Summary of World Cup qualifiers played across the world on Thursday

Don't expect the synthetic stones to surpass natural ones anytime soon because the world's biggest miners of diamonds aren't looking to get into man-made diamonds.

'I am concentrating on working in Hollywood but if the right opportunity from the Indian film industry comes, I will be open to working there.'

...Are algos taking over from 'shoeshine and a smile', asks Ajit Balakrishnan.

While Wipro leads the pack on absolute numbers, analysts for Infosys for reporting consistent growth, revising FY22 guidance and beating TCS on revenue growth.

With the retirement of three-time champion Usain Bolt, the 100m will have a new gold medallist at Tokyo 2020.

At his peak Bolt was probably the world's most recognisable sportsperson and certainly one of the most marketable. In contrast, the two 2020 Athletes of the year were Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis and Venezuelan triple jumper Yulimar Rojas.

'Of the people here in Europe who have watched The Story of Film: A New Generation, the most talked-about clip is the one from Ram Leela.'

'We have the technical expertise, and international collaborations. We also have robust real-time data. We are a university of pandemic management. If the ministry neglects the role of NCDC, it is the loss of the country'

On Saturday evening, Lionel Messi finally got what had eluded arguably the finest footballer of his generation throughout his glorious career -- a trophy playing for his country.

The Barcelona striker has won the FIFA World Player of the Year a record six times and is widely considered one of the greatest players ever to play the game, alongside Pele and countryman Diego Maradona. But his inability to win an international title with Argentina always left an asterisk beside his name on the all-time greats list.

Argentina won their first major title in 28 years on Saturday after Angel Di Maria's goal gave them a 1-0 win over Brazil and a record-equalling 15th Copa America, at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Saturday.

Brazil against Argentina is a true clasico. The teams first met in 1914 and in the years since have established themselves as two of the most storied sides in world soccer. Together they have won seven World Cups.

Messi has spoken at length about the dream of winning a title with Argentina and his compatriots know how much an international trophy means to him.

Colombia head to Copa semis after penalties win over Uruguay

Peru moved into the semi-finals of the Copa America in dramatic fashion on Friday by beating Paraguay 4-3 on penalties after the two sides drew 3-3 over 90 minutes in an action-packed encounter in Goiania.

'...signatures.' 'But such signatures are missing in this virus.'

A much-changed Brazil failed to win for the first time in 11 games but still qualified top in Group B for the quarter-finals of the Copa America on Sunday after drawing 1-1 with Ecuador in Goiania.

Messi and his Argentina teammates are currently participating the Copa America in Brazil where he is hoping to lead his team to the title, having finished runners-up in the 2016 edition.

Captain Casemiro said Brazil fully deserved the three points.

'We are only amplifying the voice of scientists and experts. We are gathering information by talking to experts and are sharing it. If the government chooses to ignore that, what can we do?'

The Biden administration should expect continuity in Iran's policies under Raisi. This may not necessarily mean that strengthening of ties with the West will be Raisi's top priority, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

'Somehow the Flying Sikh has endured in people's memory.'

The goal gave Argentina all three points and condemned their neighbors to a losing start to their Copa campaign.

Images from Copa America matches played on Monday.

Brazil opened the 2021 Copa America with a 3-0 win over a depleted Venezuela

Indian American children have dominated the Scripps Howard Spelling Bee in the United States since the turn of the new century. Long before this impressive trail of triumphs began, way back in 1985, Balu Natarajan became the first Indian American child to win the Spelling Bee. Rediff.com US Contributor Abhijit Masih catches up with Dr Natarajan as the 2021 Spelling Bee takes off this weekend.

Spain and Portugal played out an entertaining 0-0 draw on Friday as both sides prepared for this month's European Championship.

Earlier in the day, Bolivia beat Venezuela 3-1 at home and Uruguay and Paraguay drew 0-0 in Montevideo.

Packed soccer schedule is a major problem as players will struggle to deliver their best

Juventus rehire Allegri.

'These are people who are anxious to die.' 'We have not seen such type of committed people anywhere.'

Manchester Utd's Fred receives racist abuse after defeat by Liverpool.

As India logged a world record of over four lakh coronavirus infections on Saturday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the entire world is shaken by what is happening here and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "dropping the ball and throwing it to states" after prematurely taking credit for having "won against COVID-19" when the second wave was already underway. "Rely on yourself is the motto. No one will come to help you. Definitely, not the prime minister," Gandhi said, while alleging that the COVID-19 situation has gone completely out of control for the Modi government, and wondered whether it was their way of making the states and the citizens truly 'Aatmanirbhar'.

Dr Rajendra Bharud has done what no other district collector in India could do as the pandemic ravaged the nation. He not only made Nandurbar district oxygen surplus, but ensured that the supply of life-saving oxygen remained uninterrupted for patients -- something even Delhi and Mumbai hospitals have not achieved yet.

'But more importantly, our stories are being told.'

Intrigue filled whodunits, slice-of-life dramas, fast-paced animation, Sukanya Verma tells us what you can catch on OTT this week.

'Prevention plus vaccination is what is going to take us into better territory by September or October.'

Sara is in Jaipur... Sonali recommends a book...

'Sonam is my lucky charm.' 'Because of her, 2018 went well for me, as I got four big weddings.' 'It started with Sonam's in November, then Deepika Padukone-Ranveer Singh's in December, Kapil Sharma's wedding and then Isha Ambani's wedding.'