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World News / International

England all out for 172 in first Ashes Test amid Starc onslaught

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England

PERTH: In the first Ashes Test, Mitchell Starc’s devastating bowling dismantled England, restricting them to 172 runs and sending the entire team back to the pavilion.

England captain Ben Stokes’ surprising decision to bat first left experts stunned as his side struggled from the outset. The visitors lost their first wicket in the very first over, with Zak Crawley dismissed for zero by Starc.

Starc continued his dominance, claiming Ben Duckett for 21 in the seventh over and Joe Root for a duck in the ninth. Although Ollie Pope and Harry Brook offered some resistance, Pope fell for 46 runs before lunch at 94/4.

By the interval, England stood at 105/4, but subsequent wickets tumbled quickly, and the team was bowled out for 172 runs. Starc finished with an outstanding haul of seven wickets, while Brendon Doggett took two and Cameron Green claimed one.

Australia’s playing XI included captain Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Jack Wildermuth, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Brendon Doggett, and Scott Boland.

Illegal migrants in UK to wait 30 years for permanent residency

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Illegal migrants

LONDON: The United Kingdom(UK) has announced major changes to its immigration rules following a revision of its asylum policy, significantly extending the timeline for obtaining permanent residency.

Under the new proposals, immigrants who arrive legally in the UK may have to wait up to 20 years for permanent residency, while those entering illegally could face a wait of up to 30 years.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, addressing Parliament, said that applicants seeking permanent residency must meet strict requirements: they must have no criminal record, demonstrate A-Level standard English proficiency, and must not owe any debt within the country. The revised rules will also apply to individuals already living in the UK.

According to the proposed framework, the settlement period will vary based on category. Mahmood stated that the minimum residence requirement before applying for settlement will increase from five years to ten years for most categories.

However, doctors and nurses serving within the NHS will remain eligible to apply after five years, while highly skilled individuals may qualify through a fast-track route, and high-income professionals or entrepreneurs may apply after three years.

Shabana Mahmood said her aim is to replace the UK’s “broken immigration system” with one that is fair and focused on integration, adding that her own parents migrated to Britain in search of a better life before becoming citizens.

Paris unveils Princess Diana’s wax figure in ‘Revenge Dress’

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Paris unveils

PARIS: : Nearly 28 years after her tragic death, Princess Diana has become part of the Paris cultural landscape as the Grévin Museum unveiled her wax figure.

The museum presented the late Princess in her iconic “revenge dress,” recreating one of her most memorable public appearances.

According to museum officials, a meeting had originally been scheduled with Princess Diana in 1996 to design her wax statue, but the plan was shelved following her fatal car crash in Paris in 1997.

Princess Diana married Britain’s Prince Charles in July 1981 in what was widely described as the “wedding of the century.” However, the couple formally divorced in August 1996.

PSL announces auction date for two new franchises

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PSL announces

LAHORE: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is set to enter a new phase of expansion, with the auction for two additional teams scheduled for January 6, 2026.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has crossed a major milestone in the league’s growth, announcing a shortlist of six potential cities for the new franchises. The shortlisted cities include Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Sialkot, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit.

According to the PCB, only technically qualified bidders will be eligible to participate in the auction for the two new teams.

Commenting on the development, PSL Chief Executive Salman Naseer said the Pakistan Super League continues to evolve as a global T20 brand, with expansion marking an important step in its journey.

Australia announces playing XI for first Ashes Test against England

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Australia announces

PERTH: Australia has confirmed its playing XI for the first Ashes Test, with Steve Smith set to captain the side.

The lineup features seasoned players including Smith, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, and Mitchell Starc. Test debutants Brandon Doggett and Jack Wagerald will also make their first appearances. Nathan Lyon, Brandon Doggett, and Scott Boland complete the squad.

England’s squad for the Ashes opener

England has also announced a 12-man squad for the first Test, which begins at 02:20 GMT on Friday. Captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum may confirm the final XI at the toss.Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Mark Wood

England’s selection strategy under Stokes and McCullum often involves finalizing the XI close to the toss, so fans can expect last-minute confirmations.

Meanwhile, former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath has stepped down from the Ashes commentary panel ahead of the series.

The first Ashes Test between Australia and England is scheduled to begin tomorrow in Perth.

Olympian turned Fugitive: Ryan Wedding joins FBI’s most wanted list

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Olympian turned Fugitive

Ryan James Wedding, a Canadian national currently living in Mexico, is a former Olympic snowboarder who represented Canada in the giant slalom event at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. Following his athletic career, Wedding became involved in transnational drug trafficking.

He is alleged to lead a sophisticated international criminal organization responsible for sourcing and transporting cocaine from South America to both the United States and Canada.

After an extensive investigation spanning North America, Wedding was charged in June 2024 in California’s Central District with operating a continuing criminal enterprise, murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to possess, distribute, and export cocaine.

Ryan Wedding, wanted by U.S. authorities for allegedly leading a multinational drug trafficking network, is now facing additional charges related to the murder of a federal witness, U.S. Attorney-General Pam Bondi announced.

Ten other individuals have been arrested in connection with the federal indictment unsealed in California, which accuses Wedding of orchestrating the January killing of a witness in Colombia to avoid extradition to the United States.

The FBI has placed Wedding on its 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list and is offering a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest. Authorities believe he is currently hiding in Mexico under the protection of the Sinaloa cartel, collaborating to traffic large quantities of drugs into Canada and the U.S.

“Whether you are a street-level drug dealer or an international drug kingpin, we are coming for you,” Bondi said. “We will find you, and you will be held accountable for your crimes.”

Wedding, also known by aliases including El Jefe, Public Enemy, and James Conrad King, was charged in 2024 with running a drug operation responsible for moving approximately 60 tons of cocaine annually. The drugs were allegedly transported using long-haul trucks between Colombia, Mexico, southern California, and Canada.

Authorities claim Wedding and his alleged co-conspirators used a Canadian website called “The Dirty News” to post a photograph of the witness, allowing him to be identified and ultimately killed. The victim was shot in the head at a restaurant in Medellín, Colombia, in January.

“Wedding placed a bounty on the victim’s head under the false belief that killing him would result in the dismissal of criminal charges and prevent his extradition to the United States,” said Bill Essayli, lead federal prosecutor for California’s Central District. “He was wrong.”

The U.S. government is also offering rewards of up to $2 million for information leading to the capture of others involved in the witness killing.

Dubai Intl Airport welcomes 3.2m Pakistani passengers in 9 months

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Dubai Intl Airport

DUBAI: Dubai International Airport (DXB) has announced passenger statistics for the current year, revealing that it welcomed 3.2 million Pakistani travelers during the first nine months of 2025.

Officials stated that Pakistan ranked fourth among the top nationalities using the airport. Pakistani passengers primarily travel to Dubai for tourism, business, family visits, employment opportunities, and as a transit point to Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. Dubai Airport serves as a key hub for travel between Pakistan and the UAE.

From July to September, DXB handled 24.2 million passengers, marking a 1.9% increase compared to the same period last year, reaching the highest quarterly traffic in its 65-year history. From January to September, total passenger traffic reached 70.1 million, up 2.1% year-on-year. Over the past 12 months, Dubai Airport recorded a new annual high of 93.8 million passengers.

In comparison, India led with 8.8 million passengers, followed by Saudi Arabia with 5.5 million, and the United Kingdom with 4.6 million.

The airport maintained high efficiency, with 99.6% of departing passengers completing immigration in under 10 minutes, while 99.8% of arriving passengers were processed within 15 minutes.

To accommodate the growing number of passengers, especially from South Asia, expansions at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 are underway to enhance capacity and improve services.

Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim sores century in 100th Test match

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Mushfiqur Rahim

DHAKA: Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim achieved a remarkable milestone by scoring a century in his 100th Test match.

Rahim is the first Bangladeshi cricketer to reach 100 Test appearances and was playing his landmark match against Ireland in Mirpur, Dhaka.

He completed his century on the second day of the second Test, marking the 13th century of his illustrious career.

With this feat, Mushfiqur Rahim became the 11th cricketer in the world to score a century in his 100th Test match, cementing his place among cricketing greats.

Arshad Nadeem wins gold at Islamic Solidarity Games

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Arshad Nadeem

RIYADH: Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem clinched the gold medal while compatriot Yasir Sultan secured the silver in the javelin throw competition at the Islamic Solidarity Games held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

Both Pakistani athletes delivered impressive performances. Arshad Nadeem recorded throws of 75.44m in his first attempt, 83.05m in his second, 82.48m in the third, and 77.06m in his fourth attempt.

Arshad sealed the gold with his 83.05m throw, while Yasir Sultan earned the silver medal with a throw of 76.04m. Nigeria’s Samuel Adams claimed the bronze with a throw of 76.01m.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi congratulated Arshad Nadeem on his gold-medal victory, stating that the star athlete had once again made Pakistan proud on the international stage.

Arshad Nadeem has previously won gold medals at the Olympics and Asian Championships, further solidifying his status as one of Pakistan’s top athletes.

UK car theft hits 119,000 as thieves exploit keyless systems

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UK car

LONDON: More than 119,000 cars were reported stolen in the United Kingdom in 2024, averaging nearly 320 vehicles per day, according to international news agencies.

Authorities attribute the surge largely to modern keyless car technology, which allows thieves to intercept electronic signals and steal vehicles within minutes using specialized devices.

In response, the UK government has introduced stricter laws. Possessing or sharing such electronic devices is now considered a criminal offense, punishable by up to five years in prison.

The rise in vehicle theft has sparked concerns among car owners, prompting calls for enhanced security measures and public awareness campaigns regarding keyless entry vulnerabilities.

Meanwhile,  UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released data showing that 257,000 British citizens left the country in 2024.

Media reports indicate that the UK’s net migration last year was 20% lower than expected, with December 2024 figures dropping to 34,500.

Previously, net migration estimates were based on international passenger surveys, but the ONS now uses revised calculations derived from Department for Work and Pensions data.

The report also highlighted an increase in citizens returning to the UK, with the number of returnees reaching 143,000.

Experts say the trends reflect changing migration patterns and could influence future policymaking regarding workforce, social services, and residency planning.