TEHRAN: Iran has announced a boycott of the Federation International Football Association (FIFA) World Cup 2026 draw scheduled to be held in Washington on December 5, after the United States refused to issue visas to key members of its delegation.
According to Iranian Football Federation spokesperson Amir Mehdi Alavi, the Iranian delegation will not attend the ceremony because the US issued visas to only four officials while denying entry to several others, including the team’s head coach and Federation President Mehdi Taj.
The spokesperson termed the US decision a violation of sporting principles. Reports indicate that the Iranian Football Federation has officially informed FIFA of its decision.
It is worth noting that Iran qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in March.
RAWALPINDI: The sixth match of the three-nation cricket series will be played today between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Both teams are set to compete fiercely, with table points adding intensity to the encounter. Pakistan and Sri Lanka will face off this evening at 6:00 PM in a crucial match at Rawalpindi Stadium.
Currently, Pakistan leads the table with 6 points, while Sri Lanka has 2 points.
Authorities have implemented tight security arrangements at the stadium and surrounding areas. Heavy police contingents will be deployed along all routes during the teams’ arrival and departure. The Metro Bus service will be partially suspended during these periods to facilitate smooth movement.
Expert police snipers have been stationed on nearby high-rise buildings, and VIP parking will be restricted to vehicles with proper stickers only.
Cricket fans have been advised to carry valid identification when entering the stadium. All officers and security personnel have been instructed to remain vigilant on the field and monitor any suspicious individuals or activities during the match.
At least 44 people have been killed after a massive fire broke out in a high-rise residential complex in northern Hong Kong, international media reported on Thursday.
According to reports, the blaze erupted in one of the multi-storey buildings of the large residential estate.
The Fire Department classified it as a Level 4 fire, indicating a major incident, and has been battling the flames for several hours.
Authorities confirmed that 29 people have been injured, while the dead include one firefighter. Several firefighters engaged in extinguishing the blaze were also hurt during the operation.
Officials said that 279 residents are currently unaccounted for, and many people are still believed to be trapped inside the building.
Rescue operations are ongoing, while approximately 700 residents have been moved to temporary shelters.
The residential complex consists of eight blocks, each 31 floors high, housing nearly 2,000 apartments with an estimated 5,000 residents.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, according to the news agency.
Two US National Guard personnel were shot near the White House in Washington, D.C., leaving both critically injured, American media reported on Thursday.
According to initial reports, a man opened fire on the National Guard service members near the White House perimeter, prompting a swift response from law enforcement. A heavy police contingent reached the scene immediately after the shooting.
National Guard shot near the White House at a little before 2:15.
I was in an Uber to work, with my cameraman, and heard multiple shots fired as we passed Farragut West.
A member of the National Guard fell while others rushed onto the scene.
Both injured guardsmen were rushed to a nearby hospital, where they remain in critical condition.
Police confirmed that a suspect has been taken into custody. U.S. authorities identified him as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who arrived in the United States in 2021.
Following the incident, the White House was placed under temporary lockdown, while surrounding areas were cordoned off. Residents were advised to avoid the vicinity of I Street.
The US Secretary of Homeland Security said the department is working closely with law enforcement agencies to gather details.
President Donald Trump condemned the attack, calling it an act of terrorism. During a speech, he also ordered a re-evaluation of every foreign national who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.
In a social media statement, Trump referred to the shooter as a “beast” and warned that the attacker would “pay a heavy price” for targeting National Guard troops.
Authorities said the two injured guardsmen were from West Virginia. The state’s governor stated he is in constant contact with federal officials and that investigations are underway.
In a separate development, flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport were briefly grounded due to heightened security concerns following the shooting. Normal operations resumed after a short suspension.
Meanwhile, United States has suspended all immigration applications submitted by Afghan nationals indefinitely, American media reported.
According to reports, the Trump administration ordered the immediate halt after an Afghan man shot and critically injured two National Guard personnel in Washington, D.C.
In a post on social media platform X, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that all immigration applications from Afghan citizens have been paused “for an indefinite period.”
Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols.
The protection and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and…
The agency stated that security and screening protocols for Afghan immigration cases will undergo further review before any applications are processed.
Admissions at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College in “Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir” (IIOJK) have once again laid bare the anti-Muslim bias of Hindu extremist groups.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has made it clear that the admissions were granted strictly on the basis of merit, not religion.
He stated that if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has such an issue with Muslim students, it should declare the medical college a minority institution so that Muslim students may pursue their education in Bangladesh or Türkiye.
According to reports, in the first batch of the new medical college, 42 out of 50 seats allocated to the Jammu and Kashmir region were secured by Muslim students purely on merit.
However, Hindu extremist groups including the BJP, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and Bajrang Dal have staged protests, demanding the cancellation of Muslim students’ admissions.
These groups claim that Hindu students should be given preference in the admissions process.
International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has issued a special ruling for Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo, reducing his suspension to one match after receiving a red card, just days after the striker met with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ronaldo, 40, was initially facing a three-match ban for violent conduct during Portugal’s recent match against Ireland, which would have sidelined him for Portugal’s 2026 World Cup opener.
However, FIFA cited that this was the first red card of Ronaldo’s international career spanning more than two decades, leading to the shortened suspension.
The striker had already served his ban in the subsequent match against Armenia, making him eligible for Portugal’s opening World Cup fixture.
Portugal’s head coach Roberto Martinez previously defended Ronaldo, arguing that his on-field outburst did not constitute violent conduct.
FIFA clarified that if Ronaldo commits a similar offense during the probationary period, the remaining two-match suspension will be enforced immediately.
The special ruling comes shortly after Ronaldo’s high-profile meetings with President Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the latter’s visit to the United States.
DUBAI: The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has announced the schedule for the Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup 2025, which will be held in Dubai from 12 to 21 December.
The tournament will feature eight teams, including Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, with three additional teams joining through qualifiers.
Group A will comprise Pakistan, India, and two qualifier teams (Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 3), while Group B will include Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Qualifier 2.
The highly anticipated Pakistan vs India match is scheduled for 14 December. Both semi-finals will take place on 19 December, with the final set for 21 December.
US President Donald Trump has said that his administration is close to finalizing an agreement to end the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war.
Speaking at a Thanksgiving event at the White House, President Trump noted that thousands of soldiers have been killed in the conflict, but “extraordinary progress” has now been made on a proposed peace deal aimed at bringing the war to an end.
Trump said his administration had helped stop eight conflicts in nine months, and efforts were now underway to halt another war.
He also shared an update on social media regarding Ukraine, stating that he had instructed his special representative, Steve Witkoff, to travel to Moscow for a meeting with the Russian President. According to Trump, only a few outstanding issues remain before an agreement can be finalized.
The White House also confirmed the significant progress, saying that while the peace framework had advanced, several “delicate points” still required further negotiations.
A few days earlier, U.S. and Ukrainian officials held talks in Geneva on a 28-point American peace proposal, after which both sides agreed to continue working on a new framework.
It is worth noting that President Trump has given Ukraine a deadline of November 27 to accept the peace agreement.
LONDON: The United Kingdom(UK) has launched a series of new measures aimed at tackling rising obesity rates, including the introduction of a sugar tax on milkshakes, packaged milk products, and sweetened drinks.
Under the new policy, the government has decided to reduce the sugar limit in beverages from 5 grams to 4.5 grams per 100 millilitres. Drinks containing more than 4.5 grams of sugar per 100 ml will be subject to the sugar tax.
Addressing Parliament, UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting said that obesity deprives children of the best start in life and disproportionately affects those from poorer backgrounds.
He noted that people suffering from obesity face lifelong health challenges, placing a significant financial burden on the government, with billions of pounds spent annually on treatment.
According to media reports, the tax will not apply to “open-cup” drinks sold at cafés and markets. The new sugar tax will come into effect on 1 January 2028.
The global air passenger rights organization AirHelp has released its 2025 annual rankings of the world’s best airlines, evaluating carriers on a 10-point scale.
According to the report, airlines were assessed across three equally weighted categories: on-time performance, customer satisfaction, and claim processing efficiency.
Qatar Airways secured the top position, earning the title of the world’s best airline for 2025, driven by its strong punctuality record, positive customer feedback, and effective claims handling.
The UAE’s Etihad Airways ranked second, while the United Kingdom’s Virgin Atlantic secured third place, completing the list of the year’s top three global airlines.
