India could host Cape Verde in a football friendly between September 30 and October 6, according to sources. The match may be played before or after India’s high-profile friendly against Brazil in Kolkata on October 3. Talks over the venue and date are still underway. Cape Verde impressed fans at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The team reached the knockout stage on its debut. It stayed unbeaten in the group stage and drew 0-0 with Spain, 2-2 with Uruguay and 0-0 with Saudi Arabia. Cape Verde later lost 2-3 to Argentina after extra time in the round of 32. (PC: Getty Images)

India defeated South Africa 6-1 at the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup in the Netherlands on Tuesday. The win is India’s biggest victory in the tournament’s history. Sunelita Toppo opened the scoring in the 11th minute. Navneet Kaur and Sushila Chanu then helped India build a 3-0 lead before half-time. Deepika Sehrawat, Lalremsiami and Sakshi Rana added three more goals after the break. South Africa scored a late consolation goal through Kayla de Waal. India now lead Pool D and are close to reaching the next round. They need only a draw against England on Thursday to qualify.

US President Donald Trump has called the Strait of Hormuz “new US territory” in a post on Truth Social. He also said the US has “total control” of the key waterway. Iran, however, said the strait will remain closed until Washington meets its demands. Tehran wants the US naval blockade lifted, oil sanctions removed and Iranian assets abroad unfrozen. The dispute has increased tensions between the two countries. The strait is a major route for global oil shipments. The situation worsened after an unknown projectile hit a vessel, damaging its engine room and leaving one crew member injured.

The United Arab Emirates said its air defences detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran on Tuesday. The missiles were heading toward the UAE. Officials said one missile fell outside the country’s territorial waters, while the second fell inside them. UAE authorities said the country remains on high alert and is ready to respond to any threat. Residents in Dubai and other parts of the UAE received missile warnings on their phones. It was the first such alert in several weeks. The government urged people to follow official updates and avoid rumours. The incident comes amid rising tensions between Iran and Gulf countries.

Former Delhi minister and AAP leader Satyendar Jain and five others have been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) over alleged irregularities in Delhi Jal Board sewage treatment plant (STP) tenders. The case concerns alleged manipulation of tender conditions and criminal conspiracy in contracts for the augmentation and upgradation of DJB-operated STPs. The other accused are former DJB CEO Udit Prakash Rai, former contractual consultant Ankit Srivastava, A.N. Enterprises proprietor Nagendra Yadav, Euroteck Environment Pvt Ltd owner Raja Kumar Kurra and Srijanhar proprietor Pankaj Verma. The case was registered following a Directorate of Vigilance complaint. The accused face charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act and several IPC sections, including cheating, criminal breach of trust and conspiracy. (PC: Times Now)

An Indian woman living in Australia has claimed she was fined A$1,800, around Rs 1.3 lakh, after steam from a five-minute shower allegedly triggered her building’s fire alarm. Vamika said she did not switch on the bathroom exhaust fan because she gets cold easily. The alarm sounded shortly after her shower, prompting a building manager to enter her apartment. She later claimed the charge was linked to the fire service response. Her experience sparked an online debate over whether shower steam can trigger alarms and whether residents should bear emergency-response costs. Some users questioned the alarm’s placement and sensitivity, while others suggested residents should receive warnings or exemptions before facing charges.

India on Tuesday said its position on former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s August 5 press interaction in New Delhi “needs no repetition”, as Dhaka linked Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s proposed India visit to action on Hasina’s extradition request. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India remains committed to “positive, constructive and forward-looking relations” with Bangladesh based on mutual interests and reciprocity. He reiterated that Hasina’s extradition request is being examined through India’s established processes. Bangladesh said Hasina’s interaction had disrupted efforts to facilitate Rahman’s visit and sought action under the bilateral extradition treaty. The episode has emerged as another obstacle to improving India-Bangladesh ties, already strained since Hasina fled to India in August 2024.

India is planning a cricket stadium in Thiksey, near Leh, Ladakh, at approximately 11,800 feet (3,600 metres) above sea level. If completed, the proposed Ranbirpur Cricket Stadium could become the world’s highest cricket stadium. The project, currently at the planning and Detailed Project Report stage, is estimated to cost ₹100-116 crore, with concept designs exploring capacity of up to 40,000 spectators. The stadium aims to promote sports tourism, create opportunities for local cricketers and attract major sporting events. However, construction at such altitude poses challenges involving low oxygen, harsh winters, water availability, transport and specialised engineering. Environmental concerns and local infrastructure priorities will also need consideration before the project advances. (PC: @Indianinfoguide)

US President Donald Trump said there are currently no talks or negotiations with Iran, contradicting earlier reports of back-channel communications between Washington and Tehran. In a Truth Social post, Trump said the US naval blockade of Iran remained “in full force and effect” while asserting that the Strait of Hormuz was “open and operating.” He also claimed that all mines in the strategic waterway had either been removed or detonated. Trump’s statement appears to conflict with recent reports of indirect diplomatic contacts between the two countries. His remarks come amid continued tensions over Iran, the naval blockade and the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, which remains central to the wider US-Iran standoff.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 55 kg of methamphetamine worth around ₹300 crore from a maize consignment at a Container Freight Station near Mumbai’s Nhava Sheva port. Officials said the shipment was allegedly linked to a Pakistan-based narco-trafficking syndicate led by Mohammad Hussain Dad, which reportedly smuggles narcotics through cargo containers. Syndicate handlers allegedly contacted Mumbai-based import-export firms before approaching a Uttar Pradesh trading firm for a 22-tonne maize export. Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers searched the container and found suspected narcotics mixed with maize. An FSL team confirmed the substance as methamphetamine. Two people were detained, while further investigation into the seizure is underway. (PC: PIB)