SportsVirat Kohli says he would only play the 2027 ODI World Cup if he can still contribute meaningfully. The former India captain said he has nothing left to prove and wants clarity over his role and value.
SportsJonas Vingegaard won stage seven of the Giro d’Italia on the Blockhaus climb, his first stage victory in the race. The Dane moved up to second overall, while Afonso Eulalio kept the pink jersey.
SportsLionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are set to make history by appearing in a sixth World Cup, with both expected to bow out after the tournament. The Argentina and Portugal stars remain key figures for their teams heading into North America.
WorldLawyers for Mahmoud Khalil have asked the US Board of Immigration Appeals to reopen and terminate his deportation case. They say new evidence shows the Trump administration secretly influenced the outcome.
WorldIsrael says its forces now control 60pc of Gaza, while a strike targeted senior Hamas leader Ezzedine Al-Haddad. In the West Bank, a 15-year-old boy was shot dead and settlers allegedly torched part of a mosque and vehicles near Ramallah.
WorldGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he would not currently advise his children to live or study in the United States, citing a changed social climate and weak job prospects. He made the remarks at a Catholic convention in Wuerzburg.
WorldThe WHO has warned that nicotine pouches are spreading rapidly worldwide and are being marketed aggressively to young people. The agency said the products are highly addictive and pose a growing public health challenge.
WorldUS President Donald Trump said Abu Bilal al-Minuki, described as ISIS’s global second-in-command, was killed in a joint operation by American and Nigerian forces. He thanked Nigeria for its cooperation in the mission.
Chinese-linked vessels began crossing the Strait of Hormuz under an Iranian “management protocol,” while the US Central Command said it redirected 70 commercial ships and disabled four amid blockade measures.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi accused the UAE of direct military involvement against Iran during a BRICS meeting in New Delhi, escalating tensions amid denials over alleged Israeli and US links.
WorldAn AFP investigation says Indian firms are still exporting large quantities of tapentadol to West Africa despite a crackdown. Officials and researchers say the drug is worsening the region’s opioid crisis and is also being mixed into kush.
WorldRussia says it is developing a full partnership with Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities and wants regional countries to expand engagement with Kabul. A senior Russian official said cooperation is important for regional security and development.
