World
Celebrated British actor Sir Patrick Stewart has passed away at the age of 86. Rising from a childhood marked by domestic hardship and going completely bald by age 19, Stewart built a formidable career with the Royal Shakespeare Company before capturing global stardom as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor X in the X-Men franchise. Knighted in 2010, the Yorkshire-born legend proved that classical discipline and character can redefine modern popular culture.
At least 14 people were killed and over a dozen wounded when a Russian drone struck a busy railway platform in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday, part of a wider wave of air strikes that killed at least 19 people nationwide. The attack on Ukraine’s transport infrastructure followed an overnight barrage of more than 600 Ukrainian drones directed at the Moscow region while the Russian capital hosted an African leaders’ summit, highlighting intensifying long-range strikes ahead of planned US-mediated talks.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured a historic fourth term as President of Brazil, winning a decisive 4% runoff victory powered by 10.4 million additional votes and an expansive digital mobilization. While conservative challenger Flávio Bolsonaro pledged to challenge the outcome over a last-minute extension of voting hours and US President Donald Trump claimed the election was ‘rigged’, Brazil’s supreme electoral authorities and regional leaders moved swiftly to recognize the results, cementing Lula’s return ahead of his January 2027 inauguration.
Ukrainian air defenses pulled off a rare feat by intercepting five heavy Russian ballistic missiles over Kyiv. Despite the successful shootdowns, escaping drones and debris caused multiple fires at warehouses and damaged a school in the capital city.
The ultimate battle for football glory has reached its final stage in North America. Following a weekend of intense extra-time drama, defending champions Argentina, alongside powerhouse teams France, Spain, and England, have officially claimed their spots in the final four.
Imprint of conflict on environment continues to deepen as increasing number of countries go to war. Environment being depraded by war is nothing new.
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to New Zealand, his counterpart Christopher Luxon on Thursday hailed the proposed India-New Zealand trade deal, saying it would deliver a major boost to New Zealand businesses by expanding access to the Indian market.
A dramatic last-minute goal broke Portuguese hearts in Texas. Substitute Mikel Merino scored a clever goal in the 91st minute to give Spain a hard-fought 1-0 win over rival Portugal, sending Spain to the World Cup quarterfinals and ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup run.
In a seismic upset that fundamentally alters the landscape of international football, Norway staged an extraordinary defensive masterclass to dump five-time world champions Brazil out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a breathtaking 2-1 Round of 16 victory. Playing under the blinding lights of MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Monday, July 6, 2026, the heavily favored Seleção paid a devastating price for squandering early tactical dominance. Brazil was thrown a golden liferaft in the first half following a VAR-dictated penalty review, but Norwegian goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland anticipated perfectly, executing a spectacular diving save to deny Bruno Guimarães from the spot. Anchored by that defensive resilience, Ståle Solbakken’s disciplined squad methodically executed swift transition play in the second half. Supersub Andreas Schjelderup turned into the architect of Brazilian heartbreak, first carving open the defense in the 79th minute with a floating cross that Erling Haaland powerfully headed past Alisson Becker, before assisting the clinical Manchester City striker again in the 90th minute for a decisive tap-in. While a late VAR penalty allowed a devastated Neymar to score in the 100th minute, the final whistle immediately prompted emotional scenes as the icon broke down in tears, formally announcing his immediate retirement from international football and drawing a poignant curtain on his 16-year journey as Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer.
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