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It ended almost as Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump had planned. Earlier on a seemingly endless World Cup final day, the trophy had, in a scene perfectly of a piece with the event’s excess, been let out of a Louis Vuitton trunk. Now they shuffled up to the podium together and presented it to a beaming Rodri, fumbling the moment slightly when Trump lingered for Spain’s team photo. After shrugging off anything resembling embarrassment they had made their exit, golden glitter sparkling on a bobbly pitch and the reverberations from a football event of unprecedented scale pulsing far beyond this…

The show began with a pre-recorded video of Mars praying in a church for a good performance, before he emerged beneath visuals of a stained-glass window in a red suit bejewelled with roses.It was a suitably theatrical opening to a two-hour, 15-minute set. But for those who had avoided spoilers, Risk It All, a slow R&B ballad from Mars’ latest album, The Romantic, was perhaps an unexpected opener. Any surprise was short-lived. Within minutes, Mars sat behind a pair of bright red congas for Cha Cha, signalling the start of a set that moved between R&B, funk, Latin influences and…

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Opening summary: US says it is launching ninth night of strikes on IranHello and welcome to our live coverage of developments in the Middle East.The US military says it is beginning its ninth night of strikes on Iran, with an interim deal aimed at ending the war appearing to have all but collapsed.“The strikes will continue degrading Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the strait of Hormuz,” US Central Command said on X on Sunday.The attacks on Sunday come after a US service member was killed in Iraq the previous day during a “controlled…

The death brings the number of US soldiers killed since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran to 17.Published On 19 Jul 202619 Jul 2026The United States military has announced the death of another soldier, saying he was killed in northern Iraq “during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance” from a downed Iranian drone.In a statement on Sunday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the soldier died on July 18 and that a second service member suffered mild injuries during the detonation.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listIt did not name the soldier who died.The death on Saturday brought…

Spain have defeated 10-man Argentina to dethrone the South American side and become world champion for the second time. Spain were crowned champions of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 following extra time in a thrilling final on Sunday. Substitute Ferran Torres emerged as the hero, scoring the decisive goal in the second period of extra time to secure La Roja their second World Cup title, 16 years after their first win in South Africa 2010. Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez produced a series of outstanding saves to keep his side in the contest. However, the…

This view of the payload deck of the Vikram-1 rocket’s upper stage was captured moments after orbital insertion Saturday. The rocket deployed two small CubeSats and hosted several more payloads that remained attached to the upper stage. Credit: Skyroot Aerospace This view of the payload deck of the Vikram-1 rocket’s upper stage was captured moments after orbital insertion Saturday. The rocket deployed two small CubeSats and hosted several more payloads that remained attached to the upper stage. Credit: Skyroot Aerospace Skyroot’s breakthrough launch comes as India’s government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeks to supercharge the country’s space industry.…

In politics, there are those who command attention from the podium, and there are those whose whispers travel farther than the loudest speeches. Dr. Zacch Adedeji undoubtedly belongs to the latter class. While many Nigerians know him as the cerebral Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, NRS  and one of President Bola Tinubu’s most trusted technocrats, those who truly understand the intricate power dynamics of Oyo State know that his influence stretches far beyond the walls of his Abuja office. Within the corridors of Oyo politics, Adedeji’s name resonates with unusual reverence. He is widely regarded as one of…

A PhD student in Sydney has produced cosmic dust from scratch by recreating a small piece of the universe inside a laboratory bottle. The experiment offers new clues about how some of the chemical ingredients associated with life could have developed before Earth even formed. Linda Losurdo, a PhD candidate in materials and plasma physics in the School of Physics, combined nitrogen, carbon dioxide and acetylene to simulate the energetic conditions found near stars and supernova remnants. She then exposed the gases to a powerful electrical charge. The process created carbon-rich dust resembling material that floats through interstellar space and…

While Lionel Messi himself remains as beloved as any athlete on the planet, the team he captains has become the most distrusted side at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Argentina are one match away from defending their World Cup title, but heading into Sunday’s final against Spain, the mood surrounding them is not celebratory; it is suspicious. Messi remains as beloved as any athlete on the planet: humble, generational, and adored well beyond Argentina’s own fanbase. And yet, the team he captains has become the most distrusted side left in the tournament, mocked online as “VARgentina.” A petition calling for…