Kylian Mbappe etched his name into FIFA World Cup history after scoring twice in France’s 3-0 Round of 32 victory over Sweden. The Real Madrid forward took his overall World Cup tally to 18 goals, surpassing Miroslav Klose, while becoming the tournament’s all-time leading knockout-stage scorer with 10 goals. Mbappe overtook Brazilian legends Ronaldo Nazario and Leonidas, who had eight knockout goals each, with Just Fontaine and Pele on seven. Lionel Messi, despite leading World Cup history with 19 overall goals, has scored five knockout goals, while Cristiano Ronaldo has none. Mbappe’s sixth goal of the tournament also drew him level with Messi in the Golden Boot race ahead. (PC: Sky Sports)

Eight people were killed and 22 others injured after a passenger bus rammed into a truck and caught fire on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Rajasthan's Dausa district early Wednesday. The bus, carrying around 37 passengers, was travelling from Rishikesh to Indore when the accident occurred at around 3:30 am. The impact triggered a massive blaze, trapping several passengers inside the vehicle. Police, fire brigade personnel and rescue teams rushed to the scene, launched relief operations and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment. Authorities have begun an investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash while rescue and recovery operations were completed at the accident site.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has dismissed claims of Chinese intrusion into Arunachal Pradesh, stating there has been “no intrusion” and that transgressions occur because the India-China border remains undemarcated. His remarks followed allegations by a tribal organisation that the PLA had occupied ancestral grazing, hunting and farming land in Upper Subansiri district over six years. The Indian Army also rejected reports of recent PLA encroachment and camp construction, calling them “incorrect and without any basis.” Rijiju highlighted the Modi government's focus on strengthening border infrastructure. India and China recently held the 35th WMCC meeting in Beijing, reviewing border management while reaffirming dialogue, peace, stability and continued military-level coordination. (PC: PTI)

A 25-year-old Hindu priest and law student, Subhash Deuri, was allegedly kidnapped, held captive overnight, tortured and forced to extort money from his own family before being abandoned on a roadside in Dhaka, Bangladesh, according to bdnews24.com. Friends found him with serious injuries in the Narinda area early Tuesday and rushed him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital's emergency department. Deuri is a student at Dhaka Central Law College and has been serving as an assistant priest at the central temple of Jagannath University, where he performed daily religious rituals. His family detailed the alleged ordeal after his rescue, raising concerns over the brutal kidnapping and extortion case in the capital. (PC: India Today)

India and Japan are set to sign a long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply agreement during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The pact aims to strengthen bilateral energy cooperation while supporting India's growing natural gas demand and Japan's efforts to diversify energy partnerships. The agreement is expected to enhance energy security, deepen strategic ties, and reinforce cooperation under the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership. Officials view the LNG deal as a key outcome of the summit, reflecting both nations' commitment to expanding economic collaboration, resilient supply chains, and clean energy transition initiatives amid evolving geopolitical and global energy market challenges across the Indo-Pacific region. (PC: The Tribune)

Eleven-year-old Vihan Shrivastav was killed after a tree collapsed onto his school bus in Mumbai's Chembur on Tuesday while students were returning home from Universal School. Four other children sustained minor injuries and remain in stable condition, hospital authorities said. Neighbours described Vihan as a bright child who dreamed of becoming a professional cricketer and often sought cricket lessons from friends. Hours after the tragedy, his mother, Juhi, was seen holding his cricket bat, unable to accept his death and repeatedly saying he had to go play cricket. The bus carried 13 children, all rescued by the conductor and passersby before emergency responders reached the scene. (PC: X)

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said negotiations on the long-awaited US-India trade agreement are in their final stages, with only one percent of discussions remaining after nearly 18 months of talks. Speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum Leadership Summit, Gor expressed confidence that the pact would soon be concluded, noting it would provide greater certainty for businesses in both countries. He highlighted the close relationship between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying it has strengthened bilateral cooperation. Gor also recalled Trump's positive memories of his India visit and reiterated both nations' ambition to expand bilateral trade from $220 billion to $500 billion.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has warned that the country's economy remains vulnerable to energy price shocks and supply-chain disruptions due to its heavy dependence on imported oil amid ongoing tensions in West Asia. In its latest Financial Stability Report, the RBI said India's financial system remains resilient, supported by strong macroeconomic fundamentals, healthy capital buffers and low non-performing assets. However, geopolitical uncertainty has pressured the rupee through weaker capital inflows and higher import-related hedging demand, while rising energy prices have weighed on government bond yields. The central bank noted that easing regional tensions have reduced immediate market stress but cautioned that fresh geopolitical shocks could again unsettle financial markets. (PC: Passionate in Marketing)

The FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage could mark the final tournament for several football legends, led by Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric. Messi, the 2022 World Cup winner, continues rewriting records at 39, while Ronaldo still pursues the one major trophy missing from his career. Veterans including Manuel Neuer, Neymar, Kevin De Bruyne, Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Son Heung-min and Sadio Mane also feature among stars who may not return for the 2030 edition. Their achievements have defined multiple World Cups, making this tournament a potential farewell for one of football's greatest generations as younger stars prepare to inherit the global stage. (PC: Instagram)

France begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout campaign against Sweden in the Round of 32, with Kylian Mbappe aiming to strengthen his lead in the Golden Boot race. It will be the first-ever World Cup meeting between the two nations. France enter the contest as favourites but recent upsets have highlighted the unpredictability of the expanded knockout stage, with Germany and the Netherlands already eliminated and Brazil pushed into extra time. Les Bleus will rely on Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele to unlock the Swedish defence as they target a place in the Round of 16. Sweden, meanwhile, hope to extend the tournament's growing list of surprises. (PC: Planet Sport)