England began their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with an entertaining 4-2 victory over Croatia in Dallas. Captain Harry Kane scored twice, including a retaken penalty, to equal Gary Lineker's England World Cup record of 10 goals. Jude Bellingham produced a standout display and restored England's lead shortly after halftime with a powerful run and finish. Marcus Rashford sealed the win late in the match. While England impressed with their attacking football under coach Thomas Tuchel, defensive mistakes allowed Croatia to stay in the contest. The victory gives England a strong start in their quest for World Cup glory.  

Indian equity markets closed higher on Thursday as easing geopolitical tensions and lower crude oil prices lifted investor sentiment. The BSE Sensex gained 254 points, or 0.33%, to settle at 77,409.98, while the NSE Nifty rose 82 points, or 0.34%, to close at 24,168. Markets drew support from the US-Iran peace agreement, which eased concerns over global energy supplies, while Brent crude remained below $80 per barrel. Buying in banking, defence and consumer stocks led the rally. IndiGo, Trent, NTPC and Bharat Electronics were among the top gainers, while IT stocks such as Infosys and Tech Mahindra declined. (PC: X)

The United Arab Emirates has become the first Arab country to set 15 as the minimum age for social media use. Under the new rules, children under 15 will not be allowed to create or use personal social media accounts. Teenagers aged 15 and 16 can access platforms only with safeguards such as parental controls, screen-time limits and protections against contact from strangers. Social media companies must introduce strict age-verification systems, including digital ID checks, and remove underage accounts. The UAE said the measure aims to improve online safety, protect children from harmful content and strengthen digital privacy for young users.  

The United States and Iran have signed a peace agreement aimed at ending more than 110 days of conflict in the Middle East. US President Donald Trump signed the deal during a dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles after the G7 summit. Iran confirmed the signing and said the focus now shifts to implementing the agreement. The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding calls for an immediate end to military operations and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Under the deal, the US will remove its naval blockade within 30 days, while both sides have 60 days to negotiate a final agreement. (PC: X)  

India’s ODI series against Afghanistan has sparked concerns over player welfare, with several cricketers struggling in extreme heat conditions. During the second ODI in Lucknow, Afghanistan’s Darwish Rasooli suffered an injury, while Indian batters Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan showed signs of heat-related exhaustion despite scoring centuries. Critics argue that scheduling international matches in peak summer increases the risk of dehydration, cramps and injuries. With a crucial white-ball series against England approaching, concerns are growing over player fitness. The debate has also renewed questions about cricket’s packed calendar and the impact of continuous matches on players and fans alike.  

The Centre told the Delhi High Court that Telegram is increasingly being used for illegal activities, including terrorism, cybercrime, drug trafficking, child exploitation and financial fraud. Defending its temporary suspension of Telegram services ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, the government described the platform as a “new dark web” that helps criminals evade detection through its privacy features. Authorities said Telegram channels have been used to spread extremist content, share pirated material and circulate leaked personal data. The government also highlighted concerns over alleged misuse of Telegram in the NEET paper leak controversy and ongoing cybercrime operations. (PC: News18)

Six rebel MPs from Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) have met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, claiming the party has drifted from its original ideology and is moving towards a merger with the Congress. The MPs also requested seating arrangements closer to members of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction in Parliament. The Thackeray camp has strongly opposed the move, issuing seven-day show-cause notices to the rebels and urging the Speaker to reject their demands. The development marks a fresh challenge for Uddhav Thackeray, four years after the split led by Eknath Shinde in 2022.  

Qatar has funded an all-expenses-paid World Cup trip for around 1,000 supporters to cheer on its national football team during the FIFA World Cup 2026. The initiative, backed by Qatar’s Social and Sport Contribution Fund and the Qatar Football Association, covers flights, hotels and local transportation for fans travelling to North America. Many supporters arrived in Vancouver ahead of Qatar’s Group B match against Canada. Qatar hopes the large fan presence will boost team morale and create a strong stadium atmosphere. The Gulf nation, playing in its first World Cup after qualifying through competition, drew 1-1 with Switzerland in its opening match. (PC: The Indian Express)

US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have signed an initial agreement aimed at ending the conflict between the two countries and opening the path to a broader peace deal. The 14-point memorandum includes plans for further negotiations over the next 60 days to reach a final settlement. As part of the agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will reopen, easing concerns over global energy supplies. The deal also outlines a $300 billion reconstruction plan for Iran. Following the announcement, oil prices fell by about 2%, with Brent crude dropping to $75 a barrel. However, key questions surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme remain unresolved. (PC: BBC)

The QS World University Rankings 2027 have placed IIT Delhi as India's highest-ranked institution, rising five places to 118th globally. IIT Bombay secured the 134th position, while IIT Madras ranked 170th, making them the only three Indian institutes in the world's top 200.   The rankings highlight India's growing academic reputation, research output and employability performance. Several other Indian institutions, including IIT Kharagpur, IISc Bengaluru and IIT Kanpur, also improved their global standing. Globally, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) retained the top position for the 15th consecutive year, followed by Imperial College London and Stanford University.