Defending champions Argentina survived one of the biggest upsets in FIFA World Cup history, defeating World Cup debutants Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time in a thrilling Round of 32 encounter.

Played under the lights in Miami, the match turned into an unforgettable contest as Cape Verde matched Argentina's quality with determination and flair. Lionel Messi gave Argentina the lead in the first half with a clinical finish, but Cape Verde refused to back down. Deroy Duarte brought the Blue Sharks level in the second half with a well-taken goal, sending the match into extra time.

Argentina eventually found the breakthrough to seal a hard-fought 3-2 victory, ending the remarkable World Cup journey of a spirited Cape Verde side that earned admiration for pushing the defending champions to the limit.

Elsewhere in the Round of 32, Australia suffered heartbreak after losing its first-ever FIFA World Cup penalty shootout. The Socceroos and Egypt finished level at 1-1 after regular and extra time before Egypt secured a 4-2 victory in the shootout. Colombia also advanced to the Round of 16 with a narrow 1-0 win over Ghana.

Amid the excitement surrounding the tournament, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited has issued a strict compliance advisory to hotels, restaurants, pubs, and other commercial establishments across India regarding the unauthorized public screening of FIFA World Cup 2026 matches.

The advisory warns businesses against streaming matches without proper authorization and against using FIFA intellectual property in promotional activities. The move is expected to significantly impact event-led promotions across the hospitality, food and beverage, and retail sectors, where major sporting events are often used to attract customers.

ZEE holds the exclusive media and broadcasting rights for 39 FIFA competitions in India from 2026 to 2034, including the FIFA World Cup 2026, the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027, and the FIFA World Cup 2030.

In its advisory, the broadcaster emphasized that the terms "FIFA" and "World Cup 2026," along with all associated logos and branding, are protected trademarks.

"Unauthorized usage, reproduction, or display of these terms, marks, or logos in any form, including promotional materials, advertisements, or commercial communication is strictly prohibited," the network stated, adding that only officially licensed partners are permitted to use FIFA branding.

As the FIFA World Cup progresses, commercial establishments planning match screenings or promotional campaigns are expected to ensure full compliance with broadcasting and trademark regulations.

Radisson Hotel Group has launched a new AI-powered real-time price matching technology, aimed at transforming the way guests book directly through hotel websites and strengthening transparency in hotel pricing.

The system automatically identifies lower publicly available rates for Radisson properties listed on third-party platforms such as OTAs and search engines, and instantly matches those prices on RadissonHotels.com. This removes the need for manual claims, screenshots, or approval processes that are typically required under traditional best rate guarantee programs.

Unlike conventional models, the new system operates in real time. When a lower rate is detected on platforms including Booking.com, Expedia, Agoda, Trip.com, and others, the AI engine verifies the pricing difference and automatically applies the matched rate, redirecting users directly to the hotel’s booking platform.

According to Gianni Di Fede, Global Chief Commercial Officer at Radisson Hotel Group, modern travellers expect speed, simplicity, and confidence when booking. He noted that the new feature ensures guests always receive the best available price when booking directly with Radisson.

For guests, the system eliminates uncertainty around pricing and simplifies the booking journey. For hotel teams, it reduces administrative workload associated with manual price match requests and allows staff to focus more on guest service and operational efficiency. The tool also provides better visibility into pricing trends and booking behaviour.

The AI-powered price matching feature is now live across all Radisson Hotel Group properties worldwide, marking a significant step in the company’s digital transformation strategy.

The initiative forms part of Radisson’s broader push toward automation and AI-driven solutions aimed at improving direct bookings, enhancing transparency, and creating a more seamless digital experience for travellers. By replacing traditional reactive pricing guarantees with a fully automated system, Radisson is positioning itself at the forefront of hospitality technology innovation.

Turkish Airlines has resumed flights to Abu Dhabi as part of its phased restoration of services across the Middle East following a temporary suspension. The Istanbul-based carrier restarted its Abu Dhabi operations on July 1 and has announced that flights to Dammam will resume on July 10, Kuwait on July 11, and Bahrain on July 16.

The airline had already restarted flights to Dubai on June 9, giving travellers from the UAE more opportunities to connect through Istanbul to its extensive global network.

As part of the expansion, Turkish Airlines has doubled its Dubai operations from seven to 14 weekly flights, effective June 25. It has also increased the frequency of flights to Amman from 14 to 21 weekly services from June 19, while Beirut services have grown from 21 to 28 weekly flights from July 1.

The airline said these resumptions and additional frequencies will strengthen connectivity between the Middle East and its global network. Turkish Airlines currently flies to more than 350 destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas.

The Abu Dhabi service operates as flight TK 868, departing Istanbul at 6:45 pm and arriving in Abu Dhabi at 12:25 am on selected days. The return flight, TK 869, departs Abu Dhabi at 1:30 am and reaches Istanbul at 5:25 am.

The resumed Dammam service will depart Istanbul at 8:15 pm and arrive at 12:15 am, with the return flight leaving Dammam at 1:15 am and arriving in Istanbul at 5:30 am.

Flights to Kuwait will depart Istanbul at 2:00 am and arrive at 5:40 am, while the return service leaves Kuwait at 6:35 am and reaches Istanbul at 10:25 am. Bahrain services will depart Istanbul at 8:15 pm and arrive at 12:10 am, with the return flight leaving Bahrain at 1:15 am and arriving in Istanbul at 5:30 am.

Passengers are advised to check the latest flight schedules and travel requirements through Turkish Airlines' official channels before planning their journey.