The 12th edition of the Pro Kabaddi League is set to begin on August 29, 2025, and Patna Pirates are set to chase a 4th crown. The three-time champions, who’ve reached the playoffs in eight of eleven seasons, face fresh trials this year.
Patna Pirates made a bold move by releasing Devank Dalal, the league’s top scorer in Season 11 with 301 raid points. Under new coach Anup Kumar, the squad remains competitive. Patna kept key players Sudhakar M and Ayan Lohchab, whose bond on the mat was key last term. They also signed raid ace Maninder Singh, who’ll lead up front.
At the back, Ankit Jaglan, Deepak Singh, Sanket Sawant, and Sombir Gulia form a rock‑hard wall. Ankit led with 79 tackle points, while Deepak had 64 at right cover. The blend of new skill and core hold gives Patna hope to fight for the top once more.
At 38, David Luiz is now making a surprise return to European football. Luiz has signed with Cypriot side Pafos FC, a club currently competing in the Champions League qualifying rounds. This move follows the early end of his contract with Brazilian team Fortaleza on August 1.
Luiz left Europe back in 2021 after two seasons at Arsenal. He later joined Flamengo and then Fortaleza in Brazil. Injuries and a lack of game time at Fortaleza led him to cut his one-year deal short. He only played 17 matches for them. Now, he’s set to stay at Pafos until 2027.
Pafos proudly called this signing a ‘historic moment’ for football in Cyprus. They highlighted Luiz’s experience in some of the world’s biggest clubs and stadiums, calling him a global icon.
Luiz is recovering from a thigh injury, preventing him from playing in the first leg of Pafos’ Champions League third-round qualifier against Dynamo Kyiv. The club hasn’t confirmed when he’ll be back on the pitch.
Shopify Rebellion has announced its departure from Dota 2, bringing an end to its two-and-a-half-year run in the scene. The Canada‑based group shared the news this week and set all five of its men free to seek new teams.
The squad came close in key runs but could not take the top spot when it was most crucial. The team twice played in The International NA Closed Quals, both times placing second. They also made it to The International 2023. Yet wins vs top foes did not come, and that gap led to the call to quit.
‘I hope they all find great new homes and continue to shine, bringing their incredible talent and dedication to new teams. I know being a Rebellion Dota fan wasn’t easy. The heartbreak you felt, cheering us on, I can assure you, was mirrored by what we felt, CEO Dario TLO Wünsch said.
Wünsch also mentioned that this break will not last long: ‘I am confident this is a ‘see you soon’ rather than a goodbye’. For now, Rebellion will stay in play with squads in VALORANT, Rocket League, and League of Legends.
EaseMyTrip, one of India’s top travel booking platforms, has pulled out of sponsoring the India vs Pakistan semi-final match. This match is one of the most awaited games in the 2025 World Championship of Legends (WCL), so the announcement quickly sparked strong reactions.
The company’s co-founder and CEO, Nishant Pitti, announced on X (formerly Twitter) on 30 July 2025. He explained that the company would not support Pakistan because of its alleged links to recent attacks. His post said:
‘…the upcoming semi-final against Pakistan is not just another game, Terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand. @EaseMyTrip, we stand with India. We cannot support any event that attempts to normalise relations with a country that promotes terrorism’.
The post drew attention in both India and Pakistan. Most Indian users praised the move, but some criticised it. Was EaseMyTrip right to take this stand, or should it have kept business and politics separate? Here’s what you need to know.
The conflict: Terror attack from April to May 2025
Pitti’s post refers to the India–Pakistan conflict that began in late April 2025. The cause is still unclear, but many reports blame a group based in Pakistan for a major attack in India. The situation led to strained diplomatic ties, angry public reaction, and higher military alert. Many Indians still feel the emotional and security effects of that period.
What is EaseMyTrip and its relevance to WCL 2025?
EaseMyTrip is one of the main sponsors of the WCL 2025. Usually, sponsorship covers the entire tournament. That’s why many people found it odd that the company withdrew only from one match. While this step may not affect the WCL’s finances much, it sends a strong political message. It could also push other sponsors to take similar actions.
Turning sports into a platform for political protests can be risky. Some users praised Pitti for standing up for what he believes in. Others worry the move could damage the image of cricket as a sport that brings countries together.
What is the public sentiment about the decision?
Social media reactions were split. Many users called the decision brave and patriotic. But others said it was fake nationalism. They pointed out that since EaseMyTrip still sponsors the overall event, it still indirectly supports matches involving Pakistan.
Is CEO Nishant Pitti justified in his decision?
Pitti’s choice reflects the strong emotions many Indians feel after the April 2025 attack. For them, his message is clear: national security comes first. But critics say the move is more symbolic than real, especially if the company still profits from the tournament.
From a professional angle, some argue that backing out after agreeing to sponsor the event shows poor consistency. Still, others believe staying silent would be worse. The public remains divided, and this case might change how companies deal with politics in sports going forward.
Everton FC has handed over the rights to Goodison Park to its Women’s team. The decision is part of a major move to grow the women’s side and attract new investors.
The historic stadium, home to Everton for more than 130 years, will be the main venue for Everton Women starting in the 2025–26 Women’s Super League. The shift comes as the men’s team moved to their new ground, the Hill Dickinson Stadium, in May 2025.
A major shift for Everton Women
Goodison Park is set to be refurbished. Estimates suggest it will hold around 20,000 people, but it is open for future expansion.
Given the landmark shift, it is now the largest football stadium in the UK dedicated solely to a Women’s team. The move gives Everton Women a strong identity and a home of their own.
The stadium’s ownership now sits with Roundhouse Capital. It is a firm controlled by the club owner, Dan Friedkin. Plans are also in place to develop the site around the stadium, which will include housing and community areas to be overseen by the Goodison Legacy Project.
The shift also marks Everton Women as a separate business from the Men’s side. Only a minority stake is expected to be sold, as the club eyes long-term growth through investments.
CS2’s latest patch has caused a wave of disappointment in the player base. One of the most talked-about parts of the update is the shift to a new animation system, AnimGraph2. This change, while meant to improve gameplay flow, has caused many high-value knives to glitch.
Fans who paid large sums for rare skins like the Butterfly Doppler (Black Pearl) are now seeing broken blade flips, knives clipping through hands, and wrong blade angles. These aren’t small bugs, but are flaws that hit deep for players who care about style and detail.
Butterfly knife takes the biggest hit
The Butterfly Knife is known as one of CS2’s flashiest and most wanted knives. Cheap ones go for US$800 or more, while rare ones like the Gamma Doppler (Emerald) hit the US$22,000 mark. Right after the patch went live, clips of the knife behaving strangely spread online.
Players saw the blade flip backwards, vanish into arms, or bend at odd spots. It wasn’t just the Butterfly. Other knives like the Nomad, Flip, and M9 Bayonet also showed odd movement in clips posted by players. Valve has yet to fix the issue fully.
One pro, Justinas ‘jL’ Lekavičius, who is also a Natus Vincere (NAVI) content creator, was quick to share his thoughts. Though recently benched from top play, jL still tracks game changes closely. He said the patch ‘ruined the Butterfly and AK’ but did admit the new reload moves were well made.
AK-47 sound sparks mixed views
The AK-47 did not escape the changes either. Along with new animations, the sound of this popular rifle has changed. Some players welcomed the new feel. Others, like ex-pro Erik ‘fl0m’ Flom, were not pleased. He said the AK now sounds plastic and cheap. For long-time fans, this is not the first time CS sound has caused debate. Back in 2016, the AK sound was updated in CSGO, which also drew strong views. Sound is key in CS, and any change is bound to stir strong words.
Map updates: Adjust inferno, overpass, and train
While animations get most of the talk, the map changes may shape the game more. Inferno’s B site now has a wider Garden entry, giving CTs a better shot at taking it back. Before, CTs rarely tried to retake B, but now they can throw fire at Ts hiding by the new box. Over at A site, the old Balcony rail is back, forcing Ts to jump over and slow their push.
Train and Overpass also saw tweaks. Overpass got new angles at the A site truck, Heaven rail, and wall behind A. Train got boxes near Hell and Z, with barrels added to give AWP users a peek at Popdog and A main without much risk.
What’s next for CS2 players?
For now, players must wait to see how Valve deals with the broken knife’s looks and odd sounds. Some love the new style. Others miss the old ways. However, if there’s one clear thing, CS2 changes will always get strong views, good or bad.
Faze Clan founder and CEO Richard ‘Banks’ Bengston has officially stepped down from his role. This follows a growing backlash over his links to a new meme cryptocurrency called MLG Coin, which is now at the centre of a major crypto controversy.
Banks was accused of working with streamer Adin Ross to pump the coin’s price before selling it off; an act known as ‘pump and dump.’
Banks, Ross, and a few FaZe members promoted the coin early in 2025, which boosted the market gap from $3 million to over $166 million by mid-January. Soon after, the value collapsed to a current market cap of $13 million, which fans claimed was ‘rugged’ as they now hold worthless tokens.
Leaked chats between the two sparked major concerns across the esports and crypto spaces. However, Banks has strongly denied any of the allegations. ‘I’ve never scammed anyone a day in my f****g life…Sucks my entire life gets ruined over something I didn’t even do,’ he shared in a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
He also admitted the backlash had taken a toll on his mental health and that stepping down from FaZe and the internet is his best choice. At the time of the writing, FaZe has not yet named a new CEO.
After two years with Burnley, James Trafford has rejoined Manchester City ahead of the 34th season of the English Premier League this August. The 22-year-old goalkeeper has agreed to a five-year deal, with the possibility of a one-year extension, and is set to take over the number one jersey.
The deal costs Man City £27m with add-ons; however, Burnley sources say that the price was £31m plus add-ons and a sell-on clause. With this return, they broke a record previously held by Jordan Pickford in 2017, when Everton paid Sunderland £30m to close the transfer deal.
Trafford reassured that his return is worth it for the team as he is ‘a hundred times better’ than before. He even remarked in excitement during the official public announcement that he had always dreamt of coming back to Man City.
‘I am still very young and hungry to keep learning and improving – and I know there is no better environment than Manchester City to help make me become the best goalkeeper I can be,’ he added.
Many are looking forward to his return, including Director of Football Hugo Viana, saying, ‘We are delighted to welcome him back to Manchester City.’ In a separate comment, he added, ‘He has all the attributes a top-class goalkeeper requires.
Tensions rose before the fifth and final Test between India and England when India head coach Gautam Gambhir argued with The Oval’s head groundsman, Lee Fortis, during practice.
The video, now widely shared online, shows Gambhir pointing at Fortis and saying he had no right to tell the team what to do. This happened after the curator told Indian staff to stay 2.5 meters away from the pitch.
Fortis, a four-time England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) award winner known for strict pitch care, warned that he might file a complaint. Gambhir reportedly replied that he could report it to anyone he wanted.
India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said the argument started when a cooler was pushed close to the square, which triggered Fortis’ reaction. Kotak defended the team, saying they did not harm the surface. He criticised what he called an extreme level of care for the wicket, adding that it was ‘a cricket pitch, not an antique’.
The clash divided fans, with some calling out Gambhir’s anger while others praised him for standing up for India’s training needs. Experts noted that pitch conditions often play a big role in the mental battle during key matches. With England ahead 2-1 in the series, this tense moment adds more drama to the final game at The Oval.
England’s women’s team were welcomed by 65,000 fans in London after their Euro 2025 triumph. The Lionesses travelled through The Mall on an open-top bus before reaching Buckingham Palace, where they stood on stage and thanked fans for their support. It marked their second straight European title.
Royal appearances and a surprise show
Princess Beatrice joined the event, and the crowd saw a surprise act from Burna Boy. The Nigerian star sang For My Hand, a favourite of coach Sarina Wiegman. Defender Esme Morgan said Wiegman was thrilled and danced with joy, calling the moment ‘a picture’.
A parade full of emotion
Captain Leah Williamson said the parade was unreal and one of the most moving moments of her career. Forward Chloe Kelly, who scored the winning penalty, praised the fans and her team. She said standing together through the games made the win even sweeter.
Some players worried that few would come. Morgan shared that they feared empty streets. But the turnout was huge. FA chief Mark Bullingham said the players kept asking, ‘Will anyone show up?’ The fans did, in full force.
Next goal: 2027 World Cup
After flying back, the squad visited Downing Street and sang Proud with singer Heather Small. Now, they look to the 2027 World Cup, aiming to go even further.
