BREAKING NEWS
Iran, Oman reach understanding on shipping route through Strait of Hormuz • More than 100 killed in India floods, heavy rains since July • Brock Lesnar announces retirement from professional wrestling • Actor Ahsan Khan urges men to empower their wives • Bollywood star Aamir Khan pays tribute to Pradeep Rawat • Pakistan beat West Indies by 8 wickets to draw Test series 1-1 • Adiala Jail rejects solitary confinement claim in Imran Khan case • Pakistan government will complete five-year term, Naqvi says • Indian actor Pradeep Rawat dies at 74 after cancer battle • Mrunal Thakur warns of legal action over AI-generated deepfake content • Fazlur Rehman warns against politicizing debate over new provinces • Pakistan posts 387, secures first-innings lead over West Indies • Pakistan exempt from new US visa bond program • Trump voices concern over oil company profits amid Iran conflict • West Indies all out for 344 against Pakistan in first innings
Advertise with us >

World News / International

Fatima Sana signs with Birmingham Phoenix for The Hundred

by
Fatima Sana

LAHORE: Pakistan women’s cricket team captain Fatima Sana has signed with Birmingham Phoenix for the upcoming edition of The Hundred, becoming the first Pakistani woman cricketer to feature in the British franchise competition.

According to cricket website reports, Birmingham Phoenix added Fatima Sana to their squad as a replacement for Australia’s Lucy Hamilton.

The Hundred is scheduled to run from July 21 to Aug. 16. Fatima is set to make history as the first Pakistani female player to participate in the tournament.

Reports said the Pakistan captain will earn a minimum of £15,000 under her contract with Birmingham Phoenix.

However, her availability is expected to be limited because of Pakistan’s white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, which runs from July 23 to Aug. 4. The scheduling overlap could restrict the number of matches she is able to play in the competition.

Venomous snake spotted at Germany World Cup training camp in US

by
Venomous snake

WINSTON-SALEM: A venomous snake was spotted at Germany’s World Cup training camp in the United States, prompting precautionary measures for players and staff, captain Joshua Kimmich has revealed.

Speaking to reporters in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Kimmich said the team was informed that the snake was venomous and that immediate medical attention would be required in the event of a bite.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DZqMYVmCdV5/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=AYmBcD-IdOn6J37gCnt-GEy

He added that while such bites are rarely fatal, the situation was still treated seriously due to potential health risks.

According to German media reports, the snake is believed to be a copperhead viper, a species commonly found in the region whose venom can require urgent medical treatment.

The German Football Association said no changes have been made to the team’s training schedule, though players have been advised to remain cautious during outdoor sessions.

Meanwhile, Austria’s national team has reportedly restricted the use of bicycles at its training camp due to similar safety concerns involving snakes in the area.

Austria beat debutants Jordan 3-1 in World Cup comeback win

by
Austria beat

SAN FRANCISCO: Austria produced a strong comeback performance to defeat World Cup newcomers Jordan 3-1, securing their first victory in the tournament since 1990.

In an entertaining Group-stage clash, both sides played an attacking brand of football, but Austria proved decisive in the closing stages to seal all three points.

Romano Schmid opened the scoring in the 21st minute to give Austria an early lead. Jordan responded after the break when Ali Olwan struck five minutes into the second half to level the match.

Austria thought they had regained the lead through forward Marko Arnautovic, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review confirmed handball.

The breakthrough finally came in the 76th minute when Jordan defender Yazan Al-Arab scored an unfortunate own goal, restoring Austria’s advantage.

Arnautovic later converted a penalty in stoppage time to confirm the 3-1 win for Austria.

Following the result, Austria will next face Argentina, while Jordan will look to bounce back against Algeria.

Messi scores hat-trick as Argentina beat Algeria

by
Messi scores

DOHA: Argentina captain Lionel Messi scored a sensational hat-trick to lead his side to a memorable victory over Algeria in their opening World Cup match, giving the defending champions a strong start to their title defense.

The win in the group-stage opener saw Argentina overcome Algeria as Messi delivered a standout performance in his 200th international appearance.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DZq-BnNFpf8/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=AfEEqreGBPCfEdn0xcQv82t

The 38-year-old forward scored his first goal in the 17th minute to give Argentina the lead. He added his second after capitalizing on an error by Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane in the second half before completing his hat-trick with a powerful strike in the 76th minute.

With the treble, Messi’s World Cup goal tally rose to 16, drawing him level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the joint-highest scorer in the tournament’s history.

The Argentine star also achieved another milestone by becoming the first player to feature in six different World Cup editions, having previously played in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and now 2026.

Zidane Iqbal makes history as first Pakistan-origin player to feature in World Cup

by
Zidane Iqbal makes

DOHA: Iraq suffered a 4-1 defeat against Norway in its opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026, but the game marked a historic moment for Pakistan as midfielder Zidane Iqbal became the first footballer of Pakistani origin to appear in the tournament.

According to international media reports, Iqbal came on as a substitute in the 59th minute, making his World Cup debut and representing Iraq on football’s biggest stage.

Born in Manchester, England, the 23-year-old has a mixed heritage, with his father hailing from Sahiwal in Pakistan’s Punjab province and his mother from Iraq, making him eligible to represent England, Pakistan or Iraq.

Iqbal’s journey to the Iraqi national team included contact from football-linked social media pages and the Iraqi Football Association, which reached out to him and his family through multiple video calls to convince him to represent Iraq.

In a previous interview, Iqbal said the support and affection from Iraqi fans played a key role in his decision to join the national team.

While Iraq could not secure a win in its opening match, the appearance of a player of Pakistani origin on the World Cup stage was widely seen as a landmark moment for Pakistani football supporters, as the country has yet to qualify for the tournament itself.

Trump jokes about being ‘Boss’ after arriving late at G7 summit

by
Trump jokes

PARIS: US President Donald Trump joked about being the “boss” after arriving late to a meeting with world leaders during the G7 summit in France, adopting a lighthearted tone as he greeted journalists at the venue.

As he arrived at the summit site, Trump quipped to reporters, “Would you like to be in the meeting? I don’t mind,” drawing attention for his informal remarks.

The meeting came at a time when G7 leaders expressed support for a potential peace agreement with Iran, describing it as a significant diplomatic development.

In a joint statement, the leaders praised Trump’s role in advancing negotiations, calling the agreement a major step forward.

The G7 leaders said the proposed deal represents a historic opportunity to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and emphasized the importance of sustained diplomatic engagement.

Italy’s Meloni says she quit smoking ‘Last Month’ at G7 event

by
Italy’s Meloni

PARIS: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said she has quit smoking, revealing the update during informal conversations with world leaders on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France.

Meloni reportedly made the comment during a casual exchange among European leaders, where she said she now relies on coffee to stay alert. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz jokingly referenced smoking during the discussion, prompting Meloni to respond that she had stopped the habit last month.

The Italian leader has previously said in interviews that she had remained smoke-free for 13 years before later resuming smoking.

Following her remarks, Turkish media resurfaced footage from an October 2025 meeting in Egypt in which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seen advising Meloni to quit smoking.

Erdogan is known for his long-standing anti-smoking stance and has frequently encouraged public figures and citizens to give up the habit. His remarks have since drawn renewed attention on Turkish social media after Meloni’s announcement.

G7 Nations welcome US-Iran agreement, pledge support for implementation

by
G7 Nations

PARIS: The Group of Seven nations welcomed the announcement of an agreement between the United States and Iran, expressing support for its implementation and broader efforts to promote regional stability.

In a joint statement issued following the G7 summit, member countries said they support the U.S.-Iran agreement and stand ready to play a constructive role in ensuring its effective implementation.

The statement emphasized that unrestricted access through international maritime routes remains a cornerstone of global trade and economic stability.

The G7 countries also voiced support for an immediate and durable ceasefire in Lebanon and backed efforts by the Lebanese leadership to disarm the militant group Hezbollah.

In addition, the group pledged to reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz and strengthen strategic energy reserves to enhance global energy security.

The statement underscored the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region based on the rule of law and international norms.

The G7 comprises the United States, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada.

FIFA approves Trump’s role in trophy presentation at World Cup final

by
FIFA approves

WASHINGTON: The FIFA World Cup final will be held on July 19 in the United States, with FIFA reportedly granting special permission for US President Donald Trump to take part in the trophy presentation ceremony, according to international media.

The tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, is currently underway as the world’s most prestigious football competition.

According to reports, the final will take place in New Jersey, where Trump is expected to present the trophy to the winning team and join the on-field celebrations.

Sources said FIFA has no objection to deviating from traditional presentation protocols, including allowing the president to directly hand over the trophy to the winning captain.

Officials familiar with the arrangement said Trump has been informed that FIFA would prefer his presence during the trophy ceremony, including participation on the podium during post-match celebrations.

Uruguay hold Saudi Arabia to late 1-1 draw in World Cup clash

by
Uruguay

DOHA: Saudi Arabia came within minutes of another major World Cup upset before Uruguay struck late to secure a 1-1 draw in a tense Group H encounter on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia took the lead in the first half through Abdullah Al-Amri, putting his side in control after a set-piece situation.

The goal came after a corner kick caused confusion in the Uruguay defence, with goalkeeper Fernando Muslera unable to fully clear the danger, allowing the rebound to be converted.

The Saudi side once again impressed with their disciplined defensive structure, echoing their surprise win over Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, as they frustrated Uruguay for long spells.

Uruguay, coached by Marcelo Bielsa, made tactical adjustments in the second half, introducing key changes in an effort to increase attacking intensity.

Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais played a crucial role in maintaining the lead, producing several important saves as Uruguay pushed forward in search of an equaliser.

The breakthrough came in the 80th minute when Maxi Araujo capitalised on a rebound to level the match.

Uruguay continued to press in the closing stages, with Federico Valverde coming close, but Al-Owais made a decisive stop to keep the score level.

Both teams ultimately shared the points, leaving Group H finely balanced as the race for qualification intensifies.