World News Today & Global Affairs

Vivek Oberoi speaks out against criticism of Katrina’s post-pregnancy weight

September 23, 2026 by Entertainment Desk

MUMBAI, India: Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi has spoken out against social media criticism of actress Katrina Kaif over changes in her weight following childbirth.

In an interview, Oberoi urged people to avoid negative comments about Kaif, saying there were many more positive things to focus on rather than criticizing others.

Oberoi said gaining weight after becoming a mother was a natural process and added that Kaif could regain her fitness when she returned to films.

Earlier, actor Salman Khan also criticized people who mock celebrities over their appearance, body shape and personal lives on social media during a recent episode of his reality show Bigg Boss 20.

Pakistani singer Ali Zafar has also expressed support for Kaif, sharing a video clip in her defense.

Pezeshkian says Iran will not surrender to US military pressure

September 23, 2026 by World Desk

UNITED NATIONS: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday that Iran would not surrender to U.S. military pressure but remained committed to diplomacy to end the conflict, during his address to the U.N. General Assembly.

Pezeshkian accused the United States and Israel of attacks that he said had killed civilians and damaged schools and hospitals. He displayed images of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and children killed in an attack on a school in Minab.

The Iranian president said Tehran was not seeking war and had exercised what he described as its right to self-defense. He also criticized what he called double standards in the international response to the conflict.

Responding to US President Donald Trump’s remarks at the General Assembly, Pezeshkian rejected accusations that Iran was a terrorist state and said threats against Iran would strengthen national unity.

Pezeshkian also addressed the strategic Strait of Hormuz, saying Iran would not allow the waterway to be used to transport weapons intended for use against Iran.

The speech came as U.S. and Iranian officials engaged in indirect discussions through mediators on the sidelines of the General Assembly. The contacts were aimed at exploring a possible path toward ending the conflict, although the two sides remained apart on key issues.

A member of the U.S. delegation left the General Assembly chamber as Pezeshkian began his address, according to reports.

Trump warns he could ‘annihilate’ Iran if no deal is reached

September 22, 2026 by World Desk

UNITED NATIONS: US President Donald Trump warned Tuesday that he could “annihilate” Iran if Tehran does not reach a peace agreement with Washington, while saying he believes a deal could be reached after the U.S. midterm elections.

Addressing the U.N. General Assembly, Trump said he faced a major decision over whether to allow Iran to rebuild or destroy the Islamic Republic to prevent it from threatening other countries.

Trump said his primary objective was to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He accused Tehran of supporting terrorism and said Iran had previously sought to exert influence across the Middle East.

The U.S. president said he believed Iran was waiting to see the outcome of the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections before deciding whether to reach an agreement with Washington. He said he expected a deal could be reached after the elections.

Trump also defended his administration’s actions against Iran and argued that the conflict had prevented Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. His remarks came as the war with Iran remained a central issue at the U.N. gathering.

He said the United States was stronger than in the past and highlighted what he described as gains in the economy, border security and crime reduction.

Trump also criticized international institutions, including the International Criminal Court, saying the United States would not accept international jurisdiction over its citizens or military personnel. He called on countries that are members of the ICC to withdraw from the court.

The president also referred to the conflict between Pakistan and India, citing his administration’s role in efforts to end the fighting.

Trump’s speech came amid continuing diplomatic efforts surrounding the Iran conflict. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that Washington was open to discussions with Iranian representatives at the U.N., although no meeting had been scheduled.

FIFA chief proposes reforms after backlash over investment plan

September 22, 2026 by Sports Desk

ZURICH: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has proposed an independent external review of the governing body’s decision-making structure after a controversial investment plan drew strong opposition from football organizations.

In a letter to FIFA’s 211 member associations and the FIFA Council, Infantino said the review could examine who should have authority over major strategic decisions and whether the roles of the FIFA president, Bureau, Council and Congress need to be changed. It would also consider measures to improve transparency and accountability.

The move follows the withdrawal of the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal in July. The plan called for a new FIFA-owned subsidiary to manage commercial and tournament operations and proposed raising up to $4.2 billion through minority, non-controlling external investments. FIFA said the initiative was intended to generate additional revenue for football development.

The proposal faced opposition from several football confederations and member associations. FIFA subsequently withdrew it, saying the project had created divisions that were no longer consistent with its original objective.

FIFA later acknowledged that mistakes had been made in the process and said a review would be conducted, with a report to be presented to the FIFA Council.

Infantino said the Forward Enterprise proposal had become public before FIFA completed its internal process, creating the impression that a final decision had already been made. He stressed that it had remained a proposal and had been withdrawn.

The proposed governance review would examine FIFA’s framework for major strategic initiatives and recommend potential improvements.

Infantino also said he was prepared to hold discussions with confederations, member associations and other stakeholders on strengthening FIFA’s decision-making processes.

Infantino, 56, indicated that he remains committed to leading FIFA. He announced in April that he intended to seek another term as president at the 2027 FIFA Congress.

The first reform proposals could be discussed when the FIFA Council meets on Oct. 15, 2026.

Ronaldo could represent Portugal alongside son at 2030 World Cup

September 21, 2026 by Sports Desk

LISBON: Cristiano Ronaldo could potentially represent Portugal alongside his son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., at the 2030 FIFA World Cup, although the prospect remains uncertain, former Manchester United midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba has suggested.

Portugal will co-host the 2030 World Cup, and Ronaldo has indicated that he wants to continue playing international football beyond the 2026 tournament. He would be 45 years old in 2030.

Djemba-Djemba has previously said Ronaldo could continue playing until he is 44 or 45. He suggested that if the five-time Ballon d’Or winner remains active at that age, he should be considered for Portugal’s squad for the 2030 World Cup.

Ronaldo’s 15-year-old son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., is also beginning to make a name for himself in football. He recently scored both goals for Al Nassr Under-17 in a 2-1 victory over Al Ahli.

Djemba-Djemba said a World Cup appearance by Ronaldo and his son for Portugal at the same time would provide a memorable ending to the veteran forward’s international career and a significant moment for Portuguese football.

However, Ronaldo Jr. still has a long way to go before potentially reaching Portugal’s senior national team, making such a scenario difficult to predict at this stage.

United Russia leads Russia’s parliamentary polls in preliminary results

September 21, 2026 by World Desk

MOSCOW, Russia: President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party was leading Russia’s parliamentary election in preliminary results released Monday, with the party receiving 57.53% of the vote after 71.17% of ballots had been counted, according to the Central Election Commission.

United Russia candidates were also ahead in 208 of the 225 single-member constituencies, according to preliminary figures. The results put the ruling party on course to retain a constitutional majority in the 450-seat State Duma, which requires at least 301 seats.

The Communist Party of the Russian Federation was in second place with 14% of the party-list vote, followed by the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia with 8.73%, the New People party with 7.97% and A Just Russia with 5.03%.

The State Duma has 450 seats, with 225 allocated through party lists and the remaining 225 elected from single-member constituencies.

The three-day election, held from Sept. 18 to 20, was the first Russian parliamentary election since the country launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Voting continued amid Ukrainian drone attacks, which Russian authorities said were intended to disrupt the election.

Later preliminary results showed United Russia with 57.83% of the vote after more than 95% of ballots had been counted, with the party set to win 355 of the 450 seats, according to the Central Election Commission.

Pakistan’s Shahzaib Rind wins Miami tournament with three knockouts

September 19, 2026 by Sports Desk

MIAMI: Pakistan’s star fighter Shahzaib Rind won The HELL: 8-Man Tournament in Miami after securing three knockout victories in a single night.

Eight fighters competed in the 155-pound lightweight tournament held at Bonk Studios in Miami, Florida.

Rind defeated Nick Longoria in the quarterfinals before winning both the semifinal and final by knockout within a few hours to claim the championship.

Rind previously became Pakistan’s first world champion at the Karate Combat KC-49 championship in Singapore, where he defeated Brazil’s Bruno Roberto de Assis in the final.

During Karate Combat 44 in Mexico City, Rind knocked out Peru’s Marco Cubas with a flying knee in just 21 seconds. He has also recorded a knockout victory over former three-time world champion Edgars Skrivers and defeated Carlos Guevara by knockout in bare-knuckle MMA in 2023.

Rind is Pakistan’s No. 1-ranked Wushu fighter. His combined Wushu and kickboxing record stands at 75 wins and four losses.

Rind has said that he developed much of his fighting ability through self-training using YouTube videos.

EU approves stricter return rules for illegal immigrants

September 19, 2026 by World Desk

The European Parliament has approved new rules aimed at strengthening the return of non-EU nationals who have no legal right to remain in EU member states. The Parliament adopted its position on the new Return Regulation on June 17, 2026.

The rules apply not only to rejected asylum seekers but also to other non-EU nationals whose visas or residence permits have expired or who otherwise have no legal right to stay and are subject to a return decision.

Under the new framework, people facing a return decision will be required to leave within the specified period and cooperate with authorities. Failure to cooperate can lead to consequences under national law, including reduced benefits or, where permitted, criminal sanctions.

Authorities may detain individuals following an individual assessment if they fail to cooperate, pose a risk of absconding or present a security risk. Detention can last up to 24 months, with a possible extension of up to six months under specified circumstances. Alternatives such as regular reporting, residence at a designated location, financial guarantees or electronic monitoring may also be used.

People considered security risks may face entry bans exceeding the usual 10-year maximum, or even indefinite bans in certain cases.

The new rules also allow EU member states to establish agreements with countries outside the bloc for so-called return hubs. People with final return decisions could, under such arrangements, be transferred to a third country that agrees to accept them, either as a final destination or as a transit point for onward return.

Such arrangements must respect international human rights standards and the principle of non-refoulement. Unaccompanied minors are excluded from these arrangements.

The framework requires respect for fundamental rights and international law. Return arrangements cannot be made with countries where the person would face a real risk of serious harm in violation of the non-refoulement principle. The rules also provide legal safeguards and remedies against return decisions.

For Pakistani citizens planning to travel to Europe, the rules underscore the importance of complying with visa and residence conditions. Overstaying or remaining without legal status can result in a return decision and, depending on the circumstances, detention or an entry ban.

Note: The European Parliament adopted its position on June 17, but the final EU legislative process and the date on which individual provisions become applicable depend on formal adoption and publication. The Council and Parliament had reached a provisional agreement earlier in June.

‘For Pakistan’s Sake, Give Us Your Phone’: Rizwan’s mobile taken in England

September 18, 2026 by Sports Desk

LONDON: Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Rizwan was asked to hand over his mobile phone at around 1:30 a.m. while in England, with sources saying he was questioned about online betting companies and gambling.

According to the sources, Rizwan was called from his hotel room to the lobby, where a Pakistan Cricket Board official and an unidentified man were present. He was questioned about online betting platforms and asked to hand over his phone.

The sources said Rizwan initially refused several times and asked why his phone was being taken and what allegations he faced. After repeated requests, he was told, “For Pakistan’s sake, give us your phone,” following which he agreed to hand it over.

Rizwan was reportedly assured that the phone would be returned within a few hours. However, as he was scheduled to fly back to Pakistan the following day, he objected to returning without his phone and repeatedly asked the team manager about it, but did not receive a satisfactory response, the sources said.

Rizwan later learned that his phone had been taken to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) office in Lahore and had still not been returned.

Sources close to Rizwan said the cricketer had no objection to an investigation but had concerns about the procedure followed in taking his phone.

They questioned whether a written report, explanation or receipt was issued when the phone was taken, and asked what authority was used to seize it if the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption code was not invoked.

The sources also questioned why the phone was transferred out of the United Kingdom and retained for weeks despite the assurance that it would be returned within hours.

They asked whether the Metropolitan Police or the UK’s National Crime Agency had been informed when the phone was taken in London, and whether any warrant, court application or legal authorization had been obtained from British authorities.

If the matter involved alleged corruption in an international match, the sources also questioned when the ICC was informed.

The ICC has not issued a statement on the matter so far, according to the sources.

Rizwan also wants clarification about questions concerning visits to a mosque, including which specific day, practice session or meeting he allegedly missed that could constitute a disciplinary or security violation, the sources said.

They further questioned whether the same rules were being applied to two former players in relation to betting platforms.

The sources said Rizwan was awaiting written responses to his questions from the PCB, England and Wales Cricket Board, ICC or British authorities.

Anil Kapoor credits daughters for major joy in his life

September 18, 2026 by Entertainment Desk

MUMBAI: Veteran Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor has spoken about his family and career, describing his daughters Sonam and Rhea Kapoor as a major source of joy in his life.

Recalling the birth of his daughter Rhea, Kapoor said he arrived late at the hospital and regretted not being able to see her on time. He said the experience stayed with him throughout the night.

The 69-year-old actor, speaking on The Anil Kapoor Show, said his daughters were nothing short of a blessing and that his family was more important to him than his career.

According to Kapoor, Rhea’s birth made him realize the additional happiness that having a daughter could bring. With two daughters, Sonam and Rhea, he said that happiness had effectively doubled.

Kapoor began gaining prominence with the 1983 film Woh Saat Din and has built a career spanning more than four decades in the Indian film industry.

The actor remains active in show business and is currently hosting a quiz show.