warned recipients of previous calls to prepare for more attacks and mentioned several alleged gangs. Investigators are examining all angles, while officials cautioned against speculation circulating on social media. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear as the investigation continues. (PC: NDTV)

US President Donald Trump accused Iran of violating the recently brokered ceasefire by launching four one-way attack drones at commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Trump claimed one drone struck the upper deck of a cargo vessel while US forces intercepted the remaining three, calling the attack a “foolish violation” of the agreement. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards denied the allegations, dismissing reports of a direct confrontation with the United States as “a complete lie.” The reported incident follows an earlier attack on a Singapore-flagged cargo ship near Oman, raising fresh concerns over maritime security and threatening the fragile truce aimed at restoring safe navigation through the strategic waterway.

The Bombay High Court has cleared the removal of 208 mangrove trees, eliminating a major hurdle for Maharashtra’s ₹76,220-crore Vadhvan Port Project. The court permitted the National Highways Authority of India to fell mangroves for an eight-lane access-controlled highway linking the upcoming port in Palghar to NH-48, calling the project one of public importance with significant economic benefits. The bench noted all environmental, coastal regulation zone and forest clearances had been secured, alongside compensatory afforestation measures, including planting 1.33 lakh mangroves and depositing over ₹4.83 crore. The greenfield port, expected to rank among the world’s top 10 container ports, will now move ahead at full pace. (PC: The Pioneer)