This photo gallery captures the festive preparations, from decorated shops and bustling marketplaces to artisans making rakhis and families shopping as they get ready to celebrate the bond between brothers and sisters.
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At the ongoing World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, more than 2,000 humanoid robots are taking part in an Olympic-style showcase featuring sprinting, football, table tennis, martial arts and other events. The competition has already produced some eye-catching records, with a humanoid robot clocking 9.39 seconds in the 100 metres, faster than Usain Bolt’s 9.58-second human world record, while another robot achieved a 2.88m standing high jump. The five-day event features 51 disciplines and more than 1,000 competitions, with participants from 16 countries. Beyond the spectacle, the Games highlight China’s rapid progress in robotics, while also testing how effectively humanoid machines can perform complex physical and real-world tasks.
Find today's news in pics from India and around the world for August 24, 2026
Devdutt Padikkal once again stood tall for India, scoring a determined 117 off 193 balls as the visitors reached 300/5 at stumps on Day 1 of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo. After India opted to bat, Yashasvi Jaiswal made a brisk 45, while captain Shubman Gill added 50 in a crucial 120-run partnership with Padikkal. Ravindra Jadeja contributed 43, but India suffered a late blow when Rishabh Pant retired hurt after being struck on the wrist by Lahiru Kumara. Padikkal’s second consecutive Test century, after his 167 in Galle, ensured India recovered strongly from early setbacks. Dhruv Jurel and Saransh Jain were unbeaten overnight.
Kyle Kirkwood produced a commanding drive to win the inaugural Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C., making history on IndyCar’s first race around the National Mall. The Andretti Global driver led 128 of the 147 laps and crossed the line 3.0906 seconds ahead of Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard, with teammate Will Power completing the podium. The 250-mile race was interrupted by six caution periods, but Kirkwood repeatedly maintained control, including after late restarts. Championship leader Alex Palou endured a nightmare afternoon, suffering a drive-through penalty, a slow pit stop and a crash on his way to 20th place. Kirkwood’s victory reduced Palou’s championship lead from 133 points to 91, with three races remaining.
East Bengal FC produced a stunning Kolkata Derby performance to beat arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant 4-1 and lift the Durand Cup 2026 title. Bipin Singh opened the scoring before Edmund Lalrindika took centre stage with a sensational hat-trick, putting East Bengal firmly in control. Manvir Singh pulled one back for Mohun Bagan, but the comeback never materialised as the Red and Gold Brigade completed a memorable victory at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. The triumph ended East Bengal’s 22-year wait for the Durand Cup and delivered their 17th title, drawing them level with Mohun Bagan as the competition’s most successful side. Lalrindika’s hat-trick was also a historic first in a Durand Cup Kolkata Derby.
South Korea’s Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee produced a dominant performance to defeat China’s Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning 21-15, 21-15 and clinch the BWF World Championships 2026 women’s doubles title in New Delhi. The Korean pair controlled the final in straight games, keeping the Chinese duo under pressure and refusing to allow a comeback in either game. Their triumph was also a historic one for South Korean badminton, ending a 31-year wait for a women’s doubles world title. Liu and Tan had arrived in the final after an impressive campaign that included victory over India’s Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand in the semi-finals, but Baek and Lee proved too strong when it mattered most.
China’s Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang capped their impressive campaign by defeating Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik to win the BWF World Championships 2026 men’s doubles title in New Delhi. The Chinese pair, who had earlier ended Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s medal hopes in the quarter-finals, carried that momentum into the final and emerged with the biggest prize of the tournament. Chia and Soh fought hard for Malaysia, but Liang and Wang held their nerve to seal the world crown. Their victory continued China’s strong record in men’s doubles and gave the pair a memorable triumph on Indian soil. The final marked the conclusion of an exciting men’s doubles competition featuring several high-profile clashes.
An Se-young underlined her status as the dominant force in women’s badminton, defeating Japan’s defending champion Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-14 to win the BWF World Championships 2026 women’s singles title in New Delhi. The world No. 1 was tested in a fiercely contested opening game, with Yamaguchi briefly taking a 16-15 lead after An had earlier been ahead. However, the South Korean responded strongly to take control and close out the game 21-17. An then stepped up another gear in the second, using her remarkable court coverage and consistency to keep Yamaguchi under pressure before sealing a straight-games victory. The triumph gave An her second World Championships crown, adding another major title to an already glittering career.
Alex Lanier produced a stunning display to defeat Japan’s Kodai Naraoka 21-11, 21-11 and win the BWF World Championships 2026 men’s singles title in New Delhi on Sunday. The French shuttler dominated the final from the start, combining sharp movement, attacking intent and powerful smashes to keep Naraoka under constant pressure. Lanier wrapped up the one-sided contest in under 50 minutes, sealing a historic first World Championships singles crown for France. The 21-year-old’s triumph also marked a landmark moment for French badminton, as he became the country’s first player to win a singles world title. Naraoka, meanwhile, was unable to recover after falling behind early in both games.
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