Lionel Messi dismissed allegations that FIFA has favoured Argentina during the 2026 World Cup, insisting the reigning champions have earned their success through consistent performances. Responding to criticism over controversial refereeing and VAR decisions, Messi said Argentina’s second successive World Cup final proves their achievements are “not by chance” and that “nobody gave us anything.” The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner argued his side has been “the best for the last four years” regardless of outside opinions. Messi added that critics would have questioned Argentina regardless of the result against England. He also dedicated the semi-final victory to Diego Maradona, calling it a special tribute to the Argentine legend. (PC: Getty)

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk entered the 19th day of his indefinite hunger strike, saying, “I’m not in good shape but not so bad either,” while continuing his protest demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over alleged NEET irregularities. According to the latest medical bulletin issued by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the 59-year-old remains “very weak” and under round-the-clock medical supervision. His weight has fallen to 57.15 kg, dropping 400 grams in the last 24 hours and nearly 8.9 kg since the fast began. Doctors said Wangchuk remains conscious and mentally alert but requires continuous monitoring as concerns over his deteriorating health continue. (PC: X/@CJP)

Argentina scored 2 dramatic late goals to beat England 2-1 and book their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final. Anthony Gordon gave England the lead in the 55th minute after a pass from Morgan Rogers. England looked set for victory before Enzo Fernández equalised in the 85th minute from a Lionel Messi assist. Deep into stoppage time, Messi created another chance and Lautaro Martínez scored the winner in the 90+2 minute. Argentina will now face Spain in Sunday's World Cup final, while England's wait for a first men's World Cup final since 1966 continues with another heartbreaking semi-final exit.

England and Argentina face off in a blockbuster FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final in Atlanta, with the winner set to meet Spain in Sunday's final. Lionel Messi leads the defending champions against an England side captained by Harry Kane in one of football's biggest rivalries. England manager Thomas Tuchel has made 3 changes, bringing in Reece James, Djed Spence and Morgan Rogers. Argentina have made 1 change, with Giuliano Simeone replacing Rodrigo De Paul in the starting XI. Both former world champions are chasing a place in the final and another shot at football's biggest prize. (PC: X)

Iran has threatened to block more key trade and energy routes in the Gulf after the United States launched fresh strikes on Iranian military targets. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until Washington ends what it called its "acts of aggression" and warned that other oil and gas export routes could also be targeted. The US military said its latest strikes hit Iran's coastal defence systems and cruise missile sites to reduce threats to commercial shipping. The renewed conflict has disrupted tanker traffic and pushed global oil prices higher as regional tensions continue to escalate.

England and Argentina meet in a blockbuster FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final in Atlanta, with the winner set to face Spain in Sunday's final. England manager Thomas Tuchel has made 3 changes from the side that beat Norway, bringing in Reece James, Djed Spence and Morgan Rogers for Ezri Konsa, Nico O'Reilly and Noni Madueke. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has made just 1 change, with Giuliano Simeone replacing Rodrigo De Paul in the starting XI alongside Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez. The historic rivalry adds extra excitement as both former champions chase a place in the World Cup final.

A ransomware group called World Leaks has published nearly 19,000 files allegedly linked to India’s largest nuclear power plant, Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, on the dark web. The leaked data reportedly includes engineering drawings, supplier details, inspection records and project documents related to Units 3 and 4, which are being built by Reliance Infrastructure. Reliance Group confirmed a partial data breach involving a server hosted by data centre provider Yotta and said the incident has been reported to the government. Authorities are investigating the breach, while cybersecurity experts have raised concerns over the exposure of sensitive infrastructure-related information.

Tensions rose before the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final as a group of Argentina fans were involved in a brawl outside the stadium in Atlanta less than an hour before kick-off against England. Security officials quickly stepped in to control the situation. On the field, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni made a surprise decision by leaving midfielder Rodrigo De Paul on the bench and handing 23-year-old Giuliano Simeone only his second World Cup start. England made 3 changes to their lineup after defeating Norway. The winner of the match will face Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on Sunday.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk refused to end his indefinite hunger strike despite entering its 18th day, saying, “My muscles are weak, but my heart is strong.” In a message shared on Instagram, Wangchuk thanked supporters while reaffirming his resolve to continue the protest. His remarks came amid mounting concern over his deteriorating health and repeated appeals from public figures, activists and supporters urging him to call off the fast. Despite growing physical weakness, Wangchuk maintained that his commitment to the cause remains unwavering. The protest has continued to draw nationwide attention, with supporters intensifying calls for dialogue even as Wangchuk insists on carrying forward his agitation. (PC: X)

India’s seafarers have emerged as the worst-hit nationality during the Strait of Hormuz shipping crisis despite making up only around 12% of the global maritime workforce. According to an NDTV Datafy analysis, Indians accounted for seven of the 16 seafarers killed in attacks on commercial vessels between March 1 and July 14, 2026, representing nearly 44% of the fatalities. The figures highlight the disproportionate risks faced by Indian crew members amid escalating maritime insecurity in one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors. Beyond conflict zones, Indian seafarers also remained the most affected by shipowner abandonment in 2025, accounting for 18% of all abandoned seafarers worldwide for the second consecutive year. (PC: ABC News)