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Newsdesk

175 World Cup visitors apply for asylum in Canada, officials say

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175 World Cup

OTTAWA: A total of 175 foreign nationals who traveled to Canada to attend FIFA World Cup matches have applied for asylum, according to Canadian authorities.

Canada hosted 13 World Cup matches and issued approximately 26,000 visitor visas for the tournament. Officials said more than half of all visa applications received for the event were rejected.

Authorities said the 175 asylum claims will be assessed individually under Canada’s immigration and refugee laws. They did not disclose how many of the applicants, if any, were football players or members of official delegations.

Available government data showed that 25 applicants are Ghanaian nationals, while 15 each are from Egypt and Colombia. Officials added that the number of asylum applications could increase as more claims are submitted.

Before the tournament, the Canadian government warned that visitor visas issued for the FIFA World Cup could not be used as a pathway to permanent residence or guaranteed asylum. It said all protection claims would be evaluated solely in accordance with Canadian law.

Pakistan to tour England for five-match ODI series ahead of 2027 World Cup

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Pakistan

LAHORE: Pakistan will tour England in May 2027 for a five-match One-Day International (ODI) series, providing both teams with valuable preparation ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup later that year.

The series will be played from May 15 to May 26, 2027, with matches scheduled in Southampton, Manchester, Leeds, Chester-le-Street, and Cardiff.

The opening ODI will be held in Southampton on May 15, followed by matches in Manchester on May 19, Leeds on May 21, Chester-le-Street on May 23, and the fifth and final ODI in Cardiff on May 26.

The series is expected to serve as an important tune-up for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, which is scheduled to take place from October 4 to November 21, 2027, across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

Pakistan is currently ranked fifth in the ICC Men’s ODI rankings, while England sits seventh. Pakistan last toured England for an ODI series in 2021, when the two sides contested a three-match series.

Atif Aslam set to release new album ‘Subah Aaye Na’ on July 31

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Atif Aslam

KARACHI: Singing star Atif Aslam is set to release his new album, Subah Aaye Na, on July 31, marking his latest musical project after more than two decades of chart-topping success.

The eight-track album will feature the songs Subah Aaye Na, Safar Mein Hoon, Ishq, Let’s Have Some Fun, Sun Sajna, Hoon Ishq Mein, Chaar Yaar, and Sachay Waaday.

According to recent Spotify data, Atif Aslam’s songs have been streamed nearly 8 billion times, while his monthly listeners exceed 30 million across 184 countries.

 The platform’s statistics also show that 96% of his streams over the past year came from outside Pakistan, with strong audiences in the Middle East, North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.

The data further indicates that 85% of his listeners belong to Generation Z, highlighting his continued popularity among younger audiences.

Over the past year, more than 41 million new and returning listeners have streamed his music, while his songs have been added to over 37.5 million personal playlists worldwide.

Speaking about the upcoming release, Atif Aslam said Subah Aaye Na reflects his personal journey from inner turmoil to self-discovery. He said he is excited to share the album with fans and looked forward to its release later this month.

Rubio warns Iran will pay ‘heavier price’ if tensions persist

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Rubio warns

MANILA: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Iran would face increasingly severe consequences if it continues on its current course, saying President Donald Trump’s policy is based on strong retaliation against hostile actions.

Speaking to reporters in Manila, Rubio said the United States had honored its commitments in past negotiations with Iran but claimed Tehran is currently unwilling to reach a new agreement. He added that Iran could still change its position in the coming days but warned that “every passing night” would carry a heavier cost if the situation remains unchanged.

Rubio also alleged that Iran continues to seek both direct and indirect channels for negotiations with Washington. He accused Iran’s leadership of prioritizing support for groups including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis instead of focusing on economic development, arguing that the country has the potential to become one of the wealthiest in the Middle East.

Commenting on regional security, Rubio said Iran had drawn the Houthis into the broader conflict and expressed hope that attacks on shipping in the Red Sea would cease.

 He also described Saudi Arabia as a key U.S. strategic partner, saying a civilian nuclear agreement with the kingdom would include strict safeguards and require congressional approval.

On international issues, Rubio reiterated that the United States would not join the International Criminal Court, criticizing the institution and saying it would have no jurisdiction over U.S. citizens.

Addressing the war in Ukraine, Rubio said the conflict has caused extensive bloodshed and that Ukraine has paid a heavy price. He said the United States remains prepared to play a constructive role in efforts to end the war. Rubio also said Washington seeks stable and positive relations with China.

EU fines Google €890m for violating digital markets act

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EU fines

BRUSSELS: The European Commission has imposed a €890 million ($1 billion) fine on Google, accusing the technology giant of abusing its dominant position in online search and violating the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).

In a statement, the Commission said Google illegally used its market dominance to favor its own services including shopping, travel, gaming and other products while pushing rival services lower in search results, harming fair competition.

The Commission also found that Google prevented app developers from informing users about alternative payment options outside the Google Play Store, a practice that allegedly helped preserve the company’s commission fees. Regulators said the conduct violates the DMA, which is designed to ensure fair and non-discriminatory practices by major technology companies.

Google has been given 60 days to comply with the Commission’s decision or face additional financial penalties.

The ruling is expected to heighten trade tensions between the European Union and the United States, as the Trump administration has criticized the bloc’s digital regulations as unfair and warned of possible retaliatory measures.

Google rejected the decision, saying the ruling would ultimately harm European consumers.

The latest action is part of a series of antitrust cases against the company. In 2018, the EU fined Google €4.34 billion over Android-related anti-competitive practices, while in 2017 it imposed a €2.42 billion penalty for favoring its comparison shopping service in search results. European courts have since upheld key aspects of those rulings.

Salman Khan backs student protest over alleged exam paper leak

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Salman Khan

MUMBAI: Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has expressed support for students protesting over an alleged exam paper leak, urging authorities to strengthen India’s education system while calling for the movement to remain free of political influence.

In a post on X, Salman said the demonstrations began as a peaceful movement but regretted that they later turned violent. He said his thoughts were with the students and their families who were affected during the unrest.

Calling the alleged paper leak a serious issue, the actor praised students for uniting in pursuit of a fairer education system. He also commended parents for standing by their children throughout the protests.

Salman said the students had demonstrated commitment, sincerity and determination in their efforts to secure a better future and contribute to a more educated and progressive India. He described their courage and dedication to education as admirable.

The actor stressed that the issue should not be politicized, saying it is fundamentally a matter between students and the education system.

He added that the credit for the movement belongs solely to the students and expressed confidence that the government would take steps to strengthen the education system.

Salman concluded by expressing hope for a positive resolution to the dispute and wished success to all students striving to pursue their education.

Brent crude surges above $100 a barrel amid Middle East tensions

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Brent crude

LONDON: Global oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel for the first time since May as escalating tensions in the Middle East fueled concerns over potential disruptions to global energy supplies.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose more than 6% in Thursday trading, surpassing the psychologically significant $100-a-barrel mark.

Investors increased buying amid fears that a wider regional conflict could threaten the flow of oil through key shipping routes.

The price rally comes as attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea continue, with Yemen’s Houthi movement reportedly targeting Saudi oil tankers and other commercial vessels.

The Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait are among the world’s busiest maritime corridors for oil and cargo shipments linking Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

US President Donald Trump blamed both the Houthis and Iran for the attacks, saying Washington holds Tehran responsible for supporting the group. He warned that the United States could respond with significant military action if attacks on international shipping continue.

Energy analysts say sustained oil prices above $100 a barrel could drive up global fuel, electricity and transportation costs, adding to inflationary pressures and slowing economic growth.

France reports more than 5,700 excess deaths during heatwave

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France reports

PARIS: France recorded more than 5,700 excess deaths during a severe heat wave that swept across the country between June 17 and July 2, according to the country’s national public health agency.

French health authorities said 5,764 excess deaths were recorded during the period, representing a 36% increase over expected mortality levels.

The agency reported that 21,674 people died from all causes during the two-week period, compared with an expected 15,910 deaths under normal conditions. Public health experts classify the difference as excess mortality associated with the heat wave.

The figures underscore the growing impact of extreme temperatures on public health. Authorities noted that the number of excess deaths recorded in just over two weeks this year exceeded the 5,722 excess deaths reported during the entire summer of the previous year.

Officials continue to monitor the effects of extreme heat as Europe faces increasingly frequent and intense heat waves linked to climate change.

PM Shehbaz highlights role of cybersecurity in national defense

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PM Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan’s armed forces used autonomous systems and cybersecurity capabilities to defend the country’s borders during “Marka-e-Haq,” underscoring the growing role of advanced technology in national security.

Addressing the Indus Robotics and Autonomous Systems Expo in Islamabad, Sharif said the exhibition reflected Pakistan’s ambition to become a leader in emerging technologies in the 21st century.

The prime minister said the use of technology in the security sector was a source of national pride, adding that Pakistan had made significant progress in advanced technologies, including achieving more than 60% indigenous production of drones.

Sharif credited the armed forces, under the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, for effectively integrating modern technology during “Marka-e-Haq.” He also praised the contributions of the chief of air staff and chief of naval staff.

He said Pakistan would continue to invest in advanced technologies, including autonomous systems and cybersecurity, to strengthen its defense capabilities and safeguard national sovereignty.

Govt increases petrol, diesel prices for July 23

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Govt increases

ISLAMABAD: The federal government increased the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel, with the revised rates taking effect for July 23.

According to an official notification, the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) was increased by Rs7.83 per liter, raising the new price to Rs375.04 per liter.

The government also increased the price of petrol by Rs6.39 per liter, bringing the new rate to Rs327.12 per liter.

The revised prices will remain applicable for July 23, in line with the government’s latest notification.