Saqib Tanveer

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s top spy, Lt. General Asim Malik, will continue dispensing his duties, security sources confirmed to Pakistan TV Digital. He is also serving as the National Security Adviser (NSA). A decision has been made to extend his service, security officials confirmed.&nbsp; Lt. Gen. Asim Malik was appointed as Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in September 2024 for a one-year term.&nbsp;He had replaced Lt. General Nadeem Anjum. General Asim Malik is a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies in London and Fort Leavenworth in the United States. He&nbsp;has also served as Adjutant General at the GHQ. He commanded the 41st Infantry Division in Balochistan and an Infantry Brigade in Waziristan as well. He also has the prestigious Sword of Honor from the Pakistan Military Academy. He belongs to the 80th Long Course. He has served as an instructor at Pakistan&rsquo;s prestigious National Defence University and the Command and Staff College in Quetta. Lt. Gen. Asim Malik accompanied Field Marshal Asim Munir to the US in June 2025. During this visit, US President Donald Trump hosted Field Marshal Asim Munir, a meeting widely viewed as a turning point in relations between Pakistan and the US.

Security

Pakistan’s top spy is to continue dispensing his duties, security sources confirmed to Pakistan TV Digital.

Lt. Gen. Asim Malik to continue as Pakistan's top spy: security sources

UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council voted Monday in favor of a US resolution bolstering Donald Trump&#39;s Gaza peace plan that includes the deployment of an international force and a path to a future Palestinian state. There were 13 votes in favor of the text, which Washington heralded after the vote as &quot;historic and constructive,&quot; with Russia and China abstaining and no vetoes. This is a developing story&hellip;

Americas

With Pakistan among 13 in favor, the UNSC adopts US-backed Gaza peace resolution, including international force deployment and a path toward a future Palestinian state.

UN Security Council adopts US resolution on Gaza peace plan

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Analysts and investigative observers say India&rsquo;s probe into the recent Delhi blast is increasingly mired in contradictions, shifting allegations and unverified media leaks, raising doubts about the credibility and direction of the investigation.&nbsp;According to Indian media reports, investigators have identified a woman named Shaheen, also referred to as &ldquo;Madam Surgeon,&rdquo; as the prime suspect. Outlets have claimed she possessed three different Indian passports issued under separate addresses in Kanpur, Lucknow and Faridabad.&nbsp;Analysts said these assertions &ldquo;defy basic passport regulations&rdquo; and expose &ldquo;deep inconsistencies within India&rsquo;s identity-verification system.&rdquo;&nbsp;Indian agencies have also acknowledged that Faridabad Police carried out passport verification just days before the blast, during which the suspect was reportedly present, photographed and officially cleared.&nbsp;Observers say this acknowledgement &ldquo;sits in direct conflict&rdquo; with India&rsquo;s later allegations that she had been running a sophisticated terror network undetected.&nbsp;Following the explosion, Indian media circulated a series of evolving accusations, including claims of &ldquo;multiple guardian identities,&rdquo; unproven visits to Pakistan, Hawala transactions and foreign travel patterns, without producing documentary evidence.&nbsp;Reports further speculated about weapons allegedly found in a vehicle, unexplained financial transfers and a purported &ldquo;Pakistani handler in Turkey,&rdquo; which some outlets described as part of a &ldquo;D-6 serial-blast plot.&rdquo; Independent analysts described these assertions as &ldquo;speculative, contradictory and lacking forensic grounding.&rdquo;&nbsp;Commentators note that investigators have not released immigration data, bank records, surveillance material or other technical evidence to support the allegations. They argue that the probe&rsquo;s oscillating narrative, combined with sensationalist reporting by outlets known for political alignment, reflects a recurring pattern in which media speculation precedes formal verification.&nbsp;Channels such as Republic TV, frequently criticized by analysts for promoting government-leaning conspiracy theories, have amplified the claims despite what observers describe as &ldquo;a lack of credible substantiation.&rdquo;&nbsp;Security specialists argue that the unresolved contradictions raise fundamental questions about the integrity of the investigation. They say that the case highlights potential failures within India&rsquo;s own security and verification architecture and caution that the ongoing media-driven narrative risks overshadowing the need for a transparent, evidence-based inquiry.&nbsp;Diplomatic observers add that the public framing of the case, marked by rapid speculation and unverified claims, &ldquo;undermines confidence in investigative professionalism&rdquo; and risks eroding trust in India&rsquo;s institutional processes.&nbsp;They stress that the unanswered questions surrounding the Delhi blast require clarity, consistency and verifiable evidence rather than shifting narratives and politically charged media commentary.

India

Blast in Indian capital sparks scrutiny as analysts question contradictory claims, shifting narratives and unverified allegations in India’s investigation, raising concerns over credibility and investigative integrity.

Analysts flag contradictions undermining India’s Delhi blast investigation credibility

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday said Pakistan has emerged as &ldquo;extremely relevant&rdquo; on the global stage, shifting &ldquo;from isolation to relevance&rdquo; following the May conflict with India.&nbsp;He made the remarks while addressing a seminar titled &ldquo;Pakistan in the Changing World&rdquo; in Islamabad.&nbsp;Recalling the escalation earlier this year, Tarar noted that tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi intensified after the attack on tourists in the Pahalgam area of Indian-occupied Kashmir. &ldquo;India, without evidence, linked the incident to Pakistan,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Tarar stressed that Pakistan&rsquo;s international image had strengthened significantly in recent months. &ldquo;In a very short span of time, Pakistan has become extremely relevant globally,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve seen the past two years, and especially after the May war, I think that has redefined who we are, right after the Pahalgam incident.&rdquo;&nbsp;He described the &ldquo;turning point&rdquo; as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif&rsquo;s decision to offer an impartial investigation into the Pahalgam attack.&nbsp;&ldquo;We were often blamed for acts of terror that were not our fault,&rdquo; he noted. &ldquo;By offering this investigation, Pakistan made a good diplomatic move which was well received across the world.&rdquo;&nbsp;According to the minister, the gesture triggered &ldquo;immense diplomatic engagement&rdquo; at multiple levels. &ldquo;The prime minister, the field marshal, and the deputy prime minister all engaged constantly, and that really helped us prove our point to the world,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Tarar reiterated that Pakistan has long been among the biggest victims of terrorism. &ldquo;You can&#39;t be a victim and an aggressor at the same time. It&#39;s an oxymoron. It&rsquo;s an inherent contradiction. It is not possible,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;He emphasized the magnitude of national sacrifice. &ldquo;No other country has sacrificed 90,000 lives in the war against terrorism,&rdquo; he stated, adding that Pakistan had &ldquo;lost hundreds of billions of dollars in economic losses.&rdquo;&nbsp;These sacrifices, he said, created a &ldquo;shield wall&rdquo; between terrorists and the global community. &ldquo;When a Pakistani lays down his or her life, it is not only for the motherland but to make the world a safer place.&rdquo;&nbsp;Synergy and Gen ZDiscussing domestic unity during the conflict with India, the minister credited coordinated communication for countering misinformation. He praised the Pakistan Army&rsquo;s media wing for its role, saying effective messaging &ldquo;wouldn&rsquo;t have been possible without the ideal synergy we created.&rdquo;&nbsp;Tarar also lauded Gen Z for their performance during what he described as a &ldquo;meme war.&rdquo;&nbsp;He said, &ldquo;The enemy was shocked that our youngsters, in a very serious situation, were making memes and ridiculing them in their own way.&rdquo;&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s rising global standingTurning to foreign policy, the minister said Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomacy had reached its &ldquo;peak&rdquo; over the past 18 months, marked by strengthened global engagement, new regional partnerships, and expanding economic cooperation.&nbsp;He cited Pakistan&rsquo;s role in the Gaza peace process and a series of high-level exchanges as evidence of rising international relevance.&nbsp;The information minister also highlighted Islamabad&rsquo;s hosting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of Government Summit for the first time in 14 years.&nbsp;&ldquo;Twelve prime ministers came to Islamabad for discussions on cooperation, counterterrorism, and connectivity,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Tarar announced that Pakistan will host the SCO Heads of State Summit in 2027, calling it a &ldquo;major diplomatic milestone.&rdquo;&nbsp;He also hailed the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia as a &ldquo;breakthrough&rdquo; in regional relations. He recalled that during recent visits, Saudi cities displayed Pakistani flags in celebration of the partnership.&nbsp;During the latest visit to Riyadh, both countries launched a new economic cooperation framework designed to support Pakistan&rsquo;s economic revival. Tarar said the framework had &ldquo;cemented bilateral ties&rdquo; and would play a central role in Pakistan&rsquo;s economic turnaround.&nbsp;Concluding his remarks, Tarar said the recent period marked &ldquo;unprecedented diplomatic activity&rdquo; that had significantly strengthened Pakistan&rsquo;s geopolitical and economic standing.

Foreign Affairs

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar says Pakistan reclaims global relevance through strengthened diplomacy, strategic alliances, counterterror sacrifices, and renewed international engagement following the Pahalgam incident and May conflict with India.

Pakistan marks ‘turning point’ in global standing after May conflict

WASHINGTON: More than 22 million people, many of them children, could die preventable deaths by 2030 due to aid cuts by the United States and European countries, new research said Monday. The findings are an update of a study earlier this year that focused only on US assistance and said that sweeping reductions by President Donald Trump could lead to 14 million additional deaths.

Europe

 More than 22 million people could die by 2030 due to aid cuts by the United States and European countries

US, European aid cuts could cause 22.6 million deaths: research

ISLAMABAD: A 4&deg;C rise in global temperatures could melt up to 85% of Pakistan&rsquo;s glaciers, threatening the country&rsquo;s water supply, agriculture, and food security, Pakistan&rsquo;s climate minister said ahead of the 30th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP30). The country&#39;s&nbsp;Minister for Climate Change Dr Musadik Malik called the glaciers &quot;the bloodline and lifeline of our civilization.&quot; He said they feed Pakistan&rsquo;s rivers and sustain agriculture. &quot;A 4&deg;C rise in temperature can wash away about 85% of these glaciers,&quot; he said. &quot;That would devastate our irrigation systems and agriculture, threatening food security for millions.&quot; The climate minister also criticized the inequity of climate finance, noting that 55% of global carbon emissions come from just three countries. &quot;Countries like Pakistan, which contribute little to the carbon footprint, are among the most vulnerable,&quot; he said. He urged wealthier nations to take more responsibility and help developing countries adapt to climate change. &quot;This is not just an issue of civilization; it is an issue of justice and rights,&quot; he said. The minister highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts to combat climate change, including the installation of over 14 gigawatts of solar power, policies promoting electric vehicles, and reforestation projects. &quot;We are doing this for our children,&quot; he said. Malik also pointed to early warning systems designed to help communities prepare for climate-induced disasters such as floods and heatwaves. COP30 The COP30 is taking place in Bel&eacute;m, Brazil, from November 10 to 21. It brings together world leaders, climate scientists, NGOs, and indigenous peoples to advance climate action. Key goals include assessing progress on the Paris Agreement, increasing climate finance, and focusing on forest protection and indigenous rights, with special attention to the Amazon.

Climate & Environment

A 4°C rise in temperature could melt 85% of Pakistan’s glaciers, threatening agriculture and water security, Pakistan’s climate minister said at COP30 in Brazil.

Higher temperatures to affect Pakistan's water supplies, threaten food security: climate minister

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe will contest a seven-match T20 International Tri-Series in Rawalpindi beginning Nov. 18, the first time a tri-nation T20I event will be played on home soil. All three sides will play each other twice, creating a four-match league stage per team. The top two will meet in the final, scheduled for the evening of Nov. 29.&nbsp;The green shirts will enter the series in strong momentum under skipper Salman Ali Agha. The T-20 captain led Pakistan to the Asia Cup final, beat South Africa at home, and dominated Bangladesh earlier this year.&nbsp;The squad&rsquo;s recent calendar has been intense, including a full Test, ODI, and T20I series against South Africa. Pakistan also completed a clean sweep against Sri Lanka in the ODI series that concluded earlier this month in Rawalpindi.&nbsp;Agha said the series will also help the side prepare for the World Cup.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;The tri-series comes at an ideal time for us. It allows the group to play consistent cricket against two competitive sides and further refine our T20I plans ahead of the all-important ICC Men&rsquo;s T20 World Cup next year,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;&ldquo;We have seen great support for the home side from the Rawalpindi fans, and we are expecting quality contests throughout the series,&rdquo; Agha added.&nbsp;Security officials have prepared comprehensive measures for the event, building on earlier matches that drew large, enthusiastic crowds in Rawalpindi.&nbsp;&nbsp;Fans are expected to turn out in strong numbers again, encouraged by the city&rsquo;s successful hosting record and the high-stakes nature of the tri-series.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s 15-member T20I squad includes: Salman Ali Agha (capt), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq. The schedule for the series is as follows: 18 November &ndash; Pakistan v Zimbabwe 20 November &ndash; Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe 22 November &ndash; Pakistan v Sri Lanka 23 November &ndash; Pakistan v Zimbabwe 25 November &ndash; Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe 27 November &ndash; Pakistan v Sri Lanka 29 November &ndash; Final

Cricket

Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe will contest a seven-match T20I tri-series in Rawalpindi from November 18. Pakistan enters in strong form under Salman Ali Agha, using the series to prepare for next year’s T20 World Cup.

Pakistan set to host maiden T20I Tri-Series with Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s public debt has fallen by more than Rs1,371 billion ($4.847 billion), the largest quarterly reduction in 69 months. In a post on X (Twitter), the advisor to the country&rsquo;s Finance Minister, Khurram Schehzad, wrote that this was the first quarterly decline in nearly six years, with the last drop occurring in December 2019. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 720px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1990401813116276974&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=b93cea67d457c50ae4be591fd9102aada938c5a8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The decline, from Rs80,518 billion ($284.9 billion) in June 2025 to Rs79,146 billion ($280 billion) in September 2025, represents a 1.7% reduction. The decrease is attributed to the country&rsquo;s strong fiscal management and the strategic early retirement of high-cost debt, which has helped reduce the country&rsquo;s future borrowing requirements and refinancing risks. Schehzad&nbsp;noted that this shift would strengthen Pakistan&rsquo;s medium-term financial stability and provide the government with greater fiscal flexibility moving forward. &ldquo;Lower debt servicing will create fiscal space for priority spending on development, social protection, and growth,&rdquo; the advisor wrote. The drop in debt also signals improving policy credibility and boosted investor confidence, he added.

Banking

This was the first quarterly decline in nearly six years, with the last drop occurring in December 2019.

Pakistan cuts public debt by $4.8 billion in largest 6-year drop

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Uzbekistan pledged to deepen economic cooperation and regional connectivity during the 8th Review Session of Pakistan-Uzbekistan Cooperation on Monday, focusing on trade expansion, sector collaboration, and long-term strategic partnership.&nbsp;According to a Ministry of Information &amp; Broadcasting press release, the meeting was chaired by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, and attended by Uzbek Ambassador Alisher Takhtayev, senior officials, and business leaders.&nbsp;Both sides agreed to strengthen collaboration in textiles, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, mining, and information technology, with Pakistan targeting $2 billion in bilateral trade.&nbsp;Khan announced the formation of a joint committee comprising DRAP, the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Association, and Uzbek regulators to expedite certification of Pakistani medicines. Uzbekistan also highlighted its Pharma Park model, which could be replicated in Pakistan.&nbsp;In a major development, it was agreed to enhance aviation connectivity with&nbsp;direct flights from Karachi to Uzbekistan, aimed at boosting trade, tourism, and regional travel. Khan said, &ldquo;The Prime Minister has issued clear instructions to commence direct flights at the earliest.&rdquo;&nbsp;Both countries emphasized the need to strengthen financial cooperation, with the National Bank of Pakistan set to open a branch in Uzbekistan to facilitate smoother cross-border trade, while addressing banking barriers affecting transactions.&nbsp;Provincial governments will be involved in all joint projects; collaboration in the minerals sector was reviewed, with working groups instructed to submit progress reports at the next session.&nbsp;&ldquo;The leadership of both countries reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing economic cooperation, regional connectivity, and long-term strategic partnership,&rdquo; the statement concluded.

Pledge to deepen economic cooperation, targeting $2 billion in trade; agreements include collaboration in textiles, pharmaceuticals, IT, direct flights, banking integration, provincial involvement, and minerals sector cooperation.

Pakistan, Uzbekistan to enhance economic and trade cooperation

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s ambassador to Russia Faisal Niaz Tirmizi said on Monday that Pakistan is in regular contact with the Russian government as Moscow had offered to mediate between Islamabad and Kabul&rsquo;s Afghan Taliban regime.&nbsp;The Pakistani envoy expressed these views in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV from Moscow, where he spoke about the upcoming SCO summit and member states&rsquo; reaction to the Afghan Taliban&rsquo;s continued harbouring of terrorist organisations on its soil.<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/d1bf899d-d80c-4ed3-a688-5b3d0f37b6a5-WhatsApp Image 2025-11-17 at 20.54.06.jpeg" alt="WhatsApp Image 2025-11-17 at 20.54.06.jpeg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic" style="text-align: left;">Pakistan&rsquo;s ambassador to Russia, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, speaks exclusively to Pakistan TV about the SCO Summit and issues related to the Afghan Taliban on November 17, 2025.</figcaption> Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban reached a ceasefire in Doha on Oct. 19, but tensions remain high between the neighbours after two subsequent rounds of talks to devise a mechanism against terrorist organizations using Afghan soil remained inconclusive in Istanbul due to the inconsistent position of the Taliban delegation. Pakistan remains consistent on its basic demand that the Afghan Taliban regime take clear and verifiable actions against militant groups operating from Afghan soil.&nbsp; &ldquo;Russia has offered to mediate between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime,&rdquo; Ambassador Tirmizi told Pakistan TV. &ldquo;Russia has been kind enough to offer its assistance, and we are already in regular contact with the Russian government [regarding this] as well,&rdquo; he added. Last month, the ambassador said Pakistan attended a talk on Afghanistan in Moscow where Russians were trying to tell the Afghan Taliban that they should be a factor of stability and connectivity in the region rather than a factor of instability.&nbsp; &ldquo;That is the whole endeavor on the part of Pakistan as well as Russia to convince the Taliban regime whether they want to be part of the Eurasian dream under SCO,&rdquo; he continued. &ldquo;Then they have to ensure that their soil is not used against any territory, any country or against any religion, be it Pakistan, Central Asia or Russia.&rdquo; Tirmizi said the SCO-member states consider it fundamental to persuade the Afghan Taliban regime to review its policies if wanted to be accepted as a credible partner in the international arena. &ldquo;Their soil should not be used to destabilise other countries of the world,&rdquo; he added. The Pakistani envoy said Russia understands that without peace in Afghanistan there cannot be any meaningful exchanges in all SCO states.&nbsp; &ldquo;Because Afghanistan is the linchpin which connects South Asia to Central Asia and Eurasian landmass,&rdquo; he added.</figure>

Pakistan’s envoy in Moscow says Russia offered to mediate between Islamabad and the Afghan Taliban as tensions persist. SCO states urge Taliban to curb militant groups and ensure Afghan soil isn’t used for regional instability

Pakistan in regular contact with Russia as Moscow offered to mediate with Afghan Taliban: envoy

MILAN: Norway qualified for their first World Cup since 1998 after Erling Haaland struck again in a 4-1 thumping of Italy on Sunday which sealed a spot in next summer&#39;s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico. &nbsp;Haaland scored the decisive brace in the space of seconds at a soaking San Siro for Norway, who completed Group I with a perfect 24 points from their eight qualifying matches.&nbsp;Norway would have had to lose by nine goals or more in order to be overtaken by Italy for the group&#39;s only automatic place for next summer&#39;s finals in North America, but Stale Solbakken&#39;s side ended their campaign in glorious fashion in front of 70,000 people.&nbsp;However, Solbakken was coy as to his powerful team&#39;s chances now that a 28-year weight has come to an end.&nbsp;&quot;Let&#39;s see the draw first... I haven&#39;t even thought about it. For me, it (tonight) was to go from 99 percent to 100 percent and now we have done it in a great way,&quot; Solbakken told reporters.&nbsp;&quot;Let&#39;s see what the draw brings before we go into those questions.&quot;&nbsp;Haaland&#39;s father Alf-Inge was still an international player when Norway last competed in the World Cup 27 years ago, a tournament won by a Zinedine Zidane-inspired France.&nbsp;And the Manchester City striker, called a &quot;goal machine&quot; by Solbakken, will be one of the players to watch in North America after smashing in 16 goals during qualifying.&nbsp;The 25-year-old is averaging more than a goal a game for club and country this season and was typically ruthless when presented with his opportunities to both put Norway ahead and then double their lead in the 78th and 79th minutes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Norway sink Italy&nbsp;Pio Esposito opened the scoring for Italy in the 11th minute, but once Antonio Nusa levelled with a thumping strike in the 63rd minute, there was only one team who looked like winning, and Jorgen Strand Larsen&#39;s brilliant individual goal completed the rout in stoppage time.&nbsp;Italy will head to the play-offs in March after finishing the group six points behind Norway following two bracing defeats to Solbakken&#39;s team, and exited the San Siro field to a hail of whistles from the few home fans who had stayed until the end.&nbsp;Coach Gennaro Gattuso apologised to supporters during his short interview with public broadcaster RAI and was clearly concerned about the second half collapse.&nbsp;&quot;It&#39;s worrying, I&#39;d be a liar to say that it doesn&#39;t concern me, because when you have nights like this it&#39;s much easier if you can stay together, improve the day to day,&quot; said Gattuso.&nbsp;&quot;What worries me is that we&#39;ll next see each other in three months&#39; time.&quot;&nbsp;Italy&#39;s bid for direct qualification was compromised from their opening match against Norway, a 3-0 defeat which ended Luciano Spalletti&#39;s reign as coach.&nbsp;Since Gattuso took over, the Azzurri have performed better but there is no-one in their team of the class of Haaland, a shame for a country which has produced some of the game&#39;s best-ever players.&nbsp;Italy failed to qualify for the last two World Cups thanks to humiliating defeats in the play-offs to Sweden and North Macedonia, the latter coming less than a year after being crowned European champions in 2021.

Football

Erling Haaland’s late brace sealed Norway’s 4–1 win over Italy, earning their first World Cup berth since 1998. Italy, collapsing after leveling, face play-offs amid mounting concerns over their form.