The 2026 World Cup has witnessed an unusual number of own goals in its opening 10 days, with seven already recorded, making it the second-highest tally in tournament history. The United States has benefited from two such incidents. This trend is notable given the tournament's expansion and could surpass the 2018 record of 12 own goals. Several players from different nations have contributed to this statistic, highlighting a peculiar aspect of the early matches.
India was on Friday accorded the vice presidency of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global body that sets standards for combating money laundering and terrorist financing, for the first time.
Uddhav Thackeray, chief of Shiv Sena (UBT), has strongly refuted Union Home Minister Amit Shah's assertion that Eknath Shinde leads the sole Shiv Sena. Addressing party workers in Bhandup, Thackeray declared his faction as the original Shiv Sena, criticising the BJP for allegedly trying to dismantle his party. His remarks come amidst a rebellion by six Sena (UBT) MPs, further intensifying the political struggle for the party's legacy.
Pollard becomes T20 cricket's leading run-scorer with century for MI New York
Kylian Mbappe became France's all-time leading scorer with a double to power his team to victory against Senegal on Tuesday.
Frances Tiafoe is the first American since 1993 to lift the ATP 500 grass-court trophy.
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre downplayed his team's achievement of topping their World Cup group, stating that true success would be measured later in the tournament. He highlighted the importance of playing at home and the team's improved maturity, while also reflecting on his own calmer coaching style. Aguirre expressed his ambition to guide Mexico into the world's top 10.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas has announced a collaboration with Angelina Jolie while also sharing insights into her role in S S Rajamouli's Varanasi.
Indian pacer Prasidh Krishna achieved a historic milestone at Chennai's Chepauk Stadium, taking his maiden five-wicket haul (5/23) in ODIs against Afghanistan. This performance marked the best figures by an Indian bowler at the venue and placed him among an elite group of Indian pacers.
The NEET-UG re-exam was generally tougher than the previous one, with Physics identified as the most challenging and time-consuming section by both students and experts. While Biology was considered easier, Chemistry was moderate. Experts noted conceptual and lengthy questions in Physics and Chemistry, potentially leading to a lower cut-off.
England expect Ben Stokes to return to captain the side in the third Test against New Zealand, head coach Brendon McCullum said on Sunday.
Pakistan's senior selector Aaqib Javed has challenged former cricketers to actively contribute to grassroots development instead of merely criticising the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and national team on television. He emphasised the importance of sharing expertise with youngsters and highlighted modern digital scouting methods.
Glenn Phillips completed his maiden Test century as New Zealand punished a wayward England attack to pile on the runs on the second day of the second Test at the Oval in London on Thursday.
Indian para-badminton players, including Tokyo Paralympic champion Krishna Nagar, delivered an outstanding performance at the French Para Badminton International, securing multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals across various categories.
Sharvari is set to star opposite Kartik Aaryan in an intense love story directed by Luv Ranjan.
A 22-year-old Agniveer, Jasanpreet Singh, who had been missing for three days, was discovered dead by hanging in a vacant barrack at the Sikh Light Infantry Regimental Centre in Fatehgarh. Preliminary investigations suggest suicide, with the barrack found bolted from the inside. Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra finished fourth in the Doha Diamond League with a throw of 85.69m, marking his return from injury. Despite not winning, he successfully breached the qualifying distance for the upcoming Commonwealth Games and has been named in the Indian team.
Tom Holland has confirmed that he and long-time partner Zendaya are married, putting months of speculation about the couple's relationship status to rest.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is set to introduce a resolution in the state Assembly opposing Karnataka's plan to construct a dam across the Cauvery river at Mekedatu. The resolution will urge the Centre to withhold technical and environmental clearance, citing concerns that the project would unilaterally affect Tamil Nadu's interests.
While the Andaman and Nicobar islands serve as a vital, stationary asset for projecting power in the Indian Ocean, referring to them as an unsinkable aircraft carrier ignores key military and geopolitical limitations, explains Commodore Venugopal Menon (retd).
Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has partnered with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to launch a "Clean Sports Campaign" aimed at combating doping in India. This initiative comes as India faces a serious doping problem, topping WADA's list of offenders, and seeks to educate athletes on anti-doping regulations and promote fair play. Chopra emphasised the importance of patience over quick gains through doping, highlighting the long-term damage it causes to athletes and the nation's sporting image.
'The generational shift belongs to Vijay, Udhayanidhi and Annamalai.' 'The BJP cannot fit into the shift.' 'So they threw Annamalai into the situation where he is comparable with Vijay and Udhayanidhi.'
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) is conducting an ISSF 'B' judges course for rifle and pistol disciplines in Surajkund, bringing together 31 technical officials. The programme, led by international and Indian experts, aims to enhance officiating knowledge and skills according to the latest ISSF rules, contributing significantly to the development of shooting sport in India.
As Aamir Khan Productions celebrates 25 years, we rank the 10 best films produced by its star, from the iconic Lagaan to the recent critically-acclaimed Laapataa Ladies.
'You empower a man, you are not necessarily empowering a family, you are just empowering him.'
Maxi Araujo scored a late equaliser to salvage a 1-1 draw for Uruguay in their World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia on Monday, preventing another stunning upset in Group H after Spain's earlier goalless draw with Cape Verde.
Virat Kohli recently spoke about his retirement from Test cricket and his new shoe launch.
Mexico secured a narrow 1-0 victory over South Korea in a Group A football match in Guadalajara. Luis Romo scored the decisive goal following a goalkeeping error, and Mexico's defence, backed by goalkeeper Ral Rangel's late saves, held firm against South Korean pressure.
Merlin, a domesticated duck dressed in a miniature Mexico shirt and custom socks, has become an unexpected unofficial mascot for Mexico's World Cup team. After going viral during street celebrations, Merlin's popularity soared, with fans embracing the feathered supporter and his owner, Karla Gomez, expressing delight at his newfound fame.
A Sikh caretaker couple was tragically shot dead inside a gurdwara in Mardan, Pakistan. Police have launched an investigation, forming special teams and utilising forensic resources to identify the assailants. Local lawmaker Suresh Kumar has condemned the incident, expressed concerns over the handling of evidence, and demanded swift arrests, threatening protests if progress is not made within 24 hours.
Indian golfer Saptak Talwar has secured a spot inside the top-20 at the English Open after carding his second consecutive under-par round. He is currently T-18 with a total score of 4-under par. George Bloor and John Catlin are the joint leaders at 10-under par. Another Indian golfer, Veer Ahlawat, missed the cut.
Yashasvi Jaiswal became the fastest Indian to score two ODI centuries while debutant pacer Gurnoor Brar set a new Indian bowling record as India completed a dominant 3-0 ODI series sweep over Afghanistan in Chennai.
New Zealand battled back to end an absorbing first day of the second Test on 291 for seven after England's new-look pace attack held sway early on at The Oval on Wednesday.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has claimed that some dissident MPs are in contact with the party due to fear of public anger in their constituencies, with talks ongoing with at least two. He also criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan, who had made remarks about the Shiv Sena's legitimacy and the involvement of central investigative agencies. Raut asserted that there is only one Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray.
Virat Kohli is progressing well after the hamstring injury suffered during the IPL final and will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence on June 22 for re-evaluation, with fitness clearance expected after a test in Bengaluru.
Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, were held to a surprising 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener. Ronaldo had a quiet game, failing to score, and was met with "Messi" chants from fans after the match, raising questions about the team's early performance.
The Indian Women's Hockey team secured their second FIH Women's Nations Cup title by defeating hosts New Zealand 2-0 in the final.
Harjai Milkha Singh and Krish Chawla led India to victory in the boy's team event at the APGC Junior Golf Championship in Colombo, finishing one shot ahead of South Korea and Thailand. Harjai also secured a runner-up finish in the individual category.
A special POCSO court in Mumbai has granted a four-day temporary bail to an 18-year-old man accused of rape, allowing him to appear for the NEET retest. The decision was made after the victim gave her no objection, with the court imposing strict conditions on the accused, including a bond of Rs 50,000 and a directive to surrender after the exam.
Tell us that one story about them that you cannot forget. Or the one thing they did for you that changed your life. Write to us at getahead@rediff.co.in (subjectline: Father's Day). Do mention your name and where you are from. Please do share pictures of your father/father figure.
