News for 'First Her Highness'

PCB unveils format-based central contracts ahead of formation of separate Test, T20 squads

PCB unveils format-based central contracts ahead of formation of separate Test, T20 squads

Rediff.com24 Jun 2026

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is implementing a new central contract system based on cricket formats, aiming to create separate teams for Tests, ODIs, and T20 Internationals. This initiative seeks to specialise players and ensure fair compensation for Test specialists, with different salary tiers and qualification criteria for each category.

FIFA WC 2026, Round of 32: Favourites Belgium not taking Senegal lightly

FIFA WC 2026, Round of 32: Favourites Belgium not taking Senegal lightly

Rediff.com1 Jul 2026

Belgium have their full squad available for the Round of 32 match against Senegal but are not taking Senegal for granted, said coach Rudy Garcia.

Neymar returns for Brazil but there's a new Junior in town

Neymar returns for Brazil but there's a new Junior in town

Rediff.com25 Jun 2026

Neymar Junior returned to international football after a 981-day absence, playing 20 minutes as a substitute in Brazil's 3-0 World Cup victory over Scotland.

Gukesh And Praggnanandhaa To Compete In Grand Chess Tour's Zagreb Event

Gukesh And Praggnanandhaa To Compete In Grand Chess Tour's Zagreb Event

Rediff.com30 Jun 2026

World champion D Gukesh and Indian star R Praggnanandhaa are set to compete in the Zagreb Rapid and Blitz Tournament, part of the prestigious Grand Chess Tour. Despite Gukesh's sabbatical from classical chess, he joins a strong field including recent Norway Chess winner Praggnanandhaa, promising an exciting week of high-stakes chess.

Ecuador Stuns Germany In World Cup Thriller, Exposing Defensive Flaws

Ecuador Stuns Germany In World Cup Thriller, Exposing Defensive Flaws

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

Four-time champions Germany suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Ecuador in a FIFA World Cup group stage match, marking a historic upset. This loss highlighted Germany's persistent defensive issues, as they have now failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine World Cup games. Despite an early lead, Germany succumbed to Ecuador's determined comeback, which secured Ecuador's progression to the round of 32.

Race Walk Coach Calls For Fair Asian Games Selection Considering Tough Weather

Race Walk Coach Calls For Fair Asian Games Selection Considering Tough Weather

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

India's race walk coach Ronald Weigel has urged national selectors to consider the extremely humid conditions during the National Inter-State Championships when picking the team for the upcoming Asian Games. He highlighted how tough weather significantly slows down endurance athletes and suggested holding future selection events in more favourable conditions like Bengaluru.

F1: George Russell wins in Austria to trim teammate Antonelli's lead

F1: George Russell wins in Austria to trim teammate Antonelli's lead

Rediff.com28 Jun 2026

George Russell won the Austrian Grand Prix from pole position, his second victory of the season, reducing Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli's Formula One lead to 40 points.

Spain knock out Uruguay; take top spot in Group H

Spain knock out Uruguay; take top spot in Group H

Rediff.com27 Jun 2026

Spain defeated Uruguay 1-0 in a crucial Group H match, with Alex Baena scoring the decisive goal. This victory secured Spain's top spot in the group and a place in the World Cup knockout stage, while Uruguay, managed by Marcelo Bielsa, was eliminated from the tournament. Cape Verde also advanced from the group.

Pilot crashed plane into Beijing skyscraper for 'personal reasons'

Pilot crashed plane into Beijing skyscraper for 'personal reasons'

Rediff.com2 Jul 2026

Investigators have revealed that the pilot of a small plane that crashed into Beijing's tallest skyscraper, the CITIC Tower, suffered from long-term anxiety and had expressed suicidal thoughts in his diaries. The incident, which killed the pilot and injured 13 others, has raised significant security concerns in the highly sensitive Chinese capital, especially given strict airspace regulations.

Pilot In Beijing Skyscraper Crash Suffered From Anxiety, Investigators Reveal

Pilot In Beijing Skyscraper Crash Suffered From Anxiety, Investigators Reveal

Rediff.com2 Jul 2026

Investigators have revealed that the pilot of a small plane that crashed into Beijing's tallest skyscraper, the CITIC Tower, suffered from long-term anxiety and had expressed suicidal thoughts in his diaries. The incident, which killed the pilot and injured 13 others, has raised significant security concerns in the highly sensitive Chinese capital, especially given strict airspace regulations.

Massive fire breaks out at Bengal's Haldia refinery, 20 injured

Massive fire breaks out at Bengal's Haldia refinery, 20 injured

Rediff.com30 Jun 2026

A major fire at a naphtha pipeline in Haldia, West Bengal, injured over 10 people and damaged railway equipment, disrupting services. Firefighting operations are ongoing, and an investigation into the cause has been launched.

Ireland STUN India to seal historic series win

Ireland STUN India to seal historic series win

Rediff.com28 Jun 2026

Ireland produced one of the biggest wins in their T20I history, edging India by just one run in a thrilling second T20I in Belfast to complete a historic 2-0 series sweep.

Cerundolo outlasts Paul, makes history at Queen's Club

Cerundolo outlasts Paul, makes history at Queen's Club

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

Seventh seed Francisco Cerundolo out-lasted American Tommy Paul in a gruelling Queen's Club final to claim the biggest title of his career on Sunday, winning 6-7(4). 6-4. 6-3.

How India's VALORANT Team Qualified For Esports Nations Cup

How India's VALORANT Team Qualified For Esports Nations Cup

Rediff.com30 Jun 2026

India's VALORANT esports team has successfully qualified for the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026 main event in Riyadh, emerging as one of two teams from the Asia regional qualifiers. The team, led by Sagnik Roy, overcame tough competition, including a crucial victory against Hong Kong, to secure their spot in the global tournament featuring a USD 1.5 million prize pool.

Kiara Advani And Karan Johar's Unexpected Collab!

Kiara Advani And Karan Johar's Unexpected Collab!

Rediff.com18 Jun 2026

It has been almost a year since Kiara Advani embraced motherhood and the actor is back doing what she does best -- serving fashion moments. Kiara made her first runway appearance since welcoming her baby girl as she turned showstopper for designer Rahul Mishra at India Couture Week 2025 alongside filmmaker Karan Johar.

National record holder Gulveer fails to breach Asian Games qualifying time in 5000m

National record holder Gulveer fails to breach Asian Games qualifying time in 5000m

Rediff.com24 Jun 2026

Gulveer Singh, the reigning Asian champion and national record holder, failed to meet the Asian Games qualifying standard in the men's 5000m race at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Mbappe, Haaland in focus as Norway challenge awaits leaders France

FIFA World Cup 2026: Mbappe, Haaland in focus as Norway challenge awaits leaders France

Rediff.com25 Jun 2026

France can secure a more comfortable route through the World Cup when they face Norway in their final Group I match on Friday, though finishing top could leave them facing one of the toughest roads to the trophy.

Bangladesh turns to China on Teesta: Should India be concerned?

Bangladesh turns to China on Teesta: Should India be concerned?

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

Dhaka and Beijing on Thursday agreed to strengthen cooperation on the management of the Teesta and other rivers and signed 13 agreements to bolster bilateral ties following talks between Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

High Crude Prices, Global Cues Drag Indian Stock Markets Lower

High Crude Prices, Global Cues Drag Indian Stock Markets Lower

Rediff.com30 Apr 2026

Indian benchmark stock indices, Sensex and Nifty, closed nearly 1 per cent lower due to surging crude oil prices, weak global market trends, and significant foreign fund outflows, with geopolitical tensions and inflation concerns further dampening investor sentiment.

Coach Dragan Mihailovic's Vision For Indian Volleyball's Future

Coach Dragan Mihailovic's Vision For Indian Volleyball's Future

Rediff.com27 Jun 2026

India's men's volleyball team achieved an unbeaten run to the AVC Men's Volleyball Cup semi-finals, propelling them to World No. 42. Head coach Dragan Mihailovic attributes this success to discipline and a structured system but stresses the need for consistent international exposure, longer national camps, and a robust development pathway to sustain and build upon this momentum, especially amidst administrative uncertainty in Indian volleyball.

Football's race problem resurfaces after Garcia's Senegal remarks

Football's race problem resurfaces after Garcia's Senegal remarks

Rediff.com6 Jul 2026

Rudi Garcia's comments about Senegal's tactical structure, along with other pundit remarks, have reignited scrutiny over racially coded language in World Cup commentary, drawing criticism from scholars and anti-racism advocates who argue such language perpetuates harmful stereotypes about Black players and African teams.

FIFA World Cup: 'We were treated unfairly' vs Portugal: Croatia coach

FIFA World Cup: 'We were treated unfairly' vs Portugal: Croatia coach

Rediff.com3 Jul 2026

Croatia's World Cup exit sparked controversy after coach Zlatko Dali launched a furious attack on the refereeing following their 2-1 defeat to Portugal.

Reliance Begins Green Energy Rollout From Jamnagar Complex

Reliance Begins Green Energy Rollout From Jamnagar Complex

Rediff.com28 May 2026

Reliance Industries has delivered the first batch of solar modules from its green energy complex in Jamnagar, Gujarat, marking the operational rollout of its New Energy business. The company is developing an integrated clean energy manufacturing ecosystem, including solar modules, batteries, green hydrogen, and bio-energy infrastructure.

Monsoon fury brings Mumbai-Pune to a standstill; 'Missing Link' reopens

Monsoon fury brings Mumbai-Pune to a standstill; 'Missing Link' reopens

Rediff.com7 Jul 2026

Heavy monsoon rains have severely impacted Mumbai and its surrounding areas, leading to landslides, suspension of train services, and at least 13 fatalities over the past few days. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway was also shut due to a concrete pillar collapse and waterlogging.

WhatsApp Is Changing. Are You Safe?

WhatsApp Is Changing. Are You Safe?

Rediff.com3 Jul 2026

WhatsApp is finally letting you hide your phone number behind a custom username. While it's a massive win for privacy, cybersecurity experts warn it could unleash a wave of identity scams. Here is what you need to know.

Rs 501 Phone: Odisha High Court Quashes Complaint Against Mukesh Ambani

Rs 501 Phone: Odisha High Court Quashes Complaint Against Mukesh Ambani

Rediff.com16 Apr 2026

'Courts are not moved by spectacle. They act when the facts, as they stand, call for the law to step in.'

Takaichi's Assam visit cancelled, Modi to host Japan PM in New Delhi

Takaichi's Assam visit cancelled, Modi to host Japan PM in New Delhi

Rediff.com24 Jun 2026

The planned India-Japan annual summit, featuring Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi and Indian PM Narendra Modi, has been moved from Guwahati to New Delhi due to logistical issues and Takaichi's tight schedule. The summit, scheduled for July 1-3, aims to boost bilateral ties with discussions on investment, supply chain deals, energy resilience, and strategic oil reserves, accompanied by a delegation of 50 Japanese companies.

FIFA World Cup: 'Hydration breaks add nothing but take away a lot'

FIFA World Cup: 'Hydration breaks add nothing but take away a lot'

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa said the hydration breaks introduced in each half of matches at the World Cup add nothing to football while destroying the sport's cultural essence.

Brazil vs Japan:FIFA World Cup Blockbuster Awaits

Brazil vs Japan:FIFA World Cup Blockbuster Awaits

Rediff.com29 Jun 2026

Japan's national football team, the Samurai Blue, faces Brazil in a crucial World Cup last-32 match. This encounter holds deep significance due to Brazil's profound influence on Japanese professional football, particularly through the J-League and the presence of numerous Brazilian players and coaches over the decades. Despite past successes against Brazil, including a recent friendly win, this World Cup clash represents a major test for Japan's ambitions.

World Cup 2026 Set to Shatter All-Time Sports Gambling Records

World Cup 2026 Set to Shatter All-Time Sports Gambling Records

Rediff.com25 Jun 2026

World Cup 2026 is on track to become the biggest betting event in history, with global wagers expected to exceed $50 billion as sportsbooks report record-breaking activity driven by the expanded tournament format and growing legal gambling markets.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Brazil eye payback as Japan stand in knockout path

FIFA World Cup 2026: Brazil eye payback as Japan stand in knockout path

Rediff.com27 Jun 2026

Brazil's World Cup Round of 32 meeting with Japan on Monday comes with the chance for revenge for Carlo Ancelotti's squad and a test of how far he has taken his team since a Tokyo collapse early in his tenure.

Why Modi Wants To Curb NGOs Funding

Why Modi Wants To Curb NGOs Funding

Rediff.com4 Jul 2026

Larger NGOs could no longer work with smaller ones, especially those organisations working on the ground that had no means of or expertise in raising money themselves, reveals Aakar Patel.

High Court: 'Talaq' Date Determines Divorce Under Muslim Law

High Court: 'Talaq' Date Determines Divorce Under Muslim Law

Rediff.com2 Apr 2026

The Allahabad High Court has ruled that a divorce under Mohammedan Law is effective from the date 'talaq' is pronounced, with a court decree simply confirming the divorce.

Tree fall is natural, says Maha minister on death of student; backtracks after row

Tree fall is natural, says Maha minister on death of student; backtracks after row

Rediff.com1 Jul 2026

Maharashtra's Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat sparked a political storm with his controversial comments regarding a fatal tree fall incident in Mumbai, which killed an 11-year-old boy and injured four others, initially suggesting such incidents are 'not in human hands' before clarifying his stance.

Ghana's defence frustrates England in goalless draw

Ghana's defence frustrates England in goalless draw

Rediff.com24 Jun 2026

England played out a 0-0 draw against Ghana in their second World Cup Group L match, a result that leaves both teams well-positioned for the next phase. Despite England dominating possession, Ghana's strong defensive strategy frustrated their attacking efforts, leading to a goalless stalemate.

RBI surplus transfer to govt hits a new high of Rs 2.87 trn

RBI surplus transfer to govt hits a new high of Rs 2.87 trn

Rediff.com24 May 2026

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a record surplus transfer of Rs 2.87 trillion to the central government for FY26, driven by increased income and an expanded balance sheet, despite a reduction in the contingent risk buffer (CRB) to 6.5 per cent.

At least 164 killed, around 1,000 hurt as quakes rock Venezuela

At least 164 killed, around 1,000 hurt as quakes rock Venezuela

Rediff.com25 Jun 2026

At least 32 people have been killed and over 700 injured after two powerful earthquakes struck western Venezuela, with Acting President Delcy Rodriguez declaring La Guaira a disaster zone and warning the death toll is expected to rise as rescue operations continue.

300 mm rain in 24 hrs floods Mumbai; road, rail traffic hit

300 mm rain in 24 hrs floods Mumbai; road, rail traffic hit

Rediff.com25 Jun 2026

Mumbai experienced heavy overnight monsoon rains, with some areas receiving over 200 mm in 24 hours, leading to widespread waterlogging, traffic congestion, and disruptions in suburban train services, particularly on Central Railway lines due to a track cave-in.

New Study Maps Genetic Links To Anxiety Symptoms

New Study Maps Genetic Links To Anxiety Symptoms

Rediff.com22 Jun 2026

A new study by King's College London and QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute has identified 74 genomic locations, including 39 new ones, linked to anxiety symptoms. Analysing data from nearly 700,000 people, the research highlights the complex interplay between genetics and environmental factors in anxiety development and offers new insights into its biological underpinnings.

FIFA World Cup 2026: England open Group L campaign against old foes Croatia

FIFA World Cup 2026: England open Group L campaign against old foes Croatia

Rediff.com15 Jun 2026

England begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Arlington, Texas on Wednesday, a heavyweight Group L opener that could set the tone for both teams' tournament ambitions.