More than two million people attended the free, open-air music festival in Paris, which attracts thousands of British and Irish tourists each year. However, The Daily Mail details that the event descended into widespread disorder, with witnesses describing the streets as resembling an apocalypse.

In Paris, the initial trouble broke out after 11:00 PM in the Chatelet area near Notre Dame Cathedral, where overcrowding allowed groups of young men to start fights and punch bystanders. Police later used tear gas to manage crowds in the St Germain de Pres district. A total of 148 arrests were made in the capital alone, where gangs smashed car windows, vandalised vehicles, and attempted to break into shops.

A major concern during the event was the targeting of women. Police received more than ten reports of women being injected with syringes containing unknown substances, a repeating trend from the previous year's festival. A young woman was raped in a private residence in Paris after being injected, while a 15-year-old girl reported being raped in the suburb of Nogent-sur-Marne. In another suburb, Gagny, a 48-year-old man was arrested for the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl.

Violence spread to other parts of France as well. The Daily Mail reported that in the south-west, a 40-year-old man was stabbed in Toulouse and a 40-year-old woman was stabbed in nearby Colomiers. Both remain in a stable condition in hospital while detectives review CCTV footage to identify the attackers.

The violence occurred despite the deployment of nearly 5,000 police officers and gendarmes, who had been instructed to avoid escalating tension and only intervene when absolutely necessary. It also follows recent riots in the city after Paris St Germain won the European Champions League Final, an event that resulted in two drownings.

Reactions to the incidents have surfaced on social media, with many users sharing comparison videos showing how the festival looked in the 1990s versus now.

🇫🇷🤪 FÊTE DE LA MUSIQUE 2026 vs 1990

Il s'est passé quoi 😮 ? pic.twitter.com/cF3XT6oYTz

— Camille Moscow 🇷🇺 🌿 ☦️ (@camille_moscow) June 22, 2026

While Paris officials had created cordoned-off safe spaces for women and disabled visitors following high levels of sexual violence in 2025, the protective measures did not stop the widespread disorder.

"Over the last few days, I have seen many people say that I am seeking a place in the Asian Games team or that I am asking for special consideration. Let me state this clearly. I am not asking to be selected. I am not asking anyone to overturn the decision. I am asking for answers," she said in a fresh statement.

"I sincerely hope that a clear and factual explanation is provided. However, if I do not receive satisfactory answers regarding the basis of this decision, I will be left with no option but to explore all remedies available to me, including legal recourse through my legal team," she warned.

The former Commonwealth Games gold-medallist and two-time Olympian said the TTFI has not communicated the specific reason for her omission.

"I am currently World No. 51. Rankings in table tennis are updated every week and operate on a rolling points system. That naturally raises important questions. What time-line was considered while evaluating rankings? Was the assessment based on the previous 12 month, six months, the previous two months, or a single weekly ranking snapshot?" she asked.

"If an athlete who has consistently been around the Top 50 moves from 50 to 51 over a week or two, does that suddenly make her ineligible? These are questions that deserve clear answers," she said.

Responding to criticism of her non-appearance at national level events, Manika said her busy international calendar should have been taken into account by TTFI.

"I have immense respect for national events and have always been proud to compete in them. But athletes competing regularly on the international circuit often have to manage an intense global calendar, recovery periods, travel, visa processing and preparation for major events.

"Domestic participation cannot be viewed in isolation from international commitments. Having said that, I will certainly be more mindful of participating in national events going forward and will continue to do my best to contribute to Indian table tennis at every level," she pointed out.

Describing her international performances this season as strong, Manika said her victories against top Asian players and highly-rated Chinese opponents on the World Table Tennis circuit should have been considered when evaluation was being done by the selection committee.

"Current form is something even the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports directs, should be considered when selecting players/teams for the Asian games," she said.

Manika said besides her own omission, she has also been left surprised to see some other players with proven records being left out.

"Take the example of Ayhika Mukherjee, who was part of India's historic women's doubles medal at the last Asian Games. When athletes with such achievements are left out, it naturally raises questions about the criteria and evaluation process that led to these decisions.

"I have been informed that the final selection involved a voting process. If that is true, then I believe athletes have a right to know who made those decisions and on what basis. What were the reasons? Were they documented? Were they communicated? Were conflict of interests disclosed?" she asked.

Is selection committee qualified?

Manika questioned the credentials of the TTFI selection committee. The federation has not revealed its composition on the official website.

"...athletes have a right to know who is making these decisions and what qualifications or experience they bring to the selection process. How many members of the Selection Committee have represented India internationally?" she said.

"How many have competed at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, or at the highest levels of table tennis? If a vote was taken against me, what were the reasons behind those votes? Were they based on documented performance criteria, or on subjective opinions?" Accusing TTFI of following a process that lacks transparency, Manika said her concerns should not be viewed as that of "an amateur athlete reacting emotionally to one selection decision." "That is why I have requested the Hon'ble Prime Minister and the Hon'ble Sports Minister to look into this matter. Not because I want a place in the team. Not because I want special treatment.

"But because I believe every athlete deserves transparency, consistency, and accountability in the selection process... And just to be absolutely clear once again — I am asking questions, not special consideration," she said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

"The format-based central contract is the first step towards separating teams for each format. This is only the beginning. Eventually, every format could have its own dedicated squad. We will have to do this, and immediately, Test and T20 teams must be separated because the two formats cannot be played in the same way," he said.

The PCB are yet to announce the list of players who will get the new contracts.

Aqib said a lot of thought has gone into the process and the main aim was to ensure players who are Test match specialists are not at a disadvantage compared to those who play a lot of white ball cricket.

"Now, if a player only plays Test cricket, he will be assessed against other Test players and compensated accordingly. The best performers in the Test category will earn up to PKR 4 million per month, while those with lower performances will receive between PKR 3 million and PKR 3.5 million.

"Similar performance-based categories will apply to Test-ODI and ODI-T20 players," he added.

He said players, in order to qualify for the central contracts, must feature in at least six first-class matches for the Test category central contracts.

Test-category players will be granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for overseas four-day competitions, while players in the Test-ODI category may receive permission to participate in one franchise league.

Meanwhile, cricketers in the ODI-T20 category must play at least two List A matches and 10 domestic T20 matches and will be eligible for two NOCs.

Players contracted solely in the T20 category will be required to participate in domestic T20 competitions but may otherwise play franchise cricket.

Aqib stated that salaries in the Test-ODI category could rise to as much as PKR 4.8 million per month.

"You can't expect a player who has had his base in T20 cricket and has been playing the format for 2-3 years to suddenly succeed in Test cricket," he said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi)

Messi became the highest goal-scorer in tournament history, as his brace guided Argentina to a win over Austria. After scoring his first World Cup hat trick in the campaign opener against Algeria, Messi continues to make headlines with his record-breaking ways. He has scored all his side's five goals in the tournament

As per OptaJoe, Messi is just the second player in the tournament history to score his country's first five goals in a single edition, along with Oleg Salenko for Russia in 1994.

During the match, Messi, set to celebrate his 39th birthday on Wednesday, had 71 touches, the oldest striker since 1966 to have 50-plus touches in a WC match.

Messi's brace not only won his side their clash against Austria, but also brought him above Miroslav Klose (16 goals) as the leading goal-scorer in the history of the FIFA World Cup, with 18 goals. He also equalled the record of France's Just Fontaine and Brazil's Jairzinho by putting his name on the scoresheet in his sixth successive WC game.

Messi set a new record for the most wins by a player in FIFA World Cup history, surpassing German legend Miroslav Klose's tally of 17 victories, with his 18th WC match win.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Sooryavanshi often shares photos of his brother's cricket exploits. On Wednesday, he shared a scorecard which read that Aashirvad had slammed 168 off 199 balls, with 19 fours and six sixes. Aashirvad was playing for Ruishav XI and the team scored 311/7.

Internet reacted in awe after the screenshot was shared.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's younger brother Ashirwad Sooryavanshi once again score a century today.

Ashirwad Sooryavanshi today score 168 runs in 119 balls including 6 sixes and 19 fours with strike rate of 141.

- Yashasvi Jaiswal trade news coming, so Ashirwad Sooryavanshi… pic.twitter.com/KbbeMIy9SZ

— Cricket Central (@CricketCentrl) June 24, 2026

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has announced the arrival of his lil brother. Ashirvad 🔥#VaibhavSooryavanshi #AshirvadSooryavanshi pic.twitter.com/bVGVoP0Wyu

— Haseeb's Talks 🏏 (@jabhaikamkar) June 24, 2026

Don't be surprised if the Sooryavanshi brothers will open for RR next year 💥 pic.twitter.com/LFPaWIFuYj

— अभि 🇮🇳 (@abhi7781_) June 24, 2026

The Vaibhav Sooryavanshi mania has spread among cricket fans across Europe ahead of his possible debut against Ireland, and they are jostling for tickets even at the last minute, says former India and Irish cricketer MV Narasimha Rao. The wonder kid could be making his India debut during the two-match T20I series against Ireland, beginning in Belfast on June 26, and Rao, like many others, can't wait to see him in real time.

"I think they (local organisers) will have to put more seats because this stadium (Stormont ground) has only 7,000 seats or something. Already, people from other parts of Europe like Paris etc. want to come. Hopefully, we can find a way to accommodate them," Rao told PTI from Strabane, Ireland.

"So, I think it will be history, a momentous day if he makes his debut in Ireland. It was unexpected, and in the last 10 days, there's really been big excitement here," he added.

Rao, who played four Tests for India and then for Ireland in the mid-90s before they attained ICC member status, said Sooryavanshi may enjoy batting in Belfast.

"He's phenomenal, great to watch, and I'd watched him on television during the IPL. He may enjoy batting as the wickets here are generally slow, and Ireland doesn't have the same kind of fast bowlers, you know, with pace," he said

Last year also, Pakistan finished at the bottom of the points table in the ICC 50-overs World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, where the team played all its games in Sri Lanka.

Reports say that there was a big disagreement between team mentor and unofficial head coach, Wahab Riaz, and captain Fatima Sana over selection matters.

Before the match against Bangladesh, Sana objected to the husband of senior player Aaliya Riaz staying in her room in the team hotel.

"It was on Sana's insistence that Ali Younis was asked to vacate the room. Then, on the day before the game against Bangladesh, Aaliya and her husband went out for sightseeing when there was a team practice scheduled," one report said.

Apparently, when the playing XI for the Bangladesh match was being finalised, Sana wanted Aaliya out, but Wahab insisted on her selection. After Pakistan lost the game and Aaliya failed, Sana pointedly told Wahab in front of everyone that he was responsible for the defeat, as he had not adhered to the necessary disciplinary protocols.

Reports have also talked about groupings within the team and strained relations between some senior players and the coaches. The coaches are unhappy that whatever plans they give to the players are not executed in matches.

Ironically, this is not the first time such reports about problems within the Pakistan team have emerged. Even when the men's team failed to perform in the 2023 and 2024 ICC World Cups, similar stories about a strained dressing room environment surfaced, some of which were later confirmed as true.

Over the last 3-4 years, the PCB has constantly changed the head coaches of the women's team, with the revolving door including foreign coaches like Mark Coles, alongside various local coaches and staff such as Junaid Khan, Basit Ali, Saleem Jaffar, and Mohtashim Rasheed, among others

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kane had an underwhelming outing in the FIFA World Cup clash against Ghana, failing to make an impact goal-wise and overall performance-wise just days after his brace against Croatia.

During his side's goalless draw against Ghana, as per Sky Sports, Kane recorded just 19 touches throughout the game, the fewest by him in a major tournament match in the English shirt, while playing 90 or more minutes.

The clash saw plenty of interesting records and statistics emerging.

England's 12-match winning streak in competitive football came to an end, marking the first time they failed to register a victory since October 2024 against Greece, according to ESPN.

Ghana, meanwhile, avoided defeat in their opening two matches at a FIFA World Cup for only the second time since 2010, when they went on to reach the quarterfinals.

Despite dominating possession, England recorded 79 per cent possession against Ghana, the highest by any team that failed to score in a match in the last 60 years at the FIFA World Cup.

Ghana managed just 2 shots, which is the joint-lowest by any team in a game at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while also marking the fewest England has conceded in a World Cup match in the last 60 years.

The match also saw England register their thirteenth scoreless draw at the FIFA World Cup, the most by any team in history, with Brazil next on the list with 9.

England extended their unbeaten run against African teams at the FIFA World Cup to 9 matches.

Jude Bellingham reached a personal milestone by making his 50th appearance for England, becoming the youngest Englishman to reach this landmark at 22 years and 359 days.

England also produced a passing masterclass, completing 93 per cent of their passes, their joint-highest in a World Cup match since 1966, while registering 430 passes in the opposition half, their most in a World Cup game since 1966.

Defender Marc Guehi stood out statistically as well, completing 125 passes, the highest by an England player on record since 1966 in a FIFA World Cup match.

(With ANI inputs)

— David Warner (@davidwarner31) June 23, 2026

At first, David Warner responded to Parth Jindal's post on X with laughing emojis, leaving fans wondering what it was referring to.

I can't figure out if the laugh is for DC or for the fact that Pant is another captain like him under Moody who was let go https://t.co/CWYh4jR3Hs

— absy (@absycric) June 23, 2026

???? https://t.co/bx21hmE8Rg

— R (@reeyalistic_) June 23, 2026

Need tea https://t.co/8xOfXDg0vj

— Jaanvi (@that_shutterbug) June 23, 2026

Soon after, Warner posted another reply to Jindal's post, this time explaining how auction dynamics and Pant's poor fortunes at LSG have led to DC getting him back.

"It was always going to happen. Auctions can get out of hand, and if there is a dip in form and one owner wants to get rid of you while the other wanted you but was unfortunately outbid, you can bide your time," Warner said.

It was always going to happen. Auctions can get out of hand, and if there is a dip in form and one owner wants to get rid of you while the other wanted you but was unfortunately outbid, you can bide your time.

— David Warner (@davidwarner31) June 23, 2026

This was what Parth Jindal had posted:

Dear Kuldeep, thank you for your service over the last 5 years. You have been a core part of our team and you will be sorely missed. Go well - you are a champion player and I am sure you will do extremely well back in your home ground. Rishabh - Kiran and I are both happy to have you back at DC. Hope you can find your best form back home in Delhi."

Pant was signed by LSG for an IPL record price of Rs 27 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. Although DC had originally right-to-matched LSG's winning bid of Rs 20.75 crore, the latter raised it to Rs 27 crore, which the former did not match.

However, after two unsuccessful seasons, including a last-place finish in IPL 2026, LSG and Pant have parted ways. Pant has taken a massive Rs 12 crore paycut, rejoining DC for Rs 15 crore.

“If I am asked to speak, I hesitate to do so because whenever I say something it ends up becoming a problem, both for me and others... it always stirs up something,” he said.

“If I remain silent, some criticise me and question my silence. If I speak, they say, ‘oh, now he is speaking'. And some will say, ‘he shouldn't have spoken',” the 76-year-old added.

Rajinikanth commands a vast fan following in Tamil Nadu and across the country. As an example of his influence, ahead of the 1996 election, a remark about then AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa - “if she is voted back to power even God can't save Tamil Nadu” - was widely seen as having hurt the party electorally.

“Those who don't like you will never like you, no matter what. To think that some who like us now will keep liking us, no matter what, is foolish. So we should be careful,” he said.

His remarks come amid sustained speculation over his position on Vijay and the latter's transition from cinema to politics. Rajinikanth had himself contemplated such a move for nearly three decades before decisively stepping away in July 2021.

The Rajini Makkal Mandram, launched in 2018 as a precursor to a political party, was later converted into the Rajinikanth Rasigar Narpani Mandram, a welfare body for his fans.

This shift came ahead of the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly election, in which the DMK-Congress alliance swept to power, defeating the AIADMK-BJP combine.

Although the TVK did not secure an outright majority, Vijay's party emerged as the single-largest party, winning 108 of the 234 seats. It subsequently formed a post-poll alliance with the Congress and several regional parties that had broken away from the DMK-led coalition.

Pepe, in his interview, claims Pakistani military intelligence intercepted a Mossad plan to assassinate Army Chief Asim Munir during the talks, and then sent Israel a stern warning.

ALSO READ: 'Never Let You Down': Sharif Assures Iran President US Pact Won't Affect Missile Program

Pepe, while taking about the friction between Israel and Pakistan and the former claiming to wipe Pakistan off the map, claimed it was the other way around.

"No, it was the opposite Mario. Basically the short story is Pakistani military intel intercepted ultra-credible information that the Mossad was preparing, under orders by Netanyahu, an assasination attempt against Asim Munir and maybe the rest of the Pakistani delegation going to Switzerland. So the Pakistanis sent a direct message via their usual intermediaries—I would bet it would be Oman in this case—directly to Israelis saying that 'if you touch our delegation, we're going to wipe you off the map', period. I am quoting, this is what our source informed," Pepe said.

🇵🇰🇮🇱 A peace negotiation in Switzerland allegedly came within inches of becoming an international assassination crisis.

Geopolitical analyst Pepe Escobar claims Pakistani military intelligence intercepted a Mossad plan to assassinate Army Chief Asim Munir during the talks, then… https://t.co/JWyHzH7hoT pic.twitter.com/oXOJs1i5e8

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 24, 2026

Swiss, American, and Pakistani security services never issued a security alert or voiced concern about an assassination threat throughout the talks. The claim has also not been confirmed either by the Israeli or Pakistani officials yet.

ALSO READ: 'Pakistan Hid Bin Laden': US Senators Flag Islamabad's History Of Harboring Terrorists Amid Iran Talks

Notably, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir flew to Müngenstock, Switzerland last week, to serve as important mediators in crucial peace negotiations between the United States and Iran.

Ronaldo responded to the chatter only the way he could. The 41-year-old Ronaldo made history when Joao Cancelo crossed the ball to him and he shot with his right-foot to make it 1-0. He ran toward the bench and out came the 'siu' celebration. He again scored in the 39th minute.

Ronaldo and Argentina captain Lionel Messi are the only men in history to play in six World Cup tournaments. Ronaldo's scoring streak started on his debut in 2006, and he also netted goals in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.

While he shares the record for most tournaments with Messi, he stands alone in scoring a goal in each edition after Messi failed to score at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Ronaldo's first goal on Tuesday gave him nine goals in the tournament. Messi has 18 after a hat trick in Argentina's opener against Algeria and two more goals Monday against Austria that made him the all-time leading scorer in tournament history.

Tuesday's game was the 230th of Ronaldo's international career, which is the most in history.

This is likely to be the final World Cup for Ronaldo, who won the European Championship with Portugal in 2016 and the Champions League five times with Manchester United and Real Madrid.

No player has scored more international goals than Cristiano Ronaldo (144); however, his failure to score in the 1-1 draw against DR Congo extended his goal drought to 10 matches since his last goal at a major tournament, since a 3-2 win over Ghana in Portugal's opening game of the 2022 World Cup.

Portugal entered the match seeking their first win of the tournament after being held to a draw by DR Congo in their opener, while Uzbekistan were looking to bounce back from a 3-1 defeat to the Colombian national football team.

With agency inputs

Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has already said that Neymar will be included in his matchday squad for Thursday's match in Miami, though he is almost certain to start on the bench.

The 34-year-old Santos forward, who is Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 international appearances, has not played for the national team since suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in October 2023.

Meymar has earlier indicated the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the last of his career. The 34-year-old made the statement in response to a social media post from FIFA showing images of Neymar's career along with the words, "We've watched him grow up."

Brazil leads Group C with four points. They have the same points as Morocco, but are in first place due to goal difference (3 against 1). And qualifying for the knockout stage as group leaders is one of the team's objectives, for logistical reasons and to improve team preparation.

“We want to go to Miami and win the game to qualify in first place. Staying at the hotel here with all the facilities we have is much better. If we qualify in second place, we have to go to Mexico and that ends up changing the whole schedule. Our mentality is to win and stay here because of all the benefits we have. The training center and the hotel are very good and we have a lot to do here together,” he explained.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

"Exceptional batting by the @ICC. Empowerment in sport is about ensuring that a player's journey, in all phases, is supported with the right framework. Seeing the transition from 'choosing between' to 'doing both' is proof that we are playing the game the right way.

"A massive boost for the future of women cricketers worldwide," Tendulkar wrote on 'X'.

The document speaks about having a dedicated 'Case Manager' for the players returning to competitive cricket post pregnancy.

The Case Officer should be either a doctor or a physiotherapist.

The early review would comprise focus on psychological support in the players' adjustment to life as a mother, followed by graded reintroduction of strength-based training. After eight weeks of these assessments, the player will return to running in collaboration with a doctor and physio.

A thorough monitoring of any symptoms including musculoskeletal and pelvic floor issues is done before the player is given the go ahead to return to action.

The ICC said its guidelines are designed to be in line with local legislation, while supporting player welfare through "practical, physical and psychological guidance." 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

While Sooryavanshi will be part of the Indian dressing room, he will have to use a separate changing room for 'safeguarding reasons on his first international tour in England this summer', according to a report in The Guardian.

The England series is an ICC-approved event and hence the world cricket governing body's 'safeguarding procedures' will be in effect as per the report.

The report said, as per sources, both ICC and ECB prohibit under-16 players from using adult changing rooms. Hence, Sooryavanshi will have his own facilities at all venues. His parents will also accompany him at all venues.

"Sooryavanshi will be permitted in the India dressing room during the game and can attend team talks, with the restriction only applying when he is getting changed before and after each match," the report added.

Meanwhile, a 15-year-old schoolboy needs to be eased into a senior team set-up, said BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia as he explained the Board's decision to allow Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's parents to accompany him on the white-ball tour of Ireland and England later this month. The big-hitting Sooryavanshi, who has earned his maiden call-up in the Indian T20 set-up, has been selected for seven games (two vs Ireland and five vs England) on the tour, which begins on June 26 in Belfast.

"You see, not all national teams at the senior level have a 14 or 15-year-old in their squad. After many decades, we have someone like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi," Saikia told PTI in an exclusive interview.

"At one point in time, it was Sachin Tendulkar (16 and a half at the time of his Test debut) who made it to the national team at such a young age. When such a young kid is part of the senior team, there are obviously a lot of issues that can crop up," he added without elaborating.

"Therefore, to make him comfortable and help him get used to an adult environment, where all the other players are above 18 years of age, and the team management members are also adults, we felt it would be helpful," Saikia, a former Ranji Trophy player for Assam, stated further.

"We are doing this because we believe it will ease a lot of issues as far as Vaibhav is concerned." Saikia cited the example of how senior teachers accompany students on school excursions.

"Even when a school student goes on an excursion, there is usually a senior person accompanying them. Vaibhav is still a kid. He has only just come out of school, or is perhaps in his final year of school.

Soon after the ceremony, Alka Yagnik shared a long note on Instagram expressing her gratitude, along with a detailed update on her health condition.

About Alka Yagnik's Post

Alka Yagnik wrote about her health, "For the last two years, I have stayed away from the spotlight, from public appearances, and from sharing much of my journey. Many of you knew I am going through difficult health issues, and through it all, your love, prayers, messages, and unwavering support have stayed with me every step of the way." Check the full post below:

View this post on Instagram

Celebs React To Alka Yagnik's Post

Celebrities flooded the comments section with congratulatory messages and heartfelt wishes.

Kumar Sanu, who has been Alka Yagnik's playback partner in several hit songs, wrote, "Very well deserved Alka! God bless you." Singer Shaan commented, "Most deserved, Alka Ji!!! You are our pride and joy!!! And nothing would please your fans more than you finding your health and wellbeing back and finding the confidence and motivation to come back to regale us with your voice like only you can!!"

Ila Arun wrote, "So proud of you," whereas Bhumi Pednekar, Veer Pahariya, and singer Aditi Singh Sharma reacted with emoticons. Singer Akriti Kakkar added, "Nobody deserves it more than you. Our undisputed queen - praying for your smiles and good health always."

"Heartiest congratulations, Alkaji. God bless you," wrote Sudesh Bhosle.

Talking about Alka Yagnik's health condition, the legendary singer had earlier made headlines when she revealed she had been diagnosed with a rare hearing disorder. In June 2024, she shared a picture of herself and explained how she lost her hearing completely after stepping off a flight, leaving fans concerned about her health.

About Alka Yagnik

Alka Yagnik remains one of the most celebrated voices in Indian music. She is the most popular music artist of all time on YouTube, with mentions in the Guinness World Records for 17 billion streams in 2021 and 16.6 billion in 2020. As of 2026, she continues to be the most-streamed weekly music artist on the platform.

Over the years, she has won numerous accolades, including two National Film Awards, two Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards, and seven Filmfare Awards for Best Female Playback Singer.

Her timeless songs such as Ek Do Teen, Chura Ke Dil Mera, Tip Tip Barsa Pani, Dil Ne Yeh Kaha Hai Dil Se, and Taal Se Taal Mila continue to remain fan favourites, cementing her legacy as one of the finest playback singers in Indian cinema. 

Also Read: Veteran Singer Alka Yagnik Honoured With Padma Bhushan

The two actors have now been recognised with IMDb's "Breakout Star" STARmeter Awards. The honour is presented to performers who leave a strong impression on IMDb's Popular Indian Celebrities chart.

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A post shared by IMDb India (@imdb_in)

Reacting to the achievement, Akash shared his excitement and wrote, "From searching credits as a kid to being #1 on the IMDb Celebrity list. Life really does come full circle."

Ramandeep also expressed his gratitude and commented, "Thank You so much."

About The Show

Directed by Prosenjit Roy, Raakh is loosely inspired by the infamous 1978 Geeta and Sanjay Chopra murder case. Set in Delhi in the late 1970s, the series follows siblings Suman and Sahil Arora, whose lives take a tragic turn after they cross paths with criminals Babu and Rajjo.

Their disappearance sends shockwaves through the city and triggers an intense investigation led by Sub-Inspector Jayprakash "JP" Jatav. As the search expands across different cities, the series also captures the devastating impact of the tragedy on the victims' family.

ALSO READ: Haircut To Temple Run, How Raakh's Ramandeep Yadav Got 'Rajjo' Out Of His System

Besides Dulquer, Mammootty's wife Sulfath Kutty, daughter Kutty Surumi, and daughter-in-law Amal accompanied him. Dulquer has now shared a few pictures featuring all of them with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He captioned his post, "An absolute privilege to meet and spend time with our Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi Ji as we witnessed my father, Shri Mammootty being honoured for a lifetime of extraordinary work. A truly unforgettable day for our family." Take a look at the post below:

View this post on Instagram

Mammootty has acted in more than 400 films across multiple languages during a career spanning over five decades. Beyond cinema, he is also known for supporting various social causes and charitable initiatives.

Back in January, Mammootty expressed his joy after being named a recipient of the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honours.

Reacting to the announcement, the actor spoke candidly about the emotional significance of the recognition. Speaking to Mathrubhumi News, Mammootty said, "Santosham, athi santhosham... there is nothing bigger than the honour from the country."

This year, the President approved 131 Padma Awards, including five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri honours. The awards, announced annually on Republic Day, recognise distinguished contributions in fields such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, literature, education, medicine, sports, trade and industry, and civil service.

Also Read: Malayalam Superstar Mammootty Receives Padma Bhushan

GROUP A

Mexico were the first team to book their spot in the Round of 32 with six points from 2 matches. South Korea won their first game against Czechia and a win or a draw against South Korea will be enough for them to qualify. Czechia will need to win their match against Mexico and hope that South Korea lose in order to finish in the Top 2. However, they can still qualify in case of a draw but the chances will be quite slim. For South Africa, a win over South Korea and Czechia losing to Mexico will take them directly to the second position. A draw will leave them in a tight position as they will need a lot of results to go their way.

Remaining matches - Czechia vs Mexico, South Korea vs South Africa

GROUP B

Switizerland and Canada are in prime position to finish in the Top 2 with 4 points. A draw in their match will send them both to the knockouts. However, the team losing the match will find themselves level on points with Bosnia and Herzegovina if they can beat Qatar. If Bosnia and Herzegovina play out a draw, their fate will no longer be in their own hands.

Remaining matches - Switzerland vs Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar)

GROUP C

Brazil and Morocco are clearly favourites to secure qualification with 4 points each. If both wins their respective matches, they will both qualify with Goal Difference determining the group winners. If Scotland beat Brazil and Morocco drop points, they can end up topping the group. However, if Scotland lose or draw, they will finish third and will have to depend on other results.

Remaining matches - Brazil vs Scotland, Morocco vs Haiti

GROUP D

USA have already reached the Round of 16 as the group winner and Turkiye were eliminated following their loss against Paraguay. The winner of the match between Australia and Paraguay will finish second in the group. In case of a draw, Australia will be second due to their higher goal difference. Even if they lose, Paraguay can qualify as the third-placed team.

Remaining matches - USA vs Turkiye, Australia vs Paraguay

GROUP E

Germany have already booked their place in the Round of 16 but Curacao's draw against Ecuador made the qualification race quite interesting in Group E. A win over Ivory Coast can take them to the second position if Germany beat Ecuador. On the other hand, a draw will be enough for Ivory Coast to qualify. Ecaudor will have to beat Germany and hope that Ivory Coast lose to Curacao in order to move to the second spot. In that case, Ecuador will finish over Curacao thanks to goal difference.

Remaining matches - Curacao vs Ivory Coast, Ecuador vs Germany

GROUP F

Both Netherlands and Japan are tied at 4 points with the former claiming the top spot due to a better goal difference. Both will move to the Round of 32 with draws in their respective matches. Sweden can qualify if they beat Japan but in case of a draw, they will still be well-placed to move ahead as the third-placed team. Tunisia are already out of contention.

Remaining matches - Netherland vs Tunisia, Japan vs Sweden

GROUP G

Egypt are the front-runners with 4 points and a draw against Iran will be enough to guarantee qualification. However, a loss will take them to third position if Belgium defeat New Zealand. Iran can qualify with a win over Egypt and if Belgium win or draw against New Zealand. If both Belgium and Iran win, the standings will be decided by goal difference. New Zealand need to beat Belgium and hope that other results go their way in order to qualify.

Remaining matches - Belgium vs New Zealand, Egypt vs Iran

GROUP H

The big win over Saudi Arabia put Spain in a brilliant position and even a loss against Uruguay will be unlikely to eliminate them. Uruguay can qualify with a draw or win over Spain if Cape Verde draw or lose against Saudi Arabia. If Uruguay lose their match, Cape Verde can qualify with a win over Saudi Arabia. In order to have any chance of qualification, Saudi Arabia will have to beat Cape Verde and hope that Spain defeat Uruguay.

Remaining matches - Spain vs Uruguay, Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia

GROUP I 

France and Norway have both qualified for the Round of 32. Their match will decide who will move forward as the group-winners. The winner of the match between Senegal and Iraq will claim the third place in the group.

Remaining matches - France vs Norway, Senegal vs Iraq

GROUP J

Argentina have already qualified for the Round of 32. The winner of the match between Algeria and Austria will qualify directly with 6 points. In case of a draw, Austria will qualify based on a better goal difference. Jordan were already eliminated.

Remaining matches - Argentina vs Jordan, Algeria vs Austria

GROUP K 

Portugal need a win to top the group while a draw will see Colombia finish as the top-placed side with 7 points. Portugal could finish second even if it loses due to a higher goal difference. Even if Portugal falls to the third spot due to a heavy loss, it is likely that they will qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. DR Congo need a win to keep their hopes alive.

Remaining matches - Portugal vs Colombia, Uzbekistan vs DR Congo

GROUP L

England and Ghana need just a draw to book their spots in Round of 32. Even a loss will not eliminate either of them as they can qualify as one of the best third-placed sides. A win over Ghana will mean that Croatia will finish in the second spot. A draw or a loss will keep them in the third spot. Panama were already eliminated.

Remaining matches - England vs Panama, Croatia vs Ghana

The removal of the previous 74% investment cap has ignited intense interest from premier global players looking to tap into one of the world's fastest-growing, yet vastly underpenetrated, insurance markets. However, IRDAI cross-holding norms dictate that Prudential Plc. must reduce its stake in its long-standing venture, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance (where it currently holds roughly 22%), down to below 10% before the Bharti Life acquisition can clear. Prudential is in discussions with authorities to navigate a reasonable divestment window, with plans to reinvest the proceeds directly into its new Indian growth initiatives. 

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The pivot to a 100% FDI automatic route has altered the power dynamics between domestic promoters and global insurance heavyweights. Industry analysts anticipate significant ownership overhauls and a wave of restructuring across the entire insurance landscape during this current financial year. More global insurers are likely to announce India JV, acquisitions in the coming quarters. 

Increasingly, Indian corporate promoters are exploring strategic exits or reducing their exposures, paving the way for foreign partners who demand complete operational control, localized product customization, and the deployment of advanced global risk-modeling systems. With IRDAI actively processing this initial batch of filings, sources confirm that other multi-national insurers are expected to officially announce fresh Indian joint ventures, capital expansions, and outright corporate acquisitions in the coming quarters.