Argentina produced one of the most dramatic comebacks of the FIFA World Cup 2026, defeating Egypt 3-2 after trailing 2-0 in their Round of 16 clash. Egypt stunned the defending champions with goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Ziko, while Lionel Messi also missed an early penalty. Argentina responded in the final 13 minutes as Cristian Romero headed in from a Messi cross before the captain equalised with a powerful finish. Deep into stoppage time, Enzo Fernandez headed home the winner to complete a remarkable turnaround and send Argentina into the World Cup quarter-finals after an unforgettable contest. 

UEFA vice-president Laura McAllister has warned that FIFA's decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's one-match ban after intervention from US President Donald Trump could set a dangerous precedent for football. McAllister said allowing political leaders to influence disciplinary decisions risks turning the sport into an "absolute cesspit" of political interference. Balogun was cleared to play in the United States' Round of 16 match against Belgium despite being sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina. UEFA criticised FIFA's move as crossing a "red line", while former FIFA president Sepp Blatter said football must never become a playground for political power.

Lionel Messi set an unwanted FIFA World Cup record after missing his fourth career penalty in Argentina's Round of 16 clash against Egypt. The Egyptian goalkeeper, Mostafa Shobeir, saved Messi's spot-kick, making him the first player to miss two penalties in a single World Cup edition and the player with the most missed penalties in tournament history. Despite trailing 2-0, Argentina staged a stunning late comeback, with Messi scoring the equaliser and providing an assist before Enzo Fernandez netted the stoppage-time winner to seal a 3-2 victory. Argentina advanced to the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner of Switzerland vs Colombia.

The FBI has launched a major international crackdown on the Lawrence Bishnoi gang under "Operation Hard Ball," arresting 24 suspects after conducting more than 50 coordinated raids across the United States, Canada and Europe. Investigators also charged 37 people in connection with the alleged transnational criminal network. Authorities seized firearms, illegal drugs and large amounts of cash during the operation. Officials say the gang is linked to organised crime, extortion and violent offences affecting communities in North America and India. The operation is one of the largest international actions taken against the Lawrence Bishnoi network to date. (PC: India Today)

Meta has denied allegations that it knowingly targeted users in India with Instagram advertisements linked to child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM), calling the claims "categorically inaccurate." The response came after the Indian government issued a notice directing the company to immediately disable such advertisements and explain how they appeared on the platform. Meta said it has a zero-tolerance policy for child exploitation and uses technology, human reviewers and reporting tools to detect and remove such content. The controversy follows a BBC investigation that raised concerns over Instagram ads allegedly promoting access to child abuse material in India. (PC: HT)

Argentina produced a dramatic comeback to defeat Egypt 3-2 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 after trailing 2-0 in Atlanta. Lionel Messi missed an early penalty but sparked the fightback by assisting Cristian Romero's goal before scoring the equaliser in the second half. Egypt looked set for a famous victory after goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Ziko, while goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir made several outstanding saves. However, Enzo Fernandez headed home the winner in stoppage time to complete Argentina's remarkable turnaround and book the defending champions a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Tensions between Iran and the United States escalated after a senior Tehran official claimed that Washington now has "only the nuclear option left" if it wants to confront Iran. The remark, made by Tehran's deputy mayor, came amid continuing strain over Iran's nuclear programme and recent regional tensions. The statement reflects increasingly hardline rhetoric from Iranian officials as diplomatic efforts remain uncertain. The United States has repeatedly said it wants to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, while Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. The latest comments are expected to further complicate already fragile relations. (PC: India Today)

Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah will face each other when Argentina take on Egypt in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 on Tuesday. The match is being billed as a meeting of two football icons who have inspired their nations for years. Messi, 39, is chasing back-to-back World Cup titles and has hinted this could be his final tournament. Salah, 34, has guided Egypt to the knockout stage for the first time in the country's history and hopes to create another memorable chapter. Beyond the quarter-final place, the game represents a clash of two legendary careers.

A 3 commercial tanker was hit in the Strait of Hormuz within 24 hours, increasing concerns over the safety of one of the world's busiest shipping routes. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the vessel suffered structural damage after being struck by an unidentified projectile. No injuries were reported. Earlier, a Qatari LNG carrier and a Saudi-flagged oil tanker were also damaged. Qatar blamed Iran for the attack on its LNG ship, but no group has claimed responsibility. The incidents come despite a temporary US-Iran ceasefire and renewed efforts to restart peace talks. (PC: Reuters)

2 powerful tornadoes hit China's Hubei province on Monday, killing at least 11 people and injuring more than 330 others. Strong winds damaged nearly 4,800 homes, uprooted trees and overturned vehicles. Thousands of people were affected by the rare weather event. Rescue teams worked through the night to clear debris and help residents. Chinese President Xi Jinping called for "all-out efforts" to support rescue and relief operations. Weather experts said the tornadoes were caused by severe thunderstorms and unstable weather conditions. Officials warned that climate change is increasing the risk of extreme weather events across China.