Find today's news in pics from India and around the world for August 18, 2026
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PV Sindhu began her bid for a record sixth BWF World Championships medal with a dominant 21-7, 21-11 win over Ireland’s Sophia Noble in just 29 minutes in New Delhi on Monday. The ninth-seeded Indian controlled the match from the outset, using her experience, sharp drops, and powerful smashes to keep Noble under pressure. Sindhu will next face Canada’s Wen Yu Zhang, who defeated Bulgaria’s Stefani Stoeva 21-7, 21-19.
The death toll from the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Indonesia on Saturday has risen to at least 68, with more than 100 people injured, authorities said Monday, as the disaster cast a shadow over the country’s Independence Day celebrations
- Badminton World Championships 2026: Ayush Shetty Stuns World No.1 Shi Yu Qi In First Round Encounter
India's Ayush Shetty pulled off a sensational upset at the BWF World Championships in New Delhi, stunning top seed and defending champion Shi Yu Qi 21-14, 13-21, 21-19. Fuelled by a partisan home crowd, the 21-year-old played fearless badminton to take the opener before Shi fought back to level the match. The grueling 73-minute encounter largely hinged on a dramatic momentum shift in the decider. Having built a commanding 17-7 and 20-15 lead, Shetty saw his comfortable cushion vanish as the Chinese star mounted a fierce comeback, winning 10 out of 12 points to narrow the gap to 20-19. However, keeping his composure under immense pressure, Shetty capitalized on his fifth match point. He sealed the landmark first-round victory by cleverly using his wrist to leave Yu Qi stranded with an audacious final shot, claiming his maiden win over Shi in four attempts and banishing the ghosts of a crushing defeat in the Badminton Asia Championships final earlier that year.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday announced the cancellation of the JSSC\-CGL examination, meeting a key demand of protesting students who had alleged irregularities in the recruitment process
India strengthened their grip on the first Test against Sri Lanka on Day 3, taking a 178-run first-innings lead after bowling the hosts out for 284 at Galle. Sri Lanka slumped to 90/5 before Niroshan Dickwella and Sonal Dinusha revived the innings with a crucial 146-run partnership. Dickwella made 80 before Prasidh Krishna ended the stand, while Dinusha followed with a determined maiden Test century off 168 balls. India’s left-arm spinners then cleaned up the lower order, with Manav Suthar claiming 4/76 and Ravindra Jadeja returning 3/57, including his 350th Test wicket. India’s 462 had been built around Devdutt Padikkal’s 167 and KL Rahul’s 82. Rain and strong winds brought an early end to Day 3, leaving India firmly in control.
The 27th European Athletics Championships, hosted for the first time in Great Britain, took place from August 10–16, 2026, transforming the redeveloped Alexander Stadium in Birmingham. Over 1,600 athletes representing nearly 50 nations converged on the West Midlands for seven days of intense competition, delivering unforgettable moments under a wave of passionate home crowds. The stage played host to defining athletic milestones, none more anticipated than Swedish superstar Mondo Duplantis soaring over 6.15 meters to claim his fourth consecutive European pole vault title and cement another championship record. Across the track and field, roaring British athletes delivered stellar podium finishes, while traditional continental powerhouses like Italy and a resurgent Germany—securing its most impressive medal haul in nearly three decades—dominated the team tables. Birmingham 2026 concluded as a landmark chapter in European sports history.
Find today's news in pics from India and around the world for August 17, 2026
Heavy rains have lashed parts of Odisha, disrupting normal life and causing waterlogging in several areas. This photo gallery captures the impact of the downpour, including inundated roads, stranded vehicles, residents navigating flooded areas and ongoing civic response as authorities monitor conditions across the state
Cameroon made history by winning their first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title with a commanding 3-0 victory over Malawi in the final in Rabat. Marie Ngah Manga opened the scoring in the 20th minute before Naomi Ndjoah Eto doubled Cameroon’s advantage 10 minutes later. Ngah then struck again in first-half stoppage time to put the contest beyond Malawi before the break. The Indomitable Lionesses controlled the second half comfortably to complete a memorable triumph. The victory ended Cameroon’s wait for continental glory after three previous final defeats, all against Nigeria in 2004, 2014 and 2016. For Malawi, it was a heartbreaking end to a remarkable debut campaign, having become the first Southern African nation to reach the final on its tournament debut.
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