The football used by Diego Maradona to score his famous “Hand of God” goal at the 1986 World Cup has sold at auction for £2.5 million. Maradona punched the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton during Argentina’s 2-1 quarter-final victory. He later scored the iconic “Goal of the Century” in the same match. The Adidas Azteca ball, kept by Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser for more than three decades, was sold by Heritage Auctions in the United States. It previously sold for £1.74 million in 2022. The price, however, fell short of the expected £7.3 million. (PC: BBC)

Sikkim rock band Girish and The Chronicles (GATC) has begun a European tour, with performances scheduled in Portugal and Spain this month. The four-member band will make its Portugal debut at the Milagre Metaleiro Open Air Festival before headlining the Valdor Rock Festival in Burgos, Spain, on August 29. The tour is GATC's second international outing this year after performing in Australia in March. Formed in 2009, the band has built a global following and previously opened for Guns N' Roses in Abu Dhabi. GATC is also preparing to release its fourth studio album, featuring its recent single, Generation Coward. (PC: X)

India’s men’s hockey team crashed out of the FIH World Cup semifinal race after suffering a 3-5 defeat against Argentina in their second-round pool match in Amstelveen, Netherlands, on Monday. India needed a victory by at least two goals to remain in contention but failed to control the match. Argentina’s Tomas Domene and Joaquin Toscani scored two goals each, while Nicolas della Torre added another. For India, Sukhjeet Singh scored twice through field efforts, while Hardik Singh converted a penalty stroke. Sukhjeet found the net in the 34th and 58th minutes, while Hardik scored in the 36th minute. The defeat ended India’s hopes of reaching the World Cup semifinals. (PC: Hockey India/X) 

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit India next month to attend the BRICS summit in New Delhi, marking his first trip to the country in seven years. The September 12-13 summit comes as India and China cautiously work to stabilise ties following the deadly 2020 border clashes. Xi is reportedly likely to be accompanied by a delegation of around 400 officials, with Chinese authorities already finalising hotels and security arrangements. The visit follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to China last year, his first in seven years. Despite gradual diplomatic improvement, recent border-related tensions have continued to complicate relations. Xi’s presence at the summit could provide an important opportunity for both sides to engage on bilateral and regional issues. (PC: Times Now)

US President Donald Trump has threatened to raise tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, automotive parts and steel to 50% from January 1, 2027, escalating the trade dispute between the two countries. The announcement followed the collapse of trade talks between Washington and Ottawa. Trump accused Canada of imposing unfair tariffs on US farmers and said Canada had taken advantage of the United States for years. Canada has already indicated it could retaliate against US tariffs on a range of American goods. Trump said manufacturers could avoid the higher duties by producing vehicles and automotive parts in the United States. The proposed increase would further intensify trade tensions between the two closely linked North American economies.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at the Kremlin on Monday, discussing the expansion of India-Russia ties and cooperation across key sectors. Jaishankar conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s greetings and delivered a personal message from him. Putin highlighted decades of bilateral relations and said trade had continued to grow in 2026, with cooperation expanding across almost all areas. Jaishankar pointed to significant progress in trade, energy, fertilisers and nuclear cooperation following the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission meeting. Putin also said Russia was ready to increase fertiliser supplies to India to support its agricultural sector. Jaishankar said Modi looked forward to meeting Putin at the SCO and BRICS summits and holding their annual summit. 

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s postponed three-day Delhi visit has highlighted growing strains in India-Bangladesh relations, according to the article. Dhaka has sought Sheikh Hasina’s extradition, while some officials have expressed interest in a Saudi-Pakistan-Turkey defence pact dubbed “Islamic NATO”. Rahman visited Beijing before his planned Delhi trip, discussing the Teesta project and a proposed Yunnan-Bangladesh highway via Myanmar. The article also points to rising Chinese influence and security concerns involving radical groups in Bangladesh. Meanwhile, India is strengthening security around the strategically vital Siliguri Corridor. Rahman’s reported reluctance to attend the BRICS summit could further reduce opportunities for talks on counter-terrorism, trade, electricity and transport. The article argues for pragmatic India-Bangladesh partnership. (PC: Vartha Bharati)

The Trump administration on August 24 released a proposed regulation to codify a fee of more than $100,000 on new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers. President Donald Trump had first imposed the fee through a temporary proclamation last year, but courts blocked it. The proposed fee would significantly increase the cost of H-1B visas, which are widely used by the technology, education and research sectors. The move is facing legal challenges, with lawsuits arguing that the administration’s power to restrict entry does not allow it to override the law establishing the H-1B visa programme. The proposal could therefore face further legal scrutiny as the administration seeks to formalise the unprecedented charge. (PC: Getty Images)

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has announced a strategic partnership with German sports car maker Porsche AG to deliver AI services across Porsche’s mobility value chain. Under the agreement, TCS will acquire 100% of Porsche’s management and IT consulting subsidiary, MHP Management-und IT-Beratung GmbH, for €320 million, or about Rs 3,575 crore. Porsche has also signed a five-year strategic agreement with MHP and TCS worth €1.25 billion, approximately Rs 13,967 crore. As part of the partnership, TCS will establish an AI Mobility Centre of Excellence for Porsche. The centre will focus on driving innovation across manufacturing, engineering, operations and customer experience, strengthening the technology partnership between the two companies and accelerating innovation. (PC: X)

Government sources have described India’s discussions on media arrangements surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with US President Donald Trump at the G7 Summit in France in June as “normal practice”. The clarification followed US Ambassador Sergio Gor’s claim that India had specifically requested no media interaction after the bilateral meeting. According to the sources, discussions on public appearances are routine before VVIP visits, and India communicated its standard practice for such engagements. Gor said Trump initially agreed but later invited reporters’ questions, resulting in a 45-minute press conference with Modi beside him. The Modi-Trump meeting took place on June 17 in Evian-les-Bains, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit.