Free, customizable "fan bands" have become the unexpected must-have souvenir at the 2026 World Cup, with over 700,000 distributed. Sponsored by Bank of America, these charm wristlets feature subtle branding and have gone viral, even appearing on resale platforms. This marketing strategy offers a counterpoint to the tournament's high ticket and merchandise prices, proving that unique, free items can create significant fan engagement and brand visibility.
'But two things worked against them: People kept coming forward, and -- crucially -- these were not outsiders.'
Four girls who went missing from Guwahati, Assam, have been rescued from Howrah, West Bengal, following a coordinated effort by Assam and West Bengal police.
The World Health Organization has requested information from the Indian government regarding the alleged supply of spurious oxytocin injections linked to the deaths of five women in Kota hospitals. This comes after regulatory action, including the cancellation of manufacturing licenses for Jackson Laboratories units, following joint inspections by drug control bodies. The government is investigating the matter, emphasising a zero-tolerance approach to quality violations.
The Gujarat High Court has upheld the death sentences for 38 Indian Mujahideen operatives and life imprisonment for 11 others involved in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts, which killed 56 people. The court also directed the state government to pay significant compensation to victims' families and those grievously injured.
Kylian Mbappe scored two goals, leading France to a dominant 3-0 victory over Sweden in the World Cup Round of 32. This win maintains France's perfect record and sets up a last-16 clash with Paraguay, with Mbappe continuing his impressive World Cup scoring streak.
The Indian men's hockey team delivered a commanding performance, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan 7-1 in the FIH Pro League's London leg. After conceding an early goal, India rallied with seven unanswered goals from multiple players, showcasing strong offensive and defensive play, with Hardik Singh named Player of the Match.
Teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's much-anticipated India debut ends with 14 off 10 balls as Tilak Varma's explosive final over lifts India to 190/7 against England in the second T20I at Old Trafford.
Mexico ended a 40-year wait for a FIFA World Cup knockout victory as Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez scored in a 2-0 win over Ecuador, sending the co-hosts into the last 16 amid emotional scenes at the Azteca Stadium.
Latur police have arrested a woman for allegedly stealing gold ornaments worth Rs 15 lakh and recovered most of the stolen jewellery. In a separate incident, they also successfully rescued three bulls that were stolen from Sarola village, returning them to their owner.
Turkey secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over the United States in their FIFA World Cup Group D encounter, scoring a 99th-minute winner. The USA twice came from behind, with goals from Auston Trusty and Sebastian Berhalter, but late heroics from Kaan Ayhan sealed the win for Trkiye after earlier goals from Arda Gler and Bar Alper Ylmaz. Despite the loss, the United States had already qualified for the knockout stage.
Ecuador secured a stunning 2-1 victory over Germany in a crucial World Cup match, ensuring their qualification for the last 32. Despite an early German goal, Ecuador fought back with goals from Nilson Angulo and Gonzalo Plata to clinch the win.
The Democratic Republic of Congo secured a spot in the World Cup knockout stage after a thrilling 3-1 comeback victory against Uzbekistan. Yoane Wissa scored twice, including a crucial penalty, and Fiston Mayele added another goal to seal their progression. This win marks DR Congo's return to the World Cup knockouts after 52 years, setting up a clash with England.
An explosion at the Barzan local gas supply facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar, resulted in the deaths of 13 people, including Indian and Pakistani nationals, and injured 66 others. The incident, attributed to a technical malfunction during start-up operations, prompted immediate response from Qatari authorities and an offer of assistance from the Indian Embassy.
A Head Constable at Manesar Women Police Station was caught accepting a Rs 50,000 bribe by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, leading to the immediate transfer of the station's SHO and a departmental inquiry for lack of supervision.
Five Nepalese nationals were sentenced to seven days' imprisonment for allegedly misbehaving with and harassing a woman in Hyderabad.
The Supreme Court has directed an appellate tribunal to expeditiously decide an appeal filed by a 75-year-old advocate challenging the deletion of his name from the West Bengal voters' list following a Special Intensive Revision exercise. The court noted the petitioner appeared to be a bona fide resident and requested a decision within two months.
Meerut Police swiftly intervened to save a 25-year-old man's life after Meta flagged his Instagram post indicating self-harm. The police responded within eight minutes, getting him to a hospital. This incident highlights the ongoing coordination mechanism between Uttar Pradesh Police and Meta, which has successfully saved over 3,000 lives since 2023 by acting on social media suicide alerts.
Delhi Traffic Police is implementing an AI-based traffic management and route-mapping system to ensure quicker movement of emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire tenders. This initiative aims to reduce response times during crises, addressing concerns raised after incidents where traffic congestion delayed emergency services. The system will identify high-traffic zones, suggest the fastest routes, and involve coordinated efforts with fire departments and additional police deployment.
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.
Amid the video row, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday rejected allegations that the forensic reports that gave a clean chit to him were fabricated and lashed out at the opposition parties, alleging that they have joined hands to defame him.
Gujarat's Director General of Police Gyanendra Singh Malik describes the devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad a year ago, which killed 260 people, as the 'most painful' chapter of his career, highlighting the unprecedented speed of the emergency response and DNA identification process.
The Nihangs have called off their planned protest march in Uttarakhand related to a recent dispute at the Karnaprayag market in Chamoli and a gurdwara in Nagrasu.
A 40-year-old priest in Muzaffarnagar was allegedly beaten to death by two men after he objected to them drinking alcohol on temple premises. Police have arrested the two accused, Aniket and Arun, following an encounter where they sustained gunshot injuries.
A 22-year-old man died after allegedly being assaulted by a group near a banquet hall in Dwarka Mor, Delhi. Police have apprehended three suspects, including a juvenile, and are investigating the motive behind the attack.
A court in Mahoba district has sentenced Devendra Vishwakarma to death for the murder of his wife and two minor daughters in 2023. The conviction was secured through efforts under the Uttar Pradesh Police's Operation Conviction campaign.
Goa railway police successfully apprehended a man wanted in a murder case in Karnataka, acting on intelligence inputs about his travel on the Hazrat Nizamuddin Express. The suspect, Prashant Kumar Bhandari, was arrested at Margao railway station.
A man accused of molesting two sisters was arrested in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, following a police encounter. Mohammad Asif, 27, sustained a bullet injury after allegedly firing at police and later confessed to the crime.
Delhi Police have apprehended Firoj Alam, a man accused of robbing a mobile phone from a specially-abled person in Jahangirpuri. The incident, which went viral on social media, led to a police investigation, with an eyewitness and CCTV footage aiding in the suspect's identification and arrest. Alam has a history of similar offences.
Gurugram police have launched an investigation after a CCTV video showing a group of youths assaulting a motorcyclist at a petrol pump went viral. The incident occurred on Thursday night, and police are working to identify the assailants and the victim, despite no formal complaint being filed yet.
A 43-year-old man, Sanjay Mishra, accused of raping a minor girl in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, was arrested following a police encounter where he sustained a gunshot wound. He had allegedly lured the child under false pretences.
Punjab Police, in a joint operation with Jammu and Kashmir Police, have arrested two shooters allegedly involved in the murder of a Ferozepur shopkeeper. The accused, identified as Vishnu Kumar and Rahul Mahawar, were apprehended in J&K following an extensive investigation and an operation named 'Hill Trap'. Police also recovered a pistol and are now probing the larger conspiracy behind the killing.
A 26-year-old man was arrested in Jalna, Maharashtra, for allegedly raping a 3-year-old girl after luring her with chocolate. The incident occurred on Wednesday, and the accused was apprehended after police examined CCTV footage and was remanded to five-day custody.
India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 4-3 in a thrilling FIH Pro League match in London, extending their decade-long unbeaten streak against them in international hockey. Despite Pakistan taking an early lead, India rallied with goals from Abhishek, Nilakanta Sharma, Sukhjeet Singh, and Rajinder Singh. Pakistan mounted a late comeback in the final quarter, but India held on for a crucial victory, moving up to seventh in the standings.
In a shocking incident in Prayagraj, a man allegedly murdered his parents and sister over a property dispute, only to be subsequently killed by his accomplice during an argument over dividing stolen valuables. Police have arrested the accomplice, Sunny Gupta, who confessed to the crime.
Former Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Gujral was allegedly duped of Rs 7.8 crore after cyber fraudsters impersonated him on a messaging app and tricked his company's chief financial officer into transferring funds to multiple bank accounts, the police said on Thursday.
The body of a 10-year-old girl, who was sexually assaulted and murdered near Sulur, has been handed over to her father amidst allegations from the mother that the cremation occurred without her consent, revealing a domestic dispute.
An app cab driver, Nishant Dhar Shukla, has been remanded to 14-day judicial custody in Thane for brutally assaulting a 70-year-old man, Sarosh Dastur, who objected to him spitting on the road. The incident, captured on video, sparked widespread outrage and prompted official intervention.
Four individuals involved in criminal activities were arrested in Jharkhand's East Singhbhum district for allegedly pelting stones and firing at a rival group, injuring three people. Police seized arms and ammunition during the arrests, which followed an investigation into the June 10 incident.
A 29-year-old man has been arrested in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly abducting and raping a five-year-old girl. The incident occurred when the girl was with her grandfather, and the accused fled with her on a motorcycle. Police rescued the girl and confirmed sexual assault, subsequently arresting the accused and seizing his vehicle.
