In a first, FIR for illegal occupation of EWS house in Ahmedabad

Argentina players hold a banner at the end of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)With the Argentine team facing flak for taunting England with a banner related to the Falklands War after their 2-1 win in the World Cup semifinal, the White House defended the Latin American team, saying that displaying it was their right to freedom of speech. Andrew Giuliani, Executive director of the World Cup task force said that the Argentine team had the “ability” to do so under the First Amendment rights of the USA. “We believe in our First Amendment rights here in the United States of America. In terms of the ability and opportunity to be able to make those statements, they have the ability to do that in the United States,” Giuliani said to Sky News.The controversy sparked off after Argentina’s Lautaro Martínez and Giovani Lo Celso held aloft a banner that read: ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’ after the semifinal match. It translates to: ‘The Falkland Islands [Malvinas] are Argentine.’ Sky’s @RobHarris asks the White House World Cup chief Andrew Giuliani if Argentina’s players were wrong to use celebrations in a stadium to claim the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands Watch his response below⬇️ pic.twitter.com/hLJQrj3PEn — Sky News (@SkyNews) July 17, 2026 The Falkland Islands — or Islas Malvinas, as they are known in Argentina — have remained at the centre of a sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the UK since Britain reasserted control over the islands in 1833. Argentina argues that it inherited the sovereignty of these islands from Spain upon gaining independence in 1816, and therefore regards Britain’s occupation as illegal. In 1982, the two countries fought a 74-day war that resulted in 649 Argentine casualties and 255 British deaths. Officially, Britain continues to administer the islands, with the majority of the residents voting to remain a British overseas territory during a referendum in 2013. But Argentina still considers the British protectorate essential to its national identity. FIFA’s regulations state that any political banner or flags with political messages are strictly prohibited before, after and during a match in the immediate vicinity of the stadium. International Football Association Board (IFAB) regulations also prohibit players from using sporting equipment with political messaging. FIFA’s code of conduct also says fans cannot “curse or chant in a political, offensive and/or discriminatory manner”. The world body is currently reviewing the on-field gesture in Atlanta under its rules prohibiting political messaging

FIFA World Cup 2026: Lionel Messi shattered a bunch of records in Argentina's 2-1 win over England in the semi-final. (AP Photo)Lionel Messi managed to freeze time and his opponents as he marshalled Argentina to an epic 2-1 comeback win over England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday night. Despite not entering the scoresheet, Messi masterminded another comeback victory for the world champions in the knockout stage after trailing 0-1 until the 85th minute after Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute goal had put the Three Lions ahead in their first World Cup meeting in 24 years. Messi soon found space from his favoured spot on the right wing as manager Lionel Scaloni’s decisive tactical switch plotted England’s downfall. The 39-year-old Messi provided the match-turning pass to Enzo Fernandez, who slotted home the equaliser from outside the box, beating England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford with power and the swerving angle to the left side of the goal. A curling Messi cross in stoppage time then met a fiery header from substitute Lautaro Martinez. Messi and Argentina marched into their World Cup final together, breaking a heap of records along the way. Here’s a look at all the records Messi broke in the Argentina vs England World Cup semi-final 01Assists kingWith two assists, Messi extended his all-time World Cup record for the most assists in the tournament to 12 across six editions, 10 of which have come in the knockout stages. According to Opta, no other player has managed more than eight assists in their World Cup careers in the last 60 years. 02Dribbling goatMessi completed nine dribbles during his first-ever meeting England at the senior level. According to Opta, this is the joint-most the dribbles he had completed in an international match. Messi became the first player to record nine dribbles and two assists to do so in a World Cup knockout game. 9 v England in 2026 9 v Iceland in 2018 9 v Germany in 2010 03G/A streakMessi has now scored or assisted in 13 consecutive matches for club and country, making it the second-longest such streak in his entire professional career. He had previously enjoyed a 14-game run that ended in 2011.04World Cup finals recordMessi is set to take the pitch in his third World Cup final after 2014 and 2022. He will only become the second player in history to appear after Brazil's Cafu (1994, '98, '02) to play in three World Cup finals. Argentina also became the first side to secure five goals from outside the box during a World Cup campaign, the joint-most in an edition since 1966 with Messi (twice), Giovani Lo Celso, Julián Alvarez and Enzo Fernández registering the goals.Story continues below this ad Argentina is also in with a chance to become the first time in 64 years to defend the crown after Brazil in 1962 when they face Spain in the final at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on Sunday night. Meanwhile, England will face France in the third-place Playoff at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.

The individual was even warned with a police complaint under the provisions of Section 223 of the Indian Penal Code. (File Photo)For the first time, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) records show an FIR registered for illegal occupation of a house built under an Economically Weaker Section (EWS) housing scheme. The FIR against an individual was registered at the Satellite Police Station in the city.According to the chairman of Housing Improvement and EWS Housing Committee of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) Darshan Shah, Jiva Dohsa na Chhapra (The Jai Jogmaya Co., Ltd.) was vacant for a long time. During this time, four people illegally occupied four vacant houses there. “When brought to their notice, the estate department and housing project department of AMC removed all illegal occupants from the place. While three of them did not return, one kept coming back to live illegally in House No. 207, Block No.-C,” Shah stated. The individual was even warned with a police complaint under the provisions of Section 223 of the Indian Penal Code. “Police have registered a case. Goods in the concerned accommodation have been seized, and the accommodation re-sealed,” the municipal corporation stated in a release.ENS