Iraq striker Aymen Hussein was questioned for nearly seven hours at Chicago's O'Hare Airport before being allowed into the United States, while the team's photographer was denied entry ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
The United States military is scheduled to complete its withdrawal from Iraq by September 30, marking the end of a 23-year deployment that began with the 2003 invasion and later focused on combating the Islamic State group.
From losing his father to terrorism and watching conflict tear apart his family, to nearly abandoning football before leading Iraq back to the World Cup, Aymen Hussein has overcome obstacles that would have broken many others.
Norway's prolific striker Erling Haaland wasted no time in opening his World Cup account as he found the net twice in a 4-1 defeat of Iraq in Group I on Tuesday that sent a warning to defenders in the rest of the tournament.
Ellyes Skhiri's own goal in Tunisia's 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands on Thursday took the total number of own goals at the FIFA World Cup 2026 to 12, equalling the record for most in a single tournament.
The 2026 World Cup has witnessed an unusual number of own goals in its opening 10 days, with seven already recorded, making it the second-highest tally in tournament history. The United States has benefited from two such incidents. This trend is notable given the tournament's expansion and could surpass the 2018 record of 12 own goals. Several players from different nations have contributed to this statistic, highlighting a peculiar aspect of the early matches.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi mocked US President Donald Trump's claim of the US being the 'guardian' of the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that Iran has always been and will remain the sole guardian, while also suggesting that any entity providing security should be compensated, though Trump's proposed '20 per cent' levy is 'too much'.
A man in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has been booked for allegedly cheating a 43-year-old teacher of cash and gold by promising her marriage and a job in Dubai, and also attempting to coerce her into converting to Islam. The accused, Hussein Abu Soydan, reportedly established a relationship with the victim, took significant sums of money and jewellery, and then avoided contact after a purported marriage and conversion.
Kuwait's air defence systems engaged 'hostile aerial targets', Jordan intercepted four missiles, and Bahrain sounded warning sirens after Iran launched retaliatory strikes targeting US military installations in the region.
Indian boxers Nikhil, Deepak, and Saneh secured victories in their respective weight categories at the Boxing World Cup Stage 2 in Guiyang, China, advancing to the next round. Two other Indian boxers faced defeats, while two more are scheduled to compete on the following day.
Former President Donald Trump, during a podcast, suggested inviting Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and the Bush family to the White House to watch a football game. This surprising idea came as he read a book about presidents' leisure activities, a notable departure from his usual criticism of Obama and Biden. He also offered rare praise for Bill Clinton and humorous remarks about William Howard Taft.
Kylian Mbappe scored two goals, equalling Miroslav Klose's World Cup record, as France defeated Iraq 3-0 to advance to the last 32. The match was significantly delayed by thunderstorms, but France maintained control with Ousmane Dembele also scoring. Iraq's chances of progressing now depend on their final group match and other results.
US President Donald Trump announced that a deal to end the war with Iran would be signed on Sunday, with the strategic Strait of Hormuz immediately becoming 'open to all'. This follows indications from Pakistan that negotiations were in their final stages, though Iran has yet to comment on the timeline.
The official 26-man squads for FIFA World Cup 2026.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is set to be football's largest tournament but will unfold against a backdrop of significant geopolitical tensions, including conflicts, strained alliances, and complex immigration policies, challenging its traditional role as a symbol of global unity.
Iraq defeated Bolivia 2-1 in an inter-confederation playoff to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 40 years. Aymen Hussein scored the winning goal, securing Iraq's place in Group I alongside France, Norway, and Senegal.
Indian women boxers Meenakshi Hooda and Jaismine Lamboria secured semifinal berths at the Asian Boxing Championships, guaranteeing a podium finish for the entire women's contingent. In the men's section, Lokesh, Akash, and Harsh Choudhary also advanced to the semifinals.
According to Hezbollah, it fired a swarm of drones at radar sites and control rooms at the base on Tuesday, describing the move as retaliation for Israeli strikes.
Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa is a well-acted, smartly written murder mystery with a finely tuned performances from Vinay Pathak and the rest of the cast, notes Sreeju Sudhakaran.
Indian boxers are set to compete at the Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, aiming for medals and direct qualification for major multi-sport events later in the year, including the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
Indian boxers are set to compete at the Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, aiming for medals and direct qualification for major multi-sport events later in the year.
The Americans can occupy Bab el Mandeb, claim to have 'solved' the Strait of Hormuz crisis, declare victory that President Trump so desperately needs, points out Colonel Anil A Athale, former head of the history division, ministry of defence.
The Asian Football Confederation has postponed several Asian Champions League Elite and Two matches scheduled to be played in the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict in the region.
By all available indications, the White House drafted a face-saving note and handed it, ready-made, to Islamabad. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was supposed to then post it in the guise of a plea urging Trump to extend the deadline by two weeks 'to allow diplomacy to run its course'. Trump would then graciously accept Pakistan's 'request' and declare a ceasefire. Sharif dutifully posted the message on X. Except that he, or whoever was handling the account, forgot to delete the tell-tale first line visible in the edit history: 'Draft - Pakistan's PM Message on X'. Prem Panicker's must read blog on the Iran War.
The Crown Prince is a 42nd-generation direct descendant of Prophet Mohammad.
'The next two to three weeks will not be decided in Washington.' 'They will be decided in Tehran, in whatever calculation Iran makes about the costs of continued resistance against the costs of appearing to have yielded.'
If the oil infrastructure is attacked by the United States, the whole area could be flooded with oil, spilling into the Persian Gulf.
Fight on toward goals that keep receding, or exit with most objectives unmet. Trump is agitated, his poll numbers falling below the Plimsoll line, his base fractured between those who back the war and those who remember that he campaigned on ending them.
'In India, there is this first generation migrant, say from a small village in UP. He didn't go to the Gulf to buy a big house but make the life of his family better.' 'He may have paid 1 lakh rupees to an agent to go to the Gulf. Imagine what will happen to him and his family if he has to come back. He and his family will become poor again.' 'He went to the Gulf to come out of poverty, but this war will make his family trapped in poverty once again.'
Israel and the United States had a plan. Iran punched back. And now the Gulf is reeling, the world is beginning to feel the pain and, as on date, no one in Washington or Tel Aviv appears willing to admit that the punch has landed, notes Prem Panicker, continuing his must-read blog on the war in the Middle East.
A Gujarat resident, Majoti Sahil Mohammed Hussein, enlisted in the Russian military to avoid a prison sentence in a drug-related case and subsequently surrendered to Ukrainian forces. His family is appealing to the Indian government for his return.
An Indian national fighting alongside the Russian military surrendered to Ukrainian forces. The individual, identified as Majoti Sahil Mohamed Hussein from Gujarat, claimed he was forced to join the Russian military to avoid prison after being convicted on drug-related charges.
A 22-year-old man from Gujarat's Morbi town, captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting for the Russian military, has sent a video message to his family here, making an emotional appeal for help from the Indian government for his release.
A quick look at the 14 names the Neeraj Ghaywan movie is competing with for a spot in the top five nominations.
China has made serious inroads into Latin America, which the US may now be hinting is simply not ok: Stay in your lane, Xi! In simple terms, China will no longer have access to Venezuelan oil, points out Rajeev Srinivasan.
Window for fast marathons closing because of climate change, report finds
One of the most promising pugilists in the country, Sumit seized control from the opening bell as he immediately claimed the centre of the ring and forced Al Hussein on the defensive.
Lakshya Chahar came up with a clinical performance to defeat former Asian Championships gold medallist, Jordan's Hussein Iashaish, to advance to round of 16.
The Mariners had successfully defended their ISL Shield to book a direct berth in ACL 2, finishing eight points clear of FC Goa.
Indian Super League side FC Goa was drawn along with superstar footballer Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia in Group D of the AFC Champions League 2.
