Photo Webdesk

A world-class performance from Japan propelled them to a breezy 4-1 victory over South Korea in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 semi-final at Stadium Australia, Sydney on Wednesday (March 18, 2026). The Nadeshiko, who had won back-to-back Women’s Asian Cup titles in 2014 and 2018, thus sealed yet another final appearance, and will vie with hosts Australia for the title on March 21. Riko Ueki and Maika Hamano scored first-half goals and Saki Kumagai, Remina Chiba netted in the second for the victors. Kang Chae-rim found the consolation goal for the Taeguk Ladies, who were outplayed all through the contest.

BY Photo Webdesk 18 March 2026

Find today's news in pics from India and around the world for March 18, 2026

BY Photo Webdesk 18 March 2026

Venezuela made history by clinching their first World Baseball Classic title, edging the United States 3-2 in the WBC 2026 final at loanDepot Park in Miami. Venezuela took a 2-0 lead after Wilyer Abreu and Eugenio Suarez scored in the third and fifth innings, respectively. Bryce Harper's late two-run homer tied the game 2-2, but Suarez drove in the go-ahead run to make it 3-2. Closer Daniel Palencia then shut out two batters in a perfect ninth inning to fire Venezuela to a historic title win.

BY Photo Webdesk 18 March 2026

The Bodø/Glimt fairy tale is over — but only after an unlikely streak of wins that has charmed the world of soccer. After beating Man City and Atletico Madrid in the final two rounds of the league stage to squeeze into the playoff round, the northernmost team ever to play in the Champions League defeated Inter Milan — last season’s runner-up — home and away to advance to the round of 16. Winning 3-0 in its 8,000-capacity Aspmyra stadium last week didn’t prove enough against Sporting, which dominated throughout in the return match and scored through Gonçalo Inácio, Pedro Gonçalves and Luis Suarez to take the game to extra time. There, Uruguay left back Maxi Araújo scored in the 92nd minute to put Sporting ahead on aggregate for the first time and Rafael Nel added a fifth in stoppage time.

BY Photo Webdesk 18 March 2026

Eight months after losing the Club World Cup final to Chelsea, PSG inflicted a huge two-legged beating of the English team with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola and Senny Mayulu scoring the goals at Stamford Bridge. PSG will continue its title defense against either Galatasaray or Liverpool in the quarterfinals. Galatasaray won the first leg 1-0. Some of the home fans started booing during the first half of Tuesday’s loss and ironically cheered their players when they completed a pass. The defeat could have been worse, but some Chelsea fans had already seen enough and started to leave after PSG’s third goal in the 62nd minute.

BY Photo Webdesk 18 March 2026

Arsenal progressed to the Champions League quarterfinals for the third consecutive season after a commanding 2-0 victory (3-1 on aggregate) over Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates Stadium in London, England on March 18, Wednesday. The first half was defined by Arsenal’s relentless pressure and a series of spectacular saves from Leverkusen goalkeeper Janis Blaswich, who repeatedly denied Leandro Trossard and Ben White to keep the visitors level. However, the deadlock was finally broken in the 36th minute when Eberechi Eze produced a moment of magic, turning into space and unleashing a 20-yard strike into the top corner to give the Gunners a deserved lead. The second half saw Arsenal maintain their intensity and control, effectively silencing any hope of a Leverkusen comeback. The tie was effectively sealed just after the hour mark when Declan Rice capitalized on a pocket of space outside the area to fire a low, clinical drive into the bottom corner.

BY Photo Webdesk 18 March 2026

Real Madrid edged past Man City 2-1 in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League 2025-26 Round of 16 at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 and qualified for the quarter-final with a aggregate score of 5-1. Real Madrid entered the game with a 3-0 lead in aggregate from the first leg. The match started evenly but the balance tipped in the 19th minute of the first half. Benardo Silva blocked a Vinicius Jr shot on goal with his elbow and upon VAR check, referee awarded a penalty to Real Madrid and showed a red card to Silva. Vinicius scored from the spot to provide the lead to Real Madrid. Man City were resilient and didn't back down. Despite being down to ten men, they repeatedly troubled Real Madrid throughout the game. Haaland scored the equaliser from a Jeremy Doku cross. Man City pushed for goals in the second half, but Real Madrid kept denying it. In the dying minutes of the game, Vinicius scored again to seal the win and the tie in Los Blancos' favour.

BY Photo Webdesk 18 March 2026

India's top-ranked squash player, Anahat Singh, expects the 2028 Los Angeles Games to be the primary focus for every player over the next two years as the sport makes its Olympic debut there. Winning a medal at the Olympics is the dream of every player, Anahat said here on Tuesday. It's obviously very exciting. (It) is the first time that it is a part of the Olympics and all the athletes have been really looking forward to," Anahat said during a pre-tournament press conference for the JSW Indian Open. The JSW Indian Open is a PSA Copper event which will provide players an opportunity to earn ranking points while building momentum towards the Asian Games later this year.

BY Photo Webdesk 18 March 2026

Officials in Cuba reported an islandwide blackout Monday as deepening energy and economic crises continue to strain a crumbling power grid. It marked the third major outage in four months. A separate blackout just over a week ago affected western Cuba, leaving millions without electricity. President Miguel Díaz-Canel warned Friday that the island has gone more than three months without oil shipments, relying instead on solar power, natural gas and aging thermoelectric plants. Cuba has blamed the crisis on a U.S. energy blockade, while U.S. President Donald Trump warned in January of tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to the island.

BY Photo Webdesk 17 March 2026

A 58th-minute goal from captain Sam Kerr ended up making the difference as Australia defeated China 2-1 in the first semi-final of AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 at the Perth Rectangular Stadium on Tuesday (17 March). China did the early running in the game and despite Australia's opener via Caitlin Foord in the 17th minute, restored parity through Zhang Linyan's penalty. But Kerr struck decisively in the 58th minute to power the Matildas past the defending champions, and into the final. The hosts will head to Sydney for the summit clash on March 21, where they will face the winner of the second semi-final between South Korea and Japan.

BY Photo Webdesk 17 March 2026