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From today's featured article Sonam Kapoor (born 9 June 1985) is an Indian film star and one of the highest-paid Bollywood actresses. The daughter of actor Anil Kapoor, she studied theatre and arts at the United World College of South East Asia in Singapore. She became an assistant director to Sanjay Leela Bhansali on the film Black (2005), and made her acting debut in the romantic drama Saawariya (2007). She had her first commercial success three years later in the romantic comedy I Hate Luv Storys (2010), followed by a string of commercial failures. The financially successful Raanjhanaa (2013) marked a turning point in her career, earning her several Best Actress nominations. She played a princess in the melodrama Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015)—one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films—and garnered critical acclaim for portraying the titular role in the biographical thriller Neerja (2016), one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films featuring a female protagonist. She is outspoken in support of breast cancer awareness, LGBT rights, and other causes. She has been nominated for four Filmfare Awards. (Full article...) Recently featured: Paul McCartney Vampire: The Masquerade – Redemption Omaha Beach Did you know... John von Neumann ... that John von Neumann (pictured) once wrote that "anyone who considers arithmetical methods of producing random digits is, of course, in a state of sin"? ... that Bakeys, an Indian manufacturer of edible utensils, hopes to reduce plastic utensil waste in India, which numbers around 120 billion discarded pieces annually? ... that Canadian football center Marv Allemang was moved to the Ottawa Rough Riders in a secret equalization draft designed to improve poorly-performing teams? ... that two of the key elements of political globalization are the decreasing role of the nation-state and the rise of global civil society? ... that 16th-century Greek noble Manthos Papagiannis repeatedly solicited support from western European leaders for a planned uprising against the Ottoman Empire? ... that Ursula K. Le Guin's 1972 short story Vaster than Empires and More Slow features a consciousness that reaches over all the vegetation on the fictional planet World 4470? ... that the grassland sparrow is a "secretive" bird?

In the news Muhammad Ali A car bomb targeting a police bus kills at least 11 people in Istanbul. In tennis, the French Open concludes with Garbiñe Muguruza winning the women's singles, and Novak Djokovic winning the men's singles to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time. In horse racing, Harzand, ridden by Pat Smullen, wins the Epsom Derby. Former world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali (pictured) dies at the age of 74. Severe flooding in Western and Central Europe causes at least 18 deaths. Ongoing events Recent deaths: Kimbo Slice Viktor Korchnoi Dave Swarbrick Tom Kibble On this day... June 9: Ascension Day (Eastern Christianity, 2016); Dragon Boat Festival (Chinese calendar, 2016); St. Colmcille's Day in Ireland Bhumibol Adulyadej 411 BC – Wealthy Athenians overthrew the democratic government of ancient Athens and replaced it with a short-lived oligarchy known as "The Four Hundred". 1856 – Mormon pioneers began leaving Iowa City, Iowa, and headed west for Salt Lake City, Utah, carrying all their possessions in two-wheeled handcarts. 1946 – After King Ananda Mahidol was assassinated, Bhumibol Adulyadej (pictured), the world's longest-reigning current monarch, ascended to the throne of Thailand. 1973 – Secretariat won the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths and in world record time over 1½ miles, achieving the first American Triple Crown victory in a quarter of a century. More anniversaries: June 8 June 9 June 10

Today's featured picture Westward Ho! is an 1855 British historical novel by Charles Kingsley, set in the Elizabethan era and written in a mock Elizabethan tone. It follows the adventures of Amyas Leigh, who sets sail with Francis Drake and other privateers to the Caribbean, where they battle with the Spanish. Originally targeted at adults, Westward Ho! was deemed suitable for children due to its mixture of patriotism, sentiment and romance, and became a firm favourite of children's literature during the 19th century. In the 21st century it has become less popular because of its anti-Catholicism and its racist attitudes towards indigenous peoples. Shown here is the frontispiece to the 1899 Frederick Warne & Co edition of the novel. See the cover Illustration: Walter Sydney Stacey; restoration: Adam Cuerden Recently featured: David Dixon Porter Sunflowers (Van Gogh series) Hammer projection

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