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Newsdesk

France, Spain set for blockbuster FIFA World Cup semifinal

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France

ARLINGTON: France and Spain will face off in the first semifinal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday night, with a place in the tournament final at stake.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 12 a.m. Pakistan Standard Time and features one of the tournament’s most anticipated matchups, pitting France’s potent attack against Spain’s outstanding defense.

Spain has conceded just one goal throughout the tournament and remains unbeaten, with its only dropped points coming in a scoreless draw against Cape Verde. The Spaniards are bidding to win their second World Cup title.

France, the 2018 World Cup champion and runner-up four years later, has reached the World Cup final in four of the last seven editions, underlining its consistency on football’s biggest stage.

France will look to captain Kylian Mbappé to lead its attack, while Spain’s hopes will rest largely on teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who has been one of the standout performers of the tournament.

Spain also enters the match with recent success against France, having defeated the French side at UEFA Euro 2024 and in the UEFA Nations League semifinals last year.

Alia Bhatt joins cast of ‘Tumbbad 2,’ set for 2027 release

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Alia Bhatt

MUMBAI: Bollywood star Alia Bhatt has officially joined the cast of the highly anticipated horror sequel “Tumbbad 2,” marking her first full-fledged role in the horror genre.

Actor and producer Sohum Shah confirmed the news on Instagram, writing, “A new journey begins,” while welcoming Bhatt to the project.

According to reports, Bhatt will play a major role central to the film’s storyline rather than making a brief appearance. The actress said she had been captivated by Tumbbad since first watching it and described joining its “unique and mysterious world” as an honor. She also expressed excitement about working alongside Sohum Shah and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

The sequel is being directed by Adesh Prasad and is reportedly being made on a budget of around 100 crore Indian rupees. A large-scale set is currently under construction in Mumbai for the film’s production.

“Tumbbad 2” is scheduled to be released in theaters on Dec. 3, 2027.

Karachi Rangers camp attack mastermind among several arrested

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Karachi Rangers

KARACHI: Law enforcement agencies said Tuesday they have arrested the alleged mastermind and an entire support network linked to the June 27 attack on a Rangers camp in Karachi, claiming the assault was planned from Afghanistan and supported by cross-border handlers.

At a joint news conference in Karachi, Sindh Home Minister Zia Lanjar, Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho, and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) SSP Irfan Bahadur said the attack on the Rangers camp in Gulistan-e-Jauhar had been orchestrated from Afghanistan.

CTD officials identified the alleged mastermind as Qari Bashir (also referred to as Mohammad Bashir) and said he had been taken into custody.

They added that alleged weapons smugglers who supplied arms to the attackers had also been arrested, and that the broader facilitation network operating in Pakistan and Afghanistan had been dismantled.

According to CTD, one attacker, identified as Janan, detonated an explosive at the entrance to the Rangers camp, while three other militants entered the compound.

Officials said one of the attackers was from Pakistan’s Bajaur district and the remaining three were Afghan nationals, alleging they received training, weapons and explosives in Afghanistan.

Authorities further claimed the attackers were directed by handlers operating from Afghan territory and said investigators recovered videos allegedly showing the detained facilitators at a training camp of the banned militant group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, including footage related to preparations for the attack.

Officials said a wounded suspect, identified as Usman, admitted during questioning that he had received training at multiple militant camps.

They alleged the four attackers traveled from Afghanistan to Karachi and were transported from Hub to Korangi, where they stayed in a safe house before carrying out the assault.

Authorities also claimed that some of the arrested facilitators had links to India. No evidence supporting the allegation was presented during the news conference, and there was no immediate response from Indian officials.

CDF Munir, Turkish President discuss defense cooperation, regional security

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CDF Munir

ANKARA: Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankarato discuss bilateral defense cooperation, regional security and the evolving situation in the Middle East.

According to Türkiye’s Presidency, the meeting took place at Ankara Airport before Erdoğan departed for an official visit to Qatar.

The closed-door talks were also attended by Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Chief of the General Staff Gen. Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Director İbrahim Kalın.

While Turkish officials did not disclose details of the discussions, diplomatic and defense sources said the two sides exchanged views on expanding Pakistan-Türkiye defense cooperation, collaboration in the defense industry, regional security challenges and strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The meeting comes as Pakistan and Türkiye continue to deepen military ties through joint exercises, defense production, drone technology, naval projects and professional military training.

A day earlier, Field Marshal Munir met Gen. Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, Chief of the Turkish General Staff, and was awarded the Turkish Armed Forces Distinguished Service Medal in recognition of his contributions to strengthening bilateral military cooperation.

Analysts say the meeting reflects the commitment of Islamabad and Ankara to further expand their longstanding strategic partnership while promoting regional peace, stability and closer defense collaboration.

PM Shehbaz condemns missile attack on Saudi Arabia

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PM Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday strongly condemned the missile and drone attack on Saudi Arabia, warning that the escalation could further undermine peace and stability in the region.

In a statement, Sharif said Pakistan “strongly condemns the blatant attacks” carried out against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, describing them as a violation of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He warned that such actions risk further destabilizing the region and reaffirmed Pakistan’s “unwavering support” for Saudi Arabia’s security.

“Pakistan stands in complete solidarity with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during this difficult time,” the prime minister said, adding that Islamabad would continue to support sincere efforts aimed at promoting regional peace, stability, security and dialogue.

The statement came after Yemen’s Houthi movement launched missiles and drones targeting Abha International Airport in southern Saudi Arabia, in a sharp escalation of regional tensions. Saudi air defenses intercepted the projectiles, and no casualties were immediately reported

FIFA World Cup sets new attendance record before tournament ends

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FIFA world cup

MIAMI: The 2026 FIFA World Cup has set a new attendance record before the tournament’s conclusion, with total stadium crowds already surpassing the combined attendance of the previous two World Cups.

Hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the expanded tournament has drawn 6,527,410 spectators across its first 100 matches, according to FIFA.

The figure exceeds the combined attendance of the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which together attracted 6,436,020 fans.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup recorded 3,031,768 spectators, while the 2022 FIFA World Cup drew 3,404,252 fans over the course of the tournament.

Attendance is expected to climb even higher, with two semifinal matches, the third-place playoff, and the final still to be played. Organizers anticipate hundreds of thousands more fans will attend the remaining fixtures, further extending the tournament’s record-breaking total.

The 2026 edition is the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, contributing to an expanded match schedule and unprecedented fan turnout across North America.

PM Shehbaz meets Qatar’s emir, offers condolences on death of ex-ruler

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PM Shehbaz

DOHA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during a visit to Doha, where he conveyed Pakistan’s condolences over the death of former Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Sharif paid tribute to the late emir’s visionary leadership and his contributions to regional peace, stability and development.

He also recalled Sheikh Hamad’s several visits to Pakistan and reaffirmed Islamabad’s solidarity with Qatar’s leadership and people during their time of mourning.

The Emir of Qatar thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Pakistani delegation for traveling to Doha in person to offer condolences, describing the gesture as a reflection of the close ties between the two countries.

The meeting was attended by Nawaz Sharif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and other senior Pakistani officials.

Earlier, upon his arrival in Doha, the Pakistani delegation was received by Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Prime Minister Shehbaz returned to Pakistan after concluding the one-day visit.

Constitutional Court overturns demolition order for Monal Restaurant

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Constitutional Court

ISLAMABAD: Constitutional Court set aside a previous order to demolish the Monal Restaurant in Islamabad’s Pir Sohawa area, allowing legal proceedings over the property’s ownership and regulatory status to continue.

The court accepted appeals filed by the Capital Development Authority> (CDA) and the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad, while also vacating an interim stay order related to the case.

In its ruling, the court said questions regarding ownership of the property would be decided by the relevant trial courts without being influenced by judicial observations made in earlier proceedings. It added that administrative and regulatory matters should be determined by the competent regulatory authorities.

The Constitutional Court also directed the trial courts to dispose of the pending cases as expeditiously as possible.

During the hearing, Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi remarked that several aspects had not been adequately considered in the earlier Supreme Court judgment and emphasized that the Constitutional Court would decide the matter on legal grounds rather than emotion.

Following the proceedings, the Constitutional Court formally annulled the earlier decision ordering the demolition of Monal Restaurant.

Trump urges senate to pass crypto clarity act to keep US ahead of China

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Trump urges

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump urged the US Senate to pass the Clarity Act, saying the proposed cryptocurrency legislation is essential to maintaining America’s technological and financial edge over China.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump called on senators to approve the bill, saying it would serve as a tribute to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, whom he described as a strong supporter.

Trump argued that China and other countries are seeking to dominate the cryptocurrency industry and are also competing aggressively with the United States in the field of artificial intelligence.

“We must not let China succeed in either of these sectors,” Trump said, urging lawmakers to move the legislation forward.

The appeal comes after the death of Graham, a Republican ally of Trump, which could complicate the bill’s prospects in the Senate by reducing the Republican majority. The legislation would require 60 votes to pass the Senate before it could become law.

The Clarity Act is among the first comprehensive proposals to establish a federal regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency industry. It has received support from major U.S. crypto companies and the White House, with backers arguing that clear regulations would strengthen investor confidence and encourage further investment.

Some Democratic lawmakers, however, have called for stricter ethics provisions in the bill, including additional restrictions on elected officials, arguing that public officeholders should face tighter oversight over their involvement in digital assets.

Bollywood star Aamir Khan plans mega family residence

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Bollywood star

MUMBAI: Bollywood star Aamir Khan is planning a large residential project in Mumbai aimed at keeping members of his extended family living within the same complex, according to Indian media reports.

The reports said Aamir plans to redevelop the Bella Vista and Marina Apartments near Mumbai’s upscale Pali Hill neighborhood into a single luxury “sky villa” project.

The actor reportedly owns multiple apartments in Bella Vista and is expected to invest around 100 crore rupees in the redevelopment.

The proposed residence is expected to include spacious areas for family gatherings along with separate living quarters for family members.

One floor is reportedly being designed as an entertainment zone, while another is expected to be reserved for Aamir’s son, Junaid Khan.

According to the reports, Aamir plans to live in the new residence with his wife Gauri Spratt and her son. Separate apartments within the same residential complex are also reportedly being planned for his mother Zeenat Hussain, his sisters Nikhat Khan and Farhat Khan Dutta, as well as his former wife Kiran Rao and their son, Azad Rao Khan.

Indian media reported that until the redevelopment is completed, Aamir has temporarily moved into an apartment near Pali Hill. The reports follow his recent private wedding ceremony with Gauri Spratt at his residence in Mumbai.