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World News / International

First test between New Zealand and West Indies ends in draw

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First test

The opening Test match between New Zealand and West Indies at Christchurch concluded in a draw after a remarkable batting display from the West Indies in the final innings.

Chasing a massive target of 531 runs, the visitors held their ground with resilience, finishing at 457 for 6 after 163.3 overs. Justin Greaves played a historic innings, remaining unbeaten on 202 off 388 balls, while Kemar Roach provided strong support with an unbeaten 58 from 233 deliveries.

The pair added a crucial 180-run partnership for the seventh wicket, ensuring the match ended without a result. Earlier, Shai Hope contributed significantly with a superb 140-run knock.

New Zealand earlier posted 231 in the first innings, followed by 466/8 declared in the second. West Indies were dismissed for 167 in their first innings, but a valiant batting effort in the fourth innings saved them from defeat.

For his outstanding double-century, Justin Greaves was named Player of the Match.

FIFA honours Trump with peace award at World Cup draw ceremony

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FIFA honours Trump

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has awarded US President Donald Trump the FIFA Peace Award.

According to international media reports, Trump received the honour during the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw ceremony, scheduled to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year.

The award was presented to Trump by FIFA President Gianni Infantino at a ceremony held in Washington. Media outlets in the U.S. reported that FIFA had announced the honour last month, stating it would be given to individuals who made exceptional efforts for the cause of peace.

Speaking at the ceremony, Trump expressed gratitude, calling it “one of the greatest honours of my life.” He stated, “We saved millions of lives. We prevented wars—whether in Congo or by stopping conflict between India and Pakistan before it erupted.”

Trump also praised Infantino for his leadership, acknowledging remarkable achievements in football development and record-breaking ticket sales, describing the honour as a moment of pride for both the sport and its global community.

FIFA World Cup 2026 draw announced

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FIFA World Cup

The draw for the Federation International Football Association (FIFA) World Cup 2026 has been finalized, with 48 teams divided into 12 groups for the mega event scheduled to be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico next year.

The highly anticipated ceremony took place in the United States, where  US President Donald Trump also attended the event.

As per the official grouping:

Group A: Mexico (host), South Africa, South Korea, Playoff D winner

Group B: Canada (host), Qatar, Switzerland, UEFA Playoff A winner (Wales or Northern Ireland)

Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti

Group D: United States (host), Australia, Paraguay, UEFA Playoff C winner

Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curaçao

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, UEFA Qualifier B winner

Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand

Group H: Spain, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Cape Verde

Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, FIFA Playoff 2 winner

Group J: Argentina (defending champions), Austria, Algeria, Jordan

Group K: Portugal, Uzbekistan, Colombia, FIFA Qualifier 1 winner

Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana

The expanded format will see intense competition as teams battle through the group stage for a place in the knockout rounds. Fans worldwide now eagerly await the kickoff of football’s biggest global tournament next year.

Coco Gauff leads women athletes in 2025 income rankings

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Coco Gauff

WASHINGTON: Female tennis stars continue to dominate earnings charts, surpassing athletes from other sports in 2025.

According to US media, Coco Gauff has emerged as the highest-earning athlete this year, earning a total of $31 million. Of this, $8 million came from prize money and $23 million from sponsorships and other deals. Gauff has now been the highest-earning female athlete for three consecutive years.

World No. 1 tennis star Aryna Sabalenka earned $30 million in 2025, with $15 million from prize money and the rest from contracts. Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek earned $23.1 million, including $10.1 million in prize money and $13 million from sponsorships, while freestyle skier Eileen Gu earned $23 million.

So far, only four female athletes have crossed the $30 million mark this year: Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka, and Serena Williams.

Among the top 15 highest-earning female athletes, 10 are tennis players, and in the top 10, seven are WTA stars.

US prepares to expand travel ban list from 19 to over 30 countries

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US prepares

The United States is preparing to increase the number of countries subject to travel restrictions from 19 to more than 30.

Kristi Noem, Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security, told American television that President Trump is reviewing which additional countries may be added to the list, without specifying any names.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the Trump administration had blocked all immigration applications, including green cards and citizenship processes, from 19 non-European countries due to national security and public safety concerns.

According to Reuters, these restrictions apply to individuals from countries that were already facing partial travel bans in June.

The list includes Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, which were subjected to the strictest restrictions in June, including near-total entry bans with some exceptions.

Other countries facing partial bans in June, which may now see expanded restrictions, include Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

Russia bans Snapchat and Apple’s FaceTime over security concerns

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Russia bans

Moscow: The Russia authorities have imposed a ban on Snapchat and Apple’s video calling service FaceTime.

According to international media reports, authorities stated that the platforms were allegedly being used for planning terrorist activities. Officials claimed that certain groups were taking advantage of Snapchat’s encrypted chats and disappearing messages to stay in contact, after which the app was blocked nationwide.

Alongside Snapchat, Russia has also suspended Apple’s FaceTime service. Authorities said that some “unauthorized” foreign communication tools are incompatible with the country’s security surveillance systems, leading to the decision.

It is noteworthy that Russia has previously restricted access to Google, YouTube, several Meta services, WhatsApp and Telegram.

Analysts believe that such consistent actions are further limiting public access to international digital platforms within the country, while the government maintains that the measures are essential for national security.

England bowled out for 334 in first innings of second Ashes Test

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England bowled

In the second Ashes Test at the Gabba, England were dismissed for 334 runs in their first innings.

On the second day, the visitors could add only 9 runs to their overnight total before losing the final wicket. Jofra Archer, who resumed with Joe Root, scored 38 before being caught by Marnus Labuschagne. Joe Root remained unbeaten with a magnificent 138.

For Australia, Mitchell Starc was the standout performer with the ball, claiming 6 wickets, while Michael Neser, Brendan Doggett and Scott Boland picked up one wicket each.

Earlier on Day 1, after opting to bat first upon winning the toss, England suffered an early blow yet again, losing Ben Duckett for a golden duck in the opening over. Ollie Pope followed soon after, departing without scoring.

Zak Crawley and Joe Root steadied the innings, adding 117 runs for the third wicket. Crawley fell for 76 to Michael Neser. Harry Brook contributed 31 before being dismissed by Starc, a wicket that marked Starc’s record-breaking 415th in Test cricket, surpassing Wasim Akram.

Skipper Ben Stokes scored 19, Jamie Smith was out for zero, Will Jacks made 19, Gus Atkinson 4, while Brydon Carse departed without scoring.

England had ended the first day at 325 for 9 before being bowled out early on Day 2.

Mitchell Starc breaks Wasim Akram’s 23-year-old test record

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Mitchell Starc

Brisbane: Australia’s left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc has set a new milestone in Test cricket by breaking Pakistan legend Wasim Akram’s 23-year-old world record.

During the pink-ball Ashes Test at the Gabba, Starc dismissed English batters Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook in the first innings, marking a historic achievement.

With these wickets, Starc has now become the highest wicket-taking left-arm fast bowler in Test cricket. Previously, the record belonged to Wasim Akram, who claimed 414 wickets in 104 Test matches.

Mitchell Starc surpassed the record by securing his 415th wicket in his 102nd Test match.

It is worth noting that England’s James Anderson holds the overall record for most Test wickets by a fast bowler, with 704 wickets in 188 matches.

KL Rahul and India’s 20-match toss curse: What Went Wrong?

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KL Rahul

AHMEDABAD: Indian cricket captain KL Rahul has now lost the toss in 20 consecutive international matches, setting an unfortunate record for the team.

In Wednesday’s ODI against South Africa, Rahul again lost the toss to Temba Bavuma, continuing the streak that has made India the subject of jokes and discussions among fans and experts alike.

When Rahul called the toss against Bavuma, spectators hoped luck might favor him this time. However, as in the previous 19 instances, the coin fell against the Indian captain.

This streak dates back to the 2023 World Cup final in Ahmedabad when Rohit Sharma was leading India in ODIs.

Since then, the team has consistently failed to win the toss. In statistical terms, losing 20 tosses in a row has a probability of only 1 in 1,048,576.

South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma correctly called “heads” and opted to field first. Despite the setback, KL Rahul managed a wry smile after the toss, admitting: “Honestly, this is the most pressure I’ve faced because we haven’t won the toss in a long time.”

Inspector Arm of Rawalpindi Police secures World Powerlifting title

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Inspector Arm

RAWALPINDI: Inspector Arm Khanam of the Rawalpindi Police has made history by defeating Indian weightlifter Sapna and claiming an international title.

The World Powerlifting Championship 2025 was held in Sri Lanka, where Inspector Arm Khanam secured first place and won a gold medal.

She won two gold medals in total at the championship, showcasing Pakistan’s strength in international powerlifting competitions.

Upon her return to Rawalpindi Police Lines, Inspector Arm Khanam received a grand welcome and widespread appreciation for her achievements.

CPO Khalid Hamdani lauded her performance, saying, “Inspector Arm Khanam has brought honor to the Punjab Police and Pakistan. She is a shining star of the Punjab Police and a source of pride for the department and the nation.”

The Rawalpindi Police spokesperson added that Inspector Arm Khanam has also been invited to carry the Olympic torch and secured first place in the deadlift competition.