Jude Bellingham has climbed to second in the latest FIFA World Cup 2026 Power Rankings after scoring twice in England's 2-1 quarter-final victory over Norway. The England midfielder earned an Attacking Score of 8.25, overtaking Lionel Messi, who slipped to third with 8.07 after failing to score in Argentina's 3-1 win over Switzerland. France captain Kylian Mbappe retained the top spot with 8.97 following his goal against Morocco. Norway's Erling Haaland dropped to fourth after drawing a blank in defeat, while Ousmane Dembele rose to fifth. England captain Harry Kane slipped to ninth after failing to score. The semifinals feature France vs Spain and Argentina vs England. (PC: UEFA)

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that two Emirati oil tankers struck by Iranian cruise missiles in the Strait of Hormuz ignored repeated warnings, switched off their navigation systems and attempted to pass through what it described as a "mined route" despite military instructions. The response came after the United Arab Emirates confirmed that the attack in Omani territorial waters killed one Indian crew member and injured eight others. The vessels, Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, were targeted during heightened regional tensions. Iran defended the strikes by alleging the ships failed to comply with security directives, while the incident has intensified concerns over maritime safety in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. (PC: India Today)

An Indian crew member was killed and six other Indians were injured after Iranian cruise missiles struck two UAE-flagged oil tankers, Mombasa and Bahia, in Omani territorial waters along the southern lane of the Strait of Hormuz, the UAE Ministry of Defence said. Two Ukrainian crew members were also injured, taking the total injured to eight, including four seriously hurt. The missile strikes triggered fires aboard both vessels, which were later brought under control. The UAE condemned the attack as a serious violation of international law and reserved the right to respond. Earlier, Iran claimed its Revolutionary Guards had fired "warning shots" at vessels allegedly transiting the Strait illegally.

The mortal remains of 15 Indian tourists who died in the Vietnam speedboat tragedy arrived in Mumbai on Monday night. The victims were among 32 Indian tourists travelling near Phu Quoc Island when their sightseeing boat capsized on July 11. The deceased included 10 people from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala. The Indian Embassy coordinated with Vietnamese authorities to repatriate the bodies, while state governments arranged to transport them to their hometowns. Sixteen tourists survived the accident, while one injured survivor remains in critical condition as investigations into the tragedy continue. (PC: India Today)

Argentina will wear their navy blue away kit in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final against England after FIFA approved a special request from the defending champions. England are the designated home team for Wednesday's match in Atlanta and will play in their traditional white shirts. That meant Argentina had to switch from their famous sky-blue and white stripes. The change could be seen as a lucky sign for Lionel Messi's side, who famously wore a dark blue kit when they beat England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final. The winners will face either France or Spain in the final. (PC: X)

Ukraine and nine European countries have agreed to build a shared ballistic missile defence system to improve regional security. The announcement was made at a meeting in Paris attended by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders. The coalition aims to protect Europe from growing missile threats and will use Ukraine's experience from the war with Russia. Other countries can join the initiative in the future. Zelenskyy also called for stronger air defences for Ukraine before winter. Russia criticised the plan, calling it a hostile move. The new alliance shows Europe's continued support for Ukraine during the war.

If Argentina reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, English referees will not be chosen to officiate the match. FIFA avoids appointing referees when political issues could raise questions about fairness. The decision is linked to the long-running Falklands dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom. Officials say the aim is to avoid any perception of bias. The same rule also affects matches that could influence a country's path in the tournament. FIFA considers politics, geography and neutrality when selecting referees. Final appointments are made by FIFA's refereeing department based on performance and other factors. (PC: AFP)

US judge has cancelled a legal settlement between President Donald Trump and the Internal Revenue Service. The agreement had protected Trump from future tax audits and included plans for a $1.8 billion anti-weaponisation fund. Judge Kathleen Williams ruled that the lawsuit was filed for an improper purpose. She also referred one of Trump's lawyers for a possible ethics investigation. The ruling prevents those involved from using the settlement in future legal cases. It also allows the IRS to carry out future tax audits if needed. Trump's legal team said the case was about protecting private tax information. (PC: Getty Images)

The Union Territory of Ladakh will get one Autonomous Hill Development Council for each of its seven districts. A new UT-level body is also planned under a proposed Article 371 framework. Officials said the move will strengthen local governance and support balanced development. Ladakh recently added five new districts, increasing the total to seven. The new body will have legislative, executive, financial and administrative powers. The proposal follows long-standing demands for greater constitutional safeguards in Ladakh. Officials said the plan is unique and aims to improve local representation while protecting the region's identity and administrative interests.

India won five gold medals at the 56th International Physics Olympiad 2026 held in Colombia. All five Indian students earned gold, helping India share the top rank with Russia, China, Kazakhstan, South Korea and Taiwan. The competition featured 381 students from 87 countries. The gold medal winners are Kansisk Jain, Riddhesh Anant Bendale, Rishit Garg, Shresth Suraiya and Svait Joshi. Experts said the result reflects India's growing strength in science education. The team was trained by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education. This is only the second time India has won all five gold medals.