August 04, 2025

Account

  Login
  Sign Up

The Actual News

Just the Facts, from multiple news sources.

Sports News

Sports news, scores, and analysis from around the world

Infantino says ‘important step’ taken for Afghan women’s football

Infantino says ‘important step’ taken for Afghan women’s football

August 01, 2025
Afghan refugee female football players joined a FIFA-organized talent camp in Sydney as part of efforts to form a new 23-player squad. The initiative offers these players the chance to play internationally after being banned from women's sports in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. FIFA aims for these players to participate in friendlies later this year while supporting them with resources like equipment and training.

Key Facts:

  • Afghan women football players participated in a talent camp in Sydney organized by FIFA.
  • The aim is to form a 23-player squad for international friendly matches this year.
  • The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021 and banned women's sports.
  • FIFA created an Afghan women's refugee team, naming Pauline Hamill as the coach.
  • FIFA is aiding the players with equipment, connection opportunities, and training.
  • The initiative seeks to reintegrate Afghan women into international football.
  • FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized the importance of this effort for women's safety and international play.

Source Information

Al Jazeera
Pakistan’s Nawaz takes three West Indies wickets in 14-run T20 win

Pakistan’s Nawaz takes three West Indies wickets in 14-run T20 win

August 01, 2025
Mohammad Nawaz took three wickets in one over, helping Pakistan win by 14 runs against the West Indies in a cricket match. Saim Ayub led Pakistan's batting with 57 runs, while Jason Holder's late-game efforts for West Indies were not enough to secure a win.

Key Facts:

  • Mohammad Nawaz took three wickets in a single over.
  • Pakistan scored 178 runs for six wickets during their batting.
  • Saim Ayub scored 57 runs from 38 balls for Pakistan.
  • West Indies began their innings with a 72-run partnership.
  • West Indies ended with a score of 164 runs for seven wickets.
  • Jason Holder scored 30 runs from 12 balls for West Indies.
  • The match was held in Florida, USA.
  • The second and third matches of the series will take place in Lauderhill.

Source Information

Al Jazeera
England’s Woakes ruled out of remainder of India Test

England’s Woakes ruled out of remainder of India Test

August 01, 2025
Chris Woakes, an England cricket player, will miss the rest of the fifth Test match against India due to a shoulder injury. He got hurt trying to stop the ball on the first day, and doctors have said he can't play for the rest of this Test. England is already dealing with several other player injuries.

Key Facts:

  • Chris Woakes, an England cricket player, injured his shoulder on the first day of the fifth Test against India.
  • The injury happened as Woakes tried to prevent a boundary and landed awkwardly.
  • He left the field with his arm in a makeshift sling due to the pain.
  • A spokesman said Woakes would not play in the rest of the match, though he might return in an emergency.
  • India leads 2-2 in the five-match Test series and needs to win this match.
  • Other England players, including Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, and Brydon Carse, are also not playing due to injuries.
  • Woakes has participated in every match of the busy series schedule but has not performed strongly, taking 10 wickets.

Source Information

Al Jazeera
Should you call it quits? HAIM says yes.

Should you call it quits? HAIM says yes.

August 01, 2025
The band HAIM released their fourth album, "I Quit," which explores themes like freedom and nostalgia. The Haim sisters, Danielle, Este, and Alana, discuss their experiences working together on the album and recount memories from their high school days.

Key Facts:

  • HAIM released a new album called "I Quit."
  • This is the band's fourth studio album.
  • Danielle Haim produced the album with Rostam Batmanglij.
  • The album themes include quitting, freedom, and nostalgia.
  • HAIM members Danielle, Este, and Alana lived together during the album's creation for the first time since their teenage years.
  • They attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, a free school that requires auditions.
  • They listened to music from their youth while making the album.
  • Este shared advice on relationships, emphasizing the importance of finding supportive partners.

Source Information

NPR News

From extreme archery to bubblegum blowing, ESPN8 The Ocho covers it

August 01, 2025
ESPN8 The Ocho is a special event that features unusual and lesser-known sports, such as corgi racing and bubblegum blowing. This event began as a joke from a movie but has become a real annual showcase of quirky sports for the ninth year. The Ocho broadcasts a variety of unique competitions like stone skipping and outhouse races.

Key Facts:

  • ESPN8 The Ocho started as a fictional channel in a movie but is now a real event.
  • The event features 30 unconventional sports, including corgi racing and bubblegum blowing.
  • Frank Mazella is involved in producing the Bubblegum Blowing Championship broadcast.
  • Other unusual sports include outhouse races, Swiss stone tossing, and the USA Mullet Championship.
  • Cow chip throwing involves participants tossing dried cow manure for distance.
  • The bubblegum blowing competition involves participants blowing bubbles in front of an audience, with top blowers advancing to the next round.
  • This event aims to bring humor and fun back into sports by showcasing unusual and lighthearted competitions.

Source Information

NPR Sports
India struggle in England Test decider with captain Gill run out

India struggle in England Test decider with captain Gill run out

July 31, 2025
On the first day of the final cricket Test match between India and England at The Oval, England held the advantage by reducing India to 204-6. Indian captain Shubman Gill was run out for 21, impacting India's chase to level the series. Despite the conditions favoring England's seam bowlers, India struggled, with several key players dismissed cheaply.

Key Facts:

  • The Test match takes place at The Oval between India and England.
  • India ended the first day with a score of 204-6.
  • England dismissed key Indian players, including KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Shubman Gill.
  • Shubman Gill was run out after attempting a risky single, scoring 21 runs.
  • India's chances to win and level the series seem low after the first day's play.
  • Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue were effective for England, taking vital wickets.
  • Chris Woakes suffered a shoulder injury during the game.
  • Karun Nair finished the day unbeaten on 52 runs for India.

Source Information

Al Jazeera

The Fit from Within running club brings together incarcerated and civilian athletes

July 31, 2025
The Fit from Within running club organized a half-marathon at a Utah state prison where both inmates and civilians ran together. This event aims to support the rehabilitation of prisoners by promoting activities beyond punishment.

Key Facts:

  • The half-marathon took place at a Utah state penitentiary.
  • Both incarcerated individuals and outside civilians participated.
  • The event was organized by the Fit from Within running club.
  • The goal is to aid prisoner rehabilitation.
  • The event encourages positive interaction between inmates and civilians.

Source Information

NPR National

A 35-mph pitch for a strikeout, a first for Toronto Blue Jays catcher

July 30, 2025
In a game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles, catcher Ali Sanchez pitched and achieved a rare strikeout with a 35 mph pitch. This event happened during the second game of a doubleheader, with the Blue Jays using Sanchez to save their bullpen despite being significantly behind in the score.

Key Facts:

  • Ali Sanchez, a catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, pitched during a game.
  • He threw a 35 mph pitch, which is unusually slow for a Major League game.
  • This pitch led to a strikeout against Baltimore's catcher, Alex Jackson.
  • The game was the second of a doubleheader.
  • The Blue Jays were losing 14-4 at the time of the strikeout.
  • The team used Sanchez as a pitcher to avoid using their bullpen.
  • Sanchez's strikeout was his first in Major League Baseball.
  • The final score of the game was 16-4 in favor of the Orioles.

Source Information

NPR Sports

Two pairs of sisters compete to be the best 'skippers' in the world

July 30, 2025
Two pairs of sisters from Montana are part of the U.S. team competing in the International Jump Rope Union World Championships in Japan. The sisters have trained together and are participating in both speed and freestyle jump rope events. The event includes over 2,000 athletes from around the world.

Key Facts:

  • The event is the International Jump Rope Union World Championships held in Kawasaki, Japan.
  • Team USA includes two pairs of sisters who are also teammates in competition.
  • The two pairs are from Montana's Super Skippers team.
  • They are part of 220 athletes representing Team USA.
  • The sisters have been practicing together since they were young.
  • More than 2,000 athletes from around the world are competing in the championship.
  • Competitions include both speed and freestyle events.

Source Information

NPR Sports
Inside the world of professional cornhole, and what it takes to be a player

Inside the world of professional cornhole, and what it takes to be a player

July 30, 2025
Cornhole, a popular backyard game, has evolved into a professional sport with world championships organized by the American Cornhole League (ACL). The championship games are held in Rock Hill, South Carolina, from July 28 to August 3. The game requires skill and consistency, as described by experts in the sport.

Key Facts:

  • Cornhole has grown in popularity across the U.S. as both a casual and professional sport.
  • The American Cornhole League (ACL) was founded in 2015 by Stacey Moore.
  • The ACL World Championships are held from July 28 to August 3 in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
  • Trey Ryder, an ACL official, explains cornhole's appeal and its comparison to other sports in terms of skill and accessibility.
  • Professional players achieve a high level of accuracy, often averaging a high score per round.
  • Cornhole's evolution into a professional sport includes network deals and a player base of 50 million worldwide.
  • Key strategies in the game include scoring consistency and shot selection, such as the traditional slide shot and the "air mail" throw.

Source Information

NPR Sports