LONDON: British Defense Secretary John Healey sensationally quit on Thursday, accusing beleaguered Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the finance ministry of failing to commit enough money to protect the country. His shock resignation weakens Starmer&#39;s authority further at a precarious moment for the embattled Labour leader, a week before a by-election that could prompt a bid to replace him. In stinging criticism, Healey warned that Starmer&#39;s long-awaited Defense Investment Plan (DIP) for funding over the next decade&mdash;which the premier has yet to publish&mdash;risked making Britain &quot;less safe.&quot; &quot;You have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats,&quot; Healey wrote in a resignation letter to Starmer posted on his X account. &quot;After explaining to you that I would not be able to accept a DIP settlement that does not give our Forces the resources they need, I am now left with no other option than to submit my resignation.&quot; Healey&#39;s sudden departure comes after months of delays to the defense plan, which Starmer has insisted he will publish before a NATO summit in Turkey beginning on July 7. Starmer&#39;s centre-left government, elected in July 2024 following 14 years of Conservative rule, has pledged to ramp up defense spending, with priority given to NATO commitments. The rise comes amid threats from Russia and as US President Donald Trump repeatedly urges NATO allies to spend more and become less reliant on Washington for security. &#39;Grave moment&#39;Starmer has vowed to raise defense spending to 2.5 percent of gross domestic product from next year, increasing to three percent if Labour wins the next general election, expected in 2029, before reaching 3.5 percent in 2035. British media has for weeks been reporting on behind-the-scenes battles within the government over the DIP settlement. In his resignation letter, Healey said he was first given full sight of DIP on Monday, and it sees defense spending rise to only 2.68 percent of GDP in 2030. A source close to the former defense secretary told AFP the deal offered by the Treasury did not put a date on the three percent commitment. The plan &quot;falls well short of what is required for defense and the country at this dangerous time,&quot; Healey wrote. &quot;Without a DIP that meets the moment in this way, I am being forced to make decisions that would reduce the readiness of our forces and increase the risk to personnel on operations, and could make the country less safe.&quot; Tan Dhesi, chair of parliament&#39;s defence committee, said the government must take Healey&#39;s warning &quot;with the utmost seriousness&quot;. &quot;That a defence secretary of his integrity and commitment has felt compelled to resign in response to the inadequacy of the proposed defence settlement is a grave moment,&quot; the Labour MP said in a statement. Starmer faces political peril in next Thursday&#39;s contest when Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham stands for the Makerfield parliamentary seat. Both men have said they would participate in any Labour leadership race, although none has yet been triggered. Wes Streeting quit as health secretary last month following disastrous local and regional election results for Labour and has also said he would run in any future contest. Healey, 66, has been previously talked about as another potential contender, but there was no immediate suggestion that his resignation is linked to the leadership speculation. It &quot;underlines that Starmer has become a lame duck prime minister who cannot get decisions through his own government,&quot; Patrick Diamond, a politics professor at Queen Mary University of London, told AFP. The investment plan, originally due to be published in late 2025, has repeatedly been pushed back, to the frustration of industry and others. Healey&#39;s resignation &quot;creates a sequence of political headaches in terms of a replacement, and trying to get the defence investment plan published,&quot; said Ed Arnold, senior associate fellow at the RUSI think-tank. A government source insisted that Starmer had made Britain &quot;safer,&quot; adding the defense spending proposals &quot;will deliver the capability our armed forces need.&quot;

Europe

British Defense Secretary John Healey sensationally quit on Thursday, accusing beleaguered Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the finance ministry of failing to commit enough money to protect the country

UK defense minister quits with stinging rebuke of PM Starmer

PARIS:&nbsp;French President Emmanuel Macron Wednesday said his Ukrainian counterpart would attend the G7 summit next week in France to &quot;rebuild consensus&quot; on support for Ukraine, while leaders of four Arab states would be invited for talks on the Middle East conflict. The invitees would attend sessions on Tuesday at the summit of the Group of Seven leading economies&mdash;Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States&mdash;to be held in the French lakeside resort of Evian on June 15-17. President Volodymyr Zelensky&#39;s participation &quot;is very important for us because we need to rebuild consensus within the G7 in support of Ukraine on the various aspects of the war&quot; with Russia, including the need for &quot;negotiations,&quot; Macron said, a reference to differing opinions between European leaders and US President Donald Trump. To address the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran in late February, leaders of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates would also be invited to a separate session on Tuesday. The talks would focus on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has &quot;a real impact on our economies&quot; due in particular to soaring fuel prices, and on &quot;negotiations on Iran,&quot; Macron said. He made the comments during a discussion with civil society representatives at the Elysee presidential palace. Following a dinner for the G7 leaders on Monday and the two sessions focused on the crises in Ukraine and the Middle East, the &quot;North-South partnership&quot; will be on the agenda, Macron added. &quot;In addition to the IMF, the World Bank, and the African Development Bank, we will bring into this session partners with whom we have built this agenda, in particular South Korea, India, Kenya, and Brazil,&quot; he said. On Wednesday, the summit will end with a session &quot;on global imbalances&quot; and &quot;the issue of growth,&quot; preceded on June 11 by a videoconference called &quot;World Convergence Summit for Growth,&quot; which will include China and several other emerging countries, Macron said. The summit will also include discussions with tech companies from the United States and other countries &quot;to talk both about our agenda of protection and regulation and to address questions of sovereignty&quot; and cybersecurity, the president added.

French President Emmanuel Macron Wednesday said his Ukrainian counterpart would attend the G7 summit next week in France to "rebuild consensus" on support for Ukraine, while leaders of four Arab states would be invited for talks on the Middle East conflict

Zelensky, Arab states invited to G7 for talks on Ukraine, Mideast wars

ISTANBUL: US President Donald Trump&#39;s presence at the NATO summit in Ankara next month will be an important moment for the stability of the military alliance, Turkey&#39;s Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday. &quot;The announcement that US President Trump will attend the summit in person is a significant step in terms of the alliance&#39;s stability,&quot; the Turkish president told lawmakers from his ruling AKP party.

FILE: US President Donald Trump during a press conference after the NATO summit at the World Forum, The Hague. (ANP MAG/AFP)

"The announcement that US President Trump will attend the summit in person is a significant step in terms of the alliance's stability," the Turkish president told lawmakers from his ruling AKP party.



Trump presence at NATO summit 'significant' for alliance's stability: Erdogan

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: A growing wave of pro-Palestinian activism is sweeping German universities, with student councils voting to support academic boycotts of Israeli universities, citing alleged ties between Israeli academia and the country&#39;s military establishment. According to a report published on Al Jazeera&#39;s website, nearly 700 students at Leipzig University have&nbsp;demanded that the institution end all cooperation with Israeli academic partners. Student activists argue that Israeli universities are deeply integrated into Israel&#39;s military and security infrastructure and therefore cannot be viewed as politically neutral institutions. Orlando Becker, a 22-year-old member of Students for Palestine Leipzig, told Al Jazeera, &ldquo;All five Israeli partner universities of Leipzig University are an essential component of the Israeli military complex.&rdquo;&nbsp; Students gathered more than 1,300 signatures to convene a general assembly on the issue.&nbsp;University authorities, however, withdrew permission for the meeting to take place in a lecture hall one day before the event. Leipzig is not aloneSimilar resolutions have emerged across Germany. Since March, student councils at several German universities have adopted similar motions calling for academic disengagement from Israeli institutions. At Berlin&#39;s Hertie School, the student council became the first in Germany to pass a resolution supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement by cutting ties with Israeli institutions through student-administered funds. The school and its affiliated foundation quickly distanced themselves from the student resolution, describing it as unacceptable. Student representatives alleged that university leadership attempted to discourage support for the motion by warning of potential consequences for students and the institution. Crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism&nbsp;Pro-Palestinian student activism has faced significant resistance from authorities across Germany. In November 2023, students occupied a lecture hall at the Free University of Berlin in solidarity with Gaza. Months later, demonstrators occupied a building at Humboldt University and renamed it the &quot;Jabalia Institute&quot; after a refugee camp in Gaza. Police were called to clear both occupations. Activists reported dozens of injuries during the operations and alleged that Arab students and other minorities were treated more harshly. While university administrations have largely resisted calls for academic boycotts, observers say the growing number of student resolutions signals increasing pressure from younger generations. As student movements continue to expand across campuses, the dispute is likely to remain a defining issue in Germany&#39;s higher education sector and wider political discourse.

Student councils across Germany back academic boycotts of Israeli universities, citing alleged military ties; pro-Palestinian activism grows despite resistance from university administrations, political pressure, and police crackdowns.

German universities face growing pressure to cut ties with Israeli institutions

RIO DE JANEIRO: Airlines are facing surging fuel costs from the war in the Middle East, but executives say they are more concerned about taxes and regulations deemed too restrictive that could further crimp their bottom lines. Despite hand-wringing over the risk that travellers will baulk at paying higher fares, the ongoing war did not appear to ruffle feathers at the International Air Transport Association&#39;s annual conference in Rio, which ends Monday. &quot;We expect average jet fuel prices to be 70% higher year-on-year. That will add $100 billion to our collective fuel bill this year,&quot; IATA director general Willie Walsh told the gathering. Yet when the CNN journalist Richard Quest asked a roundtable discussion if airlines were frustrated by &quot;an event you have no control over&quot;, the responses were remarkably subdued. The chief of Turkey&#39;s Pegasus Airlines, Guliz Ozturk, noted wryly that it was standard practice for carriers to predict various scenarios at the beginning of the year, only to see something entirely different happen. IATA chief economist Marie Owens Thomsen recalled the uncertainty generated at last year&#39;s conference, held in New Delhi just weeks after US President Donald Trump unleashed his tariffs war. &quot;We thought that it was the end of the world,&quot; she said. But this year, there was hardly any mention of Trump despite the ongoing Mideast war, which has driven up fuel prices and caused profitability to plummet in a sector that was already struggling. Name and shame The IATA, which represents 370 member airlines, focused instead on naming and shaming countries that have imposed taxes on tickets -- often in the name of reducing carbon emissions -- or increased regulations on the industry. The European Union was the most frequent target, with Walsh aiming for the bloc&#39;s &quot;populist&quot; Parliament for defending higher compensation for passengers impacted by flight delays. And at a press conference on the shortage of non-fossil fuels needed to decarbonise air travel, EU regulations on the minimum amounts of such fuels required in aircraft tanks came under fire. Even when pressed on the potential impact of a &quot;quagmire&quot; scenario in the Gulf that would curtail oil and jet fuel exports for several more months, executives did not appear overly alarmed. When asked about the possibility of the war dragging out for years, research director Eleanor Budds played down the risk. &quot;Quagmire is a scenario... It doesn&#39;t mean we expect this to happen,&quot; Budds said. A reporter then asked if, in an extreme case, the war would not just drive up prices but also lead to shortages of jet fuel. &quot;In our base case, we don&#39;t have shortages,&quot; she responded.

Airlines expect jet fuel costs to rise 70%, adding $100 billion in expenses due to the Middle East war. However, industry leaders expressed greater concern over taxes, regulations, and decarbonisation policies affecting profitability.

Airlines say taxes and rules bigger worry than Mideast war

SWITZERLAND: At a Swiss nursing home, Marcelle Mivelaz celebrated her 80th birthday surrounded by friends, as a team of mostly foreign nurses and caregivers ensured the day ran smoothly. Swiss healthcare facilities like this one, in Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne in the west of the country, are heavily reliant on foreign workers amid chronic staff shortages. Now the sector fears that a popular vote on June 14 on a proposal to dramatically slash immigration could cripple the industry, with a potentially critical outcome. &quot;If there aren&#39;t enough caregivers, our healthcare system is headed for disaster,&quot; Carine Savioz, a Swiss nurse at the Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne home, told AFP. &quot;This worries me,&quot; acknowledged 81-year-old Marie-Therese Barraz, standing next to Mivelaz. &quot;We must have respect for the people who care for nursing home residents.&quot; Put forward by the hard-right Swiss People&#39;s Party (SVP), the &quot;No to a Switzerland with 10 million!&quot; proposal wants the wealthy Alpine nation&#39;s population -- currently 9.1 million -- capped below 10 million until 2050. The initiative faces broad opposition across the government, parliament and business sector, but opinion polls suggest the vote could be tight. The healthcare sector, which struggles to recruit Swiss nationals put off by the notoriously demanding nature of the work and relatively unattractive salaries, has been front and centre in the debate. &#39;Chaos initiative&#39;For Christian Weiler, director of the Primeroche Foundation, which looks after some 360 people across several establishments, including the Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne nursing home, the situation is clear. &quot;We have some 240 employees, nearly 80 percent of whom are foreign nationals,&quot; he told AFP. He said his foundation would like to open other nursing homes, but feared it would struggle to find staff. &quot;Currently, 240 people are waiting for a place in the Lausanne area,&quot; he pointed out, warning that a lack of spots could have dire societal implications. &quot;If there aren&#39;t enough places, they&#39;ll go to the hospital,&quot; he said. And &quot;when hospitals are full of elderly people, they won&#39;t be able to fulfil their role, and the system will become very problematic&quot; as the population ages. The Swiss government also warns that the proposal &quot;threatens the proper functioning of society&quot;, with hospitals and nursing homes unable to care for the sick and elderly the way they do today. The SVP, however, rejects that. It is calling for more Swiss staff to be trained and points out that its proposal would still allow 40,000 foreigners to immigrate each year. However, the business and healthcare sectors say that is not enough. An alliance of major players in the sector, including the Swiss National Association of Hospitals and Clinics and the Swiss Nurses&#39; Association, has formed a committee to denounce what it calls the SVP&#39;s &quot;chaos initiative&quot;, warning it &quot;endangers&quot; patients. The committee fears that if services are understaffed or forced to rely on less qualified personnel, the &quot;risk of mortality increases&quot;, particularly in emergencies. &#39;Urgent&#39; need for staffAccording to the Swiss Medical Association (FMH), the country &quot;remains far from being able to ensure the replenishment of its medical workforce on its own&quot;. The healthcare system is structurally dependent on doctors trained abroad. They account for 43 percent of all doctors -- a figure which continues to rise. &quot;Each year, our universities award between 1,200 and 1,300 medical diplomas,&quot; but &quot;we would need 3,500 to 4,000 young doctors per year,&quot; FMH vice-president Philippe Eggimann told the Swiss newspaper Le Temps. Thomas Blasi, an SVP parliamentarian and an independent pharmacist in Geneva, charged that the sector&#39;s reliance on immigrants was taking a toll on Swiss health workers. &quot;Despite the urgent need for healthcare staff, our young graduates cannot find employment because we prefer to rely on foreign workers,&quot; he said. Others, however, highlight a persistent shortage of Swiss candidates. At Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), nursing director Sandra Merkli said 200 to 300 nurses needed to be recruited each year -- while the Geneva canton&#39;s medical school only provides 150 to 160. In 2025, nearly one in two of HUG&#39;s approximately 13,000 staff was a foreign national, with the proportion reaching around 60 percent for nursing staff and 45 percent among doctors.

Switzerland’s healthcare sector warns that a proposed immigration cap could deepen staff shortages, as hospitals and nursing homes rely heavily on foreign workers to care for an ageing population.

Swiss healthcare united against immigration cap plan 

Says all missiles intercepted from Iran thus far; IRGC spokesperson says 'Israel crossed all red lines' by attacking Lebanon, warning further 'setbacks' if the 'Zionist army' retaliates; Trump says he will call Netanyahu, telling him 'not to retaliate' against Tehran; Airspaces close across Iran, Syria, and Iraq.

Middle East Roundup, June 7: Israeli army says country being targeted by Iranian missiles

PARIS: Self-driving taxis, already booming in the United States and China, are emerging in Europe, with major companies launching trials this year in several capitals and the European Union set to step on the accelerator Monday. In China and the United States, private fleets of &quot;robotaxis&quot; -- driverless cars loaded with sensors -- more than doubled in 2025 to reach 8,000 vehicles across more than two dozen major cities, according to a May report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Seven years behind schedule, trials will finally start across Europe over the coming months. In France -- where no trials are scheduled for the moment -- planning high commissioner Clement Beaune recently criticised the EU for in his words &quot;lagging behind&quot;. European regulations say a &quot;safety driver&quot; must be on board the vehicle, their hands on their lap -- as was the case in the early days of testing in China and the United States. The EU will now accelerate the process by adopting a &quot;testbed&quot;, a simplified testing approach that will let companies avoid having to obtain approval on a country-by-country basis. European transport ministers are set to make the decision official on Monday, Anne-Marie Idrac, the bloc&#39;s senior official for autonomous vehicle development, told AFP. London, Munich, Madrid, Zagreb...&nbsp;The first trial in Europe started on April 8 in Croatia, where Chinese company Pony.ai -- in partnership with US group Uber and Croatian startup Verne, backed by the automaker Rimac -- has been operating about 10 robotaxis in Zagreb. In London, three groups will launch trials this year: robotaxi world leader Waymo, a subsidiary of Google parent Alphabet; its competitor Wayve, in partnership with Uber; and the Chinese company Apollo Go, a subsidiary of the tech giant Baidu. In Madrid, the Chinese group WeRide has just announced a test with Uber. Uber will also deploy robotaxis in Munich, using technology from the Chinese company Momenta. In Switzerland, Apollo has partnered with Swiss Post for a pilot programme in the country&#39;s east. Italian-French-US automaker Stellantis and Pony.ai are to conduct a test in Luxembourg. Ride-hailing platforms Uber, Lyft and Bolt often partner in such projects. Waymo claims it has around 3,000 driverless taxis spread across a dozen US cities, a similar number to Apollo, whose taxis are deployed in 27 Chinese cities and in Dubai. Pony.ai has 1,700 vehicles and is targeting 3,500 by the end of 2026, compared to 1,000 for WeRide. In China, ride-hailing platform Didi and carmaker SAIC operate robotaxis in several major cities. In the United States, Tesla and Amazon-owned Zoox have established themselves in several cities. By 2035, the IEA forecasts there will be between 700,000 and three million robotaxis in 40 to 80 major cities. Consulting firm BCG expects three million, including 850,000 in China and 350,000 in the United States, but only 120,000 in Europe. Goldman Sachs is betting on around six million vehicles for a $415-billion market. CrossroadsIn Europe, strict safety regulations and strong public-transport culture have put the brakes on robotaxi development, according to specialist Herve de Treglode. But &quot;London is ready, Madrid too. We may see commercial service by 2027,&quot; he said. &quot;In the US and China, they don&#39;t do six months of testing and then stop. They roll out in a neighbourhood, remove the safety driver, then launch commercial service with massive investments.&quot; One potential snag: companies want to put driverless taxis in highly profitable, densely populated urban areas; many politicians want them in suburban and rural areas, to compensate for public-transport gaps. &quot;It&#39;s high time we came up with a strategy,&quot; Laurence Debrincat of the Paris regional transport authority said last month, pushing for the suburban-and-rural approach. The founder of French ridesharing firm Ecov, Thomas Matagne, summed up the crossroads decision-makers are facing. &quot;Should we leave the sector to the market, at the risk of concentrating it in densely populated areas? Or should the government invest to roll out (robotaxis) in the general interest?&quot;

Europe accelerates robotaxi adoption as major firms launch trials across several cities, with the EU introducing streamlined testing rules aimed at narrowing the gap with the United States and China.

Europe opening up to self-driving taxis

LONDON: The leaders of Britain, France and Germany back Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky&#39;s call for direct ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine, they said Sunday after meeting with him in London. The leaders &quot;supported the proposal for a direct dialogue between Ukraine and Russia -- with active US and European participation -- to bring about a ceasefire and support further negotiations,&quot; they said in a joint statement with Zelensky &quot;The current line of contact should be the starting point for negotiations,&quot; they added. &quot;International borders must not be changed by force.&quot; In an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, Zelensky proposed they hold a face-to-face meeting. &quot;Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us,&quot; he wrote. Zelensky met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in London on Sunday. Kyiv is asking its Western allies for more ammunition deliveries for its anti-air defences as Ukraine endures daily Russian strikes. The latest strikes killed five people in Ukraine and hit a nuclear storage facility near the Chernobyl disaster site, officials said. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and millions forced to flee their homes since Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine in February 2022.

Britain, France and Germany back President Volodymyr Zelensky’s proposal for direct Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks, urging negotiations from current front lines while rejecting territorial changes by force and supporting US-European involvement.

UK, France, Germany back direct Ukraine-Russia talks: joint statement

KYIV: Russia fired waves of drones and other munitions at Ukraine on Sunday, killing at least four people and damaging a nuclear storage facility in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, Ukrainian officials said. Radiation levels at the facility remained within normal limits following the attack, although the building&#39;s reception was &quot;partially destroyed,&quot; according to Ukraine&#39;s Energoatom nuclear energy operator. Moscow and Kyiv have intensified drone strikes on each other in recent months as US-led diplomatic efforts to end the war, now in its fifth year, remain stalled and sidetracked by the conflict in the Middle East. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet his allies in London later Sunday for talks on how to pressure Russia to end the fighting, after Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected direct peace talks with the Ukrainian leader. &quot;A &#39;shahed&#39; hit one of the buildings of the Centralized Spent Fuel Storage Facility,&quot; Zelensky said in a post on X, referring to the Iranian-designed &quot;Shahed&quot; drones that Russia fires at Ukraine on a nightly basis. &quot;As of now, there are no readings exceeding normal background radiation levels. But there is certainly an increase in Russia&#39;s brazenness, which long ago went off the charts,&quot; he added. The International Atomic Energy Agency said it was dispatching a team to inspect the damage, calling the incident &quot;deeply concerning.&quot; The facility is located in a remote area of forest around a dozen kilometers (seven miles) from the site of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, and is designed to house spent nuclear fuel from Ukraine&#39;s three active nuclear plants. Strikes on Ukraine Russian strikes killed and wounded multiple civilians on Sunday, Ukrainian officials said. A Russian bombardment of a public transport stop in Ukraine&#39;s southern Zaporizhzhia region left at least two people dead, while a nearby drone strike killed a 56-year-old minibus driver, authorities said. A separate attack on the central Dnipropetrovsk region killed a 59-year-old man, governor Oleksandr Ganzha posted on Telegram. Hundreds of thousands have been killed and millions forced to flee their home since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia &mdash;which denies targeting civilians &mdash; now occupies around a fifth of its neighbor: the Crimean peninsula, which it annexed in 2014, most of the eastern regions of Donetsk and Lugansk &mdash; collectively referred to as the Donbas &mdash; and large parts of the southern Zaporizhzhia and Khe

Radiation levels at the facility remained within normal limits following the attack, although the building's reception was "partially destroyed," according to Ukraine's Energoatom nuclear energy operator.

Russian strikes kill four, damage nuclear storage facility: Kyiv

JESSORE: Rice farmer Mohammad Ismail Hossain fears violence could blight his quiet fields in southwestern Bangladesh, on the front line of a growing Indian push to expel undocumented migrants. The countries share a porous 4,096-kilometre (2,500-mile) border, with communities on either side often so interwoven that crossings -- illegal or not -- are common. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has been stepping up deportations of illegal migrants to Bangladesh, a campaign that critics say unfairly targets Bengali-speaking Muslims. Rights groups say those efforts have gathered more momentum since Modi&#39;s Hindu-nationalist party won power in West Bengal state, which borders Bangladesh, for the first time last month. &quot;(India) says that those found to be Bangladeshi would be sent back after verifying their documents,&quot; Hossain, 66, told AFP at a tea stall in the border region of Khulna-Jessore. &quot;But no one seems to be verifying anything. They are pushing people in, left, right and centre,&quot; he said. Authorities say many people in the border region lack proper documents to prove their citizenship, mainly due to poverty, a lack of awareness, and a long history of informal movement. &quot;If the situation escalates, there could be a bigger conflict, with shots being fired... India, being the larger country, can forcefully do anything,&quot; said a worried Hossain. &nbsp;&#39;Infiltrators&#39;&nbsp;The borderland communities long predate the 1947 partition of British India, which delineated the frontier of the nation now called Bangladesh. Along some stretches, it is often difficult to distinguish one country from the other. Family networks straddle both sides. Some homes may even have their kitchen in Bangladesh and their courtyard in India. India has informally &quot;pushed back&quot; illegal migrants into Bangladesh for decades, but activists say the political changeover in West Bengal has boosted the deportation campaign. The state government has set up detention centers and claimed to have forced out nearly 5,000 &quot;Bangladeshi infiltrators&quot;. The escalation has riled Bangladesh, which is equally reluctant to absorb groups of people whose identities are not immediately clear. Bangladeshi border guards have increased patrols and issued warnings through loudspeakers that no one may enter without verification, Mahmudul Hasan, a regional commander, told AFP. &quot;We are willing to accept our citizens once their nationality has been verified by both countries, but we are not taking unidentified nationals,&quot; Hasan said. &quot;Rules must apply even to undocumented people.&quot; Since June 5, Bangladeshi guards have thwarted at least 35 attempts by India to force migrants over the border, a Bangladeshi spokesman told AFP. West Bengal police official Subrata Saha insisted Indian authorities were only handing over deportees &quot;after it is proved that they crossed the Indian border illegally and they are Bangladeshi nationals&quot;. Battered, bruised&nbsp;Meanwhile, many undocumented migrants remain in limbo, and humanitarian concerns are mounting. At a hospital in the city of Satkhira, Mohammad Mohiuddin lay recovering from injuries he says were inflicted by Indian guards as he was trying to wade across a lake into Bangladesh. &quot;They hit me in the eye with the butt of a rifle and shot me,&quot; he told AFP from his bed. &quot;I don&#39;t deserve such cruelty.&quot; A senior official from India&#39;s Border Security Force refused to comment when contacted by AFP. Women and children have reportedly spent days stranded along the &quot;zero line&quot; -- the narrow buffer zone separating Bangladesh from India -- relying on villagers for food and water. Viral videos show frightened families huddled near border fences while Indian and Bangladeshi personnel argue over who should take responsibility for them. Rights groups say the crisis exposes the gruelling poverty that drives many Bangladeshis to cross illegally. They also worry that India could arbitrarily decide to push Rohingya refugees, who are mainly Muslim, across the border. Bangladesh already hosts more than one million Rohingya refugees from neighboring Myanmar, a huge economic and social burden for one of the world&#39;s less-developed countries. Torn apart&nbsp;Many villagers do not see illegal border crossings as criminal because of the deep historical and family ties linking communities on both sides, said A.B.M. Mohid Hossain, who works with the non-profit Justice and Care. &quot;Some people cross in search of work because they have family members on the other side,&quot; he told AFP. For some families, the suffering continues long after they are detained. At least 20 Bangladeshi children were repatriated in May while their parents were jailed in India on charges of illegal entry, according to police and human rights groups. Among them was 14-year-old Sumi Khatun, who said she and her younger sister were separated from their family after being detained a year ago. Sumi, whose parents are Bangladeshi, says she was born in India but lacks the documents to prove that. &quot;They arrested us and separated my little sister and me from our mother and brother,&quot; she said. &quot;My father&#39;s grave is in Delhi, my mother and brother are in jails in different cities in India, and my sister and I are in Bangladesh,&quot; she said. Sumi said she no longer wants anything to do with the country where her family was torn apart. &quot;I will never go to India again... Just bring my mother and brother back so that we can all live together again.&quot;

This photograph taken on June 3, 2026 shows Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel patrolling near the Benapole-Petrapole frontier crossing between Bangladesh and India in Benapole (AFP)

India

Bangladesh

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has been stepping up deportations of illegal migrants to Bangladesh, a campaign that critics say unfairly targets Bengali-speaking Muslims; Rights groups say those efforts have gathered more momentum since Modi's Hindu-nationalist party won power in West Bengal state, which borders Bangladesh, for the first time last month.

India migrant evictions seed fear in Bangladesh border towns

ISLAMABAD: India&rsquo;s &quot;Cockroach Janta Party&quot; founder Abhijeet Dipke arrived at Lucknow airport on Friday to participate in a peaceful protest at Eco Garden against the Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.&nbsp; In a post on X, Dipke said he was traveling to the Uttar Pradesh capital after participating in what he described as two successful and peaceful protests in New Delhi and Pune. <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-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065095286754553911&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=c024945361eba3518781b87b0926dd27ab26d6ee&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 321px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> &quot;Will join the students there tomorrow to demand resignation of Education Minister,&quot; he wrote on Thursday. According to a post by his party, if local authorities denied permission for the demonstration, Dipke would personally approach police officials and request approval for the gathering. <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" 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=2065236086230569226&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=c024945361eba3518781b87b0926dd27ab26d6ee&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 897px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> The party held its first major street protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, calling for Pradhan&#39;s resignation over major exam irregularities, including question paper leaks and technical glitches. Within weeks, the movement has amassed more than 22 million followers on Instagram, making it one of the most prominent youth-driven online campaigns in India.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke addresses his supporters during a protest over alleged irregularities in the country's major examinations, in New Delhi on June 6, 2026 (AFP).

Abhijeet Dipke says he will join a student-led protest in Lucknow to demand the education minister's resignation and approach the police himself if permission for the demonstration is denied.

India's 'Cockroach Party' founder arrives in Lucknow to join protest demanding minister's resignation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (Conversion) (Repeal) Bill, 2026, paving the way for PIA&#39;s privatization. According to the details, following the president&#39;s approval, the legal requirements necessary for the completion of the&nbsp;<a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/pia-nears-full-privatization-as-consortium-moves-for-remaining-stake" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">privatization</a>&nbsp;process of Pakistan International Airlines Company Limited have been fulfilled, said a post shared on&nbsp;<a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/from-18-to-60-aircraft-new-owners-unveil-pia-expansion-plan" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">President</a>&nbsp;of Pakistan&#39;s X handle on Friday.<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-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065282559559537061&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=08b9253216cdb53baaa53f1d414c3a108e4996d7&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 393px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>The bill was approved by the Senate of Pakistan on June 10, 2026, and by the National Assembly of Pakistan on June 11, 2026.

Economy

After the approval of the bill, the legal requirements necessary for the completion of the privatization process of Pakistan International Airlines Company Limited (PIACL) have been fulfilled, said a post shared on President of Pakistan's X handle on Friday.


Pakistan president approves law paving the way for PIA’s privatization

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to eliminating child labor, stressing that every child has the right to protection, education, and a safe future free from exploitation. In their separate messages, released in connection with the celebration of World Day Against Child Labor on Friday, the two leaders referred to Article 11 of the Constitution of Pakistan, which prohibits forced labor and exploitation of children. At the same time, Article 25-A guarantees free and compulsory education to all children. President Zardari, in his message, said child labor not only deprives children of their childhood but also damages their future and education.<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-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 921px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065149075553730881&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=6c5db4e6cd2d8e8ee9390e0d4c633e78823e05cd&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> He said steps are being taken at both federal and provincial levels to eliminate child labor, but added that effective implementation of laws is essential to protect vulnerable children from exploitation. The president said children trapped in exploitative labor must be brought back into schools and provided a safe and supportive environment. He also called on parents, teachers, religious leaders, civil society, and employers to play their role in protecting children and ensuring that no child is deprived of education.&ldquo;No one should be allowed to exploit children,&rdquo; the President said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sharif, in his separate message released from the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office (PMO) in Islamabad, said that Pakistan joins the international community in reaffirming its commitment to protecting every child from exploitation and providing them opportunities for a brighter future through education. He went on to say that this year&rsquo;s theme, &ldquo;Red Card to Child Labor: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults,&rdquo; highlights the need for collective action against child labor. Citing International Labor Organization estimates, he said, &ldquo;nearly 138 million children worldwide remain engaged in child labor, including around 54 million in hazardous work.&rdquo; The prime minister said that Pakistan has ratified relevant ILO conventions on minimum age for employment and elimination of the worst forms of child labor. He added, &ldquo;The government is pursuing a comprehensive strategy focused on legal reforms, enforcement, social protection, education, and economic empowerment to address the root causes of child labor.&rdquo; Sharif said that institutions such as the National Commission on the Rights of Child, Child Protection Institute, provincial child protection bodies, and welfare bureaus are working to support vulnerable children.

Education

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to eliminate child labor, stressing constitutional protections, education, law enforcement, rehabilitation, and collective national action to protect children from exploitation.

President, PM reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to ending child labor

BUSHBUCKRIDGE: In a remote South African village, Paulina Mhlongo sits in the yard as health workers in green protective gear move briskly through her home, soaking the walls with anti-mosquito insecticide. Her teenage grandson fell critically ill last year from malaria, the disease that kills more than a quarter of a million people annually and is surging in southern Africa as the climate shifts. Before this spraying, the family&#39;s &quot;only defense&quot; against malaria-carrying mosquitoes was a rattling fan, said Mhlongo, a 63-year-old retiree. Her village of Calcutta is in Mpumalanga, one of three provinces in South Africa&#39;s malaria belt experiencing changing rain patterns and rising temperatures that favor mosquito breeding. Heavy rains leave pools for eggs, while warmer temperatures speed up mosquito development and shorten the malaria parasite&#39;s incubation period. Malaria cases in Mpumalanga jumped fourfold in January compared with a year earlier, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). The upsurge jeopardises South Africa&#39;s goal of eliminating the disease by 2029. Gauteng the powerhouse province home to Johannesburg and Pretoria, and where malaria is not endemic logged more than 400 cases and 11 deaths in the first three months of 2026, according to the NICD. While most infections were imported into the province from known hotspots, these figures are &quot;concerning&quot; even if the disease is not being transmitted between people, the public health body said. Supercharging hotspotsHuman‑driven climate change has increased the likelihood and intensity of extreme weather, while the naturally occurring La Nina weather phenomenon brought above‑average rains to parts of southern Africa in early 2026, causing flooding that created more mosquito breeding sites, the group said. Namibia reported 8,760 cases in the first four weeks of 2026, a 68% increase from a year earlier. Flood-hit Mozambique recorded more than 1.35 million cases in the first six weeks of the year, up 55% alongside dozens of deaths. The outlook offers little reassurance as climate volatility deepens. The increase in malaria cases does not mean the disease is migrating, said Jantjie Taljaard, head of infectious diseases at Stellenbosch University. Instead, climate change is supercharging existing hotspots and lengthening transmission windows, fueling far more intense outbreaks. &quot;Rural environments and areas on the margins of established malaria risk areas are at highest risk,&quot; Taljaard said. The effects are being felt on the front line at Cunningmoore Clinic, where technicians Nicholas Skhumbane and Armstrong Mgiba swiftly process a steady stream of blood samples from surrounding villages. Working out of a threadbare laboratory, the two men, clad in white coats and latex gloves, move systematically from slide to slide. They add a drop of Giemsa stain -- a purplish-blue dye that reveals malaria parasites -- before placing each sample under a microscope. The results are returned just as quickly as at Tintswalo Hospital, a modern facility some 50 kilometers (30 miles) away. &nbsp;&#39;Even in winter&#39;&nbsp;For health officials, the shifting weather patterns are forcing a rethink of malaria planning beyond traditional hotspots and seasons. &quot;Climate change is a complex thing to deal with,&quot; said Sharon Lindiwe Nyoni, malaria program manager at the Mpumalanga department of health. &quot;When you plan as a department, you need to anticipate what is coming your way, but with climate change everything is just unfolding.&quot; The old assumption that malaria is confined to summer no longer holds, she warned. &quot;Even in winter, we continue to see transmission.&quot; It is not only local health systems that are coming under strain, experts say, but also intervention efforts. &quot;Flooding can mean we simply cannot reach communities to deliver control measures,&quot; virologist Edina Amponsah-Dacosta told AFP. Apart from heavy rains, extreme heat is a challenge as it can break the strict cold chain required before vaccines, which need refrigeration, ever reach remote clinics, she said. Despite the rising case numbers, health workers say that some locals remain skeptical about the safety of the insecticide spray and refuse to let health workers inside their homes. &quot;It is very painful to see someone dying of something that is preventable and again curable,&quot; Nyoni said. Back in Calcutta, Mhlongo waited outside as the sharp scent of insecticide drifted from her freshly sprayed nine-room house, which she shares with eight relatives. Empty beer cans littered the back of a nearby pickup truck propped on rocks -- a place the sprayers warned could harbor mosquitoes. &quot;I am happy because mosquitoes are a problem,&quot; Mhlongo said, serving the spray team a homemade snack of maize meal, sugar and groundnuts as a neighbor&#39;s music drifted across the farming village.

Medical technologist and laboratory manager at the National Health Laboratory Service Rirhandzu Mashale points to a malaria-positive blood sample projected from a microscope at Tintswalo Hospital in Bushbuckridge on May 26, 2026. (AFP)

Africa

Climate change and extreme weather are driving a sharp rise in malaria cases across southern Africa, straining health systems and threatening disease elimination efforts.

As climate shifts, malaria gains ground in southern Africa

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has expressed support for the Muscat Plan of Action, describing it as an innovative and timely pathway to counter hate speech, prevent incitement to genocide and other atrocity crimes, and promote peace through dialogue, mediation and local peacebuilding. The Muscat Plan of Action is a UN-backed framework aimed at strengthening the role of traditional and indigenous leaders and communities in countering hate speech and preventing genocide, atrocity crimes and their incitement. Speaking at the launch of the Muscat Plan of Action at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, said that the initiative comes at a time when the world is witnessing a sharp rise in exclusion, intolerance and discrimination. &ldquo;Pakistan supports initiatives such as the Muscat Plan of Action and appreciates the urgency shown by the United Nations in addressing these disruptive and dangerous trends,&rdquo; added the Pakistani envoy.<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; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 640px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065227854917345717&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=ef5545f1c212c27393391d5ca5361035a9d8eaba&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The launch ceremony was attended by UN Secretary-General Ant&oacute;nio Guterres, along with representatives of member states, international organizations and peacebuilding networks. Ambassador Iftikhar further said that the plan draws strength from the cultural legitimacy, credibility and influence of traditional and Indigenous leaders, particularly in societies where local mechanisms continue to play an important role in conflict prevention and dispute resolution. Inclusive and peaceful societies&ldquo;By mobilizing traditional knowledge, cultural practices, and local mechanisms, the Plan of Action reinforces States&rsquo; efforts for establishing just, inclusive and peaceful societies,&rdquo; he said. He noted that hate speech and incitement to genocide and atrocity crimes are driven by complex social, political and ideological factors, requiring an effective and holistic response at national,&nbsp;international and community levels. The Pakistani envoy said that heads of clans, tribal chiefs and Indigenous leaders have historically played a leading role in local governance, mediation and conflict prevention. Even today, he said, such leaders remain at the forefront of peacebuilding, dispute resolution and humanitarian relief efforts in many parts of the world. Ambassador Iftikhar reaffirmed that Pakistan would continue working with international partners to counter the ideology of hate speech and promote societies based on peace, equality and dignity. He said Pakistan remained committed to supporting collective efforts to transform communities into &ldquo;oases of peace, equality and tranquility.&rdquo; The ambassador also congratulated the Sultanate of Oman, the United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide and the Peacemakers Network for compiling and finalizing the Muscat Plan of Action. Pakistan said the initiative can serve as an important platform for linking global prevention frameworks with community-based peacebuilding efforts, especially in areas vulnerable to hate-driven violence and social fragmentation.

Foreign Affairs

Endorses the Muscat Plan of Action at the UN; Calls it an innovative framework to counter hate speech, prevent genocide incitement, and promote peacebuilding through traditional and Indigenous leaders.

Pakistan backs Muscat Plan of Action against hate speech, genocide incitement

BUENOS AIRES: Temperatures in the Antarctic Peninsula have reached a record-breaking high of 15.4C for June, and ice is melting at abnormal rates during the current winter, climate scientists told AFP on Thursday. Esperanza Base, an Argentine research station located in the north of the peninsula, recorded the unprecedented figure on June 6. The previous highest temperature on record for that month -- 13.3C -- dates back to 1998. The current heat also significantly exceeds Esperanza&#39;s June average of -6.2C. Such a figure is &quot;very unusual for this time of year,&quot; Jose Luis Stella, a climatologist at Argentina&#39;s National Meteorological Service, told AFP. Argentine bases Marambio and San Martin also recorded unequalled temperatures between June 5 and 6. Marambio recorded 11.8C, surpassing a previous high of 9.2C and its June average of -10.7C. San Martin meanwhile saw 9.4C compared to its previous 7.8C record and June average of -5.6C. &#39;Confirms a trend&#39;The northern Antarctic heatwave is not an isolated event, University of Groningen professor Raul Cordero told AFP. &quot;It confirms a trend,&quot; he said, warning that &quot;these kinds of events will continue to occur with increasing frequency&quot; if global warming is not derailed. Thomas Caton Harrison, a polar climate scientist at the British Antarctic Survey, believes a combination of factors including climate change resulted in the current heat. &quot;There is credible evidence that climate change is playing a role, but the effect is complex in this region,&quot; he said. &quot;Because Antarctica sees such big swings in temperature, we have to collect lots of data over many years to build a picture of the underlying climate.&quot; Both specialists agree that regional temperatures have been rising for years and are already showing visible effects. &quot;A surprising amount of precipitation has been falling as rain rather than snow,&quot; Caton Harrison said. &quot;This has implications for polar ecosystems such as penguin colonies,&quot; he said, adding that &quot;it poses a challenge to my colleagues working on Antarctic bases because a lot of liquid rain has been falling and creating runoff and ice.&quot; Esperanza Base has been recording above-zero temperatures daily for three consecutive weeks. This trend has caused &quot;large areas in the far north of the white continent to remain free of snow,&quot; according to Cordero, who called it &quot;an unusual scene in the Antarctic landscape during winter.&quot;

Climate

Temperatures in the Antarctic Peninsula reach a record-breaking high of 15.4C for June, as ice melts at abnormal rates during the current winter.

Antarctic Peninsula sees record high June temperatures

MEXICO CITY: Mexico ignited their World Cup party with a dominant 2-0 victory over nine-man South Africa on Thursday as the biggest ever edition of the global footballing showpiece kicked off at the iconic Estadio Azteca. Julian Quinones scored the opening goal of the tournament and veteran striker Raul Jimenez added a second as the co-hosts&#39; bid for qualification from Group A got off to smooth start. South Africa meanwhile never looked like spoiling the opening day fiesta, and finished with only nine men after Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were sent off. The Mexican-colored red, green and white smoke from pre-game fireworks had barely dissipated before Quinones fired the hosts into the lead on nine minutes, drilling a low shot through the legs of South Africa&rsquo;s goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams. A deafening roar cascaded down from the stands of the Azteca, the footballing cathedral that became the only stadium to host games at three different World Cups. South Africa coach Hugo Broos had warned his players to be ready for the intimidating atmosphere created by a capacity 80,824 crowd at the imposing concrete arena. But South Africa&rsquo;s players looked to have a bad case of stage fright as Mexico&#39;s fans &nbsp;greeted each completed pass with a raucous chorus of &quot;Ole!&quot; in the opening minutes Sithole seemed particularly affected, being caught in possession trying to play out of the back for Quinones&#39; opening goal. Sithole&#39;s miserable afternoon ended with a 49th minute dismissal after bundling over Mexico&rsquo;s Brian Gutierrez when clean through on goal. Mexico rammed home their advantage in the 67th minute, with a fine counter attack culminating in Roberto Alvarado crossing for Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Jimenez to nod home at the far post. It got worse for South Africa in the 84th minute when Zwane was dismissed after a VAR review for flinging an arm into the face of Alvarado. There was still time for late drama when Mexican defender Cesar Montes was shown a red card for a clumsy challenge on Khulisa Mudau on the edge of the penalty area.

Football

Mexico launches World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over South Africa at a packed Estadio Azteca, while the visitors finish with nine men after two red cards.

Mexico beat South Africa to kick off World Cup

NEW YORK: Taylor Swift on Thursday became the youngest woman ever inducted into the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame, another milestone in the 36-year-old US pop star&#39;s record-breaking career. The female record was previously held by Carole Bayer Sager, who was 43 when she joined in 1987. Stevie Wonder remains the youngest person ever admitted, at age 32 in 1983. Artists become eligible for the Hall of Fame 20 years after the release of their first commercial track. For Swift, that was &quot;Tim McGraw,&quot; released in June 2006. Her success since is undeniable: the American artist has recorded 12 albums spanning country, pop, and folk, earning her 14 Grammy Awards in the United States, including four Album of the Year trophies -- a record. &quot;Swift&#39;s ability to shapeshift as a songwriter, to inhabit different sonic landscapes and write as credibly in the world of one genre as she does another is part of her superpower as a songwriter,&quot; reads her bio on the Hall of Fame website. &quot;It also represents the boldness and bravery of her artistry: to explore new frontiers when the most practical next step would be to keep mining the material that has gotten you the success in the first place.&quot; Swift appeared on the red carpet in New York on Thursday wearing a strapless black dress with floral motifs ahead of the naming ceremony. &#39;Great honor&#39;Also inducted on Thursday were Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS, the band behind hits such as &quot;Rock and Roll All Nite&quot; and &quot;Detroit Rock City.&quot; &quot;It doesn&#39;t suck,&quot; Stanley told AFP when asked how it felt to join the prestigious songwriting ranks. &quot;It&#39;s really hard to digest the idea. I certainly don&#39;t consider myself in that rarified air of some of the writers, but if you wanna be in that club, I&#39;m there.&quot; Kenny Loggins, the hitmaker behind movie soundtrack classics like &quot;Footloose&quot; and &quot;Danger Zone&quot; from &quot;Top Gun,&quot; was inducted into the Hall of Fame as well. &quot;It&#39;s a great honor and I appreciate it,&quot; Loggins told AFP. &quot;It&#39;s the culmination of a lifetime writing, and that&#39;s exciting for me.&quot; Canadian singer Alanis Morissette, inescapable in the 1990s, and American record producer Walter Afanasieff were also among the total of nine songwriters joining the Hall of Fame this year. Estimates put Taylor Swift&#39;s worldwide sales at over 250 million album-equivalents. Her most recent tour in 2023 and 2024, titled &quot;The Eras Tour,&quot; brought in a record sum of around two billion dollars. She is also the female artist with the most songs ever to reach the top 10 list compiled by Billboard, the leading US music magazine. Swift is omnipresent in the media. After unveiling a country track for the soundtrack of the film &quot;Toy Story 5,&quot; she was at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday for a game of the NBA Finals.

Entertainment

Taylor Swift becomes the youngest woman ever to be inducted into the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame, another milestone in the 36-year-old US pop star's record-breaking career.

Taylor Swift becomes youngest woman in Songwriters Hall of Fame

Middle East

Americas

Says a 'great settlement' with Iran has been reached and approved by Iran's Supreme Leader; Trump praises Pakistan for a 'fantastic role' in mediation, calling Field Marshal Asim Munir a 'great general'; Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson denies that any final decision on a deal with the US has been made.