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Boualem Khoukhi may not have been credited with the goal, but his towering leap forced Swiss midfielder Miro Muheim into heading into his own net. For 93 minutes, Qatar’s World Cup campaign seemed destined for another painful ending. Then Boualem Khoukhi rose above the Switzerland defence and changed history. The veteran defender may not have been credited with the goal, but his towering leap forced Swiss midfielder Miro Muheim into heading Homam Ahmed’s cross into his own net in the fourth minute of stoppage time, sealing a dramatic 1-1 draw and Qatar’s first-ever point at a FIFA World Cup. It was a moment that ended a run of three defeats from their debut campaign on home soil in 2022 and rescued Qatar from what looked certain to be a fourth successive loss on football’s biggest stage. With Switzerland leading through Breel Embolo’s first-half penalty and dominating the contest with 26 attempts on goal to Qatar’s seven, Julen Lopetegui’s side had spent much of the afternoon defending resolutely. Yet, when one final chance arrived, captain Khoukhi attacked Ahmed’s cross with conviction, forcing the decisive error that left the Swiss stunned. The equaliser was officially recorded as an own goal by Muheim, but Khoukhi’s role in the move was unmistakable. His aerial challenge created the pressure that produced the historic breakthrough, triggering wild celebrations among the Qatari players and supporters at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. “We believed in ourselves until the last moment,” said Algeria-born Khoukhi, reflecting on Saturday’s crucial draw, which could help Qatar’s chances of qualifying for the round of 32. “We played a great match, and getting a point is much better than losing, especially since the opponent is a team of Switzerland’s calibre. We took a lot of risks in the last minutes, and we had to do that because we were behind in the score.” …
Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing arrived in China Monday for talks with leader Xi Jinping, state media reported, as the Southeast Asian nation seeks stronger trade ties with Beijing.The trip is the Myanmar leader's second state visit since taking over as civilian president in April. He previously travelled to India.Myanmar has been diplomatically isolated since a 2021 military coup ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.Images published by Myanmar media outlets Monday morning showed Min Aung Hlaing waving as he boarded a plane to Beijing.Chinese state media reported his arrival in the afternoon.In addition to Xi, Min Aung Hlaing will also meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang and top legislator Zhao Leji during his visit, which will last until Friday, according to Beijing's foreign ministry.China hopes to use this visit to renew its friendship with Myanmar and deepen ‘comprehensive strategic co-operation’, ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a regular news conference on Friday.Min Aung Hlaing will visit high-technology industries and attend an economic conference in China, Myanmar state media reported.Attention has been drawn to the bilateral relationship by China's recent detention of a US citizen who was working as a political analyst at a think tank focusing on Myanmar.Min Zin, founder of the Institute for Strategy and Policy Myanmar, ‘has been subjected to criminal compulsory measures’, foreign ministry spokesman Lin told reporters on Friday.Authorities are holding him ‘on suspicion of engaging in espionage activities that endanger China's national security’, Lin said.The think tank researches the political, resource and conflict dynamics of Myanmar.The Southeast Asian nation's armed forces have been battling an array of opposition factions since the coup.Fearing political collapse in Myanmar — with which it shares a porous, 2,100-kilometre (1,300-mile) border — China has sought to rein in rebel groups fighting the military.Beijing also enthusiastically backed elections that delivered a walkover win this year for the military's allies in civilian politics.Foreign Minister Wang Yi pledged firm support for Myanmar in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security during a meeting with Min Aung Hlaing in the capital Naypyidaw in April.After five years ruling as armed forces chief, Min Aung Hlaing was sworn in as civilian president in April, in a transition democracy monitors dismissed as a rebranding of military rule. Source link
Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim. Fit-again Indian javelin throw superstar Neeraj Chopra will return to competitive action at the Doha Diamond League at the Qatar Sports Club on Friday. In the men’s high jump, Hamish Kerr – the Olympic, world and Commonwealth champion – has also withdrawn – however, Qatar icon Mutaz Barshim, the former Olympic champion and three-time World champion, will compete. Multiple Olympic, world and European pole vault champion Mondo Duplantis has had to withdraw due to the rescheduled Doha date clashing with his wedding. There were question marks over Chopra’s availability as the 28-year-old had been recuperating from a back injury, which has prevented him from competing so far in the season. “First throw of 2026 lands in Doha! Neeraj Chopra returns to competitive action on June 19,” his management firm Vel Sports announced on social media. Chopra is a late addition to the event as his name was not in the list announced by the organisers on June 12. In May last year, the two-time Olympic medallist India had breached the coveted 90m mark at the same venue. He had recorded 90.23m to finish second behind Julian Weber (91.06m) of Germany. Neeraj Chopra has recovered from a back injury, which has prevented him from competing so far in the season. Weber had to delay the start to his season and won’t compete in Doha, which includes 2026 world leader Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage of Sri Lanka and Trinidad’s Keshorn Walcott, the reigning world champion.Former two-time world champion and Olympic bronze medallist Anderson Peters (Grenada), and world bronze medallist Curtis Thompson (USA). Julius Yego (Kenya), former world champion and Olympic silver medallist, Jakub Vadlejch (Czech Republic), former Olympic and world silver medallist, and Artur Felfner (Ukraine), European U23 champion and former world U20 champion, complete the field. Pakistan’s reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem is not yet in his pre-competition phase and therefore is not ready to compete. The Doha Diamond League was to be originally held on May 8 as the season-opening event but was postponed due to the West Asia conflict. Organisers have once again confirmed that athletes who set new meeting records at the 2026 event will be awarded a $5000 bonus, an innovative concept that was first introduced in 2025. In the women’s 400m, Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino will open her Diamond League campaign in Doha. The 29-year-old – the first woman from the Dominican Republic to win gold in any sport at the Olympic Games – set an Olympic record of 48.17 in Paris 2024 and led the top three to times inside 49 seconds for the first time in a women’s 400m. The former world champion ran a Dominican record of 47.98 for silver at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. It was the third-quickest time in history and the first time that two women (Paulino and winner Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone) had dipped under 48 seconds in the same race. Paulino – a three-time Diamond League Final winner – has won on both her previous outings to the Qatar Sports Club in 2022 (51.20) and 2023 (50.51). Olympic champion and crowd favourite Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco will make a welcome return to the Doha Meeting when he competes in the 3000m steeplechase. El Bakkali, who backed up his Tokyo 2021 Olympic title with gold in Paris 2024, is also a two-time world champion (2022 and 2023). He came agonisingly close to make it a trio of global golds at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo but eventually finished second to New Zealand’s Geordie Beamish. “Doha feels like my second home and it means a lot to me to compete at this meeting where I’m privileged to have such great supporters,” said the 2022 Wanda Diamond League champion ahead of the meeting. In the men’s 110m hurdles, reigning world and Diamond League champion Cordell Tinch of USA headlines the field. Tinch, who stepped away from the track in 2020 before making a return in 2023, had a breakthrough year in 2025 during which he won five Diamond League races and recorded a 110m hurdles personal best of 12.87 – the joint fourth-fastest of all-time – with victory in Shanghai/Keqiao. His 12.99 winning time in Tokyo was his fifth-fastest ever and earned him his first global medal. He kicked off his 2026 Diamond League campaign in China with a second-place finish in Shanghai/Keqiao (13.10) and a fifth place in Xiamen (13.28). Related…
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ahead of their meeting at Villa Doria Pamphilj in Rome, Monday. (Reuters) Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday she hopes a long delayed project to build a bridge across Italy’s Strait of Messina will get off the ground soon and showcase bilateral co-operation, given the involvement of Japanese companies.The project to construct a 3.7-km (2.3-mile) bridge between the Sicilian city of Messina and mainland Italy is led by the Eurolink consortium, which includes Italy’s largest construction group Webuild, Japan’s IHI and Spain’s Sacyr. But it has been held back for years by a number of problems, including criticism that a bridge could harm the environment and pose risks in an earthquake-prone area.In 2012, the project was halted under a government austerity drive, prompting the consortium to file a €700mn ($811mn) compensation claim that will only be withdrawn if work resumes.”I sincerely hope that the construction project for the Messina Strait Bridge, in which Japanese companies are participating, will become a landmark project symbolising economic co-operation between our two countries,” Takaichi said during a visit to Rome.She was speaking alongside Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after they held talks at the 17th-century Villa Doria Pamphili ahead of a Group of Seven (G7) summit in France, which they will both attend.”I also hope that Japan’s expertise and experience will contribute to its early realisation,” Takaichi added.Meloni’s government argues that improved road and rail links are essential to boost economic growth in Italy’s underdeveloped south. Sicily is currently connected to the mainland by ferries that carry vehicles and trains.However, work on the bridge — estimated at around €13.5bn — is unlikely to begin soon.Italy’s Court of Auditors last year declined to approve the project, citing doubts about its compliance with European Union competition rules and noting that the original 2005 tender priced it at just 3.8bn euros.In addition, prosecutors in Rome last week said they had opened a corruption probe into the bridge, casting fresh doubts over government efforts to push the project forward. Related Story…
England head coach Brendon McCullum said he is “worried” about Ben Stokes after the captain was involved in a late-night incident that led to his absence from this week’s second Test against New Zealand.Stokes will miss the clash at the Oval after breaching a midnight curfew while celebrating England’s win over the Black Caps in the first Test at Lord’s.The all-rounder and his England team-mate Gus Atkinson became embroiled in an incident involving Saracens rugby player Totoa Auvaa, prompting an internal investigation by the England and Wales Cricket Board.There were suggestions that Stokes would resign or even retire in the immediate aftermath.But the 35-year-old’s future remains shrouded in mystery ahead of the start of the second Test on Wednesday.Speaking on Monday, a sombre McCullum said he experienced a range of emotions from anger to concern when he learnt of Stokes’ antics at a Chelsea nightspot.But McCullum insisted he has a duty of care for Stokes’ well-being that over-rides disciplinary matters or the viability of his reign as skipper.”When I first found out about it I was slightly bewildered, if I’m being honest. Then you go through a range of emotions. You go from being bewildered, on to angry, on to kind of gutted,” he told reporters on Monday.”But very quickly my overall emotion turned to worry and concern for Ben in particular.”Since then it has been about how we support these guys, whilst not overlooking the fact they have not lived up to the standards we have set for ourselves.”For me it’s very much about how we support these guys through the next stage, in particular Ben. That is very much where my mind is at, my worry for him.” NO WORD ON CAPTAINCYMcCullum refused to say whether he believes Stokes should remain as captain, after England were also criticised for their off-field behaviour during the tour to New Zealand and Australia.”What will be will be, down the line. Those decisions are not for now. The concern is making sure Ben is fine,” he said.”We need to make sure we look after him, rally around him, and in time we’ll get on to those sorts of decisions.”For me I’m just making sure I’m checking in with him. That’s where things sit at the moment.”Stokes has trained with his English county Durham over recent days and could play against Northamptonshire on Friday.But McCullum took a deep breath before answering when quizzed on the wisdom of Stokes returning to action.”I’m worried about Ben. That’s it,” he said. “I’ll leave it at that.”England are back in training for the first time since the incident and McCullum said he was encouraged by the atmosphere among the players.”I was intrigued to see how the team was and I was quite happy to be honest. There was a calm,” he said.”Guys were still talking about last week, they touched on what had happened after.” Related Story Source link
EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas answers questions in an interview at the EU headquarters in Brussels on June…
Rachin Ravindra admits it will take a collective effort from New Zealand’s batsmen to replace Kane Williamson after his shock decision to retire from international cricket.Williamson brought the curtain down on his illustrious New Zealand career following the first Test defeat against England at Lord’s, leaving New Zealand with a huge hole in their line-up when the second Test starts at the Oval on Wednesday.The 35-year-old is New Zealand’s all-time leading run scorer across all formats with 19,346 runs, including 48 centuries and six double hundreds, in 378 appearances between 2010 and 2026.Williamson, who captained New Zealand on 206 occasions, scored 9,515 runs at an average of 54.06 in 110 Tests for the Black Caps.New Zealand all-rounder Ravindra conceded it will be impossible for one player to produce the wealth of runs amassed by Williamson.Instead Ravindra hopes New Zealand’s overall batting depth can help fill the void.”I don’t necessarily see it as pressure. Whenever a great moves on there is always a hole in the team,” Ravindra told reporters on Monday.”But the strength and quality in our depth in our team is what we pride ourselves on. We have Henry Nicholls and obviously Will Young is here as batting back-up.”We all share responsibility within our batting unit. It’s not on one guy, it’s pretty hard to fill in that gap and unfortunately I don’t think many people can. So it will be a collective effort.” NO COMPLAINTSRavindra said New Zealand’s squad had no complaints about Williamson’s decision to step away in the middle of the three-Test series.”It’s always tough when probably our greatest player calls time. We were all so supportive of his decision,” he said.”Kane is such an amazing player but more than that he’s such an amazing bloke and has contributed so much to New Zealand.”Personally I have looked up to him for a long time now. He’s one of my biggest idols. I was very lucky to share the crease with him and enjoy some cool partnerships.”Sharing the crease, he is in a zen zone. He’s such a great mentor. Kane has done things in his own way and decided the time is right. He has been so giving to the group.”New Zealand will look to bounce back after being thrashed by 115 runs at Lord’s, where they found it difficult to cope with a treacherous pitch that made it hard for the batsmen.”We take learnings from everything, whether it is success or failure. There were some balls keeping low and seaming around at Lord’s. We do know it is a fresh start,” Ravindra said.”This will be a different surface, different conditions. We haven’t played a Test at the Oval for a long time.” Related Story Source link
Hungarian lawmakers Monday voted overwhelmingly to limit prime ministers’ terms in office to a maximum of eight years, a constitutional change that blocks nationalist Viktor Orban’s return.The amendment was a key campaign promise of pro-EU conservative Peter Magyar, who in April elections ousted Orban from office, promising sweeping reforms as part of a “regime change”.Magyar argued the possibility of limitless tenure can lead to power concentration, pointing to his predecessor as an example, whom critics accused of constantly tweaking Hungary’s political system to keep a tight grip on power.Orban’s party opposed term limits, arguing that it could possibly restrict popular will.The amendment passed parliament with 135 votes for, 50 against, and six abstentions. Under Hungarian law, such a measure can be passed by a two-thirds supermajority without needing a referendum.Some countries around the globe impose term-limits on their top leaders, with such restrictions usually placed on presidents.The tenure of Hungary’s president, whose role is largely ceremonial, is already limited: he can be reelected only once to a second five-year term.The adopted term limit does not completely rule out Orban’s return to power, however, as it could be revoked in the future by another constitutional change.This is the 16th time Hungary’s Basic Law has been changed since its adoption in 2011.The approved amendment also removed a provision stipulating the need for independent body to “safeguard” the country’s “constitutional identity”.This was done to prepare the ground for disbanding the Sovereignty Protection Office.The controversial agency, established under the previous government in 2024, was entrusted with broad investigative powers ostensibly to curb “foreign influence”.But it mainly targeted Orban’s critics, accusing independent media and NGOs like Transparency International of serving foreign interests for its scrutiny of the government.The agency has not released any official reports since Magyar won the election.Hungary’s parliament is set to vote on a bill for the agency’s dissolution at the end of June. Related Story Source link
Spain's ghosts of recent World Cup horror shows reappeared in Atlanta as the European champions were held 0-0 by debutants Cape Verde in their opening game on Monday. Lamine Yamal was left on the bench as the Barcelona superstar is eased back to fitness after nearly two months out with a hamstring injury and even his appearance as a second-half substitute failed to break down Cape Verde's dogged defence. Since winning the World Cup for the first time in 2010, Spain have not won a knockout game and their inability to make dominance of possession count was reminiscent of their meek exits in 2018 and 2022. ‘Reality has to sink in,’ said Spain boss Luis de la Fuente. ‘This is a World Cup. We know that some teams, on paper, they are not better than us and we thought that we were far better than them. But then it's a struggle to win.’ Blessed with what coach De la Fuente claimed is the best squad in the competition, Spain were considered among the pre-tournament favourites to go all the way and lift the World Cup on July 19. But the importance of Yamal and Nico Williams to their chances of success was underlined by a flat performance. Williams also had an injury-disrupted season at Athletic Bilbao and was not introduced until the 87th minute. Ranked 67 in the world, Cape Verde were making their debut on the global stage and did a nation of just over 500,000 people proud. In stark contrast to the searing temperatures faced by some other sides, Atlanta's state-of-the-art air conditioned stadium meant there was no excuses for the slow tempo of Spain's build-up. Indeed the mid-half hydration break was met by boos with fans frustrated at the break in play despite the cool conditions. It took until six minutes before half-time for Spain to seriously threaten. Marc Cucurella, fresh for sealing his move from Chelsea to Real Madrid, sent over a teasing cross that Ferran Torres turned onto the crossbar and Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha got back on his feet to turn Mikel Oyarzabal's looping header over the bar. Torres tested Vozinha again moments later before Aymeric Laporte's header from a corner was also clawed away by the Cape Verde number one just before half-time. The break came at a good time for the Blue Sharks and they comfortably held out in the second period until Yamal's entrance after the second hydration break. Billed as one of the stars of the tournament, the 18-year-old's appearance instantly lifted the crowd and injected life into the pedestrian Spanish attack. His first involvement set up a decent opening for fellow substitute Mikel Merino which was too close to Vozinha. Yamal also began the move that saw Oyarzabal's effort deflected over with Spain's best chance of the second half. Cape Verde nearly snatched a famous victory in the final minute of the 90 when Dani Borges planted a header too close to Unai Simon. But even without a winner, 40-year-old Vozinha was reduced to tears at full-time as Cape Verde produced the biggest shock of the tournament so far. ‘I've worked all my life for this, for this moment, for this dream,’ said Vozinha, who plays for Chaves in the Portuguese second division. ‘A lot of generations in the past dreamed of this, they didn't achieve it,’ he added. ‘The dream came true, for all of us.’ Spain's road to victory in 2010 also began disappointingly with defeat to Switzerland, but they have much to work on ahead of facing Saudi Arabia in Atlanta once more on Sunday. Cape Verde next take on Uruguay in Miami. Source link
Smoke rises from Edwards Air Force Base after the crash of a US Air Force B-52 bomber aircraft in Edwards, California, US, June 15, 2026, in…