A day of profound embarrassment for those who were elected on the @AITCofficial symbol under the leadership of @MamataOfficial and are now trying to join the @BJP4India. Spurned by the @BJP4India, today they have been forced to seek refuge in an obscure Tripura-based party because the @BJP4India cannot formally induct them, but is perfectly willing to control them from behind the scenes. Is this their much publicised “we-are-veteran-leaders” pitch? To surrender so completely to the dictates of New Delhi and the power play of @AmitShah? To seek office without conviction, power without principle, and relevance without a mandate? Voters elected them to represent Bengal’s interests, not to become instruments of a political operation scripted elsewhere. A sad, humiliating and deeply opportunistic spectacle of politics at its WORST.

VIDEO | On 'rebel' MPs merging with Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), TMC leader Kunal Ghosh (@KunalGhoshAgain) says, "We do not know which party they are going to join or with whom they are aligning. But the people here were Mamata Didi's candidates, and they won on anti-BJP votes. The voters who sent them to Parliament in Delhi voted against the BJP. So, if they are now joining the BJP camp, it is nothing short of a complete betrayal. This has nothing to do with Mamata Didi or the Trinamool Congress. It is a betrayal of every single voter." (Full video available on PTI Videos - ptivideos.com)

Young dreams should be dreamed together, and the young hearts shouldn’t be afraid,” Cliff Richards sang years ago. These young ones have done that in a competition that is also about the last dance of Neymar Jr, Dzeko, Modric, Casemiro and, whisper it, Messi and Ronaldo.

A @FIFAWorldCup that is already full of teen spirit. World Cup: Irankunda, Bouaddi lead the march of young ones | Sports News share.google/p1QVPuGsjIy84G3…

A reminder that Flo Balogun would not be on the US Men's National Team if Trump's birthright citizenship order was in place when he was born in NY. The first US man to score more than one goal in a World Cup match since the very first World Cup in 1930.

“The success of soccer in United States is inevitable.” Pele had felt by 1977. A raft of players in Europe's top 5, the turnout on Friday for @USMNT, youth development shows he prescient he was. @FIFAWorldCup

The denial of a hotel room to a BJP functionary because he is Muslim prompted this anguished rumination on whether India is losing its soul. This was certainly not the India I grew up in. The Story Of A Hotel Check-In, And An India That No Longer Exists ndtv.com/opinion/the-story-o…

Best isn’t the only big name to have never played a World Cup. The “blonde arrow” Alfredo di Stefano didn’t and neither did Ian Rush or Ryan Giggs. And the only Weah who has been part of the finals is Timothy. @FIFAWorldCup #WorldCup

In two weeks in May 1985, Diego Maradona played Juventus, Paraguay, Udinese, Chile and Fiorentina juggling duties for Napoli and the national team by shuttling between Italy and Argentina. Even for those without such a crazy schedule, it can be difficult. @FIFAWorldCup

All set for the @FIFAWorldCup. @htTweets hindustantimes.com/sports/fo…

• في 2022 : الصحافة الإنجليزية كانت تسأل ساوثغيت ولاعبي إنجلترا بشكل مستمر عن قطر وملفات حقوق الإنسان.وظل الموضوع حاضرًا في كل مؤتمر تقريبًا. — في 2026 : وقبل يومين فقط من انطلاق كأس العالم، لم يقم أي صحفي إنجليزي حتى الآن بطرح أي سؤال لتوخيل واللاعبين عن ما يحدث في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية أو تبعاته. — نفس الصحافة، لكن المعايير مختلفة.

Congratulations to Jean Drèze on being honoured with the Global Inequality Research Award. At a time when many study poverty from a distance, Jean Drèze chose to walk alongside those who live it every day. His work transformed research into action, helping shape landmark rights-based legislations such as NREGA and the National Food Security Act, policies that brought dignity, livelihood, and food security to millions. What makes this recognition remarkable is not merely the scholarship behind it, but the humanity that guided it. He reminds us that the true purpose of knowledge is not to decorate institutions, but to improve lives. A well-deserved honour for a life devoted not just to understanding inequality, but to confronting it. Awards often celebrate achievement. This one celebrates conscience. Jean Drèze showed that intellect is at its most powerful when it stands with those whom society too often leaves behind.

Lamine Yamal, 18, dazzles with his skills as Spain's World Cup hopes rest on him. A rising star, he aims to shine on the global stage. Don’t miss the full update 👉 hindustantimes.com/sports/fo… (✍️@clutchplay) 🗞️ For in-depth reporting: epaper.hindustantimes.com 📩 Subscribe now: bit.ly/2QAOH22

RT @LibyaLiberty: The U.S. World Cup in one horrible photo:

The brutal assault and subsequent arrest of CPI(M) Central Committee member Sujan Chakroborty, SFI General Secretary Srijan Bhattacharya and other comrades by the police and the illegal eviction of hawkers outside the premises of Jadavpur station in Kolkata last night deserves the highest condemnation. Prime Minister Modi had no inhibitions while stopping for a photo-op to to eat jhalmuri during the election campaign in West Bengal. Post elections, the state government run by his party is on a demolition spree, evicting hundreds of hawkers who sell jhalmuri and other snacks, meals, beverages and everyday goods to thousands of customers daily. The West Bengal government should immediately withdraw from this diabolical attack against the livelihood of working class families and communities. The Left parties and trade unions will fight unitedly against the bulldozer attacks under the cover of the dark. Not An Inch Back!

Finally, clubs in @IndSuperLeague and AIFF have aligned. Never before have prospects of a full season looked so bright. #IndianFootball ISL LIKELY TO START ON SEPT 4; CLUBS ASKED TO LOOK FOR OCI PLAYERS share.google/QFx4Sd21X6mbHEf…

The personal became the political for me in 2024. I joined public life because I passionately believe that the @narendramodi -led @BJP4India is destroying India’s precious democratic spaces and I believed and believe in the Opposition’s constitutional fight against the anti-constitutional, communal minded Modi-led BJP bent on fomenting religious wars. I believed, believe and will ALWAYS believe in the remarkable leadership of @MamataOfficial , an inspiration for all women, indeed all citizens in her unflagging courage and value-based politics. What strikes me as bizarre is this culture of winning on one party’s symbol and under the name of one particular leader and then abandoning that party and the leader the moment it faces defeat. If your convictions change with the election result, were they convictions at all? You contest under a party symbol. You ask voters to trust a party platform. You win because of that party’s support and leaders appeal.  Then the party loses and you immediately switch sides. If loyalty lasts only as long as victory, what exactly was the mandate for? Or is it when Shri @AmitShah and his cronies make a phone call, you obediently line up and all morality ends? SHAME.