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Lionel Messi's Argentina face Egypt for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday as the maestro looks to reclaim the lead in a fiercely contested Golden Boot race.

Top Democrats called on scandal-hit US Senate candidate Graham Platner to quit the race on Monday after a sexual assault allegation threatened to derail one of the party's best chances of flipping a Republican-held seat.

The death toll from devastating storms in parts of China rose to 15 on Tuesday, with hundreds more injured and tens of thousands evacuated, state media reported, as President Xi Jinping urged "all out" rescue efforts.

In fast-secularising South Korea, Buddhism is regaining popularity thanks to a "hip" trend wooing Gen Z with festivals, fashion, robots and DJs, even as some fear for the fundamentals of the faith.

Belgium captain Youri Tielemans revealed his team had been fired up by the uproar surrounding Folarin Balogun after the Red Devils thrashed the United States 4-1 at the World Cup on Monday.

US coach Mauricio Pochettino said he was disappointed and frustrated by the backlash over Folarin Balogun's ban but insisted it was no excuse for his side's World Cup exit at the hands of Belgium on Monday.

South Korean technology giant Samsung Electronics forecast Tuesday a massive 19-fold jump in second-quarter operating profit from a year earlier, buoyed by sustained AI-driven demand for memory chips.

Seoul once again led losses on a mixed day in Asian stocks Tuesday as chip giant Samsung tumbled despite an eye-watering rise in profit, stoking fears that the record-breaking, AI-fuelled rally may have reached the end of the road.

Belgium brought the United States' World Cup party to a shattering halt on Monday, thrashing the tournament co-hosts 4-1 to set up a quarter-final showdown with Spain.

Belgium dumped the United States out of their own World Cup Monday, as Charles De Ketelaere's brace secured a 4-1 win that was eclipsed by the bitter row over Folarin Balogun's ban.

France's far-right chief Marine Le Pen is bracing for a key verdict on Tuesday that will determine if she can run in next year's presidential elections, when her party has its best chance yet of winning power.

It began with threats of US visa bans on a swathe of African nations. Then Washington started to scatter migrants from all over the world to various corners of the continent, often with cash sweeteners for their governments.

NATO allies will showcase surging defence spending at a summit in Turkey's capital Ankara on Tuesday as they hope to placate US President Donald Trump after his fury over Europe's response to the war with Iran.

Scandal-hit US Senate candidate Graham Platner -- whose insurgent rise has drawn comparisons to President Donald Trump -- denied a sexual assault allegation Monday that threatens to derail one of Democrats' best chances of flipping a Republican-held seat.

The United States voiced alarm Monday over Beijing's nuclear program after China test-fired a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean, the latest move in its rapid military modernization.

South Korean technology giant Samsung Electronics forecast on Tuesday a roughly 19-fold jump in second-quarter operating profit from a year earlier, buoyed by sustained AI-driven demand for memory chips.

Cristiano Ronaldo laboured through his last World Cup match Monday as the dream of winning the biggest prize of all ended in a 1-0 defeat to Spain and left him fighting back tears.

Russia fired missiles and drones into apartment buildings in Kyiv for the second time in a week Monday, killing at least 26 people on the eve of a crucial NATO summit, Ukrainian authorities said.

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni said sides should be given more rest in the final stages of the World Cup as the defending champions face a gruelling schedule in the knockout phases.

Cristiano Ronaldo said that he won't rush into a decision about his future following Portugal's exit to Spain in his last World Cup match on Monday.

The international rescue teams are packing up and heavy excavators are clearing rubble left by Venezuela's earthquakes.

Paraguay's government on Monday condemned remarks made by a senator who racially abused France star Kylian Mbappe after Paraguay was eliminated from the World Cup over the weekend.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said at the World Cup on Monday that the suffering of the Palestinian people was a "shame on the world" as he called on football to do more to come to their aid.

American soccer fans have largely welcomed FIFA's move to lift striker Folarin Balogun's World Cup ban even as the rest of the world seethes over President Donald Trump's divisive intervention.

Six-time NBA All-Star forward DeMar DeRozan, a 17-season veteran, was waived by the Sacramento Kings on Monday after two campaigns with the club.

Substitute Mikel Merino scored a dramatic late winner to put Spain in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory over Portugal and end Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career on Monday.

Patient centuries by Justin Greaves and Shai Hope ushered the West Indies towards safety on the fourth day of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Monday.

Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 on Monday to end Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup dream and reach the quarter-finals as the United States aimed to shrug off controversy surrounding reprieved striker Folarin Balogun in a last-16 showdown with Belgium.

Norway coach Stale Solbakken admitted Monday he celebrated his team's historic World Cup win over Brazil by getting tucked up in bed and watching quarter-final opponents England come through a gruelling tie against Mexico.

Substitute Mikel Merino scored a late winner to put Spain in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory over Portugal and end Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career on Monday.

Canada has chosen Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems to build its new multi-billion-dollar fleet of submarines, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Monday, as his government works to deepen defence ties with European NATO allies.

Washington was briefly the most polluted major city in the world, according to IQAir data, after a massive Independence Day fireworks show touted by the Trump administration as "awesome."

Kylian Mbappe on Monday labelled a Paraguayan senator "despicable" and "not worthy of her position" after she racially abused the France captain on social media after the World Cup last-16 clash between the countries at the weekend.

Major stock markets meandered Monday while US tech names climbed, as quarterly earnings season kicks into gear.

FIFA chief Gianni Infantino on Monday defended the decision to reprieve US World Cup star Folarin Balogun after Donald Trump said he had appealed directly to the head of world football's governing body over the issue.

Britain's Arthur Fery defeated fellow wildcard Grigor Dimitrov in a dramatic five-set match to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Monday, after Jasmine Paolini halted Alexandra Eala's run in the last 16.

Giannis Antetokounmpo bid farewell to Milwaukee Bucks supporters in a video message posted Monday on social media as his departure to the NBA Miami Heat became official.

Russia fired missiles and drones into apartment buildings in Kyiv for the second time in a week Monday, killing at least 24 people on the eve of a crucial NATO summit, Ukrainian authorities said.

Britain's Arthur Fery extended his fairytale run at Wimbledon with a dramatic five-set win against Grigor Dimitrov that made him the first British wild card to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final in the Open era.