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BTS’ Toronto return sparks excitement among fans • Google brings Gemini AI features to Chrome on Android devices • Football great Roberto Carlos reportedly enters Islam • Misbah Arshad crowned Miss Universe Pakistan 2026 • Pakistan considers income tax on farmers to meet IMF targets • US military quietly establishes shipping corridor through Strait of Hormuz • Imran Khan likely to be taken to Shifa Hospital shortly   • Imran Khan not negotiating any deal, says Barrister Gohar • China unveils humanoid robot that can run faster than Usain Bolt • Sindh declares 6,220 school buildings unsafe, orders suspension of classes • Saba Qamar, Yasir Hussain’s dance at qawwali night goes viral • Iranian Army Chief warns countries hosting US attacks • First Test: Pakistan collapse to 171 against England • Pakistan govt decides to cut diesel price by up to Rs. 32 per liter • Oil prices hit three-week high for fourth straight day
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World Desk

Future Soch World Desk covers international politics, conflicts, markets, diplomacy and global developments with context for Pakistani readers.

ICC approves new formats for ODI and T20 World Cups

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ICC approves

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved significant changes to the formats of the men’s ODI and T20 World Cups, introducing new competition structures aimed at making every match more meaningful and competitive.

Under the revised 14-team ODI World Cup format, the tournament will begin with a “Super Series” featuring the teams ranked 12th, 13th and 14th.

The winner of that stage will advance to the second round, where 12 teams will be divided into two groups of six.

The top three teams from each group, along with the best-ranked remaining team, will qualify for a new “Super 7” stage. After a round-robin among the seven teams, the top four will advance to the semifinals.

The ICC said the revised structure is designed to increase the importance of every match from the opening day of the tournament.

The governing body also approved changes to the 20-team T20 World Cup, replacing the existing Super 8 stage with a Super 10. In the opening round, the 20 teams will be split into five groups, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the Super 10 phase.

The Super 10 stage will feature two groups. The winners of each group will qualify directly for the semifinals, while the teams finishing second and third will contest newly introduced eliminator matches to determine the remaining semifinalists.

In addition, the ICC approved a new 16-team global T20 tournament for Associate Members, aimed at expanding competitive opportunities for emerging cricket nations.

Trump announces more US strikes on Iran

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Trump announces

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said the United States would carry out additional military strikes against Iran, warning that American forces would intensify operations after accusing Tehran of failing to honor an interim agreement.

In an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump said the U.S. would strike Iran “very hard” on Monday night and continue attacks on Tuesday.

He said the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran had been “a test” for Iran, but claimed Tehran had failed to comply. Trump also said the U.S. was preparing to target Pickaxe Mountain (Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La), a heavily fortified site near Iran’s Natanz nuclear complex.

Speaking later at the White House, Trump said U.S. forces were rapidly degrading Iran’s military capabilities and targeting assets linked to the Strait of Hormuz. He added that military operations would continue overnight but maintained that reaching a negotiated agreement with Iran remained possible.

Trump also said the United States was helping protect maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and argued that countries benefiting from that protection should help cover the costs.

His remarks came after he earlier proposed charging vessels a 20% transit fee through the strategic waterway before later abandoning the idea in favor of seeking trade and investment agreements with Gulf states.

The president also praised his working relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the two leaders were closely coordinated despite occasional policy differences.

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.

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.

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.

Iran warns against US intervention in Strait of Hormuz

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Iran warns

TEHRAN: Iran’s military warned that it would not allow the United States to intervene in the Strait of Hormuz, responding to recent remarks by President Donald Trump about expanding the US role in securing the strategic waterway.

In a statement issued from Tehran, Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said U.S. involvement in the Strait of Hormuz had undermined the security of energy transportation through the region.

Zolfaqari said Iran would neither accept nor allow U.S. interference in the administration of the Strait of Hormuz, adding that cooperation by some regional countries with Washington had increased the risk of a broader conflict.

He warned that any country assisting the United States in actions affecting the Strait of Hormuz would be regarded by Iran as participating in a war against the country’s territorial integrity. He also cautioned that any escalation could draw other countries in the region into the conflict.

The comments came after Trump announced plans for the United States to play a greater security role in the Strait of Hormuz and proposed charging transit fees on commercial cargo passing through the vital maritime chokepoint.

Top four FIFA-ranked teams reach World Cup semifinals for first time

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Top four

MIAMI: Spain, Argentina, France and England have made history by becoming the first top four teams in the FIFA world rankings to reach the FIFA World Cup semifinals in the same tournament.

The unprecedented achievement was aided by FIFA’s revised tournament draw system, which placed the four highest-ranked teams in separate sections of the bracket, ensuring they could not face each other before the semifinals if they topped their respective groups.

The format worked as intended, with all four teams finishing first in their groups and advancing through their respective knockout paths.

Under the new bracket structure, Spain and Argentina can only meet in the World Cup final, while France and England were also placed on separate knockout routes. The semifinal fixtures will see Spain face France, while Argentina will take on England.

The revised draw system was introduced alongside the expanded 48-team World Cup format, which increased the likelihood of heavyweight clashes in the early knockout rounds. FIFA redesigned the bracket to preserve marquee matchups for the latter stages of the tournament and maintain competitive balance—a strategy that has proven successful in this edition.

Trump announces new Strait of Hormuz security policy

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Trump announces

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said that the United States would assume responsibility for securing the Strait of Hormuz and seek compensation by imposing a 20% transit fee on cargo passing through the strategic waterway, while reinstating restrictions targeting Iranian shipping.

In an interview with Fox News, Trump said the United States would become the “guardian” of the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that countries benefiting from the route should help pay for its protection.

Trump accused Iran of violating a previous agreement and said Washington would restore what he described as an Iranian shipping blockade.

Under the proposed policy, he said, only Iranian vessels and their customers would be barred from using the strait, while ships from all other countries would continue to enjoy free passage.

In a subsequent post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would remain open “with or without Iran” and reiterated that the United States would protect the vital maritime corridor. He also said all cargo transiting the waterway would be subject to a 20% fee to help cover the costs of providing maritime security.

Trump further claimed that Iran’s naval, air and missile capabilities had been severely degraded in recent hostilities, warning that Tehran would face serious consequences for violating agreements.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, handling a significant share of global oil exports. Any changes to access or security arrangements could have major implications for international energy markets and global trade.

South Africa World Cup midfielder Jayden Adams dies at 25

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South Africa

JOHANNESBURG: South African midfielder Jayden Adams, who represented Bafana Bafana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has died at the age of 25, South African officials confirmed on Saturday.

Adams featured for South Africa during the FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. His death prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the country’s football community.

South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie expressed deep sorrow over Adams’ death, describing him as one of the country’s brightest young football talents.

“South African football has lost one of its finest young talents,” McKenzie said, extending condolences to Adams’ family, teammates and supporters who had watched him rise from academy football to the national team.

Police said Adams’ body was found at his home. Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death, and the cause of death has not yet been determined. No further official details have been released.

Iran’s Supreme Leader vows revenge for Ali Khamenei and war martyrs

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Iran’s Supreme Leader

TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has vowed to avenge the killing of his predecessor and father, Ali Khamenei, as well as those killed in the recent conflict, saying the pledge reflects the will of the Iranian nation.

In a written statement carried by Iranian media, Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran would remain steadfast on the path of the late supreme leader and ensure that “the blood of the martyrs” is avenged.

He said those responsible for the killings had already been identified and warned that they would never find peace, adding that they would “carry their unfulfilled wish of a peaceful death to their graves.”

“We will fulfill this promise whether we are here or not,” Khamenei said, adding that people he described as “free individuals around the world” would eventually contribute to what he called the mission.

The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions following the recent conflict involving Iran, with Tehran continuing to issue strong warnings against those it holds responsible for the deaths of its senior leadership and other casualties.