Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the recent Ukrainian military attack on Russian territory as a failed attempt to divert Russia's attention from its main offensive in the disputed Donbas region. However, Ukraine was able to surprise Russia and take hundreds of prisoners in the Kursk region. Despite Putin's attempts to downplay the attack, Ukraine's troops continue to hold the captured territory, forcing Russia to redirect some of its forces to defend the region.
Musheer Khan and Navdeep Saini showcased their batting skills to lead India B out of a tough spot in the Duleep Trophy match. Musheer's century and Saini's impressive partnership helped the team post a respectable score of 202/7 against India A. The celebration of Musheer's hundred by his brother Sarfaraz has caught the attention of fans on social media, making it a viral video.
Joe Root, the captain of England's cricket team, has become the highest century-maker for England after scoring his 34th Test hundred on the second day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's. He surpassed the previous record of 33 centuries held by Alastair Cook. Root's outstanding performance has earned him praise from cricketing legends, with former captain Michael Vaughan declaring him as the country's "greatest" batter. Vaughan credits Root's success to his impeccable technique and ability to score runs with ease, forcing the opposition to have four fielders behind square on the off side.
In a remarkable feat, England's star batsman Joe Root scored his 34th Test century during the 2nd Test against Sri Lanka, surpassing the record previously held by Alastair Cook. This century also marks Root's 50th international century, placing him among the elite group of batters with legendary names like Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, and Brian Lara. Root's consistent form and exceptional talent has secured his name in the list of top players with the most Test centuries.
On the opening day against Sri Lanka, Joe Root equalled Sir Alastair Cook's record for the most Test centuries by an England batter. In a touching moment, Root pointed to the sky and dedicated his 33rd Test hundred to his former coach, Graham Thorpe, who passed away earlier this month. Root expressed his gratitude towards Thorpe for his contribution to his success and acknowledged that without his mentor's help, he would not be where he is today.
Dawid Malan, the former top-ranked T20 batter, has announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 37. Malan had a successful career in the shortest format, winning the T20 World Cup in 2022 with England and finishing with 4,416 runs in 114 matches. However, his lack of opportunities in Test cricket remains his biggest regret as he played just 22 Tests and wasn't able to find consistency in the format. Despite this, Malan remains in demand in the T20 franchise circuit after recently winning the Hundred tournament.
On the auspicious occasion of Janmashtami, thousands of devotees from all over the country flooded the holy town of Mathura to offer prayers to Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha. The Krishna Janmabhoomi temple held a grand 'Mangala Aarti' which was attended by hundreds of people, while the Nand Bhavan temple saw a huge turnout for the 'Chhathi Pujan' programme. The festivities were filled with chanting, dancing, and offerings to the deities. Additionally, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also joined in the celebrations, adding to the festive spirit.
Former Australia captain, Ricky Ponting, believes that England batsman, Joe Root, has the potential to break Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most runs in Test cricket. Currently, Root is 3,000 runs behind Tendulkar's record of 15,921 runs from 200 Tests. At the age of 33, Ponting feels that if Root continues to score 800 to 1,000 runs per year, he could break the record within the next three to four years. However, he also emphasized on the importance of maintaining the hunger for runs, which Root has displayed in the last couple of years. Root has improved his conversion rates from making 50s to scoring more hundreds, which Ponting believes is the key to breaking Tendulkar's record. As England prepares to face Sri Lanka in a three-match Test series from August 21, all eyes will be on Root as he continues his journey towards this remarkable feat.
The flood situation in Tripura has worsened with the death toll rising to 10 and over 34,100 people taking refuge in relief camps. Chief Minister Manik Saha has sought additional help from the National Disaster Response Force and has also reached out to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for assistance. The heavy rains in the past 48 hours have caused landslides, drownings and damages to over 1,055 houses and hundreds of trees, affecting many areas in the state.
The Taliban's Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and Propagation of Virtue has received backlash for their strict enforcement of a morality code, resulting in the dismissal of 280 security force members and the detention of 13,000 people. The ministry's actions, including the destruction of musical instruments and restrictions on "immoral" films, are justified by Islamic law and customs. However, many have criticized these measures as a violation of human rights.